Methodology
So you can trust the numbers, here's exactly how we estimate what a card is worth.
For each card we estimate a first-year value: the welcome bonus valued at our baseline point valuations, minus the annual fee. If a card waives or rebates the fee in the first year, we deduct $0; if it charges a different first-year fee, we use that.
A point isn't worth a fixed amount — it depends how you redeem it. We value each rewards currency at a realistic, everyday "baseline" rate rather than a best-case one, so the numbers don't over-promise. Cash back is valued at face value (a dollar is a dollar).
Some currencies — like Membership Rewards, Aeroplan, and Avion — can be transferred to airline and hotel partners, where savvy redemptions (e.g. business-class flights) are worth well above our baseline. Where it's relevant we note that upside, but the headline first-year value always uses the conservative baseline.
We don't convert between currencies. Canadian cards are valued in CAD and US cards in USD, each clearly labelled, so you're never comparing against a guessed exchange rate. Tip: filter the card explorer by country to compare like-for-like.
Welcome offers and point values change often. We refresh card offers regularly and review our valuations on an ongoing basis. Figures are estimates to help you compare cards — not guarantees, and not financial advice.
Questions about a specific card's valuation? Browse the card explorer →