Pointradar guide
How to choose a card by spending category
The largest number is a useful starting point, but a good card choice also accounts for reward type, merchant coding, spending caps, and booking requirements.
Build a base-rate fallback
Identify the card that earns the most on purchases outside a bonus category. A 1.5× or 2× everyday card can be more reliable than guessing whether a merchant will code as dining, travel, or another bonus category.
Compare like with like
Cash back, points, and miles are not automatically equal. Three percent cash back has a clear value, while three points per dollar depends on how those points are redeemed. Keep the reward currency visible and avoid treating every multiplier as the same return.
Read the category definition
Issuer definitions can be narrower than everyday language. A grocery bonus may exclude superstores and wholesale clubs. An online-shopping bonus may apply only to U.S. retail purchases. Travel can mean direct bookings, a bank portal, or a specific list of merchants. Check the terms before a large purchase.
Account for caps and portals
Many no-fee cards offer strong category rates only up to an annual or quarterly spending cap. After that, the base rate applies. Portal bonuses can also be attractive, but compare the portal price and cancellation rules with booking directly.
Keep the guide current
Update custom-card rates when an issuer changes terms and close cards you no longer carry. A recommendation is useful only when it reflects the active cards in your wallet. Save an issuer terms URL with manually entered rates so future verification takes seconds.
Pointradar compares published and user-entered rates across the active cards in your wallet. Build your spend guide →