The Finance Algorithm

Credit Card Comparison Calculator

Compare credit cards by rates, fees, rewards, and find the best match

Updated October 2026Built and checked by MaverickHow it's calculatedReport an error

Your numbers

Updates as you type
$
$2k
$

Leave at 0 if you always pay the full statement balance

$
$0
%
13.49%
0.5

What a point is worth to you when redeemed, in cents - check the program's redemption options; 0 for no rewards

$
$150
%
21.24%
1.5

The button asks our AI to explain these figures in words.

Credit card comparison

Winner

Low rate card

lower net cost

Annual savings

$30

vs the other card

Low rate card net

-$60

$0 fee

Rewards card net

-$30

$150 fee

Fee + interest − rewards

The card with the highest rewards isn't always the winner once you account for fees and any interest paid.

-$60Low rate card-$30Rewards card

Per-month net cost

Easier to feel: how much does each card cost per month after you back out the rewards?

-$5Low rate card-$2Rewards card

Estimated rewards earnings

Each card's points valued at the cents per point you entered for it.

$60Low rate card$180Rewards card

How it works

The cheaper card depends on how you use it: a lower rate matters if you carry a balance, and rewards only come out ahead if you pay in full and value the points above the annual fee. This calculator compares two cards over a year on fees, interest and rewards.

  1. 1Enter your typical monthly spending
  2. 2Indicate if you pay in full or carry a balance
  3. 3Add details for each card you're comparing
  4. 4Include annual fees, rates, and rewards
  5. 5See which card costs less overall

The figures today

As of 7 November 2026, the lowest credit card purchase rate is 7.49%, from Unity Bank's Low Rate Visa Credit Card, while the typical best across 51 institutions is 12.49%.

Credit card rates

Worked examples

Paying in Full

$2,000 a month of spending, always paid in full. Card 1: no fee, 13.5%, no rewards. Card 2: $150 fee, 20%, 1.5 points per dollar worth 0.5 cents each.

Average monthly spending
$2,000
Average balance carried past the due date
$0
Card 1 name
Low rate card
Card 1 annual fee
$0
Card 1 interest rate
13.5%
Card 1 rewards rate (points per $)
0
Card 1 point value (cents)
0
Card 2 name
Rewards card
Card 2 annual fee
$150
Card 2 interest rate
20%
Card 2 rewards rate (points per $)
1.5
Card 2 point value (cents)
0.5

With no interest to pay, the rewards card's points are worth $180 a year against its $150 fee, so it comes out $30 ahead.

Carrying a Balance

The same cards, but with an average of $2,000 carried past the due date.

Average monthly spending
$2,000
Average balance carried past the due date
$2,000
Card 1 name
Low rate card
Card 1 annual fee
$0
Card 1 interest rate
13.5%
Card 1 rewards rate (points per $)
0
Card 1 point value (cents)
0
Card 2 name
Rewards card
Card 2 annual fee
$150
Card 2 interest rate
20%
Card 2 rewards rate (points per $)
1.5
Card 2 point value (cents)
0.5

Interest is $270 a year on the low rate card and $400 on the rewards card, so the low rate card costs $100 less even after the points.

Questions people ask

Should I get a low rate or rewards card?
If you always pay in full, compare the rewards' value with the fee. If you carry a balance, the interest rate usually matters more than rewards. The calculator works it out for your spending.
Are rewards points worth the annual fee?
Work out (monthly spend × 12 × points per dollar) × the value of a point. If that's more than the annual fee - and you pay in full - the card comes out ahead. For example, $2,000 a month at 1 point per dollar is 24,000 points; at 1 cent each that's $240 against a $150 fee.
What about sign-up bonuses?
A sign-up bonus only counts in the first year and often needs a minimum spend. Compare the card's ongoing value from the second year too.

The terms, in plain English

Purchase Rate
Interest charged on purchases if balance isn't paid in full.
Rewards Rate
Points or cashback earned per dollar spent, e.g., 1 point per $1.
Point Value
What a point is worth when you redeem it - it depends on the program and what you redeem it for.

Official sources

Rewards Calculator

Calculate actual rewards value

Interest Calculator

See interest cost if carrying balance

Annual Fee Calculator

Is your annual fee worth it?