Sign-up bonuses are designed to be the shiniest thing on the page. Smart comparison starts after you look past them.
The four numbers that matter
- Ongoing earn rate on your top two real spending categories — not aspirational ones
- Annual fee versus what you'll realistically redeem
- APR, but only if you ever carry a balance (if you do, rewards cards are usually the wrong product)
- Redemption value: a "point" can be worth 0.5¢ or 2¢ depending on the program
Run the 12-month test
Estimate your actual annual spend per category, multiply by earn rates, subtract the fee. A flashy 5% rotating-category card often loses to a flat 2% card for most budgets.
One more thing
Don't open several cards at once — spaced applications protect your credit score and let you evaluate each card honestly.
Compare current credit card offers and see which fits your actual spending.
Search "Credit Cards" on LookupHive →
Article Was Generated By AI.
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