Credit Card Optimization

Free Tool to Maximize Credit Card Rewards

MaxPoints is a free credit card rewards optimizer. The credit card rewards calculator reads your monthly spending and recommends a card mix for more points, cash back, and travel rewards*

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Personalized analysis

Set your spend — we’ll recommend the best cards for your categories.

$0

Recommended cards

Updating…

Ongoing gap

You’re leaving about $1,603 on the table each year (ongoing) after Year 1.

That’s vs a basic 1% cash-back card on the same spending.

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Ranked by ongoing value. Year 1 includes signup bonuses when enabled.

Only changes Year 1 numbers — not the ongoing rank.

4
Cards
$720
Est. fees
8,745
Pts / month
4.4%
Cash value
Split spending. Other $370/mo
1

Best fit for how you spend, led by Groceries at 4x and Dining at 4x.

American Express Gold

Top pick

American Express

$827 /yr ongoing
Year 1: $2,027 $76/mo rewards
$325 annual fee Transferable 2.00¢/pt
Credits you’ll use: $240/yr

Turn off credits you won’t redeem so the net stays honest.

Dining credit $120/yr
Uber Cash $120/yr
Dining partner credit $100/yr
Dunkin' credit $84/yr Up to $7 a month at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
4x Groceries 4x Dining
Category breakdown

Checked americanexpress.com 2026-10-05. $325 annual fee. 4x on restaurants worldwide up to $50,000 a year and 4x on U.S. supermarkets up to $25,000 a year, each cap separate; 3x on flights booked with airlines or through Amex Travel; 5x on prepaid hotels through Amex Travel, with 2x now applying to prepaid car rentals and Amex Travel cruises; 1x other. The row previously put 2x on hotels through Amex Travel and described the restaurant cap as $25,000, which is the supermarket figure. New benefits not modeled: complimentary Hertz Five Star Status and The Hotel Collection $100 property credit on stays of two nights or more booked through Amex Travel.

Category
Spending
Multiplier
Points/Cash
Cent/Point
Cash Value
Groceries
$600
4x
2400 pts
2.00¢
$48
Dining
$350
4x
1400 pts
2.00¢
$28
Groceries
$48
Spending $600
Multiplier 4x
Points/Cash 2400 pts
Cent/Point 2.00¢
Dining
$28
Spending $350
Multiplier 4x
Points/Cash 1400 pts
Cent/Point 2.00¢
Total Monthly Rewards: $76
Annual Fee: -$325
Credits you’ll use: $240/yr
/yr ongoing $827
Year 1: $2,027
2

Adds extra value mainly on Rent at 0.75x and Other at 1x after your top card.

Bilt Blue Card

Split

Bilt Rewards

$495 /yr ongoing
Year 1: $595 $41/mo rewards
$0 annual fee Transferable 2.20¢/pt
0.8x Rent 1x Other · split1x Entertainment
+2 more
1x Internet/Cable 1x Drugstores
Category breakdown

Checked bilt.com 2026-10-05. No annual fee. The public welcome offer is $100 of Bilt Cash on approval with no minimum spend; it is paid in Bilt Cash rather than Bilt points. 2x on Bilt Travel flights, 3x on hotels and car rentals through the Bilt Travel portal, 3x on Lyft, 1x otherwise, with housing-only tiers up to 1.25x.

Category
Spending
Multiplier
Points/Cash
Cent/Point
Cash Value
Rent
$1,500
75.0%
1125 pts
2.20¢
$25

Rent points follow the $750 a month of everyday spend this plan puts on this card, 50% of your rent. Spend on your other cards does not count toward Bilt rent points.

Other Split
$290
of $370 total
1x
290 pts
2.20¢
$6
Split across multiple cards for optimal rewards
This category is divided between cards to maximize rewards
Entertainment
$200
1x
200 pts
2.20¢
$4
Internet/Cable
$200
1x
200 pts
2.20¢
$4
Drugstores
$60
1x
60 pts
2.20¢
$1
Rent
$25
Spending $1,500
Multiplier 75.0%
Points/Cash 1125 pts
Cent/Point 2.20¢

Rent points follow the $750 a month of everyday spend this plan puts on this card, 50% of your rent. Spend on your other cards does not count toward Bilt rent points.

Other Split
$6
Spending $290
Multiplier 1x
Points/Cash 290 pts
Cent/Point 2.20¢
Total spending: $370
Split across multiple cards for optimal rewards
This category is divided between cards to maximize rewards
Entertainment
$4
Spending $200
Multiplier 1x
Points/Cash 200 pts
Cent/Point 2.20¢
Internet/Cable
$4
Spending $200
Multiplier 1x
Points/Cash 200 pts
Cent/Point 2.20¢
Drugstores
$1
Spending $60
Multiplier 1x
Points/Cash 60 pts
Cent/Point 2.20¢
Total Monthly Rewards: $41
Annual Fee: -$0
/yr ongoing $495
Year 1: $595
3

Adds extra value mainly on Hotels at 10x and Airfare at 5x after your top card.

Capital One Venture X

Split

Capital One

$459 /yr ongoing
Year 1: $1,661 $31/mo rewards
$395 annual fee Transferable 1.85¢/pt
Credits you’ll use: $485/yr

Turn off credits you won’t redeem so the net stays honest.

Travel credit $300/yr
Priority Pass and Capital One Lounges $100/yr (of $469 face value) Priority Pass costs up to $469 a year on its own, but most people visit a few lounges a year and many already hold another card with it, so it counts as $100 and only once per wallet.
10,000 anniversary miles $185/yr 10,000 bonus miles every year starting on your first anniversary, counted at The Points Guy's October 2026 value of 1.85 cents each ($185), the same value used for the card's spending. Not counted in Year 1. Arrives a year after you open the card, so it counts toward the ongoing number and not Year 1.
10x Hotels 5x Airfare 2x Other · split
Category breakdown

Earn 5x miles on flights and 10x miles on hotels & rental cars booked via Capital One Travel; 2x miles on other purchases

Category
Spending
Multiplier
Points/Cash
Cent/Point
Cash Value
Hotels
$100
10x
1000 pts
1.85¢
$19
Airfare
$100
5x
500 pts
1.85¢
$9
Other Split
$80
of $370 total
2x
160 pts
1.85¢
$3
Split across multiple cards for optimal rewards
This category is divided between cards to maximize rewards
Hotels
$19
Spending $100
Multiplier 10x
Points/Cash 1000 pts
Cent/Point 1.85¢
Airfare
$9
Spending $100
Multiplier 5x
Points/Cash 500 pts
Cent/Point 1.85¢
Other Split
$3
Spending $80
Multiplier 2x
Points/Cash 160 pts
Cent/Point 1.85¢
Total spending: $370
Split across multiple cards for optimal rewards
This category is divided between cards to maximize rewards
Total Monthly Rewards: $31
Annual Fee: -$395
Credits you’ll use: $485/yr
/yr ongoing $459
Year 1: $1,661
4

Adds extra value mainly on Gas at 3x and Phone Plans at 3x after your top card.

Wells Fargo Autograph

Wells Fargo

$296 /yr ongoing
Year 1: $646 $25/mo rewards
$0 annual fee Transferable 1.75¢/pt
3x Gas 3x Phone Plans 3x Transit
+1 more
3x Streaming
Category breakdown

Checked creditcards.wellsfargo.com 2026-10-05. No annual fee. 20,000 points after $1,000 in 3 months. 3x on restaurants, travel, gas, transit, streaming services and phone plans; 1x other. No foreign transaction fee. The row already described phone plans in its notes but the phone field itself was left blank, so those purchases earned the 1x base rate.

Category
Spending
Multiplier
Points/Cash
Cent/Point
Cash Value
Gas
$250
3x
750 pts
1.75¢
$13
Phone Plans
$100
3x
300 pts
1.75¢
$5
Transit
$70
3x
210 pts
1.75¢
$4
Streaming
$50
3x
150 pts
1.75¢
$3
Gas
$13
Spending $250
Multiplier 3x
Points/Cash 750 pts
Cent/Point 1.75¢
Phone Plans
$5
Spending $100
Multiplier 3x
Points/Cash 300 pts
Cent/Point 1.75¢
Transit
$4
Spending $70
Multiplier 3x
Points/Cash 210 pts
Cent/Point 1.75¢
Streaming
$3
Spending $50
Multiplier 3x
Points/Cash 150 pts
Cent/Point 1.75¢
Total Monthly Rewards: $25
Annual Fee: -$0
/yr ongoing $296
Year 1: $646

How to maximize credit card rewards: 3 quick tips

1

Weigh annual fees against expected rewards. Calculate your break-even so the card pays for itself.

2

Diversify across dining, travel, groceries, and gas so every purchase earns at a higher rate.

3

Track spending patterns and re-run this calculator when habits or fees change.

Curious how MaxPoints stacks up against other tools? Read our credit card optimizer comparison.

Credit card rewards guides

In our study of 336 spending profiles, a second card added a median $506 a year. A fourth added $26. Start with how to maximize credit card rewards , then use the cheat sheets.

Best credit card by category

Not sure which card is right? Try the credit card rewards calculator, then the best credit cards for groceries, the best credit cards for dining, travel, rent, gas, the best credit cards for online shopping, and streaming.

Want one card to cover two categories? Compare the best cards for gas and groceries, or keep it simple with the best flat 2x on everything cards.

Compare two cards

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Is your card worth it?

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Reviewing the cards you already hold? Audit your card fees to see which to keep, downgrade, or cancel.

Applying for Chase? Check Chase’s 5/24 rule first.

Fresh guides & transfer bonuses

Our tracker of all current credit card transfer bonuses is updated weekly, our buy-points sales board daily, and new guides land in the article library. Highlights this month:

Important notice. This tool is provided for educational purposes only. The information and recommendations presented here are not intended to constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Please consult with qualified professionals for personalized financial guidance. Credit card terms, rewards, and benefits are subject to change and may vary based on individual circumstances.