Rewards comparison calculator

Cash back or points—using your numbers?

Compare simple cash with the point value you can realistically redeem.

Rewards comparison tool

Cash back vs. points

Compare both cards using the same spending and a point value you can actually redeem.

Annual card spending$Cash-back rate%Cash-back card annual fee$Points earned per dollar×Realistic value per point¢Points card annual fee$Redemption friction / unused value%

Net cash-back value$480

Net points value$380

Points-card advantage-$100

The cash-back card wins under your entered redemption assumptions. Change the point value and friction inputs before trusting the result.

Point values are not cash guarantees. Availability, transfer ratios, award pricing, expiration, and redemption habits can reduce realized value.

How the calculator works

Cash Back vs Points Calculator: method and assumptions

Compare a cash-back card with a points card using the same annual spending, annual fees, and a point value you can actually redeem.

Planning formulaNet cash value = spend × cash-back rate − cash-back fee. Net points value = spend × points per dollar × cents per point × (1 − unused share) − points-card fee.

What the result includes

Net cash-back value after the annual fee
Net points value after friction and the annual fee
The difference under your redemption assumptions
A reminder that point values are not cash guarantees

Use one spending number

Hold annual spend constant so a points card cannot win by imagining more travel than you take.

Pick a repeatable point value

Use a redemption you can actually complete. Headline cents-per-point figures can depend on limited award space.

Subtract unused value

If you historically let points expire or redeem poorly, include that friction before trusting the points-card result.

Questions before you decide

Calculator FAQ

Is cash back better than travel points?

Cash back is easier to value. Points can win when you reliably redeem them above a conservative rate after fees. Compare both with the same spending.

What point value should I enter?

Enter a rate tied to a redemption you can repeat. If you take statement credit, start near one cent. Use a higher value only when you regularly book that travel.