What the result includes
- A conservative first-year value for each offer
- A penalty when required spend exceeds your plan
- The higher entered value and the dollar gap
- Shared spending so both offers use the same assumptions
Credit-card offer comparison
Put both offers on the same worksheet.
Normalize the first-year value and penalize spending that was not already in your plan.
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Compare two card offers
Normalize bonuses, annual fees, usable credits, rewards, and any spending beyond your plan.
Offer A conservative first-year value$865
Offer B conservative first-year value$660
Higher entered valueOffer ADifference: $205
This does not evaluate approval odds, credit-score effects, issuer eligibility rules, transfer partners, insurance, or consumer protections. Confirm current official terms.
How the calculator works
Compare Two Credit Card Offers Calculator: method and assumptions
Normalize two credit card offers by conservative bonus value, annual fees, usable credits, rewards, and spending created only to earn a bonus.
Planning formulaOffer value = bonus × point value + usable credits + annual spend × reward rate − annual fee − unplanned bonus spend.
Enter the same spending twice
Use one first-year spend figure and one planned bonus-window spend for both offers.
Count only usable credits
A credit that changes where you shop is not worth its full face value in this comparison.
Ignore approval theater
This tool does not score approval odds, insurance, or credit-score effects. Confirm official terms before applying.
Questions before you decide
Calculator FAQ
How should I compare two credit card offers?
Put bonus value, annual fee, usable credits, rewards on the same spending, and any extra purchases needed for a bonus on one worksheet.
Why does extra required spend reduce the score?
Spending created only to earn a bonus is a real cost. The calculator subtracts the amount that exceeds your already-planned window.