Advertising Disclosure

Who runs this site

Credit Card Optimizer is built and run by one person — an independent founder, not a media company. There is no editorial team, no staff writers, and no panel of experts. What you get instead is a calculation engine: every card recommendation on this site is computed from published card terms and the spending numbers you enter, using formulas we document in full on our methodology page.

We think that's a feature. Most card sites ask you to trust their reviewers. We ask you to check our math.

How we make money

Credit Card Optimizeris free to use. We may earn an affiliate commission when you click an "Apply" link and are approved for a card. That commission is paid by the card issuer or its affiliate network and costs you nothing.

Compensation never changes your rankings

This is the part that matters, so we'll be precise: cards are ranked strictly by computed value for the spending you enter — ongoing annual value (earn rates and perks minus the annual fee), with welcome bonuses shown separately as first-year value. The ranking code does not know whether a card has an affiliate link, and there is no mechanism for an issuer to pay for placement. A card with no commission that scores higher for your spending will always rank above a commissionable card that scores lower.

Compensation can affect exactly one thing: whether an "Apply" button links through an affiliate network or directly to the issuer's public application page. The card order, the dollar values, and the math are identical either way.

Where our data comes from

Card terms (earn rates, fees, bonus categories, welcome offers) come from a commercial card data provider plus manual review, and are refreshed on a regular cycle. Issuers change terms frequently, and welcome offers in our data can lag elevated limited-time offers — usually in the conservative direction. Always verify current rates, fees, and offers on the issuer's site before applying. If you spot an error, email hello@creditcardoptimizer.comand we'll correct it.

Not financial advice

Credit Card Optimizerprovides informational estimates, not personalized financial advice. Our calculations don't know your full financial situation — debt, credit history details, or goals. For decisions beyond "which card pays the most for my spending," consider advice from a qualified financial professional. We never see or store your card numbers, and using this site has no effect on your credit score.

Coverage limits

Not every credit card in the market is in our database. We cover the major issuers and several hundred cards, prioritizing cards people actually apply for, and we review the catalog regularly. Absence of a card is a data-coverage limitation, not a judgment about the card.

Contact

Questions about this disclosure or our practices: hello@creditcardoptimizer.com.

Last updated: July 12, 2026