💳Card Reward Optimizer

Enter monthly spending by category to find your annual reward gain

Maximize Your Credit Card Rewards by Category

Most people use a single general-purpose cashback card for everything, typically earning 1–1.5% on all purchases. However, category-specific cards can earn 5–10% in their specialty areas — dining, gas, groceries, or online shopping. By matching your biggest spending categories to the right cards, you can significantly increase your annual rewards without spending more.

How the Benefit Rates Work

This calculator uses representative rates: dining, cafe, and transit at 10%; gas and online shopping at 7%; groceries and telecom at 5%; and medical at 3%. The base comparison uses 1.5%, a typical flat-rate cashback card. Actual rates vary by card issuer and may require minimum monthly spending to qualify.

Tips for Building a Card Strategy

Focus on 2–3 cards covering your top spending categories. More cards can make it harder to meet minimum spend requirements for each, reducing net benefit. Always factor in annual fees when calculating your true savings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What benefit rates are used?

Dining, cafe, and transit: 10%; gas and online: 7%; groceries and telecom: 5%; medical: 3%. These are representative rates for category cards.

What is the 1.5% base card rate?

It represents a standard flat-rate cashback card earning 1.5% on all purchases with no category distinction.

What should I check before choosing a card?

Always verify annual fees, minimum spend requirements, and monthly caps before applying for any credit card.