Introducing CardSavvy: The Math-First Approach to Credit Card Rewards

We are excited to announce the official launch of CardSavvy, a new kind of credit card optimization tool built for people who trust math over marketing.

For too long, the credit card rewards landscape has been dominated by "best of" lists that are really just "best paying" lists. Major publishers are incentivized to recommend cards that pay the highest affiliate commissions, often ignoring better options that don't fit their business model.

CardSavvy is different. We built an engine that takes your specific spending profile, your groceries, your commute, your travel habits, and mathematically determines the optimal card combination for you.

Here is every question you might have about who we are, why we exist, and how we can help you stop leaving money on the table.

The FAQ

1. What exactly is CardSavvy?

CardSavvy is a decision-support tool for your wallet. While other calculators simply recommend a single card based on spending, CardSavvy looks at the cards you already own and finds the best complimentary card to boost your overall savings.

Our algorithm:

1. Analyzes your budget (based on national averages or your custom input).
2. Scans a database of hundreds of credit cards (including the ones that don't pay commissions).
3. Simulates your annual rewards to find the combination of cards that yields the highest net value after fees.

Think of it as a financial advisor*, but specifically for credit card points and cash back.

*(Note: CardSavvy provides information for educational purposes only and does not constitute professional legal or financial advice.)

2. How is this different from sites like usage NerdWallet or The Points Guy?

Those sites are media companies. They produce great content, but their primary revenue comes from affiliate links. This creates an inherent conflict of interest: they are incentivized to push cards with high referral bonuses.

CardSavvy is a calculator first. Our recommendations are generated by code, not editorial teams. If a credit union card with no affiliate program is mathematically superior for your spend, we will recommend it.

3. Is CardSavvy free to use?

Yes. You can run unlimited optimization scenarios, save your wallet profile, and view your personalized recommendations for free.

4. How do you make money if you don't push affiliate cards?

We prioritize the truth. We may use affiliate links now or in the future for cards that we recommend, but these commissions will never influence our recommendations.

If a card with no affiliate program is mathematically superior for your specific wallet and spending profile, we will recommend it over a card that pays us. Our loyalty is to the math, not the banks.

We are also exploring premium features for power users—advanced redemption valuations, transfer partner alerts, and historic tracking—but the core optimization engine remains free and unbiased.

5. Is my financial data safe?

Absolutely. We take a "local-first" approach to sensitive data.

• We do not ask for your bank login credentials or connect to Plaid/Yodlee.
• We do not require your credit card numbers.
• Your spending profile and current wallet setup are stored securely, and we minimize the personal data we collect.

We believe you can get 99% of the optimization value without the risk of sharing your bank passwords.

6. Who is this for?

CardSavvy is for anyone who suspects they could be getting more out of their spending.

• The Optimizer: You already have 5 cards but want to know if you're using the right one for gas vs. dining.
• The Family: You spend $30k+ a year on household expenses and want to earn a "free" vacation every year.
• The Skeptic: You're tired of generic "Top 10 Cards" lists and want to see the math yourself.

7. How much can I really save?

It depends on your spending.

• Average User: Often finds an extra $300–$500 per year just by switching their "everyday" spending to a 2% flat-rate card.
• High Spenders: Families or travelers can often unlock $1,000+ in additional value annually by optimizing categories like travel and dining.

See our detailed breakdown on family savings here.

8. What's next for CardSavvy?

We are just getting started. In the coming months, look out for:

• Redemption Optimization: Helping you spend your points, not just earn them.
• Amex vs. Chase Calculators: Deep dives into ecosystem valuations.
• Mobile Experience: Better tools for checking which card to use while standing at the register.

Ready to maximize your wallet?

Stop guessing and start optimizing. Run your numbers now to see how much you're leaving on the table.

Launch the Optimizer →