Free credit card rewards calculator
Last updated: October 2, 2026 Card terms checked: September 2026
The free Rewards Calculator shows what your credit cards earn today, the best two- or three-card stack for your spending, and the dollar gap between them. Enter what you spend each month in seven categories and pick the cards you use now. It takes about two minutes.
Get the calculator
Click the button below and enter your email. You get the calculator right away as a Google Sheet you can copy, and the link by email. After that, you may receive occasional emails about new guides and card changes. You can unsubscribe at any time.
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Three numbers that answer one question
| You earn now | Your best 3-card stack | Left on the table |
|---|---|---|
| What your current cards return in a year, after annual fees | The combination of up to three cards that earns the most for your exact spending | The yearly difference between the two, in dollars |
An example
For a sample spender with $3,000 a month in spending, using only a Chase Freedom Unlimited today, valued as cash after annual fees:
| You earn now | Best 3-card stack | Left on the table |
|---|---|---|
| $648 | $1,033 | $385 |
Your numbers will differ.
Two minutes, three steps
- Make your own copy. The calculator opens in Google Sheets. Your copy is private, and your numbers stay with you.
- Enter spending and cards. Type what you spend each month in seven categories, and pick the cards you use now.
- Read your results. See your best stack and which card to use for dining, groceries, gas, travel, and everything else.
What is inside
- 19 popular rewards cards from Amex, Chase, Citi, Capital One, Wells Fargo, U.S. Bank, and Bank of America
- 7 spending categories, with annual caps built in
- Cash value or travel value for points, your choice
- A category-by-category breakdown of your current cards against your best stack
- Card rates checked September 2026 and reviewed every quarter
How points are valued
In travel mode, points use The Points Guy's September 2026 estimates: Amex Membership Rewards 2.0 cents, Chase Ultimate Rewards 2.05 cents, Citi ThankYou 1.9 cents, Capital One 1.85 cents, and Wells Fargo 1.75 cents. In cash mode, points are valued at their cash-out rate. Pages on this site that show worked examples use a more conservative 1.8 cents. See what a point is worth.
What it leaves out
- Welcome bonuses, statement credits, and portal-only bonuses are excluded. Premium cards like the Platinum, Sapphire Reserve, and Venture X will rarely show up as the best stack, and that is intentional for a rewards-only view. For those, see which cards are worth the annual fee.
- Chase Freedom Unlimited and Wells Fargo Autograph are valued as cash back. The Sapphire pairing boost is not modeled.
- Rotating and self-selected category cards (Freedom Flex, Discover it, Citi Custom Cash, Bank of America Customized Cash) are not included.
- Spending above a card's cap is counted at 1x on the same card.
The idea behind it
Every card in your wallet should have one clear job:
- Category Earner. Pays the most where you spend the most, like dining or groceries.
- Travel Earner. Covers flights and hotels, if travel is part of your year.
- Catch-All. A strong flat rate for everything the others do not cover.
See the card stack framework and a full worked example.
Get the calculator
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. We never ask for card numbers. For education only, not financial advice. Card rates, fees, and offers change often. Confirm current terms with each issuer before applying. Card Stack Optimizer is not affiliated with any card issuer.