How we rate credit cards
Every card on CreditCardGuru gets an independent score out of 5, built from the same four-pillar framework. We don't accept payment for better ratings — here's exactly how the sausage is made.
Rewards value (40%)
We model real Canadian spending across groceries, dining, gas, travel and general purchases, then calculate net annual value after fees. Points and miles are valued at realistic redemption rates.
Perks & benefits (20%)
Lounge access, insurance coverage, statement credits, companion benefits and partner programs — weighted by how much real-world value they deliver to a typical cardholder.
Fees & value-for-money (25%)
Annual fee relative to rewards, foreign transaction fees, and how quickly the card pays for itself. A high fee isn't bad if the value is there — and we check that it is.
Flexibility (15%)
How easy it is to redeem, whether rewards transfer or expire, acceptance of the card network, and how well the card adapts to different lifestyles.
Editorial independence
CreditCardGuru earns money through affiliate partnerships (see the disclosure below), but our ratings are calculated before any commercial relationship is considered. A card we earn nothing from can — and does — outrank a card we're paid to feature. Our analysts are never compensated based on which cards they recommend.
How often we update
Welcome bonuses, annual fees and earn rates change constantly. We review card terms on an ongoing basis and stamp each card and article with a “last updated” date so you always know how current the information is. If you spot something out of date, tell us.
Advertiser disclosure
CreditCardGuru may receive compensation when you click on or are approved for a credit card through links on our site (often called affiliate or referral links). This is how we keep the site free to use. Compensation may affect which products we write about and where they appear, but it never affects our editorial ratings, which are determined solely by the methodology above. All outbound application links on this site route through a tracked redirect and carry the appropriate rel="sponsored" attribute.
We are not a bank or a financial advisor, and nothing on this site is personalized financial advice. Always review a card's full terms and conditions with the issuer before applying.
Questions about our process? Meet the team.