How We Rate Credit Cards

Every card on CardSwipe gets a score out of 5. It is an editorial rating by Deepak Kumar, made after reading the bank's official card page and its Most Important Terms & Conditions (MITC). Each card is rated for the people it is meant for — so a free starter card and a premium travel card can both score well.

What we look at, most important first

• Real value back — how much you actually get back on everyday spends, after monthly caps and excluded categories
• Cost to keep — joining and annual fees, and how easy the fee waiver is to reach
• Ease of getting it — income needed, credit score, and whether there's an FD-backed option
• Catches — hidden charges, long exclusion lists, and recent cuts to benefits

What the stars mean

What never changes a rating

• Commissions — we may earn when you apply through our links, but that never changes a card's score, facts, or its "Good to know" downsides
• Requests from banks or partners

When a bank changes a card, we update its details and, if needed, its rating. Last reviewed: Oct 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us on the Contact page.