How CashStack chooses your cards

CashStack has one job: find the set of cashback cards that earns you the most, based on how you actually spend. Here's exactly how it decides — and why you can trust the ranking.

It starts with your real spending

You tell us how you spend, either by answering a short questionnaire or by uploading a statement (a CSV from your bank is the most accurate, since it includes your bank's own categories). Everything is processed on your own device — we never store your raw statements or account numbers. From that, we build a picture of your monthly spending by category.

It models the details that actually matter

Then it tests combinations of cards against your spending, accounting for the things that make or break real-world rewards:

• Category rates — how much each card pays where you actually spend.
• Annual fees — ranked by net value, so a fee only "wins" if your spending earns it back.
• Bonus caps — high rates that stop after a yearly spending limit are modeled, not assumed unlimited.
• Category exclusions — e.g., grocery bonuses that don't apply at warehouse clubs or superstores.
• Travel portals — rates that only apply when booked through the issuer.
• Credit-score eligibility — we only suggest cards you're realistically likely to qualify for.

It ranks purely by value to you

Cards are ordered by how much net cashback they'd earn you — full stop. Some "Apply" links are affiliate links that may pay us a commission, but that has zero effect on the ranking. We'd rather earn your trust than push a card that isn't your best option. That independence is the whole point of CashStack.

You stay in control

You can decline any suggested card and we'll bring in the next best one, fine-tune your spending categories, and compare the optimized stack against the cards you already carry — so you can see precisely how much extra you'd earn by switching.

See your recommended stack →