Travel tool
Travel Credit Card Points Calculator
Enter your monthly spending by category and see which of 7 travel credit cards earns you the most points — and what those points are actually worth in dollars.
Frequently asked questions
- How does this points calculator work?
- You enter your monthly spending in six categories (travel, dining, groceries, streaming, gas, everything else). The calculator multiplies each category by every card's earning rate, sums the annual points, converts them to dollars using each card's point valuation, subtracts the annual fee, and ranks the cards by net value. All earning rates and valuations come from our dated research.
- What spending categories are supported?
- Six categories: Travel (flights, hotels, rental cars), Dining (restaurants, takeout, delivery), Groceries (supermarkets, online), Streaming & entertainment, Gas & EV charging, and Everything else. These match the bonus categories on the cards we compare.
- Are the point valuations accurate?
- Point valuations come from NerdWallet's October 2026 analysis, which compares cash and award bookings across dozens of loyalty programs. The values are estimates of real-world redemption value, not maximized hypotheticals. We use the NerdWallet values (not The Points Guy's) because they are more conservative and data-driven.
- What does "net value" mean?
- Net value = (annual points × point value in dollars) − annual fee. A positive number means the card earns more in travel value than it costs. A negative number means you are paying for benefits you may not fully use. This is the single most useful number for choosing a card.
- Which card is best for me?
- It depends on your spending. If you spend a lot on travel and dining, the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Citi Strata Elite may win. If you want simplicity, the Capital One Venture earns 2x on everything. If you want lounge access and premium perks, the Sapphire Reserve or Venture X may be worth the higher fee. The calculator ranks them for your specific spending.