I have 16 credit cards. I finally found an app that tells me when and where to use them

An easy solution to get more points out of all those credit cards

You can earn a ton of points with credit cards, but it’s hard work to keep track of them all

Taking advantage of credit card sign up bonuses and special promotions is the best way to earn a ton of points very quickly. The problem is once you have more than one card, it becomes difficult and confusing to track them all to make sure you’re maximizing your rewards.

Until recently, I relied on a custom Google Sheet to monitor when I signed up for a card (and when I might cancel it), minimum spending requirements to earn sign up bonuses, and the ‘rules’ on when to put spend on a particular card. This system worked well enough until COVID-19 turned the world of credit cards upside down.

Screenshot of my Google Sheet Credit Card Tracker

There’s been a flurry of changes to popular credit cards lately

Since March 2020, all the major credit card issuers have announced a dizzying array of promotions  and new category bonuses to make their cards relevant in this new world. At the same time, my spending patterns have shifted dramatically. With all this fast-paced change, my Google Sheet couldn’t keep up and I started looking for a better solution.

Well, after testing several services, I found the perfect FREE app to manage all those credit cards: CardPointers.

CardPointers is an easy and intuitive solution to your credit card woes

The premise is simple – you invest a few minutes to input in the cards you have and then CardPointers does the heavy lifting of keeping up with any bonuses or special promotions and offers up a clear recommendation on which card to use for any particular transaction. I have zero privacy concerns with this app because it only asks for the type of card I have rather than requiring I input any personal credit card information.

CardPointers: How it works

The homepage displays a full list of spending categories, including travel, groceries, gas, online purchases, etc., and clearly indicates the best card to use for any given category.

CardPointers home screen

My favorite feature is that CardPointers automatically updates any special promotion that can earn you lots of points. For instance, CardPointers highlighted that my Chase Freedom is offering a temporary bonus of 5x points on Amazon and Whole Foods through the end of September – which means I’ll temporarily change my default card on Amazon.com to earn more points.

CardPointers also makes it easy for the points newbie to quickly learn which points are most valuable for any given purchase. For instance, if you were staying at a Marriott property, you might be tempted to pay the bill on your Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant, which earns 6x for every dollar spent, rather than the Chase Sapphire Reserve, which only earns 3x points on hotel stays. However, a Chase Ultimate Reward point is far more valuable than a Marriott Bonvoy Point. CardPointers does that math for you and makes it instantly clear that you’re better off paying for that hotel bill with your Chase Sapphire Reserve.

Customize additional details for all of your cards

The app comes pre-loaded with suggestions on how much you should value a point, but you can easily edit these suggestions if you value your points in a different way. Additionally, CardPointers displays useful information such as the card’s annual fee, any foreign exchange fees to consider when abroad, and even rental car and trip interruption/cancellation insurance information.

CardPointers ‘My Offers’ Screen

The ‘My Offers’ screen helps you keep track of any travel credits you haven’t yet taken advantage of. This is particularly useful now that many cards, such as the Citi Prestige, will let you spend your travel credit at supermarkets and restaurants.

Useful card recommendations to maximize your points earn

Finally, CardPointers also recommends which cards to sign up for to earn even more points. For instance, the app correctly pointed out I could be earning 5x on spending at office supply store with the Ink Business Cash Credit Card versus the 2x I’m earning on my favorite all-around card, The Blue Business Plus Credit Card.

Since setting up CardPointers, I’ve found myself accessing it regularly to confirm that I’m using the most rewarding card when I’m buying groceries or booking speculative travel plans for when the world opens up again. Even more convenient, the companion Apple Watch app lets you access the same information without pulling out your phone or you can set up a Siri shortcut that would allow you ask questions like “Hey Siri, Gas Station” and get an instant answer.

CardPointers Apple Watch Screenshots

CardPointers makes earning more points easy for anyone

I know plenty of people who have avoided getting into the points game because they are understandably worried about the complexity of managing so many cards. With CardPointers – that no longer needs to be a concern. This app might finally convince your reluctant spouse or family member to dip their toes into this crazy world.

I highly recommend CardPointers to everyone – whether you’re applying for your first card or you’re 30th. CardPointers is available for iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and on the web (installable PWA for Android).

The top 4 cards in my wallet right now

Chase Sapphire Reserve: For Lyft rides (earn 10x!), car rentals, and also for the built-in trip interruption/cancellation insurance, which is particularly valuable in our current travel environment. Chase is currently offering 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.

Hilton Aspire by American Express: For the free annual weekend night and automatic Diamond status, which includes free breakfast at Hilton properties. There’s an annual fee of $450, but that’s offset with $250 in statement credits at Hilton properties and $250 in airline fee credits.

Blue Business by American Express: For 2x on everything – with no annual fee. This card is a no-brainer.

The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant by American Express For the annual free night stay and 75,000 bonus points after spending $3000 in the first 3 months of account opening (worth