Daily Drop Review Methodology

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At Daily Drop, our goal is simple: help you travel more for less by making smart decisions about credit cards, rewards, and perks. Whether you’re looking to earn travel rewards for your next big trip, earn cash back on your everyday spending, or take advantage of premium perks, we’re here to guide you every step of the way. Our team of travel and credit card experts provides unbiased advice to help you choose the right cards for your wallet, always with responsible credit use in mind. We test cards in real life, track the value of miles and points, and share what actually works.

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How We Select and Review Credit Cards

Our editorial team evaluates credit cards for real-world value, ease of use, and fit for different types of cardholders. We also consider audience insights when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools, to ensure our recommendations align with what matters most to readers. Here is what we consider when selecting cards for our best-of lists:

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Rewards and Earning Potential

  • We analyze how a card earns points, miles, or cash back and whether the bonus categories and earning rates provide strong value for everyday purchases.

Redemption Flexibility and Value

  • A rewards card is only as good as its redemption options. We look at the ease of redeeming rewards for travel, statement credits, and more.
  • For travel-focused cards, we assess transfer partners, redemption rates, and overall flexibility.

Cardholder Perks and Benefits

  • We evaluate benefits such as airport lounge access, elite status shortcuts, free checked bags, travel protections, purchase protections, cell phone protections, statement credits, and other useful perks.
  • The value of these perks is weighed against the card’s annual fee to determine overall worth.

Annual Fees and Other Costs

  • We break down whether the card’s benefits justify the cost of holding it.
  • Additional fees such as foreign transaction fees, balance transfer fees, and late payment penalties are factored into our recommendations.

Introductory Offers and Promotions

  • Welcome offers can add significant value, so we review the potential earnings from welcome offers and assess how attainable they are based on spending requirements.

User Experience and Customer Service

  • A card’s value isn’t just about rewards — it’s also about how easy it is to manage. We consider the quality of the issuer’s mobile app, online banking experience, and customer support.

Suitability for Different Types of Users

  • Not all credit cards serve the same purpose. We categorize and evaluate cards based on specific needs, such as travel rewards, business expenses, cash back, or credit-building features.

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How We Score

We created a formula to score credit cards based on dozens of metrics across six key categories. Higher scores indicate better overall value.

  • Annual Fee & Credits (20%): We calculate the effective annual cost by netting the fee against statement credits you are likely to use.
  • Welcome Offer (20%): We value the bonus using our cents-per-point estimate and emphasize return on spending (ROI) relative to the minimum spend rather than the advertised bonus amount.
  • Rewards Rates (20%): We assess the strength and breadth of earning categories and how well they match everyday spending.
  • Redemption Value (15%): We evaluate flexibility and realistic cents-per-point value. Flexible, transferable points typically rate highest.
  • Benefits & Perks (15%): We weigh premium travel benefits, practical day-to-day perks, and consumer protections so non-premium cards can still score well on usefulness.
  • Travel Protections (10%): We review rental car coverage, trip cancellation and delay protections, baggage protections, and other travel coverage.

APR is not a scoring category because we recommend paying in full to maximize rewards. If a card offers an 0% intro APR, we count that as a perk under benefits.

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Why You Can Trust Us

Daily Drop was founded by Nate Buchanan from the YouTube channel Kara and Nate. Over the past 10+ years, Nate has earned and redeemed millions of miles and points, saving tens of thousands of dollars on travel. Our editorial team includes seasoned credit card and travel experts who have personally tested the strategies we recommend and traveled to almost every country in the world, ensuring our advice is based on hands-on knowledge. After all, we wouldn’t be Daily Drop if we weren’t practicing what we preach.

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What Sets Us Apart

  • Independent Reviews: Our evaluations and editorial decisions are not influenced by financial institutions.
  • Hands-On Testing: We don’t just research credit cards — we use them in everyday life to assess their benefits firsthand.
  • Transparency First: When we recommend a card, it’s because we genuinely believe it offers value.
  • Continuously Up to Date: The credit card landscape changes frequently, so we strive to keep our content current with the latest offers, terms, and benefits.

While Daily Drop may earn a commission when you apply for a card through our site, our recommendations are based solely on editorial expertise and thorough analysis. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included on this website.

Whether you’re a travel enthusiast, a points-and-miles beginner, or someone looking to optimize your everyday spending, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.


Questions about our methodology should be sent to us at team@dailydrop.com

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Last Updated: September 8, 2025