Net annual advantage
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Compared to a no-fee card
Evaluating...
Enter card details on the left to compare.
Break-even annual spending
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Minimum spend to justify fee
Monthly break-even pace
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Required monthly spend
Net fee after perks
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Fee less usable credits
Incremental rewards
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Rewards above no-fee baseline
Annual value side-by-side breakdown
See how the annual fee card compares with a free 2.0% cash back card on the same spending.
Option A: No-fee baseline card
Baseline- Annual membership fee: $0
- Usable statement perks: $0
- Cash back rewards (2.0%): $120
- Net annual value: $120
Option B: Annual fee card
Fee Card- Annual membership fee: -$95
- Usable statement perks: +$0
- Rewards earned (4.0%): +$240
- Net annual value: $145
Net advantage across spending levels
Find how your net advantage changes at different annual spending amounts.
| Annual spending | Fee card net | No-fee card net | Net advantage |
|---|
Included and excluded assumptions
What this model includes
- Marginal reward boost over a no-fee card (not just the fee card's gross rewards).
- Statement credits and perks that you would genuinely spend money on anyway.
- Adjustable point valuations for boosted travel redemptions.
- Exact spending break-even threshold to recoup the fee.
What is excluded or variable
- Interest charges: this calculator assumes you pay your balance in full every month. Carrying debt at 22% APR erases rewards.
- Breakage on credits: perks you forget to use or spend money on solely to earn credits do not count as genuine savings.
- Introductory sign-up bonuses (evaluated separately from ongoing annual fee retention).
- Changes to card reward structures or annual fees in subsequent renewal years.
A planning estimate based on your inputs and the assumptions shown. Actual reward earnings, redemption values, and statement credit eligibility may differ.