Value for Money is our signature rating—it answers the question: "Is this card worth its price?" We believe a free card with good rewards is inherently better than an expensive card with the same rewards.

This rating contributes 22.5% to overall score and is what makes our rankings different. Premium cards must significantly outperform free cards to rank well here.

• Free cards with strong rewards: Amazon Pay ICICI, Flipkart Axis—great value at zero cost
• Fee waiver achievability: Cards where you'll naturally hit waiver thresholds
• Benefit utilization: Premium cards only deliver value if you use their perks
• Net value calculation: (Rewards + Benefits Value) - Annual Fee = True Value

• Calculate your breakeven: How much must you spend/use to justify the annual fee?
• Don't pay for unused perks: Lounge access is worthless if you never fly
• Consider opportunity cost: Could a free card with reinvested "fee savings" beat a premium card?
• Track actual usage: Many overestimate how much they'll use premium benefits

Value for Money is perhaps the most important factor for most users. Don't be seduced by premium features you won't use. The best card is one where your actual value extracted significantly exceeds your actual cost paid.