Transparent, data-driven, percentile-based rankings
Most credit card comparison sites use arbitrary scores. We don't. Every card is ranked against every other card in our database.
When we say a card has a 4.5-star rewards rating, it means that card is in the top 12.5% of ALL 300+ cards we track for rewards. Not an arbitrary score - a real comparison against the competition.
This means ratings automatically adjust as new cards enter the market. If a groundbreaking new card launches, existing cards may shift down slightly - because they're now relatively less competitive.
Every card receives an overall rating calculated from five components, each derived from our 19 leaderboards:
Based on: Rewards leaderboard (70%), Milestones (20%), Online rewards (10%). Cashback cards get +8% bonus.
Based on: Rewards (30%), Lounge Access (25%), Milestones (20%), Lifestyle (15%), Insurance (10%) - all relative to annual fee.
Based on: Annual Fee (50%), Interest Rate (25%), Forex Markup (15%), Accessibility (10%). Lifetime free cards get +0.3 bonus.
Based on: Lounge Access (40%), Lifestyle perks (30%), Insurance (20%), Travel benefits (10%). 24x7 concierge adds +0.2.
Average rating from verified cardholders. Only approved, genuine reviews count. Default: 3.0 if no reviews yet.
Beyond the overall rating, we maintain 24 specialized leaderboards. Each ranks ALL cards for a specific use case:
Cashback is guaranteed value. When a card says 5% cashback, you get exactly ₹5 back on every ₹100. Points can be devalued, have complex redemption rules, and uncertain real-world value. We account for this with a scoring bonus for cashback cards.
A free card with feature X should score higher than an expensive card with the same feature X. Our Value for Money multiplier ensures this:
When cards have identical primary scores, we use documented secondary factors: cashback type beats points, lower joining fee beats higher, more guest visits beats fewer. Every tiebreaker is predictable and transparent.
Because our ratings measure VALUE, not just features. A free card delivering 80% of a premium card's benefits at 0% of the cost is objectively better value. If you want pure feature comparisons regardless of cost, look at our raw leaderboard scores.
Leaderboards are recalculated whenever card data changes. Ratings are derived from leaderboard positions in real-time. When a new card launches or an existing card updates its features, all rankings adjust automatically.
No. Our algorithm is purely data-driven. We may earn affiliate commissions when you apply for cards, but this never influences ratings. Editorial and business operations are completely separate.
We'd love to hear from you! Our methodology is transparent, but we're always looking to improve. Contact us with specific feedback.
CardNitty ratings answer one question: "How does this card compare to every other card in India?"
We believe in relative comparisons, not arbitrary scores. When you see a 4.5-star card, you know it's genuinely in the top tier - because we've compared it against every alternative.
Last updated: December 2025 | Algorithm version: 2.0
