How Vyaya rates credit cards

Where the data comes from

Every card's reward rules are extracted from primary sources: the issuer's Most Important Terms & Conditions (MITC), the official product page, and the published rewards catalogue. Each card page links to its sources and shows when the data was last verified. We re-verify cards on a rolling basis and prioritise re-checks whenever an issuer devalues or restructures a programme.

The reward-value formula

We convert every reward currency to rupees. A card's effective reward rate is points earned per spend × point value in ₹ ÷ spend amount. Point values use each programme's realistic redemption value (e.g. statement credit, catalogue vouchers, or airline transfers where available), not the marketing-best case.

Accelerated categories are modelled per rule: multiplier, monthly caps, minimum transaction sizes, and — critically — whether the rate requires routing spend through a bank portal (SmartBuy, Travel EDGE, iShop and similar). Portal-gated rates are shown separately from direct rates so you're never surprised at the till. Excluded categories (fuel, rent, wallet loads, government spends and so on) earn zero in our math, exactly as they do in real life.

Editor ratings

The 1–10 editor rating weighs net annual value (rewards minus fees at realistic spend levels), reward-rate consistency, redemption quality and flexibility, fee-waiver attainability, and lifestyle benefits like lounge access. Two people with different spend patterns get different value from the same card — which is why the calculator matters more than any single rating.

Independence

Some apply links may earn us an affiliate commission. Commissions never influence ratings, rankings, or calculator output; the rewards engine has no input for them. See About for how we make money.

Corrections

Reward programmes change often, and we'd rather fix an error in hours than defend it. Report anything stale to support@vyaya.in. Always confirm current terms on the issuer's official page before applying.