Kudos has partnered with CardRatings and Red Ventures for our coverage of credit card products. Kudos, CardRatings, and Red Ventures may receive a commission from card issuers. Kudos may receive commission from card issuers. Some of the card offers that appear on Kudos are from advertisers and may impact how and where card products appear on the site. Kudos tries to include as many card companies and offers as we are aware of, including offers from issuers that don't pay us, but we may not cover all card companies or all available card offers. You don't have to use our links, but we're grateful when you do!
CardPointers Review 2025: Is This Credit Card App Worth It?
July 1, 2025
CardPointers is a popular credit card reward optimization app that promises to help users earn more points, miles, and cash back. But with a $60 annual price tag for its CardPointers+ subscription, is it really worth the cost? In this comprehensive CardPointers review, we'll examine its features, benefits, and drawbacks, and compare it to Kudos, a free alternative that's quickly gaining traction.
What Is CardPointers?
CardPointers is an app that helps users maximize their credit card rewards by tracking bonuses, offers, and welcome bonuses. It can help users save money, earn cash back, points, and miles, and find better cards. The app supports cards from over 900 banks, including American Express, Chase, Citibank, Discover, Capital One, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and Barclaycard.
CardPointers automatically tracks every category bonus and recurring bank credit from supported cards. It also provides location-based card recommendations to help users use the right card for each purchase. For example, the app might recommend using the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card at Costco, the American Express® Gold Card when grocery shopping, or the Citi Premier® Card at gas stations.
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "2888", "isExpanded": "true", "bestForCategoryId": "52", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint" : "Luxurious Travel Benefits" } ]]
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "118", "isExpanded": "false", "bestForCategoryId": "15", "bestForText": "Frequent Travelers", "headerHint": "Generous Travel Rewards"} ]]
[[ SINGLE_CARD * {"id": "570", "isExpanded": "true", "bestForCategoryId": "52", "bestForText": "Everyday Spenders", "headerHint" : "Generous Rewards" } ]]
CardPointers is available for Android and iPhone. It offers a free version with basic functionality, but users can also subscribe to the paid version, CardPointers+, for $60 per year. While CardPointers offers useful features, it's important to consider whether the $60/year subscription fee for CardPointers+ is justified, especially when compared to free apps like Kudos that provide similar functionality.
If you usually earn 3% cash back on sites like Walmart or Ticketmaster, you can now get 6% back with Kudos. It's like Apple Pay, Honey, and Nerdwallet, all-in-one. It's FREE—try it now!
How Much Does CardPointers Cost?
CardPointers offers two plans: a free basic version and CardPointers+, which costs $60 per year. The free version provides limited features, such as the ability to track up to three credit cards and receive personalized card recommendations for top spending categories.
To access the full range of features, including unlimited card tracking, advanced spending insights, and enhanced reward redemption options, users must upgrade to the $60/year CardPointers+ plan.
While $60 per year may seem reasonable for some users, it's worth noting that other apps like Kudos offer better features and benefits completely free of charge.
Key Features of CardPointers
- Supports a wide range of credit card issuers and reward programs
- Provides personalized card recommendations based on your spending patterns
- Offers a comprehensive dashboard to track your progress and rewards
- Includes a rewards calculator to estimate your earning potential
- Sends alerts for limited-time offers and bonus categories
- Offers a user-friendly interface and mobile apps for on-the-go access
While these features are helpful, they may not justify the $60/year cost of CardPointers+, especially when free apps like Kudos provide similar capabilities along with additional benefits. Unlike CardPointers, Kudos is partnered directly with The Points Guy, a collaboration that elevates the sign-up bonuses available to you through CardMatch. This relationship ensures Kudos members receive access to only the best, the most exclusive credit card offers available on the internet.
CardPointers vs. Kudos: Which App Offers Better Value?
When comparing CardPointers to Kudos, it's essential to consider the value each app provides in relation to its cost. While CardPointers charges $60/year for its premium features, Kudos offers a comprehensive suite of reward optimization tools completely free.
Here's how the two apps compare in key areas:
Cost:
- CardPointers Basic: Free with limited features
- CardPointers+: $60/year for full access
- Kudos: 100% free with no hidden fees or subscriptions
Ease of Use:
- CardPointers provides personalized card recommendations, but users must manually select the best card for each purchase.
- Kudos automates the process by instantly applying the best card when you shop online that earns you the highest rewards, points, or cash back.
Rewards Tracking:
- Both apps offer dashboards to track progress and monitor rewards across multiple credit cards.
- Kudos provides more detailed insights and breakdowns of earning and redemption activity.
Exclusive Perks:
- CardPointers does not offer any exclusive perks or benefits.
- Kudos secures elevated sign-up bonuses for new credit cards through their partnership with The Points Guy and offers one-click autofill when you shop online.
User Satisfaction:
- CardPointers has generally positive user reviews.
- Kudos boasts a 4.9-star average rating, with users praising its exceptional value and seamless experience.
Considering the cost difference and the additional features offered by Kudos, it's clear that Kudos provides a better overall value for users looking to maximize their credit card rewards without incurring an annual subscription fee.
Final Verdict: Kudos Trumps CardPointers in Value and Features
When it comes to maximizing credit card rewards, both CardPointers and Kudos offer tools to help users earn more points, miles, and cash back. However, after thoroughly comparing the two apps, it's clear that Kudos provides superior value and a more comprehensive feature set.
CardPointers' $60/year subscription fee for its premium CardPointers+ plan may be a significant drawback for many users, especially considering that Kudos offers its full suite of reward optimization tools and benefits completely free. While CardPointers does provide useful features like personalized card recommendations and spending insights, these alone may not justify the annual cost.
On the other hand, Kudos not only matches CardPointers in core functionality but also offers additional features that give it a clear edge. Kudos' automatic card selection technology ensures that users always earn the maximum rewards, points, and cash back possible on every purchase, eliminating the need to manually choose the best card.
Ultimately, for the majority of consumers seeking a powerful and cost-effective tool to optimize their credit card rewards, Kudos emerges as the clear winner. Its comprehensive feature set, user-friendly design, and unbeatable price point make it the smarter choice compared to CardPointers' paid subscription model.
Key Takeaways
- CardPointers charges $60/year for its CardPointers+ subscription, which unlocks its full suite of features
- Kudos offers comparable reward tracking and optimization tools completely free of charge
- While CardPointers provides personalized recommendations, Kudos automates the process for a more seamless experience
- Kudos secures exclusive card offers and perks through its partnership with The Points Guy
- Considering the cost and features, Kudos offers superior value compared to CardPointers' paid subscription
If you're ready to maximize your credit card rewards without paying an annual fee, give Kudos a try. With its powerful tools, user-friendly design, and unbeatable value proposition, it's the top choice for anyone looking to earn more points, miles, and cash back on every purchase.
Unlock your extra benefits when you become a Kudos member
Turn your online shopping into even more rewards
Join over 400,000 members simplifying their finances
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are those of Kudos 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 within the post.
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
