Editorial Guidelines

At Clever Credit Cards, transparency is foundational. This page explains how we evaluate credit cards, maintain editorial independence, and keep our content accurate and up to date.

Rating Methodology

Every credit card is scored on a 5-point scale across four dimensions:

• Rewards (25%): Value of base and bonus category earning rates, sign-up bonus value, and redemption flexibility
• Fees (25%): Annual fee value proposition, foreign transaction fees, balance transfer fees, and other costs
• Perks (25%): Travel benefits, purchase protections, insurance, lounge access, and statement credits
• Overall (25%): Overall value considering the target audience, ease of use, and how the card compares to peers

The overall rating is not simply an average — it reflects our editorial judgment of the card's total value for its intended audience.

Fact-Checking Process

• Card details (APR, fees, rewards) are verified against issuer disclosures
• Data is refreshed monthly to catch rate and benefit changes
• All calculations are tested for mathematical accuracy
• Content is reviewed before publication for accuracy and completeness

Update Policy

We review and update our card data monthly. When a card's terms change materially (APR changes, benefit modifications, fee updates), we update the review within 5 business days. Each review shows a “Last Updated” date.

Independence from Advertisers

Card issuers and affiliate networks have no influence over our editorial ratings or recommendations. Our editorial and business operations are independent:

• Issuers never preview or approve reviews before publication
• Compensation does not affect our star ratings
• We feature non-partner cards alongside partner cards
• If we believe a non-partner card is the best option, we say so

Corrections

If you spot an error in any of our content, please contact us. We take accuracy seriously and will correct verified errors promptly with a note explaining what changed.