Credit Card Rating Methodology
We analyze 100+ Swiss credit cards across 50+ data points. Here's exactly how our weighted scoring system works, what factors matter most, and why we keep rankings independent from partnerships.
Why Does Rating Methodology Matter?
Most comparison sites won't tell you how they rank products. We think that's a problem. Here's exactly how we score every credit card in Switzerland, what factors matter, and why some cards rank higher than others.
How Do We Score Credit Cards?
Every card gets rated on a 0-5 scale across 6 categories. Each category uses a different weighted formula because what matters for cashback cards isn't what matters for travel cards. Simple as that.
What Are the 6 Credit Card Categories?
One card can rank #1 for cashback and #50 for travel. That's not a bug, it's the point. Different spending patterns need different cards. Here's how we weight each category:
Cashback
Best CardsTravel (miles)
Best CardsStudent
Best CardsPremium
Best CardsLuxury
Best CardsShopping
Best CardsHow We Score Brand Shopping Alignment
For shopping cards we add one factor most comparison sites ignore: does the issuer actually position itself around shopping? A travel-club card and a Coop voucher card can both pay 1% back, but only one is built for the shopping use case. We grade each issuer 1-5 based on its own website, then weight that score at 15% in the shopping formula.
Scoring scale
- 5Pure shopping brand. The card is an extension of a marketplace, department store, or retail chain.
- 4Shopping is one of two or three explicit product pillars on the issuer's homepage.
- 3General-purpose payments brand. Shopping is one supported use case among many.
- 2General payments or lifestyle brand. Shopping is tertiary positioning.
- 1Travel, mobility or club brand. Shopping is incidental to the card's purpose.
Shopping alignment scores by brand
fnac.ch positions itself as the destination for books, BD, gaming, hi-fi, photo and home tech ("Achat en ligne de produits culturels et technologiques"). Card rewards convert into Fnac vouchers.
Sourcemanor.ch homepage covers the full department-store catalogue: Beauty, Schmuck, Damen, Herren, Kinder, Sport, Heim & Haushalt, Multimedia, Wein, Geschenke. Card earns 2 Manor points per CHF at Manor stores.
Sourcepkz.ch is a fashion-only e-commerce ("Fashion Online-Shop. Grosse Auswahl an Top-Marken"). Card adds a 1% PKZ loyalty bonus on top of base cashback.
Source"The best cashback offers, deals, vouchers and discounts of Switzerland." 1,500+ brands, 400+ partners, deals up to 50% off, digital vouchers up to 10% cashback. Card is a payment extension of the shopping app.
Sourcebonuscard.ch segments its line-up under "Für jeden Tag / Shopping / Reisen" with the tagline "Shopping, das sich auszahlt." Shopping is a deliberate positioning, not an afterthought.
Sourcecornercard.ch hero cards are Platinum, Miles & More, WWF, Visa Classic. Positioning leans premium / travel / lifestyle. "Welcome everywhere, when traveling or online shopping" treats shopping as one of several use cases.
Sourcedinersclub.ch hero cards are Miles & More, Gold, Classic, Golf. Positioning is travel, dining and lifestyle for affluent customers. No retail or shopping-focused product.
Sourceswisscard.ch leads with "Swiss quality for daily payments." Marketing language: "Pay conveniently for daily shopping, while traveling and online." Shopping is one of several equal use cases, not a core promise.
SourceAutomobil Club der Schweiz vision and product range center on driving, road services and member events. No shopping marketplace or retail loyalty offering.
SourceTouring Club Schweiz markets roadside assistance, traffic safety, e-mobility and parking apps. The card sits inside member services, not a shopping ecosystem.
Sourcetui.ch is a holiday booking site: Pauschalferien, Hotel, Kreuzfahrten, Ausflüge, with the tagline "Ferien buchen beim Marktführer." Card rewards are TUI travel vouchers, not generic shopping value.
SourceWhat Makes Our Rankings Different?
We Use Real Data, Not Marketing Copy
Every fee, rate, and benefit comes from official sources. When banks update their terms, our rankings update too. No stale comparisons sitting around for months.
Every Card Gets the Same Treatment
Same evaluation framework for everyone. No special weighting for partners, no adjustments based on who pays us. A card from UBS gets judged exactly like a card from a small fintech.
Filters That Match Real Life
You shouldn't have to translate bank jargon. Our filters work with real questions: How much do you spend abroad? Do you travel for work? What's your monthly card spending?
Scores You Can Actually Understand
Every score breaks down into explainable factors. You can see exactly why a card ranks where it does. No black-box algorithms, no mystery sauce.
Partners Don't Affect Rankings
Here's the uncomfortable truth most sites won't admit: affiliate money can bias rankings. We keep monetization completely separate from evaluation. Bad products rank low, partner or not.
Rankings That Stay Current
Swiss banks change their products. Regulations shift. We update our methodology when the market does. No "set and forget" comparisons that get stale.
How Do Bonuses and Penalties Work?
Some cards fit certain categories perfectly. A Miles & More card gets a boost in travel rankings. A CHF 300/year card gets penalized in student rankings. These adjustments reward good fits and flag mismatches.
What Metrics Do We Calculate?
- Fee Value: Lower annual fees and FX fees = higher scores. We calculate the real cost of holding each card.
- Insurance Score: Average rating across 11 coverage types including medical, trip cancellation, and rental car.
- Simplicity Score: Fewer hoops to jump through means better scores, especially for student cards.
The Bottom Line
We score cards based on what actually matters for each use case. Cashback seekers care about return rates. Travelers need insurance. Students want low fees. Our weighted formulas reflect these real priorities, not marketing buzz.