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.

cards rated
100+
categories
6
data points
50+
independent
100%

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. When we have no customer-satisfaction data for a card, we score it on the criteria we do have instead of counting it as zero. A card's main category is the one where it scores highest.

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 Cards
  • Cashback Rate50%
  • Customer Satisfaction30%
  • Fee Value20%

Travel (miles)

Best Cards
  • Miles & Rewards Value30%
  • Insurance Coverage25%
  • Lounge Access20%
  • FX Fees15%
  • Customer Satisfaction10%

Student

Best Cards
  • Low Fees50%
  • Customer Satisfaction30%
  • Simplicity20%

Premium

Best Cards
  • Insurance Coverage25%
  • Annual Fee & FX Costs20%
  • Lounge Access15%
  • Rewards Value15%
  • Welcome Bonus10%
  • Concierge, Partner Card & Acceptance10%
  • Customer Satisfaction5%

Luxury

Best Cards
  • Lounge Experience25%
  • Travel Status & Credits20%
  • Insurance Coverage20%
  • Rewards Value15%
  • Concierge Service10%
  • Net Cost10%

Shopping

Best Cards
  • Adjusted Reward Value20%
  • Partner & Voucher Ecosystem20%
  • Brand Shopping Alignment15%
  • Purchase Protection12%
  • Customer Satisfaction10%
  • Welcome Bonus8%
  • Network Acceptance5%
  • Fee Value5%
  • FX Fees5%

How 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

5
Fnac

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.

Source
5
Manor

manor.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.

Source
5
PKZ

pkz.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
5
Poinz

"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.

Source
4
Bonus Card

bonuscard.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.

Source
3
Cornèrcard

cornercard.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.

Source
2
Diners Club

dinersclub.ch hero cards are Miles & More, Gold, Classic, Golf. Positioning is travel, dining and lifestyle for affluent customers. No retail or shopping-focused product.

Source
2
Swisscard

swisscard.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.

Source
1
ACS

Automobil Club der Schweiz vision and product range center on driving, road services and member events. No shopping marketplace or retail loyalty offering.

Source
1
TCS

Touring Club Schweiz markets roadside assistance, traffic safety, e-mobility and parking apps. The card sits inside member services, not a shopping ecosystem.

Source
1
TUI

tui.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.

Source

What 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.

Best Cards

Top-rated credit cards with the best overall value and benefits

Best Cards