How CardSetu compares credit cards

1. What we compare

Every card on CardSetu is described with the same set of fields, so cards can be compared like for like. These fields power the listing filters, the comparison table and each card’s Quick Take.

Annual fee

The fee charged each year to hold the card; nil for lifetime free cards.

Joining fee

A one-time fee at issuance, if any.

Minimum monthly income

The income floor the issuer publishes for applicants; meeting it allows an application, it does not guarantee approval.

Rewards and cashback

How the card returns value on spending: cashback percentage, reward points and accelerated categories.

Shopping

Benefits aimed at online and retail spending.

Travel

Forex markup, travel bookings and miles.

Lounge

Airport-lounge visits and any spend condition attached to them.

Movies

Ticket offers and entertainment benefits.

Fuel

Surcharge waivers and fuel rewards.

Lifetime free

Whether the annual fee is nil without a spend condition.

Documents and eligibility notes

What the issuer typically asks for, and age or income notes published for the card.

2. How recommendations work

CardSetu’s recommendations are rule-based, not editorial opinion and not machine learning. After you complete the indicative eligibility profile for a card, CardSetu looks at the other listed cards whose published minimum income is at or below the income you stated, prefers cards that share categories and a similar annual-fee band with the one you chose, gives lifetime free cards a small plus, and shows up to six cards ordered by that score. The card you were checking is never recommended to itself.

Guides in Insights state their own selection criteria at the top of each list. “Best” on CardSetu always means “best against the stated criteria among the cards listed here”, never a market-wide verdict.

3. What “indicative eligibility” means

The eligibility check compares what you tell us (employment type, monthly income, existing cards, city) with the requirements the issuer publishes for the card. It is indicative only. This indicative eligibility check does not involve a credit-bureau enquiry. Final verification, approval, credit limit and issuance are decided solely by the issuing institution, which may run its own checks when you complete its application.

4. How we handle commercial relationships

CardSetu may receive referral or distribution compensation from participating partners when customers apply for or obtain eligible products. This is how the service and CardSetu Rewards are funded. It does not change a card’s fees or terms, which are set by the issuer.

We do not describe CardSetu as independent or unbiased: which cards are listed depends in part on which issuers participate, and we say so. What we commit to is that every listed card is described with the same fields, that lists state their criteria, that relationship labels and logos appear only where a relationship is confirmed, and that no card is ranked higher because of the compensation attached to it.

5. Data sources and updates

Card facts come from issuer product pages and the documentation participating partners provide. Where an official source page is on record for a card, its Quick Take links to it and shows the date the entry was last reviewed. Where no date is shown, no review date is claimed. Product terms change; verify current terms with the issuer before applying.

6. Corrections

If a fee, income requirement, benefit or any other detail on CardSetu looks wrong or out of date, email support@cardsetu.com with the card name and, if you have it, a link to the issuer’s page. We check against the source and correct the entry.

7. Contact us

One support channel, by email: support@cardsetu.com

More about who we are on About CardSetu and Partners.