The SwipeCaddy blog
Honest card math, written from the same data that powers our rankings — no affiliate links, ever.
From CCPicks (2017) to SwipeCaddy, rebuilt
SwipeCaddy is the 2026 rebuild of CCPicks, a 2017 rewards app I shipped solo and lost to stale data. Same idea — use the card you already own — done right.
By Jangul Aslam · Published August 13, 2026
Why SwipeCaddy has no affiliate links
SwipeCaddy earns no affiliate commissions — no card issuer pays us when you apply. Funded by Pro and ads, so the card our engine names is what the math picks.
By Jangul Aslam · Published August 13, 2026
The cheapest credit-card rewards apps, compared
SwipeCaddy is $29.99/yr — vs CardPointers $71.99, Kudos $71.95, MaxRewards $108–240 — and the only one that never links your bank. Free tiers, priced.
By Jangul Aslam · Published August 13, 2026
What do DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Instacart actually code as?
Delivery apps usually code as dining, not groceries — even a grocery run through Instacart may not count as groceries. How merchant codes decide your rewards.
By Jangul Aslam · Published July 11, 2026
The 3-card wallet: we ran all 260,130 combinations so you don't have to
One card captures 62.6% of the maximum rewards across 27 categories. Two capture 77.6%. Three, 84.4% — engine-computed, every combo named.
By Jangul Aslam · Published July 11, 2026
The 5% fine print: spend caps on Citi Custom Cash, Freedom Flex, and friends
Every 5% card has a cap — $500/month, $1,500/quarter, $6,000/year — and after it, many pay less than a boring 2% card. The full ceiling math.
By Jangul Aslam · Published July 11, 2026
How we value points and miles (and why our numbers are lower than everyone else's)
SwipeCaddy ranks every card by a conservative cash value per point — 1¢ for Chase and Amex points, 0.4¢ for Hilton. Here's the full table and the reasoning.
By Jangul Aslam · Published July 10, 2026
Why Walmart and Target don't count as groceries on your credit card
Most issuers exclude superstores and warehouse clubs from grocery bonus categories. Here's why your 6% grocery card pays 1% at Walmart — and what to use instead.
By Jangul Aslam · Published July 10, 2026
Paying rent with a credit card: the 3% surcharge math most sites skip
Rent processors typically add a ~3% card fee, so a 2% card loses money on rent. The full break-even math, when the fee is worth eating, and the fee-free path.
By Jangul Aslam · Published July 10, 2026