Guide
How Pikt's credit card reward router works (2026)
Pikt's router evaluates every purchase in order: active merchant offers, active category offers, standing category multipliers, catch-all tiebreak, and utilization tiebreak. Each result includes a plain-English explanation and dollar-value estimate.
Quick comparison
| Card | Best for | Earn rate | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | Merchant offers | Highest priority | — |
| Step 2 | Category multipliers | 3–6% | — |
| Step 3 | Catch-all / utilization | 2% | — |
Why most people pick the wrong card
Most people default to the same card at checkout — usually the one on top in their wallet. That habit quietly costs hundreds of dollars a year when another card in your stack earns 3×, 4×, or even 6× on the same purchase.
How Pikt routes smarter than guesswork
The algorithm is pure TypeScript, fully unit-tested, and isolated from infrastructure — it takes your card stack and a purchase, and returns the optimal route with earned value and optimization delta.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Pikt move money between cards?
- No — Pikt recommends which of your existing cards to use. The Pikt card in Apple Pay (roadmap) will pay with your best linked card at tap time.
- Can I test before linking cards?
- Yes — the homepage quiz and simulator work without an account.
See your personal best cards
Generic advice assumes average spend. Your wallet is different. Take Pikt's 60-second quiz — pick your top spending areas and whether you prefer cash back, travel points, or simplicity.
Where does your money go?
Pick your top spending areas and we'll show you which cards earn the most for each.
What matters most to you?
No account needed to try it · Free to start
No account required · Free to start · No new cards needed