Annual-fee break-even calculator
Pick a card with an annual fee, enter your monthly spend by category, and see whether rewards plus usable credits beat a 2% no-fee baseline after the fee. Madeen uses cap-aware catalog math from our weekly snapshot — no bank login required.
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Cards whose credits often cover the fee
Build-time snapshot from the Madeen catalog — cards where summed usable credits meet or exceed the published annual fee before rewards.
| Card | Annual fee | Usable credits | Surplus |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Platinum Card® American Express | $895 | $3,492 | $2,597 |
| Business Platinum® American Express | $895 | $3,453 | $2,558 |
| Chase Sapphire Reserve® Credit Card Chase | $795 | $2,729 | $1,934 |
| Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ Credit Card Chase | $795 | $2,713 | $1,918 |
| Citi Strata Elite Citi | $595 | $2,254 | $1,659 |
| J.P. Morgan Reserve® Chase | $795 | $2,429 | $1,634 |
| United Quest℠ Card Chase | $300 | $1,870 | $1,570 |
| Iberia Visa Signature® Credit Card Chase | $95 | $1,631 | $1,536 |
| United℠ Explorer Card Chase | $150 | $1,679 | $1,529 |
| Robinhood Platinum Card Coastal Community Bank | $695 | $2,164 | $1,469 |
| The Platinum Card from American Express Exclusively for Morgan Stanley American Express | $695 | $2,083 | $1,388 |
| United℠ Business Card Chase | $150 | $1,514 | $1,364 |
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Common questions
When does an annual fee make sense?
A fee is worth it when category rewards plus credits you will actually use exceed the fee and beat a simple 2% cash-back card on the same spend. Madeen models cap-aware earn rates from our catalog snapshot.
What spend should I enter?
Use realistic monthly averages for dining, grocery, gas, travel, and everything else. The calculator annualizes each bucket and applies each card’s effective rate including spend caps.
Annual-fee break-even calculator FAQ
How does the break-even calculator work?
Pick a card, enter monthly spend by category, and Madeen estimates annual rewards plus usable statement credits, subtracts the annual fee, and compares the net to a 2% no-fee baseline.
Are insurance coverage limits counted as credits?
No. Madeen excludes insurance coverage maximums from summed credit value — only benefits you can realistically use as credits or perks count toward break-even.
Does this include welcome bonuses?
This tool focuses on ongoing annual value. Welcome bonuses are excluded so you can judge whether the card pays for itself year after year.