| Feature | CardStack | AwardWallet |
|---|---|---|
| Primary focus | Premium card statement credits and annual fee ROI | Loyalty program balances across airlines, hotels, banks |
| Programs tracked | 100+ premium credit cards | 600+ loyalty programs |
| Statement credit auto-detection | Yes with CardStack+ and Plaid | No (shows benefits, not spending-based detection) |
| Annual fee ROI | Yes (net fee offset) | No |
| Points expiration alerts | Credit expiration reminders | Full expiration tracking (Plus tier) |
| Best card for a purchase | Yes (category and location based) | Limited (highlights better card per transaction) |
| AI assistant | Ask Stack | No |
| Platforms | iOS + Chrome/Safari extensions | Web, iOS, Android |
| Pricing | Free tier; CardStack+ $69.99/year | Free tier; Plus $49.99/year |
What is AwardWallet best at?
AwardWallet has tracked loyalty programs for years. It pulls balances from 600+ airlines, hotels, credit card issuers, rental cars, and more into one dashboard. It alerts you when points are about to expire, stores loyalty numbers, and organizes travel itineraries. If your main question is how many points you hold across every program, that is AwardWallet's core strength, and it goes well beyond what a credit-card-only app attempts.
What is CardStack best at?
CardStack focuses on premium credit cards: statement credits, perks, and whether each card's annual fee is paying for itself. A statement credit is money your issuer credits back when you buy something eligible. CardStack tracks which credits you used, which expire soon, and whether you swiped the wrong card. Net fee offset is what the card gave you minus the annual fee you paid.
Does AwardWallet replace a credit card benefits tracker?
Not fully. AwardWallet shows card benefits and available credits as part of loyalty account data. It does not auto-detect when you used your Uber cash or airline fee credit from bank transactions. It does not calculate effective annual fee from credits you actually redeemed. CardStack is purpose-built for that lifecycle.
Can I use AwardWallet and CardStack together?
Yes, and that is a common setup. AwardWallet for airline miles, hotel points, and program expiration dates. CardStack for Amex Platinum credits, Chase Sapphire Reserve credits, annual fee ROI, and which card to use at checkout. They overlap on points balances but serve different primary jobs.
How does pricing compare?
As of June 2026, AwardWallet is free with limits (2 account updates per 24 hours). AwardWallet Plus is $49.99/year. CardStack is free to download with manual credit tracking. CardStack+ is $69.99/year or $7.99/month after a 7-day trial for Plaid sync, auto credit detection, extensions, and Ask Stack.
Who should use which app?
Use AwardWallet if you track dozens of loyalty programs, need expiration alerts across airlines and hotels, or want a single dashboard for the whole family's miles.
Use CardStack if you carry premium cards, your statement credits reset and expire on schedules that are easy to miss, and you want to know whether an $895 or $795 annual fee is covered. Use both if you are deep in points and premium cards.
Frequently asked questions
Can AwardWallet track Amex Platinum credits?
AwardWallet can show card benefits and available credits as part of loyalty account data. It does not auto-detect statement credit usage from your spending or calculate whether your annual fee is covered. CardStack is built specifically for that.
Should I use AwardWallet and CardStack together?
Yes, if you want both. AwardWallet is strong for airline, hotel, and bank loyalty balances across 600+ programs. CardStack is strong for premium card statement credits, fee ROI, and missed rewards. They solve different problems.
Is AwardWallet free?
AwardWallet has a free tier with unlimited program tracking and limited account updates. AwardWallet Plus costs $49.99/year for unlimited updates, full expiration tracking, and transaction history.
Does CardStack track airline miles?
CardStack tracks points balances for cards in your wallet with dollar valuations. AwardWallet goes broader: 600+ loyalty programs including airlines, hotels, and rental cars in one dashboard.
Which app is better for knowing if my annual fee is worth it?
CardStack. It lines up what each card gave you against what you paid (net fee offset) using your real spending. AwardWallet focuses on loyalty balances and expiration alerts, not premium card fee ROI.