Headline rates are marketing, annual value is reality
Providers advertise their most attractive number. Converting every option to an annual euro figure on your own spend is the only fair comparison.
Where the differences sit
The main variables are the cashback rate, the monthly cap, the fee structure, receipt automation, accounting integrations and support for foreign currency spend.
Caps decide the outcome for bigger spenders
Above a certain monthly volume a capped card stops adding value. From that point on, an uncapped lower rate wins on every extra euro of spend.
Automation is money too
Hours saved on receipt handling and reconciliation convert into real cost at your internal or external hourly rate, and often exceed the cashback difference.
Keep the data honest
Provider terms change. Any comparison should show when each figure was last checked, and treat unconfirmed values as zero rather than guessing.
Next step
Start the scan to compare providers on your own figures. The full report is a one-time 29 euro payment.