The test setup
We held usage constant — $2,000/month total spend, 30% in foreign currency, 20% withdrawn at ATMs — and ran every tracked card through the same net-value model. This removes marketing noise and compares apples to apples.
What changed the ranking
Cards with no monthly fee and low FX consistently rose to the top, while high-headline-cashback cards with caps slipped once the cap bit at $2k spend. ATM-heavy users saw an even bigger reshuffle.
Run it for your own profile
Your numbers differ. The calculator on the use-case page lets you change spend, FX share and ATM usage and re-rank instantly — the honest way to pick a card.