1. Be Specific About the Merchant
The more specific you are, the better the recommendation.
| Instead of... | Try... |
|---|---|
| "Best card for gas" | "Best card for gas at Costco" |
| "Best card for groceries" | "Best card for groceries at Whole Foods" |
| "Best card for shopping" | "Best card for electronics at Best Buy" |
2. Include the Amount
Amount matters for bonus thresholds, category caps, and determining if credits apply.
- "Best card for a $50 dinner" vs "Best card for a $500 celebration dinner"
- "I need to spend $4,000 this quarter to hit my bonus"
- "$15 Uber ride" might trigger a credit, "$50 might not"
3. State Your Constraints
Tell the AI about your preferences or limitations:
- "...but I prefer cashback over points"
- "...and I don't want to use my annual fee cards"
- "...keeping in mind I'm trying to use up my Amex credits"
- "...I want to keep my cards under utilization limit"
4. Set Custom Instructions
Save time by setting preferences in Preferences. The AI will remember things like:
- Your preferred rewards type (cashback vs points)
- Travel goals (airlines, hotels, destinations)
- Cards you want to prioritize or avoid
- Spending patterns and categories
5. Ask Follow-up Questions
The conversation continues, so you can ask for more details:
- "Why did you recommend that card?"
- "What if I used my other card instead?"
- "Are there any credits I should use first?"
- "What about the points I'd earn?"
Remember: The AI uses the cards, benefits, and activity you add to Cardzen. Cardzen works without linking a bank, and any future connection remains optional.
6. Tips for Voice Input
Voice is available in the Cardzen iOS app, on the App Store. A few habits help the AI understand you:
- Speak in short, complete sentences. Recordings cap at 30 seconds.
- Pause naturally when done. The app auto-sends about 1.5 seconds after you stop.
- State merchants and amounts clearly. "Best card for a fifty dollar dinner at Olive Garden" beats trailing off.
- Tap stop if you misspeak. Stop sends what was captured, or cancels if the field is empty.
- Find a quiet spot. Background noise interrupts transcription, and the app shows "No speech detected" after 5 seconds of silence.
Learn more in Ask the AI.