Core Concepts
The building blocks of credit card benefits
Card Components Each credit card can have three types of benefits: credits, perks, and multipliers. These are usually tied to specific spending categories like dining, travel, or groceries.
Credit A fixed-value benefit from your credit card that offsets purchases in specific categories. Unlike points, credits are "use it or lose it."
Perk A non-credit card benefit like lounge access, travel insurance, purchase protection, or elite status.
Multiplier The bonus earning rate for a spending category, expressed as a multiple (e.g., 3x points on dining) or percentage (e.g., 5% back on groceries).
Category A spending type that credits, perks, and multipliers apply to (e.g., dining, travel, groceries, gas, streaming).
Chat History Your past conversations with the AI assistant. Access them from the Previous Chats page to review recommendations or continue a conversation.
Custom Instructions Personalized guidelines you set in Preferences that the AI follows when making recommendations. Use these to tell the AI your priorities, like preferring cashback or targeting specific airlines.
Daily Zen An AI-generated daily summary that appears when you start a new chat. It shows expiring credits, quick wins, monthly progress, and total value realized.
Start Date (Card) The opened date of an ownership period. It controls the card anniversary and the beginning of that period's eligible credit history. Edit it from My Cards under Manage Card > Card timeline.
Default Start Date A system-estimated opened date, normally the first of the month when you add the card. Cardzen uses it as the fallback for anniversary timing until you enter the current period's actual opened date.
Card Timeline The list of non-overlapping periods when you held a card. Each period has an opened date and either a closed date or Present. Cardzen uses the combined periods for historical eligibility and excludes gaps between them.
Past Card A card whose latest ownership period is closed. It leaves the active wallet but keeps its detail tabs, tracking preferences, timeline, and eligible historical report value.
Added by Mistake A permanent Cardzen-only removal for a card that should not have been in My Cards. It deletes that card's saved Cardzen credit history, streaks, tracking preferences, and timeline, and it does not create a Past card. It does not close or cancel the issuer account.
Credit Status
The different states a credit can be in
Available (Not Used) A credit status indicating the credit is ready to use and has not been redeemed yet.
Partially Used A credit status indicating some value has been used but the full amount hasn't been redeemed.
Redeemed (Used) A credit status indicating the full value has been redeemed for the current period.
Not Tracked A credit that you've chosen not to track. It won't appear in your stats or monthly summaries.
Streak (Pro) The number of consecutive periods you've used a credit (fully or partially). See Credit Streaks.
Max streak (Pro) Your personal-best streak on a given credit, tracked over the credit's lifetime. Preserved even after the current streak breaks.
Flame badge (Pro) The orange flame pill shown on a credit row in My Credits once the current streak reaches the period-specific threshold: 4+ for monthly credits, 3+ for quarterly and semiannual credits, and 2+ for annual credits. Indicates how many consecutive periods you've used the credit.
Timing & Reset Periods
When and how often credits become available
Period The time window for using a credit before it resets. Can be a month, quarter, half-year, or year.
Earning Frequency How often a credit resets and becomes available again: monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually.
Quarterly Credits or bonuses that reset every three months: Q1 (Jan-Mar), Q2 (Apr-Jun), Q3 (Jul-Sep), Q4 (Oct-Dec).
Semi-Annual Credits that reset twice per year: first half (January-June) and second half (July-December).
Calendar Year Credits that reset on January 1 for all cardholders, regardless of when the account was opened.
Anniversary Date / Start Date Defines the beginning of your tracking period and your card anniversary. The month and day determine when anniversary-based credits reset and when your annual fee posts. It doesn't have to be the exact date you opened the card. You can use a more recent year if you only want a few years of history, as long as the month and day match your anniversary.
Anniversary-Based Credits that reset on your card's anniversary date instead of January 1. Common for airline fee credits and some travel credits.
Card Management
Terms related to organizing and managing your cards
Preferred Card A card you've designated as your go-to choice for a specific spending category. The AI will prioritize this card in recommendations.
Frozen A card state where the card is temporarily excluded from AI recommendations but remains in your portfolio.
Account Deletion Permanent removal of all your data including cards, credits, chat history, and preferences. Requires typing "DELETE" to confirm and cannot be undone.
Voice
Terms related to voice input and voice responses (available in the Cardzen iOS app)
Voice Input Speaking your question to the AI instead of typing. Transcribed on-device and sent as a normal message.
Voice Summaries A preference that controls whether the AI reads its response aloud after a voice message. Typed messages are never read aloud.
Natural Voice A premium, AI-generated voice available to Pro subscribers. Comes in four options: Aria, Nova, Atlas, and Sage.
Standard Voice The device's built-in text-to-speech engine. Available to everyone.
Multiplier Types
Different ways cards offer bonus rewards
Selectable Multiplier A multiplier whose active category, rewards option, tier, or status can vary. Some cards let you choose the option; others require you to record the status already assigned by the issuer. Options can have different earning rates or spending caps. Cardzen uses your recorded option—or a safe issuer default when one is available—for recommendations. Changing a recorded status in Cardzen does not change it with the issuer.
Rotating Multiplier Bonus categories that change every quarter, typically offering 5% back. You usually need to activate/enroll in these categories each quarter to earn the bonus. Common examples include Chase Freedom Flex (5% on quarterly categories like groceries, gas, Amazon) and Discover it Cash Back (5% on rotating categories). Check your card issuer's website to see current categories and activate them.