How our site works

At Nerdwallet, we help users compare financial products simply and clearly so they can make informed decisions. We are not owned by any bank, insurer, or financial institution. Our goal is to support smart financial choices through useful, easy-to-understand comparison tools.

The information on this site does not constitute financial advice. We do our best to ensure accuracy, but product terms, pricing, and availability can change. Always check with the provider to confirm that a product is right for you. 

How Our Comparison Tables Work

Our comparison tables are built using structured methods, including consumer and business owner surveys, as well as market analysis. We currently work with over 30 partners who pay us to be featured in these tables. If a company does not have a commercial agreement with us, it won’t appear—even if it offers relevant or competitive products.

Important: Our tables only include providers who pay us. This means they do not show the whole market, and there may be better or more suitable products available elsewhere.

Our editorial content—like guides, and articles—is produced independently by our team and is not influenced by these commercial relationships.

How We Make Money

Our service is free to use. We make money through commercial partnerships with selected providers. Here’s how:

• Advertising:
  Some pages display paid advertisements. These placements help fund our work and keep the site free.
  
• Partner Links:
  You may see links to partner websites that help you check eligibility, compare options, or apply directly.
  When you click on these and take action (such as applying or purchasing), we may receive a commission.
  These links are clearly marked with a “Promotion” “Offer” or “Deal” label to distinguish them from editorial content.
  
• Comparison Table Listings:
  Companies featured in our tables pay us a fee when you click through to their website or choose one of their products.
  The payment model varies—some pay a fixed fee, others pay per click, application, or sale.
  

We never charge users, and our partners cannot pay to influence our editorial content or reviews.

What Does ‘Best’ Mean?

When we describe a product as “Best,” this means it performed strongest among the products we reviewed based on independent research, user surveys, and pre-defined criteria that matter to consumers, such as value, customer service, usability, and features.

Our “Best” ratings reflect our editorial assessment at the time of review. They are not financial advice and may not be suitable for every individual. 

We only review and compare products from providers that compensate us, and our “Best” selections are limited to those providers. We aim to be transparent, consistent, and fair in our assessments. 

Our reviews do not cover the whole market, and products from providers that do not pay us are not included. As a result, other products—potentially cheaper or more appropriate for certain users—may be available elsewhere.

Who We Work With

We currently partner with over 100 companies, including banks, insurers, lenders, brokers, and technology platforms. This allows us to compare thousands of financial products.

However, we do not cover the entire market. Some companies choose not to appear on comparison websites, and others may not be a good fit for the level of traffic we generate.
Our tables reflect only those providers with whom we have commercial agreements.

Just So You Know

We’re here to help you make smart, informed choices—but it’s important to understand how we operate. Our comparison tables only include providers that pay to be featured, so they don’t cover every option out there. When we highlight something as a “Best” pick, that’s based on our research and user feedback—not financial advice. It might not be the right choice for your personal situation, so check the details with the provider.