PointsPulse Blog
Honest, well-researched writing about loyalty programs, points and miles tracking, and how to get more from the programs you use.
I Tracked My Points in a Spreadsheet for Eight Years. Here’s Why I Finally Stopped.
A working spreadsheet beats no system. But after eight years, mine started costing me more points than it saved. Three specific failure modes, what I tried instead, and what I’d tell my 2018 self about tracking points.
Best AwardWallet Alternatives in 2026
AwardWallet’s price went up. American Airlines is gone. We compare the best alternatives for tracking points and miles in 2026, including PointsPulse, Travel Freely, MaxRewards, and TripIt Pro.
AwardWallet vs PointsPulse: An Honest Comparison
A direct, no-spin comparison of the two trackers. Where AwardWallet wins, where PointsPulse wins, and which one fits your situation better.
Do Loyalty Points Really Expire? A Program by Program Breakdown for 2026
The real expiration rules for every major US loyalty program, what counts as “activity” to keep them alive, and which programs have changed their policies recently.
How to Save Expiring Points Without Spending Real Money
The cheapest qualifying activity for every major loyalty program. Free ways to reset the expiration clock for Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, American, United, Delta, and more.
Why We Built PointsPulse Without Storing Your Passwords
The security model behind PointsPulse, why credential storage is a bigger risk than most people realize, and how a Chrome extension can track your balances without ever seeing your login.