Best Credit Cards Australia (2026)
Expert picks across rewards, low rate, balance transfer, and no-fee cards. Last verified: 01/10/2026
Rates can change without notice. Last verified: 01/10/2026 (AEST). Please confirm details on the bank’s official page.
The best credit card depends entirely on how you use it. Rewards cards deliver real value if you pay in full each month — but carry a balance and the interest quickly outweighs any points earned. We've broken down the top picks by use case so you can match the right card to your situation.
Our Top Picks for 2026
St.GeorgeAmplify Rewards Signature
One of the largest bonus points offers in our comparison: 100k in year one and 100k more in year two, each part tied to a spend target. The reduced first-year fee makes it accessible; just make sure you'll hit the spend thresholds.
Pros
- ✓ Up to 200,000 bonus points
- ✓ $199 first-year fee (vs $295 ongoing)
- ✓ Strong earn rate on everyday and international spend
Cons
- ✗ Spend target in each year to earn the full bonus
- ✗ Not available if you held a St.George/BoM/BankSA card in last 24 months
WestpacAltitude Qantas Black
The largest Qantas Points welcome offer of the cards that earn Qantas Points directly: 90k in year one and 60k more in year two. Check the spend targets and any program fee on top of the card fee before you count on the full amount.
Pros
- ✓ Up to 150,000 Qantas Points
- ✓ Earns Qantas Points directly, no transfer step
- ✓ Lounge passes included
Cons
- ✗ $155 Qantas program fee on top of the $295 card fee
- ✗ Part of the bonus only arrives in year two
WestpacAltitude Velocity Black
The top Velocity points offer we track: 90k in year one and 60k more in year two. Includes Virgin Australia lounge passes and Economy X upgrades, strong value for regular Virgin flyers.
Pros
- ✓ 150k Velocity points across two years
- ✓ VA lounge passes + Economy X upgrades
- ✓ Concierge and travel insurance included
Cons
- ✗ $155 Velocity Rewards Program fee on top of card fee
- ✗ Not available if you held eligible Westpac cards in last 24 months
CommBankLow Rate Credit Card
The lowest starting purchase rate in our comparison. No rewards program: this card is purely for minimising interest costs on a carried balance.
Pros
- ✓ Lowest starting rate (10.99%)
- ✓ 55 interest-free days
Cons
- ✗ Rate is personalised (10.99–15.99%)
- ✗ $72/year fee
- ✗ No rewards program
ANZLow Rate
The longest 0% balance transfer window we track, with 13.74% p.a. applying afterwards. A 3% transfer fee applies.
Pros
- ✓ Longest BT period (26 months)
- ✓ Reverts to 13.74%
- ✓ $58 annual fee
Cons
- ✗ 3% balance transfer fee
- ✗ Set a repayment plan before the 0% period ends
American ExpressLow Rate Credit Card
The lowest purchase rate of any no-annual-fee card we track. If you occasionally carry a balance and want zero ongoing cost, this is hard to beat.
Pros
- ✓ $0 annual fee
- ✓ Lowest no-fee purchase rate (10.99%)
- ✓ 55 interest-free days
Cons
- ✗ No rewards program
- ✗ Amex not accepted everywhere
Bonus Points Cards
Sorted by total bonus points (highest first).
- Card
- Amplify Rewards Signature
- Program
- Amplify
- Bonus points
- 200,000
- Annual fee
- $295
- Interest-free days
- 55 days
- Verified
- 2026-09-14
- Card
- Altitude Black (Rewards)
- Program
- Altitude
- Bonus points
- 200,000
- Annual fee
- $295
- Interest-free days
- 45 days
- Verified
- 2026-10-01
- Card
- Altitude Qantas Black
- Program
- Qantas
- Bonus points
- 150,000
- Annual fee
- $295
- Interest-free days
- 45 days
- Verified
- 2026-10-01
- Card
- Altitude Velocity Black
- Program
- Velocity
- Bonus points
- 150,000
- Annual fee
- $295
- Interest-free days
- 45 days
- Verified
- 2026-10-01
- Card
- Qantas American Express Ultimate
- Program
- Qantas
- Bonus points
- 120,000
- Annual fee
- $450
- Interest-free days
- 44 days
- Verified
- 2026-09-09
- Card
- Rewards Signature
- Program
- NAB Rewards
- Bonus points
- 110,000
- Annual fee
- $420
- Interest-free days
- 44 days
- Verified
- 2026-09-14
- Card
- Frequent Flyer Black
- Program
- Qantas
- Bonus points
- 100,000
- Annual fee
- $425
- Interest-free days
- 44 days
- Verified
- 2026-10-01
- Card
- Velocity Platinum
- Program
- Velocity
- Bonus points
- 100,000
- Annual fee
- $440
- Interest-free days
- 55 days
- Verified
- 2026-09-09
- Card
- Platinum
- Program
- Qantas
- Bonus points
- 80,000
- Annual fee
- $399
- Interest-free days
- 44 days
- Verified
- 2026-09-30
- Card
- Qantas Rewards Signature
- Program
- Qantas
- Bonus points
- 60,000
- Annual fee
- $449
- Interest-free days
- 44 days
- Verified
- 2026-10-01
- Card
- Smart Awards
- Program
- CommBank Awards
- Bonus points
- 0
- Annual fee
- $228
- Interest-free days
- 44 days
- Verified
- 2026-09-14
| Action | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
St.George | Amplify Rewards Signature | Amplify | 200,000 | $295 | 55 days | 2026-09-14 | |
Westpac | Altitude Black (Rewards) | Altitude | 200,000 | $295 | 45 days | 2026-10-01 | |
Westpac | Altitude Qantas Black | Qantas | 150,000 | $295 | 45 days | 2026-10-01 | |
Westpac | Altitude Velocity Black | Velocity | 150,000 | $295 | 45 days | 2026-10-01 | |
American Express | Qantas American Express Ultimate | Qantas | 120,000 | $450 | 44 days | 2026-09-09 | |
NAB | Rewards Signature | NAB Rewards | 110,000 | $420 | 44 days | 2026-09-14 | |
ANZ | Frequent Flyer Black | Qantas | 100,000 | $425 | 44 days | 2026-10-01 | |
American Express | Velocity Platinum | Velocity | 100,000 | $440 | 55 days | 2026-09-09 | |
Qantas Money | Platinum | Qantas | 80,000 | $399 | 44 days | 2026-09-30 | |
NAB | Qantas Rewards Signature | Qantas | 60,000 | $449 | 44 days | 2026-10-01 | |
CommBank | Smart Awards | CommBank Awards | 0 | $228 | 44 days | 2026-09-14 |
Low Rate Cards
Sorted by purchase rate (lowest first).
- Card
- Low Rate Credit Card
- Program
- —
- Bonus points
- —
- Annual fee
- $72
- Interest-free days
- 55 days
- Verified
- 2026-09-30
- Card
- Visa Credit Card
- Program
- —
- Bonus points
- —
- Annual fee
- $59
- Interest-free days
- 62 days
- Verified
- 2026-09-30
- Card
- Breeze Classic Mastercard
- Program
- —
- Bonus points
- —
- Annual fee
- $49
- Interest-free days
- 55 days
- Verified
- 2026-09-30
- Card
- Low Rate
- Program
- —
- Bonus points
- —
- Annual fee
- $58
- Interest-free days
- 55 days
- Verified
- 2026-09-30
- Card
- Low Rate Card
- Program
- —
- Bonus points
- —
- Annual fee
- $84
- Interest-free days
- 55 days
- Verified
- 2026-09-30
- Card
- Low Rate Card
- Program
- —
- Bonus points
- —
- Annual fee
- $99
- Interest-free days
- 55 days
- Verified
- 2026-10-01
| Action | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
CommBank | Low Rate Credit Card | — | — | $72 | 55 days | 2026-09-30 | |
People First Bank | Visa Credit Card | — | — | $59 | 62 days | 2026-09-30 | |
Bankwest | Breeze Classic Mastercard | — | — | $49 | 55 days | 2026-09-30 | |
ANZ | Low Rate | — | — | $58 | 55 days | 2026-09-30 | |
Westpac | Low Rate Card | — | — | $84 | 55 days | 2026-09-30 | |
NAB | Low Rate Card | — | — | $99 | 55 days | 2026-10-01 |
Balance Transfer Cards
Sorted by balance transfer period (longest first).
- Card
- Low Rate (Balance Transfer)
- Program
- —
- Bonus points
- —
- Annual fee
- $58
- Interest-free days
- 55 days
- Verified
- 2026-09-30
- Card
- Breeze Classic Mastercard (Balance Transfer)
- Program
- —
- Bonus points
- —
- Annual fee
- $49
- Interest-free days
- 55 days
- Verified
- 2026-09-30
- Card
- Low Rate Card (Balance Transfer)
- Program
- —
- Bonus points
- —
- Annual fee
- $84
- Interest-free days
- 55 days
- Verified
- 2026-09-30
- Card
- Credit Card
- Program
- —
- Bonus points
- —
- Annual fee
- $0
- Interest-free days
- 55 days
- Verified
- 2026-09-30
- Card
- Visa Credit Card (Balance Transfer)
- Program
- —
- Bonus points
- —
- Annual fee
- $59
- Interest-free days
- 62 days
- Verified
- 2026-09-30
| Action | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ANZ | Low Rate (Balance Transfer) | — | — | $58 | 55 days | 2026-09-30 | |
Bankwest | Breeze Classic Mastercard (Balance Transfer) | — | — | $49 | 55 days | 2026-09-30 | |
Westpac | Low Rate Card (Balance Transfer) | — | — | $84 | 55 days | 2026-09-30 | |
Kogan Money | Credit Card | — | — | $0 | 55 days | 2026-09-30 | |
People First Bank | Visa Credit Card (Balance Transfer) | — | — | $59 | 62 days | 2026-09-30 |
No Annual Fee Cards
Sorted by purchase rate (lowest first).
- Card
- Low Rate Credit Card
- Program
- —
- Bonus points
- —
- Annual fee
- $0
- Interest-free days
- 55 days
- Verified
- 2026-09-30
- Card
- Credit Card
- Program
- —
- Bonus points
- —
- Annual fee
- $0
- Interest-free days
- 55 days
- Verified
- 2026-09-30
- Card
- No Annual Fee Mastercard
- Program
- —
- Bonus points
- —
- Annual fee
- $0
- Interest-free days
- 55 days
- Verified
- 2026-10-01
| Action | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
American Express | Low Rate Credit Card | — | — | $0 | 55 days | 2026-09-30 | |
Kogan Money | Credit Card | — | — | $0 | 55 days | 2026-09-30 | |
Coles | No Annual Fee Mastercard | — | — | $0 | 55 days | 2026-10-01 |
How to Choose a Credit Card
1. Decide: rewards or low rate?
This is the most important question. If you pay your statement balance in full every month, a rewards card can genuinely deliver value through points, lounge passes, and travel credits. If you ever carry a balance, the interest on a rewards card (typically 19–22% p.a.) will cost far more than the rewards are worth. In that case, a low rate card at 10–14% p.a. is the smarter pick.
2. Calculate the true cost of a rewards card
A 200,000 point bonus sounds impressive, but factor in the annual fee and minimum spend required. A card with a $295 annual fee and $12,000 minimum spend over two years costs $590 in fees. If the points are worth less than that to you in flights or rewards, a no-fee or low-fee card is better value.
3. Understand the spend threshold
Most bonus offers require a minimum spend within 60–90 days of approval. A $5,000 threshold over 90 days is ~$1,667/month — realistic for everyday spending. A $12,000 threshold over 12 months is $1,000/month. Be honest about your actual spending before applying.
4. Check the 24-month rule
Most major bank bonus offers are unavailable if you've held a card in the same family within the last 12–24 months. This applies across related brands — St.George, Bank of Melbourne, and BankSA all count as the same family. Check the eligibility terms before applying.
5. For balance transfers: have a repayment plan
A 0% balance transfer is only effective if you pay off the transferred balance before the promotional period ends. Any remaining amount reverts to the standard rate — often 13–22% p.a. Set up a monthly repayment that clears the debt within the 0% window, and avoid making new purchases on the card while transferring (those typically accrue interest immediately).
In-depth Reviews
- St.George Amplify Rewards Signature review — Up to 200,000 bonus Amplify Points
- Westpac Altitude Black (Rewards) review — Up to 200,000 bonus Altitude Points
- Westpac Altitude Qantas Black review — Up to 150,000 bonus Qantas Points
- Westpac Altitude Velocity Black review — Up to 150,000 bonus Velocity Points
- NAB Qantas Rewards Signature review — Up to 60,000 bonus Qantas Points + $200 cashback
- Qantas Money Platinum review — Up to 80,000 bonus Qantas Points
- NAB Rewards Signature review — Up to 110,000 bonus NAB Rewards Points
- ANZ Frequent Flyer Black review — Up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Points
- American Express Velocity Platinum review — Up to 100,000 bonus Velocity Points
- American Express Qantas American Express Ultimate review — Up to 120,000 bonus Qantas Points
- CommBank Smart Awards review — No current bonus offer — $19/month fee, waived at $2,000 monthly spend
- CommBank Low Rate Credit Card review — 10.99%–15.99% p.a. (personalised on approval)
- Bankwest Breeze Classic Mastercard review — 12.99% p.a. — Bankwest's lowest ongoing purchase rate
- NAB Low Rate Card review — 13.99% p.a. — straightforward low rate
- ANZ Low Rate review — 13.74% p.a. — ANZ's lowest rate card
- Westpac Low Rate Card review — 13.74% p.a. — variable low rate
- People First Bank Visa Credit Card review — 12.95% p.a. — People First Visa, 2.99% intro for 6 months
- Kogan Money Credit Card review — 21.99% p.a. — Kogan Money (0% BT for 6 months, $0 annual fee)
- American Express Low Rate Credit Card review — 10.99% p.a. — Amex Low Rate, $0 annual fee
- Coles No Annual Fee Mastercard review — 21.99% p.a. — Coles No Annual Fee, Flybuys rewards
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best credit card for Qantas points in Australia?
As of 01/10/2026, the biggest Qantas welcome offers among cards that earn Qantas Points directly are the Westpac Altitude Qantas Black (up to 150,000), American Express Qantas American Express Ultimate (up to 120,000), ANZ Frequent Flyer Black (up to 100,000). The best choice depends on your spend level, the fees and whether you want the bonus upfront or spread over two years.
How do credit card bonus points work?
Bonus points are awarded when you meet a minimum spend threshold within a set timeframe after approval — typically 60–90 days. They're credited to your rewards account once the conditions are met. Most bonuses are one-time-only and unavailable if you've held a similar card from the same bank within the past 12–24 months.
Should I get a rewards credit card or a low rate card?
If you pay your balance in full every month, a rewards card can deliver real value through points and perks — the interest rate is irrelevant. If you ever carry a balance, a low rate card will almost always save you more in interest than you'd earn in rewards. Most financial advisers suggest paying off any balance before chasing points.
What is a balance transfer credit card?
A balance transfer lets you move existing credit card debt to a new card at a low or 0% interest rate for a promotional period (typically 12–26 months). A transfer fee (usually 2–3%) applies. The goal is to reduce interest costs while paying down debt. After the promotional period, the remaining balance reverts to the standard purchase rate.
Do credit card reward points expire?
It depends on the program. Qantas Frequent Flyer points expire after 18 months of inactivity — any earning or redemption resets the clock. Velocity (Virgin) points don't expire while your account is active. Bank-branded programs (Altitude, Amplify, NAB Rewards) vary — check your specific program's terms.
Related guides
- Best balance transfer cards — longest 0% offers to clear existing debt
- Best low interest cards — lowest ongoing purchase rates
- Best no annual fee cards — $0-fee cards compared
- Balance transfer explained — how 0% periods work, revert rates, and how to avoid the trap
- Best savings accounts — high interest rates with low or no conditions
- Best term deposits — lock in a guaranteed rate for 3–24 months
- Best home loans — lowest variable rates for owner-occupiers
- Bank cash bonuses — one-off cashback offers up to $4,000
Information is general in nature and may change without notice. Rates and offers verified 01/10/2026. Confirm current offers, fees, and eligibility on each provider's website before applying. This is not financial advice.