Qantas

In Australia, there is no single "best" credit card because the right card depends entirely on how you spend and what you want to get out of it. The Australian credit card market is generally split into two main camps: those chasing Frequent Flyer/Rewards points (and often "churning" cards for sign-up bonuses) and those looking to minimise fees and interest.

The top-performing and most popular credit cards in Australia are categorized below by how they are actually used.

1. Best for Qantas Frequent Flyer Points

Aussies love Qantas Points, and the highest-earning cards on the market are typically American Express cards, though a companion Visa or Mastercard is usually kept on hand for merchants that don't accept Amex.

• The Premium Pick: Qantas American Express Ultimate Card
  • Why people use it: It has one of the highest Qantas Point earning rates in the country (typically 1.25 points per $1 spent on everyday purchases). It also regularly offers massive sign-up bonuses (e.g., 70,000 to 90,000+ points).
  • The Catch: A steep annual fee of around $450. However, Amex offsets this by giving you a $450 Qantas travel credit every year, essentially making the card "free" if you travel at least once a year. It also comes with Qantas Club lounge passes.
• The Bank Pick: ANZ Frequent Flyer Black or Qantas Premier Platinum
  • Why people use it: If you want a Mastercard or Visa (to avoid Amex surcharges) but still want high Qantas earn rates, these are the go-to choices. They often feature waived first-year annual fees and massive points bonuses, making them prime targets for "point churning."

2. Best for Velocity (Virgin Australia) Points

If you prefer flying Virgin Australia, the Velocity ecosystem has some highly competitive credit cards.

• The Top Pick: American Express Velocity Platinum Card
  • Why people use it: It is widely regarded as the best Velocity earner. Along with a great point-earning rate and a generous sign-up bonus, you get a complimentary domestic return flight with Virgin Australia every year, plus Virgin Australia lounge passes and entry to the Amex Lounge at Sydney or Melbourne international airports.
  • The Catch: A high annual fee (usually around $375), but like the Qantas version, the cost of the complimentary flight often completely covers the fee.

3. Best for International Travel & Online Shopping (No FX Fees)

Most standard Australian credit cards charge a 3% to 3.5% international transaction fee whenever you buy something overseas or shop online from a foreign retailer. If you travel overseas or buy from international sites, these cards are essential.

• The Low-Maintenance Pick: Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard
  • Why people use it: It has $0 annual fee and 0% international transaction fees. It's a highly popular, "set-and-forget" card for overseas holidays or online shopping.
• The Classic Travel Pick: Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard
  • Why people use it: Long considered the quintessential Aussie travel credit card. It features $0 international transaction fees on purchases. It also comes with travel-centric perks, such as a "Flight Delay Pass" (giving you airport lounge access if your flight is delayed) and a free global eSIM with data each year.
  • The Catch: It now charges a $96 annual fee (though it's frequently waived for the first year).
• The Premium Bank Pick: CommBank Ultimate Awards Credit Card
  • Why people use it: If you want to earn points and avoid foreign transaction fees, this is Commonwealth Bank's flagship card. The $35 monthly fee is entirely waived if you spend at least $4,000 in a statement period, making it free for high spenders.

4. Best for Saving Interest & Balance Transfers

If you need to pay off existing credit card debt, look for cards with 0% balance transfer offers.

• The Top Pick: ANZ Low Rate Credit Card
  • Why people use it: ANZ regularly offers the longest-running 0% balance transfer promotion on the market—frequently up to 24 to 26 months at 0% interest (usually with a small 1% to 3% upfront setup fee). It also has a low ongoing purchase rate if you occasionally need to carry a balance.

💡 Pro-Tips for the Australian Credit Card Market

1. Beware of the "Amex Surcharge": While American Express cards offer the best reward rates, many small businesses, supermarkets (like Aldi), and utilities in Australia either don't accept Amex or charge a 1.5% to 2% surcharge to use it. Most point-chasers pair an Amex with a high-earning Visa or Mastercard.
2. The "Churning" Culture: Many financially savvy Australians don't keep the same rewards card forever. They sign up for a card, spend the required amount in the first 3 months to trigger the 100,000 bonus points, and then cancel the card before the second-year annual fee hits.
3. Impact on Home Loans: If you are planning to apply for a mortgage (home loan) in Australia soon, be careful. Australian banks assess your borrowing capacity based on your total credit limit, not what you actually owe. Even if you pay off a $15,000 limit card in full every month, the bank assumes you could max it out tomorrow, which can significantly reduce the amount they will lend you for a house.

If you want the best credit cards in Australia that people actually use, the most practical picks are usually the big-brand cards from Qantas, ANZ, American Express, NAB, CommBank, Westpac, St.George, Latitude, and Kogan Money. The “best” card depends on whether you want rewards/frequent flyer points, low fees, balance transfer, cashback, or low interest.

A useful Australia-focused shortlist is:

• Best frequent flyer card: Qantas American Express Ultimate Card.
• Best rewards card: ANZ Rewards Black Credit Card.
• Best cashback card: ANZ Platinum Credit Card.
• Best no annual fee card: Kogan Money Credit Card.
• Best balance transfer card: Latitude Low Rate Mastercard.
• Best travel card: Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard.
• Best low-rate option: NAB Low Rate Credit Card is a commonly cited value pick in Australian comparisons.
• Best all-round mainstream issuer cards people use: CommBank, ANZ, Westpac, and NAB cards are widely compared and used in Australia’s major-bank market.

If you want the most commonly recommended types rather than a single product, Australian comparison sites and consumer guidance consistently say to choose based on how you’ll use it: pay in full, carry a balance, or chase rewards. Mozo notes the average standard purchase rate in Australia is 20.99% p.a., which is why low-rate cards matter if you ever carry a balance.

A simple way to choose:

• If you pay the card off every month, look at rewards/frequent flyer cards like Qantas American Express Ultimate or ANZ Rewards Black.
• If you sometimes carry a balance, focus on a low-rate card like NAB Low Rate or a balance transfer offer like Latitude Low Rate Mastercard.
• If you want no annual fee, Kogan Money Credit Card is one of the top current picks.
• If you want travel perks, Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard is a common Australian travel-card pick.

If you want, I can turn this into a top 5 for your situation — for example: best for Qantas points, best no-fee card, best low-rate card, or best for everyday spend.