Virgin Australia

Best Credit Cards in Australia (2026)

Here's a breakdown of what Australians actually use and what's rated highly right now, organized by what you're looking for:

The Big Players

The big four banks — CommBank, NAB, Westpac and ANZ — dominate issuance, but a wide range of non-bank and specialist issuers offer competitive alternatives, particularly in the low-rate and no-annual-fee segments. With 128 issuers in the market, competition for cardholders is strong.

Top Picks by Category (Finder Awards 2026)

ANZ won the most awards, including the best balance transfer with its Low Rate card, rewards credit card with its Rewards Black Credit Card, and Qantas frequent flyer card with its Frequent Flyer Black. American Express and NAB each claimed three wins as well.

Other standout category winners include:

• Best balance transfer: Virgin Australia Velocity Flyer Card - Balance Transfer Offer
• Best business card: American Express Platinum Business Card
• Best cashback card: ANZ Platinum Credit Card

For Frequent Flyer Points

If you fly Qantas or Virgin often, these are getting strong marks:

• ANZ Frequent Flyer Black — As of 01/09/2026, offers up to 130,000 bonus Qantas Points plus $200 cashback
• Westpac Altitude Qantas Black — offers up to 150,000 Qantas Points across two years
• Amex Velocity Platinum — Earn 1.25 points per $1 on everyday spend and 2.25 points per $1 on eligible purchases within Virgin Australia

For Low Fees / No-Frills Use

If you just want a simple everyday card without the rewards bells and whistles:

• Community First Bank Low Rate Card — interest rate of 9.99% p.a. on purchases along with a reasonable $50 annual card fee and up to 55 days interest free on retail purchases when you pay in full on time, with limits from $500
• American Express Low Rate Card — 10.99% p.a. with $0 annual fee
• Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard — no annual fee and 0% on purchases for the first 6 months (then 18.99% p.a.)
• Coles No Annual Fee Mastercard — good if you want basic Flybuys rewards without paying a fee

Card Network Acceptance

Worth noting: Mastercard and Visa credit cards are widely accepted across Australia, while American Express is not accepted everywhere (at Aldi, for example) though most major retailers accept it now, and the numbers grow each year — American Express added over 610,000 new merchant locations in 2024.

A Few Important 2026 Notes

1. Big surcharge change coming: The Reserve Bank of Australia is banning surcharges on Visa, Mastercard and eftpos from 1 October 2026, meaning merchants can no longer add a surcharge when you pay by card on these networks — though American Express and PayPal are exempt and can still surcharge. This makes Amex slightly less appealing for everyday spend if merchants pass on fees.

2. Rewards vs. low-rate — pick based on habits: You should choose a rewards card only if you pay your balance in full every month — if you carry a balance even occasionally, interest at 20.99% p.a. will quickly outweigh any points earned.

3. The interest rate reality:

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.

The credit card market in Australia is heavily shaped by two things: airline ecosystem dominance (Qantas Frequent Flyer vs. Velocity) and interchange fee caps, which mean Australian cards generally offer lower "base" reward rates than US cards unless you pay a high annual fee.

Because "best" depends on how you spend, Australians usually pick cards based on specific strategies. Below is a breakdown of the top credit cards people actually use, grouped by category.

✈️ Best for Qantas Frequent Flyer (The Big Ecosystem)

Qantas Frequent Flyer is Australia's largest airline loyalty program. Most people look for high sign-up bonus points or premium travel perks.

American Express Qantas Ultimate Card: Standout Perk: Highest ongoing Qantas point-earning rate on everyday spend. Key Features: Includes an annual travel credit that offsets most of the high annual fee, Qantas Club lounge passes, and comprehensive travel insurance. ANZ Frequent Flyer Black: Standout Perk: Top bank-issued Qantas card with massive sign-up point bonuses. Key Features: 1 Qantas point per $1 domestically (uncapped up to $7,500/month), Qantas lounge invitations, and international travel insurance. Highly popular for "point churning".

🦘 Best for Velocity / Flexible Rewards

If you prefer Virgin Australia’s Velocity program, or want flexible points that you can transfer to multiple airlines, these are the heavy hitters.

American Express Explorer Credit Card: Standout Perk: Ultimate flexibility. Earns Amex Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to multiple airline partners (Velocity, Qatar, Singapore Airlines, etc.). Key Features: $400 annual travel credit, smartphone screen insurance, and complimentary lounge entries. ANZ Rewards Black Credit Card: Standout Perk: Excellent non-Amex option for flexible reward structures. Key Features: High points earning rate through ANZ's program, complimentary travel insurance, and access to partner airport lounges.

💳 Best for Everyday Cash Back & Zero Fees

Many Aussies don't want to play the frequent flyer game or pay massive annual fees just to clear a profit.

Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard: Standout Perk: The ultimate "set-and-forget" card for international travelers. Key Features: $0 annual fee and 0% foreign transaction fees, making it a massive favorite for online shopping on international sites or physical overseas travel. MONEYME Cashback Rewards Credit Card: Standout Perk: Direct, simple cash back without airline points gimmicks. Key Features: Flat 1% cash back on everyday spend (groceries, transport, coffee) added straight back to your balance, plus phone insurance.

🛒 Best for Supermarket Churners

If you do the bulk of your grocery shopping at Coles, using a store-branded card helps rack up points easily.

Coles Rewards Mastercard: Standout Perk: Boosts your Flybuys balance automatically. Key Features: Earns Flybuys points on every purchase (which can be used for money off groceries at Coles or transferred to Velocity points), and features a relatively low annual fee compared to premium bank cards.

🔍 How Aussies Choose: Points Churning vs. Everyday Card

The Churners: Many people in Australia "churn" cards. They apply for a premium card (like ANZ Black or Westpac Altitude Black), spend the required minimum in the first 90 days to trigger the 100k+ sign-up bonus points, and then cancel the card before the second year's annual fee hits. The Keepers: If you want one card to hold onto forever, look tightly at whether you spend enough to justify an annual fee. If your monthly spend is under $2,000, sticking with a $0 annual fee card (like Bankwest Zero) is usually the most profitable move.

To point you toward the exact right card, tell me:

Are you looking to earn airline points or get low fees / cash back? Approximately how much do you plan to spend on the card per month? Do you plan to pay the balance off in full every single month?