Best Rewards Credit Cards For Points in Australia 2025

Compare rewards credit cards from more than 70 providers in Australia, with our expert take on each card to help you decide. Read the Important Disclosures.

Rates updated 16 July 2025

Our picks of the best rewards credit cards & offers in 2025

These are the rewards credit cards that caught our attention across different categories. For these picks, we are assuming the cardholder pays off their balance in full each statement period (i.e. we have not factored in the interest rate on purchases). If you don’t pay off your balance in full and on time each month, you should seriously consider whether a rewards card will be suitable.

Top rewards card for ongoing points earning

Bendigo Bank Platinum Rewards Credit Card Earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on eligible purchases with no cap on points. This is not the highest earn rate around (some offer up to 2.5 points per $1) but the annual fee is only $89, versus multiples of that for most top-end rewards cards. For an average cardholder, the value for money per point (on top of the other card perks) is going to be hard to beat.

Rewards card with the biggest sign-up bonus

Citi Prestige Credit Card 250,000 bonus Citi reward Points when you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases within 3 months from approval. Eligible purchases exclude Cash Advances, Balance Transfers, Special Promotions, interest and fees. Any refunds and Chargebacks on purchases will also be excluded and will not form part of the spend criteria. The annual card fee is $700.

Top low fee rewards credit card

Amex Qantas Discovery Card This card offers an inexpensive way to earn Qantas points. There's no annual fee and 0.75 Qantas Points per $1 spent on everyday purchases. There's also no limit on the number of points you can earn. It’s not as perk-packed as some other American Express cards but the ongoing earn rate will keep your points balance ticking over nicely. You can add up to four extra cardholders for free.

Top card for cashback rewards

BCU Rewards Credit Card If you want direct cashback instead of points, we like the BCU Rewards Credit Card. You can earn cashback at a rate of 0.66% for each Australian dollar charged to your card for eligible transactions, up to a maximum of $500 cashback per year. You’d need to spend around $6,250 per month to get the max, but even if your monthly spend is half that, it’s still a decent offer. The annual card fee is $89.

How do rewards credit cards work?

Rewards credit cards allow cardholders to earn rewards points on eligible purchases made with the card. Points can then be redeemed through the card’s rewards program. Rewards can include cashback, gift cards, cosmetics and homewares, or even flights and accommodation.

Rewards credit card points are usually matched to a certain spending value. A common example is 1 rewards point for every $1 spent. But some premium rewards cards offer higher earn rates on certain spend types – 3 points per $1 is about as good as it gets.

Some business credit cards offer particularly high levels of rewards.

Money.com.au data shows the ability to earn rewards points is the top single reason Aussies chose their credit card. Our survey found that one in four people (25%) ranked points as the main selling point of their card.

Types of reward you can get

Depending on the reward program you join, you may be able to choose from thousands of individual rewards. Some of the most common examples of rewards include:

Gift vouchers & credit card cashback

Cosmetics

Homeware, kitchenware & electronics

Outdoor & sporting equipment

Entertainment tickets for sports, events, or movies

Flights and accommodation

Rental car bookings

Charitable donations

To get full value from a rewards credit, just picking any old card and waiting for the points to build up probably won't cut it. Here are some simple pointers to consider.

1. Look for bonus points

Take advantage of rewards credit cards with bonus sign-up offers (assuming the credit card is overall a good match for your situation).

2. Check the earn rate

Consider cards with higher point earn rates (again assuming the card overall is good value). Watch out for caps on how many points you can earn overall and for particular types of spending.

3. Check eligibility for rewards

Make sure you understand which purchases are eligible to earn points and which aren’t, and indeed which purchases earn points at a higher or lower rate.

4. Match the card to your lifestyle

If you travel a lot, a frequent flyer credit card may mean you earn more points. There are also travel credit cards with extra perks related to overseas use.

5. Use your card for everyday spending

Try to use your card for your day-to-day spending. But limit this to purchases you would be making anyway and that you can comfortably afford to pay off.

6. Earn bonus points

Some rewards programs allow you to earn points by hitting non-financial targets, like walking a certain number of steps per day. It's usually a small number of points but it all adds up.

7. Add an extra cardholder

Most credit cards allow additional cardholders (e.g. Amex credit cards allow up to four at no extra cost). If more than one person is using the card, you'll likely earn more rewards points (again watch for overspending).

8. Pool points with others

Some rewards programs allow point transfers between family and friends. This can help make it more likely you’ll get the most from your points, e.g. by putting points towards a group trip.

9. 'Volunteer' to pick up the bill

For split expenses with friends, family or roommates, offer to pay (and earn points) and have the others send you the money.

10. Redeem your points wisely

Look for the rewards perks that will get you the most bang for your points. But above all else, make sure you actually use them.

Don't forget to think about fees and other costs. The average reward points-earning credit card comes with an annual fee of $245, according to our analysis. Non-rewards cards cost around four times less at $60 each year on average. Make sure a rewards card will be worth the potentially higher cost for you.

Best credit card rewards program comparison

Picking the right card is important, but so too is choosing a top rewards program. To help you decide, here’s a comparison of some of Australia’s top credit card rewards programs. We’ve ordered the table based on the lowest number of points needed to buy a $100 supermarket gift card.

Program	American Express Membership Rewards
Number of rewards cards available	4
Partner airlines programs	10+ major airlines
Points needed for a $100 supermarket gift card	20,000 (digital gift card)
Points expiry	Never
Program	Flybuys Rewards
Number of rewards cards available	2
Partner airlines programs	1
Points needed for a $100 supermarket gift card	20,000
Points expiry	Never, as long as you collect or use points at least once every 12 months
Program	NAB Rewards
Number of rewards cards available	3
Partner airlines programs	4
Points needed for a $100 supermarket gift card	20,410
Points expiry	3 years
Program	Citi Rewards
Number of rewards cards available	3
Partner airlines programs	3
Points needed for a $100 supermarket gift card	20,900
Points expiry	Never
Program	CommBank Awards
Number of rewards cards available	3
Partner airlines programs	10+ major airlines
Points needed for a $100 supermarket gift card	21,000
Points expiry	Never
Program	Velocity Frequent Flyer
Number of rewards cards available	12
Partner airlines programs	16
Points needed for a $100 supermarket gift card	21,608
Points expiry	24 months since last activity
Program	Qantas Frequent Flyer
Number of rewards cards available	34
Partner airlines programs	15
Points needed for a $100 supermarket gift card	21,850
Points expiry	18 months if no activity on account
Program	ANZ Rewards
Number of rewards cards available	2
Partner airlines programs	4
Points needed for a $100 supermarket gift card	22,500
Points expiry	36 months from 31 December of the year points were earned
Program	Amplify Rewards (Bank of Melbourne), BankSA, St.George Bank)
Number of rewards cards available	2
Partner airlines programs	2
Points needed for a $100 supermarket gift card	28,200 (for $100 cashback)
Points expiry	Never if account remains open
Program	Westpac Altitude Rewards
Number of rewards cards available	2
Partner airlines programs	4
Points needed for a $100 supermarket gift card	28,200 (for $100 cashback)
Points expiry	Never if account remains open

Program	Number of rewards cards available	Partner airlines programs	Points needed for a $100 supermarket gift card	Points expiry
American Express Membership Rewards	4	10+ major airlines	20,000 (digital gift card)	Never
Flybuys Rewards	2	1	20,000	Never, as long as you collect or use points at least once every 12 months
NAB Rewards	3	4	20,410	3 years
Citi Rewards	3	3	20,900	Never
CommBank Awards	3	10+ major airlines	21,000	Never
Velocity Frequent Flyer	12	16	21,608	24 months since last activity
Qantas Frequent Flyer	34	15	21,850	18 months if no activity on account
ANZ Rewards	2	4	22,500	36 months from 31 December of the year points were earned
Amplify Rewards (Bank of Melbourne), BankSA, St.George Bank)	2	2	28,200 (for $100 cashback)	Never if account remains open
Westpac Altitude Rewards	2	4	28,200 (for $100 cashback)	Never if account remains open

Analysis by Money.com.au as at April 2025 based on information available from the reward program providers. Not all credit card reward programs available in Australia are shown, nor have we compared all program features.

Expert tip on choosing a rewards program

Brad Kelly, Credit Card Expert

"There are plenty of options but not all of them are good. For my money, the best rewards program is American Express Membership Rewards – e.g. you can transfer points to a wide range of airline programs. But for any rewards program, unless you are a BIG spender they are often not worth it as the fees outweigh the benefits. The average Aussie spends about $3,000/month on their card. This won’t get you a toaster."

Brad Kelly, Credit Card Expert

How to choose a rewards credit card

Rewards credit cards can offer a range of benefits, but choosing the wrong card could end up costing you more than you get back. The average monthly credit card spend in Australia is around $3,000 – will you be spending enough to get sufficient rewards back?

Rewards credit cards are often available in various tiers, based on the amount you are likely to spend on the card each year. Finding the rewards card that suits you will depend entirely on how you plan to use the card.

Below are some factors to consider when choosing a rewards credit card.

Match it to your income and spending habits

How much you earn each year will affect how much you are able to spend on your card, and the value of the rewards you may receive in relation to the card’s fees.

Different rewards cards have different minimum income requirements. You may need an annual income of up to $100,000 to qualify for some premium credit cards.

But be wary of spending more than you otherwise would just to earn reward points.

Watch out for fees

Annual fees are particularly important when you're choosing a rewards card. Because, they're usually pretty high – over $1,000 in some cases.

If your rewards card's perks won't stack up when valued against the annual fee, the card will be costing you money overall. In this case, a no annual fee credit card is a possible alternative.

You may also be able to find credit cards with no international fees that still offer rewards.

Consider your points eligibility

Some cards will offer more points for purchases made for specific items, while some bills or purchases may not be eligible for points at all on certain cards. Balance transfers typically do not earn points.

It's important that the card you choose is compatible with your existing spending. In other words, will the purchases you make already actually earn you points?

Don't forget point caps too. Some cards include a cap for earning points on purchases (e.g. 100,000 per year). Or the earn rate might taper off as you spend more (e.g. 1 point for every dollar spent up to $10,000 and 0.5 points for every dollar above that).

Find a low interest rate

The reality is rewards credit cards are not ideal if you carry a revolving balance on your card from month to month as interest rates are usually very high.

If you think you won’t always pay off your balance in full, consider a low rate credit card as some of these still offer basic rewards.

A card with a high number of interest-free days will give you more leeway to pay off the purchases without incurring interest at those high reward card rates.

It's also possible to access rewards through some special offer interest-free credit cards, with a 0% rate for a limited time.

Is a rewards credit card worth it?

If you use the card responsibly, rewards credit cards can be a handy way to access perks (e.g. some credit cards come with travel insurance included) and earn points on eligible purchases made with the card. This has become a fundamental part of how credit cards work.

At their best, rewards cards mean earning rewards for spending you would be doing anyway, with the cardholder getting more value in perks than they pay in card fees.

But for some people, the higher annual fee typically charged on rewards credit cards cancels out the value of the benefits. In other words, some people pay more than they get back in rewards. There can also be a temptation to spend more to boost the rewards.

The key is choosing a rewards credit card based on how you spend currently, and maximising your points earning without spending more than you otherwise would.

One way to determine whether a rewards card may be suitable for you is to:

Calculate how much you spend each year

Calculate how many points you will earn based on that

Calculate the associated value of these points (one method is to convert the points into a gift card at a shop you use regularly)

Compare the value of your points with the fees included with the card

Here's an example...

Sean Callery, Editor

Let’s say you’re considering a credit card that earns you 1 rewards point per $1 you spend. You spend around $3,000 per month on your card, meaning the potential to earn 36,000 rewards points per year on the card. That would equate to around $163 in gift cards based on our analysis of rewards programs in Australia. For the card to be worth it based on the rewards points alone, the card fee would need to be less than $163 per year. A lot of rewards credit cards cost more than that, meaning you would need other card perks to make up the difference.

Sean Callery, Editor

Before you apply for a rewards credit card, make sure you meet the qualifying criteria. This is usually:

Be over 18 years of age

An Australian citizen or permanent resident

Have a good credit score

Have an annual income above the lender's cut off

You can apply for a rewards credit card online, over the phone, or at your bank. When applying, you will need to provide supporting documentation so the card issuer can accurately assess both your application and your ability to meet repayments. This will likely include:

1

Personal details (name, date of birth, address etc.)

2

Valid identification - such as a driver licence or passport

3

Details of your assets – such as your home and a car if you own one

4

Details of your current expenses and other loans you may have

5

Employment details - including your employment status, salary information, and payslips to verify your income. If you're self-employed, you will need to provide alternative documents, such as previous tax assessments, instead of payslips.

Your questions answered

What is the maximum credit limit on a rewards credit card?

Rewards credit cards have a minimum credit amount of $500, and a maximum credit limit of $100,000 (if you get a charge card, there is theoretically no limit).

But reward credit card limits are personalised to you. The amount of credit that you can access from a lender is determined by your:

Income

Credit score

Overall financial health

The credit limit on your credit card (not the balance) is a factor lenders will use when assessing future applications for home loans and personal loans, so try and avoid a very high credit limit if you don't need one.

What spending doesn’t qualify for points on rewards credit cards?

You may not earn credit card rewards points on every purchase or transaction. The rules will vary by card provider, but some common examples of when you won't earn points include:

Spending with the government (e.g. paying a tax bill)

Cash advances (withdrawing cash)

Buying foreign currency

Paying card fees or interest

Gambling and gaming

How do I use a rewards credit card?

You use a rewards credit card the same way you would with a normal credit card. Remember to verify your eligibility for earning points on your purchases before using your card, and always repay your balance in full to avoid interest charges.

Can I do a balance transfer on a rewards credit card?

Some rewards credit cards may include a balance transfer offer. It's relatively common for a rewards card to offer a choice between a sign up points bonus or a balance transfer offer.

If you are transferring a balance to a rewards card, there are two key factors to bear in mind:

In all likelihood, you will not earn any points for the balance you have transferred to the new card.

If you do any new spending using the card while there is a balance transfer offer, these new purchases will incur interest straight away (there are generally no interest-free days), meaning they could end up being very expensive.

Keep in mind, too, that a balance transfer does not wipe out your existing debt, it simply transfers it. You will still need to repay your balance transfer amount, and ensure the interest-free period is sufficient for you to make repayments without incurring interest charges. After the balance transfer period the card's cash advance will usually applies, which will likely be high on a rewards card.

Why do rewards cards come with high annual fees?

Rewards credit cards often include higher annual fees than other cards. This is relative to the number of features and benefits they offer. In simple terms, the annual fee is the cost of the rewards and features. For example, for a credit card with free airport lounge passes, there is a cost to the credit card company for offering this.

Which rewards programs can I join?

The rewards program you join will largely depend on the card issuer you choose to apply with. Banks will often have a range of rewards program options, including their own program and partner programs most commonly those run by Australia's major airlines:

Qantas credit card points

Velocity Frequent Flyer points

Important Disclosures

Products, features and information displayed

General information only

The information on this page is general in nature and has been prepared without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the information provided and the nature of the credit card product is suitable for you and seek independent financial advice if necessary.

We are not providing you with a recommendation or suggestion about a particular credit product. You should read the relevant disclosure statements or other offer documents before deciding whether to apply for or continue to hold a particular credit card.

What products, features and information are shown

While we make every effort to ensure all credit cards available in Australia are shown in our comparison tables, we cannot guarantee that all products are included. Where we become aware of a card that is missing from our tables, we commit to adding it within one business day.

Our product comparisons may not compare all card features and attributes relevant to you.

Product information, such as interest rates, fees and charges, is subject to change without notice. Before acting on any information, you should confirm the relevant product information with the card issuer. While we do our best to ensure the information provided on this website is accurate, all information on this website is provided without any representation or warranty, either express or implied, being given as to the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, reliability or otherwise of its content. No responsibility is accepted by us for any errors, omissions or any inaccurate information on this website.

How cards are sorted and filtered by default

Users can easily change the sort order and apply product filters to our product comparison tables. However, when you arrive on a page initially or select a particular card type via the ‘card features’, a default sort order is applied as follows:

Default sort (main credit card page): Consumer credit cards sorted by the highest number of reward points earned per $1 spent, then lowest ongoing annual fee, then alphabetically by provider/product name. Partner products are shown first and are ordered based on the sort criteria above, then all products are shown and are sorted based on the same criteria.

No annual fee cards: Consumer credit cards sorted by lowest ongoing annual fee, then the highest number of reward points earned per $1 spent, then alphabetically by provider/product name. Partner products are shown first and are ordered based on the sort criteria above, then all products are shown and are sorted based on the same criteria.

Low rate cards: Consumer credit cards sorted by lowest purchase rate, then lowest ongoing annual card fee, then alphabetically by provider/product name. Partner products are shown first and are ordered based on the sort criteria above, then all products are shown and are sorted based on the same criteria.

Balance transfer cards: Consumer credit cards sorted by lowest balance transfer rate, then longest duration of BT offer, then lowest ongoing annual card fee, then alphabetically by provider/product name. Partner products are shown first and are ordered based on the sort criteria above, then all products are shown and are sorted based on the same criteria.

Rewards and frequent flyer cards: Consumer credit cards sorted by highest rewards/FF points per dollar earned on everyday purchases, then lowest ongoing annual card fee, then lowest purchase rate, then alphabetically by provider/product name. Partner products are shown first and are ordered based on the sort criteria above, then all products are shown and are sorted based on the same criteria.

Cashback cards: Consumer credit cards sorted by highest cashback per dollar earned, then lowest ongoing annual card fee, then lowest purchase rate, then alphabetically by provider/product name. Partner products are shown first and are ordered based on the sort criteria above, then all products are shown and are sorted based on the same criteria.

Interest-free cards/offers: Consumer credit cards sorted by longest 0% purchase rate offer period, then lowest ongoing purchase rate, then lowest ongoing annual card fee, then alphabetically by provider/product name. Partner products are shown first and are ordered based on the sort criteria above, then all products are shown and are sorted based on the same criteria.

Credit cards with lounge access: Consumer credit cards sorted by highest number of free lounge passes, then lowest to highest ongoing annual card fee, then highest to lowest points per dollar earned on everyday spending, then lowest purchase rate, then alphabetically by provider/product name. Partner products are shown first and are ordered based on the sort criteria above, then all products are shown and are sorted based on the same criteria.

No international fee cards/cards with travel insurance: Consumer credit cards sorted by lowest ongoing annual card fee, then highest points per dollar earned on everyday spending, the lowest purchase rate, then alphabetically by provider/product name. Partner products are shown first and are ordered based on the sort criteria above, then all products are shown and are sorted based on the same criteria.

Business credit cards/charge cards: Business cards sorted by highest points per dollar earned on everyday spending, then lowest ongoing annual card fee, then lowest ongoing purchase rate, then alphabetically by provider/product name. Partner products are shown first and are ordered based on the sort criteria above, then all products are shown and are sorted based on the same criteria.

Commission we may earn

We may earn a commission from product providers if you are issued with a credit card via a link from this page. Cards marked as ‘sponsored’ are not selected or positioned on the page solely based on their product attributes. In our comparison tables, products are displayed based on the relevant default sort order and filters applied for that card type, or the sort order and filters selected by a user. We may earn a commission if you are issued with a card via a link from our comparison tables.

*Qantas American Express Ultimate Card bonus Qantas Points Offer

Receive 50,000 bonus Qantas Points when you apply online by 1 July 2025, are approved, and spend $5,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card within the first 3 months from the Card approval date. Eligible purchases do not include Card fees and charges, for example annual fees, interest, late payment, cash advances, balance transfers, traveller’s cheques and foreign currency conversion.

This offer is only available to new American Express Card Members. If you previously held a David Jones American Express Card and have not held any other American Express Card(s) in the past 18 months, you will be eligible for the offer. All other Card Members who currently hold or who have previously held any Card product issued by American Express Australia Limited in the past 18 months are ineligible for this offer.

Qantas Points are earned in accordance with and subject to the Qantas American Express Card Points Terms and Conditions. 50,000 bonus Qantas Points will be awarded to the eligible Card Member’s account 8-10 weeks after the spend criteria has been met. Qantas Frequent Flyer membership and the earning and redemption of points are subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Qantas Frequent Flyer program available at qantas.com/terms. The Qantas American Express Ultimate Card has an annual Card fee of $450. This advertised offer is not applicable or valid in conjunction with any other advertised or promotional offer.

American Express® Platinum Card - 200,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® Points

Bonus & Eligibility. 200,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® Points are only available to new American Express Card Members who apply online by 8 July 2025, are approved and spend $5,000 or more on eligible purchases on your new Card in the first 3 months from the Card approval date. Eligible purchases do not include Card fees and charges, for example annual fees, interest, late payment, cash advances, balance transfers, traveller’s cheques and foreign currency conversion, Please allow 8-10 weeks for the bonus points to be credited to your Account after the spend criteria has been met. If you previously held a David Jones American Express Card and have not held any other American Express Card(s) in the past 18 months, you will be eligible for the offer. All other Card Members who currently hold or who have previously held any Card product issued by American Express Australia Limited in the past 18 months are ineligible for this offer. The American Express Platinum Card has an annual fee of $1,450. This advertised offer is not applicable or valid in conjunction with any other advertised or promotional offer.

American Express Explorer® Credit Card - 75,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® Points

Bonus & Eligibility: 75,000 Bonus Membership Rewards® Points are only available to new American Express Card Members who apply online by 1 July 2025, are approved and spend $4,000 or more on eligible purchases on your new Card in the first 3 months from the Card approval date. Eligible purchases do not include Card fees and charges, for example annual fees, interest, late payment, cash advances, balance transfers, traveller’s cheques and foreign currency conversion. Please allow 8-10 weeks for the bonus points to be credited to your Account after the spend criteria has been met. If you previously held a David Jones American Express Card and have not held any other American Express Card(s) in the past 18 months, you will be eligible for the offer. All other Card Members who currently hold or who have previously held any Card product issued by American Express Australia Limited in the past 18 months are ineligible for this offer. The American Express Explorer® Credit Card has an annual Card fee of $395. This advertised offer is not applicable or valid in conjunction with any other advertised or promotional offer.

Best Rewards Credit Cards For Points in Australia