Last updated: June 23, 2026 · Credit cards compared: 15 · Data source: Official bank product pages
Reviewed by Zia Shahid, Buzdy Banking Editor · Our methodology
? In this guide
Looking for the best credit card in Australia in 2026? We compared 15 credit cards from top banks in Australia to help you find the right one for your needs, income, and lifestyle.
This guide covers fees, interest rates, eligibility, rewards, and key benefits for every option. All data is sourced from official bank product pages and updated as of June 23, 2026. Every option is from a bank regulated by Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA).
Quick Comparison: All 15 Credit cards in Australia
Side-by-side comparison of every credit card option in Australia as of June 23, 2026. Tap any name for full details.
| Credit card | Bank | Rate / Eligibility | Top Features | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Air France-KLM American Express Silver | American Express | Charge card (paid in full monthly) | — | View → |
| 2. American Express Blue (France) | American Express | Charge card (paid in full monthly) | — | View → |
| 3. American Express Gold (France) | American Express | Charge card (paid in full monthly) | — | View → |
| 4. American Express Gold Card (Germany) | American Express | Charge card (paid in full monthly) | — | View → |
| 5. American Express Payback Card | American Express | Charge card (paid in full monthly) | — | View → |
| 6. American Express Platinum (France) | American Express | Charge card (paid in full monthly) | — | View → |
| 7. American Express Platinum Card (Germany) | American Express | Charge card (paid in full monthly) | — | View → |
| 8. Amex Essential Card | American Express | 20.74% p.a. | — | View → |
| 9. Amex Explorer Card | American Express | 20.74% p.a. | Lifestyle Privileges | View → |
| 10. Amex KrisFlyer Credit Card | American Express | 1.5% - 25.9% p.a. | Shopping Discounts, Travel Benefits, Lounge Access, … | View → |
| 11. Amex Platinum Card | American Express | N/A (Charge Card) | Shopping Discounts, Travel Benefits, Lounge Access, … | View → |
| 12. Amex Platinum Card | American Express | Charge card | Hotel Discounts & Offers | View → |
| 13. Amex True Cashback Card | American Express | 1.5% - 25.9% p.a. | Shopping Discounts, Dinning Benefits, Purchase Prote… | View → |
| 14. Amex Velocity Platinum | American Express | 20.74% p.a. | — | View → |
| 15. ANZ Frequent Flyer Black | ANZ Australia | 20.74% p.a. | — | View → |
Top 15 Credit Cards in Australia (2026)
1. Air France-KLM American Express Silver
Bank: American Express
- Annual Fee: EUR 90/year (EUR 7.50/month)
- Interest Rate: Charge card (paid in full monthly)
- Rewards: Flying Blue Miles
- Interest Free Days: N/A (charge card)
The Air France-KLM Amex Silver card earns Flying Blue Miles directly on every purchase with a 3,000 miles welcome bonus after EUR 1,000 spend. Co-branded card ideal for Air France and KLM frequent fly
2. American Express Blue (France)
Bank: American Express
- Annual Fee: EUR 60/year (EUR 5/month)
- Interest Rate: Charge card (paid in full monthly)
- Rewards: Membership Rewards
- Interest Free Days: N/A (charge card)
The Amex Blue is the most accessible American Express card in France at EUR 5/month with Membership Rewards points on every purchase. Full balance auto-debited monthly as a charge card. Ideal entry po
3. American Express Gold (France)
Bank: American Express
- Annual Fee: EUR 192/year (EUR 16/month)
- Interest Rate: Charge card (paid in full monthly)
- Rewards: Accelerated Membership Rewards
- Interest Free Days: N/A (charge card)
The Amex Gold Card in France at EUR 16/month offers accelerated Membership Rewards earning, travel insurance, and Amex Offers discounts. Full balance auto-debited monthly. Excellent for earning points
4. American Express Gold Card (Germany)
Bank: American Express
- Annual Fee: EUR 240/year (EUR 20/month)
- Interest Rate: Charge card (paid in full monthly)
- Rewards: Membership Rewards
- Interest Free Days: N/A (charge card)
The Amex Gold Card offers 20,000 Membership Rewards welcome bonus, EUR 240/year annual fee, and excellent airline mile transfer rates. Includes travel and purchase insurance, supplementary card, and A
5. American Express Payback Card
Bank: American Express
- Annual Fee: EUR 0
- Interest Rate: Charge card (paid in full monthly)
- Rewards: Payback points
- Interest Free Days: N/A (charge card)
The Amex Payback Card is Germany's best free credit card with no annual fee and 5,000 Payback points welcome bonus worth EUR 50. Earn Payback points on every purchase. Full balance auto-debited monthl
6. American Express Platinum (France)
Bank: American Express
- Annual Fee: EUR 708/year (EUR 59/month)
- Interest Rate: Charge card (paid in full monthly)
- Rewards: Premium Membership Rewards
- Interest Free Days: N/A (charge card)
The Amex Platinum Card in France at EUR 59/month provides access to 1,200+ airport lounges, EUR 400 welcome bonus after EUR 4,000 spend, premium concierge, hotel elite status, and comprehensive insura
7. American Express Platinum Card (Germany)
Bank: American Express
- Annual Fee: EUR 720/year (EUR 60/month)
- Interest Rate: Charge card (paid in full monthly)
- Rewards: Membership Rewards
- Interest Free Days: N/A (charge card)
The Amex Platinum Card is the most exclusive card in Germany with access to 1,200+ airport lounges, comprehensive insurance, hotel elite status, and premium concierge. Membership Rewards points transf
8. Amex Essential Card
Bank: American Express
- Annual Fee: No annual fee
- Interest Rate: 20.74% p.a.
- Salary/Eligibility: Not Required
- Rewards: 5 pts/$1 restaurants/cafes/bars, 3 pts/$1 streaming, 2 pts/$1 major retailers, 1 pt/$1 other
Earn up to 5x points at restaurants, 3x on streaming services, and 2x at major retailers like Amazon & Kmart. Just $9/month with up to 55 interest-free days, Apple Pay/Google Pay/Samsung Pay, Plan It
9. Amex Explorer Card
Bank: American Express
- Annual Fee: AUD 395/year
- Interest Rate: 20.74% p.a.
- Salary/Eligibility: Not Required
- Rewards: 2 pts/$1 on purchases (1 pt/$1 on government)
- Benefits: Lifestyle Privileges
Earn 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent plus a $400 annual travel credit that offsets the $395 fee. Includes Centurion Lounge access in Sydney & Melbourne, travel insurance, smartphone screen co
10. Amex KrisFlyer Credit Card
Bank: American Express
- Annual Fee: S$176.55 (1st year waived)
- Interest Rate: 1.5% - 25.9% p.a.
- Salary/Eligibility: No
- Rewards: 2 KrisFlyer miles per S$1 overseas
- Benefits: Shopping Discounts, Travel Benefits, Lounge Access, Dinning Benefits, Purchase Protection, Digital Wallet
The American Express KrisFlyer Credit Card is co-branded with Singapore Airlines, earning 1.1 KrisFlyer miles per S$1 on local spending and 2 miles per S$1 on overseas and online spending. Miles are a
11. Amex Platinum Card
Bank: American Express
- Annual Fee: S$1,712
- Interest Rate: N/A (Charge Card)
- Salary/Eligibility: No
- Rewards: 3 MR points per S$1.60 overseas
- Benefits: Shopping Discounts, Travel Benefits, Lounge Access, Dinning Benefits, Purchase Protection, Digital Wallet
The American Express Platinum Card is an ultra-premium charge card offering unlimited Priority Pass and Plaza Premium lounge access, Hilton Gold and Marriott Gold status, and up to 3 Membership Reward
12. Amex Platinum Card
Bank: American Express
- Annual Fee: AUD 1,450/year
- Interest Rate: Charge card
- Salary/Eligibility: Not Required
- Rewards: Up to 2.25 pts/$1 on eligible spend (1 pt/$1 on government)
- Benefits: Hotel Discounts & Offers
Australia's premier charge card with unlimited access to 1,550+ airport lounges worldwide, $450 travel credit, up to $400 dining credits, 24/7 concierge, and up to 2.25 points per $1. Comprehensive tr
13. Amex True Cashback Card
Bank: American Express
- Annual Fee: S$171.20 (1st year waived)
- Interest Rate: 1.5% - 25.9% p.a.
- Salary/Eligibility: No
- Rewards: 1.5% unlimited (3% first 6 months)
- Benefits: Shopping Discounts, Dinning Benefits, Purchase Protection, Digital Wallet, Global Acceptance, Chip/Pin
The American Express True Cashback Card offers a flat 1.5% unlimited cashback on all spending with no minimum spend and no category restrictions. New cardmembers receive 3% cashback for the first 6 mo
14. Amex Velocity Platinum
Bank: American Express
- Annual Fee: AUD 249/year
- Interest Rate: 20.74% p.a.
- Salary/Eligibility: Not Required
- Rewards: 1.25 Velocity pts/$1 everyday, 2.25 pts/$1 on Virgin Australia purchases
Earn 1.25 Velocity Points per $1 on everyday spend and 2.25 per $1 on Virgin Australia purchases. Includes complimentary annual domestic return flight, Virgin Australia Lounge access, travel insurance
15. ANZ Frequent Flyer Black
Bank: ANZ Australia
- Annual Fee: AUD 425/year
- Interest Rate: 20.74% p.a.
- Salary/Eligibility: No
- Rewards: 1 Qantas Point per $1 up to $7,500/statement; 0.5 per $1 over $7,500; bonus points on Qantas products
The ANZ Frequent Flyer Black Visa is a premium card earning 1 Qantas Point per $1 up to $7,500/statement. Includes 2 complimentary Qantas Club lounge passes per year, travel insurance, 24/7 concierge
7 Smart Tips Before You Apply
What banks won't put in their marketing — but every smart applicant should know.
- Compare APR, not just headline rates. The advertised "low interest" is usually a promo. The real cost is the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) after fees, balance transfer charges, and FX markups. A 1.5% monthly rate is actually ~19.6% APR.
- Read the small print on rewards. Banks advertise "5% cashback" but cap it at $20/month. After the cap, you earn 0.5%. Always check the monthly cap, eligible merchants, and minimum spend requirements.
- Know your credit profile before applying. Each rejected application damages your credit score. Use the bank's pre-qualification check (soft pull) before submitting a formal application (hard pull).
- Avoid cash advances at all costs. Cash advance APR is usually 5-10% higher than purchase APR, with no grace period and an upfront fee of 2-5% of the amount. Use only in emergencies.
- Set up direct debit for the full balance. Paying only the minimum (often 5% of balance) means interest accrues on the rest. A balance of $1,000 paid at minimum costs ~$1,400 in interest over 5 years.
- Use foreign-fee-free cards abroad. Standard cards charge 2-3% on every foreign transaction plus FX markup. Travel cards charge 0%. On a $3,000 holiday, that's $90 saved.
- Watch the annual fee waiver conditions. Many premium cards waive fees in year 1 only or require a minimum annual spend (e.g. $5,000) to keep the waiver. Set a reminder before renewal.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The five most expensive errors people make with credit cards:
- Applying for too many cards at once. Each application is a hard credit pull. 3+ pulls in 6 months drops your score 30-50 points. Space out applications by at least 90 days.
- Only paying the minimum. If you have $5,000 balance at 24% APR and pay only the minimum (5%), you'll pay $1,500+ in interest before clearing the debt. Always pay in full when possible.
- Ignoring the fine print on welcome bonuses. "Get $200 cashback!" usually requires spending $3,000 in 90 days. Read the qualifying spend, the eligible categories, and the payout timeline.
- Not using benefits you've already paid for. If you pay a $400 annual fee for a card with airport lounge access, lost-baggage insurance, and concierge — use them. Most users don't claim 80% of what they paid for.
- Treating credit cards as free money. They're high-cost short-term loans. The minimum payment cycle is designed to keep you indebted for 7-10 years on average.
How to Choose the Right Credit card in Australia
- Annual fees — compare across banks, some offer zero fee for the first year
- Interest rates — lower rates save money if you carry a balance
- Rewards and benefits — match to your spending habits
- Eligibility — salary and documentation requirements vary by bank
- Digital access — mobile app, internet banking, contactless payments
- Customer support — 24/7 helpline, branch network, dispute resolution time
- Regulation — all products listed are from banks regulated by Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA)
Frequently Asked Questions: Credit cards in Australia
What is the best credit card in Australia for 2026?
The best credit card depends on your priorities — income level, spending habits, and eligibility. Use the comparison table above to filter by rate, benefits, and bank. For premium benefits with worldwide acceptance, look at Platinum tier cards. For low income requirements, classic tier cards offer easier eligibility. Compare all 15 options on this page.
What credit score do I need for a credit card in Australia?
Most banks in Australia require a clean credit history with no defaults in the last 5 years. Premium products typically require higher monthly income. Each bank publishes its own minimum on the product page.
Can I apply online for a credit card in Australia?
Yes, most major banks in Australia now offer fully online applications. Tap "View" on any credit card above to start the application process directly with the bank.
What documents do I need?
Standard documents: valid government ID, tax identification number, proof of address (utility bill or rental agreement), latest 3 months of payslips (for salaried applicants) or 6 months of bank statements (self-employed), and a recent passport-size photograph. Exact requirements vary by bank.
Are these credit cards regulated and safe?
Yes — all 15 options listed are from banks regulated by Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). Consumer disputes can be escalated to the regulator if a bank does not resolve the issue.
What are the typical fees in Australia?
Fees vary by tier and bank: classic cards typically A$ 0–1,500/year, gold A$ 1,500–3,000, platinum A$ 3,000–10,000. Many banks waive the first year. Always check the product page for the exact fee schedule.
Can I get a credit card if I am self-employed in Australia?
Yes. Self-employed applicants typically need: business registration, latest tax returns, 6 months of bank statements, and audited financials (for higher tiers). Approval rates are lower than for salaried applicants but several banks specifically cater to small business owners.
What happens if I default on payments?
Missed payments trigger late fees (typically A$ 500–2,000), a credit-score drop, and a higher interest rate going forward. After 90 days of non-payment, the account goes to collections and is reported to credit bureaus. Contact your bank BEFORE missing a payment if you have trouble — most banks offer hardship plans.
Related Guides for Australia
- All banks in Australia
- Bank branches across Australia
- Credit Cards In Australia 2026
- Personal Loans In Australia 2026
- Savings Accounts In Australia 2026
- Australia EMI calculator
- Australia savings calculator
How We Compare
Our editorial team reviews each product based on annual fees, interest rates, rewards programs, eligibility requirements, and verified bank disclosures. We update this comparison regularly to reflect the latest offers. Data is sourced from official bank websites and verified where regulatory filings are publicly available.
Buzdy compares products from 555 banks across 51 countries. We are not affiliated with any single bank — our rankings are based on objective criteria outlined in our methodology.
Disclosure: Buzdy may earn a referral commission when you apply through links on our site. Commissions never influence rankings. Read our full editorial standards.
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