Compare rewards credit cards in Australia

A rewards credit card can earn you points or cashback, with some of the more lucrative deals getting you free or discounted flights, accommodation and more.

Fact Checked
A green rewards credit card and a wrapped present.

Rewards credit card comparisons on Mozo - last updated 8 February 2025

Search promoted rewards credit cards below or do a full Mozo database search. Important disclosures

Interest rates change regularly - stay informed.

What type of credit card works for you?

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Rewards credit card monthly snapshot: February 2025

Rewards credit cards are appealing for their points programs, which you can use to redeem free or discounted flights, seat upgrades or accommodation at a reduced rate.

However, these benefits can come with a few trade-offs – namely annual fees and higher interest rates compared to regular credit cards.

We’ve looked at the current average rates on rewards credit cards against standard credit cards in the Mozo database to give you a clear idea of the difference.

Rewards credit card rates vs standard credit card rates

Average purchase rate in the Mozo databaseBest purchase rate in the Mozo database*
Rewards credit cards20.70% p.a.13.05% p.a.
Standard credit cards17.62% p.a.7.49% p.a

*Source: Mozo.com.au as at 3 February 2025, leading purchase rates available on credit cards with or without rewards programs, excluding 0% interest cards, introductory offers and charge cards.

Best bonus point offers in February 2025

Here are some of the top rewards offers in the Mozo database.

Best intro bonus point offers

Here’s an overview of the top introductory bonus point offers according to our database:

Best airline rewards offers

Here are the top bonus point offers currently available for airline rewards programs in the Mozo database:

  • Qantas Money Qantas Premier Titanium – 150,000 Qantas Points
  • ANZ Frequent Flyer Black – 130,000 Qantas Points
  • Citi Prestige Qantas – 125,000 Qantas Points
  • Westpac Altitude Velocity Black – 120,000 Velocity Points

Rewards Credit Card Hub

What is a rewards credit card (and why you might want one)

A rewards credit card is a type of card that earns you a bonus when you spend at eligible retailers. You’ll find that most rewards credit cards earn you points or cashback.

Rewards points can typically be redeemed on flights and accommodation, gift cards or used to purchase items at a rewards store.

Other rewards credit cards might offer cashback on a portion of your purchases each month, or allow you to redeem points for money back in your account.

Rewards credit cards can be particularly appealing for people planning travel, as points earned from programs such as Qantas Frequent Flyer and Velocity Frequent Flyer can offer more value when used on flights and hotels rather than at a rewards store.

Okay, what’s the catch?

Rewards credit cards usually come with an annual fee, and it tends to be much higher than the annual fees you’ll find attached to other types of credit cards. These cards will also typically come with higher interest rates than regular credit cards.

What our personal finance expert says

According to our finance expert, Rachel Wastell, there’s been a significant devaluation in rewards credit card offerings over the past 10 years, according to analysis by Mozo.

There are a few drivers that have caused the earning potential of rewards credit cards to drop over the last decade.

“Banks are restructuring rewards point offers, splitting the delivery of these points over several months and introducing minimum spending thresholds, which is reducing the value of these cards,” Wastell says.

What type of credit card rewards programs are there?

Most rewards credit cards will be connected to a particular rewards program. Here’s an overview of the different types:

Airline frequent flyer

  • Qantas Frequent Flyer and Velocity Frequent Flyer are popular programs
  • Redeem points on flights, seat upgrades and more

Many providers have credit cards that are connected to airline frequent flyer programs – Qantas Frequent Flyer and Velocity Frequent Flyer are the two big ones in Australia. The points you earn can be used on flights, seat upgrades, hotels, car hire, a rewards store and more.

View

General rewards

  • American Express Membership Rewards and Citi Rewards are prominent
  • Some can be transferred to frequent flyer points

A general rewards program is typically the provider’s own. The most well-known are arguably American Express Membership Rewards and Citi Rewards, but there are other programs available from CommBank, Westpac and others. Points earned with these programs can usually be transferred to partner frequent flyer programs, used for shopping at a rewards store or converted into cashback.

Supermarket rewards

  • Flybuys is a well-known program
  • More limited in how to redeem

Coles offers credit cards that are connected to Flybuys. Flybuys points can be used to get money off at selected retailers, redeemed at a rewards store or transferred to Velocity Frequent Flyer points.

Award-winning rewards credit cards

Every year we analyse dozens of credit cards to determine the winners of the Mozo Experts Choice Awards for Rewards Credit Cards – here’s a look at the top scorers across categories:

Rewards Credit Card Provider Of The Year

Rewards Credit Card

Qantas Frequent Flyer Premium Credit Card

Velocity Frequent Flyer Premium Credit Card

Premium Card Benefits

Check out more of the best credit cards in Australia, including the top picks every month by the Mozo editors.

How to compare rewards credit cards

With so many choices available, you might feel a little overwhelmed when trying to decide which rewards credit card is right for you – here are some aspects to consider:

Compare the usefulness

Weigh the rewards offered by each card. For example, are free or discounted flights something you are likely to take advantage of? Or, would the ability to redeem points on your groceries be more practical? Working out how you’ll use your points is key to choosing the right card.

Compare the cost

There’s not much benefit in earning rewards if their value is offset by an annual fee, or you keep getting stung by a high interest rate. We suggest finding a card that is within your budget, and one where fees don’t outweigh the benefits earned.

Compare the conditions

Some premium rewards credit cards come with minimum income requirements to be eligible. If you don’t fall into the right income bracket, not only will your application be rejected, but it’s unlikely to fit your budget to begin with.

Compare the perks

Rewards credit cards can come with perks such as airport lounge access, complimentary travel insurance and the ability to access insurance benefits on items you’ve purchased with the card. Make sure to consider any perks when you’re choosing between cards.

Are rewards credit cards worth it?

A rewards credit card generally has an annual fee and a higher interest rate than other credit cards on the market, so for a rewards card to be worth it, the monetary value of the benefits needs to outweigh the costs of keeping it.

Worth it if

+ You frequently use the card, particularly for big purchases, to get the highest points-earning potential.

+ You can afford to pay it off each month to avoid paying interest.

+ You actively make use of your rewards points.

+ The rewards you use outweigh the annual fees.

Not worth it if

- You occasionally or rarely use the card.

- You make infrequent small purchases with the card.

- You don’t actively use your rewards points.

- The annual fees outweigh the monetary value of the rewards.

What perks come with rewards credit cards?

Some rewards credit cards offer extra perks on top of points or cashback – here are some examples.

Airport lounge access

Airport lounge access is available with some premium rewards credit cards. The lounges you can access vary depending on the provider, and some cards will limit the amount of times you can visit each year, while others won’t. Keep in mind that credit cards with airport lounge access may come with high annual fees.

Complimentary travel insurance

Rewards credit cards can offer complimentary travel insurance when you pay for your pre-travel expenses on the card, such as booking flights. Depending on the card, you may be able to get insurance for both domestic and international travel.

Every card has different eligibility criteria, so review it carefully. Some will require you to book your flight with your card while others will only require you to have spent up to a set amount.

Extended warranty and purchase protection

Some credit cards include other insurance benefits on items purchased with the card. This can include extended warranty for a set period of time, or purchase protection for lost, stolen or damaged items bought with your card (for a certain amount of days after purchase).

Credit card calculators

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Rewards credit cards: FAQs

What is a rewards points cap?

Some rewards credit cards will have a cap on the amount of points you can earn in a month or over the course of a year. If you want to maximise your points earning potential, be wary of rewards cards that put a small cap on the amount you can earn.

Do rewards points expire?

Yes, some rewards programs do set an expiry date on when you need to use your points by. It tends to be more common with airline frequent flyer programs than general credit card programs, so be sure to check the terms.

What does points per dollar spent mean?

This refers to the earn rate of rewards points for every dollar you spend, because not all points are created equal. The standard points per dollar spent equation is one point per $1 spent, but some cards will have higher or lower earnings per dollar spent.

What does a points redemption rate mean?

The redemption rate refers to the value of a rewards point when you want to use it to pay for flights, accommodation or at a rewards store. For example, one Amex point might be more valuable than three points earned with ANZ, CommBank, NAB or Westpac.

You could find that there is a big difference between what 50,000 points will get you on one card compared to what 50,000 points can get you with another.

Jasmine Gearie
Jasmine Gearie
RG146
Senior money writer

Jasmine is a senior writer at Mozo with a focus on home loans and refinancing. She has authored home loan research reports for Mozo, and has also written about broadband, mobile and the rate moves at Australia’s Big Four banks. You’ll also find her decoding financial jargon on Mozo’s Instagram. Jasmine previously wrote for TechRadar Australia, where she covered the telco and NBN sector for over four years. She studied a Bachelor of Communication (Journalism and Public Relations).

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