Determine your credit card goal: pay off debt with 0% transfers or earn significant frequent flyer points.
Compare interest rates and annual fees; some offer $0 upfront fees or bonuses up to $450 credit back.
Check eligibility before applying; card acceptance varies, with Amex less widespread than Visa or Mastercard.
Our picks for the best credit cards for August
The best credit card for you might be a cheap card with no annual fee. Or it could be a card that gives you tons of frequent flyer points. Everyone is looking for something slightly different.
That's why we've created a unique Finder Score for 9 different credit card categories. Here are the highest scoring credit cards this month.
The top picks were updated by our team of credit card experts and reviewed by senior money editor Richard Whitten in August 2026.
Want to see more of the best credit cards on the market? Check out Finder's 2026 Credit Card Award winners. These cards were the top scoring cards consistently over 12 months.
The Finder Score is a fast, easy way to compare credit cards. The higher the score, the better the card.
We look at all the cards in our database (that's over 220 credit cards) and score them based on the value they offer through a combination of fees, points, rates and other details.
We also created different scoring categories based on different card types and customer needs.
We score cards differently depending on the category. One card can have a really great balance transfer offer while also being a halfway decent frequent flyer card. It might get a 9 for the first and a 7 for the second.
If a card has a 0% balance transfer offer for 24 months with a low fee, that's a great option for anyone looking to get their debt under control. It could score 8 or 9 in the balance transfer category. But if the card also let you earn Qantas Points at a pretty low rate, with no other perks, it might only get a 6 or 7 in the frequent flyer category.
How do I find the best credit card?
Work out what you are looking for. Before you do anything else, you have to know what you want in a card. The best credit card for a young person struggling with debts is very different to the best card for a cashed up frequent flyer.
Compare rates, fees, points and perks. For every type of credit card, the best cards will either have low fees and low rates, or offer a level of rewards, points and perks that more than make up for the high fees.
Use the Finder Score. If a credit card has a Finder of score of 8 or 9, it's a pretty good card.
Our expert says: The best credit card is one you can actually get approved for
"Don't let a giant bonus points offer or a razor sharp rate distract you. Check you're eligible before applying for a card. If you're working part-time and only earning $25,000 a year, you won't get approved for a card that gives you 100,000 Qantas Points on sign up. Check your credit score and check if a card has a minimum income or minimum credit limit before you apply."
How to find the best credit card for your situation
The best credit card is the one that works best for you. So what are you looking for?
I spent a lot each month, and I like shopping
You're probably looking for a reward credit card that gives you points when you spend money. But there are also cards that let you earn reward points with various banks, which can be used on gift cards and other incentives. And there are cards that offer cashback when you spend.
How to get the best rewards card. Figure out what kind of rewards you want, based on how much value you can get from the points and how easy it is to earn them. Make sure the benefits you get outweigh the card's annual fee.
I fly a lot and I'm a big spender
You're probably looking for a card that lets you earn either Qantas Points or Velocity Points. You could also get a rewards credit card and convert the points to a frequent flyer program (but earning frequent flyer points directly tends to give you more value).
How to get the best frequent flyer card. Look at both the earn rate (how many points you get per dollar spent) and the bonus points offer. You should be able to earn tens of thousands of points in the first few months with a good bonus offer. Cards with more points have higher annual fees. But the points should more than outweigh the annual fee.
I am struggling with credit card debts
You're probably looking for a balance transfer credit card offer. These cards let you transfer an existing credit card balance to a new card and pay 0% interest for a limited time (plus a 1–3% fee). This lets you pay off your debt without sky-high interest charges.
How to get the best balance transfer card. The best balance transfer offer will be 0% for 24 months (or higher), with a fee. But you should also look at all the card's details, like the annual fee and the purchase rate. Because you will get charged interest on new spending you do with the card.
I just need a basic credit card for emergencies and will pay it off in full each month
Finder research shows 40% of Australians got their last credit card for emergencies. When that's the case, a no annual fee card costs you nothing to keep. And if you pay it off in full each month, it could cost you nothing at all.
How to get the best no fee card. Look at any other perks or benefits the card offers. And be aware that some cards may waive the annual fee in the first year only, while others never charge a fee.
I can't pay my credit card balance off each month
Carrying a balance (not paying off your credit card in full each month) gets expensive when some credit cards have interest rates above 20%. If you're in this situation look for a low rate credit card. These cards don't offer great perks or bonus points, but you'll pay less interest while you repay the card balance.
How to get the best low rate card. Low rate cards have purchase rates from 8%–15% p.a. The lower the rate the better. But factor in the card's annual fee too (you might find a $0 fee offer or a low fee of around $55).
I need a credit card for my business
The name says it all. If you're a sole trader or a business owner, a business credit card offers expense management tools and features such as detailed statement breakdowns, automatic feeds for accounting software and cards for employees.
How to get the best card. These cards come in many shapes and sizes. Look out for the card's rate and annual fee, obviously. Some business cards let you earn points on spending, which can give you tons of points. Make sure the card offers integration with your business accounting software too.
Top 5 credit card brands for customer satisfaction
The best credit card is all about rates, fees, points, perks and features. But what about customer service? Which brands are most popular with actual customers?
The Finder Customer Satisfaction Awards surveyed hundreds of Australians about the credit card brands they trust and love the most. Here are the winners.
Bank
Overall satisfaction
★★★★★ 4.21/5
★★★★★ 4.18/5
★★★★★ 4.10/5
★★★★★ 4.06/5
★★★★★ 4.01/5
Frequently asked questions
Mastercard and Visa credit cards are widely accepted across Australia. While American Express is not accepted everywhere (at Aldi, for example) most major retailers accept it now. And the numbers grow each year. American Express added over 610,000 new merchant locations in 2024.
Getting a credit card from your current bank can make it easier to manage because you'll see your accounts in one place. You could also be able to make repayments easily between your transaction account and the credit card.
But loyalty doesn't always pay. And your bank may not have the best credit card with the features you want. So it's better to compare credit card brands: you could easily find a new card that offers better rewards or more points with a lower annual fee.
A no interest credit card with a flat, monthly fee can be good if you want to pay off what you buy over time, without being limited to selected retailers (which you sometimes are with Afterpay, Klarna and some other BNPL plans). These credit cards don't usually charge late fees, unlike buy now pay later. They are also better if you want to build up your credit history, because most BNPL plans don't add to your credit report.
But if you mostly shop with the partnered brands and can make all of your payments on time (to avoid late fees), you could use a platform like Afterpay without any costs. And if you already have an account that you're happily using, there's less reason to get a credit card – unless you want to build your credit history.
Credit cards with low interest rates, low fees and low or modest credit limits are typically the best options because these features help keep costs down. A low credit limit can also reduce the risk of unmanageable debt.
Some people may also consider no interest credit cards with a flat, monthly fee for their first credit card. These cards are similar to BNPL and have clear, structured repayment details and only offer credit limits between $1,000 and $3,000.
ANZ and American Express offer great rewards programs, with ANZ providing Qantas Frequent Flyer benefits and Amex offering solid cashback and travel perks – noting that Amex is not as widely accepted, and the fees can be higher. For low-interest and balance transfer benefits, NAB is a good option.
Yes, many cards, such as the NAB and Bankwest credit cards, offer 0% interest on purchases or balance transfers for promotional periods. This means you can either make purchases and pay 0% interest for a period, or you can transfer debt from another card and pay 0% interest on that debt while you pay it off.
Richard Whitten is Finder’s Senior Money Editor, with over eight years of experience in home loans, property, credit cards and personal finance. His insights appear in top media outlets like Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine, and the Herald Sun, and he frequently offers expert commentary on television and radio, helping Australians navigate mortgages and property ownership. Richard started his career in education and textbook publishing in South Korea. He holds multiple industry certifications, including a Certificate IV in Mortgage Broking (RG 206) and Tier 1 and Tier 2 certifications (RG 146), as well as a Bachelor of Education from the University of Sydney and a Graduate Certificate in Communications from Deakin University.
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