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Credit cards for online shopping
Check-out securely and save on extra fees when using a credit card for online shopping.
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Paying on plastic can be an easy way to shop online, but there are some cards that are better to use than others. You can use this guide to compare credit cards that will protect you from fraudulent transactions, doesn't charge extra fees for overseas purchases and can help you cut down on interest costs.
Coles Credit Card - Exclusive Offer
Coles No Annual Fee Mastercard - Exclusive Offer
0% p.a. for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers
10,000 bonus Flybuys points
Offer ends 13 May 2021
Eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, fees and charges apply
Coles Credit Card - Exclusive Offer
Reward your spending with Flybuys points and save with 0% interest on balance transfers and purchases for the first 12 months.
- Ongoing $0 annual fee
- 0% on balance transfers and purchases for 12 months
- Collect 10,000 bonus Flybuys points when you make your first eligible spend within 30 days of approval
- Earn Flybuys point per $1 spent on eligible purchases
Compare credit cards for online shopping
How to compare credit cards for online shopping
If you're looking for a credit card to use online, here are some of the card types and features that could benefit you:
- No currency conversion fees. If you often make purchases from online merchants that are based overseas, you should consider a credit card that doesn't charge foreign currency conversion fees. These fees are usually between 3% and 5% of the transaction fee and could easily add up. If the currency conversion fee was 3%, a USD$500 purchase could cost you USD$15 from the extra fee. If you shop online regularly, a card with 0% foreign transaction fees could help you save.
- Fraud protection. Most credit cards offer fraud protection guarantees (such as Visa and Mastercard's zero liability policies), which means you won't be liable for any unauthorised transactions made with your card. Terms and conditions usually apply (for example, you may need to report the fraudulent transaction within a specific number of days). Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards also have fraud monitoring systems in place, so you'll usually be notified as soon as a suspicious transaction (such as a purchase from overseas or a large transaction) is made.
- A store card. You could consider using a card that's linked with a specific retailer that you regularly shop with. If you often use your credit card to buy groceries online, you could consider a Coles or Woolworths credit card to earn Flybuys points and Everyday Rewards respectively. If you often shop at David Jones, the David Jones American Express and the David Jones American Express Platinum credit cards also offer rewards and exclusive perks to both online and in-store shoppers. The Kogan Money Black Card is another product that cardholders can use to earn points as they spend and redeem them for purchases at Kogan.com.
- Low or 0% interest fees. If you're planning to make some big-ticket purchases online or think you'll struggle to repay your balance in full each month, you could consider a card that charges a low ongoing interest rate or a promotional 0% on purchases. Currently, you can compare credit cards with 0% on purchases for up to 15 months and the rate revert to the much higher standard purchase rate when the offer ends. Otherwise, you could consider a card with a low ongoing rate between 9% and 15% for the life of the card.
- A rewards card. If you shop online and always pay your credit card balance in full, you could earn points as you spend with a rewards credit card. While most reward or frequent flyer credit cards award 1 point per $1 spent, some offer a higher earn rate on overseas purchases. This could come in handy if you're using your card to shop online with international merchants.
Alternatives to credit cards: Use a travel card to shop online
If you don't want to use a credit card but want a secure way to make purchases online that isn't tied to your savings account, consider a prepaid travel money card. You can load these cards with funds and use them to make purchases in several foreign currencies. Not only will this save you from currency conversion fees if you're making a purchase in a supported and loaded currency, but it can also help you shop within a budget. You can only spend the amount that's loaded on the card and will need to reload more funds if your balance runs low.
As these cards are usually Mastercard or Visa products, you can use them both online and in-store at millions of locations around the world.
Comparison of travel money cards
Frequently asked questions about using a credit card to shop online
Image: Getty
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