Charge card comparison

Charge cards work in a similar way to credit cards, with the bank paying for the purchases you make and then sending you the bill at the end of the month. But there are some key differences between a charge card and a credit card - primarily that a charge card doesn't charge interest. Here's how to compare your options and how to decide if a charge card is right for you or your business.

American Express Business Charge Card Offer

American Express Platinum Business Card

Receive 250,000 bonus Membership Rewards Points

Offer ends 30 June 2021

Eligibility criteria, terms and conditions, fees and charges apply

American Express Business Charge Card Offer

Receive 250,000 bonus Membership Rewards Points when you spend $8,000 on your new card within the first 3 months from approval.

• Earn 2.25 points / $1 spent (1 pt / $1 on government spend). Points can be transferred to Qantas Frequent Flyer at rate of 2:1.
• No pre-set spending limit with up to 55 days cash flow and a $1,750 annual fee.
• Complimentary insurance for business travel, access to over 1,200 airport lounges and a dedicated account manager.
• New customers applying with a business revenue of $75,000 p.a. and a valid ABN only.

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What is a charge card?

Charge cards have no set spending limit and require that you pay your full balance off by the statement due date. A charge card is not a revolving line of credit and doesn't charge interest like traditional credit cards. Instead, you will be charged a late fee if you don't pay on time. The structure and payment requirements of charge cards also means that they tend to have higher minimum income and credit history requirements than some credit cards. Charge cards often come with benefits like rewards points, travel insurance, airport lounge access, concierge services and purchase and fraud protection.

Compare charge cards

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Name	Product	Rewards program	Annual fee	Complimentary travel insurance
American Express Platinum Business Card		Membership Rewards Ascent Premium	$1,750	Yes	ABN holders w/ $75,000 revenue. Get 250,000 bonus points when you spend $8,000 in the first 3 months. Ends 30 June 2021.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express Platinum Card		Membership Rewards Ascent Premium	$1,450	Yes	Offer Extended: 150,000 bonus points when you spend $3,000 in the first 3 months. Additional 50,000 points in the 2nd year.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express Velocity Business Card		Velocity Frequent Flyer	$249	Yes	ABN holders w/ $75,000 revenue. Get 100,000 bonus Velocity Points when you spend $3,000 within the first 2 months. Ends 30 June 2021.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express Business Card		Membership Rewards Ascent	$109	No	ABN holders w/ $75,000 revenue. Up to 1.5 points/ $1 spent and extended cashflow with up to 51 days interest-free on business purchases.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express Gold Business Card		Membership Rewards Ascent	$169	Yes	ABN holders w/ $75,000 revenue. Get 100,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 within the first 2 months. Ends 30 June 2021.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card		Qantas Business Rewards	$450	Yes	ABN holders w/ $75,000 revenue. 150,000 bonus Qantas Points and a $450 Qantas Flight Voucher when you spend $3,000 within the first 2 months. Ends 30 June 2021.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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*The credit card offers on this page are chosen from a range of credit cards available to us and are not representative of all the products available in the market. The use of the terms "best" and "top" are not product ratings and are subject to our disclaimer. There is no perfect order or perfect ranking system for the products we list on our Site, so we provide you with the functionality to self-select, re-order and compare products. The initial display order is influenced by a range of factors including conversion rates, product costs and commercial arrangements, so please don't interpret the listing order as an endorsement or recommendation from us. We're happy to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions, but we'd like you to make your own decisions and compare and assess products based on your own preferences, circumstances and needs.

What types of charge cards are there?

• Rewards charge cards

Some cards are linked with a rewards program and can earn points per $1 spent on eligible transactions. Depending on the card, you can redeem these points for rewards including flights, travel packages, gift cards and more. These cards sometimes offer other travel perks including travel vouchers, airport lounge passes and perks with partnered hotels. Frequent flyer and rewards charge cards typically charge higher annual fees than other options.

• Gold and platinum charge cards

Gold and platinum charge cards are designed to suit big spenders who are looking for premium perks. Depending on the card, you could get luxury rewards including fine dining, five-star hotels and travel benefits. You can spend with peace of mind and convenience thanks to complimentary insurance covers and platinum concierge services. These cards usually charge higher fees and are best suited to high-income earners.

• Business and corporate charge cards

You can use these charge cards to cover business costs, improve cash flow and manage employee spending. The right type of charge card will depend on the type of business you own. Business charge cards cater to small businesses whereas corporate charge cards are better suited to larger corporations. Similar to personal cards, some business charge cards also come with rewards programs, travel insurance and concierge access. Corporate charge cards may also offer features for tracking company and travel expenses, while also larger credit limits and more additional cardholders.

How to compare charge cards

Make sure you consider the following factors when you compare charge cards so that you can find the right option for you.

• Annual fee. Charge cards typically charge higher annual fees than credit cards. As these cards usually come with competitive rewards programs and extra features, make sure that you're taking advantage of these perks.
• Minimum income. Charge cards usually have higher minimum income requirements than some other credit cards. For example, you may need to earn at least $75,000 or $100,000 per year to apply for some of these cards.
• Billing period. This will determine when you have to pay off your charge card balance. Usually you will receive a statement once a month, but some cards may offer more than 30 days between payments.

Charge cards vs credit cards

Considering factors like card balance, interest rates and fees, you can compare credit cards and charge cards side-by-side below.

How to apply for a charge card

Applying for a charge card is simple and can be done online in a few minutes. The eligibility requirements vary between products, but some of the general criteria include:

• Age. You must be at least 18 years old to apply for credit or charge cards in Australia.
• Residency. You typically need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.
• Annual income. Different cards will require different pre-tax income levels ranging from $20,000 to $100,000 and above.
• Good credit record. Most charge cards require that you have a high credit score, and that you have no history of bad debt or payment defaults.

Charge cards can be a useful way to free up your cashflow if you can pay your balance in full each month. If you prefer to carry a balance from month to month or don't think you'll meet the eligibility criteria, you may want to compare credit cards instead.

Frequently asked questions

How much can I actually charge to a charge card?

Although these cards don't have set credit limits, purchases are approved based on factors such as established spending patterns, credit score, repayment history and declared financial resources. As you establish a relationship with your charge card provider, the amount chargeable to your card should increase.

Can I get supplementary charge cards for my family or employees?

This is usually possible as long as the nominated family member satisfies the card provider’s requirements, such as being over 18 years of age. As the primary cardholder, you will be completely liable for all supplementary card spending.

Do charge cards build credit?

Even though charge cards aren't technically "credit cards", applying for one will leave an enquiry on your credit report. Repayment history will also be reported to credit bureaus, so they can help you build your credit history.

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