The best credit card to use internationally is one that doesn't charge international or foreign currency conversion fees.
Beyond this feature, a good card should also have a low annual fee and offer perks like complimentary travel insurance.
But a credit card is not your only option for international spending. Consider a debit card with 0% foreign transaction fees or a travel money card.
Best international credit cards
Every month at Finder we analyse all the credit cards in our database with 0% foreign transaction fees and rank them using the Finder Score system.
The top scoring credit cards all have 0% international transaction fees, but also score highly if they have complimentary travel insurance, low overseas ATM fees and low annual card fees.
Finder's 5 best international credit cards in July
All of the top scoring international credit cards this month offer 0% international transaction fees.
This card gives you a way to save on overseas travel costs with 0% foreign transaction fees and overseas travel insurance, with the option of upgraded cover through Cover-More. Right now, it also offers 0% p.a. interest on balance transfers for 24 months, with a 3% balance transfer fee. This could help you save on interest for up to two years as you pay off a trip.
The 12.99% interest rate that applies after the introductory period is also competitive. And if you're approved, you can get a digital card straight after activating your account.
You can't find a cheaper credit card to use overseas than one with $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. The card also offers complimentary overseas travel insurance, which is a rare perk for a cheaper card like this.
The card doesn't offer too much else in terms of perks and features, but it's a really cost-effective choice for anyone looking to spend money overseas, whether shopping online or travelling.
Pros & cons
$0 annual fee
0% international transaction fees on purchases
Access to complimentary overseas travel insurance
Finder Score of 9.82 in the travel card category.
No introductory offers on purchases and balance transfers
This card gives you that great 0% on international spending while also letting you earn rewards points at a pretty high rate. And to top it off, the $160 annual fee is quite low for a rewards card.
The card also offers some great perks like complimentary travel insurance, making it a solid all around choice for international travel.
Pros & cons
Earn 2 points per $1 spent
0% foreign transaction fees on online and overseas purchases.
Up to 3 additional cardholders at no extra cost
0% p.a. for 6 months on balance transfers
Complimentary overseas travel insurance
Relatively high annual fee of $160 p.a.
Has a one-time 1% balance transfer fee
More Rewards Points cannot be converted to frequent flyer
How to find the best international credit card for you
The most important factor: 0% international transaction fees
The best international credit cards all offer 0% foreign transaction fees. That's the most important feature to look at because it saves you a lot of money when using the car overseas.
Many credit cards charge around 3% for every transaction in a foreign currency. That includes:
Example: saving money with a 0% foreign fee credit card
Let's say you spent $3,000 on your credit card while travelling overseas. A 3% fee would cost you $90.
So a 0% foreign transaction fee is really what makes a credit card great for international use, whether you're travelling or shopping overseas.
5 more factors to compare when finding the right international credit card
The annual fee. A lower annual fee makes a big difference to the cost of your international credit card. Card annual fees range from $55–$400, and some cards don't charge an annual fee in the first year.
Overseas ATM fees. Many credit and debit cards charge a fee for using ATMs overseas. But some don't, so this can make a big difference.
Complimentary travel insurance. Many travel-oriented credit cards offer free travel insurance cover. To qualify, you need to book some of the travel costs (like flights or accommodation) using the card. It's a great benefit, especially if you plan to use the card internationally.
The purchase rate. This is the interest rate you get charged on your card spending if you don't repay the card balance in full each month. Many credit cards charge up to 22%. But if you repay your card spending in full, you won't get charged interest.
Extra perks and benefits. Credit cards come with all kinds of benefits, from cashback on spending to complimentary insurance cover like purchase protection and the ability to earn reward points.
International credit card fees
International transaction fees (sometimes called foreign currency conversion fees) on Australian credit cards range from under 1% up to 3.65% of a transaction. Most cards charge a 3% fee. There are fewer than 30 cards on the market that don't charge international transaction fees.
Source:Finder's credit card database
All the perks and benefits of 0% foreign fee cards
Many of the best international credit cards in Finder's database offer some of these extra benefits. Just keep in mind that the more benefits a credit card offers the higher the annual fee.
Interest-free days on purchases. This is a standard feature on most credit cards but important, and worth comparing. Interest-free days mean you can spend on the card and not get charged interest for longer. Some cards give you 44 days from the start of your statement period before charging interest, some are as high as 55 days.
Reward points. Many credit cards let you earn rewards points on your spending. There are bank rewards programs like Commbank Award Points or NAB Rewards Points, plus Amex's Membership Rewards Points.
Cashback. Some credit cards let you earn cashback on your spending. Usually this is capped at a percentage of your spending, and it effectively offers a small discount on your card spending.
Insurance cover. Beyond travel insurance, many international credit cards offer purchase protection insurance or extended warranties. Very useful if you're making big purchases. Just keep in mind extended warranty cover typically only applies to domestic purchases, not international ones.
Alternative travel card options
You don't have to use a credit card with 0% international fees when spending internationally. Your best option may be one of these:
Use a debit card with no international transaction fees
If you've got the money to spend already (so you don't need credit), a debit card with 0% foreign currency conversion fees is a good option.
Popular bank accounts with debit cards and 0% international transaction fees include:
You can load up a prepaid travel money card with a foreign currency before you travel. This is a really cost-effective method and you can lock in your exchange rate before you travel.
These aren't credit cards, and you'll need to add money to them before you travel or when you're on the road.
With most credit cards you really just need to pay the annual fee to keep the account active.
If your card offers rewards points, you'll only earn points when you spend money with the card. And if there's a bonus points offer you'll need to spend a certain amount within a given time frame.
When you make an international credit card transaction with an Australian card, the transaction is converted into Australian dollars. Mastercard and Visa have their own conversion rates.
Some overseas merchants may let you pay in Australian dollars instead, using something called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC).
According to the Commonwealth Bank, DCC rates and fees are "determined by the merchant" and while convenient,"you'll often end up paying more for the transaction."
You may be better off paying in the local currency if you have the option.
Plenty of debit cards have similar international transaction fees to credit cards. But we've listed several options that don't charge a fee, like the Suncorp Everyday Options account, the Ubank Spend account and the HSBC Everyday Global account.
These cards offer lower currency conversion fees and relevant perks for travelers like insurance and ATM access.
7+
Great
Reasonable cards for travelers, however can potentially charge higher fees.
5+
Standard
While eligible to be used to travelers internationally, these cards may charge currency conversion, overseas ATM withdrawal and ongoing fees.
0+
Basic
These cards should be used for international purchases only in the event of an emergency.
How the Finder Score works
The Finder Score gives you a simple score out of 10, the higher the better. To determine the best credit cards for travel and international use we examine 250+ credit cards and assess six features, assigning them scores out of 10.
This includes international transaction fees, travel insurance, annual fees and the purchase rate. Cards with 0% foreign transaction fees and other travel perks score higher.
The methodology is designed by our insights and editorial team. Commercial partnerships carry no weight, all products in the database are scored objectively.
9+ Excellent - These cards offer lower currency conversion fees and relevant perks for travellers like insurance and ATM access.
7+ Great - Reasonable cards for travellers, however can potentially charge higher fees. 5+ Satisfactory - While eligible to be used to travellers internationally, these cards may charge currency conversion, overseas ATM withdrawal and ongoing fees.
Less than 5–Basic - These cards should be used for international purchases only in the event of an emergency.
Finder Score metric assessment - Travel credit cards
Feature
Definition
Assessment
Weight
Foreign Exchange Fees
Fees charge on international transactions
Lower fees score higher
50%
Travel Insurance
Complimentary travel insurance
Full score for complimentary insurances
15%
Overseas ATM Fees
Fees charged by card provider to withdraw from international ATMs
Lower fees score higher
10%
Purchase Rate
Interest rate on new purchases
Lower rates score higher
10%
First-Year Fee
Annual fee charged in the first year of ownership
Lower fees score higher. $0 fee receives the maximum points.
7.5%
Ongoing Annual Fee
Annual fee charged from the second year onwards
Lower fees score higher. $0 fee receives the maximum points.
Richard Whitten is Finder’s Money Editor, with over seven years of experience in home loans, property 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 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 Graduate Certificate in Communications from Deakin University. See full bio
Richard's expertise
Richard has written 638 Finder guides across topics including:
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