Best international credit cards September 2026

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.

Best international credit cards in September

• Best international credit card: Bankwest Breeze Platinum Mastercard
• Best international credit card with no annual fee: Bendigo Bank Ready Credit Card
• Best international rewards credit card: Bankwest More Platinum Mastercard

Finder Score	Foreign currency conversion fee	Interest-free days	Purchase rate p.a.	Annual fee
Best international credit card
Finder score 9.9 Excellent Bankwest Breeze Platinum Mastercard Finder Award	Finder score 9.9 Excellent	0%	Up to 55 days on purchases	Intro purchase rate 12.99%	$59	View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it 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. Pros & cons Pros Balance transfer offer of 0% p.a. for 24 months A low ongoing 12.99% p.a. purchase rate No foreign transaction fees on overseas purchases Cons Does not include a rewards program Cash advance rate of 21.99% p.a. Charges a 3% balance transfer fee
Best international credit card with no annual fee
Finder score 9.8 Excellent Bendigo Bank Ready Credit Card	Finder score 9.8 Excellent	0%	Up to 55 days on purchases	Intro purchase rate 19.99%	$0	View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it 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 Pros $0 annual fee 0% international transaction fees on purchases Access to complimentary overseas travel insurance Cons No introductory offers on purchases and balance transfers Does not feature a rewards program There is a $15 late payment fee
Best international rewards credit card
Finder score 9.9 Excellent Bankwest More Platinum Mastercard Bankwest More Rewards Program	Finder score 9.9 Excellent	0%	Up to 44 days on purchases	Intro purchase rate 14.99%	$160	View details Compare product selection Compare	loading	Why we like it 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 Pros Up to 50,000 bonus Points, redeemable for up to $110 cashback 0% foreign transaction fees on online and overseas purchases. 0% p.a. for 6 months on balance transfers Cons 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

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Updated September 2026 by Finder's senior money editor, Richard Whitten.

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 card overseas.

Many credit cards charge around 3% for every transaction in a foreign currency. That includes:

• Spending while travelling internationally.
• Shopping online in a foreign currency.

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 $0 to around $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.

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:

• Ubank's Spend account.
• ING's Orange Everyday account (you get charged the fee but there's an unlimited rebate).
• Suncorp's Everyday Options account.

Use a pre-loaded travel money card

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.

Popular options include Wise and Revolut.

Frequently asked questions

• Which Australian credit cards have 0% FX and no annual fee?

  Very few Australian credit cards offer 0% foreign currency conversion fees and a $0 annual fee.

  We found 2 cards in our database that offer 0% foreign fees and no annual fee: the Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard and the Bendigo Bank Ready Credit Card.

• How often should I use my credit card to maintain the account and keep any benefits?

  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.

• What is dynamic currency conversion and how do I avoid it?

  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.

• Do travel debit cards avoid international fees completely?

  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 ING Orange Everyday account.

How we calculate Travel Credit Cards Finder Score

Read full methodology

What different scores mean

9+

Excellent

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.

• Crunching the numbers: how the Finder Score works

  • 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.	7.5%

Written by

Richard Whitten

Senior Money Editor

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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. See full bio

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