Rewards credit cards that are the real deal

Video: Best rewards cards roundup 2024

Our round-up of rewards credit card offers

Here are some of the top rewards cards this month, based on their Finder Scores:

• The American Express Platinum Card has a Finder Score of 9.9.
• The ANZ Rewards Black Credit Card has a Finder Score of 9.31.
• The NAB Rewards Signature Card has a Finder Score of 8.99.
• The BankSA Amplify Signature has a Finder Score of 8.98.
• The St.George Amplify Signature has a Finder Score of 8.98.
• The Bank of Melbourne Amplify Signature has a Finder Score of 8.98.
• The Citi Prestige Card has a Finder Score of 8.76.

Updated 2 July 2024 by money editor, Richard Whitten.

How we calculate Rewards Credit Card Finder Scores

Read full methodology

What different scores mean

9+

Excellent

These cards offer the best ongoing earn rates and sign up offers, coupled with attractive annual fees and perks.

7+

Great

Reasonable rewards cards but may offer slightly lower ongoing or signup offers.

5+

Standard

These cards may offer lower ongoing and sign up points, but could also offer fewer perks or higher annual fees.

0+

Basic

Entry level rewards cards, that offer consumers basic sign up offers and ongoing earn rates.

Rewards score tiers - what you need to know

• 9+ Excellent - These cards offer the best ongoing earn rates and sign up offers, coupled with attractive annual fees and perks.
• 7+ Great - Reasonable rewards cards but may offer slightly lower ongoing or signup offers.
• 5+ Satisfactory - These cards may offer lower ongoing and sign up points, and fewer perks, but probably have lower annual fees.
• Less than 5 – Basic - Entry level rewards cards, that offer consumers basic sign up offers and ongoing earn rates.

The lowdown on how we score

We analyse 100+ rewards credit cards and look at 6 key features to create our Finder Scores.

Points from rewards programs are converted to a dollar value, by determining the number of points required to purchase a grocery store gift card, or a direct dollar value conversion, within the rewards program store.

A card will get a different Finder Score in each category, depending on which features are being assessed.

To qualify for the rewards score, credit cards must:

• Offer signup or ongoing rewards points affiliated to a rewards program.
• Be available to general consumers.

Our aim is to help your with financial decision-making, but please consider your own financial circumstances. While we may make money from commercial partnerships, they have no weight in our methodology. The database is scored objectively and reviewed by our editorial team.

Rewards score weightings

Best AMEX rewards card - American Express Platinum Card

American Express Platinum Card

• 200,000 Bonus Points and Yearly $450 Travel Credit
• $1,450 Annual fee
• N/A Purchase rate

Go to site

Ends on 01 October 2024

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Pros & cons

• 200,000 bonus Membership Rewards Points
• $450 Platinum Travel Credit each year
• Airport lounge access at over 1,400 locations with the American Express Global Lounge Collection
• Up to $400 back per calendar year at participating restaurants with American Express Global Dining Credit

• High $1,450 p.a. annual fee
• 3% foreign currency conversion fee
• American Express is not as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard

Best Big 4 Bank rewards card - ANZ Rewards Black

ANZ Rewards Black Credit Card

• 180,000 Bonus Points & $150 back
• $375 Annual fee
• 20.99% Purchase rate

Go to site

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Pros & cons

• 180,000 bonus ANZ Reward Points
• $150 back on your new card
• Up to 2 ANZ Reward Points per $1 spent
• Complimentary extras including travel insurance and a personal concierge

• Charges a relatively high annual fee of $375 p.a.
• 3% foreign transaction fee
• Additional cardholder fee of $65 per card

Best rewards card - St.George Amplify Signature

St.George Amplify Signature

• 150,000 Bonus Points & First-Year Annual Fee Discount
• $199 Annual fee
• 20.99% Purchase rate

Go to site

Ends on 31 July 2024

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Pros & cons

• 150,000 bonus Amplify Points
• Discounted $199 first-year annual fee
• Shopping cashbacks through ShopBack
• 2 complimentary airport lounge passes per year
• Complimentary overseas travel insurance for up to 6 months

• $295 annual fee after the first year
• 3% foreign transaction fee

What is a rewards credit card?

Rewards credit cards let you earn points for every dollar you spend. Some cards also offer thousands of bonus points if you spend a certain amount after opening the card.

Points? What are points?

• You can get rewards points with a reward program like CommBank Awards, ANZ Rewards or AMEX Membership Rewards.
• Points with a frequent flyer program like Qantas Points or Velocity Points.

The points are credited to your account or a linked loyalty program, where you can redeem them for rewards that range from flights and hotel bookings to gift cards, cashback and retail items.

Many rewards points programs let you transfer your points to a frequent flyer program, usually at a rate of 2:1 or 3:1.

Some cards offer cashback instead of points. Some cards offer both.

Do you need a rewards credit card?

Rewards credit cards are suited to bigger spenders, frequent flyers and people who shop a lot. You get rewarded because you're spending money. These cards are not budget or entry level credit cards because the rates and annual fees are higher.

Types of credit card rewards in Australia

Credit card rewards can be separated into 3 main categories: rewards points, frequent flyer, and cashback cards.

Rewards points programs

Many rewards credit cards in Australia earn points that you can redeem for different types of rewards, including gift cards, retail items, credit on your account, travel or point transfers to other loyalty programs. These flexible rewards programs include:

Frequent flyer rewards

If you're a member of a frequent flyer program, you can use a credit card to earn more points or miles in 2 ways:

1. Frequent flyer points per $1 spent

Credit cards that directly partner with a frequent flyer program let you earn frequent flyer points on your spending. Points are automatically added to your frequent flyer account once a month (or at regular intervals).

In Australia, the main options are Qantas Frequent Flyer and Velocity Frequent Flyer credit cards.

2. Reward point transfers to frequent flyer programs

A lot of rewards credit card let you transfer points to different frequent flyer programs. This gives you more flexibility because you're not locked into earning points for one airline loyalty program.

It's also a way to earn points with programs that don't have co-branded cards in Australia, including Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer, Cathay Pacific Asia Miles and Emirates Skywards.

Cashback credit cards

These credit cards give you a way to get cash rewards for your spending, either in the form of credit back on your account or vouchers you can spend.

Some cashback credit cards give you a set percentage of your regular spending as cashback on your account, while other cards have introductory offers that provide a one-time account credit or voucher when you meet the spend requirements.

There are limits to how much you can earn via cashbacks each month.

How to compare rewards credit cards

You may need to do a little bit of digging to figure out if a reward card is really valuable (or you can do it the easy way by sorting cards by Finder Score in the table above).

Here's what you need to look at when comparing rewards credit cards:

1. How can I earn points? How many points will you earn per dollar spent? Will you earn bonus points?
2. What's the value of the rewards? What is 1,000 points actually worth? Every rewards program is different.
3. What will the card cost me? The annual fee is the biggest reward card cost. But it can be worth paying if the card really rewards you.
4. Are there any complimentary extras? Many cards offer travel insurance, extended warranties and other sweet perks.

Let's dig into each of these points in more detail.

1. How can I earn points?

• Bonus point offers. These can give you a huge amount of value when you get a new card. Usually, you need to meet a spend requirement in a set period of time to score bonus points.
• Points per dollar. The earn rate is how many points you earn for your spending. A card that earns at least 1 point per $1 on eligible transactions would be considered good value.
• Point expiry and caps. Some credit card reward points expire after a certain amount of time and some have a limit on how many points you can earn in a month or year.

2. What's the value of the rewards?

• Point values. To work out the value of your rewards, consider how many points you would need to redeem a chosen reward. If you need 12,000 points to get a $50 gift card and your credit card has an earn rate of 1 point per $1 spent. You would need to spend $12,000 before you could redeem the $50 gift card. Calculating reward point values like this can help you decide if it's worth your time and money.
• Rewards partners. Rewards programs sometimes partner with retailers and businesses to give you more ways to redeem points. You may also have the opportunity to earn bonus points with partner stores. If there are partners you already shop with, this could help you earn and redeem points faster.
• Redemption limitations. Some rewards programs have blackout periods when you may not be able to make redemptions, or limits on items in the rewards store. Check the fine print for this information.

How much do you need to spend to get rewards?

To give you an idea of the potential value of rewards, we've compared the amount of points you need to redeem a $100 gift card through major rewards programs that are linked to credit cards.

Fees, points and redemption values correct as of July 2024.

Based on this table, the minimum spend required for a $100 gift card (or equivalent) is $10,000 with American Express Membership Rewards or Flybuys if your credit card offers 2 points per $1 spent.

3. What will the card cost me?

• Annual fees. Rewards credit card annual fees range from around $50 to $1,450 in Australia. Some rewards credit cards offer no annual fee for the first year or ongoing. The value of the rewards you redeem should be higher than the cost of the annual fee to make it worthwhile.
• Purchase interest rates. Rewards credit cards typically have high interest rates for purchases, which can be up to around 24%. If you pay the card off as you go, or in full by the statement due date, you'll usually get interest-free days for purchases. Otherwise, the cost of interest could outweigh the value you get from earning points.

The annual fee and interest rate for purchases are 2 key costs to factor in when you're comparing rewards credit cards. But there are other costs that could also affect the value you get from a card in more specific situations.

• Other costs to compare

  • Foreign transaction fees. Reward credit cards typically charge a fee of 2% to 3.4% for transactions made overseas or online with a business based overseas – including some cards that offer more points per $1 for foreign transactions. So if you want a rewards card for travel or online shopping, check this fee first. You can also compare no foreign transaction fee cards on Finder.
  • Balance transfer interest rates. A 0% balance transfer offer could help you save if you move a balance from one card to a new rewards card. But you won't earn points for the balance transfer, and may be charged interest on new purchases while you're paying it off. So it's typically wise to focus on repaying it before using the card to earn points on new purchases.
  • Cash advances. If you use a rewards credit card to get money from an ATM or for another cash advance transaction, you'll be charged a cash advance fee of around 3%. Most cards also have higher interest rates for cash advances (up to around 30%). And you don't earn reward points for cash advances.

4. Are there any complimentary extras?

Rewards credit cards often come with a variety of additional features that can add value if you use them. Popular perks include:

• Complimentary international travel insurance
• Airport lounge access
• Complimentary flights and travel credits
• Extended warranty cover
• Price match guarantees
• Concierge services

I change my rewards credit card every year to get the best value from bonus points offers. I redeem my bonus points for gift cards or flight rewards and it usually brings in about $500 worth of value. You just have to be vigilant with paying off your card, closing the account before incurring the next year's annual fee, and not churning too frequently because it could affect your credit score.

— Jessica Prasida, publisher

Frequently asked questions

• What's the biggest credit card bonus point offer on the market?

  Finder's database shows that the Citi Prestige Card has the biggest bonus points offer, with 275,000 Citi Rewards Points when you spend $10,000 in the first 3 months. That's enough for $1,300 of Woolworths WISH gift cards or 110,000 Velocity Points based on details listed on the Citi Rewards website.

  The American Express Platinum Business offers 350,000 when you spend $12,000 in the first 3 months.

• Can I earn reward points for BPAY payments?

  It's unlikely but does depend on the rewards program and credit card provider. For example CommBank, Westpac, St.George and Virgin Money all list BPAY payments as ineligible to earn rewards.

  While other credit card issuers (such as ANZ) doesn't specifically list BPAY transactions as ineligible for points, that doesn't mean you will earn points. Or that you'll be able to use a credit card for a BPAY payment. Check the terms and conditions or ask your provider for details specific to your card.

• How do I redeem credit card reward points?

  Every rewards program is different, but here's a general guide to the process of redeeming points:

  1. Log into your account
  2. Browse the rewards and choose one you want
  3. Check that you have enough points or can use points plus pay
  4. Confirm the details and follow the prompts to complete your redemption

• Who can apply for a rewards credit card?

  Anyone aged over 18 can apply for a credit card when they meet the bank or lender's eligibility criteria. This typically includes:

  • Minimum income requirement. This can range from $35,000 per year for a basic rewards card to over $100,000 for a premium card. Even when there is no specific minimum income amount listed, your income will need to be enough to manage at least the minimum credit limit, account fees and interest charges.
  • New cardholder status. Many introductory offers require you to be a new cardholder that hasn't held a similar card (or one from the same brand) in the past 12-18 months.
  • Residency status. Some lenders require you to be a citizen or permanent resident, while others allow visa holders and temporary residents to apply as well.
  • Credit history. All credit cards require you to have a good credit history and not be an undischarged bankrupt or have any judgements against you.

  If you're eligible to apply, you'll also be required to provide documents including payslips and proof of identification. The provider will then assess the details you provide to determine whether you'll be approved based on their criteria and responsible lending requirements.

• How can I meet the minimum spend requirements for bonus points?

  With most credit card bonus points offers, you need to spend a certain amount in the first few months or over another period of time. It's important to only spend what you can afford to pay off so you don't end up with interest charges that take value away from the points.

  Here are examples of different ways to meet the minimum spend requirements.

  • Booking travel
  • Buying major household items (e.g. a lounge or fridge)
  • Buying a new laptop, tablet, phone or other tech
  • Pre-paying your health insurance or other bills
  • Paying for car services or repairs
  • Seasonal shopping (e.g. school holidays, Christmas)
  • Paying for everyday expenses (e.g. groceries, fuel, subscriptions)

  Bonus points are typically added to your account within 1-12 weeks of when you meet the spend requirement. But it depends on the offer. You can check the fine print or call the credit card company to find out when points will be added to your account.

• Are rewards credit card worth it?

  It's worthwhile if you get more value from rewards than what you're paying for the account. This makes rewards cards more suited to people who already use a credit card regularly and/or can repay what they spend each month.

  When comparing your options, ask the following questions:

  • How much is the annual fee? Reward and frequent flyer credit card annual fees can quickly outweigh the value of rewards, even if you're getting thousands of bonus points.
  • What are the potential interest costs? Estimate how much you could end up paying if you carry a balance on the card to decide if the risk is worth it for you. For example, if a credit card had a 19.99% p.a. purchase rate, a minimum spend requirement of $3,000 in 3 months to get bonus points and it took you 6 months to pay that amount off, you'd be charged around $177 in interest.
  • How much are the points worth? Look at the value of the points based on what rewards you want to redeem. For example, if 100,000 bonus points was worth $500 in digital gift cards, that could help justify a card's annual fee. It's worth looking at a few reward options for any card offering bonus points. You can also calculate the dollar value of your points.
  • When do you want to use your points? The time it takes for you to earn enough points for your ideal reward could be a few weeks. But it could be a lot longer if you're saving up points per $1 spent or waiting for a particular reward to become available (especially flight rewards). So it can be helpful to have a timeframe in mind, then work out how many points you'd realistically earn through the card.

• What happens to reward points after a death?

  Depending on the card and rewards program, the points could be transferred to another person, converted into a statement credit or cancelled.

  You can find details for your rewards program by looking at the terms and conditions, or by asking the provider. They should also let you know what options are available when they're notified of someone's death.

Finder Reward Credit Card Award winner and finalists 2024

Find out which brands ranked highly at the Finder Awards for rewards credit cards.

The ANZ Rewards Black Credit Card is our top rated rewards credit card for 2024. In the 12-month period we analysed for this year's Finder Credit Card Awards, it scored highly for its big bonus and high earn rate of 2 points per $1 on eligible spending. The card also offers complimentary travel insurance.

The Coles Rewards Mastercard scored highly for its bonus points offers and earn rate. The card earns 2 Flybuys points per $1 on eligible spending up to $3,000 in a statement period and 1 point per $1 after that. Its $99 annual fee also scored well for cards in this category.

The St.George Amplify Signature has a big bonus point offer and reduced first-year annual fee during the 12-month period we analysed. It scored well for its earn rate of 1.5 points per $1 on all eligible spending. This card was also a finalist in 2023.

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Each year the Finder Credit Card Awards recognises the top credit cards in Australia. Using 12 months' worth of data, our experts have analysed the rates, fees and offer details from over 270 cards.

Written by

Richard Whitten

Editor

Richard Whitten is a money editor at Finder, and has been covering home loans, property and personal finance for 6+ years. He has written for Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine and Homely; and has appeared on various radio shows nationwide. He holds a Certificate IV in mortgage broking and finance (RG 206), a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification and a Tier 2 General Advice Deposit Products (RG 146) certification. See full bio

Richard's expertise

Richard has written 530 Finder guides across topics including:

• Home loans
• Property
• Personal finance
• Money-saving tips

Co-written by

Amy Bradney-George

Editor

Amy Bradney-George was the senior writer for credit cards at Finder, and editorial lead for Finder Green. She has over 16 years of editorial experience and has been featured in publications including ABC News, Money Magazine and The Sydney Morning Herald. See full bio

Amy's expertise

Amy has written 588 Finder guides across topics including:

• Credit cards
• Frequent flyer
• Credit score
• BNPL
• Money management
• Sustainability