How to avoid credit card fees at the supermarket

What fees apply when I use my credit card at the supermarket?

The good news is you can avoid card surcharges completely when shopping at Coles, Woolworths and IGA. And from 1 October 2026, surcharging is banned outright on the eftpos, Mastercard and Visa networks, with American Express volunteering to match the same date, so Aldi's surcharge is expected to go too. The rates below apply until 30 September 2026. See our credit card changes tracker for what else changes that day.

Supermarket card surcharges

How to avoid Aldi credit card fees

Aldi charges a 0.5% surcharge when you pay with a Mastercard or Visa credit card. You even get charged if you use a debit card and tap to pay, as contactless transactions are processed through the credit card network.

But if you insert your debit card into the EFTPOS machine when paying you can avoid this. Aldi's website says "Customers who process payment by inserting their card and selecting savings will avoid this fee."

This only applies to debit cards. You can't avoid the surcharge with a credit card.

Does Aldi accept Amex cards?

Aldi currently doesn't accept American Express credit cards. You'll need to pay with a Mastercard or Visa credit card or use a debit card.

6 ways to avoid or reduce credit card fees at the supermarket

1. Use a debit card. Supermarkets are less likely to charge a fee if you pay with a debit card. If they do, it is usually lower than the cost of using a credit card.
2. Insert your card. Contactless payments can incur higher fees than when you pay by inserting the card. If shopping at Aldi, insert your debit card instead of tapping to avoid the 0.5% fee.
3. Use cash. This is a sure way to avoid card fees. You could even ask to split between cash and card if you don't have enough on you.
4. Don't get cash out with a credit card. Pulling cash out with a debit card is fine. But using a credit card to withdraw cash is called a cash advance. This incurs an immediate fee (around 3% of the transaction) and you get charged interest at a higher rate.
5. Pay off your credit card quickly. If you use a credit card to get cash out or if you pay a surcharge, repaying what you've spent quickly helps you save on interest charges.
6. Watch out at Aldi or smaller stores. There's no card fees at Woollies, Coles or IGA. Remember the surcharge if you're shopping at Aldi and pay attention at smaller stores too.

Card surcharge rules

From 1 October 2026, retailers cannot surcharge you for paying by eftpos, Mastercard or Visa, and American Express has volunteered to match that date. Until then, retailers must tell you about any surcharge at the checkout, so check before you pay by credit card. If a surcharge applies, paying by debit card (by inserting your card) or cash avoids it. The ban covers only fees charged because you paid by card, so weekend, public holiday, booking and service fees are not affected.

How much will supermarket fees cost?

The surcharge is based on the value of your transaction. So if you buy $150 worth of groceries at Aldi, and need to pay the surcharge of 0.5%, you'll pay an extra 75 cents on your total bill.

If you spent $200 at Aldi on your credit card you'd pay a $1 surcharge. It might not seem like much but it does add up over time.

Finder survey: Where do Australians regularly shop for groceries?

How can I get more value out of using my credit card at the supermarket?

While using a credit card can incur a fee at some stores, you can also get a lot of value out of shopping with a credit card.

• Supermarket credit cards. If you shop at Coles with a Coles credit card you can earn more Flybuys Points and get more value when you shop.
• Rewards credit cards. Rewards credit cards are linked with a bank loyalty program and typically earn points per $1 spent on purchases. You can redeem rewards such as gift cards, merchandise or cashback on your credit card. Some rewards cards also allow you to convert your rewards points into frequent flyer points.
• Frequent flyer credit cards. Frequent flyer cards earn you Qantas or Velocity Points when you spend. You can redeem your points for travel rewards, including flights and upgrades, accommodation and travel packages. You can start comparing frequent flyer credit cards linked with Qantas or Velocity on Finder.

Our expert says: Points can outweigh supermarket card fees

"Let's say you shop at Aldi with a credit card that earns you 1 Qantas Point per dollar spent. If you spend $8,000 a year at Aldi that's 8,000 Qantas Points. You'd also pay $40 in card fees on that spending. Ouch. But Qantas Points, if redeemed for reward flights, can be worth 2 cents per point or more. That's $160 of value from your supermarket shop."

Richard Whitten

Senior Money Editor

Frequently asked questions about supermarket card fees

• Does Woolworths charge a cash out fee?

  Woolworths does not charge a fee to get cash out. Rumours that the supermarket decided to charge a small fee circulated online in 2023 but they were false.

• Do Woolworths and Coles charge for tap-and-go payments?

  Neither Coles nor Woolworths charge for tap-and-go payments on any cards. But Aldi does, even with a debit card.

• Is there a Coles Amex surcharge?

  No, Coles doesn't charge customers a surcharge for using American Express cards or any other cards.

• Can supermarkets charge me a card fee?

  Only until 30 September 2026. From 1 October 2026, surcharging is banned on the eftpos, Mastercard and Visa networks, and American Express has volunteered to match the same date. Until then, a business may pass on the cost of processing a card payment, provided the surcharge does not exceed its own cost and is clearly displayed at the cash register. The ban covers only fees charged because you paid by card, so weekend, public holiday, booking and service fees are not affected.

  Big chains like Coles and Woolworths choose not to pass these costs onto customers. Let's face it, they can afford not to!

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Richard Whitten as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Rebecca Pike

Editor, Money

Rebecca Pike is Finder’s money editor, with over 7 years of experience in mortgages and personal finance. A frequent TV and radio commentator, she frequently appears on Sunrise and 7News, Today and 9News, as well as Sky News, Channel 10 and across radio and print. Rebecca previously served as Editor of Mortgage Professional Australia. She has a Master’s degree in Journalism as well as ASIC-recognised certifications in Tier 1 Generic Knowledge and Tier 2 General Advice Deposit Products, which comply with ASIC guidelines. See full bio

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