Credit Card Compare

Best rewards credit cards

Tired of everyday spending that earns you nothing? Compare rewards credit cards that earn points on regular purchases and offer sign-up bonuses.

  • Earn points on every purchase
  • Sign-up bonuses for new customers
  • Redeem for travel, gift cards or cashback

Written by Andrew BoydReviewed by Vidhu Bajaj and David BoydWith insights from Hans Mast

FeaturedQantas Money Platinum cardQantas Money Platinum
  • 80,000 bonus Qantas Points
  • 12 months at 0% p.a. on balance transfers
You may have seen us in
The Sydney Morning HeraldNews.com.auYahoo! FinanceDaily Mail Australia

How many points could you earn?

Enter your monthly spend to see estimated annual points for each card below.

$
Compare 137 rewards credit cards

What people say online

Leans positive

Our ongoing analysis of online discussion about this card type.

Australian rewards credit cards offer varying sign-up bonuses and earning rates with redemption value dependent on individual spending patterns, feature a wide range of annual fees from zero to over $1,400 justified by included benefits, commonly provide travel-related perks such as lounge access and travel insurance though these are increasingly being reduced, and have eligibility criteria ranging from accessible approval thresholds to stricter income requirements.

What's happening with rewards credit cards in November

By David BoydUpdated 2 November 2026

  • Market news

    Amex Explorer Card offers 75,000 bonus points.

    American Express is offering a sign-up bonus of 75,000 points with the Amex Explorer Card. This adds to the range of card sign-up offers available in the market.

    A 75,000-point sign-up bonus sits within the range of offers across the 128 rewards cards we track, with actual value depending on how you plan to redeem those points.

Rewards by the numbers

137
Cards compared
105,913 pts
Average sign-up bonus
5 pts per $1
Top earn rate
Bank of China Global UnionPay Card
$3,500
Highest-value sign-up bonus
American Express Platinum Business Card
$217
Average annual fee

What are rewards credit cards?

Rewards credit cards earn points, cashback or frequent flyer miles on everyday spending. You can redeem points for flights, gift cards, merchandise or credit towards your balance.

Many also include travel insurance, airport lounge passes and concierge services. They usually carry higher annual fees and interest rates than basic cards.

Expert insight: where the points value comes from

“They excel both in how many points you earn per dollar and the value of their transfer bonuses.”

Hans Mast

Travel and points expert

How to choose a rewards card

Look at the earn rate (points per dollar), the value of any sign-up bonus, and whether the annual fee is justified by the benefits you'll actually use.

If you are a high spender, check for uncapped points. And decide which program fits your life, whether that's frequent flyer points or simple cashback.

Rewards credit card FAQs

A general rewards card earns flexible points you can redeem several ways, including transferring to airlines. A frequent flyer card earns points directly into one airline program. Rewards cards give you more options; frequent flyer cards suit loyalty to a single airline.

How do rewards cards compare?

View all →

Build your own comparison

Choose 2 or 3 cards to compare side by side.

Questions and answers

Anonymous25 June 2026

Do rewards cards usually have a minimum monthly spend to earn points?

Credit Card CompareEditor26 June 2026

No minimum spend applies on most rewards cards: points accrue per dollar from the first transaction. A card's sign-up bonus is different and often does carry a minimum-spend condition within a set window, so check that separately from the ongoing earn rate.

Related card types

Sources