dsl-logo

Home Loans

Personal Loans

Car Loans

Business Loans

Credit Cards

Banking

dsl-logo
dsl-logo

Home Loans

Personal Loans

Car Loans

Business Loans

Credit Cards

Banking

Cashback credit cards in Australia

Sean Callery Editor Money.com.au

Written By

Sean Callery

Shaun McGowan Money.com.au founder

Reviewed by

Shaun McGowan

Compare credit cards with up to $600 cashback. Cashbacks can be an ongoing or a one-off bonus – we help you decide which will be best for you.

Cashback credit cards in Australia

Sean Callery Editor Money.com.au

Written By

Sean Callery

Shaun McGowan Money.com.au founder

Reviewed by

Shaun McGowan

Compare credit cards with up to $600 cashback. Cashbacks can be an ongoing or a one-off bonus – we help you decide which will be best for you.

The most powerful credit card comparison engine

We have nothing to hide, so we don’t put credit cards behind a filter if they don’t pay us. See how it works.

refresh

Rates updated 03 December 2024

Should you get a cashback credit card?

Credit cards that offer cashback can be a nice way of getting a more direct benefit from your card. Credit cards more commonly offer indirect benefits like rewards points where it can be difficult to measure the value of what you’re getting.

A card offering cold, hard cashback is in many cases a more straightforward proposition.

That’s the theory anyway. In reality, the cashback almost always comes with strings attached. Cashback also tends to be a one-off offer designed as an incentive to get you to sign up for the card. Once you’ve signed up and got your bonus, the cash only goes in one direction.

For example, only five of the cashback credit cards that Money.com.au analysed (listed above) have the cashback built in as an ongoing feature of the card. All the others (80% of the cards) offer cash back as a one-off incentive.

Deciding if a cashback credit card is worth it for you

A cashback credit card might suit if:

  • You prefer the simplicity of getting cash into your account instead of rewards points.
  • You’ve worked out that cashback is going to be worth more to you than points.
  • You’re aware that the cashback offer may be a one-time sign up bonus.
  • You’ve checked the other T&Cs and the eligibility criteria (e.g. minimum spend) and are confident you’ll easily qualify for the cashback.
  • You pay off your credit card in full every month (otherwise you may want to consider a low rate card).
  • You have compared cards and found a cashback credit card that is overall good value and suits your needs.

A cashback credit card may not suit if:

  • You’ll need to spend more than you otherwise would to qualify for the cashback.
  • You will have a revolving balance on the card. Interest could easily cancel out any cashback you earn.
  • You want a card with ongoing rewards (most cashback cards offer cash as a one-off bonus).
  • You could get better value from a rewards credit card offering points.
  • The card has a high annual fee. The cashback could well be a one off, but the fee won't be.
  • Other aspects of the card mean it’s not great value overall (e.g international credit card fees if you spend overseas regularly).

Expert tip: Rewards credit cards are essentially the same as cashback cards

"If you’re earning credit card points, you essentially have a cashback card. That's because rewards points are redeemable for gift cards, which is as good as cash. Some rewards cards will give you sign up points you can redeem for a few hundred dollars worth of gift cards, and then an ongoing points per dollar which you can cash in when you have enough built up."

What kind of cashback credit card is best?

Because of the different ways credit card companies structure their offers, some credit cards advertised as a ‘cashback credit card’ have very little in common with each other.

There are also cards that are not advertised as offering cashback cards, that essentially do offer cashback.

Confused? You needn’t be. To help you decide which cashback credit card (if any) may be best for you, below we explain the different types of cashback credit cards and what they offer.

What kind of cashback credit card is best?

Because of the different ways credit card companies structure their offers, some credit cards advertised as a ‘cashback credit card’ have very little in common with each other.

There are also cards that are not advertised as offering cashback cards, that essentially do offer cashback.

Confused? You needn’t be. To help you decide which cashback credit card (if any) may be best for you, below we explain the different types of cashback credit cards and what they offer.

Credit cards with ongoing cashback

You get a percentage of your spending returned to your card as cashback. The cashback is an ongoing feature of the card so you continue to get money back while you have the card. The cashback you get may be capped at a certain $ amount per year.

Gift icon

Credit cards with cashback as a sign up offer

The cashback is a one-off bonus and there is usually a minimum spend requirement in order to be eligible. You'll either get all the cash back in one go or it may be paid out in instalments per month if you meet the spend requirement that month.

Credit cards offering credits (gift vouchers)

Some cards offer rewards that are similar to cash. For example, it might be a card offering a credit or voucher to use at a particular chain or retailers, restaurants or travel provider. This is common on higher end credit cards (e.g. American Express cards).

coins-swap-02

Credit cards allowing you to convert points for cash

These cards also don’t offer cashback directly. But if you earn rewards points, chances are you’ll be able to convert those points to gift cards or cash credited to your credit card account (e.g. to help pay off your balance or cover the card's annual fee).

How will the cashback actually work on my credit card?

1

Pick a cashback type that suits

Depending on the card, you’ll earn cash either as a sign up bonus, or on an ongoing basis based on how much you spend.

2

Meet the spend requirement

There are usually minimum spend requirements and/or caps on how much you can earn per year in cashback.

3

Watch out for excluded spending

Not all spending on your credit card will count towards earning cashback. The likes of cash withdrawals and paying for credit card interest and fees may be excluded.

4

Cashback is credited to your card

If you meet the spend criteria, the cashback will be credited to your credit card account, either in one amount or monthly as you earn it.

5

You still need to make the minimum repayment

Even if your credit card account is credited with cashback, this usually doesn't count towards the minimum repayment on your account. You will need to pay that yourself separately.

6

Be sure to keep up with your repayments

You may not get any cashback if you are behind on your credit card payments.

Are cashback credit cards more expensive?

Cashback credit cards aren’t necessarily more expensive than other types of cards. In fact, a lot of cashback credit cards are relatively simple products. With credit cards, simple often means cheaper.

Money.com.au’s analysis showed cashback credit cards on average have an annual fee of $109, compared to around $135 on average for all credit cards.

Just remember, if the cashback is a one-off bonus for signing up for the card, this may not ultimately be as valuable as a card offering ongoing rewards. Even if that card has a higher fee.

If you're not a big spender, pay off your balance in full every month and want to minimise fees, a credit card with no annual fee is another option to consider.

Sean Callery is the Editor of Money.com.au. He has over 15 years of international experience. He is qualified with a Certificate IV in Finance and Mortgage Broking (FNS40821) and is compliant to provide general advice in Tier 1 General Insurance (RG 146) products.

Shaun McGowan is the founder of Money.com.au. He's determined to help people and businesses pay as little as possible for financial products, through education and building world class technology. Previously Shaun co-founded CarLoans.com.au and Lend.

Important information

General information only

The information on this page is general in nature and has been prepared without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the information provided and the nature of the credit card product is suitable for you and seek independent financial advice if necessary.

We are not providing you with a recommendation or suggestion about a particular credit product. You should read the relevant disclosure statements or other offer documents before deciding whether to apply for or continue to hold a particular credit card.

What products, features and information are shown

While we make every effort to ensure all credit cards available in Australia are shown in our comparison tables, we cannot guarantee that all products are included. Where we become aware of a card that is missing from our tables, we commit to adding it within one business day.

Our product comparisons may not compare all card features and attributes relevant to you.

Product information, such as interest rates, fees and charges, is subject to change without notice. Before acting on any information, you should confirm the relevant product information with the card issuer. While we do our best to ensure the information provided on this website is accurate, all information on this website is provided without any representation or warranty, either express or implied, being given as to the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, reliability or otherwise of its content. No responsibility is accepted by us for any errors, omissions or any inaccurate information on this website.

How cards are sorted and filtered by default

Users can easily change the sort order and apply product filters to our product comparison tables. However, when you arrive on a page initially or select a particular card type via the ‘card features’, a default sort order is applied as follows:

    circle-green-tick
  • Default sort (main credit card page): Consumer credit cards sorted by lowest ongoing annual fee, then the highest number of reward points earned per $1 spent, then alphabetically by provider/product name.
  • circle-green-tick
  • No annual fee cards: Consumer credit cards sorted by lowest ongoing annual fee, then the highest number of reward points earned per $1 spent, then alphabetically by provider/product name.
  • circle-green-tick
  • Low rate cards: Consumer credit cards sorted by lowest purchase rate, then lowest ongoing annual card fee, then alphabetically by provider/product name.
  • circle-green-tick
  • Balance transfer cards: Consumer credit cards sorted by lowest balance transfer rate, then longest duration of BT offer, then lowest ongoing annual card fee, then alphabetically by provider/product name.
  • circle-green-tick
  • Rewards and frequent flyer cards: Consumer credit cards sorted by highest rewards/FF points per dollar earned on everyday purchases, then lowest ongoing annual card fee, then lowest purchase rate, then alphabetically by provider/product name.
  • circle-green-tick
  • Cashback cards: Consumer credit cards sorted by highest cashback per dollar earned, then lowest ongoing annual card fee, then lowest purchase rate, then alphabetically by provider/product name Interest-free cards/offers: Consumer credit cards sorted by longest 0% purchase rate offer period, then lowest ongoing purchase rate, then lowest ongoing annual card fee, then alphabetically by provider/product name
  • circle-green-tick
  • Credit cards with lounge access: Consumer credit cards sorted by highest number of free lounge passes, then lowest to highest ongoing annual card fee, then highest to lowest points per dollar earned on everyday spending, then lowest purchase rate, then alphabetically by provider/product name.
  • circle-green-tick
  • No international fee cards/cards with travel insurance: Consumer credit cards sorted by lowest ongoing annual card fee, then highest points per dollar earned on everyday spending, the lowest purchase rate, then alphabetically by provider/product name.
  • circle-green-tick
  • Business/corporate credit cards: Business cards sorted by highest points per dollar earned on everyday spending, then lowest ongoing annual card fee, then lowest ongoing purchase rate, then alphabetically by provider/product name.

We may earn a commission from product providers if you are issued with a credit card via a link from this page. Cards marked as ‘sponsored’ are not selected or positioned on the page based on their product attributes. However, in our comparison tables, products are displayed based on the relevant default sort order and filters applied for that card type, or the sort order and filters selected by a user. We do not sort or filter comparison tables based on whether or not we will make money from a particular card, but we may earn a commission if you are issued with a card via a link from our organic comparison tables.

logo

Our Money Promise

Money Pty Ltd (trading as Money) (ABN 42 626 094 773) Australian Credit Licence 528698 provides information about credit products. Money does not compare all products or issuers available in Australia. We are not a broker or credit provider and when we provide information via this website, we are not providing you with a recommendation or suggestion about a particular credit product. We may receive a commission when you apply for a home loan as a result of outbound links on this website.

This material has been prepared by Money Pty Limited (ABN 40 664 954 536) (Money, ‘us’ or ‘we’). Money is a corporate authorised representative (CAR 001307399) of 62 Consulting Pty Limited (ABN 88 664 809 303) (AFSL 548573) (62C). The material is for general information only and is not an offer for the purchase or sale of any financial product or service. The material is not intended to provide you with financial or tax advice and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Although we believe that the material is correct, no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness is given, except for liability under statute which cannot be excluded. Please note that past performance may not be indicative of future performance and that no guarantee of performance, the return of capital or a particular rate of return is given by 62C, Money, any of their related body corporates or any other person. To the maximum extent possible, 62C, Money, their related body corporates or any other person do not accept any liability for any statement in this material.

The information on this website is intended to be general in nature and has been prepared without considering your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should read the relevant disclosure statements or other offer documents prior to making a decision about a credit product and seek independent financial advice. Whilst Money.com.au endeavours to ensure the accuracy of the information provided on this website, no responsibility is accepted by us for any errors, omissions or any inaccurate information on this website.

Interest rates, fees and charges are subject to change without notice. Before acting on any information, you should confirm the interest rates, fees, charges and product information with the provider. For clarity, where we have used the terms “lowest” or “best” these relate solely to the rates of interest offered by the provider and not on any other factor. The application of these terms to a particular product is subject to change without notice if the provider changes their rates.

The calculator provided on money.com.au is intended for informational and illustrative purposes only. The results generated by this calculator are based on the inputs you provide and the assumptions set by us. These results should not be considered as financial advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any financial product. By using this calculator, you acknowledge and agree to the terms set out in this disclaimer. For more detailed information, please review our full terms and conditions on the website.

Assumptions:

  • The calculations do not account for changes in interest rates or other market conditions that may occur.
  • Results are approximations and may differ from actual payment schedules or amounts.
  • The calculator does not include all fees and charges that you may incur in relation to a financial product.

Limitation

  • This calculator does not guarantee the availability of any financial product or the accuracy of the calculations. Please consult a financial advisor or the relevant product provider to obtain specific advice tailored to your circumstances.
  • money.com.au does not accept any liability for errors or omissions, or for any loss you may suffer as a result of relying on these calculations.
Money Pty Ltd trading as Money

ABN: 42 626 094 773 / ACL: 528698 / AFCA: 83955
Money is a corporate authorised representative (CAR 001307399) of 62 Consulting Pty Limited (ABN 88 664 809 303) (AFSL 548573) (62C)
aboriginal-and-torres-strait

Money acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the traditional custodians of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community.

© Copyright 2024 Money Pty Ltd.