Active products · checked 23 July 2026
Five current business cards compared
This comparison replaces expired cards and ended promotional offers from the older guide. It uses ongoing terms where possible, so a temporary joining bonus does not distort the ranking.
NAB
Low Rate Business Card
- Purchase rate
- 13.99% p.a. purchases
- Annual fee
- $60 annual fee per card
- Interest free period
- Up to 55 interest free days
- Limit
- $5,000 minimum credit limit
- Rewards
- No points program
Businesses that expect to carry a balance occasionally and value a lower purchase rate over rewards.
NAB
Rewards Business Signature Card
- Purchase rate
- 19.50% p.a. purchases
- Annual fee
- $175 annual fee per card
- Interest free period
- Up to 44 interest free days
- Limit
- $5,000 minimum facility
- Rewards
- 1.25 NAB Rewards Points per $1 on ordinary purchases
Businesses that clear statements and can redeem enough points to exceed the higher annual fee.
ANZ
Business Low Rate Card
- Purchase rate
- 12.99% p.a. purchases
- Annual fee
- $100 annual fee after the first year
- Interest free period
- No interest free days
- Limit
- $1,000 minimum credit limit
- Rewards
- No points program
Businesses focused on a low ongoing purchase rate rather than a period without statement interest or rewards.
ANZ
Qantas Business Rewards Card
- Purchase rate
- Check current purchase rate on the written offer
- Annual fee
- $300 annual account fee plus $75 Rewards Program fee per card
- Interest free period
- Up to 55 interest free days
- Limit
- $5,000 minimum credit limit
- Rewards
- 0.75 Qantas Point per $1 up to $15,000 per statement, then 0.5
Businesses that pay in full, direct substantial eligible spend through the card and use Qantas Points well.
Westpac
BusinessChoice Everyday Card
- Purchase rate
- 14.25% p.a. purchases
- Annual fee
- $75 annual fee per card
- Interest free period
- Up to 55 interest free days
- Limit
- $2,000 to $250,000 credit limit
- Rewards
- No points program
Westpac business customers wanting a straightforward card with a lower rate and no rewards fee.
When rewards are worth the annual fee
Start with the annual fee and any rewards program fee, then value only the points the business is likely to redeem. A card charging $250 more each year needs to produce more than $250 of usable value before it is ahead. Joining bonuses can distort that calculation because they may apply once while the fee and purchase rate continue.
If the statement will not be cleared every month, compare interest before rewards. A one point return cannot offset a purchase rate in the teens on a revolving balance. Also check whether the interest free period applies to the transactions the business actually makes, and whether extra employee cards add another annual fee.
What to compare on the written offer
Record the purchase rate, cash advance rate, annual and per card fees, interest free days, minimum limit, rewards earn caps and personal liability terms. Treat travel insurance, lounge access and other extras as worth zero unless the business would otherwise buy them. Product terms were checked on 23 July 2026 and can change after that date.
Limits of this comparison: Card terms, approval criteria and promotions can change. Check the current key facts sheet and credit contract. If the balance will revolve, rate and repayment capacity matter more than points.
Find the perfect business credit card to boost your company's purchasing power and rewards!
If you are the owner of a small business, there is a good chance that you, and possibly your team, are using business credit cards (or a business charge card). A business credit card, or charge card, can boost your business' purchasing power and is a good way to access funds quickly.
There are various other perks a business credit card, or a business charge card, can provide through the points and rewards programmes on offer. In this guide, we uncover the best business credit cards in Australia and discuss the pros and cons of a business credit card, both in terms of a means of financing, and a means of payment.
Best for Funding Tailored to your Needs
Trade Funding
- Upfront Fees: None, Free Consultation
- Options: Secured, Unsecured, Line of Credit, Bridging Loan, Personal Loan, Dozens of Lenders
- From: Business Loans from 3% Annually, Can Be Significantly Cheaper than Cards
Business Credit Card Glossary
Essential terms to understand when comparing business credit cards
Using Business Cards as a Source of Financing?
After reviewing the top 5 best business credit cards Australia, make sure you have all bases covered as for alternative sources of funding*.
Small business loan providers can offer a business line of credit, a convenient and flexible facility that provides access to funds up to a pre agreed credit limit.
* Alternative to a Credit Card Business Loan:
Lend will help you compare the leading business credit card alternatives for SMEs in Australia. All through a simple and easy application form and a sophisticated algorithm in the back end which matches applicants with the lenders that are best suited to their business profile and borrowing requirements. Lend covers all types of secured and unsecured loans including the best alternative for a credit card, a business line of credit.
SME: Business Credit Card or Personal?
A business credit card is a short term, unsecured facility that is issued by a bank or financial lender and is used to make business purchases. The flexibility and convenience that business credit cards afford cardholders are what makes them appealing to small business owners. However, this benefit comes at a cost to cardholders as they attract a higher interest rate compared to secured business loans, and, generally, unsecured business loans too. With that said, business credit cards can provide business owners with a much needed financial cushion if their sales are below expectations.
Business Credit Cards vs. Personal Credit Cards in Australia, Recent Account Usage
Personal credit cards remain by far the most popular form of credit for individuals residing in Australia and the number of personal credit cards in use continues to outstrip that of business credit cards by some way. According to data by the Reserve Bank of Australia, there were 12.6 million personal credit card accounts in November 2023, making 294 million purchases.
It gets interesting when we look at the value of purchases made, the value of goods and services bought on personal credit cards amounted to $28,563 million, whilst the value of goods and services bought on business credit cards amounted to $8,746 million. So whilst there were roughly 15x as many private accounts to commercial accounts, the value of spending was only 3.5x higher on private accounts vs commercial accounts.
This demonstrates why there is such a fiercely competitive market for business credit cards, despite a lower number in circulation, the usage per account and average transaction value of purchases is significantly higher. As an SME, if you’re looking to make higher value purchases, with a correspondingly higher credit limit, a business credit card is most likely going to be the better option for you.
Business credit card usage on the up?
Last year saw a greater adoption of credit cards by Australia’s business community.
Month |
No. of Business Credit Card Accounts |
No. of Business Credit Cards |
|---|---|---|
Jan-2023 |
791,600 |
1,811,000 |
Feb-2023 |
795,600 |
1,821,800 |
Mar-2023 |
800,900 |
1,835,300 |
Apr-2023 |
803,300 |
1,840,700 |
May-2023 |
809,200 |
1,852,100 |
Jun-2023 |
825,100 |
1,877,900 |
Jul-2023 |
829,800 |
1,887,900 |
Aug-2023 |
832,300 |
1,887,600 |
Sep-2023 |
834,700 |
1,892,800 |
Oct-2023 |
843,700 |
1,904,900 |
Nov-2023 |
845,100 |
1,910,200 |
Source:
www.rba.gov.au/payments and infrastructure/resources/payments data.html
Economic Conditions Change Credit Card Usage
Contrary to RBA data, in a survey run by SmallBusinessLoansAustralia in August 2023, businesses are considering how to tighten up their credit card expenses by lowering the number of cards they own and limiting their spend on credit.
Business Credit Cards vs. Personal Credit Cards in Australia, Pros & Cons
Business credit card |
Personal credit card |
Easier for bookkeeping |
Messier bookkeeping |
Build business credit |
Build personal credit |
Better benefits, oriented for businesses |
No business oriented benefits |
Often higher limits |
Often lower limits |
Different balance payments |
There seems to be a fine line between the top business credit cards and personal credit cards. However, there are some differences between the two credit cards which you should know. The first difference is that business credit cards tend to have a higher credit limit compared to personal credit cards.
If you find yourself making expensive purchases every month, a business credit card may be ideal for you. Compared to personal credit cards, business credit cards come with different types of rewards such as travel points and cash back. The other difference is that personal credit cards have their interest rates and fees capped while business credit cards don’t. This means that you may have to pay higher interest rates with business credit cards. However, in practice, you will see that some business credit cards, such as the NAB low rate business credit card, actually begin at lower interest rates than private credit cards.
Types of Business Credit Cards
This type of business credit card is ideal for businesses looking for a credit card with a low interest rate and no/low annual fee. Low rate cards are usually more appealing to new or start up businesses with low income or funds. Although it has no rewards or perks, this type of credit card comes with a lower interest rate, a low annual fee and, sometimes, increased interest free days.
The rewards business credit cards are good for businesses that want to be rewarded for spending on their credit cards. If your business has a higher spending power, you can take this credit card and enjoy rewards such as discounts, cashback offers, and free travel bookings.
Business Credit Cards vs Business Charge Cards
Business credit cards give you the option to either pay your balance in full each billing period or carry a balance and pay interest charges. That’s the crucial difference of a credit card, the ability to pay off your balance over time. This is why credit cards come with a fixed limit on how much your business can spend.
Business charge cards tend to have no fixed limit, allowing for larger purchases to be made. That doesn’t mean you have ‘unlimited spending power’ and, generally, your purchasing power grows over time as your business establishes a good spending and payment history. The key feature of a business charge card is that you must pay the card’s full balance each billing period, though this does tend to extend to around 55 days. Some provider’s like Amex will grant businesses a ‘Flexible Payment Option’ on charge cards which acts as a line of credit and allows a portion of the balance to be paid after the statement period.
Using Your Business Credit Card for a Cash Advance
If you’re looking to take a cash advance through your business credit card then you should expect to pay higher fees. A cash advance should only be used as a last resort if you can’t use a credit card to pay your debts directly. Unfortunately, this situation is not uncommon for SMEs but we could encourage these businesses to consider a small business loan instead. You can use a business loan to pay ATO debt, pay suppliers and much more. In fact, multi purpose business loans can be used for virtually any business expense.
The most common form of a cash advance is by using your credit card to withdraw funds at an ATM. However, there are other types of transfers that credit card issuers will regard as a cash advance too. Buying foreign currency, using your credit card for a money transfer to a bank account and loading gift cards are all likely to be treated as a cash advance.
Unlike purchases with your business credit card, there is generally no interest free period for a cash advance, meaning interest will begin to accrue from the day you take the cash advance.
The interest rate on a cash advance is typically higher than it is with usual transactions. SMEs should expect to pay upwards of a 21% interest rate on a cash advance with a business credit card. In addition to a cash advance fee of around 3% of the value of the cash advance. This can start as low as 1.5% on some business credit cards but 3% is the norm.
Final Take, Should Your SME Use Business Credit Cards?
In contrast to a bank loan, it is easier for SMEs to qualify for a business credit card even when their credit history is not well established. Business credit cards are actually one of the best ways to build business credit, you may only get a small limit at first but by regularly meeting your repayments you will start to boost your business credit score.
Today’s digital era has seen a huge shift in businesses going online to compete for customers and the number of businesses accepting credit cards has increased drastically. Business credit cards make it possible for business owners to go online and do business with vendors and suppliers from all over Australia and indeed the world.
Our guide to the best business credit cards Australia is designed to provide a variety of options for SMEs of all shapes and sizes. The best business credit card for you will depend on what it is you’re looking to achieve. There are some particularly good rewards available through charge cards but remember these are designed to be repaid in full within each statement period. There are still a number of benefits available through credit cards, as well as some low rate business credit cards too.
Businesses are able to receive similar finance to a business credit card with a line of credit, a facility where you will only pay interest when you are required to draw on the facility, working in much the same way as an overdraft. A line of credit is available from many of the top rated online lenders in Australia, such as Prospa
Are there alternatives to quick financing in Australia?
Yes! Small business loan lenders can provide much necessary financing as fast as 24 hours from the moment of application. Unlike banks they do not require you to draft an elaborate business plan and provide years of financial statements. It’s as easy as synchronising your bank accounts online or giving the lender reports from your Paypal or Point of Sale Software so they can make a risk assessment on this basis.
Did you enjoy our best credit card comparison? What’s your favourite business credit card? Which credit cards have your business used in the past? Share it with us and let others know how they can save and push forward their business by using a business credit card.
Foreign Currency Payments
While Australian business credit cards allow international payments, the costs can be high. Although some cards offer reduced foreign exchange fees, there are often better ways to pay internationally. Dedicated money transfer services let you transfer funds more cost effectively, avoiding the substantial fees and limitations of credit cards for large foreign transactions.
Comparing Australian and U.S. Business Credit Cards
For Australian businesses with operations in the United States or owners who hold dual citizenship, exploring the best business credit cards in the USA can provide additional financial advantages. The U.S. market often offers a wider range of credit card options with potentially higher rewards, substantial sign up bonuses, and more flexible redemption options, especially for those frequently traveling internationally. For example, cards like the Chase Ink Business Preferred® and the American Express Blue Business Cash™ in the U.S. can yield generous returns on categories such as travel, advertising, and office supplies, areas where Australian business cards may offer different or fewer rewards.
Rewards do not cancel interest
A $20,000 revolving balance at 20% costs roughly $4,000 a year before fees
A business card is a payment and working capital tool, not a free extension of cash flow. Compare the interest free period, annual fee, employee controls, foreign exchange, points value and the likelihood that the statement will be cleared in full.
Download the one page visual
Evidence behind the visual
- $4,000Simple annual interest on a persistent $20,000 balance at 20%SMB Loan card balance model ↗
- +3%Annual growth in total bank fee revenue to June 2025RBA Bank Fees in Australia, May 2026 ↗
- 73%Share of consumer payments made using cards in 2025RBA Consumer Payment Behaviour, May 2026 ↗
Worked cost example
$20,000 average balance
$333 monthly interest equivalentAt a modelled 20%, the balance generates roughly $333 in monthly interest before compounding and fees. Rewards worth even 1% on $20,000 of spend would be $200, far below the carrying cost.
Simple comparison model. Card pricing and reward values vary.Three checks before acting
- 1ForecastWill the statement clear?
If not, rate and cash flow matter far more than points.
- 2ControlSet employee limits
Cards should reduce expense friction without weakening approval controls.
- 3ValuePrice rewards conservatively
Use the redemption actually available to the business, net of fees.
What the figures mean
Choose a business card for payment control and a statement cycle the company can clear. A revolving balance can erase years of rewards in a few months.
Limits of this comparison: The RBA payment share describes consumer payments. The 20% rate and reward example are illustrations, not a product quote.