Am I eligible if I've held the card before?

Often not. Many issuers exclude people who currently hold, or recently held, one of their cards (commonly within the past 12 to 18 months). Check whether you count as a new customer.

Best sign-up bonus credit cards

Want a credit card with a bonus to kick-start your account? Compare sign-up bonus credit cards, with some offers of up to 350,000 points, plus rewards points and cashback offers.

Large bonus point and cashback offers
Complimentary frequent flyer memberships
Lounge access and travel credits on premium cards

Written by Nilooka DissanayakeReviewed by Vidhu Bajaj and David Boyd

Featured

Qantas Money Platinum

120,000 bonus Qantas Points
12 months at 0% p.a. on balance transfers

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How many points could you earn?

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

Compare 69 sign-up bonus credit cards

Credit card comparison table with rates, fees, rewards and apply links.
Card	Name and rating	Rewards program	Sign-up bonus	Earn rate	Annual fee	Est. points / yr
	FeaturedQantas Money Platinum	Qantas Frequent Flyer	120,000 pts	1 pt per $1Capped	$349	156,000 ptsWorth $1,872
	American Express Platinum Business Card 6 reviews	American Express Membership Rewards	350,000 pts	2.25 pts per $1Uncapped	$1,750	431,000 ptsWorth $4,310	60 second approval
	American Express Platinum Card 16 reviews	American Express Membership Rewards	200,000 pts	2.25 pts per $1Uncapped	$1,450	281,000 ptsWorth $2,810	60 second approval
	Westpac Altitude Rewards Black 18 reviews	Westpac Altitude Rewards	200,000 pts	1 pt per $1Capped	$200	236,000 ptsWorth $2,360	60 second approval
	St.George Amplify Rewards Signature 4 reviews	Amplify Rewards	200,000 pts	1 pt per $1Capped	$199	236,000 ptsWorth $2,360	60 second approval
	NAB Rewards Business Signature Card	NAB Rewards	200,000 pts	1.25 pts per $1Uncapped	$175	245,000 ptsWorth $2,450	60 second approval
	BankSA Amplify Rewards Signature	Amplify Rewards	200,000 pts	1 pt per $1Capped	$199	236,000 ptsWorth $2,360	60 second approval
	Bank of Melbourne Amplify Rewards Signature	Amplify Rewards	200,000 pts	1 pt per $1Capped	$199	236,000 ptsWorth $2,360	60 second approval
	Westpac Altitude Rewards Platinum 19 reviews	Westpac Altitude Rewards	100,000 pts	1 pt per $1Capped	$99	136,000 ptsWorth $1,360	60 second approval
	St.George Amplify Rewards Platinum	Amplify Rewards	100,000 pts	1 pt per $1Capped	$99	136,000 ptsWorth $1,360	60 second approval
	BankSA Amplify Rewards Platinum	Amplify Rewards	100,000 pts	1 pt per $1Capped	$99	136,000 ptsWorth $1,360	60 second approval
	Bank of Melbourne Amplify Rewards Platinum	Amplify Rewards	100,000 pts	1 pt per $1Capped	$99	136,000 ptsWorth $1,360	60 second approval
	ANZ Rewards Black Credit Card 1 review	ANZ Rewards Program	180,000 pts	2 pts per $1Capped	$320	252,000 ptsWorth $1,260	60 second approval
	MyCard Prestige	MyCard Rewards	250,000 pts	1 pt per $1Uncapped	$700	286,000 ptsWorth $1,430
	MyCard Prestige - Velocity Points Offer	MyCard Rewards	200,000 pts	1 pt per $1Uncapped	$700	236,000 ptsWorth $1,180
	NAB Rewards Platinum Card	NAB Rewards	100,000 pts	1 pt per $1Capped	$195	136,000 ptsWorth $1,360	60 second approval
	NAB Rewards Signature Card	NAB Rewards	110,000 pts	1.5 pts per $1Capped	$420	164,000 ptsWorth $1,640	60 second approval
	American Express Business Gold Plus Card 2 reviews	American Express Membership Rewards	200,000 pts	1.5 pts per $1Uncapped	$395	254,000 ptsWorth $2,540	60 second approval
	Qantas Money Titanium	Qantas Frequent Flyer	150,000 pts	1.25 pts per $1Capped	$1,200	195,000 ptsWorth $2,340
	American Express Explorer Credit Card 5 reviews	American Express Membership Rewards	75,000 pts	2 pts per $1Uncapped	$395	147,000 ptsWorth $1,470	60 second approval
	American Express Qantas Business Rewards Card	Qantas Business Rewards	150,000 pts	1.25 pts per $1Uncapped	$450	195,000 ptsWorth $2,340	60 second approval
	American Express Velocity Business Card	Velocity Frequent Flyer	150,000 pts	1 pt per $1Uncapped	$249	186,000 ptsWorth $1,860	60 second approval
	Bankwest Qantas World Mastercard 1 review	Qantas Frequent Flyer	100,000 pts	1 pt per $1Capped	$320	136,000 ptsWorth $1,632	60 second approval
Virgin MoneySignature •••• •••• •••• •••• Credit Card CompareVisa	Virgin Australia Velocity High Flyer Credit Card	Velocity Frequent Flyer	100,000 pts	1 pt per $1Capped	$329	136,000 ptsWorth $1,360	Application
	Westpac BusinessChoice Rewards Platinum Credit Card	Qantas Business Rewards	100,000 pts	0.5 pts per $1Capped	$150	118,000 ptsWorth $1,416	60 second approval
	Bankwest Qantas Platinum Mastercard 4 reviews	Qantas Frequent Flyer	80,000 pts	0.6 pts per $1Capped	$199	99,800 ptsWorth $1,198	60 second approval
	NAB Qantas Rewards Signature Card	Qantas Frequent Flyer	130,000 pts	1 pt per $1Capped	$420	166,000 ptsWorth $1,992	60 second approval
	ANZ Qantas Business Rewards	Qantas Business Rewards	150,000 pts	0.75 pts per $1Capped	$300	177,000 ptsWorth $2,124	60 second approval
	ANZ Frequent Flyer Black	Qantas Frequent Flyer	80,000 pts	1 pt per $1Capped	$370	116,000 ptsWorth $1,392	60 second approval
	BankSA Amplify Qantas Signature 1 review	Qantas Frequent Flyer	150,000 pts	0.5 pts per $1Capped	$295	168,000 ptsWorth $2,016	60 second approval
	Bank of Melbourne Amplify Qantas Platinum 2 reviews	Qantas Frequent Flyer	100,000 pts	0.35 pts per $1Capped	$175	112,600 ptsWorth $1,351	60 second approval
	ANZ Rewards Platinum	ANZ Rewards Program	125,000 pts	1.5 pts per $1Capped	$94	167,000 ptsWorth $835	60 second approval
	Westpac Altitude Qantas Black	Qantas Frequent Flyer	150,000 pts	0.5 pts per $1Capped	$295	168,000 ptsWorth $2,016	60 second approval
	St.George Amplify Qantas Signature	Qantas Frequent Flyer	150,000 pts	0.5 pts per $1Capped	$295	168,000 ptsWorth $2,016	60 second approval
	Bank of Melbourne Amplify Qantas Signature	Qantas Frequent Flyer	150,000 pts	0.5 pts per $1Capped	$295	168,000 ptsWorth $2,016	60 second approval
	BankSA Amplify Qantas Platinum	Qantas Frequent Flyer	100,000 pts	0.35 pts per $1Capped	$175	112,600 ptsWorth $1,351	60 second approval
	Westpac Altitude Qantas Platinum	Qantas Frequent Flyer	100,000 pts	0.35 pts per $1Capped	$175	112,600 ptsWorth $1,351	60 second approval
WestpacPlatinum •••• •••• •••• •••• Credit Card CompareMastercard	Westpac Altitude Velocity Platinum	Velocity Frequent Flyer	100,000 pts	0.35 pts per $1Capped	$175	112,600 ptsWorth $1,126	60 second approval
	St.George Amplify Qantas Platinum	Qantas Frequent Flyer	100,000 pts	0.35 pts per $1Capped	$175	112,600 ptsWorth $1,351	60 second approval
	NAB Qantas Rewards Premium Card 18 reviews	Qantas Frequent Flyer	100,000 pts	0.66 pts per $1Capped	$295	123,760 ptsWorth $1,485	60 second approval
WestpacBlack •••• •••• •••• •••• Credit Card CompareMastercard	Westpac Altitude Velocity Black	Velocity Frequent Flyer	150,000 pts	0.5 pts per $1Capped	$295	168,000 ptsWorth $1,680	60 second approval
	NAB Qantas Business Signature Card	Qantas Business Rewards	150,000 pts	0.66 pts per $1Capped	$295	173,760 ptsWorth $2,085	60 second approval
Bank of QueenslandPlatinum •••• •••• •••• •••• Credit Card CompareVisa	BOQ Platinum Visa Credit Card	Q Rewards	100,000 pts	2 pts per $1Uncapped	$75	172,000 ptsWorth $860
	ANZ Business Black	ANZ Rewards Program	150,000 pts	1.5 pts per $1Capped	$300	204,000 ptsWorth $1,020	60 second approval
	MyCard Premier	MyCard Rewards	150,000 pts	1 pt per $1Capped	$300	186,000 ptsWorth $930
	Bankwest More World Mastercard 4 reviews	Bankwest More Rewards Program	50,000 pts	2.5 pts per $1Uncapped	$270	140,000 ptsWorth $840	60 second approval
Virgin MoneyPlatinum •••• •••• •••• •••• Credit Card CompareVisa	Virgin Money Anytime Rewards Credit Card	Virgin Money Rewards	60,000 pts	1 pt per $1Uncapped	$149	96,000 ptsWorth $960	Application
	MyCard Prestige Qantas	Qantas Frequent Flyer	125,000 pts	0.5 pts per $1Uncapped	$749	143,000 ptsWorth $1,716
	Bankwest More Platinum Mastercard 5 reviews	Bankwest More Rewards Program	50,000 pts	2 pts per $1Capped	$160	122,000 ptsWorth $732	60 second approval
	Qantas American Express Ultimate Card 2 reviews	Qantas Frequent Flyer	50,000 pts	1.25 pts per $1Uncapped	$450	95,000 ptsWorth $1,140	60 second approval
	Coles Rewards Mastercard 75 reviews	Flybuys	40,000 pts	2 Flybuys points per $1Capped	$99	112,000 ptsWorth $560
	MyCard Premier - Velocity Points Offer	MyCard Rewards	110,000 pts	1 pt per $1Capped	$300	146,000 ptsWorth $730
	MyCard Rewards - Bonus Points Offer 17 reviews	MyCard Rewards	100,000 pts	1 pt per $1Uncapped	$199	136,000 ptsWorth $680
	American Express Velocity Platinum Card 8 reviews	Velocity Frequent Flyer	50,000 pts	1.25 pts per $1Uncapped	$440	95,000 ptsWorth $950	60 second approval
	American Express Velocity Escape Plus Card 1 review	Velocity Frequent Flyer	30,000 pts	1 pt per $1Uncapped	$95	66,000 ptsWorth $660	60 second approval
	American Express Essential Rewards Credit Card	American Express Membership Rewards	30,000 pts	1 pt per $1Uncapped	$108	66,000 ptsWorth $660	60 second approval
	MyCard Rewards - Velocity Points Offer	MyCard Rewards	90,000 pts	1 pt per $1Uncapped	$199	126,000 ptsWorth $630
	ANZ Frequent Flyer Platinum 34 reviews	Qantas Frequent Flyer	40,000 pts	0.75 pts per $1Capped	$240	67,000 ptsWorth $804	60 second approval
	Bankwest More Classic Mastercard 7 reviews	Bankwest More Rewards Program	20,000 pts	1.5 pts per $1Capped	$100	74,000 ptsWorth $444	60 second approval
	CommBank Smart Awards Credit Card	CommBank Awards Program	40,000 pts	1.5 pts per $1Capped	$228	76,000 ptsWorth $456	60 second approval
Unity BankPlatinum •••• •••• •••• •••• Credit Card CompareVisa	Unity Bank Platinum Visa Credit Card	Qantas Frequent Flyer	30,000 pts	1 pt per $1Capped	$299	66,000 ptsWorth $792
	CommBank Ultimate Awards Credit Card	CommBank Awards Program	60,000 pts	1 pt per $1Capped	$420	96,000 ptsWorth $576	60 second approval
	G&C Mutual Bank Platinum Visa Credit Card	Qantas Frequent Flyer	30,000 pts	1 pt per $1Capped	$299	66,000 ptsWorth $792
Bank of QueenslandStandard •••• •••• •••• •••• Credit Card CompareVisa	BOQ Blue Visa Credit Card	Q Rewards	50,000 pts	1 pt per $1Uncapped	$89	86,000 ptsWorth $430
	Bendigo Bank Qantas Business Credit Card	Qantas Business Rewards	25,000 pts	0.6 pts per $1Capped	$89	46,600 ptsWorth $559
	Qantas American Express Premium Card 3 reviews	Qantas Frequent Flyer	20,000 pts	1 pt per $1Uncapped	$249	56,000 ptsWorth $672	60 second approval
	MyCard Premier Qantas	MyCard Rewards	100,000 pts	0.5 pts per $1Uncapped	$350	118,000 ptsWorth $590
	Qantas Money Everyday	Qantas Frequent Flyer	8,000 pts	0.75 pts per $1Capped	$99	35,000 ptsWorth $420
	BOQ Specialist Signature Credit Card	Qantas Frequent Flyer	20,000 pts	1 pt per $1Capped	$400	56,000 ptsWorth $672

Sign-up bonus by the numbers

Cards compared

110,551 pts

Average sign-up bonus

2.5 pts per $1

Top earn rate

Bankwest More World Mastercard

$3,500

Highest-value sign-up bonus

American Express Platinum Business Card

$316

Average annual fee

What are sign-up bonus credit cards?

Sign-up bonus cards give new customers a lump sum of rewards points or cashback for meeting a spend target shortly after opening the account. The bonus is often enough for a worthwhile flight redemption or a batch of gift cards.

The usual condition is spending a minimum amount on eligible purchases within the first 90 days. Some premium cards add a second-year bonus for keeping the card open. To compare by program, see rewards cards and frequent flyer cards.

Beyond the bonus

Many of these cards add travel perks like annual travel credits, complimentary lounge passes and insurance covering overseas medical and trip cancellation.

For business owners, some cards offer higher earn rates on government spending and tools to track employee expenses. Weigh the bonus against the annual fee and the spend you'd need to earn it.

Sign-up bonus credit card FAQs

You usually have to spend a minimum amount on eligible purchases within a set window, often the first 90 days. Eligible purchases typically exclude cash advances, balance transfers, fees and BPAY, so check the terms before you apply.

Pros

Sign-up bonuses can be sizeable, often enough to cover a return flight or kick-start a rewards balance once you meet the spend.
Earn points on everyday spend, so the shopping you do anyway builds toward flights, gift cards or cashback instead of earning nothing.
Many of these cards offer 0% p.a. on balance transfers for up to two years, long enough to clear an existing debt without interest piling up.
Some cards keep purchase rates well below the market average, softening the cost in any month you carry a balance.

Cons

Earn caps apply on a number of cards, throttling points once you pass a monthly or yearly threshold.
Sign-up bonuses require hitting a minimum spend in a set window, so the points only land if you would spend that much anyway.
The premium cards here carry high annual fees, so they only pay off if you use enough of the perks to cover the cost.

How do sign-up bonus cards compare?

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Questions and answers

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Related card types

Altitude Rewards credit cards American Express Membership Rewards credit cards Amplify Rewards credit cards ANZ Rewards credit cards Credit cards for ATO payments Points-earning credit cards

Sources

Credit Card Compare: Australian credit card statisticsHow CardIQ scores cards