Australia Cashback & Rewards Cards 2025: Best Deals for Coles, Woolworths & Frequent Flyers
- Woolworths Everyday Rewards stays the easiest supermarket earn system for casual shoppers.
- Flybuys (Coles) is still the best for big bonus promos and targeted offers on large weekly shops.
- Qantas & Velocity-linked credit cards usually give the best value per dollar for frequent flyers.
- Cashback cards often beat points for low–medium spenders who want predictable bill reductions.
- In 2025, annual fees, insurance perks and supermarket multipliers matter more than headline earn rates alone.
Australia’s cashback and rewards-card market in 2025 is crowded and aggressive. With grocery prices still elevated, more households are looking to squeeze extra value from Coles, Woolworths and fuel chains, while Qantas and Velocity continue to push large sign-up bonuses on co-branded cards.
This guide looks at the best-value card types in 2025—for supermarket rewards, cashback, frequent-flyer points and all-round everyday use—using practical, real-world savings as the benchmark rather than just marketing claims.
1. Best Supermarket Rewards Set-ups for 2025
When assessing supermarket-linked cards and programs, focus on:
- Points per dollar on grocery spend
- How you can redeem those points (cash off shop, flights, gift cards)
- Targeted boosters and “spend $X, get Y points” offers
- Annual fee vs realistic yearly savings
🏆 Best Ecosystem for Woolworths Shoppers: Everyday Rewards + Qantas Points Card
- Everyday Rewards collects points at Woolworths, BIG W, BWS and some fuel partners.
- You can either convert to money off your shop or link to Qantas Frequent Flyer for flight points.
- A Qantas-earning credit card (such as Qantas Premier or a major-bank Qantas card) lets you double-dip: earn Qantas Points on the card plus Everyday Rewards at the checkout.
- Best for shoppers who want the option of both cheaper groceries and flights over time.
🏆 Best Ecosystem for Coles Shoppers: Flybuys + Coles Rewards Mastercard
- Coles Rewards Mastercard typically earns up to 2 Flybuys points per $1 on eligible spend, then a reduced rate after a monthly cap (check current earn table).
- Points convert easily into dollars off your Coles shop or can be transferred to select partners.
- Regular Flybuys booster offers (10x–20x points on selected shops or categories) can significantly accelerate earn for big weekly shops.
- Well-suited to families who consistently spend a lot at Coles Group stores.
Runner-Up Supermarket Strategy: Amex with Supermarket Multipliers
- Several Australian American Express cards offer elevated earn rates at major supermarkets (e.g. up to 3 points per $1 at major chains on some products).
- Points go into Amex Membership Rewards or a partner program, giving flexible redemption options (flights, gift cards, statement credit).
- No direct link to one supermarket chain, which is ideal if you switch between Coles, Woolworths and independents.
Note: Exact earn rates, caps and eligible supermarkets vary by card product. Always check the latest product disclosure statement (PDS) before applying.
2. Best Cashback Cards in Australia (2025)
Cashback cards are simplest for people who just want money off their bill instead of tracking points.
🏆 Best Overall Cashback Profile: ING Orange One Rewards Platinum
- Offers cashback on eligible everyday spend, typically around 1% up to a monthly cap (for example, up to $30 per month – confirm the current limit and conditions).
- Cashback is credited directly to your account, making the benefit transparent and easy to track.
- Useful for supermarkets, fuel, utilities and online shopping where you don’t care about airline points.
Runner-Up: Dedicated Amex Cashback & Promo-Heavy Cards
- Certain Amex cards run time-limited cashback offers at major supermarkets, fuel chains and retailers.
- Best value if you are disciplined about activating offers in the app and aligning spend with promos.
Rule of thumb: If your household spends modestly (for example $250–$350 per week on groceries) and you don’t actively chase flight redemptions, a simple cashback or statement-credit-style card is often better than a complex points scheme.
3. Best Frequent Flyer Card Strategies for 2025
If you fly at least once or twice a year—especially interstate or overseas—Qantas and Velocity-linked cards can deliver more value than supermarket-only setups.
🏆 Qantas Strategy: Mid-Tier Qantas Credit Card + Everyday Rewards
- Mid-tier Qantas cards (e.g. Qantas Premier Platinum / similar major-bank cards) frequently offer large sign-up bonuses when you meet a minimum spend.
- Ongoing earn rates are typically higher on Qantas purchases, with solid rates on everyday spend.
- Perks may include discounted flights, lounge passes and travel insurance.
- Combine with Everyday Rewards → Qantas to earn additional points on groceries.
🏆 Velocity Strategy: High-Value Velocity Card + Retail Partners
- Velocity-linked cards from major banks and Virgin Money often include sizable sign-up bonuses and bonus points for Virgin Australia spend.
- Earn more points by using Velocity retail partners (fuel, shopping, hotels) alongside your card.
- Best for travellers who mainly fly Virgin Australia and partner airlines.
4. How Much Are Points Actually Worth in 2025?
The value of points depends on how you redeem them, but typical ranges look like this:
| Program | Typical Value per Point | Best Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Flybuys (Coles) | ≈ 0.5–1.0¢ | Dollars off shop, gift cards, selected transfers. |
| Everyday Rewards (Woolworths) | ≈ 0.5¢ | $10 off groceries per 2,000 points, or transfer to Qantas. |
| Qantas Points | ≈ 1–4¢+ | Classic Reward seats, premium cabins, long-haul flights. |
| Velocity Points | ≈ 1–3¢ | Domestic flights, upgrades, partner airlines. |
Key takeaways:
- For everyday bill relief, cashback or supermarket dollars-off can be simpler and more predictable.
- For long-haul flights and upgrades, well-used Qantas or Velocity points can far outperform cashback on a cents-per-dollar basis.
5. Insurance & Perks: The Hidden Part of Card Value
Many rewards cards bundle insurance and perks that can offset the annual fee if you actually use them:
- International travel insurance (often activated by paying for your trip on the card)
- Domestic travel cover on some premium cards
- Extended warranty and purchase protection
- Occasional lounge passes or airline status credits
Frequent travellers usually benefit most from these extras; infrequent travellers may prefer lower-fee or no-fee options without complex benefits.
6. Which Card Type Is “Best” in 2025? (By User Profile)
Big Grocery Spenders (Coles + Woolworths)
- Flybuys + Coles Rewards Mastercard for Coles-heavy households.
- Everyday Rewards + Qantas-earning credit card for Woolworths-heavy households.
Cashback-First Users
- ING Orange One Rewards Platinum (or similar capped-cashback product).
- Amex or bank cards with regular cashback promos and statement credits.
Domestic & Short-Haul Travellers
- Qantas Premier / major-bank Qantas card paired with Everyday Rewards.
- Velocity-linked cards for regular Virgin Australia flyers.
International Students & New Migrants
- No- or low-annual-fee Visa/Mastercard to build history first.
- Entry-level Amex rewards card if accepted where you shop most.
7. 2025 Rewards Trends to Watch
- Supermarkets are increasing targeted app-based boosters and limited-time promos.
- Qantas and Velocity are competing aggressively with sign-up bonuses and partner offers.
- Cashback has become more popular as households prioritise straightforward cost-of-living relief.
- Premium card annual fees and minimum-spend requirements are creeping higher.
Final Thoughts
Australia’s 2025 rewards-card landscape is rich with options—but also easy to misuse. For most households, the “best” card is the one that matches actual spending patterns, not the one with the flashiest sign-up bonus.
If you mainly want cheaper groceries and utility relief, a supermarket-linked or cashback set-up is often enough. If you travel regularly and can meet minimum spends responsibly, Qantas or Velocity cards can unlock outsized value—especially when you combine them with Flybuys or Everyday Rewards.
The bottom line: pick one clear strategy (cashback, groceries, or flights), choose 1–2 cards that support that goal, and concentrate your spending instead of spreading it across too many programs.
Useful References
- Qantas Frequent Flyer
- Velocity Frequent Flyer
- Flybuys (Coles)
- Everyday Rewards (Woolworths)
- Individual bank and card-issuer product disclosure statements (PDS)
Disclaimer: This article is general information only and not financial advice. Card offers, earn rates and eligibility criteria change frequently—always check current terms before applying.