We benchmarked exchange rates across 4 categories of cards in Australia – here’s what we found 🕵🏼
At YouTrip, we’re firm believers that every dollar counts when you’re exploring the world. To understand how we stack up against other cards in Australia, we conducted a benchmark test comparing YouTrip’s exchange rates against some of Australia’s commonly used debit, credit, travel money cards, and fintech multi-currency cards across 4 categories. This test aims to quantify how much Australians can save simply by paying overseas with YouTrip.
Our Objective: why we did this
Exchange rate mark-ups and hidden fees can make a surprising dent in your holiday budget – and oftentimes without you realising. Did you know that many traditional credit and debit cards in Australia charge you around 3 – 3.5% extra every time you spend overseas? Many Australians don’t know that, and end up paying unnecessary fees every time they travel.
We wanted to put real numbers behind the difference. How does YouTrip’s exchange rates compare to other cards in Australia? What does mates rates actually mean and look like?
Our findings: YouTrip vs cards in Australia
🕵🏼 Before diving into the details, here’s the headline result: YouTrip’s rates were found to be up to 4% better than other cards across 24 real transactions.
In simple terms, travellers would pay up to 4% less for the same overseas purchase, simply by choosing to pay with YouTrip instead of another debit or credit card. Here are the recorded charges in Australian Dollars (AUD) for the same transaction with different cards:
| Card | 50,000 JPY 🇯🇵 | 300 USD 🇺🇸 | 5,000,000 IDR 🇮🇩 |
| YouTrip card | $497.49 | $463.29 | $460.50 |
| Commbank debit Mastercard | $512.75 | $478.99 | $476.66 |
| ANZ Plus Visa debit card | $511.79 | $476.85 | $475.73 |
| ANZ Frequent Flyer Black credit card | $514.27 | $479.16 | $478.04 |
| Qantas American Express credit card | $511.31 | $475.16 | $473.71 |
| Commbank Travel Money Card | $518.46 | $481.80 | $474.30 |
| Wise card | $499.26 | $464.33 | $462.21 |
| Revolut card | $498.74 | $463.99 | $462.08 |
Across all cards and currencies tested, YouTrip consistently came out on top.
What does 4% better really mean?
A 4% difference is $40 for every $1,000 you spend. It may seem like a small amount at first, but the savings stack up fast when you’re travelling. Let’s say you go on an $8,000 Japan trip – a 4% saving translates to $320 kept in your pocket – money you can put towards more ramen, shopping, and fun activities.
💡You get charged different amounts with different cards because each card issuer has its own exchange rates – and many add foreign transaction fees or bake mark-ups on top of them. YouTrip doesn’t. Our rates are derived directly from wholesale exchange rates – which is the same interbank rates global financial institutions use. This means what you see is exactly what you get.
Now let’s flip the perspective: how much foreign currency does $1,000 get you?
Imagine having $1,000 in hand. Here’s how much Japanese Yen you’d unlock with different cards:
🕵🏼 Get up to $40 more foreign currency with the same $1,000 when you opt to pay with YouTrip on your holidays! You can even use our in-app currency converter to exchange up to 10 currencies and lock-in favourable rates whenever, wherever.
Why this test matters
We want to help Australians travel better and smarter. These findings highlight what YouTrip is built for: transparent, fee-free, and fair exchange rates that help travellers get more out of every trip.
Travel money shouldn’t come with surprise charges and hidden costs – you shouldn’t have to pay an extra $300 every trip when you can spend that on sushi, gelato, or souvenirs to bring home.
YouTrip is a multi-currency travel money card designed for modern travellers. Enjoy mates rates and zero fees in 150+ countries – perfect for big adventures and everyday trips.
Methodology: how we conducted our test
Card selection
We evaluated 8 cards across major Australian banks and fintech players. The idea was to keep things balanced by testing with different types of cards across four key categories:
- Everyday bank debit cards
- Frequent Flyer credit cards
- Bank travel money cards
- Fintech multi-currency cards
Cards we included in this test:
- Commbank debit Mastercard
- ANZ Plus Visa debit card
- ANZ Frequent Flyer Black credit card
- Qantas American Express credit card
- Commbank Travel Money Card
- Wise card
- Revolut card
- YouTrip card
Test design
To reflect real-world usage, we made live test transactions across three popular travel currencies. All transactions were performed on the same day in November 2025 to ensure consistency in market conditions. For cards that allow in-app currency exchange, we also benchmarked their in-app exchange rates on the same day for an accurate like-for-like comparison.
The three currencies we did transactions for are:
- US Dollar (USD)
- Japanese Yen (JPY)
- Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
Ready to travel better?
Keep your everyday bank card at home when you pack for your next adventure, all you need is a trusty YouTrip card to explore the world.
- Mates rates in 150+ countries
- 0% international transaction fees
- $0 sign-up or annual fees
- Exchange and lock-in rates for 10 currencies in-app
- 2% cashback on international purchases for your first 5 months (up to $40/month)
- Free* ATM withdrawals overseas (up to $1,500 free per calendar month)
