Check the website you're using is secure. There are 2 security signs to look for: the website URL should start with the letters "https" and there should be an image of a small padlock, usually in the top left-hand corner of the address bar.
Hit the checkout with your items. Once you've selected the items to go checkout (it's sometimes an icon of a basket or shopping cart in the right hand corner of the screen).
Enter your personal details. That includes your name, email and phone number.
Select your payment method. You can choose debit or credit card (often the same option), or PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay.
Enter your credit card details. Enter the name on the front of the card, the 16-digit card number, the expiry and the CVC or CVV number (the 3-digit number on the back).
Confirm the purchase. Check the purchase amount and your details again before clicking "confirm", keeping in mind that shipping costs and other fees may have been added.
Additional security measures. Depending on how your credit card or app is set up, you may have to enter a PIN or a one-off security code sent to your phone by SMS before the purchase is complete.
Keep the receipt or confirmation email. Most online stores will email you a tax invoice. These details help you track your order and make sure the correct amount is charged to your card. You'll also need this to dispute the transaction if you don't get what you paid for.
How much does it cost to pay by credit card?
Some online stores apply a card payment fee or surcharge which you'll see at the virtual checkout.
But fees from your credit card provider will only appear in your account or on your statement. There are 2 main ones to look for:
Foreign transaction fees. This is usually a 2–3% fee that's added to transactions made in a foreign currency or processed overseas. For example, if you buy something in US dollars or if the store you're shopping with is in the UK.
Finder survey: How often do Australians use their credit card?
Response
Gen Z
Gen Y
Gen X
Baby Boomers
Daily
4.49%
5.71%
6.25%
4.83%
Monthly
4.49%
2.72%
5.59%
3.41%
Weekly
4.49%
13.86%
10.86%
13.64%
Less often
2.72%
2.63%
1.7%
Only for emergencies
0.54%
0.33%
1.42%
Source: Finder survey by Pure Profile of 1113 Australians, December 2023
Is it safe to pay with a credit card online?
While most online shopping goes off without a hitch, fraud and cybercrime does exist. Luckily, credit cards have some helpful safety features.
Fraud-monitoring services. A lot of credit card providers use 24-hour fraud-monitoring services to help detect and report suspicious activity. When something unusual is detected, the credit card provider will contact you to check whether you made the transaction.
Added verification steps. Services like American Express SafeKey, Mastercard SecureCode and Visa Secure help protect your card from unauthorised transactions. Partnered businesses ask for either a one-time code sent to your phone, or a password or security answer that you've set up previously.
Zero liability policies. A zero liability policy is a type of insurance cover that protects you from paying for fraudulent or unauthorised transactions. The fraudulent transaction will be refunded back to your account, usually after an investigation by your credit card provider
Our expert says: The extra security of shopping with a credit card
"If someone uses your debit card for a fraudulent transaction, or goods you pay for never show up, it's often fairly simple for your bank to reverse a transaction. But your mileage may vary. Shopping with a credit card gives you that bit of extra protection. Visa, Mastercard and American Express credit cards offer some form of zero liability policy or credit card. This protects you from unauthorised purchases and fraud. "
Credit cards, websites and devices all offer different levels of protection when you're shopping online. But you can use these tips everywhere to get even more security.
Check that the web address starts with HTTPS. This shows the page you're visiting is secured. You should also see a locked padlock. If it's not there, contact the store or read the privacy and security policy to find out what protection is in place.
Look for contact details and refund/returns policies. Legitimate business websites include details you can use in case there are any issues. Before you buy anything, check for a street address, phone number and details of how to get a refund or return an item.
Use a private, secure Internet connection. While lots of places offer free, public Wi-Fi, it is less secure than a personal, private connection such as the one you would have at home. According to the Australian Cyber Security Centre, some criminals have even set up public Wi-Fi connections as a way to steal peoples' bank or card details, as well as other personal information.
Keep track of where you save your card details. It might be convenient to save your credit card details with websites and apps, but it means your card information will be stored by a third-party service and could be at risk.
Go through your transaction history. This will help you spot suspicious activity. You can check your transactions by logging in to your account or going over your monthly credit card statement.
How to choose a credit card for online shopping
If you're looking for a credit card to use online, here are some of the card types and features that could benefit you:
No currency conversion fees. If you often make purchases from online merchants that are based overseas, you should consider a credit card that doesn't charge foreign currency conversion fees. These fees are usually between 3% and 5% of the transaction fee.
Fraud protection. Most credit cards offer fraud protection guarantees (such as Visa and Mastercard's zero liability policies), which means you won't be liable for any unauthorised transactions made with your card. Terms and conditions usually apply (like reporting the fraudulent transaction within a specific number of days). Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards also have fraud monitoring systems in place, so you'll usually be notified as soon as a suspicious transaction is made.
A store card. You could consider using a card that's linked with a specific retailer. For example Coles or the Kogan Money Credit Card will all give you points or rewards at their respective stores.
Low or 0% interest fees. If you're planning to make some big-ticket purchases online or think you'll struggle to repay your balance in full each month, you could consider a card that charges a low ongoing interest rate or a promotional 0% on purchases.
A rewards card. If you shop online and always pay your credit card balance in full, you could earn points as you spend with a rewards credit card.
Was this content helpful to you?
Thank you for your feedback!
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Joelle Grubb as part of our fact-checking process.
Amy Bradney-George was the senior writer for credit cards at Finder, and editorial lead for Finder Green. She has over 16 years of editorial experience and has been featured in publications including ABC News, Money Magazine and The Sydney Morning Herald. See full bio
Amy's expertise
Amy has written 565 Finder guides across topics including:
Student credit cards can help you manage your money and build credit history for future loans. Learn more and compare student credit cards available in Australia here.
While most people tend to get a credit card from the same bank where they hold a transaction account, it is possible to get a card from another bank to take advantage of a better deal.
If you are renting a car and want to be covered in the case of accidents, then this insurance is for you. Check first your insurance policy and find out which coverage extends to your rental vehicle.
How likely would you be to recommend Finder to a friend or colleague?
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Very UnlikelyExtremely Likely
Required
Thank you for your feedback.
Our goal is to create the best possible product, and your thoughts, ideas and suggestions play a major role in helping us identify opportunities to improve.
Important information about this website
Finder makes money from featured partners, but editorial opinions are our own.
Finder is one of Australia's leading comparison websites. We are committed to our readers and stand by our editorial principles.
We try to take an open and transparent approach and provide a broad-based comparison service. However, you should be aware that while we are an independently owned service, our comparison service does not include all providers or all products available in the market.
Some product issuers may provide products or offer services through multiple brands, associated companies or different labeling arrangements. This can make it difficult for consumers to compare alternatives or identify the companies behind the products. However, we aim to provide information to enable consumers to understand these issues.
We make money by featuring products on our site. Compensation received from the providers featured on our site can influence which products we write about as well as where and how products appear on our page, but the order or placement of these products does not influence our assessment or opinions of them, nor is it an endorsement or recommendation for them.
Products marked as 'Top Pick', 'Promoted' or 'Advertisement' are prominently displayed either as a result of a commercial advertising arrangement or to highlight a particular product, provider or feature. Finder may receive remuneration from the Provider if you click on the related link, purchase or enquire about the product. Finder's decision to show a 'promoted' product is neither a recommendation that the product is appropriate for you nor an indication that the product is the best in its category. We encourage you to use the tools and information we provide to compare your options.
Where our site links to particular products or displays 'Go to site' buttons, we may receive a commission, referral fee or payment when you click on those buttons or apply for a product.
When products are grouped in a table or list, the order in which they are initially sorted may be influenced by a range of factors including price, fees and discounts; commercial partnerships; product features; and brand popularity. We provide tools so you can sort and filter these lists to highlight features that matter to you.
Please read our website terms of use and privacy policy for more information about our services and our approach to privacy.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
Excellent postings Many thanks!