Intro APR: This is the introductory interest rate. Check if the rate applies to balance transfers from other cards only or on new purchases as well. You also need to check how long the offer lasts for and any fees on balance transfers that may apply. To prevent people making too many transfers many credit card companies are now charging a percentage based fee for balance transfers.
Standard APR: This is the interest rate that you will pay on standard purchases. If you know that you will pay your bill in full each month then the interest rate may not be an issue but if you don't pay your bills in full each month then you should consider a low interest credit card.
Interest Free Period / Grace Period: This is the number of days you get interest free on new purchases. This period is normally described in the form of 'up to' a number of days, for example,'up to 55 days'. The reason it says 'up to' is because they show the maximum number of days you can get interest free. The number of days will relate to the first day of your billing cycle through to the date your statement is due. Therefore if you purchase something near the end of your billing month you may get far less time interest free. There are a few cards with no interest free periods. Avoid these cards like the plague as you will already be paying interest by the time your monthly bill arrives.
Cash Advance Rate: Credit cards offer the convenience of accessing cash through a cash advance. However, this convenience often comes at a high cost with many card issuers charging extra high interest rates on cash advances. On top of this you may have to pay a few dollars for an ATM fee and interest is normally calulated from the day you take the money out. Unless you have a card designed for low cost cash advances they are best left for emergencies only.
Annual Fee: Many cards now charge no annual fee but if you want more rewards or benefits then an annual card fee may apply. Make sure you are aware of any annual fees before you apply and do a rough estimate to work out if the value of rewards or interest saved will outweigh the cost of the annual fee.
Rewards: Reward credit cards are growing in popularity and have branched out into many different types such as frequent flyer point cards, fuel discount or cash-back. By paying for most of your day to day expenses and major purchases through a rewards credit card it is possible to earn some worthwhile rewards but don't cut caught up in earning rewards. It is not worth spending extra just to get extra rewards as the rewards are normally worth around one percent of what you spend. Also, if you don't pay your bill each month and are incurring interest charges then consider a low interest credit card with now rewards. Most people will find that you save far more in interest than you would have earn't in rewards points.
Credit Required: Think about the credit rating of the cards you apply for. Premium cards such as Gold and Platinum for example are aimed at high income earners. If you're on a low income and apply for such a card you will almost certainly get rejected and your credit rating will be damaged further.
Now you know what you are comparing you can make an informed credit card comparison and find the best credit card for your needs.
------
Richard and Lynelda Greenwood set up click4credit.com.au in 2007 to help Australian consumers compare credit card offers quickly and easily. The site is now a leading comparison site and part of a network of sites covering finance products including Visa credit cards.