Canstar

Canstar, a comparison site for financial and household products in Australia

Canstar is an Australian platform for comparing and evaluating financial and household services products. Its activity focuses on analysing and rating products from different providers so that users can compare options before taking out a product. The company presents itself as a free tool aimed at making important money decisions easier.

Comparison areas

The site organises its offering into several thematic blocks. In financing, it covers home loans, personal loans, car loans and credit cards. In insurance, it covers home, car, health, life, travel and pet insurance. It also includes banking, superannuation, investing, energy, mobile phone and internet.

Within each category, multiple subcategories are displayed. For example, in home loans there are comparisons for refinancing, fixed rate, variable rate, offset accounts, first home buyers, investment, construction, pre-approval, interest only and different LVR levels (60%, 90% and 95%). In personal loans, options are listed for low interest, unsecured, fast, debt consolidation, self-employed, no early repayment fee and same day. In credit cards, rewards, overseas travel, bonus offers, balance transfer, frequent flyer, airport lounge access, no annual fee, low interest and business cards are included.

Ratings and awards

Canstar states that its expert ratings aim to reveal outstanding value and not just the lowest price. The company maintains that the cheapest option is not always the right one and that is why it offers value-based ratings. According to its presentation, it compares more than a thousand brands and products across multiple financial and household services categories. The site publishes the latest ratings and awards, as well as current articles produced by its team of reporters and experts.

Tools and services for the user

The platform makes several free tools available to users. These include interest rate alerts, which notify when home loan and savings rates change; a free credit score check, which according to the company does not affect the score; and a mobile app for comparing products. It also offers calculators, such as the home loan calculator, the borrowing power calculator, the personal loan repayment calculator, the term deposit calculator, the tax and salary calculator, and the car loan calculator.

Editorial and current affairs content

The site maintains a news and articles section with bylines from journalists and analysts. Among the topics published are the cash rate and its impact, the difference between the cash rate and the interest rate, forecasts of rate cuts in 2026 and the interest rate forecast for that year. It also compiles current offers and promotions in home loan refinancing, health insurance, car insurance and home insurance.

Additional sections

The website includes sections about the company, awards and ratings, media centre, board and leadership, editorial and research teams, and contact. It also has a business products section covering savings accounts, transaction accounts, overdrafts and agribusiness, as well as compulsory third party (CTP) insurance, online banking and streaming.