Which Loyalty Programs Are Actually Worth Keeping?
The average Australian is signed up to more loyalty programs than they can name — and actively uses about one. Here's how to decide which ones earn their place.
Research consistently finds the same thing: people join lots of loyalty programs but genuinely engage with only one or two. Everything else is quiet clutter — cards in the wallet, apps on the phone, small balances slowly heading toward expiry.
You don't need to be in every program. You need to be in the few that match how you actually spend. Here's a simple way to sort them.
The keep-or-drop test
Run each program through four questions. The more 'yes' answers, the more it earns its place.
- Do you shop there anyway? A program tied to a shop you already use every week is worth keeping. One for a retailer you visit twice a year is not.
- Is the earn rate meaningful? If it takes hundreds of dollars of spending to earn a dollar of value, the program is barely moving the needle.
- Can you redeem easily? Points you can turn into dollars off or a gift card with two taps beat points locked behind availability, minimums or blackout rules.
- What's the expiry risk? A program with a short inactivity window (like a 12-month expiry) needs regular use or it quietly wipes your balance.
Applying it to the big programs
The supermarket programs — Everyday Rewards and Flybuys — usually pass easily for anyone who does a weekly shop: you're spending there anyway, redemption is simple, and the value is predictable. Frequent-flyer programs like Qantas and Velocity are worth keeping if you fly or hold a linked credit card, and worth being honest about if you don't.
The ones to reconsider are the long tail: single-retailer schemes you rarely use, programs with tiny balances you'll never build up, and anything with a short expiry you keep forgetting about. Keeping fewer programs isn't about missing out — it's about actually using the value you earn instead of watching it lapse.
Frequently asked questions
How many loyalty programs should I be in?
There's no magic number, but most people get almost all their value from two or three that match their regular spending. The rest tend to be clutter that quietly expires.
Which programs are usually worth keeping in Australia?
For regular shoppers, the supermarket programs (Everyday Rewards, Flybuys) are easy keepers. Frequent-flyer programs are worth it if you fly or earn through a linked card.
What should I do with programs I want to drop?
Redeem or convert any remaining balance first, then stop worrying about them. There's no penalty for simply not using a program once it's emptied.
Isn't more programs better for more rewards?
Only if you use them. Spreading thin spending across many programs usually means lots of small balances that never reach a worthwhile redemption and eventually expire.
Turn points you'd never use into gift cards
Mavitra lets Australians convert loyalty points into gift cards for everyday brands — a practical way to get value from points sitting idle. Points in, gift cards out.
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