Which Bank Has The Best App?

So I've only had the Commonwealth Bank app since I was a teen and it's been cool enough for me until my friends showed me all the PayID transactions between them over the years on the Up app which presents them in the style of texts as opposed to boring statements.

I was amused and started looking into all the other apps and realised we have a lot of banks in Australia; from the big four and their subsidiaries to the neobanks, and independents like Macquarie which seems popular on OzBargain. I don't want to try them all so I decided to do a poll here to help narrow down the list.

So which one do you guys enjoy using the most? This is about features, aesthetics, and reliable performance. This is NOT about the best savings rate or bonus points.

Poll Options

  • 193
    CBA
  • 135
    Up Bank
  • 129
    Macquarie
  • 22
    uBank
  • 19
    NAB
  • 16
    Westpac
  • 13
    ING
  • 12
    ANZ
  • 4
    Bankwest
  • 3
    St George
  • 3
    Bendigo
  • 3
    Bank Australia
  • 2
    ME Bank
  • 2
    Suncorp
  • 2
    HSBC
  • 2
    Bank of Queensland
  • 1
    Citibank
  • 1
    AMP
  • 1
    Bank of Melbourne
  • 1
    BankSA

Comments

  • +5

    Not bank of mum and dad that's for sure.

    • on the other hand https://www.spriggy.com.au/ seems like the best one for mums and dads

    • Not bank of mum and dad that's for sure.

      although i do not have the luck of having access to that bank i have friends who have been given 100s of 1000s of dollars from said bank some have been given houses/land or even paid for weddings!

      No application fee, no repayments just straight up paying them you! this bank sounds amazing!

      • +2

        Yes but how is the app?

        • +2

          you have to set it all up yourself.
          and even after setting up you are tech support.

        • -2

          If you're a girl - batting eyelashes at daddy …

          Sorry I crashed the Lamborghini, Daddy …
          … (bats eyelids) …
          Next time, can I have a purple one … ?

    • +1

      There's actually a Bank of Mum and Dad app…

      https://bomad.app/

      • that is mom and dad

  • +39

    presents them in the style of texts as opposed to boring statements.

    Spending money is fun if it looks like a text message? Do they have emojis as well? Plz tell me they have emojis.

    It would be lit AF and totes skibidy. I can see myself now hanging out with my bestie and vibing with our banking apps.

    • lol

    • +20

      skibidi (gen alpha), lit af (gen z), totes (millennial) - damn, that's quite the intergenerational slang usage

      • -6

        All shit, and all irrelevant to a banking app working. Who cares how it looks or if transactions are like texts (lol), all it needs to do is tell you your balance and let you transfer money or pay bills easily.

        • +1

          Enough people care about a bunch of adults running around a grass field kicking an inflatable leather ball.

          I think we can let it slide that other people care about how cutesy their phone banking app is.

          • @rumblytangara: These things have nothing to do with each other. A baking app is a tool.

            • @brendanm: Planes and trains and automobiles are tools as well. Yet there are fans or people who derive enjoyment. Let him have his fun.

    • +19

      You’ve overdrawn your account fam 🤣 🤣 🤣

  • +3

    lol, does anyone "enjoy" using any of them… they're all either literally the same thing rebranded, or extreme bloated trackware nonsense.

    all i want from a banking app is decent login security, and something that allows simple transactions and includes actual detail about them like sent to & from and time, (amazingly none of them are capable of this simple task)..

    MOVE banks probably the simplest & cleanest i've seen, and they're some community or union bank i think.

    • +8

      I'd add actual store information, and ideally the store address and then the ability to open that in a map.

      Too many banks will just show 'dodgy bros holdings Pty ltd' $5.56 and even if I can guess that might be a cafe, it's not valuable information for me as a customer.

      • How would you feel if the geolocation data was collected by the app? i.e. you make a transaction with your card, it triggers the app to log the coordinates.

        IMO, great idea (although not always relevant - online purchases, etc). Also not sure if I'd like it or even use it myself…

      • yeh, love having to reverse engineer transactions just to get basic info.

        that kind thing would be handy but as a starting point, something as simple as displaying the actual transaction info which no bank does lol - $2 sent from John Citizen of bsb/acct on date/time.

        it all functions of ref/descrip search like some caveman database lookup, it's beyond silly. do a litany of transactions between yourself between 5+ accounts and then try and come back a week later and make sense of it… lol.

        • Up handles this best with its payment threads. Groups all your transactions together from the same source/contact. Then you can assign that contact their bank details so you don't need to "reverse engineer" anything in the future

    • MOVE is the old Qld Railways Credit Union.

    • Australian unity has the same app as MOVE bank, just in different colours - I wonder if any other credit union uses this app as well?

      • tbh only used MOVE for a couple months, but yeh my first thought was this is either a small focussed dev team building a simple app or its one of the much cheaper entry tier banking app packages available that feels nothing like any of the dozen others i've used from "big" banks. which is both what you'd kind of expect and want from a union based bank. providing a good & simple to use service, and not wasting money on endless unrequired 'innovating' and rolling out updates every other day… same as their service generally, which has a simple customer focus and is well thought out & solid.

  • +3

    out of westpac/NAB/st george/commbank/ING/citibank/HSBC/ANZ that i've used over the years westpac/NAB are my favourites. least glitchy and function wise the dynamic CVV / cheque deposit in app are practical. app chats for CS + streamlined call from app is also a timesaver

    • I wish more did the dynamic cvv. Feels more like 2FA than a fixed cvv.

  • +7

    I've had BPAY payments fail on the ING app because I've added illegal characters in the description field. The app should have prevented them from being entered.

  • +8

    Wouldn’t reviewers need to have every app in order to compare? Seems to me like app functionality should be lower down on the list of reasons to join a bank.

    • +1

      If not the last reason.

    • +1

      I'm asking for subjective favourites, not objective reviews. 😅

    • +27

      Seems to me like app functionality should be lower down on the list of reasons to join a bank.

      Actually strongly disagree - apps (and internet banking) are basically how the vast majority of people only interact with their banks now.

      I've not called a bank, set foot in a branch, or had any "physical" banking experience in many years, and I only use ATMs several times a year. However, I use my banking app, and internet banking multiple times a day. Having a good, secure, functional app reduces friction, keeps me informed (e.g. potential security issues), and makes it easier to resolve issues.

      For things like term deposits, home loans…etc., it's easy enough just to go with anyone who offers the best rates, but I do think for an everyday transaction account or credit card, what everyone's offering is so practically identical that app functionality is important.

      • +2

        agreed. app cheque deposits for example saves me a trip to the bank, and being able to chat on the app via texting saves me so much time compared to holding on the phone for an hr or more

        • +2

          Cheque deposits via app? Do you take a photo of the cheque and send them the photo for processing but still physically keep the cheque?

  • +4

    Macquarie for sure, in terms of security it's the best too

    • Not true, see this. I have only used it for a credit card a year for and don't see it standing out.

      • +2

        Probably because it has a TOTP authenticator app now instead of SMS MFA.
        So if you are worried about sim scams it is better.

    • +1

      Use a few banks for different reasons and very happy with Macquarie.
      Great 2FA and also allows you to list a note on the statement - very handy to remember what it was 6 months later.
      Use CBA and have complained about the lack of 2FA.
      Also on joint accounts one party can't see the future payments set up by the other party - seriously weird.

    • It was, but no way now. Their stupid extra app, and I find transferring between accounts is a mess when you have multiple accounts.

      It does run fast though.

  • certainly not either of the two that continually claim to have the bestest, CBA and WBC, for realz.

  • +2

    What's up bank?

    Dammit, got me good

  • +6

    I've used ANZ, CBA, Westpac, NAB, ING and Suncorp over the years, however the most enjoyable has been UP Bank. It just flows easier. ING was probably the most clunky/unpleasant.

  • +2

    Ive had/got around 5 of those banks.
    I’ve found CBA to be the smoothest and easiest use app with good customer support. But i hate their fee structures.

    Interested in up bank now though.

  • +3

    I’ve actually got 3 accounts with different banks, but Macquarie and CBA are the best (although I don’t like how Macquarie has their own 2FA app)

  • I use a Windows Phone so no app, but CBA Netbank webpage on laptop is good. It is like driving fully manual turbo ICE car.

    • People still use Windows Phone?

      As much as I love my Lumia 950, I had to change to Android when Whatsapp stopped working on WP… rest of my family uses it to keep in touch.

  • -4

    I am surprised that no one has mentioned ANZ Plus. I’ve used all the banking apps, and ANZ Plus is the best. Second is Revolut, and third is probably the new Bankwest app.

    • +11

      The new Bankwest app is atrociously awful. Worst banking app of them all. Its shame, since the old Bankwest app was perfectly serviceable.

      • +8

        I second this! The old Bankwest app was great, the new one it's a disgrace!

      • I recently joined bankwest and have found the app pretty fine to me, simple and uncluttered.
        What was it about the old app that you liked better? Out of curiosity

  • I like the St.George app. Switched most of my banking away from them to various other places but their app is still my favourite.

    • +4

      … Why?

      If I were looking at joining a new bank, I'd sign up for a slightly worse rate in favour of NOT using St George.

      Out of the 4 banks I've used in recent years, St George takes the cake for the worst app and website.

      • Very subjective view. I've been using them for so long I guess I'm comfortable with the familiarity. Love their website too.

      • +1

        Couldn’t agree more. I’ve had to use the St George app and website recently and they feel unintuitive and dated.

    • Were you using cardboard cheques before starting with St George? Worst app experience I've encountered by far

  • I think the CBA app it's the only one that has the ability to function as your NFC mobile wallet, at least on Android (no idea about iphones).

    This is a welcome feature for those wanting the ability to Tap & Pay with their phone but can't because they're using android flavours that aren't supported by Google Pay

  • I have up, cba, ubank and had nab and wbc in the past. I will vote up first then cba second. I rated it higher just for the fact i can chat with customer services and ask question and the will answer within 4-24 hours. Try calling cba and it’s becoming atrocious.

  • +1

    Bendigo bank app is pretty decent. Bankwest got a lot worse in recent update. Suncorp slowly improving but still could do better.

    • The bankwest app has gone to crap! I hate it. So much unnecessary white space that causes you to lose information on the home screen (forces you to scroll or click to see all your account balances). Plus lack of features like dynamic cvv. I've got accounts with other banks and I'm close to moving my *every day banking" away from bankwest as it's too hard to see details at a glance.

  • +1

    The @westpac Banking App has just been named Australia's Best Banking App in the 2025 Mozo Experts Choice Awards 🎉 The Mozo expert judges compared 49 banking apps across Australia, looking at tools that give customers more flexibility, visibility, and control of their money on the go 👏

  • +2

    Up and its not even close.
    I've used CBA, Westpac, St George and now currently Bankwest. Up constantly bring in new features that other apps don't get til years down the line. They also are great travel cards with no international fees or mark up on exchange rates.

    • +1

      100% agree. They actually invested in good app design and usability - even putting aside banking apps it’s very good quality.

      As a bank too they’re really good.

  • As we are on topic of banl App …

    Could please App users list which ones offer multiple login/users.
    Meaning one phone with one App to access many different customer numbers.

    As an example ING App allows to pick different authentication customer names/codes/numbers.

    PS:
    Scenario: Grandma and grandpa and cousin Molly have one phone with one App but use and access different separate accounts of the same bank.

    • +2

      The Macquarie app has recently added this feature (…or I recently noticed it 🤔).

      There is a drop-down on the top-left where you can select a 'Profile' - which is just switching between different Macquarie IDs. You can also add a photo for each profile, as well as naming it whatever you want.

      • Thank you!

  • -2

    CBA if you don't mind your card being used fraudulently in shops/restaurants every year or so overseas, despite never using it online or overseas, with no explanation as to how it happens.

  • Nothing come closer to CBA and the worst thing is, they already knows that 😅

  • I’m with ING at the moment, but in my experience:

    CBA > ING >>> NAB/Westpac > ANZ

    I have no experience with the others.

  • ING are going to release a completely revamped app at some stage - hopefully it will improve it's usability and features!

  • NAB because I can actually change my repayments within the app now instead of going to a branch. It's reliability could be improved sometimes though…

  • +2

    Hard to believe Citibank app is some1s favourite.

  • +3

    Easy Macq for me.
    As a traveller it was the first app that welcomed you into a new country with a notification and the current FX rate.
    These have now stopped but when you log into the app the main homepage has a wallpaper from the country you’re in and the FX rate. When you spend it clearly lists the transaction with the AUD amount to the side with the local currency in smaller text below (not in brackets within the transaction description).
    Add to that the authentication app for 2FA, and not an sms means you don’t need to have your Aus sim active in background to be able to spend.
    And no fx-fees and a live exchange rate and it’s a winner.

  • ANZ Plus should be on the poll, its a separate bank to ANZ

  • +5

    The one who voted for HSBC, is probably their app developer

    • +2

      LOL. That got a good chuckle out of me.

      In saying that, I use my HSBC account purely for physical card payments and occasionally transferring back excess funds to other banks and the app is sufficient for that purpose. It's actually better looking at the app to reconcile all the cash rebates compared to the website as the rebates are colour coded differently on the app.

      • I voted HSBC. The features I look for are probably different from most. Security and reliability features rate higher for me than asthetics. My banking needs are fairly basic. I've never struggled to do transfers on hsbc app or view boring statements.

        I have ubank app, that has fancy graphs etc, but there's a bug in graphs that shows incorrect information on the day of transfer that's been there for months.

        • +1

          User interfaces is a very subjective thing but I don't think aesthetics is the main issue most people have with the HSBC app. For me the main issues are:

          1. I can only install it on ONE mobile device. The problem is further compounded by the fact that the authenticator app functions are built into the banking app. To me, that causes more issues if I ever lose that one phone that I can do my HSBC banking from. Macquarie gets around this by separating the banking app and authenticator functions and letting you install the app and/or authenticator on multiple devices. If you lose one of the devices, you can log into web banking or mobile banking on a device you still have and delete banking access/authenticator functionality from the lost device.

          2. It's clunky compared to the better apps out there. This one is probably subjective but a common thing a lot of HSBC users complain about.

          3. Lack of a dedicated function to lodge travel itineraries… we need to do this via chat every time my Dad or Mrs travels overseas with the HSBC card.

          But that first point is a pain. I use 3 phones (one main, one back up when traveling, and an old one I keep as a back up at home at all time) and HSBC is the only banking app that I can't have on all 3 phones. Every other banking app can be installed and will work on all 3 phones. It's because of this, I won't use HSBC as a travel debit card… which is ironic when it's the everyday global account that I have (one designed for travel).

          EDIT: Just tried adding some of my other bank accounts to HSBC and I've forgotten how clunky this is. I can't just add in a new payee… I have to actually be paying them. And doing it on the website doesn't OSKO.

          • @Mugsy: I agree HSBC app can be clunky as well, but security and reliability is still more important feature for me - as long I can do what I need without much trouble.

            Not being able to add new payee without paying them isn't issue for me. I've never had to do it, and it wouldn't bother me if I had to just wait till I needed to pay them to add them.

            It's annoying for you not to be able to install app on multiple phones. For me its a good security feature.

            As you say it's subjective, your issues aren't issues to me. I just want something thats secure and works all the time.

            Not relevant now, but i used to have a HSBC key fob thing for ages. I had home loan with a few Aussie banks, none of them had option for authenticator. Password only to log on. Sure it was more clunky to log on with it, but I preferred the extra security.

            I only have ubank and st George apps currently, so can't say for others. Ubank has bug, and st George has had downtimes for me. HSBC is like a Camry, doesn't have the latest and greatest but just works and gets the basics done.

            • +1

              @fourofjacks: I miss the security token key fob. Dad and i had one each and was one of the reasons we were looking forward to using HSBC.

              Unfortunately when one starts using mobile banking, HSBC deletes the linked keyfob and forces you to use the app authenticator. I don’t do any type of banking when on the go that requires authenticating so not being able to separate my authenticator from my day to day phone and leave it at home felt more like a security risk for me.

              The other thing HSBC is currently doing that is annoying is the account name check. The actual check is good but I add the bank name after my name so i can tell my accounts apart. not being able to give my payees a nickname has forced me to do this. All my payees in HSBC are my own accounts so this security feature ends up being more annoying than useful for me.

              If security is a high priority and you're ever looking for other banks that have the option to avoid SMS OTPs, i suggest giving Macquarie, Suncorp or Bendigo a try.

  • I'm surprised banks still don't have TOTP 2FA or Passkeys, even Kmart has it implemented.

    • Banks are probably less inclined to do it because you have your money with them, and hence the security has to be much lower.

      Which seems counter-intuitive, but consider:

      Lose your kmart account = who cares, just make a new one.
      Lose your bank = you can't just make a new one, they have your money. Customer service have to verify and let you in…

      They want it as seamless as possible to reduce their service staffing. Some of them are just PIN with no password at all.

  • CBA tracks your clicks and taps and scrolls as a "fraud prevention" method

    yeah, nah

  • Used many over the years as I churn credit cards. despite how much I dislike them CBA is still the best and ANZ and NAB by far the worst.

  • Been cc churning over last 2 years and used about 6 banks.

    They were all fine, each has its quirks.

    • St George would always open 2 windows.

    • Westpac i liked their digital cc/cvc part for when buying from less reputable sites. Main gripe with Westpac was having to go into store 3 sep times to get everything up and running.

    • UP is my current mortgage. The app is too quirky and emoji packed for my liking but its modern with lots of features that ill never use but are likely popular.

    • NAB is my long term good ol reliable.

    • ANZ i dont remember why, but i closed that account down asap.

    Never used CBA, everytime i consider they seem to have poor rates and fees.

    • about features, aesthetics, and reliable performance. This is NOT about the best savings rate or bonus points.

      • Ok, well feel free to ignore the last 10% of my post.

    • Thanks for the opinions on those banking apps. My experience with the banking apps I've used:

      • Virgin Money: adequate for credit card management (never used it for debit cards). Facial login on Android a plus. Would have liked an authenticator app
      • ME Go: basically the same as Virgin Money app just reskinned. Was considering using this for travel but reliance on SMS OTPs when transferring money to payees in my payee list ruled out this product.
      • ANZ: only used this for a short period as I was churning through an ANZ credit card and quickly cancelled after receiving points so I could open a Virgin Flyer account. It was adequate from what I could remember
      • NAB: It's an OK app I can transfer funds between my accounts from different banks without being asked for SMS OTPs so I will likely use my ex-Citi NAB Classic for travel. Ability to deposit cheques via mobile and also lodge travel itineraries via app has been great.
      • HSBC: clunky app but adequate for keeping track of card transactions. Don't like that it can only be installed on one mobile device at a time. Has an authenticator as part of its banking app.
      • ubank: not a fan of the passkey requirement, app is adequate I guess
      • Bendigo: again, another adequate app for facilitating banking. I like that the app uses biometrics instead of SMS OTPs to verify transactions
      • Suncorp: yet another adequate app for banking. Has a security token app so good for avoiding SMS OTPs.
      • Bankwest: it's an OK banking app. Does the basics. Ability to generate one time use debit cards for online payments a nice feature.
      • Macquarie: best mobile banking app I've used. Both the authenticator app and banking app can be installed on multiple mobile devices (need to verify the install/login via an existing authenticator app install so it's not like anyone can install it).
      • Citibank: only used it temporarily as I was migrated to NAB Classic. I just remember it being quite bare bones.

      Anyway, that's my experience with banking apps. Wishing I was using mobile banking during the short period we had our construction loan with CBA so I could test it out and compare with Macquarie.

  • With uBank, you can link accounts from other banks and look at all your accounts in one spot. But that requires giving uBank your other logins.

    • +2

      I don't like the ubank app because it uses the phone's own password for security.

  • +2

    How many people who voted have actually used all of the apps…

    • +1

      I'd be surprised if there was one person who has.

      I'm not surprised CBA is in lead by so much… some people have banked there all their lives. I certainly started there with a Dollarmite account. Got sick of monthly account keeping fees eating away at my limited savings (and my parents' savings too) so we all migrated to ANZ.

  • Switched to Bank of China recently as I got a good home loan refinance deal of 5.33% and $3300 cash back.

    The mobile app is by far the worst banking app I have ever used.
    - Cannot setup recurring transfers to outside BSB/Account numbers
    - Cannot setup descriptions or nicknames for saved payee. So the list just says FirstName LastName for my various accounts at other banks.
    - Randomly directs you to pages that are fully in Chinese, despite language being set to English.
    - Had to go into the branch multiple times and have them tap around on my phone to try and 'fix' things - eventually just shrugged and said that's how it is

    If you want to use regular internet banking you need to apply for a physical RSA token to carry around in order to logon.

    Once i've got the cashback and stayed the min period I will refinance out again.

    • +1

      Update: Just found another one just then…their mastercard debit cards linked to transaction accounts do not support being added to an apple wallet…

      • Thanks for your post. What a complete turn-off.

        • Found another flaw just then - you can't add a payee in the 'manage payee' section unless you actually go through and submit a transfer to them! I wanted to move over my saved payee from previous bank in one go so they are there when I need them.

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