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Showing results forRefinancing a $500k owner-occupied variable rate loan on a $1.0M property in New South Wales
Star Rating
Interest rate p.a.
Comparison rate p.a.
Monthly repayment
Promotedloans.com.au
Star Rating
Variable
Principal & Interest
  • Available for purchase or refinance, min 10% deposit
  • Includes Sept rate increase. Fast turnaround times
  • No application, ongoing or monthly fees.
  • Minimum deposit: 10%
  • Application fee: $0
  • Ongoing fee: $0
  • Additional repayments
  • Redraw facility

Fees & charges apply. Australian Credit Licence 395219

PromotedIMB
Star Rating
Variable
Principal & Interest
  • Cashback up to $4,000* for loans $750k+
  • $0 application fees, monthly or annual fees
  • Apply Online
  • Minimum deposit: 30%
  • Application fee: $449
  • Ongoing fee: $0
  • Additional repayments
  • Redraw facility

Fees & charges apply. Australian Credit Licence 237391

PromotedNRMA Home Loans
Star Rating
Variable
Principal & Interest
  • $1,000 Virtual Gift Card on settlement. T&Cs apply
  • $0 Settlement Service Fee. Save $345. T&Cs apply
  • $0 application fee to pay
  • Minimum deposit: 50%
  • Application fee: $0
  • Ongoing fee: $0
  • Additional repayments
  • Redraw facility

Fees & charges apply. Australian Credit Licence 237879 is held by Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited, the credit provider.

PromotedPeople First Bank
Star Rating
Variable
Principal & Interest
  • No upfront or ongoing monthly administration fees
  • Option to link offset account, fee-free.
  • Unlimited and flexible repayment options.
  • Minimum deposit: 30%
  • Application fee: $0
  • Ongoing fee: $0
  • Offset account
  • Additional repayments
  • Redraw facility

Fees & charges apply. Australian Credit Licence 244310

PromotedQueensland Country Bank
Star Rating
Variable
Principal & Interest
  • Up to 5 100% mortgage offset accounts on P&I loans
  • Award-winning package, redraw facility available
  • No penalties for extra repayments
  • Minimum deposit: 20%
  • Application fee: $0
  • Ongoing fee: $1/yr
  • Offset account
  • Additional repayments
  • Redraw facility

Fees & charges apply. Australian Credit Licence 244533

PromotedTeachers Mutual Bank
Star Rating
Variable
Principal & Interest
  • $0 Establishment Fee (waived) & Free 100% Offset
  • Fixed & Variable Loan Options
  • Free Redraw on Variable Loans
  • Minimum deposit: 40%
  • Application fee: $0
  • Ongoing fee: $300/yr
  • Offset account
  • Additional repayments
  • Redraw facility

Fees & charges apply. Australian Credit Licence 238981

PromotedUnloan
Star Rating
Variable
Principal & Interest
  • A simple low rate with an increasing discount.
  • Apply in minutes. No Unloan Fees.
  • Fee-free extra repayments and redraw.
  • Minimum deposit: 20%
  • Application fee: $0
  • Ongoing fee: $0
  • Additional repayments
  • Redraw facility

Fees & charges apply. Australian Credit Licence 234945

BCU Bank
Star Rating
Variable
Principal & Interest
  • Minimum deposit: 20%
  • Application fee: $0
  • Ongoing fee: $0
  • Additional repayments
  • Redraw facility

Fees & charges apply. Australian Credit Licence 214077

Northern Inland CU
Star Rating
Variable
Principal & Interest
  • Minimum deposit: 20%
  • Application fee: $0
  • Ongoing fee: $8/mth
  • Additional repayments
  • Redraw facility

Fees & charges apply. Australian Credit Licence 235022

Virgin Money
Star Rating
Variable
Principal & Interest
  • Minimum deposit: 20%
  • Application fee: $0
  • Ongoing fee: $0
  • Additional repayments
  • Redraw facility

Fees & charges apply. Australian Credit Licence 244616

Up
Star Rating
Variable
Principal & Interest
  • Minimum deposit: 10%
  • Application fee: $0
  • Ongoing fee: $0
  • Offset account
  • Additional repayments
  • Redraw facility

Fees & charges apply. Australian Credit Licence 237879

Homestar Finance
Star Rating
Variable
Principal & Interest
  • Minimum deposit: 30%
  • Application fee: $0
  • Ongoing fee: $0
  • Offset account
  • Additional repayments
  • Redraw facility

Fees & charges apply. Australian Credit Licence 390860

Bendigo Bank
Star Rating
Variable
Principal & Interest
  • Minimum deposit: 20%
  • Application fee: $0
  • Ongoing fee: $10/mth
  • Offset account
  • Additional repayments
  • Redraw facility

Fees & charges apply. Australian Credit Licence 237879

Unity Bank
Star Rating
Variable
Principal & Interest
  • Minimum deposit: 40%
  • Application fee: $0
  • Ongoing fee: $0
  • Offset account
  • Additional repayments
  • Redraw facility

Fees & charges apply. Australian Credit Licence 238311

Macquarie Bank
Star Rating
Variable
Principal & Interest
  • Minimum deposit: 40%
  • Application fee: $0
  • Ongoing fee: $0
  • Additional repayments
  • Redraw facility

Fees & charges apply. Australian Credit Licence 237502

ME
Star Rating
Variable
Principal & Interest
  • Minimum deposit: 20%
  • Application fee: $0
  • Ongoing fee: $0
  • Additional repayments
  • Redraw facility

Fees & charges apply. Australian Credit Licence 229500

MyState Bank
Star Rating
Variable
Principal & Interest
  • Minimum deposit: 20%
  • Application fee: $0
  • Ongoing fee: $0
  • Additional repayments
  • Redraw facility
Go to Broker
with Finspo

Fees & charges apply. Australian Credit Licence 240896

Auswide Bank
Star Rating
Variable
Principal & Interest
  • Minimum deposit: 20%
  • Application fee: $300
  • Ongoing fee: $0
  • Additional repayments
  • Redraw facility
Go to Broker
with Finspo

Fees & charges apply. Australian Credit Licence 239686

UniBank
Star Rating
Variable
Principal & Interest
  • Minimum deposit: 20%
  • Application fee: $600
  • Ongoing fee: $0
  • Additional repayments
  • Redraw facility
Go to Broker
with Finspo

Fees & charges apply. Australian Credit Licence 238981

ANZ
Star Rating
Variable
Principal & Interest
  • Minimum deposit: 20%
  • Application fee: $0
  • Ongoing fee: $0
  • Additional repayments
  • Redraw facility
Go to Broker
with Finspo

Fees & charges apply. Australian Credit Licence 234527

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Variable rate home loan tips from our expert

Check your personal situation against the criteria 

The lowest advertised rate might come with conditions like a minimum deposit, minimum loan size, or a specific loan-to-value ratio. Before getting your hopes up over a low rate, check the fine print to see whether you qualify.

Rates change regularly, so it pays to compare just before you apply

Many lenders adjust their interest rates on a regular basis. If you're not planning to apply for a while, it's worth rechecking the market closer to when you actually need finance.

Ultra-low rates can mean fewer features 

Some lenders keep headline rates sharp by stripping back extras like offset accounts or unlimited redraw. Make sure a home loan has the features you need before applying.



Guide to variable rate home loans

What is a variable rate home loan?

A variable rate home loan is one with an interest rate that can change at any time. The interest rate can go up or down due to market changes, meaning your repayments can also fluctuate. Lenders usually change their rates in line with the cash rate as set by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), along with other factors.

This is unlike a fixed rate home loan, where the interest rate stays the same (as do repayments) for a set period of time, usually between one and five years.

Another option is a split rate home loan, where a portion of your home loan has a fixed interest rate and the rest has a variable one.


How to find the lowest variable home loan rate?

You can use the table above to find the lowest variable rates from our Online Partners. The table shows current interest rates as well as comparison rates, which take into account the interest rate plus the cost of most upfront and ongoing fees and charges.

While a loan’s interest rate is an important factor and can make a significant difference to its total cost, there are other factors to consider. These include any fees attached to the loan, and the features available. It’s also important to weigh up if it’s worth paying extra for certain features and whether they add value overall.

While you’re comparing home loans, consider taking a look at Canstar’s Home Loan Awards. Canstar’s expert researchers assessed thousands of home loans, including variable rate home loans, to see which ones offer outstanding value. If you’re a first home buyer, you might also be interested in our latest First Home Buyer Award.


What features do variable rate home loans have?

Variable rate home loans usually offer more features than fixed rate ones. Some features you may have access to include:

Offset accounts

An offset account is a bank account linked to your home loan. The money you have inside the offset account helps reduce the balance of your home loan for interest calculation purposes, and can therefore reduce the amount of interest you have to pay. For instance, if you had a home loan balance of $350,000, with $50,000 in a 100% offset account, you would only be charged interest on a loan balance of $300,000.

The ability to make unlimited extra repayments

Making additional repayments above your minimum repayments can help reduce your home loan balance and the amount of interest you pay. This may help you pay off your home loan more quickly as well.

Redraw facilities

A redraw facility lets you withdraw additional repayments you’ve made towards your home loan. These funds can be taken out if you need them; for example, to cover renovations or other unexpected expenses.

Packaged extras

Some lenders offer packaged home loans that combine your mortgage with other banking products, like credit cards or everyday bank accounts. This may mean you pay only one package fee, rather than multiple fees across the different products. You may also get a discount on your interest rate. But it’s important to work out whether the potential savings are worth the extra fees packaged loans typically charge.


What are the pros and cons of a variable rate home loan?

Pros

  • Flexibility: You may be able to make additional repayments above what you owe, which could help you pay off your home loan quicker.
  • Features: You may be able to get features like an offset account and redraw facility, as well as packaged extras.
  • You may benefit from cash rate cuts: If your lender decreases its interest rates due to a change in the cash rate, you could end up paying less each month or you could keep your repayments the same in order to pay off your home loan quicker.

Cons

  • Your repayments may increase: If your lender increases its interest rates due to a cash rate hike, its own operating costs increasing, or to boost its bottom line, you may have to meet higher repayments.
  • Uncertainty: The interest rate can move at any time, so this can make budgeting more unpredictable. That said, lenders must give borrowers notice of an interest rate change, so you’ll usually have a few weeks to prepare.

How long does a variable rate home loan last?

Home loans are typically repaid over a period of 25 to 30 years. When you apply for a variable rate home loan, you’ll agree with your lender on the term and repayment schedule. If you choose a shorter loan term, you’ll generally pay higher repayments but less in interest overall. If you choose a longer loan term, you’ll generally have lower repayments but will pay more in interest.


FAQs about the lowest variable rate home loans

Beyond owner-occupier and investor mortgages, there are generally three broad types of home loans available – fixed rate home loans, variable rate home loans, and split rate home loans.

Fixed rate home loans see interest charged at a certain level which will not change for the term of the fixed rate period, commonly one, two, three, or five years.

Variable rate home loans can see interest charges fluctuate, depending on factors such as the RBA’s cash rate and the business decisions of the lender.

Some home loan lenders also offer split rate loans, which combine both fixed and variable components, allowing borrowers to take advantage of the features of both.

The cost of your home loan will be determined by the interest rate set by your lender, the details of the loan, and your own preferences. This means there’s no definite answer to whether fixed or variable rate home loans will be cheaper. 

That said, fixed rates as a whole tend to be higher than variable ones if the cash rate is expected to increase, typically to account for the extra money a lender might miss out on if rates were to rise, but lower if cash rate cuts are forecast during the period the rate will be fixed.

The lowest variable rate home loan won’t necessarily end up being the cheapest over the long term when you take all other loan costs and temporary introductory discounts into account. That’s why when you find a home loan with a low interest rate, it’s important to also check its comparison rate, to get a better idea of its true cost.

Lenders are required by law to display a loan’s comparison rate next to its interest rate, and it represents the interest rate plus most upfront and ongoing fees.

A headline rate may appear cheap on paper, but when checking the comparison rate, you may indeed find that it’s ‘too good to be true’, and it’s more expensive than some other loans on the market once fees, charges, and planned rate adjustments are factored in.

About our home loan experts

As a Finance Writer, Nick provides assistance to Canstar's Editorial Team in its mission to empower consumers to take control of their finances. He has written hundreds of articles for Canstar across all key finance topics. Coming from a screenwriting background, Nick completed a Bachelor of Film, Television and New Media Production from Queensland University of Technology. Nick has also completed RG 146 (Tier 1), making him compliant to provide general advice for general insurance products like car, home, travel and health insurance, as well as giving him knowledge of investment options such as shares, derivatives, futures, managed investments, currencies and commodities.

Nick’s role at Canstar allows him to combine his love of the written word with his interest in finance, having learned the art of share trading from his late grandfather. Nick strives to deliver clear and straightforward content that helps the everyday consumer navigating the world of finance. Nick is also working on a TV series in his spare time. You can connect with Nick on LinkedIn.

Brooke Cooper is Canstar’s Finance Editor, leading the team’s coverage of home loans, consumer finance, and economics. With years of specialist experience, she dedicates herself to helping Australian households feel empowered about managing their money. Her work and expertise have appeared across a variety of comparison industry sites and media outlets including Yahoo Finance, ABC Radio, and The Motley Fool. Brooke holds a Bachelor of Communication, specialising in journalism and international studies, from Charles Sturt University. When she’s not keeping a close eye on the RBA cash rate or property trends, she loves getting out into nature, picnicking in the park with her dog, and window shopping in antique stores. You can follow Brooke on LinkedIn.

Important Information

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This advice is general and has not taken into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether this advice is right for you.

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