2026 Home Loan Awards

Canstar releases its
2026 Home Loan Awards.

Released: 26 February, 2026

Congratulations to the Award winners

(Winners are listed alphabetically)

Compare Home Loans →

About this year’s awards

“Home loans come in all shapes and sizes, and what represents strong value for one borrower may look very different for another. Your loan type, deposit size or repayment preferences can make all the difference. Our goal for Canstar’s 2026 Outstanding Value Awards was to find the lenders that deliver great value for borrowers across the board, not just those that might have offered a single appealing interest rate at one point in time.”

The 2026 Home Loans Awards recognise lenders delivering outstanding value for borrowers, taking into account both cost and features.

Over the past six months, the home loan market has seen some movement. The cash rate was generally stable, with one change recorded during the recorded observation period, while house prices continued to rise. The RBA’s decision in February makes it a useful time for borrowers to compare their options and consider which products offer the best overall value.

The awards highlight lenders whose products provide strong value across different loan types and repayment options, including loans for owner-occupiers and investors. They take into account both the cost of the loan and the features offered, helping borrowers make more informed choices in a changing market.

How we assessed value

To find the 2026 Outstanding Value – Home Loans Award winners, we analysed over 6,000 home loan products to identify lenders delivering outstanding value for borrowers.

We observed interest rates over a six-month period from August 2025 to January 2026 and calculated how much a borrower would pay over the life of the loan – up to a 10-year period. This method allows us to capture how lenders’ rates and products perform over time, giving a more complete picture of overall value rather than relying on a single point in the market. 

Products were assessed across different loan-to-value ratio (LVR) tiers, covering a range of deposit sizes to reflect the variety of loans that real-life borrowers actually take out. We also considered the broader experience of a borrower, from applying for a loan to managing it day-to-day, so the awards reflect the overall value of each lender’s products.

Who we looked at

We reviewed a range of home loan providers who were eligible to be assessed, including more than 80 lenders from major banks, regional banks, mutual banks, credit unions and non-bank lenders.

Award categories at a glance

We’ve broken our awards down into specific categories to help you find a winner that fits your needs: There are six awards in total covering variable, fixed and investment lending across Principle and Interest and Interest Only repayment types.

Outstanding Value – Home Lender

This award recognises the lender Canstar considers to provide consistently outstanding value across both fixed and variable rate home loan products. 

Outstanding Value – Variable Home Lender

This organises the lenders that Canstar considers to provide the strongest value for homeowners on a variable rate. It highlights providers that have maintained competitive pricing and strong features even as market conditions have shifted.

Outstanding Value – Fixed Home Lender

Awarded to the lenders Canstar considered to deliver strong value across owner occupier fixed rate products assessed across short-term, medium- and long-term fixed periods. This Award recognises providers offering competitive locked-in pricing combined with strong product features.

Outstanding Value – Investment Home Lender

This Award goes to the lenders we assessed as offering the best overall value across both fixed and variable investment products. Our methodology assesses everything from ‘principal and interest’ to ‘interest-only’ structures to support the different ways Australians manage their portfolios.

Outstanding Value – Investment Variable Home Lender

Awarded to the lenders providing Outstanding Value across investment variable rate products according to our robust Award methodology. This Award recognises providers that combine competitive pricing with the flexibility investors need to manage their cash flow effectively. 

Outstanding Value – Investment Fixed Home Lender

This Award recognises the lenders Canstar considers to provide Outstanding Value across investment fixed rate products which are assessed across short, medium and long-term fixed periods on both principal and interest and interest-only repayment schedules.

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About Canstar

Canstar also has insights and information about financial products and services generally. You can find out about topics such as: interest rates, buy now pay later (BNPL), business products and tax. You may also be interested in discovering more about calculators and resources, such as our rate checker and free credit score tool, to help you with your financial decision-making.

About: Fin Valentine, Research Analyst

Bachelor of Economics (international trade and finance), University of Queensland

Fin works across a range of financial and utility product areas as part of Canstar’s Research team, with a particular interest and expertise in the Energy and Lending markets. He contributes to the development of Canstar’s Expert Ratings and Awards by analysing product features, pricing trends and market movements.

Holding a Bachelor of Economics (International Trade and Finance) from the University of Queensland, Fin combines strong analytical capability with a passion for helping consumers make better-informed decisions. He closely monitors regulatory shifts and product developments, translating complex datasets into clear insights that support transparency and consumer confidence.

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