Read first. Apply later, if at all.
From learning to (optionally) applying
Most readers stop after step 2 or 3. That's by design.
Read the guides
Start with the topic you care about, first home buyer, refinancing, equipment finance, novated lease, and read the relevant guide end to end. Every guide has a date, an author, and a list of trade-offs you can scan at a glance.
- 60+ in-depth guides covering every major Australian credit product
- Plain-English, no jargon, and trade-offs called out up front
- Updated when rates, policy, or rules change
- Free to read, with no email gate
Run the numbers
Use our free calculators to test scenarios on your own. Borrowing power, repayments, stamp duty, LMI, and refinance, all built so you can see how a small change in rate, term, or deposit moves the outcome.
- Borrowing power calculator
- Loan repayment calculator (with comparison rate)
- Stamp duty by state (with first home buyer concessions)
- LMI estimator and refinance savings calculator
Decide on your own terms
After reading and calculating, you'll know whether you want to keep going. Many readers don't need a broker, they take what they've learned to their existing bank or a lender direct. Others prefer to hand the comparison work over.
- Plenty of readers stop here, that's a good outcome
- No obligation to apply, ever
- No email signup or account required to use the guides
- Calculator results are private to your browser
Optional broker match
Want a broker to do the comparison and paperwork? Tell us what you need and we'll pass your enquiry to a licensed broker who meets our criteria. They'll contact you, run a soft assessment, and shop the panel for you.
- Soft assessment first, no credit score impact at the start
- We work in conjunction with ALG Australian Lending Group (ACL 505575)
- Free for borrowers: the broker pays Your Finance Guide a partnership fee, not you
- Zero obligation to proceed at any point
How this site is funded
We're upfront about the money. Reading is free. The site is funded by partnership fees that licensed brokers pay to receive enquiries.
Partnership fees from licensed brokers
Licensed brokers who meet our criteria pay Your Finance Guide a partnership fee to receive enquiries from this site. The fee is paid by the broker, not by the borrower, and is not added to any loan. Brokers are usually also paid a commission by the lender when a loan settles. Both are disclosed in our Credit Guide.
Reading is free
No paywall, no email gate, no signup.
Broker match is free for you
The broker pays us a partnership fee, not you. You pay nothing.
Fully disclosed
Full details in our Credit Guide.
Your Finance Guide is free to use. Licensed brokers who meet our criteria pay Your Finance Guide a partnership fee to receive enquiries from this site. The fee is paid by the broker, not by you, and is not added to your loan. Brokers are usually also paid a commission by the lender when a loan settles. Full details are in our Credit Guide.
Are you a licensed finance or mortgage broker? See how we supply exclusive finance leads to brokers.
Bank, broker, or DIY?
A general comparison of the three ways most Australians arrange finance. None is automatically right, it depends on your situation.
| Option | Going to a single bank | Using a broker | Reading guides + DIY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lenders considered | 1 | 20–50+ on the broker's panel | Whichever you research |
| Cost to you | Free | Free (lender pays the broker) | Free |
| Time you invest | Low (1 appointment) | Low–medium (broker does most of it) | High (you do all the comparison) |
| Independence | Bank sells its own products | Broker has Best Interests Duty to you | Independent, you decide |
| Best for | Loyal customers with strong serviceability | Complex situations or rate-sensitive borrowers | Confident, motivated borrowers |
Where a broker compares your loan
A typical Australian broker compares 20–50+ lenders across three categories. Knowing the categories helps you understand what your options actually look like.
Major banks
Commonwealth Bank, ANZ, NAB, Westpac, plus their subsidiaries. Strongest brand recognition; sometimes uncompetitive on rate vs non-banks.
Non-bank lenders
Pepper Money, Liberty, Resimac, La Trobe, Athena, and others. Often more competitive on rate, more flexible on serviceability quirks.
Specialist lenders
Asset financiers, low-doc specialists, and bad-credit non-conforming lenders. Higher rates, but solutions where mainstream lenders won't play.
- More lenders means more competition for your loan and a better chance of finding a competitive rate.
- Specialist lenders cover situations major banks decline (recent ABN, low-doc, complex income).
- Best Interests Duty means a broker must recommend the option in your best interest, not the one that pays them most.
- A broker can also tell you that your existing bank is already the best fit. That's a valid outcome.
How It Works FAQs
Common questions about the site, the broker match, and the commercials.
Are you a finance broker?
How does the broker match work?
How do you make money?
Will applying affect my credit score?
Do I have to use the broker match?
What if I have bad credit?
Are you regulated?
WARNING: This comparison rate is true only for the example given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees, or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Comparison rates are calculated on a secured loan of $150,000 over 25 years for home loans, a loan of $30,000 over 5 years for car and personal loans, and $50,000 over 5 years for equipment finance, unless the lender states another basis.
Start with the guides
Read, calculate, and decide on your own terms. The broker match is one click away when you want it.