Compare Credit Cards

This card from American Express is the top cashback payer that doesn’t charge an annual fee.

New Cardmembers also get 5% cashback on purchases (up to £125) for their first five months of Cardmembership. (T&Cs apply, 18+, subject to status).

After that, it pays 0.5% cashback on spending up to £10,000, and 1% cashback on spending above £10,001. Cashback is paid into your card account annually.

With an representative APR of 30.70% (variable), you’ll need to clear your balance every month to get the most from this card.

It comes with the regular Amex benefits, such as Global Assist for foreign travel and discounts at selected retailers as well as purchase and refund protection insurance.

With a 0.75% cashback rate applied to all spending up to £10,000 increasing to 1.25% for spending over £10,001, this is the top cashback card for bigger spenders. However, it should be offset against the card’s £25 annual fee.

If you’re a new American Express customer – meaning you haven’t held an AmEx card in the last 24 months – this card offers 5% cashback for your first three months, up to £125.

Along with this card, you’ll get the regular Amex benefits, such as Global Assist for foreign travel and discounts at selected retailers and also purchase and refund protection insurance.

This card is based around reward points called Membership Rewards®.

Until 14 January 2025, there’s also a welcome bonus of 30,000 Membership Rewards ® points when you spend at least £3,000 within your first three months of membership. The bonus is exclusive to new customers, meaning you haven’t held a personal American Express card within the past 24 months (18+, subject to status).

Then collect Membership Rewards® at various rates depending on what you are purchasing – you’ll earn points faster for travel-related spending for example.

You can use your Membership Rewards® in a number of ways, such as to make purchases at selected retailers, including Amazon and Ticketmaster or transfer them to a participating airline loyalty schemes such as British Airways Executive Club and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

If you ‘invite a friend’ who is approved for the card, you can earn at least 6,000 bonus membership rewards points – up to 90,000 points a year.

Read more about the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card.

Regular Asda shoppers will get the most out of the rewards on offer with this card.  There is currently an introductory bonus offer of 5% on your Asda spend in the first 60 days (up to a maximum of £50 in Asda pounds) for new cardholders. This offer is available for new customers who open a credit card account by 6 January 2025.

Ongoing rewards amount to 0.75% of your Asda shopping spend back in ‘Asda Pounds’ for every £1 spent in Asda stores and 0.2% back on all other spending on the card.

The Amazon Barclaycard, which can only be operated through an app, offers 1% in Amazon rewards on all Amazon spending on the card, and 0.5% for all other spending on the card (dropping down to 0.25% after 12 months). Prime members get 2% back during eligible Amazon key shopping events like Prime Day.

Once you’ve earned £5 in rewards you can transfer it into a £5 Amazon gift card which will be added into your Amazon account ready to spend or save.

There is no annual fee on the card and the representative APR is 28.9% (but some applicants may be offered a higher rate and this will depend on your credit score).

The card offers new cardholders a welcome bonus gift of a £20 Amazon shopping voucher. There is also six months interest-free spending on the card.

Regular shoppers at Tesco and Tesco petrol stations will get the most out of the rewards on offer with this card.

Rewards amount to one Clubcard point for every £4 spent in Tesco plus an extra four points when swiping your regular Clubcard alongside it. Earn one point for every £4 spent on Tesco fuel (excluding Esso) plus one point for every litre bought. The credit card pays one Clubcard point for every £8 spent elsewhere with other retailers.

The Low APR credit card offers a permanent low rate at 10.9% APR (variable).

The Barclaycard Platinum Card offers interest-free spending for up to 21 months, charging 24.9% (variable) thereafter. The actual deal you’re offered will depend on your eligibility and credit score, and the 0% interest period could be shorter than 21 months.

The card also stacks up well on balance transfers too, offering zero interest for up to 20 months. There’s a 3.45% transfer fee and you’ll need to make the transfer within the first 60 days.

Cardholders can also earn 15% cashback on spending with selected retailers.

Read more about the Barclaycard Platinum Credit Card.

If you’re accepted for this card, you’ll receive up to 20 months interest-free spending on new purchases. Just bear in mind that, depending on your individual circumstances, you may not be offered the full 20 months.

The card also accepts balance transfers, which remain interest-free for up to 12 months. However, there’s a balance transfer fee of 3.49% (minimum £5).

Alongside interest-free purchases, the card offers a reward scheme that pays one M&S point for every £1 spent in M&S stores, plus another point for every £5 spent elsewhere.

At the end of your interest-free period, you’ll pay a representative APR of 24.9% (variable) on any outstanding balance.

Lloyd’s Platinum Purchase credit card charge offers up to 20 months at 0% on purchases.

You could also get 0% on balance transfers with this same card, although there is a big transfer fee of 5%.

The representative APR is 24.9% and Lloyds Bank’s credit cards have a solid customer service rating of 65% from Fairer Finance.

Read more about the LLoyds Bank Platinum Purchase card.

This card offers up to 20 months at 0% interest on your card spend. You can also get up to 17 months interest free on balance transfers, with a 3.49% fee (minimum fee of £5). Transfers must be made within the first 60 days of opening the card account.

If you are accepted for this card you will always get the full 20 months at 0% on purchases. Use HSBC’s online eligibility checker to see if you’re likely to be accepted before you apply.

As an HSBC cardholder, you will get access to HSBC Home&Away which offers worldwide discounts on shopping, dining and travel at selected retailers.

If you apply by 16 December 2024, you could also earn £25 cashback when you spend or transfer a balance of at least £100 within your first 60 days.

HSBC has a slightly lower customer experience score awarded by Fairer Finance, compared to some competitors, at 56%. For this reason we have ranked it slightly lower than other card deals in our list.

This competitive card from NatWest offers up to 19 months on new purchases from account opening. All accepted for the card will get the full 19 months.

It also offers 19 months interest-free on balance transfers made within the first three months – after which standard rates will apply.  The balance transfer fee is 2.99%.  There is no annual fee.

There is a minimum transfer amount of £100 and you can transfer balances up to 95% of your available credit limit. Balances can be transferred from most credit and store cards, although not from other cards within the NatWest Group (RBS and Ulster Bank).

A representative 24.9% APR (variable) will apply after the promotional periods have expired. However, actual APRs and credit limits can vary depending on NatWest’s credit assessment of applications. Interest on fees and charges is payable in line with the bank’s terms and conditions.

This deal used to be reserved for existing NatWest customers but is now open to all applicants who are UK residents aged 18 or over, and earn more than £10,000 a year.

The same offer is available from RBS and Ulster Bank which are part of the same banking group (NatWest Group plc).

Read more about the NatWest Purchase & Balance Transfer Credit Card card.

HSBC’s balance transfer card offers up to 30 months’ at 0% interest with a 3.49% balance transfer fee (minimum £5). You’ll also get 0% interest on purchases for 3 months.

Not all applicants accepted for the card will be offered the full 30 months. Eligibility depends on having a strong credit score.

The standard representative APR is 24.9%. This is the rate your card balance will revert on to at the end of the 0% interest offer period.

Barclaycard is up there with the best if you are looking to transfer an existing balance from another card provider.  It offers up to 29 months interest-free, so long as the transfer is made within 60 days of the account opening, for a fee of 3.45%. This card also offers 0% interest on purchases for three months.

Not all applicants will be offered the full 29 months at 0% interest – some may be offered a shorter interest-free period.

Read more about the Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card.

Virgin Money is offering up to 29 months at 0% on balances transferred from a different provider, for a fee of 3.45% putting it up there with the best card deals on the market. And if you’re accepted for this card you’ll get the full 29 months at 0% interest, although you’ll need an excellent credit score to be eligible. Aim to use the eligibility checker on Virgin’s website before making an application for this card.

While the balance transfer fee is relatively high, the card offers a lengthy period at 0% interest, plus you’ll get 0% interest on purchases for three months and 12 months at 0% interest on money transfers (fees apply for money transfers).

Card debt reverts to the standard APR of 24.9% after the 0% offer period of 29 months.

This Tesco Bank balance transfer card offers 28 months’ interest-free on balances transferred from another credit card with a slightly lower balance transfer fee than some providers at 3.19%.

All applicants accepted for the card will be offered the full 28 months. But eligibility depends on having a strong credit score.

The standard representative APR is 24.9%. This is the rate your card balance will revert on to at the end of the 0% interest offer period.

Zero interest money transfers are also available on this card although there is a 3.99% fee.

Capital One is offering a strong 0% interest money transfer deal on its balance transfer Mastercard. Successful applicants can get up to 12 months interest free on money transfers with a relatively low 2.9% transfer fee.

The card also offer balance transfers from other credit cards at 0% for up to 18 months with a 3% fee. So this is a strong all round card if you want to do a money transfer and balance transfer. But obviously it won’t be applicable if you don’t have a balance to transfer or this BT deal does not make sense for your circumstances.

The follow-on rate is relatively high at a representative APR of 34.9%. This is among the highest of the cards we feature. It is important to make a note of the end date of your 0% interest offer and look to pay off or switch your balance before you’re charged this rate.

Read more about the Capital One Balance Transfer Credit Card.

This deal offers up to 12 months at 0% interest for money transfers with a 4% fee.

However, for the money to remain interest-free, you will need to make all transfers within the first 60 days of opening the account.

This card also offers 0% on balance transfers and purchases for up to 21 months so it is a good all-rounder. The 0% interest rate on purchases only applies to purchases made in the first 60 days after opening the card account. Rates and deals may vary depending on your credit score.

If you are accepted for this card, you will be offered the advertised 0% duration – rather than a shorter alternative.

The 4% fee puts the cost of a £2,000 money transfer at £80 – although this will be all the charges you pay so long as you clear the balance before the representative APR of 24.9% (variable) kicks in.

You’ll need to make the transfer within the first 60 days to qualify for the interest-free borrowing.

Irrespective of the 0% duration, this card could be a handy long-term travelling companion as it unlocks access to Virgin customer lounges across the country.

There’s also 20% off Virgin Experience Days and other Virgin Group discounts.

Always use an eligibility checker to see your chances of being accepted for a card before you apply. This will avoid surprises and leave your credit score intact.

Tesco’s balance transfer Mastercard also offers up to nine months at 0% interest for money transfers, with a 3.99% fee. As the card name suggests, the main attraction of this card tends to be the balance transfer offer at 0% interest for 27 months with a 2.95% fee.

In addition, Tesco shoppers can pick up Tesco Clubcard points when they spend on the card – even if you are shopping at places other than Tesco, albeit at a lower rate (5 Clubcard points for every £4 you spend in Tesco and 1 for every £8 you spend outside Tesco).

It offers a window of 90 days from opening your account in which to organise the money transfer and get access the interest-free borrowing. All transfers can total up to 95% of your available credit limit.

The Barclaycard Rewards credit card is free of overseas charges for purchases and ATM withdrawals. ATM withdrawals are interest-free overseas up to £500 per day, provided you pay off the balance in full at the end of each month.

As well as being great for overseas use, the Barclaycard Rewards card actually pays you to spend (albeit at 0.25% which is one penny for every £4) in the form of cashback.

This card has no monthly or annual fee. If there is a balance remaining at the end of the month you’ll be charged a representative 28.9% APR (variable) on it.

The deal comes with some strict eligibility rules. You need to be aged at least 21 to qualify for the card, with four years’ experience handling credit under your belt and an annual income of more than £20,000.

Read more about the Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card.

The Halifax Clarity card charges zero fees when you use it to make purchases or withdraw cash abroad. But it’s only truly cost-free if you pay off your balance in full. If you allow a balance to roll over from one month into the next, you’ll pay interest at a representative 23.90% APR (variable).

This also isn’t the best card if you want to make cash withdrawals abroad. That’s because you’ll be charged interest from day one of the withdrawal (the interest charged will range from 23.94% to 29.94% depending on the transaction).

Tesco’s Foundation Credit Card offered the lowest rate advertised APR we found for the market, at a representative 29.9% APR (variable).

While Tesco states that you’re more likely to be accepted for the card if you haven’t had an account closed in the past year because of defaults, or if you’ve not had any County Court Judgments (CCJs) in the last 18 months, that’s a fairly standard barrier to entry for these types of card.

Credit limits range between £250 and £1,500.

You’ll earn Clubcard points on purchases when you use this card at a rate of five points for every £4 you spend in Tesco stores and one point for every £4 spent in Tesco fuel stations (Esso excluded) and an extra point for every litre of fuel purchased. Plus you’ll earn one point for every £8 you spend elsewhere.

The balance transfer rate is the same for purchases and balance transfers, but there’s a relatively high 3.99% fee on the latter and no 0% promotional period.

The Classic card from the Post Office is worth considering if you have a patchy credit history (although the APR you are offered could be up to 34.9% variable).

You may also be eligible for 0% on purchases for up to 12 months and to transfer across an existing balance from a different credit card – and get 0% interest on the balance for up to 12 months (for a 2.9% fee).

Capital One is now the lender and issuer of all new Post Office credit cards (following the change from Bank of Ireland), for which Post Office acts as credit broker.

The criteria for Barclaycard’s Forward credit builder card is relatively stringent for the market and charges interest at a representative 33.90% APR (variable). But it does offer 0% interest on spending for the first 3 months and a low minimum monthly repayment.

However, you’re likely to be rejected for the card if, in the last six years, you’ve had more than one CCJ or a single bankruptcy, compared to many other card issuers that only issue these restrictions over the last 12-18 months.

The card comes with a ‘Price Promise’ that offers a 3% reduction in the APR if make all your payments on time for the first year and a further 2% reduction if you do it again in year two.

In the best case scenario, this card charges 10.9% APR (variable) and will earn you Tesco Clubcard points wherever you use it.

But, depending on your personal circumstances, you could be offered a rate of up to 17.9% APR (variable).

If you’re looking to move a balance from another card, APRs are higher still (up to 19.26%, variable) while there’s a 3.99% handling fee, too.

As with all of Tesco Bank’s cards, there are benefits for shoppers and the card itself doubles as your Clubcard. Use the card in Tesco stores or fuel stations and you’ll earn 5 additional Clubcard points for every £4 you spend – and that’s on top of the points you’d usually earn.

To put that in context, a weekly shop of £60 would earn you around additional 300 points in a month, which are worth £3 in store.

Outside of Tesco, you’ll earn one point for every £8 you put on the card.

Lloyds Bank offers a permanent low rate on its standard Mastercard. The 10.9% rate applies to new purchases and balance transfers. Balance transfers are fee free is the balance is moved in the first 90 days, the fee is 5% on transfers thereafter.

Bank of Scotland offers a permanent low rate on its standard Mastercard. The 10.9% rate applies to new purchases and balance transfers. The rate offered is dependent on credit score.

The card’s 2.95% non-sterling transaction fee means it’s probably not the best card to use overseas.

This Co-operative Bank card offers a low fixed rate on balance transfers and purchases for three years (after this time the APR reverts to 18.2% variable).

There is no fee to switch a balance to the card and no ongoing fees. The Visa card is available to all, including existing card customers.

Minimum credit limit is £500 and there is a cash advance rate of 27.9%.

Applicants must earn a minimum of £10,000 a year and be in employment or retired.

How do they work? Cashback credit cards allow you to ‘claw back’ a percentage of what you spend on the card. Usually, this money will be paid into your account annually, but sometimes it’s monthly.

Rates of cashback on offer vary and often depend on the amount you spend. Some credit cards also pay a higher percentage of cashback in the first few months to attract new customers.

Who are they suited to? Interest rates on cashback cards tend to be high, which means they are only suitable if you pay off your balance in full each month – preferably by direct debit.

They are useful if you make larger purchases and/or pay for the majority of spending on your credit card as you’ll earn more cashback.

What to watch out for: As well as high interest rates, some cashback cards come with a one-off annual fee. The amount of cashback you can earn can also be capped. If you don’t pay off your balance every month, the interest payments and potential fees are likely to far outweigh any cashback earned.

You will need an excellent credit score to be accepted for the best cashback card deals.

How do they work? These cards offer rewards for spending. Rewards can take the form of air miles – that you can later redeem on flights – or loyalty points which can be redeemed at selected retailers.

Who are they suited to? Interest rates on rewards credit cards tend to be high. This means they are only suitable if you pay off your balance in full each month – preferably by direct debit.

This type of card may suit frequent flyers or those who regularly shop at a particular retailer or supermarket. They are useful if you make larger purchases and/ or pay for the majority of spending on your credit card as you’ll earn more in rewards.

What to watch out for: As well as high interest rates, some rewards cards come with a one-off annual fee. The amount of rewards you earn can also be capped. If you don’t pay off your balance every month, the interest payments and potential fees are likely to far outweigh any rewards earned.

You will need an excellent credit score to be accepted for the best deals.

How do they work? Purchase credit cards, which offer a promotional 0% rate for a stated number of months, are ideal for spreading the cost of a large purchase.

Who are they suited to? If you are planning the purchase of a big ticket item such as a car or home improvements that you cannot afford to pay for upfront (or you just prefer to keep the funds you have intact), these cards are an ideal solution.

What to watch out for: If you run up a balance which you don’t manage to pay off within the 0% period, annual percentage rates (APRs) of up to 25% (variable) or even higher will kick in. Work out how much you need to pay off each month in order to clear your balance within the allocated interest-free period.

You may also have to carry out your spending within the first 60 or 90 days to qualify for the 0% offer. As with all the best credit card deals, an excellent credit score is required.

How do they work? A balance transfer credit card allows you to shift one or more credit card balances across to a new card and pay a lower rate of interest on the total debt.

If you choose a balance transfer credit card with an introductory 0% offer, you won’t have to pay any interest at all for a set number of months – in the best cases, this is for more than two years.

Who are they suited to? If you are paying high rates of interest on existing credit card or store card debt, shifting it over to a 0% balance transfer credit card can save a fortune in interest payment, and help you clear your debt more quickly.

What to watch out for: There is usually a transfer fee to pay which is a percentage of the amount transferred. This is often around 3% – £36 on a £1,200 transfer – so factor this cost into any potential savings. If you don’t need long to clear the debt, look at cards with a shorter interest-free window but lower transfer fee. Some balance transfer cards (examples above) do not charge a fee at all.

Keep a log of when the interest-free period expires and try to pay off your debt in full before then. If you still have a balance, you will be charged interest on it, typically at up to around 25% APR (variable) or even higher in the case of some cards. You may be able to carry out another balance transfer, although this could incur another fee.

You will need to carry out balance transfers within the first 60 or 90 days of getting the card and you will only be able to transfer up to a maximum of 95% of your allocated credit limit.

You will also need an excellent credit score to be accepted for the best deals.

How do they work? A money transfer credit card allows you to borrow on your credit card as cash, which is credited to your bank account. You can use this money as you like – such as to pay off an overdraft or loan. As with 0% balance transfer cards, if you choose a 0% money transfer card, you won’t have to pay interest for a number of months.

Who are they suited to? If you are paying interest on an overdraft, personal loan, or other debt, paying it off with a 0% money transfer credit card can eradicate the interest you pay and help you become debt-free quicker.

Money transfer cards can also be used to fund a large purchase, but make sure you don’t use the card itself to fund it as this is likely to incur interest. Instead, wait for the 0% cash deposit to hit your bank account. Then use your debit card or make an online transfer from your current account.

What to watch out for: There is usually a transfer fee to pay – around 4% of the borrowing – so factor this cost into your sums. If your card has an introductory 0% offer, steep interest will kick in when it ends. Set down a payment plan to clear your balance by then.

You will need to carry out money transfers within the first 60 or 90 days of getting the card (particularly if there is a 0% offer) and you will only be able to borrow up to between 93% and 95% of your allocated credit limit.

You will also need an excellent credit score to be accepted for any money transfer deal.

How do they work? A travel credit card is ideal for spending abroad as you won’t be charged fees every time you make a purchase. By contrast, standard credit cards charge foreign transaction fees of around 2.75% to 2.99% when you spend on the card abroad.

If you withdraw cash on your credit card – even in the local currency – you could be charged a further 2.99% with a standard card, as well as interest from the date of the withdrawal.

Who are they suited to? Frequent overseas travellers, or holidaymakers simply looking for the most cost-effective way to spend when abroad. Use responsibly, travel credit cards, can be cheaper than debit cards for use overseas.

What to watch out for: You will usually still pay interest on purchases if you don’t clear your balance each month, so make sure you only spend what you can afford to pay back.

Be aware too that even if your credit card doesn’t charge a fee for cash withdrawals, you will often still pay interest from the point of the cash withdrawal – it’s therefore best to avoid withdrawing cash on a credit card if you can.

How do they work? If your credit score prevents you from qualifying for mainstream credit card deals, a credit builder credit card is designed to rebuild your credit score in exchange for good card management.

However, these cards come with lower credit limits and much higher rates of interest than a standard credit card.

Who are they suited to? Applicants with either no credit history or those with a poor credit score from mismanaging borrowing in the past. If you make your payments in full and on time every month and don’t exceed your credit limit, using a credit builder card can help to improve your credit score and increase your chances of being accepted for more competitive credit cards in the future.

What to watch out for: Credit builder cards come with the highest interest rates on the credit card market, so it’s vital to pay off your balance in full each month. The cards also come with low credit limits but providers increase limits in exchange for responsible card management.

How do they work? Low-rate credit cards charge interest, but at an ongoing low rate in credit card terms. This means you won’t need to worry about 0% promotional offers expiring and being hit with more typical APRs of 25% (variable) or even higher.

Who are they suited to? Low APR credit cards are ideal if you want to avoid the pressure of paying off any balance to a ‘hard stop’ of a 0% offer ending and/ or you are not inclined to switch to another 0% promotional offer.

What to watch out for: While it’s possible to transfer an existing balance to a low-rate credit card or use it abroad either at an ATM or over the counter, fees are likely to apply. Always read the small print to avoid any surprises.