Compare credit cards for 2023

Best ways to use a credit card

We’ve outlined some of the best ways to make the most out of your credit card:

• Build up your credit score If you don’t have much of a credit history because you’ve never borrowed before or your credit score is low, a credit card can be a good first step to improving it. Credit building cards are designed specifically for those with a poor credit history in mind. Be aware that many of these credit cards come with higher interest rates compared to standard cards, so it’s important to pay off your balance in full each month.
• Get cashback and rewards Many credit cards offer competitive cashback rates or rewards, helping you to earn something back as you spend. However, the downside is that many of these cards come with high interest rates and those cards that offer exclusive rewards (e.g. lounge access) might charge an account fee.
• Save interest on existing debt If you’re currently paying interest on existing credit card or store card debt, it’s worth shifting that debt to a 0% balance transfer credit card. Doing so will mean you’ll avoid paying interest for a number of months – almost 3 years in the best cases – giving you time to tackle your debt head on without worrying about interest building up. Be aware you might have to pay a transfer fee.
• Spread the cost of a purchase If you’re planning a large purchase, such as a holiday or new car, a 0% purchase credit card lets you spread the cost of your spending interest-free over several months. This can be much cheaper than other methods of borrowing, but only if you’re confident you can pay off your balance in full before the 0% deal ends.
• Protection on your spending Another great benefit of using a credit card is that you’ll get purchase protection. Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act applies to credit card purchases of over £100 and up to £30,000. Purchase protection means your card provider is jointly liable with the retailer if you don’t get what you paid for.

How to find the right credit card for you

1. Work out what you want to get out of your credit card. Do you want rewards, cashback, interest-free periods on purchases or to transfer an existing balance?
2. Find the providers that offer that type of credit card. Some credit card providers specialise in certain type of cards, and may not offer other types.
3. Compare credit cards to find the one that best meets your needs. You should consider things like rate, fees and features.
4. Check your eligibility to make sure you qualify for the card.

See Finder’s expert picks of the best credit card deals currently available on the market.

An overview of today's credit card market

Borrowing when interest rates are high

With the efforts to contain inflation, lenders have raised the rate of borrowing. Our experts have some money-saving tips when you’re looking to apply for a credit card in the current financial market:

1. 0% interest periods. If eligible a 0% interest purchase credit card could help you spread the costs of your purchases to give you a bit of breathing room. But remember to repay your balance before the promo period comes to an end.
2. Consolidate your debts. Consolidating your debts onto a balance transfer card could help you clear your existing balance at a lower cost. There are some appealing long 0% deals on the market but make
   sure you’re eligible before you apply.
3. Money-saving rewards. Unless you’re a frequent flyer a rewards credit card isn’t going to be much use to you but a credit card offering supermarket points or cashback could be a great way to save on the essentials. Remember to only spend as much as you can afford and repay your balance in full and on time or you’ll earn more in interest than points.

What type of credit card should I get?

To find the right credit card to suit your wants and needs, it’s good to wise up on the types of credit cards on the market. Here are some of the main type of credit cards available in the UK, along with the key benefits they offer.

Balance transfer cards

These cards let you transfer existing debt and enjoy a low (or 0%) interest rate on it for a promotional period. If you already have a credit card or loan debt, a balance transfer card could help you get debt-free faster and/or more cheaply.

Rewards cards

These cards reward you for every purchase you make, either in cashback (account credit) or in points to redeem with participating merchants. They can also offer a world of perks but tend to be less-suited to ongoing borrowing.

0% purchase cards

These cards don’t charge any interest on purchases for a set amount of time. If you’re anticipating a hefty expenditure, a 0% purchase card could let you spread the cost without having to pay any extra for the privilege.

Overseas spending cards

If you’re heading overseas or you’re planning to make non-sterling transactions, these cards can offer fee-free currency conversions (most credit cards charge you for this).

Credit builder cards

These cards are designed for those with damaged or very limited credit records. Rates are typically a bit higher and credit limits a bit lower, but it’s usually easier to get your application across the line.

Student cards

Used carefully, these cards can offer a small financial buffer and can help kick-start a positive credit record. They’re generally available alongside your student current account.

Frequent flyer cards

These cards are affiliated with a specific airline so they’re best for loyal customers. You’ll earn points/miles on all your day-to-day spending to redeem against flights, companion tickets, upgrades and more.

Business cards

These cards are designed specifically to help you keep track of business expenses and manage employee spending, but they can also earn you reward points or offer perks for you and your business.

What will a credit card cost me?

One of the downsides of credit cards is that the fee structure can be a bit fiddly. But do your homework and use them correctly, and credit cards can be the cheapest form of borrowing going (or can even earn you benefits while not costing you a penny).

• Monthly repayments. You’re free to repay as much as you like as often as you like, subject to a small monthly minimum that’ll be outlined when your statement is issued – usually about 2% of your outstanding balance. You’ll pay a late payment fee (and damage your credit score) if you don’t make the minimum repayment by the statement due date. If you clear your full balance each month, your purchases generally won’t incur any interest – it’s when you carry a balance from month to month that the interest kicks in.
• Annual/monthly account fee. Most cards don’t come with an account fee attached, but more premium options (generally high-paying rewards cards) can do. The credit card annual fee is deducted from your available credit and accrues interest at the purchase rate if it isn’t paid in the first statement period.
• Interest rates. Interest is the price you pay to borrow money, but confusingly with credit cards, different parts of your balance can incur different interest rates. Most commonly, non-sterling transactions and cash advances (withdrawing cash using the card) may have a designated interest rate that’s higher than your card’s standard purchases rate.
• Cash advance fees. Withdrawing cash on a credit card is usually a bad idea. There’s normally a one-off fee and a higher rate of interest. These extra fees can also apply to “cash-like” transactions – for example any spending at a casino, or buying foreign currency.
• Non-sterling transaction fees. Any spending in currencies other than Sterling will usually involve a currency conversion fee (unless you’ve opted for a designated overseas spending card). Plus, this part of your balance could be charged interest at a different (higher) rate.
• Other fees. There are a few other fees that issuers can charge – for example, additional card fees (when you request an additional card for a partner or family member), balance transfer fees (when you move existing debt across to your new card), money transfer fees (when you transfer money from your card to your current account) or fees for misuse, like going over your credit limit or failing to make a repayment by the scheduled date.

Credit cards vs charge cards vs debit cards

What do I need to know before I apply?

Once you’ve established what type of card you need, you can use Finder comparison tables to see the deals available.

The representative APR can be a helpful figure to use when comparing cards from different issuers – it’s a standardised figure that’s designed to illustrate the annual cost of using a card. However, the vast majority of card issuers tailor rates to the individual. They have to give their advertised “representative APR” to at least 51% of their customers, but the other 49% could be offered a higher rate. Typically, it’s the applicants that the issuer deems to be the safest bets that’ll be awarded the representative APR – based on factors like credit scores and affordability.

You can get a better idea of the rates that you’d be offered by using a soft-search facility e.g. an eligibility calculator. These involve a short form that banks or brokers use in order to be able to check your credit file without affecting your score. In return, you get a more accurate idea of whether or not you’ll get approved for a card plus the rate that you could be offered.

How to switch credit cards

Moving to a better credit card deal can be a sensible way of managing your finances. But it’s important to know how to do it right.

There are many reasons why you might want to switch to a new credit card. Some of the main ones are outlined below:

• To take advantage of a new 0% promotional deal on purchases, balance transfers or both
• To consolidate existing credit card debt and pay a lower rate of interest
• To take advantage of rewards or cashback offers.

Dos of switching your credit card

• Do check that switching credit cards will definitely benefit your finances.
• Do make sure you know how much you could be charged in interest and fees.
• Do make sure you clear your balance in full before any 0% promotional offer comes to an end – or move the debt to another balance transfer card.
• Do be aware that every credit application you make will temporarily lower your credit score.
• Do consider other forms of borrowing too, such as an overdraft or loan.

Don’ts of switching credit cards

• Don’t switch credit cards too regularly. Lenders prefer stability so if you’re constantly changing accounts, it can reflect negatively on your credit report.
• Don’t make too many credit applications in a short space of time as this can also have a negative impact on your credit score. It’s best to leave at least 3 months, preferably 6, between applications.
• Don’t forget about the balance on your old card – you’ll either need to pay it off in full or transfer it to your new card.

Will switching credit cards hurt my credit score?

Any application you make for credit can temporarily cause your credit score to drop. But it should pick up again, so long as you manage your new credit account well.

What’s more, if you’re switching to a credit card with a higher credit limit, your credit score could go up. This is because you’ll have a higher credit limit available to you, but if you’re only using the same amount of credit, your credit utilisation ratio will fall (which is good for your credit score).

How can I make the most out of my credit card?

Making the best out of your credit card is a fine art: it’s all about using it often, but not too much, and in the right way. Here are some of our top tips:

1. Pay off your monthly bill in full. The best way to use your credit card is clearing your balance in full every month, so that the card doesn’t start accruing any interests.
2. If you can’t pay in full, try to at least meet the minimum payment Paying the minimum repayment amount allows you to avoid late repayment fees and also helps you preserve your credit score.
3. Don’t withdraw cash on your card. Most credit cards charge an extra fee for cash advances, so it’s better to just get cash with your debit card if you can.
4. Set up a direct debit for repayments. We’re all busy people and forgetting to pay a bill on time is an easy mistake but has very concrete consequences, in the form of interest you’ll have to pay back.
5. Don’t use all your credit. One of the many factors that can impact your credit score is the so-called utilisation rate, which is based on how much credit you use compared to how much you have available. You should keep your utilisation rate as low as possible, 30% should work just fine.
6. Pay off your most expensive debts first. Let’s say you have more than one card, you’re having a rough month and have to choose which of the 2 bills to pay. In this case, check which card charges the most and clear the balance on it first.
7. Choose a card which earns you more than it costs. With rewards credit cards, it all comes down to finding the right balance between the rewards you earn and the annual fee you pay.
8. Put regular expenses on a credit card to earn rewards. If you get a rewards credit card, you should use it as often as you can, especially if you’re paying an annual fee. An easy way to do this is to use your credit card for regular expenses, such as your grocery shopping or your council tax.
9. Don’t overspend just to earn reward points. Don’t fall into the trap. If you realise you’re not using your rewards card as much as you expected to and the annual fee isn’t worth it anymore, don’t compensate by making random purchases.
10. If you’ve accumulated debt, consider a balance transfer. Balance transfer credit cards can buy you some time to pay off your debt and the best ones come with 0% on balance transfers for 2 years or more. There may be an initial balance transfer fee, but it’ll still cost way less than the interest you’d pay if you kept your debt on a regular card.
11. It’s okay to keep a card you don’t use, unless it has a fee. Not using a credit card isn’t a problem in itself. You’ll have more credit available, so it’ll lower your utilisation rate and potentially help your credit score.

Learn more about specific card features

Credit card news & launches

Consumers put £1.2bn on credit cards as borrowing hits highest level since 2004

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Borrowing in the UK reached £1.5bn in November 2022: a jump from £700m in October and the highest monthly level since 2004.

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Amex Shop Small is back: Earn up to £25 on your spending this December

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From 3-12 Dec, earn £5 when you spend at least £15 with a small business, up to a maximum of £25, thanks to Amex Shop Small.

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Avios: Last day to swap them for Nectar points before the rate drops

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From 16 November, credit card customers who exchange their Avios for Nectar points will find themselves with less spending power than before: here’s how to swap your points before it’s too late.

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