Compare all-round credit cards

Demand a little more from your card issuer with a versatile all-rounder.

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All-round credit card comparison

Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
Product Finder Score Default earn-rate Balance transfers Purchases Annual/monthly fees Incentive Representative example
Finder score
1 point per £5 spent
0% for 12 months
(3.49% fee)
24.9
£0
1 point per £1 spent with M&S and 1 point per £5 spent elsewhere. Enjoy 55 days interest free, preferential rates plus no cash advance fee when buying M&S travel money with the card.
Representative example: Representative 24.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 24.9% p.a. (variable).
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Finder score
N/A
0% for 17 months
(3.49% fee)
24.9
£0
Discounts and exclusive offers for dining experiences, leisure activities and shopping available through HSBC Home and Away.
Representative example: Representative 24.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 24.9% p.a. (variable).
Check eligibility More info
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Finder score
0.5% cashback
0% for 15 months
(0% fee)
23.9
£3 per month
0.5% cashback after £1 of monthly spend. Maximum of £10 paid per month. Paid monthly into Card Account. Spend with your Santander Mastercard debit or credit card in the UK or abroad until 31 Dec and get entries into a monthly prize draw to win a European trip for two. You must enter the promotion to take part. T&Cs apply.
Representative example: Representative 29.8% APR variable. Based on £3 monthly fee, assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 23.9% p.a. (variable).
Check eligibility More info
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Tesco Bank Balance Transfer and Purchases Credit Card image
Finder score
Not yet rated
Tesco Bank Balance Transfer and Purchases Credit Card
Finder score
Not yet rated
1 point per £8 spent
0% for 18 months
(2.75% fee)
24.942
£0
Representative example: Representative 24.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 24.9% p.a. (variable).
More info
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Barclaycard Platinum 24 Month BT and 21 Month Purchase Visa image
Finder score
Finder score
N/A
0% for 24 months
(2.95% fee)
24.9
£0
Buy tickets for up to 3500 selected live events through Barclaycard entertainment and get 5% off tickets per year and exclusive pre-sale tickets on selected festivals with 10% off ticket prices.
Representative example: Representative 24.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 24.9% p.a. (variable).
Check eligibility More info
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M&S Bank Purchase Plus Credit Card image
Finder score
Not yet rated
M&S Bank Purchase Plus Credit Card
Existing Customers Only
Finder score
Not yet rated
1 point per £5 spent
0% for 12 months
(3.49% fee)
24.9
£0
Representative example: Representative 24.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 24.9% p.a. (variable).
More info
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Barclaycard Platinum 21 Month BT and 24 Month Purchase Visa image
Finder score
Barclaycard Platinum 21 Month BT and 24 Month Purchase Visa
Finder score
N/A
0% for 21 months
(2.95% fee)
24.9
£0
Buy tickets for up to 3500 selected live events through Barclaycard entertainment and get 5% off tickets per year and exclusive presale tickets on selected festivals with 10% off ticket prices.
Representative example: Representative 24.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 24.9% p.a. (variable).
Check eligibility More info
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Halifax 0% Purchase and Balance Transfer Credit Card image
Finder score
Not yet rated
Halifax 0% Purchase and Balance Transfer Credit Card
Finder score
Not yet rated
N/A
0% for 17 months
(3.49% fee)
26.94
£0
Representative example: Representative 26.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 26.94% p.a. (variable).
More info
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Lloyds Bank 0% Purchase and Balance Transfer image
Finder score
Not yet rated
Lloyds Bank 0% Purchase and Balance Transfer
Finder score
Not yet rated
N/A
0% for 18 months
(3.25% fee)
26.94
£0
Representative example: Representative 26.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 26.94% p.a. (variable).
More info
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MBNA Ltd  Dual 0% Transfer and Purchase image
Finder score
Not yet rated
MBNA Ltd Dual 0% Transfer and Purchase
Finder score
Not yet rated
N/A
0% for 23 months
(3.49% fee)
26.94
£0
Representative example: Representative 26.9% APR variable. Based on assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 26.94% p.a. (variable).
More info
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Finder Score for credit cards

To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Costs, perks and suitability across 120+ cards are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the card – simple.

Read the full methodology

All-round credit cards aim to meet multiple needs. Typically that means you’ll get the best of both worlds when it comes to 0% interest deals – with interest-free periods on both purchases and balance transfers, and potentially other useful features like the chance to earn rewards or 0% fees on overseas spending.

There are plenty of all-round credit cards currently available to apply for in the UK. If used correctly, these cards can save you a significant chunk of money.

Here’s how to compare all-round credit cards, find the best deal for you and use it in a way that doesn’t cost you loads of money in the long run.

What is an all-round credit card?

“All-round” isn’t a standard credit card term, and can be used to label many credit cards with a different combination of promotional rates, rewards, and perks.

Most commonly, all-round cards usually offer 0% interest periods on both balances transferred from an old credit card (or cards) and future purchases. The interest-free period doesn’t last forever though, and when it ends any outstanding balance starts to accrue interest at the card’s standard rate.

Introductory 0% interest deals on purchases are commonplace in today’s credit card market, as are 0% introductory deals on balance transfers. These are the two main sweeteners used by credit card companies to attract new customers, which is why the term “all-round” is commonly used to define cards that have both of these – and potentially further – significant benefits.

If the same 0% deal applies to both balance transfers and purchases, card issuers might alternatively refer to the card as a “balanced” or “matched” credit card.

All-rounders can offer other features and benefits as well, like the opportunity to earn rewards while you spend or fee-free spending overseas.

Perhaps the greatest appeal of these cards is their flexibility. Nobody knows what the future holds, but a flexible card could stand you in good stead for a variety of scenarios.

What are dual credit cards?

It’s important to be aware the term “dual” could describe two different types of cards. Some credit card providers refer to their version of “balanced” or “matched” credit cards as “dual” because it offers a dual interest-free period on both balance transfers and purchases.

Rather confusingly, there are other providers who use “dual” to describe a totally different type of card. You will have one credit account with two cards tied to it operating on different networks (e.g. Mastercard and American Express). These cards are usually reward or frequent flyer cards which may offer different perks or reward rates depending on the network (e.g. more points per £1 spent), but the cardholder is issued just one bill.

Who is an all-round credit card best suitable for?

If you’re an individual with existing credit card debt who is also looking to make a sizeable purchase in the future, an all-round credit card is likely to save you money, or at least save you from being hit with interest payments (for a limited period).

You could use the balance transfer deal to take a break from paying interest on your existing debt, and the purchases deal to spread the cost of your upcoming expenditure – without paying interest.

An all-round credit card might not be the answer if you’ll spend more on the card than you pay off before the end of the 0% deal. In this situation, you’ll end up in a worse situation than you were in to begin with.

If you only plan on using one of the available 0% deals – for example, if you don’t already have card debt and wouldn’t transfer a balance – then there are likely to be more competitive deals on the market. The longest 0% deals on purchases tend to be available on the most specialised cards, without balance transfer deals (and vice-versa on the longest balance transfer deals).

Cards with long 0% deals on balance transfers and purchases are likely to be available only to those who have good credit scores. However, almost every card issuer now has an “eligibility checker” which runs a “soft search” of your credit file, to tell you your likelihood of approval without affecting your credit score.

How can I find the right all-round credit card for me?

There are lots of all-round credit cards around, so how do you find the best one? These are some of the most important features to look for when deciding what all-round credit card to apply for.

  • Balance transfer offer. This could be your primary focus if you’re planning to bring a large card debt across to the new card. Consider how long you will need to clear the balance: by dividing the amount of the debt by the number of months in the introductory 0% period, you can get an idea of what you’ll need to be paying each month. However, bear in mind that this won’t take into account any additional purchases you make on the card.
  • Balance transfer fee. This is a one-time fee, charged as a fixed percentage of the debt you transfer to your new card. Typically it ranges from 1% to 3%. Longer balance transfer deals can come with larger balance transfer fees, so it’s worth considering how long you’ll realistically need to pay off a transferred balance. An 18-month balance transfer deal with a 1% fee will work out cheaper than a 24-month deal with a 2% fee (provided you pay both off on time).
  • Purchases offer. If you’re anticipating a forthcoming expenditure that’s going to outweigh any existing card debt, this is likely to be your primary focus. Ideally, you’ll want to be confident that the duration of any 0% purchase offer is long enough to clear your balance.
  • Standard rate. After the promotional period ends, the remaining debt will be charged interest at a higher standard variable rate. At this point, you could potentially switch to a new credit card, if you remember, but there’s no guarantee of approval, and it’s hard to be certain about what the future holds. So, if you don’t think you’ll be able to clear your balance before the promotional period ends, you might want to look for a card with a lower standard rate.
  • Annual/monthly fee. A few cards charge an annual or monthly account fee. This will normally be offset by rewards, premium features or superior rates. Generally, it’s best to avoid cards with an account fee, unless you’re confident that the perks of the card will save you more than the fees will cost you.
  • Other benefits. Look at the other features of the cards you’re considering, such as reward points, free airport lounge access or free travel insurance. Are they quantifiable? How much would those benefits realistically save or earn you?

Pros and cons of all-round credit cards

Pros

  • If you already have card debt, an all-rounder could give you a break from interest and an opportunity to focus on reducing your debt.
  • If you have some large expenditures coming up, an all-rounder could let you spread the cost, without incurring interest.
  • As perhaps the most versatile type of card around, a good all-rounder could future-proof you for a variety of scenarios.
  • A true all-rounder should have additional features and benefits – not just an introductory deal on balance transfers and purchases.

Cons

  • The longest 0% deals typically aren’t available on all-round credit cards – they’ll tend to be found on the more focused cards.
  • After any introductory offers expire, outstanding debt will start to be charged interest (usually at a rate that’s not competitive).
  • You’ll normally have to pay a transfer fee to bring your balance across from an old card. This is typically equivalent to around 3% of the balance, so for larger sums, it can get painful.
  • Any low or 0% interest period won’t usually apply to cash advances (withdrawing cash on the card). Cash advances on a credit card are invariably an expensive option regardless of card type and best avoided.

Compare credit cards by type or benefit

Frequently asked questions

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Defaqto. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
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Head of publishing

Chris Lilly is Head of publishing at finder.com. He's a specialist in personal finance, from day-to-day banking to investing to borrowing, and is passionate about helping UK consumers make informed decisions about their money. In his spare time Chris likes forcing his kids to exercise more. See full bio

Chris's expertise
Chris has written 544 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Loans & credit cards
  • Building credit
  • Financial health
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