Barclaycard Freedom Rewards points

Barclaycards that earn Freedom Rewards points are not currently available to new customers. If you're already using the scheme, here's how to collect and redeem points, and if you're not, find out about popular alternatives.

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The Barclaycard Freedom Rewards credit card is no longer available, however, if you already have Freedom points, you might still be able to use them. Barclays have annoucned that Freedom Rewards will be closing in June 2024, and that your account will be moved to Barclaycard Rewards.

Barclaycard Freedom Rewards program

If you had a Barclaycard Freedom Rewards card, chances are you were already collecting points. Barclaycard usually gave you 1 point for every £1 you spent, but the earn rate doubled when you used the card at supermarkets, petrol stations and for travel with Transport for London.

For example, if in a month you spent £100 on the Tube, £100 on petrol and £500 on your grocery shopping (all earning double points), then £600 on other purchases with your Barclaycard (earning single points), you would have earned 2,000 Freedom points that month.

You could then redeem these points for vouchers, which could be spent at retailers and entertainment venues who were Barclaycard Freedom partners.

The Barclaycard Freedom Rewards scheme was reserved for customers who had a Freedom Rewards credit card, which isn’t available to new customers anymore. If you’re a new customer looking to earn rewards on your credit card spending, you’ll have to browse alternatives – you can use this guide to compare rewards credit cards.

How do you redeem Barclaycard Freedom points?

If you still have Freedom points, these can be redeemed for vouchers, which start from £5 for 1,750 Freedom points.

You can redeem your Freedom points by logging into the Freedom Rewards store, where you can check your points balance and convert them into vouchers to spend at a Freedom partner.

You’ll need to pick your Freedom partner and redeem your Freedom points for either an e-voucher sent via email, or a voucher or gift card sent to you by post.

Emailed vouchers arrive almost instantly, while posted ones could take up to 10 days.

Pros and cons of Barclaycard Freedom Rewards

Pros

  • Double points on grocery shopping, petrol and Transport for London.
  • You collected points even when you used the card abroad.
  • Wide choice of partners to redeem your points.
  • Special offers that allowed you to collect more points or increase their value.

Cons

  • Low value per point.
  • Points expire after three years.
  • You can't redeem your points for cash.

Who are Barclaycard Freedom partners?

Despite not being able to turn Freedom points into cash, you do have quite a range of options to choose from when redeeming your vouchers at a Freedom partner. The most well-represented category is entertainment – including the cinema, theatre and day trips – but there are also still various deals for food and shopping.

While most voucher options are for physical shops or venues, you can spend some vouchers online.

Compare alternative rewards cards

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Finder Score Max. intro bonus Earn-rate with brand Default earn-rate Annual/monthly fee Representative APR Incentive Representative example
9.9Excellent
N/A
1 point per £1 spent
1 point per £5 spent
£0
24.9% APR (variable)
Earn rewards points every time you shop and they'll be converted to M&S vouchers for you to spend. These turn into Rewards vouchers up to 4 times a year, which are either sent to you or are available in your M&S Sparks account. T&Cs apply.
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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9.3Excellent
20,000 points
3 points per £1 spent
2 points per £1 spent
£30 per year
(waived in first year)
35.8% APR (variable)
New Cardmembers collect 20,000 bonus Nectar points when you spend £2,000 in the first 3 months of your Cardmembership. T&Cs Apply, 18+, subject to status.
Representative example: Representative 35.8% APR variable. Based on £30 annual fee, assumed borrowing of £1,200. Rate of interest 29.1% p.a. (variable).
Check eligibility More info
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M&S Bank Transfer Plus Credit Card image
8.7Great
M&S Bank Transfer Plus Credit Card
8.7Great
N/A
1 point per £1 spent
1 point per £5 spent
£0
24.9% APR (variable)
Earn rewards points every time you shop and they'll be converted to M&S vouchers for you to spend. These turn into Rewards vouchers up to 4 times a year, which are either sent to you or are available in your M&S Sparks account. T&Cs apply.
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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Tesco Bank Balance Transfer Credit Card image
9.8Excellent
Tesco Bank Balance Transfer Credit Card
Finder Award
9.8Excellent
N/A
1.25 points per £1 spent
1 point per £8 spent
£0
24.9% APR (variable)
5 points per £4 spent (£4 minimum) in Tesco and 1 point per £8 spent (£8 minimum) outside Tesco. Must have available credit to earn points. Points are converted to Tesco vouchers or can be exchanged for Partner rewards to receive money off a variety of restaurants or entertainment.
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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Our “Best for” picks highlight top options in specific categories based on our independent evaluation (see our full methodology), while “Promoted” tags indicate sponsored placements. Selected products may not suit everyone. We track selected market offers, which may not cover every product. Products are listed in no particular order unless specified, and inclusion or ordering may be influenced by popularity or commercial agreements. Most comparison table data is provided by Defaqto or sourced directly from providers. Always evaluate your own circumstances and consider independent advice before making major financial decisions.
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Valentina Cipriani was a writer at Finder UK. She wrote news, features and guides about banking and credit cards, helping people to improve their financial lives. She holds an MA in International Journalism. See full bio

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