Compare the UK’s best credit cards of 2019
We compare the whole UK market daily so you can bag the biggest rewards, longest 0% interest offers or lowest fees available.
Looking for the best credit card available? The reality is that it’s different for different people, and the right credit card for you will depend on your spending habits, the features you’re looking for and your financial circumstances. Here are some of the main types of credit card available. For each type you’ll find step-by-step advice on how to choose the best credit cards of that type and our “top pick” recommendation (find out how we choose our top picks).
Approval for any credit card will depend on your status. The APR shown represents the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow.
Rewards credit cards: Spend big and enjoy perks
Rewards credit cards offer points or cash based on the amount you spend. This “earn-rate” may vary according to where you use the card. A Tesco reward card is likely to earn you points at a higher rate when you use it in Tesco, for example. You can typically redeem your points for shopping, travel, gift vouchers etc.
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Our top pick for earning rewards:
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card
- 2 complimentary lounge visits per year to use at over 700 airport lounges globally
- 10,000 points when you spend £3,000 in first 3 months
- 1 Membership Rewards point for every pound spent
- Travel benefits including hotel and car hire upgrades
Potential costs:
2.5/5
2.5/5
Doing its job:
5/5
5/5
Extras:
4.5/5
4.5/5
Verdict: As well as earning Membership Reward points as you spend, with this card you'll enjoy an introductory bonus of 10,000 points – provided you spend £3,000 in your first three months. You'll also be able to benefit from up to 56 days of 0% interest on purchases each billing cycle, as long as you clear your balance in full each month. After the first year, you'll want to weigh up whether the annual fee is still worth paying.
Finder's pick: American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card
- 10,000 bonus Membership Rewards points when you spend £3,000 in your first three months.
- Earn points for every pound you spend, to redeem with a range of shopping, travel and lifestyle partners.
- Travel benefits including airport lounge access, and hotel room or car rental upgrades.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 22.9% (variable) p.a. with an annual fee of £140 (£0 in first year), your representative APR is 57.6% APR (variable).
Cashback credit cards: Earn cash not points on your day-to-day spending
Cashback credit cards reward you for spending in the form of pounds or credit on your account. How much you can earn will depend on the card’s “earn-rate”, plus any “earnings caps”. Cards that are affiliated with a brand may offer a better earn-rate when you spend with that brand, and in some cases cards come with an introductory enhanced earn-rate for a specified period or an enhanced earn-rate once your spending has exceeded a specified threshold.
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Our top pick for earning cashback:
American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday Card
- 5% cashback for 3 months
- 0.5% ongoing cashback
- No annual fee
Potential costs:
4.5/5
4.5/5
Doing its job:
4.5/5
4.5/5
Extras:
3.5/5
3.5/5
Verdict: With no annual fee, provided you don't carry a balance from month to month, this card offers the chance to earn cashback at a respectable rate. If you do expect to carry a balance, you'll likely spend more on interest than you earn in cashback, however. For big-spenders, Amex also offers a second platinum cashback card with a better earn-rate offset by a small annual fee.
Finder's pick: American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday Card
- 5% cashback for 3 months
- 0.5% ongoing cashback
- No annual fee
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 22.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 22.9% APR (variable).
Frequent flyer credit cards: Earn travel rewards as you spend
Frequent flyer credit cards let you earn frequent flyer points or air miles on everyday purchases, either directly or by transferring card reward points to your chosen airline loyalty programme. These cards tend to be more premium options, so there’s often an annual fee to consider, but chances are it’ll be offset by some tasty perks.
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Our top pick for frequent flyers:
British Airways American Express Card
- Earn 1 Avios per £1 spent
- 5,000-Avios welcome bonus
- Refer a friend bonus
Potential costs:
4.5/5
4.5/5
Doing its job:
5/5
5/5
Extras:
3.5/5
3.5/5
Verdict: Perfect for fans of Avios – one of the biggest names in frequent flyer schemes – with this card you'll earn points whenever you use it, to redeem with BA or a number of other airlines, for flights, flight upgrades, hotel stays and more. You'll also be able to benefit from up to 56 days of 0% interest on purchases each billing cycle, provided you clear your balance in full each month. With no annual fee, used carefully, this card could pay dividends.
Finder's pick: British Airways American Express Card
- Earn 1 Avios per £1 spent
- 5,000-Avios welcome bonus
- Refer a friend bonus
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 22.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 22.9% APR (variable).
Credit builder credit cards: Kick-start a positive credit history
Simple credit cards designed to improve credit scores, for people with bad or no credit history. Expect low starting credit limits which can be quickly reviewed provided the card is used responsibly. This type of card will often be a “stepping stone” product to credit products with a better interest rate.
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Our top pick for bad credit:
Tesco Bank Foundation Clubcard Credit Card
- 1 point per £4 spent in Tesco
- 1 point per £8 spent elsewhere
- Regular optional credit increases
Potential costs:
4.5/5
4.5/5
Doing its job:
5/5
5/5
Extras:
4.5/5
4.5/5
Verdict: Designed to help improve and rebuild your credit rating, this card additionally offers the chance to boost your Clubcard earn-rate. As you'd expect, it's frequent Tesco shoppers who don't carry a balance month to month that stand to benefit most. Collect 1 Tesco Clubcard point per £4 spent (£4 minimum) in Tesco and 1 Clubcard point per £8 spent (£8 minimum) outside Tesco in each purchase transaction. Must have available credit to collect Clubcard points. Clubcard points are turned into Clubcard vouchers every 3 months or sooner using Faster Vouchers. Clubcard vouchers can be used in Tesco or with Clubcard Reward Partners to get even more value on dining out, hotel stays and travel.
Finder's pick: Tesco Bank Foundation Clubcard Credit Card Mastercard
- 1 point per £4 spent in Tesco
- 1 point per £8 spent elsewhere
- Regular optional credit increases
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 27.542% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 27.5% APR (variable).
0% purchase credit cards: Spread the cost of large purchases
0% purchase credit cards let you make purchases up to your credit limit and then pay 0% interest on them for a promotional, introductory period. At the end of this period, any outstanding balance will start to accrue interest at the card’s standard purchase rate, which will be much higher.
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Our top pick for purchases:
M&S Bank Shopping Plus Mastercard
- Purchases 0% for 20 months
- 1 point per £1 spent at M&S
- 1 point per £5 spent elsewhere
- 500-point welcome bonus
Potential costs:
4.5/5
4.5/5
Doing its job:
4/5
4/5
Extras:
5/5
5/5
Verdict: Repaying debt doesn't have to be all bad. Provided you expect to be able to pay off purchases within the 20-month interest-free period (if not, then there are longer 0% periods out there), this card could make your spending go a little further. Earn 1 point for every £1 spent at Marks and Spencer's and 1 point for every £5 spent elsewhere. 100 points = £1 reward voucher. Points will be converted into reward vouchers 4 times a year.
Finder's pick: M&S Bank Shopping Plus Mastercard
- Purchases 0% for 20 months reverting to 19.9%
- Balance transfers 0% for 20 months reverting to 19.9%
- Earn 1 point for every £1 spent at Marks and Spencer's and 1 point for every £5 spent elsewhere. 100 points = £1 reward voucher. Points will be converted into reward vouchers 4 times a year.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 19.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 19.9% APR (variable).
Balance transfer credit cards: Repay debt at 0% interest
Balance transfer credit cards let you move existing credit card debt to a new card, where you’ll enjoy 0% interest on the balance for a set period. At the end of this introductory 0% period, the card’s standard rate kicks in – which is typically much higher. Provided you don’t use them for additional spending, these cards allow you to clear debt faster, because all of your monthly repayment goes towards the outstanding balance.
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Our top pick for balance transfers:
Platinum 28 Month Balance Transfer Barclaycard
- Balance transfers 0% for 28 months
- Purchasess 0% for 6 months
- Balance transfer fee 1.75% for transfers in first 60 days
Potential costs:
4/5
4/5
Doing its job:
4.5/5
4.5/5
Extras:
3.5/5
3.5/5
Verdict: Barclaycard offers a range of balance transfer deals, and this lengthy offer comes with a reduced transfer fee (normally a reduced fee means a shorter 0% period). The 6-month 0% purchases deal is better than you'd get with many competing deals, and even if you don't plan to use it, it's reassuring to have the option. And, as a sweetener, you can use the Barclaycard Entertainment scheme to bag pre-sale tickets, discounted tickets and event perks at an impressive range of big-name gigs.
Finder's pick: Platinum 28 Month Balance Transfer Barclaycard
- Balance transfers 0% for 28 months reverting to 19.9%
- Purchases 0% for 6 months reverting to 19.9%
- 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. Save 5% on food and drink at all UK 02 Academy venues.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 19.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 19.9% APR (variable).
Travel credit cards: Pay overseas without fees
These credit cards are designed to make it more affordable to spend money overseas or online with international retailers. Unlike most debit and credit cards, they don’t charge a foreign transaction fee when you use your card to spend in an international currency or withdraw cash abroad (although the ATM owner may still charge a fee). Currencies will usually be converted using the standard Mastercard rate or Visa rate. Just remember that “fee-free” does not mean “interest-free”.
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Finder's pick for spending overseas
The NatWest Credit Card
- No annual fee
- 0% fees on overseas spend
- Low ongoing rates
Potential costs:
5/5
5/5
Doing its job:
5/5
5/5
Extras:
3/5
3/5
Verdict: An excellent travel companion (and a very respectable option even when you're at home), this ultra-simple card converts currencies at the standard Mastercard rates, and while some card issuers start charging interest on overseas transactions from the day on which your account is debited, provided you clear your balance in full each month, you won't pay interest on purchases at home or abroad.
Finder's pick: The NatWest Credit Card
- No annual fee
- 0% fees on overseas spend
- Low ongoing rates
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 9.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 9.9% APR (variable).
Money transfer credit cards: Transfer money from your card to an account
A 0% money transfer card allows you to make transfers from the credit card to your bank account, and won’t charge interest on this balance for a specified period. After the 0% period, the card’s standard rate kicks in, which is invariably much higher.
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Student credit cards: Manage your expenses and buy what you need
Most student cards are tied to a student bank account – in other words you’ll usually need to hold a student account with a particular bank in order to be eligible to apply for its student credit card. Student credit cards come with no annual/monthly fees, but low credit limits and uncompetitive rates (in part due to the limited credit histories of many of the cards’ users). As such, it’s not advisable to carry a balance from month to month. However, provided you don’t, you’ll usually be able to take advantage of up to 55 or 56 days of 0% interest on your purchases each month – a handy buffer when you’re waiting for your next student loan payment.
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Business credit cards: Manage your work spending
Business credit cards give your business access to a convenient line of credit to help manage fluctuations in your cash flow. Additional cards and management/reporting tools also mean you can monitor and manage your employees’ spending. Rewards and perks are big in the business space – with premium deals (that come with hefty annual fees) offering features like complimentary travel insurance, airport lounge access and more.
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“All-rounder” credit cards: A financial Swiss Army Knife
These cards are designed to serve multiple needs. 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 even fee-free overseas spending.
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Approval for any credit card will depend on your status. The APR shown represents the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best credit card available?
Ultimately it depends on what you want the card to do, and also on your circumstances, however here are our top picks: –
- Barclaycard Platinum 28 Month Balance Transfer Visa – Best for balance transfers
- British Airways American Express Card – Best for frequent flyers
- Tesco Bank Foundation Clubcard Credit Card – Best for bad credit
- M&S Bank Shopping Plus Mastercard – Best for purchases
- American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday Card – Best for cashback
- American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card – Best for premium rewards
- The NatWest Credit Card – Best for travel
Are reward point credit cards worth it?
If you carry a balance on your credit card from month to month (rather than clearing your balance in full), then you’ll usually pay more in interest than you’ll earn in rewards. If you always clear your balance in full each month, however, then with most cards on the UK market, you won’t pay interest at all, thanks to a grace period on purchases. That means that, provided you choose the right card and use it carefully, you can earn reward points without paying interest.
Some rewards or frequent flyer cards come with annual or monthly account management charges, but thankfully, plenty don’t charge this fee. If you think you would spend a lot on a credit card but would also clear your balance in full each month, then paying an annual fee might actually be worth it. That’s because these are the cards which tend to come with the best reward point earn-rates.
Can I get a credit card with bad credit?
Possibly, yes. Although realistically some top cards will be off the table, there are plenty of card issuers that specialise in credit builder cards – which are specifically designed for those with a damaged or limited credit history.
Additionally, the interest rates and credit limits of credit cards are often tailored to the applicant, which means you may find that you are offered a card, but with a relatively low opening credit limit, and potentially with a rate that’s higher than the advertised representative APR.
Which credit card gives the best travel rewards?
Virgin Atlantic and American Express are frequently to be found battling it out at the top of frequent flyer comparison tables.
If you can make your peace with an annual fee, the British Airways Premium Plus Card offers the highest Avios earn-rate, while Amex’s Preferred Rewards Gold Card comes with two complimentary airport lounge visits annually.
Other types of credit card and sought-after card features
In addition to the features listed above, the best credit cards around can come with a whole host of other features and benefits.
If you’re concerned about some of the costs involved with credit card use, you can look around and find cards with no annual fee, an ongoing low interest rate or no balance transfer fees. Perhaps you do all your shopping in one place and want your rewards from your favourite shop, in which case a store-affiliated card may be the way to go.
Use the list below to browse our credit card feature/benefit guides and comparisons.
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We exist to help you find better. The offers we've compared on this page are from a range of products whose details we can track; we don't cover every product on the market...yet. Unless we've indicated otherwise, products are shown in no particular order or ranking. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't product ratings, although 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, it's wise to consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own financial circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you.
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