Compare the UK’s best credit cards of 2019

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.

Understand and compare balance transfer cards

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

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★★★★★

Potential costs:
4/5

Doing its job:
4.5/5

Extras:
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.

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).

Finder's pick: 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

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).

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• Who are balance transfer credit cards suited to?

  If you have existing credit card debt that’s accumulating interest, a balance transfer deal can help you to pay off that debt faster (and more cheaply).

• How can I find the best balance transfer credit card for me?

  1. How long is the balance transfer offer? Most current balance transfer offers feature 0% interest for a promotional period. Divide your outstanding debt by the number of months, and you’ll see how much you’ll need to pay each month to clear your debt.
  2. How much is the balance transfer fee? Balance transfer deals usually come with a balance transfer fee (which is generally a percentage of the amount being transferred – typically around 3%), which becomes more significant if you’re transferring a larger balance. It is possible to find fee-free balance transfer deals, but these usually won’t have the very longest 0% interest periods available.
  3. Are there any limitations? Check whether the 0% rate only applies to transfers within a specific window from account opening. For example, a card’s promotion might be worded: “0% interest for 24 months on balances transferred within 60 days from account opening”.
  4. What’s the revert rate? When the promotional 0% period is up, you’ll start being charged interest on any outstanding balance. If there’s a chance you won’t clear your balance before this point, then the rate that your balance reverts to should be a consideration. Yes, you could apply for a new 0% deal at this point, but acceptance is never guaranteed.
  5. What other fees apply? Check to see whether the cards you’re considering come with an annual or monthly account fee. Other fees you might incur include cash advance fees and non-sterling transaction fees.
  6. Are you eligible? The longest 0% deals on the market are likely to be restricted to individuals with very good credit. Look foe an “eligibility checker” so that you can find out if you’re eligible without affecting your credit score. It’s not unusual for applicants with less-than-perfect credit scores to be offered a shorter 0% deal.
  7. What other features does the card come with? While the details of the balance transfer interest deal are likely to be your primary focus, some cards will have other features which might benefit you. For example a Sainsbury’s Bank or American Express credit card might reward your spending with Nectar points.

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”.

Understand and compare 0% foreign transaction fee cards

Finder's pick for spending overseas

The NatWest Credit Card

• 0% fees on overseas spend
• Low ongoing rates

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★★★★★

Potential costs:
5/5

Doing its job:
4.5/5

Extras:
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.

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).

Finder's pick: The NatWest Credit Card

• 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).

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• Who are travel credit cards suited to?

  If you’re a frequent traveller, have a holiday coming up or regularly use your credit card for shopping with international stores online, a no foreign transaction fee card could be a smart way to avoid extra costs.

• How can I find the best low or no foreign transaction fee card for me?

  1. Does commission-free currency conversion apply for the country you’re visiting? While there are plenty of cards offering fee-free spending overseas, some will restrict this to Europe. Sometimes the quickest way to get to the bottom of this one is to look for the card’s “summary box” – all card issuers are obliged to provide this standardised document.
  2. What network is the card on? There’s no getting away from it – Visa and Mastercard are the most widely-accepted networks. If a merchant takes plastic, it probably takes Visa and Mastercard. If you plan on heading overseas with your Amex, it could be worth backing this up with a Visa or Mastercard.
  3. What fees will apply if you withdraw cash abroad? Check whether the commission-free currency conversion applies to cash advances, and check whether there’s a flat fee for cash advances. If you’re heading to a country with a largely cash-based economy, this is an important one. Don’t forget that whatever your card issuer’s policy is, a bank overseas may still charge you for the privilege of using their cash machine.
  4. What point is interest charged from? Usually, provided you clear your balance in full each month you can enjoy up to 55 or 56 days interest-free on your purchases. However, it’s not unusual for non-sterling transactions to incur interest from the day on which your account was debited, regardless of your repayment habits.
  5. Are there any travel perks? If you’re looking to use your card overseas, see if it can offer further savings/earnings like complimentary credit card travel insurance. The insurance available and eligibility requirements differ from card to card, so comparing options will help you make sure the cover is right for you. Other travel perks that could come with a no foreign transaction fee card include rewards programs and airport lounge access.
  6. How much will the card cost to run? You may be saving on foreign currency conversion fees, but you’ll want to make sure any interest or annual/monthly account fees that you stand to incur don’t outweigh these savings. It’s not unusual for a travel credit card to be your “second” credit card – in other words you might have one card for use at home, and one for using when you’re out of the country.
  7. Are you eligible? Some deals will be restricted to individuals with good credit. Look for a “quick check” or “eligibility checker” facility, so that you can find out if you have a decent shot at getting approved.

  When you’re using one of these cards, don’t forget that if a merchant/bank abroad offers to take payment in sterling (this is called dynamic currency conversion), you should decline and choose to pay in the local currency. Otherwise the it will be the local bank or merchant whose currency conversion fee structure will apply, rather than your card issuer’s.

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.

Understand and compare money transfer cards

• Who are money transfer cards suited to?

  If you want to clear a big overdraft or pay off a loan, a money transfer card could be a low-cost way to do so. They’re also useful when you need to transfer money to individuals, or when you need to make payments in cash.

• How can I find the best money transfer credit card for me?

  1. How long is the money transfer offer? Most current money transfer offers feature 0% interest for a promotional period, which could potentially be over two years. Work out how much you need to transfer and how much you expect to be able to repay each month to get an idea of how long you need.
  2. Is there a transfer fee? Typically these cards have a money transfer fee of around 3%, which for larger transfers could get painful. It is possible to find fee-free money transfer deals, but these usually won’t have the very longest 0% periods on the market.
  3. Are there any limitations? Check whether the 0% rate only applies to transfers within a specific window from account opening. For example, a card’s promotion might be worded: “0% interest for 24 months on transfers in the first 3 months”.
  4. What’s the revert rate? When the promotional 0% period is up, you’ll start being charged interest on any outstanding balance. If there’s a chance you won’t clear your balance before this point, then the rate that your balance reverts to should be a consideration. Yes, you could apply for a balance transfer deal at this point, but acceptance is never guaranteed.
  5. What other fees apply? Check to see whether the cards you’re considering come with an annual or monthly account fee. Other fees you might incur include cash advance fees and non-sterling transaction fees.
  6. Are you eligible? The longest 0% money transfer deals will be reserved for individuals with good credit. Card issuers now usually offer a “soft search” facility however, so you can find out if you’re eligible without hurting your credit score.
  7. What other features does the card come with? While the details of the money transfer promotion will be your primary focus, some money transfer cards come with other features that might appeal to you.

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.

Understand and compare student credit cards

• Who are student credit cards suited to?

  Students who understand the responsibilities of debt and are looking for a little financial flexibility and to kickstart a healthy credit record.

• How can I find the best student card for me?

  1. Are you eligible? Even though they’re called “student credit cards”, these products still have criteria you must fulfil in order to be eligible. For example, most banks stipulate you hold your student bank account with them in order to be considered for a credit card, and most will want proof of your status as student. Some may ask for a guarantor (such as a parent) to share the financial responsibilities of the card.
  2. How much will the card cost to run? You’re highly unlikely to find annual/monthly account fees with a student credit card, but, as rule, the standard purchase rate is rarely competitive. Check what other rates and fees could impact you, for example fees for non-sterling transactions or cash advances (withdrawing cash from the card).
  3. Are there any perks to be had? Look out for sweeteners, such as cashback offers through the Visa Offers programme, or experience discounts through Mastercard’s Priceless Cities scheme.

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.

Understand and compare business credit cards

• Who are business cards suited to?

  There are business credit cards for sole traders, small-to-medium businesses and corporate entities, that provide access to credit to help manage finances.

• How can I find the best credit card(s) for my business?

  1. Do you need a charge or credit card? With a charge card, you’ll be expected to pay off your full balance every month (or incur penalty fees). Although these cards often come with an annual or monthly fee, because you’re not carrying a balance month to month, you won’t pay any interest. What’s more there is often no credit limit. These cards also typically come with premium perks, such as airport lounge access or a concierge service.
  2. Cost vs. benefit. Try to quantify the benefits of the card you’re considering, and weigh up wether or not they’re worth more than the card will cost to run. You could opt for a card that earns your business rewards points, offers complimentary insurance or one that helps you save on your business purchases. Many business credit cards also offer integration with accounting software and include additional cards for employees.
  3. How many cardholders can you add, and how much will that cost? Check how many additional cardholders you are allowed, and whether there are additional fees for this – in some cases the annual fee is per cardholder.
  4. Spending habits. If cash flow issues mean you won’t always be able to pay off the card immediately, then seek a card with a low purchase rate. If your key requirement is being able to track and centralise business spending, look at account management tools, reporting and whether or not the card issuer offers a decent app.

“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.

Understand and compare all-round credit cards

• Who are all-rounder cards suited to?

  As you might expect, all-rounders can be a good option for people in all sorts of circumstances, however, an all-rounder can be a bit of a jack of all trades and a master of none. For example, if you’re simply looking to clear debt, the very best balance transfer deals are likely to be on highly-focused cards. Likewise, the highest-earning rewards cards might not come with lengthy 0% introductory offers.

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

  1. What features matter most to you? Decide which card features are most important to you, and start there. If you need to transfer existing card debt, but really not very much of it, then you might want to focus on other features, for example, rather than simply seeking out the longest 0% balance transfer deal.
  2. How much will the card cost? Does the card come with an annual/monthly fee? Is the interest rate competitive? Work out how much you stand to save or how much you stand to spend with each card, and try not to be dazzled by rewards when there’s a chance that the potential costs could outweigh them.
  3. Are you eligible? A good all-rounder is likely to require decent credit, and may also involve other criteria such as a minimum income. Look for an “eligibility checker” which can tell you in advance of applying (and without hurting your credit score) whether or not you’re likely to get approved.

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.