What does “up to 55 days interest-free” really mean?

Most credit cards come with up to 55 or 56 days of 0% interest on your purchases. So what do you need to do to take advantage of this significant perk?

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Chris Lilly
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When you start making purchases on your new credit card, you’ll receive your monthly statement with a date before which you must pay at least a minimum payment towards your outstanding balance. But if you clear the full balance (rather than making a part-payment towards it), you usually won’t pay any interest at all on your purchases. As such, a purchase made right at the start of your billing cycle could remain interest-free for as much as 56 days.

How to use your interest-free days

  1. Make eligible purchases. Your interest-free period applies to purchase transactions, but usually excludes balance transfers, cash advances (using your credit card to withdraw cash or get cash out at the till) and sometimes utility payments and government charges. Interest usually starts to accrue on those types of transactions from the moment they take place.
  2. Pay your statement in full. You must clear your entire credit card balance by the payment due date on each statement to be eligible for this interest-free period. Once you have an outstanding balance, the interest-free period no longer applies, and interest will accrue each day on all your transactions, backdated to the date on which you made the purchase.

It’s easy to get confused about this though, because many cards also come with an introductory, one-off interest-free promotion. So the card you’re thinking of getting might come with 24 months 0% interest on purchases AND up to 55 days 0% interest on purchases. In that scenario, the 55 interest-free days probably wouldn’t be of interest to you until after your introductory offer had expired.

You can use this guide to find answers to the most common questions about interest-free days, compare credit cards with interest-free days and learn about the key factors to be aware of when using an interest-free card.

What you'll find in this guide

Making use of interest-free days

Let’s assume you have a credit card that offers “up to 55 interest-free days” and its billing cycle begins on the 1st of each month and ends on the 30th. Given the 55 interest-free days, the due date on your credit card statement would be the 25th of next month. So if you were making purchases in June, here’s how it would look:
  • 1st June. First day of the statement
  • 30th June. Last day of the statement
  • 25th July. Due date of your payment for June

In this case, the 55 interest-free days begin on 1st June and end on the 25th July when your payment is due. So here’s how your interest-free period would work as you make purchases throughout the month:

  • You make a £100 purchase on 1st June. You don’t have to pay any interest towards this purchase until 25th July, which gives you 55 interest-free days.
  • You make a £50 purchase on 20th June. This is the 20th day of your billing cycle, so you don’t have to pay any interest towards the purchase until 25th July. This means you get 35 interest-free days.
  • You make a £150 purchase on 30th June. This is the last day of your billing cycle but the purchase won’t attract any interest until 25th July, giving you an interest-free period of 25 days.

When your statement is issued for June, you’ll owe £300. So as long as you pay this in full by the 25th July, you won’t be charged interest on your purchases and can continue to enjoy interest-free days for the next billing cycle.

The dos and don’ts of interest-free days

Do

  • Spend within your credit limit.
  • Set up a direct debit to clear your balance in full each month.
  • Keep an eye on your card statements to make sure your transactions aren’t incurring interest.

Don’t

  • Withdraw cash on your credit card (if it can be avoided).
  • Carry a balance from month-to-month (if it can be avoided).
  • Use your card for ineligible transactions.

Paying your card bill by direct debit

When you get a new credit card, you’ll usually be given the chance to set up a direct debit to make repayments. It’s advisable to do so, because it guarantees that you won’t miss a payment, which would get you into hot water with your card issuer and damage your credit record.

You’ll usually be given two options:

  1. Set up a direct debit to repay the minimum amount payable each month. The minimum payment, as specified in your terms and conditions, is typically a percentage of your outstanding balance or a specified figure – whichever is greater. For example “3% (minimum £5)”. If you only pay the minimum required amount, you won’t benefit from interest-free days and your debt will take longer to clear.
  2. Set up a direct debit to repay the full balance each month. This option will allow you to benefit from interest-free days on eligible transactions.

Other key definitions you need to know

When you’re learning about interest-free days, you’ll often come across a number of other terms that relate to this feature. Here are some of the major ones to take note of:

  • Statement period/billing cycle. The statement period usually runs for one month, or from when your last statement was issued to when the next one is issued.
  • Statement issue date. This is the date on which the bank issues your monthly credit card statement.
  • Payment due date. The date by which you must pay the balance to avoid late charges/fees. If you want to get interest-free days, you’ll usually have to pay your full balance by this date.
  • Purchase rate. The interest rate charged on purchases, also referred to as the “standard” rate. Interest-free days help you avoid this cost.

What else do I need to know when using a credit card with interest-free days?

You can use a credit card with interest-free days to save on your account costs when you meet specific requirements. Here are the key details to keep in mind so you can make use of your interest-free days:

  • Minimum monthly payments. You usually can’t get interest-free days for purchases if you only pay the minimum amount required on your statement, as most credit cards only offer this benefit when you pay your balance in full by the due date.
  • Eligible purchases. Interest-free days are only available for “eligible purchases” made on your card. While this usually includes everyday spending at the supermarket, petrol station, restaurants and so on, exclusions typically apply for cash advance transactions, government payments and some bill payments. Check with your credit card provider for details on what is considered an “eligible purchase” for your card.
  • Dates vary. Don’t expect all your credit cards to come with similar billing cycles and due dates. These dates can vary from one card to the next, even when issued by the same card issuer.
  • Balance transfers. Usually, if you have a debt on your credit card from a balance transfer, you won’t be eligible for interest-free days on new purchases. If you want to transfer a balance and make purchases without interest, you could also consider a card with an introductory rate of 0% for purchases and balance transfers.

Compare cards by type

Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
Data updated daily
Name Product Balance transfers Balance transfer fee Purchases Annual/monthly fees Representative APR Incentive Link
M&S Bank Rewards Offer Mastercard
M&S Bank Rewards Offer Mastercard
0% for 12 months reverting to 19.9%
2.9% (min. £5)
0% for 12 months reverting to 19.9%
£0
19.9% APR (variable)
Double points on spend in M&S for first 12 months (2 points per £1). Then 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).
Check eligibility
Read review
Santander Everyday No Balance Transfer Fee Credit Card
Santander Everyday No Balance Transfer Fee Credit Card
0% for 18 months reverting to 20.9%
0% for 18 months reverting to 3% (min. £5)
0% for 3 months reverting to 20.9%
£0
20.9% APR (variable)
Earn up to 15% cashback with your selected Retailer Offers at selected major retailers.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 20.9% p.a. (variable), your representative rate is 20.9% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
Read review
Santander Everyday Long Term Balance Transfer Credit Card
Santander Everyday Long Term Balance Transfer Credit Card
0% for 31 months reverting to 20.9%
2.75% (min. £5) for 31 months reverting to 3% (min. £5)
0% for 3 months reverting to 20.9%
£0
20.9% APR (variable)
Earn up to 15% cashback with your selected Retailer Offers at selected major retailers.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 20.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 20.9% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
Read review
HSBC No Fee Balance Transfer Credit Card Visa
HSBC No Fee Balance Transfer Credit Card Visa
0% for 20 months reverting to 21.9%
0% for 2 months reverting to 2% (min. £5)
21.9%
£0
21.9% APR (variable)
Discounts and exclusive offers for dining experiences, leisure activities and shopping available through HSBC Home and Away.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
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HSBC Balance Transfer Credit Card
HSBC Balance Transfer Credit Card
0% for 29 months reverting to 21.9%
2.85% (min. £5)
0% for 3 months reverting to 21.9%
£0
21.9% APR (variable)
Discounts and exclusive offers for dining experiences, leisure activities and shopping available through HSBC Home and Away.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
Read review
M&S Bank Shopping Plus Credit Card
M&S Bank Shopping Plus Credit Card
0% for 22 months reverting to 21.9%
2.9% (min. £5)
0% for 22 months reverting to 21.9%
£0
21.9% APR (variable)
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 21.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
Read review
The NatWest Balance Transfer Credit Card (eligibility criteria apply)
The NatWest Balance Transfer Credit Card (eligibility criteria apply)
0% for 18 months reverting to 21.9%
0%
0% for 3 months reverting to 21.9% p.a. (variable)
£0
21.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.9% (variable), your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
Read review
The Royal Bank Balance Transfer Credit Card (eligibility criteria apply)
The Royal Bank Balance Transfer Credit Card (eligibility criteria apply)
0% for 18 months reverting to 21.9%
0%
0% for 3 months reverting to 21.9% p.a. (variable)
£0
21.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.9% (variable), your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
Read review
M&S Bank Transfer Plus Offer Mastercard
M&S Bank Transfer Plus Offer Mastercard
0% for 29 months reverting to 21.9%
2.75% (min. £5)
0% for 3 months reverting to 21.9%
£0
21.9% APR (variable)
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 21.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
Read review
HSBC Purchase Plus Credit Card Visa
HSBC Purchase Plus Credit Card Visa
0% for 18 months reverting to 22.9%
2.9% (min. £5) for transfers in first 60 days
0% for 18 months reverting to 22.9%
£0
22.9% APR (variable)
Discounts and exclusive offers for dining experiences, leisure activities and shopping available through HSBC Home and Away.
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).
Check eligibility
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Data updated daily
Name Product Purchases Balance transfers Annual/monthly fees Representative APR Incentive Link
M&S Bank Shopping Plus Credit Card
M&S Bank Shopping Plus Credit Card
0% for 22 months reverting to 21.9%
0% for 22 months
(2.9% fee)
£0
21.9% APR (variable)
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 21.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
Read review
Santander All in One Credit Card
Santander All in One Credit Card
0% for 20 months reverting to 17.9%
0% for 26 months
(0% fee)
£3 per month
23.7% APR (variable)
0.5% cashback after £1 of monthly spend. Cashback paid monthly into card account. Maximum spend for cashback purposes is limited to credit limit.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 17.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £3 per month, your representative rate is 23.7% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
Read review
HSBC Purchase Plus Credit Card Visa
HSBC Purchase Plus Credit Card Visa
0% for 18 months reverting to 22.9%
0% for 18 months
(2.9% fee)
£0
22.9% APR (variable)
Discounts and exclusive offers for dining experiences, leisure activities and shopping available through HSBC Home and Away.
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).
Check eligibility
Read review
M&S Bank Rewards Offer Mastercard
M&S Bank Rewards Offer Mastercard
0% for 12 months reverting to 19.9%
0% for 12 months
(2.9% fee)
£0
19.9% APR (variable)
Double points on spend in M&S for first 12 months (2 points per £1). Then 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).
Check eligibility
Read review
Barclaycard Business Premium Plus Credit Card
Barclaycard Business Premium Plus Credit Card
0% for 6 months reverting to 14.9%
N/A
£150 per annum
49.4% APR (variable)
0.5% after £1 of yearly spend. Maximum of £400 cashback paid per year. Cashback paid Anniversary into Card Account. If less than £10 Cashback earned in any Cashback Year, it will not be credited to the account and will not be carried forward to the following year.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 14.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £150 per annum, your representative rate is 49.4% APR (variable).
Go to site
Read review
Tesco Bank Clubcard Plus Credit Card Mastercard
Tesco Bank Clubcard Plus Credit Card Mastercard
0% for 24 months reverting to 19.944%
21.814%
(3.99% fee)
£7.99 per month
37.7% APR (variable)
1 point per £4 spent (£4 minimum) in Tesco and 1 point per £8 spent (£8 minimum) outside Tesco, must have available credit to earn points. Card can also be used as a Clubcard to collect standard points at 1 point per £1 spent on shopping and 1 point per £2 spent on fuel. Points are converted to Tesco vouchers which can be used towards shopping or exchanged for Partner Rewards.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 19.944% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £7.99 per month, your representative rate is 37.7% APR (variable).
Read review
Tesco Bank Purchases Card
Tesco Bank Purchases Card
0% for 23 months reverting to 20.94%
0% for 3 months
(2.99% fee)
£0
20.9% APR (variable)
1 point 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, entertainment or Avios points.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 20.94% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 20.9% APR (variable).
Read review
Sainsbury's Bank Dual 22 Month Offer Credit Card Mastercard
Sainsbury's Bank Dual 22 Month Offer Credit Card Mastercard
0% for 22 months reverting to 20.95%
0% for 22 months
(3% fee)
£0
20.9% APR (variable)
Earn 3 Nectar points per £1 spent in Sainsbury's and Argos. Earn 1 Nectar point for every £5 spent elsewhere. Earn 500 bonus points each time you spend £35 or more on Sainsbury's shopping with your credit card, up to ten times in your first 2 months, offer available for new customers.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 20.95% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 20.9% APR (variable).
Read review
MBNA 0% Transfer and Purchase Credit Card
MBNA 0% Transfer and Purchase Credit Card
0% for 21 months reverting to 21.93%
0% for 21 months
(2.99% fee)
£0
21.9% APR (variable)
Earn up to 15% cashback on purchases through Smart Rewards at popular retailers.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.93% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
Read review
Lloyds Bank Platinum 0% Purchase and Balance Transfer Mastercard
Lloyds Bank Platinum 0% Purchase and Balance Transfer Mastercard
0% for 21 months reverting to 21.94%
0% for 18 months
(2.99% fee)
£0
21.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.94% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
Read review
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Data updated daily
Name Product Purchases Annual/monthly fees Initial credit limits Representative APR Incentive Link
M&S Bank Rewards Offer Mastercard
M&S Bank Rewards Offer Mastercard
0% for 12 months reverting to 19.9%
£0
Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.
19.9% APR (variable)
Double points on spend in M&S for first 12 months (2 points per £1). Then 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).
Check eligibility
Read review
M&S Bank Shopping Plus Credit Card
M&S Bank Shopping Plus Credit Card
0% for 22 months reverting to 21.9%
£0
Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.
21.9% APR (variable)
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 21.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
Read review
M&S Bank Transfer Plus Offer Mastercard
M&S Bank Transfer Plus Offer Mastercard
0% for 3 months reverting to 21.9%
£0
Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.
21.9% APR (variable)
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 21.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
Read review
Santander All in One Credit Card
Santander All in One Credit Card
0% for 20 months reverting to 17.9%
£3 per month
Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.
23.7% APR (variable)
0.5% cashback after £1 of monthly spend. Cashback paid monthly into card account. Maximum spend for cashback purposes is limited to credit limit.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 17.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £3 per month, your representative rate is 23.7% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
Read review
American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday Card
Finder Award
American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday Card
24.5%
£0
Min. limit £700, max. limit not specified.
24.5% APR (variable)
New Cardmember offer: Get 5% cashback on your purchases (up to £100) for the first 3 months of Cardmembership. Spend £0 to £10,000 and receive 0.5% cashback on all purchases. Spend over £10,000 and receive 1% cashback on purchases.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.5% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.5% APR (variable).
Go to site
Read review
American Express Rewards Credit Card
Finder Award
American Express Rewards Credit Card
24.5%
£0
Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.
24.5% APR (variable)
As a new Cardmember, earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® points when you spend £2,000 in your first 3 months of Cardmembership. Earn 1 point for every £1 spent thereafter.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.5% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.5% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
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British Airways American Express Card
Finder Award
British Airways American Express Card
24.5%
£0
Min. limit £700, max. limit not specified.
24.5% APR (variable)
Limited time offer: Earn 10,000 bonus Avios when you spend £1,000 in your first 3 months. Earn 1 Avios for virtually every £1 spent. Spend £12,000 annually and get a travel companion voucher when redeeming Avios for a BA reward flight.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.5% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.5% APR (variable).
Go to site
Read review
Royal Bank of Scotland Reward Credit Card Mastercard
Royal Bank of Scotland Reward Credit Card Mastercard
21.9%
£24 per annum. Reward or Reward Black Current Account holders: £0 per annum
Min. limit £250, max. limit not specified.
26.8% APR (variable)
1% Rewards earned on supermarket spend and 0.25% at their petrol stations, at least 1-15% Rewards earned at MyRewards retailers and 0.25% everywhere else when shopping at home and abroad. 5 Rewards is £5 when redeemed. Rewards can be converted into money and transferred to a current account, exchanged for gift cards or tickets with some retailers doubling their value or converted into money and donated to one of the RBS Group chosen charities.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £24 per annum. Reward or Reward Black Current Account holders: £0 per annum, your representative rate is 26.8% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
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NatWest Reward Credit Card Mastercard
NatWest Reward Credit Card Mastercard
21.9%
£24 per annum. Reward or Reward Black Current Account holders: £0 per annum
Min. limit £250, max. limit not specified.
26.8% APR (variable)
1% Rewards earned on supermarket spend and 0.25% at their petrol stations, at least 1-15% Rewards earned at MyRewards retailers and 0.25% everywhere else when shopping at home and abroad. 5 Rewards is £5 when redeemed. Rewards can be converted into money and transferred to a current account, exchanged for gift cards or tickets with some retailers doubling their value or converted into money and donated to one of the RBS Group chosen charities.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 21.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £24 per annum. Reward or Reward Black Current Account holders: £0 per annum, your representative rate is 26.8% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
Read review
American Express Platinum Cashback Card
Finder Award
American Express Platinum Cashback Card
24.5%
£25 per annum
Min. limit £700, max. limit not specified.
29.8% APR (variable)
As a new Cardmember, get 5% cashback on your purchases (up to £125) for the first 3 months of Cardmembership. Spend £0 to £10,000 and receive 0.75% cashback on all purchases. Spend over £10,000 and receive 1.25% cashback on purchases.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.5% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £25 per annum, your representative rate is 29.8% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
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Compare up to 4 providers

Data updated daily
Name Product Annual/monthly fees Initial credit limits Minimum income Representative APR Incentive Link
Aqua Classic Credit Card
Aqua Classic Credit Card
£0
Min. limit £250, max. limit £1,200.
Not specified
29.7%
Representative example: Assumed credit limit £1,200, representative 29.7% APR (variable), purchase rate 29.75% p.a. (variable).
Please note: you can’t have two Aqua accounts or open an Aqua account within 12 months of opening a Marbles, Fluid or Opus account, issued by New Day
Check eligibility
Read review
Marbles Card
Marbles Card
£0
Min. limit £250, max. limit £1,200.
Not specified
29.7%
You could get a credit limit increase after three months. Choose a monthly repayment date that suits you and change it up to twice a year.
Representative example: Assumed credit limit £1,200, representative 29.7% APR (variable), purchase rate 29.75% p.a. (variable).
Please note: you can’t have two Marbles accounts or open a Marbles account within 12 months of opening an Aqua, Fluid or Opus account, issued by New Day
Check eligibility
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Bip Credit
Bip Credit
£0
Min. limit £250, max. limit not specified.
Not specified
29.9%
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.95% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29.9% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
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Aqua Classic Balance Transfer Card
Aqua Classic Balance Transfer Card
£0
Min. limit £250, max. limit £1,200.
Not specified
34.9%
Representative example: Assumed credit limit £1,200, representative 34.9% APR (variable), purchase rate 34.95% p.a. (variable).
Please note: you can’t have two Aqua accounts or open an Aqua account within 12 months of opening a Marbles, Fluid or Opus account, issued by New Day
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Tesco Bank Foundation Card
Tesco Bank Foundation Card
£0
Min. limit £100, max. limit not specified.
£5000
27.5%
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.
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).
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TSB Classic Credit Card Mastercard
TSB Classic Credit Card Mastercard
£0
Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.
Not specified
27.9%
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 27.95% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 27.9% APR (variable).
Read review
Vanquis Bank Chrome Credit Card
Vanquis Bank Chrome Credit Card
£0
Min. limit £250, max. limit £1,500.
Not specified
29.5%
Representative example: When you spend £250 at a purchase rate of 29.5% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29.5% APR (variable).
Read review
Vanquis Bank Aquis Visa
Vanquis Bank Aquis Visa
£0
Min. limit £250, max. limit £1,000.
Not specified
29.8%
You could get a credit limit increase after your 5th statement and further increases every 5 months, up to £4,000.
Representative example: When you spend £1,000 at a purchase rate of 29.84% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29.8% APR (variable).
Read review
Amazon Classic Mastercard
Amazon Classic Mastercard
£0
Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.
Not specified
29.9%
Be upgraded to the Amazon Platinum Mastercard if you make at least one transaction a month, make repayments on time and stay within credit limit in the first 12 months..
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.95% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29.9% APR (variable).
Read review
HSBC Classic Credit Card Visa
HSBC Classic Credit Card Visa
£0
Min. limit £250, max. limit £1,000.
£6800
29.9%
Discounts and exclusive offers for dining experiences, leisure activities and shopping available through HSBC Home and Away.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29.9% APR (variable).
Read review
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Data updated daily
Name Product Purchases Annual/monthly fees Initial credit limits Representative APR Incentive Link
British Airways American Express Card
Finder Award
British Airways American Express Card
24.5%
£0
Min. limit £700, max. limit not specified.
24.5% APR (variable)
Limited time offer: Earn 10,000 bonus Avios when you spend £1,000 in your first 3 months. Earn 1 Avios for virtually every £1 spent. Spend £12,000 annually and get a travel companion voucher when redeeming Avios for a BA reward flight.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.5% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.5% APR (variable).
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British Airways American Express Premium Plus
Finder Award
British Airways American Express Premium Plus
24.5%
£250 per annum
Min. limit £700, max. limit not specified.
101.1% APR (variable)
As a new Cardmember, earn 40,000 bonus Avios when you spend £3,000 in your first 3 months of Cardmembership. Earn 3 Avios for per £1 spent directly with BA and 1.5 Avios per £1 spent elsewhere.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.5% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £250 per annum, your representative rate is 101.1% APR (variable).
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Virgin Money Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
Virgin Money Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card
22.9%
£0
Min. limit not specified, max. limit not specified.
22.9% APR (variable)
Earn 0.75 Flying Club miles for every £1 spend and 1.5.miles for every £1 spend with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays. Spend £20K a year on your card and choose an extra benefit - an upgrade to Premium, or a Companion ticket.
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).
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Virgin Money Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card
Virgin Money Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card
22.9%
£160 per annum
Min. limit not specified, max. limit not specified.
63.9% APR (variable)
Earn 15,000 bonus miles with your first card purchase made within 90 days of account opening. Earn 1.5 Flying Club miles for every £1 spend and 3 miles for every £1 spend with Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays. Spend £10K a year on your card and choose an extra benefit - an upgrade to Premium, or a Companion ticket.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 22.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £160 per annum, your representative rate is 63.9% APR (variable).
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Answers to the most common questions about interest-free days

The bottom line

Credit cards that come with interest-free days give you the ability to make purchases and not pay any interest towards them as long as you clear your full card balance each month. Such cards can come with a number of other features as well, so it’s important that you choose a suitable card for your requirements. Bear in mind that just about every credit card issuer provides cards with interest-free days on purchases, so it is in your best interest to compare as many as possible before making a decision.

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.

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