The 14 best credit cards in the UK
Here’s your at-a-glance comparison of the best credit cards available in the UK right now:
| Card | Fee | APR on purchases | Features | Best for: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card | None | 27.9% | – Cashback on spending- No foreign transaction fees, inc. cash withdrawals
– Free Apple subscriptions |
Spending and withdrawing cash overseas |
| Barclaycard Platinum 30 Month Balance Transfer Card | – None- 3.45% fee for balance transfers | 24.9% | – 0% interest on balance transfers for 30 months- Free Apple subscriptions | Balance transfers |
| Halifax Clarity Credit Card | None | Varies | – No foreign transaction fees, inc. cash withdrawals- UK customer support
– Fraud protection |
Spending and withdrawing cash overseas |
| Asda Money Credit Card | None | 25.9% | – Earn ASDA points for spending | Rewards |
| NatWest Credit Card | None | 12.9% | – No foreign transaction fees- Instalment plans | Everyday use, spending abroad |
| NatWest Purchase & Balance Transfer Credit Card | None | 23.9% | – 0% interest on balance transfers and purchases for 21 months | Balance transfers, spreading the cost of large purchases |
| Santander All in One Credit Card | £3 a month | 21.9% | – No foreign transaction fees- 0% interest on purchases for 15 months
– Cashback on purchases |
Rewards, spending abroad, everyday use |
| Bip Cardless Credit | None | 29.9% | – No foreign transaction fees, inc. cash withdrawals- Cardless credit stored on your phone | Card-free contactless spending |
| Zopa Credit Card | None | From 24.9% | – No foreign transaction fees- Credit Cushion
– Instant notifications |
Spending abroad |
| Metro Bank Credit Card | None | 14.9% | – Free transactions and withdrawals within Europe | Spending in Europe |
| John Lewis Credit Card | None | 27.9% | Earn points for spending at John Lewis and Waitrose | Rewards |
1: Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card
Let’s kick off with a credit card that is great for holidays and international travel.
One of the best things about the Barclaycard Rewards Card is that it has no foreign transaction fees. And unlike some other credit cards, this extends to both spending and cash withdrawals too.
So, you can take out cash at overseas ATMs all over the world, and Barclays won’t charge you a fee. The only thing to watch out for is that some ATM operators may charge their own fee.
The Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card also comes with some attractive extras, including:
- 0.25% cashback on all everyday spending
- Up to 5 months of free Apple subscriptions, including Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple Fitness+, Apple News+ and Apple Arcade.
- Protection on purchases over £100
The representative interest rate on purchases is 27.9% APR (variable), based on a credit limit of £1,200 which most accepted customers get.
To apply for this card, you’ll need to be at least 21 years old with a permanent UK address (which you’ve had for the last few years). You’ll also need a decent track record of managing credit and making payments on time. You can also check your eligibility in advance.
2: Barclaycard Platinum 30 Month Balance Transfer Card
Another credit card from Barclaycard, this one is all about balance transfers. As is obvious from the name, the Barclaycard Platinum 30 Month Balance Transfer Card offers 0% interest on balance transfers for a whopping 30 months.
You’ll need to make any transfers within the first 60 days to take advantage of the 0% offer. Another crucial thing to bear in mind is the transfer fee, which is set at 3.45% per transfer.
However, this is still lower than many other balance transfer cards out there, and the 30-month interest-free period makes it a hugely attractive choice.
You’ll also get some other perks, some of which are similar to the Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card. This includes:
- Up to 5 months of free Apple subscriptions, including Apple TV+, Apple Music, Apple Fitness+, Apple News+ and Apple Arcade.
- 24/7 Fraud Protection
- A free additional cardholder
- 5% off selected events and 10% off presale tickets when booking through Barclaycard Entertainment.
There’s no annual fee, although fees will apply when you use this particular card overseas. The interest rate is 24.9% APR (variable) representative, based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200.
To apply for the Barclaycard Platinum 30 Month Balance Transfer Card, you’ll need to be at least 21 years old and have had a permanent UK address for the last two years. You’ll also need a good credit history and a personal income of at least £20,000 a year.
3: Halifax Clarity Credit Card
The Halifax Clarity Credit Card is another excellent choice for travel spending, but it’s a decent all-rounder too.
There are no annual fees to worry about, nor does the card charge you for spending or cash withdrawals abroad. Bear in mind though that although Halifax doesn’t charge for ATM withdrawals, some ATM operators might.
The only other thing to watch out for is that interest starts accruing from the day you take out the cash.
Any money you spend or withdraw in other currencies using your Halifax Clarity Card is converted using the Mastercard exchange rate on that day. The interest rate on the card is determined upon application.
You won’t get any rewards, cashback or other perks with this card. But nonetheless, the following features make it a pretty good bet:
- Full fraud protection
- Multiple options for making repayments
- UK-based customer support
- Protection for purchases between £100 and £30,000.
4: ASDA Money Credit Card
Shop regularly at ASDA? This could be the credit card for you, as it gives you reward points to spend at the supermarket.
Here’s how it works. You spend using your ASDA Money Credit Card, and you’ll earn a percentage back in ASDA Pounds. These can be redeemed to give you money off your weekly shop.
You’ll get:
- 1% in ASDA Pounds for spending at ASDA
- 0.3% for all other purchases.
The provider also runs promotional offers from time to time. For example, right now ASDA Money is offering up to £50 extra with 5% back in ASDA Pounds when you spend within the first 90 days. This offer is available if you apply before 28th September 2023.
The ASDA Money Credit Card has no annual fee and a representative APR of 25.9% (variable). This is based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200. There’s a cash fee of 3%⁵, so it’s best to avoid using the card for cash withdrawals. You’ll also be charged for using this credit card abroad.
You can apply for and manage your card through the ASDA Money Credit Card App. You’ll also need to download and register for the ASDA Rewards app to get the most from this card.
5: NatWest Credit Card⁶
The NatWest Credit Card has one of the lowest interest rates of any cards on our list, with a representative 12.9% APR (variable) on purchases.
This makes it the ideal card for everyday use, especially if you’re looking to keep your repayments down to a manageable level.
It’s also a great card for travel, as it charges no foreign transaction fees for making purchases abroad. The only drawback there is a 3% handling fee (minimum £3) for withdrawing cash.⁷ ATM operators in some countries may also charge their own fee. And like other credit cards, interest on cash withdrawals starts to accrue right away.
The NatWest card is a Mastercard, so uses the Mastercard exchange rate to convert currency when you spend overseas.
You don’t get any extra features when you sign up for this card, although you can make use of the optional instalment plan. This is designed to let you spread the cost of large purchases into more manageable chunks.
To apply for this card online, you’ll need to be a UK resident aged 18 or over. Another key requirement is that you must have an annual income of at least £10,000.
6: NatWest Purchase & Balance Transfer Credit Card⁸
Now for the second NatWest card on our list. The NatWest Purchase & Balance Transfer Credit Card is a good pick for two reasons. Firstly, for spreading the cost of large purchases, and also for making low cost balance transfers.
Here’s what’s on offer, at a glance:
- 0% interest on purchases for 21 months (standard rates will apply after the interest-free period ends)
- 0% interest on balance transfers for 21 months. A 2.99% fee applies for every transfer, and you’ll need to make your transfers within the first three months after opening the account.
Once your 0% interest free period ends, the representative APR is 23.9% (variable).
This card is ideal for people who are paying interest on an existing credit card, or who have a big ticket purchase coming up.
There’s no annual fee with the NatWest Purchase & Balance Transfer Credit Card. It’s not a great choice for spending abroad though, as fees will apply for non-Sterling purchases and cash withdrawals.
You can manage your spending and repayments on the move using the NatWest mobile app.
To apply for this card, you’ll need to be a UK resident over the age of 18, with an annual income of at least £10,000 a year.
7: Santander All in One Credit Card
If you’re looking for a great all-round credit card that comes bursting with features, this could be the perfect pick for you.
The Santander All in One Credit Card offers the following:
- No foreign transaction fees on purchases – although there is a 3% fee for cash withdrawals (minimum £3)¹⁰
- 0% interest on balance transfers for 15 months, and no balance transfer fee
- 0% interest on purchases for 15 months
- 0.5% cashback on all purchases.
But there’s a catch, in the form of a £3 monthly fee, adding up to £36 a year. This makes it one of the only credit cards on our list which has a fee, although it isn’t too steep and you get quite a lot in return.
The interest rate for purchases is 21.9% APR (variable), which is based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200.
To apply for the Santander All in One Credit Card, you’ll need to be a UK resident over the age of 18, with an income of at least £10,500 a year.
Want premium features? Santander also has a World Elite Mastercard, which offers extra perks such as airport lounge and Wi-Fi hotspot access and a 24/7 concierge service.
There’s a fee of £15 a month, and only Santander Select and Private Banking customers are eligible to apply.¹¹
8: Bip Cardless Credit
The UK-based fintech Bip offers a credit card, but without the plastic. It specialises in cardless credit on your phone, provided through a partnership with British financial services company NewDay Ltd.
But how does it work? It’s pretty simple, as you’ll just need to get the Bip app and apply for digital credit. There’s also the option to check your eligibility first.
If accepted, you can simply add your virtual credit card to Apple Pay or Google Pay, then make contactless payments using just your phone.
It’s a great option for mobile wallet fans, who prefer to pay for everything using just their phone – without the need to carry physical payment cards around.
Bip cardless credit has a representative interest rate of 29.9% APR (variable), with starting credit limits from £250.
It’s also a decent option for holiday spending, if you have an overseas trip coming up.
This is because there are no foreign transaction fees, for both spending and cash withdrawals – although there’s the slight hassle of trying to find a cardless ATM.
Remember that ATM operators may charge their own fees, and that interest on cash advances starts accruing right away. Bip uses the Mastercard exchange rate for currency conversions.
Bip Cardless Credit has no monthly or annual fees.
9: Zopa Credit Card
Another UK fintech, Zopa Bank is a peer-to-peer (P2P) lending company which also happens to offer credit cards. It was even named Best Credit Card Provider in the British Bank Awards 2021.
The Zopa Credit Card is best for people who need a way to cover travel spending. It has no foreign transaction fees for spending outside the UK, although there is a £3 flat fee for cash withdrawals.¹⁴
There’s no annual fee, and interest rates start from 24.9%.
Other Zopa credit card features include:
- Credit Cushion, letting you set aside some of your credit balance ready for when you really need it
- Instant payment notifications
- Real-time balance updates
- View your PIN securely in the app
- In-app card controls, such as the option to freeze your card if you lose it.
You can apply for the Zopa credit card by downloading the app. There’s even the option to do an instant eligibility check, to see if you’ll be accepted without any impact on your credit score.
10: Metro Bank Credit Card
Travelling in Europe? The Metro Bank Credit Card is ideal, as it has no foreign transaction fees when you spend or withdraw cash in most European countries.
It’s also a great card for everyday use, as it has a low interest rate of 14.9% APR (variable) representative. This is based on an assumed credit limit of £1,200.
There are no monthly or annual fees to worry about either.
The only potential drawback here is that you’ll need to visit a Metro Bank branch in person to apply for the card. But the upside to this is your new credit card will be printed there and then, so you can start using it right away.
11: John Lewis Partnership Credit Card
If you’re a regular shopper at John Lewis or Waitrose, it’s worth taking a look at the John Lewis Partnership Credit Card.
It offers 3.75% back in points when you spend at either retailer within the first 90 days. After that, you’ll earn 5 points for every £4 spent. You’ll also get 1 point for every £4 spent elsewhere. Once you reach 500 points, you’ll get a £5 voucher to spend on shopping at John Lewis and Waitrose.
The card from John Lewis Finance has no annual or monthly fees, and a representative APR of 27.9% (variable). You can use the card abroad, but fees will apply – and there’s also a fee for withdrawing cash.
