We provide an independent comparison table of credit card features and rates in the UK. Use the searchable database of credit card to compare interest costs, annual fees, balance transfer offers and rewards.
Cheapest Overall UK Credit Cards By APR
Tesco currenty offers the cheapest credit card in the UK with an APR as low as 10.9%, but in general credit cards are definitely getting more expensive since our comparison in 2023. Compared to the rates available last year, Several credit cards, such as the Halifax and Lloyds Bank cards, saw significant APR increases of over 12%, with Aqua Advance experiencing the largest hike at 34.55%. Meanwhile, cards like the MBNA Long Term Low-Interest Credit Card saw smaller increases, and providers like Bank of Scotland no longer offer their low-rate Platinum Mastercard.
| Credit Card | APR | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Tesco Bank Clubcard Credit Card with Low APR Mastercard | 10.90% | No annual fee |
| AIB (Formerly First Trust Bank (NI)) Student Mastercard | 12.90% | No annual fee |
| Ulster Bank Credit Card Mastercard | 12.90% | No annual fee |
| The Royal Bank Credit Card | 12.90% | No annual fee |
| MBNA Long Term Low Interest Credit Card | 12.99% | No annual fee |
| Great Wall International Gold Credit Card | 13.50% | No annual fee |
| AIB (Formerly First Trust Bank (NI)) Visa/Mastercard Option 2 | 16.90% | No annual fee |
| Great Wall International Classic Credit Card | 18.50% | No annual fee |
| Metro Bank Personal Credit Card Mastercard | 18.90% | No annual fee |
| AIB (formerly First Trust Bank (NI)) Visa/Mastercard Option 1 | 18.90% | No annual fee |
| Yorkshire Bank Gold Mastercard | 18.90% | No annual fee |
| HSBC Student Credit Card Visa | 18.90% | No annual fee |
| Coutts & Co Silk Credit Card Visa | 19.99% | No annual fee |
| TSB Student Mastercard | 21.95% | No annual fee |
| Clydesdale Bank Business Mastercard | 22.40% | £0 – £28 |
| Yorkshire Bank Business Mastercard | 22.40% | £0 – £28 |
| Danske Bank Mastercard Standard Credit Card | 22.90% | No annual fee |
| Halifax Credit Card Mastercard | 22.94% | No annual fee |
| Lloyds Bank Online Platinum Low Rate Mastercard | 22.94% | No annual fee |
| Santander Business Cashback Credit Card Mastercard | 23.70% | £30 |
| Santander Everyday no balance Credit Card Mastercard | 23.90% | No annual fee |
| HSBC Rewards Credit Card | 23.90% | No annual fee |
| Nationwide Member Credit Card All Rounder | 24.90% | No annual fee |
| Nationwide Member Credit Card Balance Transfer offer Credit Card Visa | 24.90% | No annual fee |
| TSB Platinum Balance Transfer Mastercard | 24.90% | No annual fee |
| Virgin Money 20 Month Balance Transfer Credit Card Mastercard | 24.90% | No annual fee |
| Virgin Money Travel Credit Card Mastercard | 24.90% | No annual fee |
| M&S Bank Transfer Plus Mastercard | 24.90% | No annual fee |
| HSBC Balance Transfer Credit Card Visa | 24.90% | No annual fee |
| first direct Credit Card Visa | 24.90% | No annual fee |
| first direct Gold Card Visa | 24.90% | No annual fee |
| Ulster Bank Balance Transfer Credit Card Mastercard | 24.90% | No annual fee |
| Tesco Bank Clubcard 0% Balance Transfer Fee Mastercard | 24.90% | No annual fee |
| The Royal Bank Balance Transfer Credit Card (existing customers) | 24.90% | No annual fee |
| The NatWest Balance Transfer Credit Card (existing customers) | 24.90% | No annual fee |
| The NatWest Longer Balance Transfer Card | 24.90% | No annual fee |
| Virgin Money 16 Month Balance Transfer Credit Card Mastercard | 24.90% | No annual fee |
| Virgin Money 12 Month All Round Credit Card Mastercard | 24.90% | No annual fee |
| HSBC Premier Credit Card Mastercard | 25.24% | No annual fee |
| Virgin Money Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card | 26.90% | No annual fee |
| IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card | 28.49% | No annual fee |
| Santander All in One Credit Card Mastercard | 29.80% | £3 per month |
| Tesco Bank Foundation Credit Card Mastercard | 29.90% | No annual fee |
| HSBC Classic Credit Card Visa | 29.90% | No annual fee |
| Capital One Balance Transfer Mastercard | 29.99% | No annual fee |
| Vanquis Credit Builder Credit Card | 30.90% | No annual fee |
| TSB Classic Mastercard | 30.95% | No annual fee |
| The American Express ® Rewards Credit Card | 31.00% | No annual fee |
| American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday Credit Card | 31.00% | No annual fee |
| British Airways American Express ® Credit Card | 31.00% | No annual fee |
| Royal Bank of Scotland Reward Credit Card Mastercard | 31.00% | £24 per annum |
| NatWest Reward Credit Card Mastercard | 31.00% | £0 – £24 |
| Vanquis Bank Balance Transfer Credit Card | 33.50% | No annual fee |
| Barclaycard Forward Credit Card Visa | 33.90% | No annual fee |
| Fluid Credit Card | 34.90% | No annual fee |
| Capital One Classic Mastercard | 34.90% | No annual fee |
| Aqua Classic | 34.90% | No annual fee |
| marbles Credit Card | 34.90% | No annual fee |
| Capital One Luma Purchase Mastercard | 35.90% | No annual fee |
| Capital One Luma Mastercard | 35.90% | No annual fee |
| American Express Platinum Cashback Credit Card | 36.70% | £25 per annum |
| Thinkmoney Credit Card | 39.90% | No annual fee |
| Ocean Finance Credit Card | 39.90% | No annual fee |
| Royal Bank of Scotland Reward Black Credit Card Mastercard | 40.70% | £84 per annum |
| NatWest Reward Black Credit Card Mastercard | 40.70% | £0 – £84 per annum. |
| Santander World Elite Mastercard | 49.80% | £15 per month |
| HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard | 59.30% | £195 per annum |
| Virgin Money Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card | 69.70% | No annual fee |
| American Express ® Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card | 88.80% | £0 – £160 |
| British Airways American Express ® Premium Plus | 139.90% | £250 per annum |
| John Lewis and Waitrose Partnership Mastercard credit card | 28.9 | No annual fee |
| Aqua Advance | 34.9 | No annual fee |
| Sainsbury’s Bank Balance Transfer Credit Card Mastercard | n/a | No annual fee |
| Halifax Low Fee 0% Balance Transfer Credit Card Mastercard | n/a | No annual fee |
| Halifax Clarity Credit Card Mastercard | n/a | No annual fee |
| Sainsbury’s Bank No Balance Transfer Fee Credit Card Mastercard | n/a | No annual fee |
| MBNA Long 0% Money Transfer Credit Card | n/a | No annual fee |
| MBNA 0% Transfer and Purchase Credit Card | n/a | No annual fee |
| Lloyds Bank Online Platinum 24 Month Balance Transfer Mastercard | n/a | No annual fee |
| Lloyds Bank Online Platinum 28 Month Balance Transfer Mastercard | n/a | No annual fee |
| Lloyds Bank Online Platinum 20 Month Balance Transfer Mastercard | n/a | No annual fee |
| Lloyds Bank Online Platinum 20 Month Purchase and Balance Transfer Mastercard | n/a | No annual fee |
| Halifax Clarity Credit Card Mastercard | n/a | No annual fee |
Different Types of Credit Card
All Credit Cards
Everyday credit cards offer you the most flexibility for everyday use while having a reasonable interest rate, a balance transfer option and an initial interest-free period on purchases.
Balance Transfer Credit Cards
Astute credit card holders know they can shop around for a new card and transfer the balance from their old one, benefiting from a lower interest rate or even an interest-free period. Balance transfer credit cards are also a great way to consolidate debt from several cards to one.
Rewards Credit Cards
Reward credit cards are an easy way to earn hundreds of pounds in bonuses, just for your normal spending. But while some offers look valuable, you might be paying through the nose in interest fees. Also, consider whether the rewards offered are worthwhile to you.
Cash Back Credit Cards
You’ll be familiar with the cashback concept, where you earn rewards in the form of money or credit on your account when you spend. You must shop around as the “earn rate” varies, while some cards affiliated to a brand reward more for spending with that brand.
Travel Credit Cards
Don’t get hit by high fees when using your credit card abroad. Look for a credit card that offers no fees on foreign transactions and preferably some rewards as well.
Bad Credit Credit Cards
When you have a poor credit score, perhaps because of bankruptcy or some form of previous default, you can begin to rebuild your score using these cards. For those with credit problems here are our top ten bad credit credit cards.
Money Transfer Credit Cards
Using a credit card to pay off your expensive bank overdraft (or another loan) makes total sense when you can do so interest-free. Therefore, look for a card that has the longest 0% money transfer period and pay off as much as you can from the card quickly.
Air Miles Credit Cards
Bag yourself free travel simply by spending on your credit card. But select your card carefully as only some offer air miles, and some are more generous than others.
Purchase Credit Cards
If you use your credit card simply for purchases and are not concerned about balance transfers and other perks, you need to look at any interest-free purchase promotional period, followed by an ongoing generous low APR.