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
Credit Card | APR% | Purchase Rate | Cash Rate | Annual Fee |
---|---|---|---|---|
MBNA Long Term Low Interest Credit Card | 8.90% | 4.9% for 48 months reverting to 8.9% | 5% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
Halifax Credit Card Mastercard | 10.90% | 10.94% | 5% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
Tesco Bank Clubcard Credit Card with Low APR Mastercard | 10.90% | 10.90% | 3.99% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Lloyds Bank Online Platinum Low Rate Mastercard | 10.90% | 10.94% | 5% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
Bank of Scotland Platinum Low Rate Mastercard | 10.94% | 10.94% | 5% (Min £0) | No annual fee |
AIB (Formerly First Trust Bank (NI)) Student Mastercard | 12.90% | 12.90% | 1.017% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
Ulster Bank Credit Card Mastercard | 12.90% | 12.90% | 3% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
The Royal Bank Credit Card | 12.90% | 12.90% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Great Wall International Gold Credit Card | 13.50% | 13.50% | 2% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
Coutts & Co Silk Credit Card Visa | 14.70% | 14.71% | 2% (min. £1.5) | No annual fee |
Metro Bank Personal Credit Card Mastercard | 14.90% | 13.97% | 13.97% annually | No annual fee |
AIB (Formerly First Trust Bank (NI)) Visa/Mastercard Option 2 | 16.90% | 16.90% | 1.31% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
The Co-operative Bank Members' Credit Card Visa | 18.20% | 18.20% | 3.99% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
The Co-operative Bank 3 Year Fixed Rate Visa | 18.20% | 18.20% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Great Wall International Classic Credit Card | 18.50% | 18.50% | 2% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
AIB (formerly First Trust Bank (NI)) Visa/Mastercard Option 1 | 18.90% | 18.90% | 1.45% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
Yorkshire Bank Gold Mastercard | 18.90% | 0% for 26 months reverting to 18.9% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
HSBC Student Credit Card Visa | 18.90% | 18.90% | 2.99% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Halifax Online Balance Transfer and Purchase Credit Card Mastercard | 19.90% | 0% for 20 months reverting to 19.95% | 5% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
Nationwide Member Credit Card All Rounder | 19.90% | 0% for 15 months reverting to 19.9% | 2.5% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Nationwide Member Credit Card Balance Transfer offer Credit Card Visa | 19.90% | 0% for 3 months reverting to 19.9% | 2.5% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
The Co-operative Bank Balance Transfer Credit Card Visa | 20.60% | 0% for 4 months reverting to 20.6% | 3.99% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Sainsburys Bank Nectar Credit Card | 20.90% | 0% for 17 months reverting to 20.95% | 3% ( £3 minimum) | No annual fee |
TSB Student Mastercard | 21.90% | 21.95% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Sainsbury's Bank Balance Transfer Credit Card Mastercard | 21.90% | 0% for 3 months reverting to 21.95% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Clydesdale Bank Business Mastercard | 22.40% | 16.90% | 3% (min. £3) | Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £28 per annum |
Yorkshire Bank Business Mastercard | 22.40% | 16.90% | 3% (min. £3) | An annual fee will be charged to your Account for each Card issued, but this fee will not be charged for the first 12 months after a Card is issued – £28 |
Danske Bank Mastercard Standard Credit Card | 22.90% | 0% for 5 months reverting to 22.85% | 2.75% (min. £2.75) | No annual fee |
IHG Rewards Club Credit Card Mastercard | 22.90% | 22.90% | 3% (min. £5) | No annual fee |
Bank of Scotland Platinum 0% Purchase and Balance Transfer Mastercard | 22.90% | 0% for 17 months reverting to 22.94% | 5% (Min £0) | No annual fee |
Bank of Scotland Platinum Low Fee 0% Balance Transfer Mastercard | 22.90% | 0% for 6 months reverting to 22.94% | 5% (Min £0) | No annual fee |
TSB Platinum Balance Transfer Mastercard | 22.90% | 0% for 3 months reverting to 22.95% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Santander Everyday Credit Card Mastercard | 22.90% | 0% for 3 months reverting to 22.9% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Santander Business Cashback Credit Card Mastercard | 23.70% | 18.90% | 3% (min. £3) | £30 per annum (fee paid is per business, not per card) |
Halifax Low Fee 0% Balance Transfer Credit Card Mastercard | 23.90% | 0% for 6 months reverting to 23.90% | 5% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
Halifax Clarity Credit Card Mastercard | 23.90% | 23.94% | 0% | No annual fee |
Barclaycard Platinum 15 Month No Fee Balance Transfer Visa | 23.90% | 0% for 3 months reverting to 23.9% | 2.99% (min. £2.99) | No annual fee |
Virgin Money 26 Month Balance Transfer Credit Card Mastercard | 23.90% | 0% for 3 months reverting to 23.9% | 5% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
Virgin Money 20 Month Balance Transfer Credit Card Mastercard | 23.90% | 0% for 3 months reverting to 23.9% | 5% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
Virgin Money Travel Credit Card Mastercard | 23.90% | 0% for 9 months reverting to 23.9% | 3% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
Sainsbury's Bank No Balance Transfer Fee Credit Card Mastercard | 23.90% | 0% for 3 months reverting to 23.95% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
MBNA Long 0% Money Transfer Credit Card | 23.90% | 23.94% | 5% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
MBNA 0% Transfer and Purchase Credit Card | 23.90% | 0% for 19 months reverting to 23.94% | 5% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
M&S Bank Transfer Plus Mastercard | 23.90% | 0% for 3 months reverting to 23.9% | 2.99% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
M&S Bank Shopping Plus Mastercard | 23.90% | 0% for 18 months reverting to 23.9% | 2.99% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Lloyds Bank Online Platinum 24 Month Balance Transfer Mastercard | 23.90% | 0% for 12 months reverting to 23.94% | 5% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
Lloyds Bank Online Platinum 28 Month Balance Transfer Mastercard | 23.90% | 0% for 3 months reverting to 23.94% | 5% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
Lloyds Bank Online Platinum 20 Month Balance Transfer Mastercard | 23.90% | 0% for 6 months reverting to 23.94% | 5% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
Lloyds Bank Online Platinum 20 Month Purchase and Balance Transfer Mastercard | 23.90% | 0% for 20 months reverting to 23.94% | 5% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
HSBC Rewards Credit Card | 23.90% | 0% for 6 months reverting to 23.9% | 2.99% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
HSBC Balance Transfer Credit Card Visa | 23.90% | 0% for 3 months reverting to 23.9% | 2.99% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
HSBC Premier Credit Card Mastercard | 23.90% | 0% for 9 months reverting to 23.9% | 2.99% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Halifax Clarity Credit Card Mastercard | 23.90% | 23.94% | 0% | No annual fee |
first direct Credit Card Visa | 24.90% | 24.90% | 2.99% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
first direct Gold Card Visa | 24.90% | 0% for 12 months reverting to 24.9% | 2.99% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Ulster Bank Balance Transfer Credit Card Mastercard | 24.90% | 0% for 3 months reverting to 24.9% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Tesco Bank Clubcard 0% Balance Transfer Fee Mastercard | 24.90% | 24.90% | n/a | No annual fee |
The Royal Bank Balance Transfer Credit Card (existing customers) | 24.90% | 0% for 3 months reverting to 24.9% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
The NatWest Balance Transfer Credit Card (existing customers) | 24.90% | 0% for 3 months reverting to 24.9% p.a. (variable) | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
The NatWest Longer Balance Transfer Card | 24.90% | 0% for 3 months reverting to 24.9% p.a. (variable) | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Virgin Money Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card | 26.90% | 0% for 6 months reverting to 26.9% | 2.14% | No annual fee |
Santander All in One Credit Card Mastercard | 27.70% | 0% for 15 months reverting to 21.9% | 3% (min. £3) | £3 per month |
John Lewis and Waitrose Partnership Mastercard credit card | 27.90% | 0% for 6 months reverting to 27.95% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
TSB Classic Mastercard | 28.90% | 0% for 5 months reverting to 28.95% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Vanquis Bank Chrome Card 29.3pc Visa | 29.30% | 29.30% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Vanquis Bank Chrome Credit Card Visa | 29.50% | 29.50% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Vanquis Bank Aquis Visa | 29.80% | 29.84% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Virgin Money 16 Month Balance Transfer Credit Card Mastercard | 29.90% | 0% for 3 months reverting to 29.9% | 5% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
Virgin Money 12 Month All Round Credit Card Mastercard | 29.90% | 0% for 12 months reverting to 29.9% | 5% (min. £0) | No annual fee |
Tesco Bank Foundation Clubcard Credit Card Mastercard | 29.90% | 29.90% | 3.99% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
HSBC Classic Credit Card Visa | 29.90% | 29.90% | 2.99% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
The American Express ® Rewards Credit Card | 30.70% | 30.70% | 3% ( £3 minimum) | No annual fee |
American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday Credit Card | 30.70% | 30.70% | 3% ( £3 minimum) | No annual fee |
British Airways American Express ® Credit Card | 30.70% | 30.7% p.a. variable | 3% ( £3 minimum) | No annual fee |
Royal Bank of Scotland Reward Credit Card Mastercard | 31.00% | 25.90% | 3% (min. £3) | £24 per annum |
NatWest Reward Credit Card Mastercard | 31.00% | 25.90% | 3% (min. £3) | £24 per annum. Reward Current Account holders: £0 per annum |
Barclaycard Forward Credit Card Visa | 33.90% | 0% for 3 months reverting to 33.9% | 2.99% (min. £2.99) | No annual fee |
Fluid Credit Card | 34.90% | 34.90% | 3% (min £3) | No annual fee |
Capital One Classic Mastercard | 34.90% | 34.94% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Capital One Balance Transfer Mastercard | 34.90% | 0% for 3 months reverting to 34.94% (subject to eligibility) | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Aqua Advance | 34.90% | 34.95% | 5% (min. £4) | No annual fee |
Aqua Classic | 34.90% | 34.95% | 3% ( £3 minimum) | No annual fee |
marbles Credit Card | 34.90% | 34.95% | 5% of the transaction (minimum £4) | No annual fee |
Capital One Luma Purchase Mastercard | 35.90% | 0% for 3 months reverting to 35.94% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Capital One Luma Mastercard | 35.90% | 35.94% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
American Express Platinum Cashback Credit Card | 36.30% | 30.70% | 3% ( £3 minimum) | £25 per annum |
Vanquis Bank Visa | 39.90% | 39.94% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Thinkmoney Credit Card | 39.90% | 39.94% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Ocean Finance Credit Card | 39.90% | 39.94% | 3% (min. £3) | No annual fee |
Royal Bank of Scotland Reward Black Credit Card Mastercard | 40.70% | 21.90% | 3% (min. £3) | £84 per annum |
NatWest Reward Black Credit Card Mastercard | 40.70% | 21.90% | 3% (min. £3) | £84 per annum. Reward Black Current Account holders: £0 per annum |
Santander World Elite Mastercard | 49.80% | 0% for 18 months reverting to 18.9% | 3% (min. £3) | £15 per month |
HSBC Premier World Elite Mastercard | 59.30% | 18.90% | 2.99% (min. £3) | £195 per annum |
Virgin Money Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card | 69.70% | 0% for 6 months reverting to 26.9% | 2.14% | No annual fee |
American Express ® Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card | 75.20% | 30.70% | 3% ( £3 minimum) | Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £160 per annum |
British Airways American Express ® Premium Plus | 112.50% | 30.7% variable for purchases | 3% ( £3 minimum) | £250 per annum |
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.
What are Rewards Credit Cards?
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.
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.
Use our guide to the top ten best bad credit credit cards to find the right card which will likey enable you to spend on credit if you have bad credit.
What is a bad credit credit card?
A bad credit credit card is a credit card for people with a poor credit history who struggle to get credit. These cards have tougher eligibility criteria than a standard credit card, but they help people improve their credit score if they make payments on time, while being able to borrow short term.
A bad credit score usually arises because people have not borrowed at all or have patchy borrowing histories, which means lenders cannot be certain how reliable the borrower will be in making repayments. Alternatively, a borrower failed to make payments or has a country court judgement (CCJ) against them.
To find out more about your financial history try the free service CreditWise. It offers tips on how to improve your score and lets you keep an eye on your history. It also offers a way to check eligibility criteria without applying directly. This avoids any rejections negatively impacting on your existing credit score.
It is important that bad credit credit cards are not used to try and get out of debt. If you fail to make a repayment, they have high-interest rates which makes debt far harder to manage and can make your credit score much worse.
How do bad credit cards work?
Poor credit histories need not be permanent. Borrowers cause a bad credit credit card to reverse their histories by proving they can borrow responsibly.
Borrowers need to meet eligibility criteria when they apply, and these will vary across providers. Applications are typically made online. It can be a good idea to use an eligibility criteria checker before applying officially, since a rejection from a lender can bring down an already low credit score. Lenders will look for evidence or failed payments, CCJs, numerous existing cards and whether you are a registered UK voter.
A bad credit credit card is given to those with poor credit histories to demonstrate they can repay debt in time and in full. The lender sets strict borrowing limits and imposes a high APR as recompense for lending to those who have poor histories. So long as the lender repays their debt and sticks to the rules, they will improve their credit score over time. This allows them to borrow more easily on favourable terms in future.
How does a bad credit credit card differ from a credit building credit card?
There is not a great deal of difference between a bad credit credit card and a credit builder card. As the names imply, bad credit credit cards help repair a poor score based on a questionable lending record. Credit building cards help those without a credit history to demonstrate they are responsible borrowers. Both types of card have similar eligibility criteria and impose high APRs.
What are the benefits of using a bad credit credit card?
Without a decent credit history, it is difficult for lenders to take on a borrower. Bad credit credit cards can improve credit history and make it easier to borrow money in the future, on more favourable terms. They are useful for short-term borrowing where borrowers are not able to access loans.
What are the downsides of bad credit credit card?
Bad credit credit cards can be disastrous if the borrower cannot keep up with repayments. Not only will they add to their debt through high APR, but they will undermine their credit score yet further. Bad credit credit cards typically offer lower borrowing limits than other credit cards.
Bad credit credit cards should never be used for taking out cash nor should they be used to clear debt; they are expensive and serve to improve credit scores only if you are able to honour the lender’s terms.
Five ways to improve your credit score:
- Repay your debts in full and on time
- Close unused accounts
- Do not apply for too many credit cards
- Build a credit history
- Register to vote
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.
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.
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.Further, there may be beneficial earn rates for an introductory period, while rewards might increase once you’ve crossed over a spending threshold.
Credit Building Credit Cards
If you need to build your credit rating, a credit card is a powerful weapon. The best options will boost your rating while exposing you to the minimum risk in terms of credit limits. However, the flip side is these cards attract a higher representative APR.
If you need to build your credit rating, a credit card is a powerful weapon. The best options will boost your rating while exposing you to the minimum risk in terms of credit limits. However, the flip side is these cards attract a higher representative APR.
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.
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.
- American Express Gold or Platinum cards both offer bonus points at sign-up, and then generous points per £1 spend which can be transferred to travel if booked through AMEX travel. The card fee is waived in year one, so go elsewhere or be prepared to fork out in year two (£450 for the Platinum card!).
- British Airways American Express Premium Card offers generous points and a companion voucher when you spend £10,000 in a year, meaning you get to take a friend! Some people are turned off by the £175 fee and would prefer a Visa or Mastercard option.
- Virgin Atlantic Credit Card rewards 5,000 Flying Club miles after the first purchase, then 0.75 miles per £1 spent. No annual fee but the companion voucher is not as generous as BA.
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.
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.
Everyday 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.