Best Credit Cards in the UK - Fees, Rates, Rewards and More

Looking for a new credit card? There are an enormous amount to choose from in the UK, from providers ranging from banks to digital money apps. It can be overwhelming to find the best one for your needs, or figure out how much it’ll cost you to use.

We’re here to make it easier. Read on for a full rundown of the 14 best credit cards in the UK, with an easy-to-follow look at fees, interest rates, features and what each card is best for. So whether you’re looking for a card for spending abroad or transferring a balance, we have it covered.

We’ll also touch upon a great alternative, one that is particularly good for travel spending - the Wise card. It’s not a credit card, but an international debit card for spending at the mid-market exchange rate in 150+ countries.

Learn more about Wise

But more on that later. For now, let’s dive straight into our list of the best credit cards in the UK.

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
Amex Platinum Cashback Everyday	None	30.9%	- Cashback on purchases - Travel perks	Cashback
Tesco Bank Foundation Credit Card	None	29.9%	- Earn Tesco clubcard points - Access to Tesco Bank Credit View	Building a credit score
TSB Student Credit Card	None	21.9%	- Online and app card management	Students

1: Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card¹

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 Card²

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 Card³

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.

Like many of the other providers on our list, Halifax has an eligibility checker tool you can use before you apply.

4: ASDA Money Credit Card⁴

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 Card⁹

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 Credit¹²

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 Card¹³

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 Card¹⁵

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 Card¹⁶

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.

To apply, you’ll need to be a UK resident over the age of 18.

12: Amex Platinum Cashback Everyday Credit Card¹⁷

The Amex Platinum Cashback Everyday Credit Card is one of the only American Express cards without an annual or monthly fee. This makes it a decent card for everyday use, although the representative APR of 30.9% (variable) is higher than some of the cards we’ve looked at so far.

As an extra perk, you’ll get:

• 5% cashback on your purchases (up to a maximum of £100) within your first three months of signing up.
• 0.5% cashback on purchases up to £10,000 within the year
• 1% cashback on purchases over £10,000 within the year.

American Express cardholders also get access to other benefits, such as travel accident insurance, Global Assist support and American Express travel offers.

To apply for this card, you’ll need to be a UK resident over the age of 18. You can also check your eligibility in advance, without impacting your credit score.

13: Tesco Bank Foundation Credit Card¹

If you have a less-than-brilliant credit score, you might think that you can’t get a credit card. But you’d be wrong - as the Tesco Bank Foundation Credit Card is designed just for people like you.

While it’s definitely not guaranteed you’ll be accepted, this card is billed as the “credit card for bad credit”. It was even named Best Credit Builder Credit Card 2021 in the Moneyfacts Consumer Awards.

When you spend and make repayments using this card, you’ll be able to gradually build your credit score. Of course, this depends on you making repayments on time and staying within your credit limit. You can track where you’re up to with Tesco Bank Credit View, which can provide monthly updates too.

You’ll also earn Tesco clubcard points when you spend.

The representative APR for the Tesco Bank Foundation Credit Card is 29.9% (variable). It has no monthly or annual fees, but there are charges for spending abroad, withdrawing cash and transferring a balance.

14: TSB Student Credit Card¹⁹

Lastly, we have a credit card designed just for students. This could be a helpful option if you need access to extra finance during your cash-strapped student years.

The TSB Student Credit Card is only available to existing TSB Student Bank Account customers, and you can’t already have a credit card with the bank. You’ll also need to have a regular income to apply, which could make it a deal-breaker for some students.

The interest on this card is 21.9% (variable) representative and there are no monthly or annual fees to worry about. However, there are fees for cash withdrawals, missing payments, using the card abroad and exceeding your credit limit.

You can apply online if you’re over 18 and a UK resident. Once you have the card, you can manage it either through online banking or the TSB mobile app.

Get the Wise card for international spending and cash withdrawals

Want a card you can use abroad for low fees and great exchange rates? Not all of the cards on our list fit the bill, but there is a great alternative available.

The Wise card isn’t a credit card, but is a fantastic option for low-cost spending and cash withdrawals worldwide.

This contactless international debit card can be used in 150+ countries, pretty much everywhere Visa and Mastercard are accepted. This includes online, so it’s great for shopping on overseas websites. You can even add it to your mobile wallet, for easy contactless payments using just your phone.

Join Wise today

The Wise card automatically converts your pounds to the local currency whenever you spend, using the margin-free mid-market exchange rate. There’s just a small conversion fee, or there’s no charge if you already have the currency in your Wise account.

Need cash? You can withdraw up to £200 a month with no Wise fee (although ATM operators may charge their own fee).

And if you need to send money overseas, such as to pay expenses on a holiday home or book a hotel, you can use your Wise account to do it in just a few clicks. Wise makes it easy to send money all over the world, for low, transparent fees.

Wise is a money service business, which offers an online multi-currency account, international money transfer services and a debit card.

Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.

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And that’s it - our helpful rundown of the best credit cards in the UK at the moment. We’ve covered cards from big banks and digital providers alike, along with non-credit cards like Wise that are particularly good for travel.

You should have all the info you need to compare fees, rates and rewards, and choose the right card for you.

Top tip - it’s a good idea to make use of the eligibility checker tool that many providers offer. It lets you check whether you’ll be accepted before you apply, without the risk of damaging your credit score with a rejection.

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Sources used:

1. Barclaycard - Barclaycard Rewards
2. Barclays - Barclaycard Platinum credit card
3. Halifax - Travel Credit Cards
4. ASDA Money - ASDA Money Credit Card
5. ASDA Money - Asda Money Credit Card Summary Box
6. NatWest - The NatWest Credit Card
7. NatWest - Summary Box for The NatWest Credit Card
8. NatWest - Purchase & Balance Transfer card
9. Santander - All in One Credit Card
10. Santander - All in One Credit Card Summary Box & Key Information
11. Santander - Credit Cards
12. Bip Credit - Summary Box
13. Zopa - Credit Card
14. Zopa - Credit Card fees
15. Metro Bank - Credit Card
16. John Lewis Finance - Partnership Card
17. American Express - Platinum Cashback Everyday Credit Card
18. Tesco Bank - Foundation Card
19. TSB - Student Credit Card

Sources last checked on date: 10-Aug-2023