Play your cards right: The best credit cards for spending, holidays, rewards or clearing your debts
- Top purchase and credit cards waive interest for up to 26 months
- We pick the best airline cards, cashback and rewards cards
- Bookmark this page for the very latest developments
Whatever you have got your sights set on this year, if it is going to involve a credit card, then it is essential that you get the right one.
The best credit cards can help you clear your debts faster, spread the cost of an expensive purchase and even earn a tidy sum in airline points, cashback or rewards.
Pick the wrong one, however, or fail to manage it correctly and you can be left with a hefty bill, and a credit rating in tatters.
So whether your plans are simply making more of your everyday spending or getting on top of existing debts to the more adventurous such as shelling out for a new Kitchen or a dream holiday - here's our pick of the best credit cards to help.
![Play your cards right: This is Money has rounded up the best credit card offers](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/04/28/14/3FB3668A00000578-2263203-image-a-1_1493384653415.jpg)
Play your cards right: This is Money has rounded up the best credit card offers
This is Money has scoured the market and picked out what we believe are the best credit card deals to help you make the most of your money.
We pick these because we think that they offer something that makes them stand out from the crowd, they may not always have the absolute lowest rate or longest special offer, but they are judged by our independent research to offer a good deal.
Best credit cards for spending on big purchases
Interest-free spending
If you're planning some home improvements or large purchases in the near future and need some extra cash for spending, as long as you are confident you can pay off the full amount within the interest-free period to avoid high interest rates, a 0 per cent purchase card could be a good option for you.
Remember, you will need to be disciplined about clearing the balance before the end of the term, otherwise interest on the remaining amount will quickly make it an expensive option.
Before you apply, read more about how to avoid the 0 per cent interest traps here
Top deals | Purchase offer | Extras | Standard APR |
---|---|---|---|
Santander All in One Credit Card | 26 months | 26 months 0% balance transfers (no fee), 0.5% cashback on all spending and fee-free spending abroad. £3 monthly fee. | 21.7% |
TSB Platinum Purchase Card | 20 months | 20 months 0% interest on balance transfers. (2.95% fee) | 19.9% |
M&S Bank Shopping Plus Mastercard | 20 months | 20 months 0% interest on balance transfers (2.9%/£5 fee), earn 1 M&S point for every £1 you spend and a £5 voucher. | 19.9% |
MBNA Limited 0% Transfer and Purchase Credit Card | 18 months | 18 months 0% interest on balance transfers (2.5% fee) but purchases are only interest-free if made within 60 days. | 20.9% |
Barclaycard Platinum 18 Month 0% Purchase and Balance Transfer Visa | 18 months | 18 months 0% interest on balance transfers (2.9% fee) | 20.9% APR |
HSBC Purchase Plus Visa | 18 months | 18 months 0% interest on balance transfers made within 60 days (2.9% fee) | 22.9% APR |
Correct as of October 8 2020 |
Could you be better with a long-term low rate instead?
If you are happy to sidestep a 0 per cent interest period, another credit card option for anyone wanting to take the pressure off paying within a set time period is a permanent low-interest card.
Unfortunately these cards are not as good as they once were, however you can still find low interest deals closer to 9 or 10 per cent, rather than the typical 19 or 20 per cent found.
These give the flexibility of knowing that you have a card to hand to spread big purchases out, without worrying about falling foul of any small print.
Missing payments, paying late or spending beyond your limit risk losing an interest-free term which can quickly land you in hot water when standard interest at 18 or 19 per cent is slapped on your remaining balance.
The benefit is that if you decide not to pay off the entire balance every month, you will only have to pay minimal interest.
You must have a good credit rating to be approved.
Lloyds Bank, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, NatWest and Tesco Bank all offer cards with an APR of 9.9 per cent, TSB 7.9 per cent and the Co-op Bank 8.9 per cent.
Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland also have the benefit of offering no-fee balance transfers.
Check out this is Money's favourite low-rate credit card here
Best credit cards for rewards
Over recent years some of the most lucrative schemes have unfortunately been scrapped or scaled back.
But there are still a few cards that if you do it right, could earn you £100s worth of goods and services for free.
Remember: Each company operates under their own points system, so make sure you check what each point is actually worth – something that may appear to offer huge bonuses could in reality be almost worthless.
Below we have picked a few of our favourites, alternatively read more about all of the top deals in our in depth guide:
- Top rewards cards for big spenders
- Best cards for cashback
- Cheapest deals for overseas spending
- Most lucrative air miles cards
![Travel rewards: pay with a credit card to get deals on trips](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/07/19/17/427E014D00000578-2263203-image-a-1_1500480885718.jpg)
Travel rewards: pay with a credit card to get deals on trips
Best for airline points: British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card
Your choice of rewards card will largely depend on which airlines you prefer because a combination of credit card and frequent flyer points are going to get you the best discounts.
However, if you are a big spender, the British Airways Premium Plus Amex card is one of the most lucrative deals on the market.
> Read our top five tips on boosting your Avios points pot without spending any more
What do you get?
The major crowdpleaser is the free companion ticket if you spend more than £10,000 a year - remember you still have to foot the bill for taxes, fees and charges though.
The sign-up bonuses are good, too. At the moment you get 25,000 Avios points when you successfully apply and spend £3,000 within the first three months.
Cardholders can get automatic enrollment to the British Airways Executive Club, which includes priority on standby waiting lists, 24/7 support when traveling outside the UK through Global Assist, and travel accident insurance of up to £75,000 on public transport when booked with your Amex card.
You get 1.5 Avios points for each £1 you spend. You also get three Avios point for every £1 you spend with British Airways or BA holidays.
As a guideline - You will need 9,000 points for a return flight to Berlin, 15,000 gets you as far as Rome and 20,000 buys you a return flight to Moscow.
The small-print
Points expire after 36 months if you don't add to your account.
There is a £195 annual fee and the 22.2 per cent rate on purchases means you need to make sure you pay the card off in full each month.
To be eligible you must have a household income of £30,000 and no history of bad credit.
If you don't want to pay an annual fee, there is a free alternative, the British Airways American Express card. The sign-up perk for this card is a 5,000 bonus BA Avios after a £1,000 spend in the first six months.
Best for overseas spending: Halifax
Halifax Clarity credit card has long been a popular option for no-frills overseas spending.
![Dream holiday: A specialist travel credit card won't charge you extra for spending abroad](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/30/10/3C36367100000578-2263203-Dream_holiday_A_specialist_travel_credit_card_won_t_charge_you_e-a-2_1485773603089.jpg)
Dream holiday: A specialist travel credit card won't charge you extra for spending abroad
What it offers
Halifax demands no extra charges for spending abroad anywhere or any extra for withdrawing cash at home and abroad.
Plus it's a Mastercard which means conversion rates are much better.
There is no annual fee - so there are zero extra costs as long as you pay off your balance in full every month.
Additional cards on the same account are available and you can manage your account online.
Watch out for
Interest is charged immediately at the card's standard rate of 19.9 per cent on cash withdrawals and spending abroad, but you can minimise the cost by repaying in full as soon as possible.
Depending on your credit score, applicants may be given a higher interest rate of 27.95 per cent.
You will be charged £12 if you pay your balance late, have a payment returned or go over your limit.
>Skip to This is Money's roundup of the top cards to use abroad
THIS IS MONEY'S FIVE OF THE BEST HOLIDAY MONEY DEALS
Starling Bank's current account allows free purchases and cash withdrawals abroad. The bank also offers up to 0.05% interest on balances up to £85,000. The account is managed by smartphone app only.
![logo](https://sailthru-media.s3.amazonaws.com/composer/images/sailthru-prod-4w5/starling_122x84.jpg)
The American Express Premium Plus Credit Card offers a 25,000 free Avios boost when you spend £3,000 in the first six months after opening. It pays 1.5 Avios per £1 spent and carries a £195 annual fee. 74.7% APR.
![logo](https://img.thisismoney.co.uk/modulepix/amex.jpg)
Metro Bank will not charge you for using your card or withdrawing money from an ATM in Europe, but it will charge 2.99 per cent on both card purchases and ATM withdrawals (plus a £1.50 fee for the latter) for the rest of the world.
![logo](https://img.thisismoney.co.uk/modulepix/metrobank.jpg)
FairFX is offering This is Money readers a free prepaid Mastercard currency card. It offers highly competitive exchange rates, no foreign transaction fees and low cash withdrawal charges abroad. Comes with a £10 bonus when you top up.
![logo](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/05/FairFX-Logo_118x81.jpg)
Santander's Zero Mastercard credit card offers fee-free spending and cash withdrawals worldwide, with 0% interest on all purchases for 12 months from account opening. Representative APR of 18.9 per cent.
![logo](https://sailthru-media.s3.amazonaws.com/composer/images/sailthru-prod-4w5/editor_images/santander.jpg)
Best rewards cards for supermarkets: Tesco Clubcard Credit Card for Purchases
The card that's right for you will depend on where you like to shop, but the Tesco Clubcard Credit Card for Purchases is particularly rewarding for supermarket spending.
It also currently comes with a competitive 0 per cent interest term on spending for up to 18 months.
What it offers
It gives one Clubcard point for every £4 you spend on it in Tesco stores or on Tesco Fuel and one point for ever £8 spent elsewhere. This is in addition to the 1 point per £1 you already earn using its loyalty scheme.
One point is worth 1p if spent in-store at Tesco and up to 3p if redeemed using Tesco's Clubcard rewards vouchers.
These can be used for a variety of restaurants, cinemas and other entertainment venues, as well as travel, through Avios.
The small print
Points expire after two years and rewards vouchers after two-and-a-half.
Make sure you pay the card off in full each month otherwise rewards will be quickly cancelled out as interest is charged at 19.9 APR per cent.
Points will not be awarded for some products, including tobacco or tobacco related products, lottery, stamps, prescription medicines, infant formula milk, Tesco Gift Cards, saving stamps, Esso fuel, Paypoint payments or for purchases of some Tesco Bank products.
![Tip yourself: Earn a percentage of your credit card spending back](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/01/30/10/024A51B70000044D-2263203-image-a-4_1485773700971.jpg)
Tip yourself: Earn a percentage of your credit card spending back
Best credit card for cashback: American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday Card
The American Express Platinum Cashback Everyday Card has the highest cashback rate currently available – and, as an added incentive, there is no annual fee to pay.
You will need to spend at least £3,000 on the card each year to qualify for the cashback.
What do you get?
Spend £3,000 on your Platinum Cashback Card in the first three months and you will receive £100 in cashback
You can also earn cashback on supermarket and petrol spends, as well as travel and entertainment. In fact, you can earn money on virtually all your everyday purchases.
After the first three months the rate drops from the 5 per cent introductory offer to a maximum of 1 per cent.
- Spend £0 to £5,000 and receive 0.5 per cent cashback on that spend
- Spend above £5,000, receive 1 per cent cashback on that spend
You are also eligible for travel accident insurance for up to £150,000 on public transport when you buy your ticket with your card.
Complimentary supplementary cards for family members are available, generating even more cashback for your account.
The small print
You must spend a minimum of £3,000 a year to qualify for cashback.
Cashback is not earned on balance transfers, cash advances, American Express travellers cheques purchases, foreign exchange transactions or interest.
Remember, cashback incentives are there to encourage you to buy more on your card - and pay higher interest charges.
The 22.2 per cent APR means you should pay off your balance in full every month to avoid hefty charges.
THIS IS MONEY'S FIVE OF THE BEST CREDIT CARDS
The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card offers 20,000 Amex points if you spend £3,000 within the first three months. It comes with a £160 fee after the first 12 months and 28.1% on purchases.
![logo](https://i.mol.im/i/pix/2014/10_01/amexresize_122x84.jpg)
NatWest's Balance Transfer card offers 33 months interest-free on balance transfers, the longest deal around, with a fee of 2.9% when transferring debt. It has an APR of 22.9%.
![logo](https://i.mol.im/i/pix/2014/06_01/natwest_122x84.jpg)
The American Express Platinum Cashback card offers 5% cashback up to £125 for first 3 months. You get 0.75% cashback on spending up to £10k and 1% cashback above £10k. There is a £25 annual fee and 28.1% on purchases.
![logo](https://i.mol.im/i/pix/2014/10_01/amexresize_122x84.jpg)
The Halifax Clarity Credit Card is an old favourite for holidaymakers with no overseas fees It has no charges for spending abroad and low interest when withdrawing cash anywhere in the world. It charges interest of 19.9% APR.
![logo](https://creative.dailymail.co.uk/thisismoney/best-current-accounts/logo-haliax.jpg)
Barclays Rewards Card offers 0.25% cashback on everyday spending. There is no annual charge and no fees when using the card abroad, and you’ll be able to withdraw cash from an ATM without any charges. It has a 25.9% APR.
![logo](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02_02/barclays1002_122x84.jpg)
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