Borrowing
Credit Cards

Credit Cards

How to find the right credit card for you

I know what type of credit card I need

If you know what credit card type you need, our eligibility calculator will tell you your acceptance chances for a range of cards. But if you're not sure, it's best to read up in them. This page will help you find the right guide.

Try our Eligibility calculator

What type of credit card is best?

The best card for you depends on why you need it:

Cut interest with a balance transfer card
Spread costs with a 0% spending card
Get points/cashback on a reward credit card
Rebuild with a bad credit credit card

See all credit card types

How credit cards work

A credit card lets you borrow money and make purchases for everyday items. It then bills you each month for what you've spent. Unless you repay IN FULL each month, you'll be charged interest on what you owe.

They have credit limits, so you can only spend up to a set amount
Any balance will accrue interest at an agreed rate
Always repay IN FULL each month to avoid paying interest

See our full guide

Watch: Martin Lewis explains credit cards

Credit cards are like fire – a great tool if used well...used badly, they can burn
Different types of cards help you cut debt costs, spread the cost of a purchase, get rewards, or are good overseas
The right credit card for you depends on what you'll use it for
Always check your eligibility before you apply
How you manage your credit card will impact your ability to get credit in future

Watch the video, read a transcript, or...

Read our guide

Try our free Credit Club

Our Credit Club is completely free and provides a range of tools and calculators to give you a sense of how the financial world sees you. As a member you can...

Get your MoneySavingExpert Eligibility Rating – which combines your credit score, affordability score and current market conditions.
See your credit report – a bit like a CV of your financial history.
Use our credit card and loan eligibility calculators – which will show your bespoke acceptance odds for different products.

Should I be using a credit card when interest rates are so high?

The cost of borrowing has risen in recent years, with average loan and credit card Annual Percentage Rates (APR) rising in line with the Bank of England base rate. Yet there are some specialist cards which, if used correctly, can help you slash existing debts or avoid paying interest on new borrowing:

0% balance transfer cards – transfer existing credit card debt from other cards and pay no interest for an agreed number of months. Be mindful of transfer fees though
0% purchase cards – spend upfront and get an agreed number of months to pay off the debt interest free
0% money transfer cards – shift cash from a card to a bank account, with an agreed number of months to pay back the debt

There are many other types of specialist credit card – see the full list.

Why use MoneySavingExpert's Eligibility Calculator?

When you apply for a credit card, lenders check your financial details to decide if they want to lend to you. This is called a credit check and is recorded on your credit file. Our eligibility calculator lets you check your likelihood of acceptance before you apply and without impacting your credit file.

Find your odds for acceptance before applying for your chosen card.
This won't appear on your credit file (unlike credit card applications)
Applying for a credit card can negatively impact your credit file, and could impact your ability to get credit in future

Try our Eligibility Calculator

Always pay at least the minimum payment

Your monthly card statement will tell you the total balance you owe, the minimum repayment you must make and the due date. Missing the minimum payment will result in a late fee and a mark on your credit file for up to six years.

Yet only making the minimum repayment can keep you in debt for years and even decades. So, if you can, it's always best to pay as much off as possible. For more on how card repayments work, see our minimum repayment calculator.

How do I get a credit card if I have a bad credit score or no credit history?

Having a bad credit score usually means you've not managed credit well in the past (or that you've had very little credit before).

It's likely to mean your chances of getting approved for a credit card are low, especially for for certain types of cards, such as rewards or cashback cards.
It's also likely that you'll be offered a lower credit limit and a higher interest rate.
If you've no credit history at all – perhaps you’ve never borrowed – you could also find it difficult to get approved, as providers will have no idea whether or not you’ll pay them back.

There are ways to improve your credit history, or build it from scratch. Read more on credit cards for bad credit.

Martin Lewis' top tips for credit cards

Martin Lewis: "There are many types of credit card – they can help you cut debt costs, spread the cost of a purchase, get rewards, or are good overseas. The right credit card for you depends on what you'll use it for."

"If you plan to apply for a credit card, ALWAYS check your eligibility before you apply – our eligibility calculator will show you how likely you are to be accepted for different cards, including whether you're pre-approved for any (meaning you'll definitely get them if you apply). This only requires a 'soft' credit check, so it doesn't affect your credit score or impact your ability to get future credit (whereas a making a full application will, even if you're declined)."
"It's important to understand that how you manage your credit card will impact your ability to get credit in future. The most important rule is to ALWAYS pay at least the minimum payment each month – fail to do this and you'll be charged fees and will get a mark on your credit file."
"I'm excited we're finally launching the new and improved free MSE Credit Club to newcomers (existing members have already got it) and, within it, the unique Credit Eligibility Rating, which I think's a big step up in showing how things really work."

MoneySaving successes

Below we've featured some fantastic success from MSE users who've used these guides to manage debt via credit cards. If you've found success using our tools or guides, let us know via email.

"I applied to transfer my balance on my NatWest Credit Card balance to Barclays and to my delight I was accepted. I will now save a lot on interest and it was all thanks to your advice, which encouraged me to take action."

- Amy
May, 2024

"I was paying £300 for two credit cards costing me £76 per month in interest. I took out a Virgin Money Credit Card and transferred both balances and it's now costing £163.77. With 28 months of 0% interest, I will have it all paid off in 15 months. Thank you!”

- Trevor
June, 2024

"I just want to thank you for the use of your Credit Club, it’s allowed me to build up to an excellent credit rating by identifying errors and learning ways to improve it."

- Sam
July, 2024