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Use our eligibility calculator to see which cards you're likely to be accepted for – and apply with confidence.
Know your approval odds before applying
It won't affect your credit file
Join our Credit Club for your free credit score, credit report & more
The best credit 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/cash on a reward credit card
Rebuild with a bad credit credit card
Clear an overdraft with a money transfer card
Free overseas spending with a travel credit card
A credit card lets you borrow money and make card 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
Read more about how credit cards work.
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 Martin Lewis credit cards video, or read a transcript.
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.
Borrowing’s got pricier in recent years, with average loan and credit card rates hitting record highs. And while the Bank of England base rate has started to come down in 2025, credit card rates haven’t followed – they don’t move in line with the base rate, as lenders usually set them based on how risky they think lending is. But there are still specialist credit cards out there that, used right, can help you cut the cost of existing debts – or even borrow without paying interest:
0% balance transfer cards – transfer existing debt from one credit card to another and pay no interest for an agreed number of months. Just be mindful of the transfer fees.
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.
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 online 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
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 credit card minimum repayment calculator.
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.
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 lenders 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.
It’s key to weigh up the advantages and potential drawbacks. One major benefit is Section 75 protection, which covers purchases between £100 and £30,000 in case things go wrong, with the lender becoming equally liable. Many credit cards also come with rewards such as cashback or points. Additionally, using a credit card responsibly can help build your credit score.
However, there are also some downsides to consider. Credit cards often come with high interest rates, which can quickly add up if you fail to pay off the balance IN FULL each month. Credit cards can have high credit limits, so it’s important to be disciplined. Some cards can also charge annual fees that could outweigh any benefits if you don’t make full use of their rewards or perks.
Once you decide which credit card is best for you, you’ll need to provide some basic details like your name, address, income, and outgoings. Some cards might also ask about existing debts. The application itself only takes a few minutes, and you'll usually know if you’ve been approved within a day or two.
If you're accepted, your physical card will typically arrive within 5 to 10 working days. But don't worry if you need access sooner – many providers offer digital cards, so you can start using your credit straight away through your phone's wallet app, even before your card lands in the post.
Get more details on how to apply for a credit card.
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'm 35 and got my first credit card two years ago after a relationship break up. I had £3,000 on it after having to buy some furniture and was so naïve to how the interest worked. Despite paying off £200 a month it felt like it was never going down. I've now done a 14 month, 0% interest, 0% fee and would have had no idea this even existed if it wasn't for you!"
"I started following your advice back in September to build my credit score and chisel away £5,000 credit card debt. I have halved my debt by following your advice over needing vs wanting. I've now been accepted for a 0% balance transfer card to clear the remaining £2,500! I will be completely debt free in four months all thanks to you. I am now in the process of getting on the property ladder. Thank you!"
"Between listening to Martin and your newsletter I have sorted my finances out in less than a week. After bring turned down for 0%transfer card. Got one I am one happy lady. Thank you Martin and MSE."
Usually, applying to a bank or credit provider is the only way to know if you'll be accepted for a card. Yet that marks your credit file, and could affect your ability to get future credit. Our Eligibility Calculator uses a 'soft search' to calculate and show your chances of acceptance before applying
You'll need to pass a credit check to get a credit card. This lets the lender work out how 'risky' you are to lend to, and takes into account your income and other financial commitments. It can then either accept or decline you.
The criteria differs between lenders – you could be accepted by one but declined by another. So it’s better to use an eligibility checker to check your chances of acceptance before applying.
If you go on to apply, any application will leave a mark on your credit report, even if you’re declined, which could affect your ability to get credit in future (this is especially true if you make multiple applications in a short time period). Read our guide to how credit scoring works for full info.
Credit cards are useful if used well, but can be costly and damaging if used badly. The main advantages are that they:
Can offer cheap borrowing or rewards
Let you spread the cost of a purchase
Let you transfer existing credit card debt to 0% (if you get a balance transfer card)
Give you extra protection on purchases
Can boost your credit history when managed well, meaning you're more likely to be accepted for credit in future.
The main disadvantages are that they:
Can lead to a build-up of debt if you can’t afford to repay what you borrow
Charge interest if you don't clear your full balance each month
Can damage your ability to get credit in future if you miss repayments - this is why we say to always pay at least the minimum repayment each month.
Read more about the pros and cons of credit cards.
APR stands for ‘annual percentage rate’, and is is used by lenders to tell you the cost of borrowing.
Where credit cards are shown as having a 'representative APR', it means only 51% of successful applicants must be given the stated rate. The other 49% could get a different rate (usually higher) – and some people will be rejected altogether.
Lenders must tell you what the APR is before you sign a credit agreement.
If you have a card at a special introductory rate (for example a balance transfer credit card at 0% for 28 months), you won’t pay the APR during this time. And if you pay your credit card off in full every month, you won’t pay the APR either.
Read more about how interest rates work.
Most credit cards come with a ‘variable APR’, which means that the interest lenders charge on borrowing (ie the outstanding balance on a credit card) can go up or down, depending on market fluctuations. Your lender will have to tell you if they plan to change your credit card APR.
You can get also 'fixed APR' cards, where lenders guarantee that they won’t raise or lower the rate for a fixed period of time, although these are less common and are usually have higher interest rates.
Read more about how interest rates work
Credit scoring is a process used by credit card companies and other lenders to decide whether or not they want to lend to you. This process is largely based on information they get from the credit reference agencies – Equifax, Experian and TransUnion – who hold information about your credit history. They will also use data from your application form, and information from any accounts you've had with that financial firm in the past.
Broadly, it means that if you’ve a history of repaying debts in full and on time, you’ll have a better chance of getting accepted than if you’ve a history of missed payments.
Read more about how credit scoring works and how to check your credit report for free.
If you miss a repayment, or don't make the minimum payment amount on your credit card bill each month, you'll typically be charged a late payment fee of around £10, and it will be marked on your credit file for up to six years. This could mean your ability to get credit in future takes a hit.
You could get rejected for a credit card for a number of reasons – it’s a murky business as lenders are not required to tell you why they've decided to turn you down. It could be down to you having a bad credit history, or if they think you'll be risky to lend to.
Unfortunately, if you're rejected for a credit card this will usually have an impact on your credit score – especially if you make multiple applications in a short space of time. That’s why we suggest using our credit card eligibility checker to check your chances of being accepted for a wide array of credit cards, without endangering your credit score.
Although in the UK you can't technically get a joint credit card, you can usually opt to have additional cardholders linked to your credit card account (most often a relative or family member). But as the main cardholder, you'll remain solely responsible for the debt, regardless of who's done the spending.
So think carefully before adding any additional cardholders. If they go on a spending spree, even without your permission, you'll be the one responsible for making the payments and clearing the balance.
You can find out more in joint credit cards explained.
Credit card issuers include major financial institutions and credit card networks. The main credit card networks are Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Mastercard and Visa typically partner with banks and credit unions to issue cards, while American Express often issues cards directly to consumers, offering benefits and services, such as cashback.
Hello, I'm Martin Lewis and this is your credit card mini briefing. Credit cards are a bit like fire. Use them right, they're a useful tool. Use them wrong, they burn. So hopefully I can start to guide you through how you should be thinking about your credit cards.
The first main thing to understand there's no one-size-fits all best credit cards. They have lots of different uses and you need to pick the right one for your task. Before we get anywhere, though, the biggest question you're going to face is: will I be accepted for one? That's why for every card that we can possibly do on the site, we have an eligibility calculator. You put your details in there and it'll tell you which of the best cards you've got the best odds of getting and it does that without impacting your future credit worthiness.
So let me divide credit cards now into two main types. There are credit cards for borrowing, which is what most people think, of for debts. Then there are credit cards – well, where you’re really using them for spending in order to get rewards. We'll start on the debt first. The main one we often talk about is a balance transfer. Now, that's for anyone who has existing credit or store card debts. With a balance transfer you get a new card that pays off the debts on your old cards for you. So you now owe the new card the money, but at a much cheaper interest rate. So more of your repayments clear the actual debt rather than just paying the interest. It's absolutely the core cool tool for cutting the cost of your debts.
Next one, purchases cards or spending cards quite simply these are zero percent cards which when you spend on them you don't pay any interest for the first 18 months or so. Now it sounds good, but a debt is a debt is a debt. So if you're going to do it you need to make sure it's planned, affordable one-off borrowing and that you can clear it before the zero percent ends. If not, please don't do it.
A couple of hybrids now. You've got money purchase cards. These are a bit specialised. That's where, it's a bit like a balance transfer but instead of paying money off another credit card, it pays money into your bank account so you can use that cash. So let's imagine you had an overdraft of £500. You get a money transfer card it pays off the £500 for you. Your overdraft is gone, you now owe the credit card instead but just like a balance transfer card, there will be a fee for doing so. So you have to weigh that up to see if it's worthwhile to do it.
Finally you've got all purpose cards that offer a whole different range of debt and borrowing together. If you've got a mix of things that you need to do, well, they can be a winner for you. Now, let's move on to those non-debt cards now you may have heard me on various television programs using my catchphrase, which is make sure you pay the card off IN FULL at the end of every month. It's these cards that the in full applies to, because with these cards you're not looking to borrow, you're looking to manipulate the credit card, which wants to encourage you to borrow, but you're not borrowing on it. Instead, you're spending on it to get a perk.
What types of perks are there? Well there's cash back, so simply you get paid every time you spend on the card. There's rewards, a bit like cashback, but you get paid in specific points and you might get more points in specific stores that are linked to the credit cards. There's cheap overseas spending credit cards where you get the same near-perfect exchange rate that the banks do when you spend abroad, that can cut the cost of getting foreign currency. Then there's credit rebuild cards when you get a card either to build your credit score or rebuild your credit score. But you don't want to be building up debt doing that. So you want to make sure you pay that card off IN FULL - I won't shout twice. That is your quick mini guide to credit cards. Of course, I've done this on a cursory nature. Now hopefully you'll understand what's right for you. Go and read the full guide on it in detail.
