MoneySavingExpert.com homepage
Cutting your costs, fighting your corner
Founder, Martin Lewis · Editor-in-Chief, Marcus Herbert
Search bar closed.

Credit Cards

How to find the right credit card for you

I know what type of credit card I need

Our credit card eligibility calculator will tell you your acceptance chances for a range of credit cards.

  • Check if you'll be accepted before you apply

  • It won't impact your credit score

  • Join our Credit Club for your Eligibility Rating

Sticker of credit cards

What type of credit card is best?

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

How do credit cards work?

A credit card lets you pay for things in advance, using credit borrowed from the card company. 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 spending 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

Man holding credit card

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 credit card 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...

video thumbnail
channel icon
Martin Lewis on how credit cards work

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...

Women on couch with laptop

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 APRs 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 debt from other cards and pay no interest for an agreed number of months

  • 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.

Multiple credit credits

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

Eligibility probabilities

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 credit card minimum repayment calculator.

pens and calculator on yellow background

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.

  • 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.

Woman on grey couch using a laptop

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

Credit card FAQs

Usually, applying to a lender is the only way to know if you'll be accepted for a credit 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 expensive 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 guides

Still not sure what to do? Learn more about how do credit cards work

Great if you want to spread the cost of a purchase interest-free.
Guide
Use a card responsibly to rebuild your credit history.
Guide
Get points, cashback or airmiles on ALL your spending.
Guide
Get near-perfect exchange rates when you spend overseas.
Guide
Transfer a balance AND spend with these all-rounder cards.
Guide
Shift cash from the card to your bank account.
Guide
It can mean you sacrifice valuable protection.
Guide
What to do if you've got a persistent debt letter.
Guide
Lock in an exchange rate before you go on holiday.
Guide
Collect airmiles for every pound you spend and save on flight costs.
Guide
An alternative if you can't get a bank account.
Guide
All types of credit cards explained.
Guide
Make credit cards pay you by earning interest on what they lend you.
Guide
Boost your credit chances.
Tool
What to do if you don't get the credit limit you need.
Guide
Making just the minimum payment can make your debt last for decades.
Calculator