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0% balance transfer & purchase cards
Get up to 22 months 0% on purchases & 19 months 0% on balance transfers with one card
Most credit cards are good for new spending OR cutting the cost of existing debt, but some offer cheap intro rates on both. We've full info and our top picks, plus our Balance Transfer & Spending Eligibility Calculator will show the cards you have the best odds of getting before you apply.
Who's this guide for? Anyone with existing card debt, who wants to transfer a balance and spend at 0% on the same card.
Not what you want? Other related best-buy guides...
0% money transfer cards | 0% spending credit cards | Balance transfer credit cards | Debt help | Credit cards explained
What is a 0% all-rounder credit card?
Most 0% credit cards are good for new spending OR cutting the cost of existing debt, but an all-rounder card offers 0% intro rates for a number of months on both.
You can usually get a longer interest-free period with a dedicated balance transfer card, though if you have a need to borrow further (eg, a planned, affordable, one-off purchase, such as replacing a broken fridge) then an all-rounder card offers one fewer application hitting your credit file, protecting your creditworthiness.
Should I use these cards for spending, balance transfers or both?
As we say above, you can usually get a 'better' balance-transfer only 0% card, so these are best used either only for new spending (a lot of the cards in this guide also feature in the top 0% spending cards top picks), or if you need to both transfer a balance and spread the cost of new borrowing.
If you do need to borrow, ensure it's planned, budgeted for and affordable. If so, a card with a 0% spending period on new borrowing is one of the cheapest ways to borrow.
Watch out for cards with two different 0% lengths
Certain cards have, for example, 21 months 0% on spending and 18 months 0% on transfers. In this case, after 18 months you'd start paying interest on any amount left that you'd transferred. It's therefore best to clear the card by the shortest 0% period, so you don't get caught out.
However, if you can't, any repayments you make has to go towards paying off the most expensive debt first, so this will at least clear first.
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The five golden rules
Before applying for a 0% balance transfer & spending card, ensure you read the five golden rules.
See which credit cards you've the best chance of getting, in your own personal best-buy table.
Usually, applying is the only way to know if you'll be accepted for a credit card. Yet that marks your credit file, affecting your ability to get future credit. To help, our tool uses a 'soft search' to find your chances of acceptance before applying.
Check your chance of acceptance
Top 0% 'all-rounder' cards
You'll pay a one-off fee for transferring a balance, so it's best to go for the card with the lowest fee in the time you're sure you can repay it. If unsure, play safe and go long.
Important. These include 'up to' cards, so poorer credit scorers may get a shorter deal than advertised – unless you're showing as pre-approved in our eligibility calculator. This is the best route as it shows which cards you're most likely to be accepted for.
Barclaycard |
New. Longest spending card on the market of ‘up to’ 22mths at 0% on spending, plus a decent 'up to' 19mths at 0% on transfers. If you're pre-approved in our eligibility calculator you'll definitely get the full 0% periods, otherwise you could be accepted and get just 11mths for spending and nine months for transfers. | |
- Up to 22mths 0% on spending (some get 11mths) - 3.45% transfer fee - 24.9% rep APR |
Check eligibility (i) | |
HSBC |
Next-longest 0% spending period of 'up to' 20mths at 0% with a decent 'up to' 17mths 0% on transfers, plus £25 cashback. Again, this is an 'up to' card, so if you're not pre-approved in our eligibility calc, you could get just 15mths at 0% for both. To get the £25 cashback, apply by 16 Dec and spend or transfer £100+ within the first 60 days (once done, it'll be paid within 60 days). | |
Up to 20mths 0% on spending (some get 15mths) - £25 cashback on £100+ spend/transfer in first 60 days - 3.49% transfer fee (min £5) - 24.9% rep APR |
Check eligibility (i) | |
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New. 'Up to' 20mths at 0% on spending and 'up to' 18mths on transfers, but it works differently to the above cards. If eligible for the card, you'll be pre-approved for either:
- 20mths at 0% on spending & 18mths at 0% on transfers, - 16mths at 0% on spending & 14mths at 0% on transfers, - 12mths at 0% on both spending & transfers.
You'll know before applying how many interest-free months you'll get, and you'll definitely be accepted if you apply (subject to passing NatWest's ID & fraud checks). |
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- Up to 20mths on spending (some get 16mths or 12mths) - Up to 18mths on transfers (some get 14mths or 12mths) - 2.99% transfer fee - 24.9% rep APR |
Check eligibility (i) |
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Cashback sites may pay you for signing up
As an extra boon, members of specialist cashback websites can be paid when they sign up to some financial products. Do check it's exactly the same deal though, as terms can be different. And remember that cashback is never 100% guaranteed until it's in your account.
There's full help to take advantage of this and pros and cons in our Top Cashback Sites guide.
0% 'all-rounder' cards Q&A
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