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0% Balance Transfer & Spending Cards
Shift card debt AND spend at 0%
Credit Cards For Bad Credit
Find cards for those with a poor credit history
Cheap Personal Loans
Incl our loans eligibility calculator
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Best 0% Credit Cards
Up to 21 months' interest-free spending
Updated 8 April 2021
Do it right and 0% spending credit cards are the cheapest way to borrow. Yet get it wrong and you'll be stuck in debt for years. Our guide has full info on what to watch out for, and top picks. Plus our Eligibility Calculator will show the cards you've the best odds of getting before you apply – crucial as lenders have tightened acceptance criteria due to coronavirus financial worries.
Who's this guide for? Anyone with a planned, budgeted-for purchase for a retailer that takes credit card.
Want to shift card debt to 0%? See our 0% Balance Transfers guide.
Want to borrow £3k+? A cheap loan often beats a credit card.
Other related guides... 0% Money Transfer Cards | All-Rounder Cards | Debt Help | How Credit Cards Work | What is buy now, pay later?
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How do 0% spending cards work?
Put simply, a 0% spending card offers a number of months where no interest is charged on new purchases. This can save you £1,000s compared to the same borrowing on a standard credit card (assuming you pay them off over the same period of time).
So done right, there's no cheaper borrowing – though they're not an excuse to overspend. We'd only suggest using a credit card to borrow for a needed, planned, affordable, one-off purchase eg, replacing a broken fridge. This means borrowing as little as possible and only an amount you can pay back during the 0% period.
The real danger is using them willy-nilly to supplement your income, as that can result in a vicious cycle. If this is a problem, see our Debt Help guide rather than trying to borrow your way out.
Compare which 0% 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-pick 0% spending credit cards
Here are our top-pick cards with the next best below, all with a long 0% period.
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.
 New. Lloyds Bank |
Longest 0% period, but you may get fewer months at 0%. Some accepted for the card could get 12mths at 0%. It's 19.9% rep APR after the 0%. Full card spec | |
| Up to 21mths 0% | Check eligibility | |
| Apply* | ||
|
Long 0% period, plus earn M&S points on spending. All accepted get the full 20mths at 0% and 1 reward point per £1 spent in M&S and 1 point per £5 spent elsewhere. You’re also sent a coupon to collect 500 points (worth £5) on one purchase at M&S, with no minimum spend. It's 21.9% rep APR after the 0%. Full card spec | |
| 20mths 0% | Check eligibility | |
| Apply* | ||
 Virgin Money |
Long definite interest-free spending period – all accepted get the full 20mths 0%. This offers the same 0% length as M&S above and Barclaycard below, so see which one gives the best acceptance odds in our eligibility calculator. The card has a 21.9% rep APR after. Full card spec | |
| 20mths 0% | Check eligibility | |
| Apply* | ||
 Barclaycard |
Another card offering a definite 20mths at 0% to all accepted. After the 0%, it's 21.9% rep APR. Full card spec | |
| 20mths 0% | Check eligibility | |
| Apply* | ||
| The next best 0% spending cards. Here are quick details of three alternatives. | ||
| Sainsbury's Bank (1) | Up to 20mths 0% 21.9% rep APR |
Check eligibility |
| Apply* | ||
| MBNA 0% only on purchases made in the first 60 days |
Up to 20mths 0% 20.9% rep APR |
Apply Not in eligibility calc |
| HSBC | 18mths 0% 22.9% rep APR |
Check eligibility |
| Apply* | ||
See all official APR examples. (1) It gives 750 Nectar points for each £35+ spend at Sainsbury's (excl fuel) in the first two months (max 7,500pts, worth £37.50).
Top 0% credit cards for poor credit scorers
If you have high levels of current debt, missed payments (recent or historic), bankruptcies, county court judgments (CCJs) or individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs), chances are your credit score might not be in the best shape.
If so, the cards above aren't likely to be open to you (use our eligibility calculator first to check). Yet the cards below give an option if your problems are over a year old, though the 0% periods are a lot shorter. If you can't get these cards, read our Credit Cards For Bad Credit guide for more help to build or rebuild your credit history.
 Aqua (i) |
Four months at 0%, which gives you time to spread the cost of purchases. After the 0%, it's 34.9% rep APR. Full card spec, incl how to use this card to get a respite from existing debts. | |
| 4mths 0% | Check eligibility | |
Capital One |
A four-month break from paying interest while rebuilding your credit. After the 0%, it's 34.9% rep APR. Full card spec, incl how to use it to provide a respite from existing debts. | |
| 4mths 0% | Check eligibility | |
| Apply* | ||
| The next best poor-credit 0% spending cards. Here are quick details of two alternatives. | ||
| Amazon | 3mths 0% + £20 Amazon voucher 29.9% rep APR |
Apply |
| Barclaycard | 3mths 0% 33.9% rep APR |
Apply* |
| Post Office | 3mths 0% 29.9% rep APR |
Check eligibility |
| Apply* | ||
(i) Aqua has asked we send people to our eligibility calc, to reduce demand on its call centre at this crucial time. See all official APR examples.
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 that it's exactly the same deal though, as terms can be different. And remember the cashback is never 100% guaranteed until it's in your account.
Full help to take advantage of this and pros and cons in our Top Cashback Sites guide.
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For all the latest deals, guides and loopholes simply sign up today - it’s spam free!
Spotted out of date info/broken links? Email: brokenlink@moneysavingexpert.com
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MSE Tools & Calculators
Clever ways to calculate your finances
