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Best 0% credit cards

Best 0% Credit Cards

Up to 21 months' interest-free spending

Martin Lewis
Martin Lewis
Updated 10 May 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.

Top-pick 0% spending cards

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 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?

0% spending cards

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.

The three golden rules

Before applying for a 0% spending card, ensure you read the three golden rules.

  • 1. Repay AT LEAST the set monthly minimum (preferably more) or you may lose the cheap rate

    Set up a direct debit for at least the minimum repayment as soon as you're accepted. Even though you pay 0% interest, you still need to make repayments each month.

    If you miss one, you may lose your 0% deal and get a £12ish charge. It may also be added as a missed payment on your credit report.

  • 2. Aim to clear the card during the 0% period – it's best to repay a chunk every month like it's a loan

    Go even one month beyond the promotional 0% period and the interest rate rockets, so calculate the amount needed to clear the balance by then and remember that end date.

    Divide what you spent by the number of 0% months and set up a direct debit to clear it in that time, so it works like a loan where you pay it back in full over a set period.

    So £600 over a year is £50 a month to clear. If you've not cleared it in time, see our Best Balance Transfers guide for full information on shifting the amount you owe to another 0% card.

  • 3. Don't balance transfer or withdraw cash on these cards – it's usually at an expensive interest rate

    While purchases on these cards are interest-free for a number of months, you'll need to check if other uses such as balance transfers are as well.

    For example, from our best buys below, M&S Bank, Virgin Money and Sainsbury's Bank all let you transfer a balance over to the same 0% period you would receive for spending, after a one-off fee (these vary from 2.9% to 3% of the balance you're transferring). See our Best All-Rounders guide for full info.

    Cash withdrawals are a different case, and you'll usually pay interest from the date of making the cash withdrawal until it's paid off.

    This means you'll most probably see an interest charge on the first statement after the cash withdrawal, which is the interest charged from the date you made the withdrawal until the date the statement was issued.

    But you may also see interest charged on the following statement. There'll be a delay between your statement being drawn up, and you paying it. It may be a couple of days, it may be a couple of weeks, but you'll be charged interest on the cash withdrawal until you pay it off.

 Credit Card Eligibility Calculator

Compare which 0% credit cards you've the best chance of getting, in your own personal best-buy table.

credit card eligibility checker

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.

Top long-0% purchase cards for new cardholders




New. Sainsbury's Bank

Nectar members only (6mths+)		 This card has the joint-longest 0% period + gives Nectar points on spending. However, it's 'up to' 21mths, so poorer credit scorers could get just 13mths at 0%. You'll only be able to apply for this card if you've had a Nectar card for at least six months. If that's you and you're accepted, you get an ongoing two points per £1 spent at Sainsbury's and one point per £5 spent elsewhere. Plus there's a bonus 750 Nectar points for each £35+ spend at Sainsbury's (excl fuel) in the first two months (max 7,500 points, worth £37.50). After the 0%, it's 20.9% rep APR. Full card spec
Up to 21mths 0% Check eligibility
Apply*



Lloyds Bank		 Joint-longest 0%, but it's another 'up to' 21mths – so poorer credit scorers could get 12mths at 0%. It's 21.9% rep APR after the 0%. Full card spec
Up to 21mths 0% Check eligibility
Apply*


 

M&S Bank

 The joint-longest definite 0% period – plus earn M&S points on spending. All accepted get the full 20mths at 0%, so if you've a better eligibility chance than the cards above, it's a good call. It also pays one point (worth 1p) per £1 spent at M&S, one point per £5 spent elsewhere and a bonus 500 points (worth £5) on one purchase at M&S via a coupon it sends, with no minimum spend. It's 21.9% rep APR after the 0%. Full card spec
20mths 0% Check eligibility
Apply*


Barclaycard
 Like M&S Bank, all accepted get the full 20mths at 0%. So if you've a better eligibility chance than the cards above, it's a good call. 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 decent alternatives.
MBNA
0% only on purchases made in the first 60 days		 Up to 20mths 0%
20.9% rep APR		 Apply
Not in eligibility calc
Virgin Money 19mths 0%
21.9% rep APR		 Check eligibility
Apply*
Sainsbury's Bank (i) Up to 19mths 0%
21.9% rep APR		 Check eligibility
Apply*
HSBC 18mths 0%
22.9% rep APR		 Check eligibility
Apply*

See all official APR examples. (i) It gives 750 Nectar points for each £35+ spend at Sainsbury's (excl fuel) in the first two months (max 7,500 points, 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 file might not be in the best shape.

Try our Eligibility Calculator first to check your chances of acceptance for the cards above, but if it shows no or low odds, then the cards below offer a short 0% period if your credit problems are over a year old. 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.

Top poor-credit 0% purchase cards for new cardholders 

igd-Capital-One-new-card-2020.png

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*



Amazon		 Three months at 0%, which gives you time to spread the cost of purchases, plus a £20 Amazon voucher on acceptance. After the 0%, it's 29.9% rep APR. Full card spec, incl how to use this card to get a respite from existing debts
3mths 0% Apply
The next best poor-credit 0% spending cards. Here are quick details of decent alternatives.
Barclaycard 3mths 0%
33.9% rep APR		 Apply*
Post Office

3mths 0%

29.9% rep APR

 Check eligibility
Apply*

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, plus pros and cons in our Top Cashback Sites guide.

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Coronavirus credit card help

If you're struggling to pay off debt on an existing credit card due to coronavirus, lenders should provide support. Yet the blanket payment holiday help that used to be available has ended.

So if you're struggling to pay your credit card debt now, or you're coming off an agreed payment holiday, lenders are now supposed to provide 'tailored support'. Under this, you could be offered a (further) payment holiday or a period of reduced payments, reduced interest or a repayment plan – lenders should take into account how much you can afford and how your finances are likely to change in the near future.

Providers are expected to report any support they give you to credit reference agencies, which could affect your future creditworthiness. Yet don't let that put you off from contacting your provider – missing payments or defaulting is likely to have a far worse impact.

For the latest updates and full information on the support available, see our Coronavirus Finance & Bills Help guide.

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