How to find the best credit card Choose the right type of credit card

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Unless you really need to, try not to withdraw cash using your credit card - the interest rates are eye-wateringly high

Choosing the best credit card for you

Getting a good deal on a credit card means understanding your spending patterns, and choosing the best credit card for your needs. Once you've found the best type of credit card for you, check out Which? Best Rate credit cards.

Credit cards with a standard low rate for borrowing

Credit cards with a low standard interest rate (a low APR) catch the headlines, but aren't the best cards for many people. These credit cards are good for consumers who use them infrequently and who don't always pay off the bill in full. For most people, however, a card for one of the specific uses below is probably a better deal.

Find the best low-rate deal with our Which? everyday credit card reviews.

0% on balance transfer credit cards

These 0% credit card deals are good for consumers with existing debt who are likely to pay off the bill within the 0% period or who are willing to switch at the end of the period. These cards can be a good way to ‘park’ some debt, allowing you to concentrate on repaying other, more expensive debts. Make sure you make at the least minimum payment, though, as missing a payment can lead to the 0% deal being withdrawn and other fees.

Find the best 0% deal on balance transfers with our free Which? balance transfer credit card reviews.

Low-rate life of balance credit cards

These cards allow you to transfer existing credit card debt to a new card, with a guarantee that the interest rate on that debt won't go up so long as you meet the minimum payment each month. They're suitable for consumers who are unlikely to pay off their card debts within 12-18 months and don’t want to switch cards regularly.

Find the best life of balance deal with our Which? credit card finder.

Cashback and reward credit cards

These cards pay you cash for using them, but are only suitable if you pay your bill in full every or nearly every month. For more details, check out our guides to cashback cards and airline cards.

Find the best cashback deals with our free, expert Which? cashback credit card reviews.

Credit cards to use abroad

Most credit cards will charge you an extra fee for using their card for purchases on holiday. However, there are some providers that don't: none of our Best Rate cards for overseas use charge you an extra fee for European purchases. Most are also fee-free worldwide.

However, these providers aren't always competitive for borrowing, so always pay off your bill in full when you get home. Credit cards also offer poor value for cash withdrawals as they usually charge a high APR and charge interest from the moment you withdraw the money.

Prepaid cards can be a good alternative to credit cards for overseas use.

Find the best credit card to use abroad with our free, expert Which? overseas credit card reviews.

0% deals on purchases

These credit cards charge no interest on new purchases for up to 12 months and can be useful to spread the cost of large purchases over a year, so you could ‘park’ day-to-day spending and use the money to repay more expensive debt. However, you should repay or transfer the balance at the end of the deal or your APR will shoot up. 

These cards only work if you are disciplined enough to put money aside to repay it at the end of the period or if you use the cash you’re not spending on purchases to repay other debt.

Find the best 0% deal on purchases with our free, expert Which? 0% credit card reviews.

Credit cards for people with a bad credit history

These credit cards can help rebuild your credit rating (or build one up if you have no credit history), but you must pay off the bill in full every month as these cards often have a very high APR of 30 to 40%. These cards often have a ‘low and grow’ approach, whereby your initial credit limit is very low (say £100-£200), but increases as you prove you can manage it correctly. These credit cards can be a good way for people with a poor credit history to enjoy section 75 cover, but should not be used for borrowing.

Find the best deal for consumers with a poor credit history with our free Which? credit card finder.

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