26 Jan 2026

Best low-interest credit cards 2026

Find out if a credit card that offers a consistently low interest rate for borrowing could be for you, and the best deals on the market

Holly LanyonResearcher/Writer

Holly covers personal finance topics from credit cards to wills. She enjoys turning complex money matters into clear, practical advice.

Anna McCleanMarket Analyst

Anna covers personal finance, helping readers make sense of savings, credit cards and insurance. Her insights are informed by experience in the financial services industry.

Several credit cards stacked together, showcasing different colors and embossed numbers, with a focus on one card's details.

In this article

What is a low-interest credit card?
Best low-interest credit card deals
Low-interest credit card provider reviews
Who should use a low-interest credit card?
Which low-interest credit card should I get?
Low-interest credit cards: pros and cons
Low-interest credit cards FAQs
How we analyse credit cards

How our tests find you the best

Real customers

We asked 4,995 customers about the customer service they receive from their credit card provider.

Expert analysis

We compared the fees and interest rates of 137 cards to bring you the best deals on the market.

What is a low-interest credit card?

A low-interest credit card is a deal that comes with a relatively low rate on purchases and/or balance transfers for as long as you have the card.

The average APR on a credit card is 35.8%, but the best low-interest deals charge as little as 8.9% APR, offering a cheaper way to borrow or shift debt.

0% purchase or balance transfer cards are usually the cheapest way to borrow, but they tend to have limited introductory periods, after which you'll be charged a relatively high rate of interest.

This guide reveals the best low-rate credit card deals on the market, and our unique analysis can help you distinguish between the offers. Plus we explain what you need to know about low-interest deals and provide answers to common questions people have about this type of credit card.

Best low-interest credit card deals

We reveal the market-leading low-interest deals for purchases and balance transfers in the table.

We've also indicated if a brand is a Which? Recommended Provider, and whether the low-rate credit card has met the strict benchmarks of our analysts to be named a Which? Best Buy in this category. For more information on the terms we use in the table, skip to how we analyse credit card providers and deals.

Please note: this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice. Refer to the particular T&Cs of a credit card provider before committing to any financial products.


The Co-operative Bank 3 Year Fixed Rate Visa	76%	8.9%. Representative example: assumed borrowing of £1,200 for one year, at a purchase rate of 8.9% (variable), representative 8.9% APR (variable). Credit available subject to status. Terms apply.	8.9%	0%	8.9%
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER Tesco Bank Clubcard Credit Card Low APR Mastercard	79%	12.9%. Representative example: assumed borrowing of £1,200 for one year, at a purchase rate of 12.9% (variable), representative 12.9% APR (variable). Credit available subject to status. Terms apply.	11.46%	3.99%	12.9%
best buy MBNA Limited Platinum Visa	75%	12.9%. Representative example: assumed borrowing of £1,200 for one year, at a purchase rate of 12.9% (variable), representative 12.9% APR (variable). Credit available subject to status. Terms apply.	12.94%	5%	12.94%
best buy RECOMMENDED PROVIDER Lloyds Bank Ultra Credit Card Visa	74%	12.9%. Representative example: assumed borrowing of £1,200 for one year, at a purchase rate of 12.9% (variable), representative 12.9% APR (variable). Credit available subject to status. Terms apply.	12.94%	5%	12.94%
Royal Bank of Scotland The Royal Bank Credit Card Mastercard	73%	12.9%. Representative example: assumed borrowing of £1,200 for one year, at a purchase rate of 12.9% (variable), representative 12.9% APR (variable). Credit available subject to status. Terms apply.	12.90%	0%	12.9%
TSB Advance Credit Card Mastercard	73%	12.9%. Representative example: assumed borrowing of £1,200 for one year, at a purchase rate of 12.9% (variable), representative 12.9% APR (variable). Credit available subject to status. Terms apply.	12.95%	5%	12.95%
best buy Halifax Credit Card Visa	72%	12.9%. Representative example: assumed borrowing of £1,200 for one year, at a purchase rate of 12.9% (variable), representative 12.9% APR (variable). Credit available subject to status. Terms apply.	12.94%	5%	12.94%
Bank of Scotland Credit Card Visa	71%	12.9%. Representative example: assumed borrowing of £1,200 for one year, at a purchase rate of 12.9% (variable), representative 12.9% APR (variable). Credit available subject to status. Terms apply.	12.94%	5%	12.94%
NatWest The NatWest Credit Card Mastercard	71%	12.9%. Representative example: assumed borrowing of £1,200 for one year, at a purchase rate of 12.9% (variable), representative 12.9% APR (variable). Credit available subject to status. Terms apply.	12.9%	0%	12.9%

Table notes: table correct as of 15 January 2026. The average provider score is 75%. For more information on our research and the terms we use in the table skip to how we analyse credit card providers and deals.

Find out more: best credit card deals

Low-interest credit card provider reviews

It can be difficult to choose a low-interest credit card, as lots of providers offer similar rates.

Our guide to the best credit card providers can help you choose a provider that offers great customer service, as well as a low rate.

Which? has surveyed customers of 30 credit card brands, including top low-interest credit card providers, such as Lloyds Bank and Tesco Bank.

Only the companies that combine great deals with top-notch customer satisfaction are named Which? Recommended Providers.

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Who should use a low-interest credit card?

With a low-interest card, you get a low rate for as long as you have the card. This means you get a consistently cheap deal and there's less pressure to pay off your balance within a set period.

It can be easier to budget, and you won't have to switch around regularly to avoid interest rate hikes as you do with 0% promotional offers, which have a time limit that can catch you out.

Credit card deals with 0% on balance transfers and 0% on purchases are cheaper than a low-interest credit card. But if you're not likely to pay off the total you spend before the end of the promotional period, you can get stung with interest.

Which low-interest credit card should I get?

With a credit card there are four main types of transactions you can do. You can:

make a new purchase
make a balance transfer from another card (usually for a one-off fee)
make a money transfer to a current account (with a one-off fee)
make a cash withdrawal.

Some low-interest credit card providers have a uniform rate for all types of transactions, but others vary the interest they charge.

Make sure you are getting a card that offers the cheapest deal for what you want to use it for.

Even if you're accepted for a credit card, you won't always end up with the advertised rate. Legally, providers only have to offer their headline rates to 51% of applicants, so you could be part of the 49% that get a less attractive deal.

Lenders will assess your application based on your individual circumstances. Those with a better credit profile and score are more likely to be offered the best deal.

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Low-interest credit cards: pros and cons

Pros

Peace of mind There are usually no annual fees on low-rate credit cards and there'll be no unexpected rate jumps when a promotional period ends.
Easier to budget Because you usually get a rate for as long as you have the card, it's easier to budget and you won't have to switch your cards regularly.
No pressure With a low-interest card there's no pressure to pay off your balance within a set time.

Cons

Not the cheapest way to borrow If you're looking to transfer a balance or make an expensive purchase, you could be better off with a 0% purchase or balance transfer deal, provided you can repay the debt within the promotional period.
Low-rate might not be for everything The low-interest credit card you get might offer a good deal for purchases but might have a different rate for other types of transactions, such as balance transfers or cash withdrawals.

Low-interest credit cards FAQs

Low-interest credit cards usually allow you to do balance or money transfers, which could help you consolidate debt - but you'll pay a fee to transfer a balance or withdraw cash, and you'll still be charged interest on your debt.

A 0% balance transfer deal gives you a set period of time to pay of your debts without being charged interest - but once that period ends you'll be charged a relatively high rate on your remaining balance.

Personal loans often have better rates than credit cards. Like with 0% balance transfer cards, you'll have to pay back the money in a set period of time.

If you're struggling to keep up with debt repayments, you can seek free, impartial advice from these organisations.

If your credit history is patchy, you may still be accepted for one of these cards, but might not get the super-low rate advertised.

People with bad credit, or no credit history, are unlikely to qualify for one of these cards, and if they do, may get a significantly higher rate (often above 20%).

There are specialist credit cards for people with bad credit. Read our full guide on the best credit cards for bad credit, with links to the top cards available, to find out more.

How we analyse credit cards

Anna McClean, credit card market analyst, says: 'At Which? we put credit card products and providers under the microscope to help you save time when shopping around for a new deal.

'We run a survey each year to gather the experiences of customers to help us find the best providers, and we keep a close eye on the credit card market to determine which deals are the best in their category.'

Here's some more information about our research and the terms we use in this guide.

Customer score

Our provider customer scores for credit card companies are based on an online survey of 4,995 members of the public, conducted in November 2025.

Provider customer scores are worked out using a combination of overall satisfaction and the likelihood of recommending the provider to a friend.

We also ask these credit card customers to rate brands on six categories, including customer service, mobile banking and more, so you can get an idea of the quality of service you might receive before you sign up.

Sample sizes for customer score: Barclays/Barclaycard (801), American Express (379), Lloyds (364), Tesco Bank (350), NatWest (302), Halifax (292), Capital One (288), HSBC (281), Santander (229), Nationwide (205), M&S Bank (147), MBNA (135), Monzo (110), Amazon (by Barclaycard) (89), Virgin Money (including Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank) (83), Aqua (83), Royal Bank of Scotland (76), Vanquis Bank (73), John Lewis/Waitrose (71), Virgin Atlantic by Virgin Money (59), First Direct (58), Chase (56), Zopa (56), British Airways American Express (53), Bank of Scotland (53), TSB (51), Co-operative Bank (Co-op) (49), Asda Money (47), 118 118 Money (44), Klarna credit card (43).

Which? Recommended Providers

To be a Which? Recommended Provider for credit cards a credit card company must:

have a provider customer score of at least 71% and achieve at least four stars in all categories in our latest customer satisfaction survey
have at least one top-10 card in one of the seven main categories available on the market
have an above-average product score
accept applications from everyone, not just existing customers
not have a representative APR of more than 35.7% on any of its mainstream cards at the time of the analysis.

Which? Recommended Providers are lenders that meet our benchmarks for customer service and product offerings.

Which? Best Buys

To become a Which? Best Buy, a credit card must have been one of the top five cards in its category for the past three months and must also satisfy specific criteria for the type of card, such as the size of balance transfer fee or length of 0% period.

A provider must have also achieved a provider score of over 71% in our latest credit card provider customer satisfaction survey. Each year, we ask thousands of customers to rate their providers and calculate a provider customer score based on their responses to find the best credit card providers.

We also review our analysis regularly, which means we will withdraw Best Buys if providers make adverse changes to APRs, 0% periods or fees.

Find out more: Which? symbols, logos and ratings explained

key information

Why should you trust Which? research?

We’re not influenced by third parties. We work entirely on behalf of you, the consumer – nobody else. See our statement of editorial independence for more.