Want to spread the cost of a purchase over several months, interest-free? Or perhaps you want to transfer an existing balance to a 0% card. Use our comparison tool to see a range of great deals on 0% credit cards.
Featured balance transfer credit cards - Ordered by longest balance transfer offer
Chance of approval{{::sliderProduct.productScoring.productLikelihood}}/10
Chance of approvalNot rated
Chance of approvalNot eligible
Being pre-approved means you’re an ideal customer for this lender and you’re guaranteed to get this card, provided you use the same details as you gave us, and you pass the lender’s ID checks.
We can’t give you a rating for this card either because we can’t match your details to your credit report, or we don’t have enough information about the lender’s acceptance criteria for this card.
You won’t get this card. This is usually because you don’t meet the lender’s acceptance criteria – for example, your income may not be high enough, you have credit problems, or you already have one of this lender’s cards.
This means there’s a good chance you’ll be accepted for this card. For every 100 applications from people in a similar financial situation to you, between 70 and 95 of them will get the card.
This score means it’s around fifty-fifty whether you’ll be accepted for the card or not. It’s worth a go if this is your highest score, and you need the credit for a specific purpose.
It’s unlikely you’ll get this card. For every 100 people in a similar financial situation to you who apply, only between 10 and 30 get accepted for the card. There’s still a chance, but rejection’s more likely than acceptance.
Every time you apply for a credit card, a mark is left on your credit score. That means it's better to get it right the first time. Your scores help you understand which cards you have the strongest chance of getting. The higher the score, the stronger chance you have of getting the card. If you see a very low score, you're probably better off choosing a different card.
Chance of approval scale
10/10 = Pre-approved
Chance of approval10/10 GUARANTEED
10/10 GUARANTEED
10/10 = Pre-approved
Being pre-approved means you’re an ideal customer for this lender and you’re guaranteed to get this card, provided you use the same details as you gave us, and you pass the lender’s ID checks.
9.5/10 - 7/10 = Good chance
Chance of approval9.5/10
9.5/10
Chance of approval9/10
9/10
Chance of approval8/10
8/10
Chance of approval7/10
7/10
9.5/10 - 7/10 = Good chance
This means there’s a good chance you’ll be accepted for this card. For every 100 applications from people in a similar financial situation to you, between 70 and 95 of them will get the card.
6/10 - 4/10 = Fair chance
Chance of approval6/10
6/10
Chance of approval5/10
5/10
Chance of approval4/10
4/10
6/10 - 4/10 = Fair chance
This score means it’s around fifty-fifty whether you’ll be accepted for the card or not. It’s worth a go if this is your highest score, and you need the credit for a specific purpose.
3/10 - 1/10 = Low chance
Chance of approval3/10
3/10
Chance of approval2/10
2/10
Chance of approval1/10
1/10
3/10 - 1/10 = Low chance
It’s unlikely you’ll get this card. For every 100 people in a similar financial situation to you who apply, only between 10 and 30 get accepted for the card. There’s still a chance, but rejection’s more likely than acceptance.
Not eligible = Consider a different card
Chance of approvalNot eligible
Not eligible
Not eligible = Consider a different card
You won’t get this card. This is usually because you don’t meet the lender’s acceptance criteria – for example, your income may not be high enough, you have credit problems, or you already have one of this lender’s cards.
Not rated = We don’t have enough infoinformation
Chance of approvalNot rated
Not rated
Not rated = We don’t have enough infoinformation
We can’t give you a rating for this card either because we can’t match your details to your credit report, or we don’t have enough information about the lender’s acceptance criteria for this card.
An interest-free credit card is a type of credit card that charges you no interest for a fixed period.
This could be when you use the card – a 0% purchase card – or transfer other debts to the card – a 0% balance transfer card. Some interest-free credit cards allow both transfers and new purchases.
The interest-free period is usually only for a fixed number of months. This could be from one month to 28 months.
How do interest-free credit cards work?
Interest-free credit cards don’t charge interest when you use them, as opposed to other credit cards and loans that do.
Interest rates are generally given as a percentage, and they tell you how much extra you’re paying to borrow this sum. Essentially it tells you the cost of borrowing. But with interest-free credit cards the borrowing is free, so long as you pay back what you’ve borrowed within the interest-free period.
Making repayments
As there is no interest you could even just make the minimum monthly payments outlined in your credit agreement. However, you should pay off the whole debt by the time your interest-free period ends.
This is because your lender will normally put you back on to their standard variable interest rate, which can sometimes be quite high. Likewise, if you miss too many payments – just one might be enough for some providers – you’ll lose your interest-free benefit.
Types of interest-free credit card
Interest free credit cards generally come in two variants:
Interest-free purchase credit cards
These credit cards charge zero interest when you use the card for general spending, such as in shops or restaurants. Credit card providers offer interest free purchase cards as a way to bring in new customers, but once the zero interest period ends you’ll be moved on to their standard variable.
The average value of credit card purchases was £55.17 in 2018
Interest-free balance transfer credit cards
A balance transfer credit card is something you use to transfer an existing debt to a new credit account. The reason for doing this is that balance transfer credit card generally have low interest rates – and many of them have interest-free periods the could last from months to years.
Interest-free balance transfer and purchase credit cards
Some providers offer credit cards with zero interest on purchases as well as transferring your existing balance – however it’s likely that the interest-free period will apply to one longer than the other. Read more on our page for balance transfer and purchase credit cards.
Should I get an interest-free credit card?
If you’re thinking about taking out an interest-free credit card, whether it’s for purchases or a balance transfer, consider the pros and cons.
Pros
Spread costs: if you’re planning a major purchase, an interest-free purchase credit card could be a good way to spread the cost over a length of time without having to pay interest
Borrow for free: the interest-free period on a purchase card is basically taking out a free loan
Pay off debts: balance transfer credit cards with interest-free periods can help you pay debts off quicker and more easily
Consumer protection: all credit cards offer protection for consumers making purchases that cost between £100 and £30,000. Learn more with our guide to credit card protection
Cons
High interest rates: a drawback to credit cards with interest-free periods is that once it’s over, you’re normally put onto the provider’s SVR (Standard Variable Rate)
Penalty for missed payments: if you miss a payment – one or a few, depending on the provider – you’ll likely lose your interest-free benefit completely
Balance transfer fees: if you’re using an interest-free balance transfer credit card there are likely to be fees involved. These can often be given as a percentage of the debt you’re transferring over
How do I apply for an interest free credit card?
Most providers will let you apply for an interest-free credit card through the phone, online, by post, or by visiting the branch in person (if they have one). You’ll need to provide details such as your name, address, financial history, and possibly one or two forms of photo ID.
Who can get an interest free credit card?
Most providers will require you to be over 18 and a UK resident, however the provider will also look at your credit history to determine whether they’ll lend you credit. Learn more about how providers decide who to lend to with our guide to being accepted for a credit card.
Things to consider when applying for an interest free credit card
Before you apply for an interest free credit card, think about:
Your credit report: whether you’re accepted for a credit card or not is largely determined by your credit report, which lenders use to come up with a credit score. Different lenders have different criteria, so you could very well have two different credit scores with two different lenders, but the likelihood is that they won’t be too dissimilar. It’s up to you to bring your score up, but there are a number of ways to do this – learn more with our guide to improving your credit score
Soft searches: when you make an application for any kind of credit, be it a credit card or a loan, it leaves a mark on your credit report. One or two applications won’t look bad, but if a lender sees several it could give the impression that you’re badly in need of credit, or that you’re not a responsible borrower. An alternative is to run soft searches using MoneySuperMarket’s eligibility checker – this way you can see how likely you are to be accepted for different credit cards. It’s not the same as an application so it won’t harm your credit report, and it can help you decide what credit cards will be best for you.
Data collected by Mintel, correct as of May 2018
Compare interest-free credit cards
It’s easier to find the right credit card when you compare deals on MoneySuperMarket. Just tell us a little about yourself and your financial situation and we’ll show you a list of interest-free credit cards – tailored to your needs.
Then you can compare deals by the APR (after the interest-free period ends), as well as any rewards or incentives included, and how likely you are to be accepted if you apply. Once you’ve chosen the credit card you want to apply for, just click through to the provider and finalise the deal.
If the provider accepts your application, they’ll send you the card through the post. They’ll set your credit limit and interest rate (this won’t necessarily be the rate advertised, as the APR only has to be offered to at least 51% of applicants), then once you activate your card it’ll be ready to use.
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