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Instant decision credit cards
Compare our best instant decision credit cards
MoneySuperMarket is a credit broker not a lender. You must be 18 or over and a UK resident.
What is an instant decision credit card?
As the name suggests, 'instant decision credit cards' will get a very quick decision from the lender. Depending on the bank, they could let know as quickly as 60 seconds.
If you’ve got a good or excellent credit score, you might even be pre-approved for a card – so you know you’ve got a strong chance of getting the card deal before you apply.
What’s the difference between instant approval and a pre-approved credit card?
Instant approval means you'll get a quick yes or no decision on a credit card application, while pre-approval suggests a higher likelihood you'll get approved based on initial credit checks.
How do instant decision credit cards work?
Get your instant decision: Fill out your application and get your decision straight away. Remember with MoneySuperMarket, we will show you which cards you are pre-approved for, which means that you are guaranteed to get the card and the interest rate displayed.
Spend on the card as usual: Once the card arrives, you can spend on it as you would any other credit card.
Pay your balance monthly: As always, you should aim to pay off the full amount each month so as to not pay any interest on your balance.
How do I get an instant decision on a credit card?
It’s easy to apply for an instant decision credit card in the UK, but you’ll need to provide a few personal details and there are certain criteria you’ll have to meet, such as:
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Evidence you’re aged 18 or over
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UK resident
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Earn more than £7,500 per year
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Your address history
What can I use an instant decision credit card for?
Once you have your instant decision credit card, it’s up to you what you use it for. Got some house repairs to do? Then you can use your credit card to cover the cost. Looking to buy a holiday? A credit card can help you spread the cost.
Just remember that if you use more than 30% of your available credit then lenders may look unfavourably on future applications for mortgages, car finance or loans, as such expenditure can harm your credit score. Only spend within your means and make repayments every month, more than the minimum amount if you can.
How do I choose the best instant-decision credit card?
Choosing the right card largely depends on your needs and credit rating.
If your credit rating isn’t all it might be, credit-builder cards can be a good bet. They can help you repair an impaired credit rating and tend to offer wide acceptance too. The same goes for credit cards for bad credit, which typically feature higher interest rates and low borrowing limits. But are relatively easy and quick to be approved for
If your credit rating is good/excellent, you can likely get an instant decision on harder-to-get cards, such as rewards cards and balance-transfer cards. That’s because you’ll probably be pre-approved for them
How much does an instant-decision credit card cost?
That’ll depend on your circumstances, the lender and the type of card you’ve applied for. The average APR our employed customers pay on a credit card is 29.0%
If you’d like to get an idea of how much you’d pay in interest for the card you're considering, we’d suggest you take a look at our handy credit card repayments calculator.
You’ll be able to compare how much you’ll repay on the card of your choice, as well as see how long it’d take to clear your debt.
Know where you stand with a pre-approved credit card
Our Eligibility Checker shows you the credit cards you're most likely to be accepted for, protecting your credit score by showing you only the cards that are right for you.
What are the easiest cards to get?
Credit cards that are more likely to offer instant approval are those with wider eligibility criteria, such as credit builder credit cards.
Credit builder cards tend to offer lower credit limits and higher interest rates, but if you keep up with your monthly repayments they can be an excellent way of building up your credit rating.
MoneySuperMarket’s free credit card eligibility checker tool can work out how likely you are to get instant acceptance on a particular card – without harming your credit score.
How do current interest rates affect the cost of borrowing?
On 8th May 2025, the Bank of England cut the base interest rate from 4.5% to 4.25%.
While credit card interest rates aren't directly tied to the base rate, they often track it to some extent. A lower base rate can encourage lenders to reduce the interest rates they charge on credit cards, making borrowing more affordable.
Therefore, if interest rates continue to fall in the coming months, you will likely start to see APRs start to come down on instant decision credit cards.
However, it is also worth noting that interest rates, and therefore borrowing costs, are still high compared to recent years, with the base rate being as low as 0.1% just 3 years ago.
How do I improve my chances of getting an instant decision?
Your credit score is the single biggest factor that determines what type of credit card you’re offered. There are plenty of ways to improve your credit score, including:
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Get on the electoral roll
Registering to vote can give your credit score an immediate boost. Our data shows people on the electoral roll have, on average, a credit score that is 35 points higher.
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Pay your bills on time
Missing a debt repayment can have a big detrimental effect on your credit score so set up direct debits to avoid missing payments.
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Reduce outstanding debts
By lowering the amount of your borrowing relative to your available credit limit you could boost your credit rating.
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Don't make lots of credit applications
Applying for lots of credit cards in a short space of time can damage your credit score. It gives the impression to potential lenders that you’re desperate for credit.
What are the pros and cons of instant-decision credit cards?
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Advantages
No waiting around for a decision: With instant-decision credit cards, you’ll typically find out whether you’ve been accepted in as little as 60 seconds
Can help build your credit score: Credit-builder cards or bad-credit credit cards can help improve an impaired credit score, provided you use the card responsibly and make your payments in full and on-time
Some lenders let you borrow instantly too: Although most instant-decision credit card providers require you to wait for the card to arrive to start spending, some will let you add a virtual card number to your digital wallet for immediate access to funds
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Disadvantages
You'll likely to wait for the card to arrive: Although you could be approved in 60 seconds, you’ll need to wait 5-14 days for the card to arrive
Less attractive rates: Interest rates on commonly available instant-decision cards, such as credit-builder cards and credit cards for bad credit, are often higher than standard credit cards
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Can I get an instant-decision credit card with bad credit?
You may well be able to. Your best chance is to apply for a credit-builder card or a credit card for bad credit, which have lower eligibility criteria. That means you’re more likely to be pre-approved and can expect to hear if you've been approved quickly.
What's more, if you get a credit builder card or bad-credit credit card and use it responsibly, you' should improve your credit score over time and improve your eligibility for a wider range of cards in future.
Get an instant decision on credit cards with MoneySuperMarket
If you are looking for a great deal credit card the next step is to use the MoneySuperMarket Eligibility Checker to see what cards are available – and your chances of approval.
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Tell us about yourself
We’ll ask you a handful of simple questions about you and your financial circumstances, and what you need from a credit card
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We browse the market
We’ll sift through dozens of credit card offers from across the market, and then show you the cards we think will suit you best
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Pick the card you want
You’ll be shown a range of credit cards, which you’ll then be able to sort according to APR, features and your chances of being approved
What are the alternatives to instant decision credit cards?
There are various alternative options to getting an instant decision credit card, including:
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Loans for bad credit
There are lenders who specialise in offering loans to people with poor credit history, but your options may be more limited and the interest rates are often higher.
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Balance transfer card
If you're paying a high interest rate on an existing card, a balance transfer credit card might help you save money by moving the balance to a lower interest card. There is often a transfer fee for doing this.
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Guarantor loans
A guarantor loan can be an alternative if you’re struggling to get a credit card. With someone you trust backing your repayments, you may be able to borrow more or at a lower rate than you’d get on your own.
Our expert says…
Some credit card providers will give you a decision on your application straight away. Usually, instant decision credit cards are those with wider eligibility criteria such as credit building credit cards. These cards have high interest rates though, so make sure you know what you are signing up to and you don’t borrow more money than you can afford to repay.
Kara Gammell Personal Finance & Insurance Expert
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MoneySuperMarket has won the Feefo Platinum Trusted Service Award, an independent seal of excellence, which recognises businesses that consistently deliver a world-class customer experience.
Get clued up on credit cards with our range of expert guides
Compare more than just instant decision credit cards
What is an APR?
APR, or your Annual Percentage Rate, is the interest rate at which you pay back money you’ve borrowed. It takes into account the actual rate you pay, plus any other fees or charges involved in the deal, to give you a more complete picture of what your loan will cost.
When you see a rate advertised as the representative APR, this means the provider is required to offer this rate to at least 51% of applicants – however it doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to receive this yourself.
Can I speed up my credit card application?
You can speed up the application process by applying for a credit card online rather than through the post. But once you’ve been approved, you have to wait for your credit card to arrive, and then once its activated you can start using it.
It’s a good idea to check your credit file before applying for a card. This way you can correct any mistakes on your file, which could affect or delay your application.
Can I get instant approval on a card with bad credit?
Approval for any credit card depends on your credit rating, and there’s no credit card that’s guaranteed to approve any applicant. However, the acceptance criteria for bad-credit credit cards is wider, so this might be your best option if your credit history isn’t perfect.
What if I’m rejected for a card?
A rejection can harm your credit score. When you apply for a credit card the lender performs a ‘hard search’ on your credit file and this ‘footprint’ can reduce your score. This could make it more difficult to be accepted if you then go on to apply for another card. Improving your score and making sure your credit report is up to date with no errors can help your chances of being accepted down the line for all types of credit cards, from interest free to balance transfer cards.
What is an instant credit card?
If you’re looking to access credit quickly, getting an instant decision on a card can help, but you’ll also want to know how quickly you can access that credit. Some instant credit cards allow customers to use their card right away by issuing a card number that can be added to a digital wallet and used with apps such as Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, or Google Pay. Not all credit cards work this way though, and for others you’ll have to wait for the card to arrive in the post.
How soon will I get my credit card?
Once you’ve been approved, credit cards usually take between seven and 10 days to arrive through the post. With some credit cards you won’t have to wait for the physical card to arrive, but you’ll be able to add a virtual card number to your digital wallet and use it immediately.
Can I get an instant approval credit card with no credit check?
You cannot get a credit card without the lender performing a check on your credit file and score.
Credit card comparison
If you’re applying for a credit card, you might be able to find a better deal if you look through offers from different providers before taking one out. With MoneySuperMarket you’ll be able to search through multiple credit cards and compare them by a range of factors, including their interest rates and any benefits and rewards they come with.
All you need to do is answer a few questions about yourself and your financial situation, and our Eligibility Checker will show your chances of being accepted for different credit cards. This won’t affect your credit score, so you can run a check without any worries.
Once you know which card you want, you can normally apply by phone, online, or in person if the provider has a high street branch. However, when you do apply, the provider will usually run a hard credit check – which will show up on your credit report – to confirm whether they’ll give you the card. If you’re accepted they’ll tell you your credit limit and interest rate, and soon you’ll be ready to start using your credit card.
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Reviewed on 26 Dec 2025 by
Based on the average Representative APR of users clicking out on credit cards products, for users with an employment status of Employed through MoneySuperMarket between September 2025 and November 2025.
Based on 1 visit per month – average ticket value £15.30 (Oct 24)
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