Compare Low APR Credit Cards

Low APR credit cards could save you money - find out how and compare low APR credit cards with uSwitch today to find a great deal.

With credit card interest rates going up, low APR credit cards are looking more attractive, and in some cases may even be a better deal than credit cards offering 0% deals on purchases and balance transfers. Find out more about low APR credit cards.

Cards below ordered by interest rate (APR)

Top five cards

  1. 0 Nationwide BS Select Credit Card Visa

    Nationwide BS Select Credit Card Visa

    12.9% APR

    0.0% balance transfer for 20 months (3.10% fee)

    0.0% on purchases for 12 months

  2. 1 Sainsbury's Bank Low Rate Credit Card MasterCard

    Sainsbury's Bank Low Rate Credit Card MasterCard

    6.9% APR

  3. 2 Barclaycard Platinum Simplicity Visa

    Barclaycard Platinum Simplicity Visa

    7.9% APR

  4. 3 Lloyds TSB Online Platinum MasterCard

    Lloyds TSB Online Platinum MasterCard

    17.9% APR

    0.0% balance transfer for 15 months (3.00% fee)

    0.0% on purchases for 3 months

  5. 4 Sainsbury's Bank Gold Credit Card MasterCard

    Sainsbury's Bank Gold Credit Card MasterCard

    20.1% APR

Original
  • 6.9% APR Representative Variable

Features

  • 6.95% on purchases and balance transfers
  • No fees on balance transfers
  • No Nectar points on purchases or balance transfers

Rates

Cash Advance:

  • 3.0%

Default Charges

  • Exceeding personal limit subject to a handling fee of £12.
  • Late payment subject to a handling fee of £12.
  • Returned payment subject to a handling fee of £12.

Eligibility

  • Is not available to existing customers
  • Minimum income of £0
  • 18 years minimum age
  • Is not available to applicants with County Court Judgements

Charges

Cash withdrawal fee: 24.93% Credit Card Repayments Cover premiums, interest, default sums, plus 1% of the balance shown on statement, or 2.25% of the balance, or £5, plus any amount owed that is more than the credit limit.

Repayment terms: We use any payments you make to pay off transactions that appear on your statements starting with those on which we charge interest at the highest rate. We will then pay off transactions on which we charge interest at the next highest rate and so on down to the lowest rate of interest. If the payment is not enough to pay off all transactions at a particular interest rate, we will pay off transactions charged at that interest rate in the order:- cash advances, cheques, purchases, balance transfers and default sums. If you pay more than the amount due shown on your statement, we will use any remaining payment to pay off transactions that have not yet appeared on your statement in the same order as those that do appear on your statement. In this condition, "transaction" includes the amount of the purchase, cash advance, cheque, default sum or balance transfer plus any interest fees or insurance payment charged as a result of that transaction.

Statement copy subject to a handling fee of £5.

Replacement card subject to a handling fee of £0.

Voucher copy (UK) subject to a handling fee of £0.

Voucher copy (Worldwide) subject to a handling fee of £0. Cash advance subject to a handling fee of £3.0 (minimum £3.0).

Original

  • Barclaycard Platinum Simplicity Visa

  • 7.9% APR Representative
    (Variable)

    • Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a rate of 7.9% (variable) per annum, your Representative APR is 7.9% APR (variable).
  • 7.9% APR Representative Variable

Features

Rates

Cash Advance:

  • 2.5%

Default Charges

  • Exceeding personal limit subject to a handling fee of £12.
  • Late payment subject to a handling fee of £12.
  • Returned payment subject to a handling fee of £12.

Eligibility

  • Is not available to existing customers
  • Minimum income of £20000
  • 21 years minimum age
  • Is not available to applicants with County Court Judgements

Charges

Cash withdrawal fee: 15.8% Or any interest, account fees and default charges that have been added to your account since your last statement plus 1% of the remaining balance.

Repayment terms: If you don’t pay your statement balance in full each month, we will apply the amount you do pay to reduce higher interest rate balances before lower interest rate balances. Any default charges will be repaid before the rest of the standard balance. If you have more than one promotional balance with the same interest rate, you’ll reduce the balance with the earliest expiry date first.

Statement copy subject to a handling fee of £3.

Replacement card subject to a handling fee of £0.

Voucher copy (UK) subject to a handling fee of £5.

Voucher copy (Worldwide) subject to a handling fee of £0. Cash advance subject to a handling fee of £2.5 (minimum £2.5).

Original

  • Lloyds TSB Advance MasterCard

  • 11.9% APR Representative
    (Variable)

    • 4.9% balance transfer for 12 months (3.00% fee)
    • 0.0% on purchases for 6 months
    • Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a rate of 11.95% (variable) per annum, your Representative APR is 11.9% APR (variable).
  • 11.9% APR Representative Variable
  • 4.9% balance transfer for 12 months (3.00% fee)
  • 0.0% on purchases for 6 months

Features

  • 4.9% balance transfer for 12 months (3.00% fee)
  • 0.0% on purchases for 6 months

Rates

Purchases:

  • 0.0% on purchases for 6 months

Balance Transfer:

  • 4.9% balance transfer for 12 months (3.00% fee)

Cash Advance:

  • 3.0%

Default Charges

  • Exceeding personal limit subject to a handling fee of £12.
  • Late payment subject to a handling fee of £12.
  • Returned payment subject to a handling fee of £12.

Eligibility

  • Is not available to existing customers
  • Minimum income of £0
  • 18 years minimum age
  • Is not available to applicants with County Court Judgements

Charges

Interest fee on purchases: 0.0%

Cash withdrawal fee: 27.9% Your monthly minimum payment must be to an amount equal to the total of the interest, any late payment, over limit or returned payment charges, 1/12th of your annual fee (if applicable) and 1% of the balance shown in your statement (minimum £5, or the full balance if less than £5).

Repayment terms: We use any payments you make to pay off Transactions that appear on your statement starting with those on which we charge the highest rate of interest, and so on down to the lowest rate of interest. If the payment is not enough to pay off all Transactions at a particular interest rate, we will pay off Transactions charged at the interest rate in the following order:- Cash Withdrawals, Purchases, Balance Transfers and Cheques, followed by charges. If you pay more than the amount due shown on your statement, we will use any remaining payment to pay off Transactions that have not yet appeared on your statement in the same order as those that do appear on your statement. In this condition, “Transaction” includes the amount of the Purchase, Cash Withdrawal, Cheque or Balance Transfer plus any interest, charges or insurance payment charged as a result of that Transaction. For example, a Cash Withdrawal charge is included as part of a Cash Withdrawal.

Statement copy subject to a handling fee of £6.

Replacement card subject to a handling fee of £0.

Voucher copy (UK) subject to a handling fee of £5.

Voucher copy (Worldwide) subject to a handling fee of £5. Cash advance subject to a handling fee of £2.5 (minimum £2.5).

Original

  • Nationwide BS Select Credit Card Visa

  • 12.9% APR Representative
    (Variable)

    • 0.0% balance transfer for 20 months (3.10% fee)
    • 0.0% on purchases for 12 months
    • Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a rate of 12.9% (variable) per annum, your Representative APR is 12.9% APR (variable).
  • 12.9% APR Representative Variable
  • 0.0% balance transfer for 20 months (3.10% fee)
  • 0.0% on purchases for 12 months

Features

  • Rewards scheme providing savings on major brands including Holiday Inn, Wickes, Butlins, Urban Outfitters, Gourmet Society, Kwik Fit, aka Promotions (West End Theatre) and Virgin Holidays - these offers are reviewed on a regular basis.
  • 0.0% balance transfer for 20 months (3.10% fee)
  • 0.0% on purchases for 12 months

Rates

Purchases:

  • 0.0% on purchases for 12 months

Balance Transfer:

  • 0.0% balance transfer for 20 months (3.10% fee)

Cash Advance:

  • 2.5%

Default Charges

  • Exceeding personal limit subject to a handling fee of £12.
  • Late payment subject to a handling fee of £12.
  • Returned payment subject to a handling fee of £12.

Eligibility

  • Is available to existing customers
  • Minimum income of £5000
  • 18 years minimum age
  • Is not available to applicants with County Court Judgements

Charges

Interest fee on purchases: 0.0%

Cash withdrawal fee: 27.9% 1% of the statement balance before any default charges and interest after which default charges and interest will be added.

Repayment terms: We will apply payments first to debts appearing on your statement in a high to low interest rate order, and then to any transactions that have not yet appeared on your statement, in the same high to low order. If you have more than one balance with the same interest rate we will reduce the balance with the earliest expiry date first.

Statement copy subject to a handling fee of £5.

Replacement card subject to a handling fee of £0.

Voucher copy (UK) subject to a handling fee of £0.

Voucher copy (Worldwide) subject to a handling fee of £0. Cash advance subject to a handling fee of £3.0 (minimum £3.0).

Original

  • Nationwide BS Credit Card Balance Transfer Visa

  • 15.9% APR Representative
    (Variable)

    • 0.0% balance transfer for 20 months (3.10% fee)
    • 0.0% on purchases for 3 months
    • Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a rate of 15.9% (variable) per annum, your Representative APR is 15.9% APR (variable).
  • 15.9% APR Representative Variable
  • 0.0% balance transfer for 20 months (3.10% fee)
  • 0.0% on purchases for 3 months

Features

  • Customers will be able to earn commission-free purchases abroad by using their Credit Card each time they make a purchase in Sterling. The calculation will be based on a 5:1 ratio - for example, £5 spent in Sterling will earn an allowance of £1 commission free-purchases abroad. Purchases abroad beyond the earned amount will be charged 2% commission. Rewards scheme providing savings on major brands including Holiday Inn, Wickes, Butlins, Urban Outfitters, Gourmet Society, Kwik Fit, aka Promotions (West End Theatre) and Virgin Holidays - these offers are reviewed on a regular basis.
  • 0.0% balance transfer for 20 months (3.10% fee)
  • 0.0% on purchases for 3 months

Rates

Purchases:

  • 0.0% on purchases for 3 months

Balance Transfer:

  • 0.0% balance transfer for 20 months (3.10% fee)

Cash Advance:

  • 2.5%

Default Charges

  • Exceeding personal limit subject to a handling fee of £12.
  • Late payment subject to a handling fee of £12.
  • Returned payment subject to a handling fee of £12.

Eligibility

  • Is not available to existing customers
  • Minimum income of £5000
  • 18 years minimum age
  • Is not available to applicants with County Court Judgements

Charges

Interest fee on purchases: 0.0%

Cash withdrawal fee: 27.9% 1% of the statement balance before any default charges and interest after which default charges and interest will be added.

Repayment terms: We will apply payments first to debts appearing on your statement in a high to low interest rate order, and then to any transactions that have not yet appeared on your statement, in the same high to low order. If you have more than one balance with the same interest rate we will reduce the balance with the earliest expiry date first.

Statement copy subject to a handling fee of £5.

Replacement card subject to a handling fee of £0.

Voucher copy (UK) subject to a handling fee of £0.

Voucher copy (Worldwide) subject to a handling fee of £0. Cash advance subject to a handling fee of £3.0 (minimum £3.0).

Original

  • Lloyds TSB Online Platinum MasterCard

  • 17.9% APR Representative
    (Variable)

    • 0.0% balance transfer for 15 months (3.00% fee)
    • 0.0% on purchases for 3 months
    • Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a rate of 17.9% (variable) per annum, your Representative APR is 17.9% APR (variable).
  • 17.9% APR Representative Variable
  • 0.0% balance transfer for 15 months (3.00% fee)
  • 0.0% on purchases for 3 months

Features

  • 0.0% balance transfer for 15 months (3.00% fee)
  • 0.0% on purchases for 3 months
  • Up to 56 days’ interest-free period on purchases if you pay your balance in full and on time each month.

Rates

Purchases:

  • 0.0% on purchases for 3 months

Balance Transfer:

  • 0.0% balance transfer for 15 months (3.00% fee)

Cash Advance:

  • 3.0%

Default Charges

  • Exceeding personal limit subject to a handling fee of £12.
  • Late payment subject to a handling fee of £12.
  • Returned payment subject to a handling fee of £12.

Eligibility

  • Is not available to existing customers
  • Minimum income of £15000
  • 18 years minimum age
  • Is not available to applicants with County Court Judgements

Charges

Interest fee on purchases: 0.0%

Cash withdrawal fee: 27.9% Your monthly minimum payment must be to an amount equal to the total of the interest, any late payment, over limit or returned payment charges, 1/12th of your annual fee (if applicable) and 1% of the balance shown in your statement (minimum £5, or the full balance if less than £5).

Repayment terms: We use any payments you make to pay off Transactions that appear on your statement starting with those on which we charge the highest rate of interest, and so on down to the lowest rate of interest. If the payment is not enough to pay off all Transactions at a particular interest rate, we will pay off Transactions charged at the interest rate in the following order:- Cash Withdrawals, Purchases, Balance Transfers and Cheques, followed by charges. If you pay more than the amount due shown on your statement, we will use any remaining payment to pay off Transactions that have not yet appeared on your statement in the same order as those that do appear on your statement. In this condition, “Transaction” includes the amount of the Purchase, Cash Withdrawal, Cheque or Balance Transfer plus any interest, charges or insurance payment charged as a result of that Transaction. For example, a Cash Withdrawal charge is included as part of a Cash Withdrawal.

Statement copy subject to a handling fee of £6.

Replacement card subject to a handling fee of £0.

Voucher copy (UK) subject to a handling fee of £5.

Voucher copy (Worldwide) subject to a handling fee of £5. Cash advance subject to a handling fee of £2.5 (minimum £2.5).

Original

  • Sainsbury's Bank Gold Credit Card MasterCard

  • 20.1% APR Representative
    (Variable)

    • Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a rate of 9.94% (variable) per annum, with a £5 monthly fee, your Representative APR is 20.1% APR (variable).
  • 20.1% APR Representative Variable

Features

  • Earn 2 points per £1 spent in Sainsbury's store. Earn 1 point per £5 spent when making any other purchase.

Rates

Cash Advance:

  • 0.0%

Default Charges

  • Exceeding personal limit subject to a handling fee of £12.
  • Late payment subject to a handling fee of £12.
  • Returned payment subject to a handling fee of £12.

Eligibility

  • Is not available to existing customers
  • Minimum income of £0
  • 18 years minimum age
  • Is not available to applicants with County Court Judgements

Charges

Cash withdrawal fee: 24.93% Plus any amount over limit.

Repayment terms: We use any payments you make to pay off transactions that appear on your statements starting with those on which we charge interest at the highest rate. We will then pay off transactions on which we charge interest at the next highest rate and so on down to the lowest rate of interest. If the payment is not enough to pay off all transactions at a particular interest rate, we will pay off transactions charged at that interest rate in the order:- cash advances, cheques, purchases, balance transfers and default sums. If you pay more than the amount due shown on your statement, we will use any remaining payment to pay off transactions that have not yet appeared on your statement in the same order as those that do appear on your statement. In this condition, "transaction" includes the amount of the purchase, cash advance, cheque, default sum or balance transfer plus any interest fees or insurance payment charged as a result of that transaction.

Statement copy subject to a handling fee of £0.

Replacement card subject to a handling fee of £0.

Voucher copy (UK) subject to a handling fee of £0.

Voucher copy (Worldwide) subject to a handling fee of £0. Cash advance subject to a handling fee of £0.0 (minimum £0.0).

What are the advantages of a low APR credit card?

While 0% introductory offers on balance transfers and purchases may look great, they aren't always the best deal.

When the introductory period is over, most 0% credit card deals switch back to a standard rate (usually between 15% and 20% APR), meaning you might be better off opting for a low APR credit card if you cannot pay off your balance in the introductory period.

One of the biggest advantages of a low APR credit card is that you can stick with the same card for longer and still get a good deal, rather than having to switch regularly to take advantage of new 0% introductory periods.

Another thing to be aware of is that switching your credit card regularly might have a negative impact on your credit report, which could make it harder to get a credit card in the future.

Sticking with one low APR credit card, rather than switching regularly means that you could save money by avoiding paying balance transfer fees more than once. The added expense of paying frequent balance transfer fees could cancel out the benefits of switching to a credit card with an interest free introductory period, so it makes sense to work out if you could save in the long term with a low rate APR credit card.

Is a low APR credit card right for me?

Low APR credit cards are useful for people who usually pay off their credit card bill in full each month, but who may carry a balance over occasionally, and don't want to pay over the odds in interest if they do.

You need to have an excellent credit rating to be eligible for some low APR credit cards, so it's always a good idea to check your credit report before applying.

0% balance transfer credit cards are good for consolidating your debts, or if you have a big balance to pay off. They can give you a break from interest payments and a chance to start paying off your balance.

However, remember that when the interest free period is up, you will start paying the credit card provider's standard rate (an average 17.4% APR), or alternatively you could switch again - meaning you might end up paying balance transfer fees (usually 1-3% of the balance) all over again.

By staying with one low APR credit card in the long term, you could end up saving, by avoiding paying high interest or paying balance transfer fees more than once.

Find great low APR credit cards.

See also the 2012 Credit Card Customer Satisfaction Survey Results