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Compare no annual fee credit cards

No annual fee credit cards

Compare credit cards that don't charge an annual fee. Find the best 0% balance transfer credit cards and rewards cards with no fee for you, that offer the cheapest rates or the best benefits.

No annual fee credit cards

Compare deals on no-fee credit cards, tailored for you
Uswitch.com is rated Excellent | by 26,798 people
Fact checker
Last updated
October 24th, 2024
50 results found, sorted by popularity.

Virgin Money Everyday Cashback (27.9%)

Representative APR (variable)
27.9%APR
Interest on balance transfers
27.9%p.a. variable with a5%fee
Interest on purchases
27.9%p.a. variable
Representative example:
The standard interest rate on purchases is 27.9% p.a. (variable), so if you borrow £1,200 the Representative APR will be 27.9% (variable).

Virgin Money Everyday Cashback (24.9%)

Representative APR (variable)
24.9%APR
Interest on balance transfers
24.9%p.a. variable with a5%fee
Interest on purchases
24.9%p.a. variable
Representative example:
The standard interest rate on purchases is 24.9% p.a. (variable), so if you borrow £1,200 the Representative APR will be 24.9% (variable).

MBNA Dual 0% Transfer and Purchase Credit Card

Representative APR (variable)
24.9%APR
Interest on balance transfers
0%for21months with a3.49%fee
Interest on purchases
0%for21months
Representative example:
The standard interest rate on purchases is 24.94% p.a. (variable), so if you borrow £1,200 the Representative APR will be 24.9% (variable).
More Information
Additional information
  • Balance transfers – 0% for up to 21 months on balance transfers made within the first 60 days of account opening ( 3.49% Transfer Fee), then 5% fee thereafter
  • Purchases – 0% for up to 21 months on purchases made within the first 60 days of account opening
  • Money transfers – 0% for up to 12 months on money transfers made within the first 60 days of account opening ( 4% Transfer Fee), then 5% fee thereafter
  • You may be eligible to apply for this as a second credit card. Terms apply
Eligibility
  • be a UK resident for at least 3 years
  • be 18 or older
  • hold a UK bank or building society account
  • have a good credit history
  • not have been declined for an MBNA credit card within the last 30 days
  • cannot transfer between another MBNA account

Santander Everyday Long Term Balance Transfer Credit Card

Representative APR (variable)
24.9%APR
Interest on balance transfers
0%for28months with a3.9%fee (£5 min.)
Interest on purchases
0%for3months
Representative example:
The standard interest rate on purchases is 24.9% p.a. (variable), so if you borrow £1,200 the Representative APR will be 24.9% (variable).
More Information
Additional information
  • 0% for 28 months, 3.9% balance transfer fee (minimum £5)
  • 0% for 3 months on purchases
  • Up to 56 days interest-free credit on purchases.
  • Up to 3 additional cardholders (you will be responsible for the use of and payments on the additional cards).
  • Get cashback, vouchers, prize draws and other offers personalised for you with Santander Boosts.
  • Credit is subject to status, to UK residents aged 18 and over.
Eligibility
  • be a permanent UK resident
  • be 18 or older
  • minimum income of £10,500
  • have a good credit rating
  • must not be an existing Santander balance transfer credit card customer
  • additional criteria for acceptance from the lender may apply

Halifax Longest 0% Balance Transfer Credit Card

Representative APR (variable)
24.9%APR
Interest on balance transfers
0%for27months with a3.49%fee
Interest on purchases
0%for6months
Representative example:
The standard interest rate on purchases is 24.94% p.a. (variable), so if you borrow £1,200 the Representative APR will be 24.9% (variable).
More Information
Additional information
  • Pay 0% interest for up to 27 months on balances you transfer in the first 90 days ( 3.49% transfer fee)
  • 0% on purchases made in the first 6 months of card opening
  • You may be eligible to apply for this as a second credit card. Terms apply
Eligibility
  • be a permanent UK resident
  • be 18 or older
  • have a good credit rating
  • not been declined a Halifax Bank credit card within the last 30 days
  • can't transfer from another Halifax account
  • additional criteria for acceptance from the lender may apply

Lloyds 0% Purchase and Balance Transfer Card

Representative APR (variable)
24.9%APR
Interest on balance transfers
0%for18months with a2.99%fee
Interest on purchases
0%for20months
Representative example:
The standard interest rate on purchases is 24.94% p.a. (variable), so if you borrow £1,200 the Representative APR will be 24.9% (variable).
More Information
Additional information
  • Up to 18 months 0% on balance transfers ( 2.99% fee) made within 90 days of account opening 5% fee thereafter.
  • 0% on purchases made in the first 20 months from account opening.
Eligibility
  • be a permanent UK resident
  • be 18 or older
  • have a good credit rating
  • not been declined a Lloyds Bank credit card within the last 30 days
  • can't transfer from another Lloyds Bank account
  • additional criteria for acceptance from the lender may apply

Barclaycard Platinum Balance Transfer (21/21)

Representative APR (variable)
24.9%APR
Interest on balance transfers
0%for21months with a3.45%fee
Interest on purchases
0%for21months
Representative example:
The standard interest rate on purchases is 24.9% p.a. (variable), so if you borrow £1,200 the Representative APR will be 24.9% (variable).
More Information
Additional information
  • 21 months 0% balance transfer (3.45% transfer fee applies. Terms and conditions apply).
  • Earn up to 15% cashback automatically when you spend at a range of participating retailers with Barclaycard Cashback Rewards. This is a new benefit, available to all Barclaycard Visa credit card customers. T&Cs apply
Eligibility
  • be a permanent UK resident
  • be 21 years or over
  • not have had any Individual Voluntary arrangements, County Court Judgements and must not have been declared bankrupt
  • not already hold a Barclaycard credit card
  • best suited to customers with an income of £20,000
  • additional criteria for acceptance from the lender may apply

Santander All in One Credit Card

Representative APR (variable)
29.8%APR
Interest on balance transfers
0%for15months with no fee
Interest on purchases
0%for15months
Representative example:
The standard interest rate on purchases is 23.9% p.a. (variable), so if you borrow £1,200 the Representative APR will be 29.8% (variable). £3 monthly fee.
More Information
Additional information
  • 0% for 15 months on balance transfers, with no balance transfer fee.
  • 0% for 15 months on purchases.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
  • 0.5% cashback (up to £10 a month) on all your purchases.
  • £3 monthly fee
Eligibility
  • be a permanent UK resident
  • be 18 or older
  • minimum income of £10,500
  • have a good credit rating
  • must not be an existing Santander balance transfer credit card customer
  • additional criteria for acceptance from the lender may apply
Uswitch Limited is a credit broker, not a lender, for consumer credit.
Our services are provided at no cost to you. We may receive a commission from the companies we refer you to, but this does not affect what you will pay for the product you choose.

What is a no fee credit card?

A woman is holding a credit card and paying on a contactless machine

Lots of credit cards now charge an annual fee or a balance transfer fee, but it is still possible to find no fee credit cards.

Credit cards with no fees are common in many cases. For example, 0% purchase cards almost never charge a fee for owning them or using them - but there are two big exceptions.

If you're looking for a card with added perks - for example a rewards card, air miles card, or a travel credit card – you might well find an annual fee attached to it.

Secondly, if you're looking to make a balance transfer or money transfer, you'll likely find cards that charge a fee for doing this.

The good news is that there are fee-free reward cards available if you know where to look, while 0% balance transfer cards with no fee are also available.

These generally offer shorter 0% periods or slightly less generous rewards than their fee-charging versions - but if you're transferring a smaller balance or only using the card occasionally, they might be better value.

Number of balance transfers in July 2023[1]
769,000

How do no annual fee credit cards work?

A fee-free credit card is very simple – which is why they're very popular. When you apply for the card there's no charge, and if you pay off your credit balance in full each month you won’t be charged any interest either.

They could be the best credit card for you if you want a straightforward, low-cost credit card that you don’t have to worry about, or you need one to keep tucked away for emergencies and big purchases.

A zero fee credit card is cheap and simple and might be the best option if you want to keep your costs down.

What you need to be aware of

Even though no fee credit cards don’t charge you an annual fee, you will still pay costs if you go over your credit limit, don’t clear your bill before interest is charged or  miss or make late payments.

In the vast majority of cases there are also fees levied for using the card to make cash withdrawals, or make "cash like" transactions such as buying shares. Fees may also be charged if you use the card overseas.

Most will charge you an interest rate on the outstanding balance on your card, although this depends on the type of credit card you choose.

No-annual fee doesn't mean the card is entirely free to use - so make sure you keep up with payments.

Benefits and disadvantages of no annual fee credit cards

Benefits

Simple and easy to use and there are no ongoing costs if you pay the balance off in full every month.
You don’t need to work out whether rewards or perks outweigh the cost of a fee.

Disadvantages

Rewards packages may not be as appealing as a card that charges a fee.
Cards with no fee can have higher interest rates, costing you more if you do not clear your balance in full each month.

Who would suit a no fee credit card?

A zero fee credit card would best suit someone who wants a simple credit card, would like to keep their costs down, or who uses their credit card only occasionally.

A no annual fee credit card might not suit someone who often has a high amount of outstanding debt on their card. That's because no annual fee credit cards often charge higher interest rates.

How to find the best no fee credit cards

You can use our interactive comparison tool at the top of this page to compare credit cards with no annual fees.

You can filter the search criteria based on Popularity, Longest Balance Transfer Period, Lowest APR or Longest Purchase Period.

You can also use our card-finder tool to get results tailored to you, letting you know which cards you are most likely to be accepted for.

How do I apply?

Use our comparison tool to find the best no fee credit card for you, and then click Apply.

Some credit card providers offer a free credit card eligibility check before you make a formal application.

This allows you to see whether you are likely to be approved for the card without the application appearing on your credit reference file.

The main types of no-fee credit cards

No fee balance transfer cards

Many 0% balance transfer credit cards charge a fee of around 3% when you transfer a balance. However, some credit cards allow you to transfer your balance from your current credit card to another without paying a fee.

As long as you keep on top of your repayments, you’ll be able clear your debt without the hefty interest you might have been paying before.

Rewards credit cards with no annual fee

Typically, a no-annual fee card is a simple no-nonsense credit card that does exactly what it says on the tin.

However, there are better credit card rewards attached to cards that do charge an annual fee - this is the trade-off of having a cheaper card. 

But that doesn't mean you have to pay to own a rewards card - many supermarket no annual fee credit cards still offer retail point schemes that can help you save on your grocery shopping, for example.

The main types of no-fee credit cards

No fee balance transfer cards

Many 0% balance transfer credit cards charge a fee of around 3% when you transfer a balance. However, some credit cards allow you to transfer your balance from your current credit card to another without paying a fee.

As long as you keep on top of your repayments, you’ll be able clear your debt without the hefty interest you might have been paying before.

Rewards credit cards with no annual fee

Typically, a no-annual fee card is a simple no-nonsense credit card that does exactly what it says on the tin.

However, there are better credit card rewards attached to cards that do charge an annual fee - this is the trade-off of having a cheaper card. 

But that doesn't mean you have to pay to own a rewards card - many supermarket no annual fee credit cards still offer retail point schemes that can help you save on your grocery shopping, for example.

Will I get the best interest rates with a no-annual fee credit card?

Possibly not. Sometimes, credit card providers charge a higher rate of interest on no annual fee credit cards, so you’ll need to compare them carefully. 

What’s more, when it comes to rewards cards, you're likely to see better offers if you pay a fee. 

Similarly, with balance transfer cards, you're likely to see longer 0% interest periods when you pay a fee. 

With or without an annual fee, getting the best interest rates depends on your credit score.

A credit card for those with bad credit can charge ongoing interest as high as 35%, whereas with good credit, interest rates are typically around 24%.

Your credit score matters more than the fee for ongoing interest charges.

Find a no annual fee credit card

See what's available and check your eligibility before applying with our card finder tool
1
Answer a few simple questions about yourself
2
We'll show you the cards you're most likely to get
3
Your credit score won't be affected by the search
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No annual fee credit card FAQs

What is the true cost of the balance transfer fee?

Most credit card providers charge a balance transfer fee of around 3% when you move your debt from one card to another. This varies between cards and providers.

As the fee is worked out as a percentage, the cost of the transfer fee will rise with the amount you transfer.

What is APR?

APR stands for "annual percentage rate" - it's the interest rate charged on money borrowed on your credit card. 

It reflects the costs you'll pay over the course of a year and includes any standard fees associated with the card. 

In most cases, you can avoid paying interest by paying off your credit card balance in full by the due date of every billing cycle.

Is interest free credit really interest free?

Yes, but that doesn't mean you'll pay nothing to borrow.

First, there may be a fee attached to a credit card balance transfer or money transfer.

Secondly, if you don't clear your debt within the 0% period you'll be charged interest on any money remaining on the account at the end of it.

Do balance transfers hurt your credit score?

No. The act of transferring a balance to a new credit card doesn’t damage your credit score.

However, there are two things that might negatively affect your credit worthiness if you're not careful.

Firstly, applying for a new credit card is always recorded on your credit history. This means that if you have an application rejected, or there are multiple applications over a short period of time, other lenders might be nervous.

However, card finder and eligibility checker tools don’t show up on your credit score, so it makes sense to use one to ensure you only apply for cards you’ll qualify for.

Secondly, lenders look at something called your "total available credit" before making a decision. This is worked out by adding up all your credit card and overdraft limits.

A new card adds to this total, but unless you've already got a large number of cards with high credit limits - for example equal to your annual salary – it’s unlikely to be a problem.

How Uswitch compares credit cards

What does ‘most popular’ and ‘popularity’ mean?

When we use the term ‘most popular or ‘popularity’ on Uswitch in reference to credit cards, these cards are ranked by the number of clicks they have received on the site in the past 30 days.

The most clicked on cards are at the top, with the least at the bottom. This reflects how popular they are with visitors to Uswitch.com. Consequently, this is a good table to look at if you’re interested in seeing which cards most people think are worth getting.

Does Uswitch compare all the credit cards on the market?

We compare over 100 credit cards from all of the major banks and credit card providers.

However, we do not compare all the credit cards that are available in the UK.

This is because some credit card providers have offers that are only available exclusively through their own website or branch, or through other comparison websites - in the same way some credit cards are exclusively available through Uswitch.

There are also many credit cards that are only available to people in member organisations and clubs.

Credit card guides

Find out more about how credit cards work with our in-depth guides
How many credit cards can you have?
How many credit cards can you have?
How to use a credit card
How to use a credit card
What are the differences between credit and debit card?
What are the differences between credit and debit card?

About the author

Salman Haqqi - Senior Personal Finance Expert
Salman Haqqi has over a decade of experience as a journalist in several countries around the world. In recent years, he has turned his focus to helping people make confident financial decisions and regularly comments in the media about personal finance.

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References