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0% purchase credit cards

Spread the cost of your purchases interest-free

Planning a big purchase? A 0% purchase card helps to spread the cost without any interest

Get approved for a credit card quickly

  • Add your details to our eligibility checker

  • Explore your options from top credit card providers

  • Choose the right card for your needs

October 2024's savings

You could save up to £763.84* in interest with a 0% balance card

Get approved for a credit card quickly

  • Add your details to our eligibility checker

  • Explore your options from top credit card providers

  • Choose the right card for your needs

Credit cards - 0Purchase

986,823 customers have visited Uswitch to explore credit cards this year

22,176 people used our eligibility checker in October 2024

*£763.84 is a representative example of the interest a customer would save in the first 12 months. Example based on a £3,500 balance transferred from a card with 29.8% APR to a 0% card for 30 months, then 24.9% (variable), with a fixed monthly payment of £175. Representative APR 24.9%. See more here: Uswitch savings

Finding the best credit cards from trusted providers

Our experts browse hundreds of products to find the best deals

Virgin Money
Capital One
M&S Bank
Barclaycard
British Airways
American Express
Nectar
Santander
Tesco
Zopa
Virgin Money
Capital One
M&S Bank
Barclaycard
British Airways
American Express
Nectar
Santander
Tesco
Zopa

Discover credit card offers just for you

Here are some of our best 0% purchase credit cards - we've chosen these ones as they offer the longest purchase period.

Card
Barclaycard Platinum Balance Transfer (19/22)
Interest on purchases
0% for 22 months
Account fee
£0
Representative APR (variable)
24.9% APR

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).

Card
M&S Bank Purchase Plus Credit Card
Interest on purchases
0% for 20 months
Account fee
£0
Representative APR (variable)
24.9% APR

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).

Card
HSBC Purchase Plus Credit Card
Interest on purchases
0% for 20 months
Account fee
£0
Representative APR (variable)
24.9% APR

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).

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.

Last updated
October 24th, 2024

What is a 0% purchase credit card?

Interest free, or 0%, purchase credit cards let you essentially borrow for free in the short term. That's because they don't charge interest on spending during the introductory period.

They can be a great way to spread the cost of expensive items like sofas, TVs, bikes and holidays over months or potentially years.

These cards are only interest free for a fixed period of time. You'll still need to meet your minimum monthly repayments to keep the 0% interest offer in place.

Depending on the interest free period, you may pay no interest on your big purchase at all, provided you repay the full amount owing before the interest-free period expires.

How to use a 0% purchase credit card

When used responsibly, 0% interest credit cards can effectively be used for interest free borrowing. For example you could make a large purchase, or several small purchases that rack up a balance of £3,000. Let's say you get a 0% purchase card that offers you 24 months of 0% interest. Divide the balance on the card (£3,000) by the number of months remaining on the 0% period (24) to get the monthly payment you need to make to pay of the entire balance before the interest free period ends.

In this case that's £125, so you can set up a direct debit paying this amount each month to pay off the debt before the 0% deal ends. This way you won't have paid a single penny in interest.

One thing to keep in mind is that you should make sure not to make any additional purchase with this credit, or you'll keep adding to the balance.

Two people on a hike laughing and looking at the view

Is a 0% purchase credit card right for you?

You should only consider getting a purchase credit card if you know you can clear the debt before the 0% interest deal ends. If you feel you'll be unable to pay off the debt within the introductory period, you'll need a card that's more suitable for sustained borrowing. You might want to consider getting a low APR credit card.

0% interest does not apply to cash withdrawals

The 0% interest free period only applies to purchases you make with the card. You'll be charged a higher rate and additional fees for cash withdrawals.

You might lose the 0% offer

You will need to meet all your minimum monthly repayments, or you might lose the 0% interest offer. And you must not go over the credit card limit set by the credit card provider.

The 0% interest free period will not last forever

When the 0% on purchases introductory period ends, the interest will rise to a more expensive standard rate.

Shop now, pay later – explore 0% purchase credit cards

Answer a few quick questions and we’ll show you which 0% purchase cards are available to you

Pros and cons

Pros

Spread the cost of purchases
Pay not interest on your spending within in the 0% period
Some cards may offer discounts or other benefits

Cons

The interest rate will shoot up after the 0% period ends
Can tempt you into spending more than you can afford
The longest 0% periods usually require a high credit score

Our expert says

Many cards offer more than just 0% on purchases. This could include 0% on both purchases and balance transfers, lowest APR and longest 0% purchase period. Remember, what makes the best credit card for you will depend on your needs.

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?

FAQs

How long do you need to pay off your credit card?

The longer the 0% purchase period, the longer you have to pay back your balance without being charged any interest. So look for a card with the longest 0% period.

What does lowest APR mean?

The annual percentage rate (APR) shows you what the credit card will cost you once your 0% introductory period ends. A higher APR means higher repayments.

Depending on your financial situation, the credit card provider might not give you the APR you see advertised. Credit card providers only have to give the typical APR they advertise to around 50% of successful applicants.

What are 'All in one' credit cards?

You can avoid interest on both your spending and existing credit card debts, with an 'all in one' or 'all round' credit cards. They work by offering a 0% introductory period on both balance transfers and purchases.

But they can become expensive if you're unable to pay off what you owe once the 0% introductory period ends.

0% credit cards with rewards

Some 0% purchase credit cards will offer you the chance to earn rewards on your spending. This includes things like loyalty card points, vouchers and air miles.

Find out more about reward credit cards.

Learn more from our Credit Card Guides

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.

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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