Types of credit cards
Low rate card
Reward card
Some credit cards offer cashback or other rewards for everyday spending, like points to spend on flights or shopping vouchers. This can sometimes be available for a wide variety of transactions on the card, or targeted towards a specific type of spend (e.g. household bills) but offering a more generous rate of reward.
Explore more: Credit card rewards explained
0% purchase card
Balance transfer card
Some cards offer 0% interest for a fixed time period for balance transfers from other cards. These allow you to transfer existing debt from different credit cards for a small percentage fee of the amount you're transferring. This can be helpful if you will pay less interest/fees overall than keeping any debt on your existing card/s.
Explore more: What is a balance transfer?
Credit builder card
If you have little or no credit history then these cards can help you build your credit history. Interest rates may be higher than other types of cards, but you can avoid interest as long as you pay off your balance in full each month.
What next?
Taking out a credit card is a big decision and it’s important to be sure you’re aware of all the benefits and trade-offs of the cards you’re interested in. If you’re not sure a credit card is right for you, a personal loan may suit by providing you with structured repayments over a set period of time.
