Best credit cards: We pick the top deals for clearing debt, rewards, airline points and more

• We pick the best credit cards for cashback, clearing debt and using abroad
• If used correctly, credit cards can both earn and save you money 
• We also run the rule over fees and charges that kick in when special offers end 

The best credit cards can help you boost your credit score, clear your debts faster, spread the cost of an expensive purchase and even earn a tidy sum in airline points or cashback.

Pick the wrong one, however, or fail to manage it correctly, and you can be left with a hefty bill and a credit rating in tatters.

So whether you are looking for cashback on your everyday spending, points to put towards your next flight, an interest-free balance transfer to help clear debts, or a card that doesn't charge you for usage abroad, the right credit card could be a game-changer.

This is Money has scoured the market and picked out the best credit card deals to help you make the most of your money.

We have chosen these cards because we think that they offer something that makes them stand out from the crowd. 

While they may not always have the absolute lowest rate or the longest special offer, our independent research has shown that they represent a good deal.

Best for cashback

Credit Card: American Express Platinum cashback everyday credit card  

Perks: There is no monthly or annual charge on this card.

It gives 5 per cent cashback on all spending for the first three months of card membership, up to a maximum of £100.

Each year thereafter, you'll receive 0.5 per cent cashback when spending up to £10,000 and 1 per cent cash back on everything you spend after that.

As long as you spend at least £3,000 in each given year, every full £1 you spend on purchases qualifies for cashback.

There is also a refer a friend offer. The person who does the referring earns £20 cashback whilst the person who is referred gets £10 cashback for the first £1 they spend. The limit for referral earnings is set at £150 a year. 

Warning: If you fail to pay it off each month you'll be hit with a 31.0 per cent purchase rate.

In addition, some UK retailers don't accept Amex due to the fact that it charges them around 3 per cent for each sale they make. 

Being aware of where you can and can't use your American Express card is important - you can find out the places that accept Amex here.

There are now very few major chains that don't accept it. You are more likely to have an issue when in smaller shops throughout the UK.

Credit card: American Express Platinum cashback credit card

Perks: Another offering from American Express, this card pays 0.75 per cent cashback on spending up to £10,000 and 1.25 per cent for everything over that amount in a given year.

Like the 'everyday' card detailed above, it offers 5 per cent cashback for the first three months - but with a higher limit of £125. The card also comes with a bonus offer of £25 cashback for new cardmembers.

There is also a refer a friend offer. The person who does the referring earns £30 cashback whilst the person who is referred gets £25 cashback for the first £1 they spend. The limit for referral earnings is set at £150 a year.  

Warning: This card comes with a £25 annual charge. 

If you fail to pay it off each month you'll be hit with a 31.0 per cent purchase rate.

As mentioned above, Amex is not accepted in all stores. But this is improving.

Verdict: If you're not a big spender and are wary of paying an annual charge then Amex's free cashback 'everyday' credit card might be best for you.

However, for those who expect to spend in excess of £10,000, the fee-paying option will ultimately prove more lucrative - particularly if you take full advantage of the introductory three-month offer. 

Best for frequent flyers

Your choice of rewards card will depend on which airlines you prefer to use, because a combination of credit card and frequent flyer points will yield the best discounts. 

Credit Card: British Airways American Express Premium Plus Card

Perks: The major crowd-pleaser on this card is a free companion ticket on one flight booked with your Avios points. Card holders are eligible for this if they spend more than £10,000 a year. From 1 November, you'll need to spend £15,000 each year to earn a companion voucher.

It means you can get two seats for the Avios points of one - although you still have to foot the bill for taxes, fees and charges on the 'free' seat.

The sign-up bonuses are good, too. At the moment you get 30,000 bonus Avios when you spend £6,000 in your first three months of membership.

There is also an additional referral bonus on offer. For every person you successfully refer to the card you will earn 9,000 Avios. By referrals alone you could accrue up to 90,000 points in a given year.

According to Amex, 30,000 points is enough for a business class flight from London to Amsterdam, Geneva or Milan, while 10,000 points would cover a one-way flight from London to 25 destinations, plus 50p per person.

Cardholders can get automatic enrolment to the British Airways Executive Club, which includes priority on standby waiting lists, 24/7 support when traveling outside the UK through Global Assist, and travel accident insurance of up to £75,000 on public transport when booked with their Amex card.

You get 1.5 Avios points for every £1 you spend and you also get 3 Avios points for every £1 you spend with British Airways or BA holidays.

According to British Airways, you can book a Reward Flight starting at just £1 and 18,500 Avios, or you can reduce the cash price of your flight with as little as 1,000 Avios.

It will really depend on how far you are intending to travel though. A Reward flight to North America for example starts from £100 and 50,000 Avios.

You can also get a two-for-one Companion Voucher when you spend £10,000 each membership year on the Card, which you can use to take a companion with you.

Companion Vouchers can only be redeemed on available reward flights.

Warning: It's worth bearing in mind the number of Avios required jumps around depending on peak and off peak dates, the airline you fly with and how much cash you want to put towards it.

More importantly however, this card comes with a hefty £300 annual fee.

Remember to pay it off each month or you will face a 31.0 per cent purchase rate. 

Verdict: If you are a big spender and a frequent flyer, this card is one of the most lucrative deals on the market.  

But if you don't want to pay an annual fee, there is a free alternative in the British Airways American Express card. 

The sign-up perk for this card is much less generous. Only 5,000 BA Avios points after you spend £1,000 in the first three months, and allows you to collect one Avios point for every pound spent.

Credit card: Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard 

Perks: Those who qualify for the Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard can bag themselves a sign-up bonus of 25,000 Avios points.

To qualify, new cardmembers need to spend £3,000 within the first three months.

On top of the introductory offer, cardmembers will collect 1.5 Avios for every £1 spent on eligible purchases.

Those who spend £10,000 on the card within 12 months can also choose between a British Airways cabin upgrade voucher to use on a Avios Reward Flight booking, or 7,000 bonus Avios.

It also gives access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide at a discounted rate of £18.50 per lounge pass, per person.

Warning: The card won't be for everyone, however. Existing cardmembers are not eligible while the card also comes with a £20 monthly fee, which may put some people off.

Anyone who cancelled a Barclaycard Avios credit card in the past will be eligible as long as there has been a 24-month gap.

Those who have had any other Barclaycard will be eligible only if they have canceled their non-Avios Barclaycard more than six months ago.

Verdict: If you don't want to pay any fee at all, there is also a special offer of 5,000 Avios on the free Barclaycard Avios Mastercard, for those who spend £1,000 in three months.

Anything else?

For those who are frequent flyers on Virgin Atlantic it may be worth checking out the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card.

You can earn 18,000 bonus Virgin Points if you make a purchase using your Reward + Credit Card in the first 90 days. There's no minimum spend.

Earn 1.5 Virgin Points for every £1 you spend on everyday card purchases. And 3 points for every £1 you spend with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays.

The card does come with a £160 annual fee however and a 26.9 per cent purchase rate if the balance isn't paid off each month.

You can find out more about the Virgin Rewards scheme here. For the free alternative there is also the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card.

Best for overseas spending

Credit card: Halifax Clarity credit card

Perks: This card has no extra charges for spending abroad, and it charges low interest when withdrawing cash anywhere in the world.

Any money spent abroad will be set by the Mastercard exchange rate on that day.

Plus, it's a Mastercard, which means conversion rates are much better.

There is also no annual fee - so there are zero extra costs as long as you pay off your balance in full every month.

Warning: You will begin paying interest if you make cash withdrawals. This equates to about 7p per £100 per day – so worth trying to minimise these.

Interest is also charged immediately at the card's standard rate of 23.94 per cent on spend abroad or in the UK. You can minimise the cost by repaying in full as soon as possible.

To avoid being charged interest on spending you'll need to ensure you pay off the card balance in full each month.

ATM cash withdrawals are charged at the set amount of 29.94 per cent.

Credit card: Barclaycard Rewards 

Perks: There is no annual charge and no fees when using the card abroad, and you'll be able to withdraw cash from an ATM without any charges.

Like with Halifax, you'll have protection for purchases over £100.

The card comes with 0.25 per cent cashback on your everyday spending.

Warning: Remember to pay it off in full each month or you'll be stung with a 28.9 per cent purchase rate. 

Best for balance transfers

Credit card: Tesco Bank 29 month Balance Transfer Card

Perks: This card offers the longest 0 per cent balance transfer period currently on the market, at 29 months.

There is also 0 per cent interest on purchases if you pay off balances that aren't on a 0 per cent rate every month in full.

The card also allows you to collect Clubcard points on most of your spending.

Warning: The card does come with a hefty balance transfer fee of 3.49 per cent. That would equate to £3.49 on every £100 transferred.

After the 0 per cent period the APR rises to 24.9 per cent.

Credit card: Virgin Money 28 month balance transfer card

Perks: This card offers the longest 0 per cent interest period of any balance transfer card currently on the market.

There is also 0 per cent interest on purchases for 3 months from account opening and no monthly account fee.

Warning: The card does come with a balance transfer fee of 3.25 per cent. That would equate to £3.25 on every £100 transferred.

After the 0 per cent period the APR rises to 24.9 per cent.

Credit card: NatWest Balance Transfer Card for 13 months

Perks: This offers 13 months fee free for balance transfers, as well as 0 per cent interest on transfers.

This offer is available on purchases made and paid off in full in the first 3 months of opening your account.

Warning: The minimum balance transfer amount is £100. Balances transfers must be made within 3 months of account opening.

After the 0 per cent period the APR rises to 24.9 per cent.

Verdict: The Tesco Bank 29 month balance transfer card's offer is the best for those needing the longest time period possible.

However, for those who don't require such a long period of time it might be sensible to opt for NatWest's 13 month 0 per cent card. This is the longest period on offer without a balance transfer fee included.

Best rewards cards for supermarkets

Store card membership: Tesco Clubcard Plus

Perks: Collect one Clubcard point for every £4 you spend in-store and online. You'll also get one point for every £8 you spend elsewhere.

Every 250 Clubcard points you collect will give you £2.50 in Clubcard vouchers.

It's also worth noting that Tesco Clubcard customers benefit from an array of discounted prices when grocery shopping.

Tesco claim you can save up to £40 a month.

You'll also be able to use your card as a Clubcard, and collect points at an enhanced rate of one point for every litre of fuel you purchase.

Warning: It comes with a £7.99 monthly fee which will eat into your annual gain.

Store card membership: M&S Club Rewards

Perks: You'll earn one rewards point per £1 spent in M&S when using your card online and in-store, as well as a point for every £5 spent elsewhere.

Cardholders can add a second cardholder to their account, so you can both receive the benefits of the card.

There's also an option to subscribe to M&S Club Rewards for £10 a month, which will give you access to gifts, treats and vouchers that M&S says could be worth up to £240 per year.

Best overall rewards card

Credit card: American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card

Perks: New cardmembers can currently get a an extra 3,000 on top of 20,000 points that can be earned if you spend £3,000 in the firs three months of membership.

20,000 points is enough for a £100 gift card or £90 worth of Amazon purchases. For frequent flyers, it can also be converted into Avios points.

You get one Membership Reward point for every £1 you spend plus get up to 12,500 bonus points a year. Then you can use your points to offset virtually anything you've bought on your card, or redeem with a range of shopping, travel and lifestyle partners.

There is also the added benefit of getting £5 back twice every month by spending on Deliveroo.

Finally, you can take advantage of four complimentary lounge visits per year at over 1,300 airport lounges globally. 

Warning: It comes with a £195 annual fee after the first year. However, if you cancel before your first year is up, you'll essentially have enjoyed this card for free.

If you fail to pay your balance off each month, you'll be hit with a 31.0 per cent purchase rate.

Verdict: If you make full use of the perks, then this card could be a highly lucrative option, even with the £195 fee.

Credit card: HSBC Rewards or John Lewis Partnership

Perks: For those not keen on paying a membership fee, the HSBC Rewards card offers 10 points for every £1 spent at select retailers, and a point for every £5 spend everywhere else.

New customers will receive a 2,500 point bonus upon joining, which is worth '25.

If you spend over £10,000 in the first year, you can gain an extra 2,500 points. This can be earned every year for the first five years if you hit the £10,000 mark.

Meanwhile, John Lewis' Partnership Credit Card gives customers 2.5 per cent of their eligible spending at John Lewis or Waitrose over the first 60 days back in the form of points that convert to gift vouchers. 

Following this, five points are awarded for every £4 spent at John Lewis and Waitrose, while one point can be earned from £4 spent elsewhere.

New Partnership Credit Card customers will earn £40 in vouchers to use at John Lewis and Waitrose if they open a Partnership Credit Card by 6 January 2025.

Warning: HSBC's card comes with a purchase rate of 23.9 per cent, while John Lewis' offering has a 29.94 purchase rate.