Best credit card after AMEX

Zopa_Trooper

Hi. In posters opinion, what's the best credit card to get for the occasions when you can't use your AMEX card please. I'm talking cash/back or rewards, I've no balance to transfer and I always settle in full so the APR% is irrelevant. Many thanks.

I currently have Lloyds & HSBC, I've no idea which of these is the best.

grumbler

Zopa_Trooper said:

I currently have Lloyds & HSBC, I've no idea which of these is the best.

I guess both are equally bad.
MSE article: 

• Credit card rewards

MrFrugalFever

Is it purely cashback you’re after or do you travel a lot/spend a lot in supermarkets etc?

Personally I use the Barclaycard Avios card (free one) as I travel fairly frequently and benefit from the Avios points but if I didn’t travel I’d use the nectar credit card to benefit from spending at Sainsburys, Argos and eBay. 

Zopa_Trooper

Purely cashback. I have other cards for travel. My process is, "Do you take American Express?" If the answers no, then what?

Incidentally I went into Lidl last week and they take AMEX!

Zopa_Trooper

grumbler said:

Zopa_Trooper said:

I currently have Lloyds & HSBC, I've no idea which of these is the best.

I guess both are equally bad.
MSE article: 

• Credit card rewards

Yes. I took out the Lloyds when they were giving out a free £50. Just got the HSBC for the free £25. A nice bump on the £200 switching bonus. I love free money and incidentally, never paid any interest on any credit card EVER! Quite proud of that.

MrFrugalFever

Considered Chase debit card with 1% cashback?

Zopa_Trooper

I've gone over the year so can only get £15 a month now. Usually grab that 1st month. Shame, used CHASE before in preference to AMEX.

WillPS

grumbler said:

Zopa_Trooper said:

I currently have Lloyds & HSBC, I've no idea which of these is the best.

I guess both are equally bad.
MSE article: 

• Credit card rewards

That article doesn't mention the card I consider to be the best on the market currently, which is the Barclaycard Avios (Free version). 1 Avios per £ spent, which is worth 0.66p when converted in to Nectar points and used at face value at Argos, Ebay or Sainsburys. As far as credit cards go, it is miles ahead on what's available (other than Amex).

jbrassy

If you're after just pure cashback rather than points, Barclaycard Rewards is probably your best option these days. It only pays 0.25% cashback, but comes with no annual fee. The good thing about this card is you can also use it abroad with no fees.

Other than that, you have the option of Chase which is a debit card but pays 1% cashback. After that, the airline credit cards mentioned by others are good value if you travel a lot and spend the points wisely.

ukdw

Personally Ive used Chase for the last year in preference to Amex - however its 1% Cashback only lasts a year, plus its a debit card, rather than credit card - so not as much protection.

Was then back to Amex Platinum Cashback for a while with just Halifax clarity (no cashback) as backup.

Now using Barclays Avios Plus (1.5 Avios points) again in preference to Amex. - really nice again not having to ask every time whether they take Amex.   

Likely to switch back to Amex/Downgraded Free Barclays Avios once 50,000 Avois Plus point bonus achieved - unless I decide to go for the £10k reward on Barclays AviosPlus instead.