Best credit cards in Europe (2026): UK and euro-area picks

Short answer: for everyday spending with no fee, take a cashback card. If you fly British Airways, an Avios card turns the same spending into flights. Pay an annual fee only when the lounges, credits or extra earn are worth more to you than the fee. If you live in the euro area, check the foreign currency fee before anything else, because a card that charges one costs you on every trip outside the euro.

Every figure in the tables below is read from our catalog, and each card page links to the issuer's own page. Most cards in this edition are issued in the UK, and two are issued in Germany. A card issued in one country is normally only open to residents of that country.

No annual fee, everyday spending

A no-fee card cannot cost you money unless you carry a balance. The choice is between cash back, which you can spend anywhere, and points or Avios, which are worth more only if you redeem them well.

Avios and travel points

If you already collect Avios, a card that earns them directly is the simplest route. Our Avios cards guide compares the four UK Avios cards at the same spend, with and without a fee.

Membership Rewards cards earn points that move to several airline and hotel programmes, which keeps your options open if you do not fly one airline.

Premium cards

A premium card earns its fee back only through the benefits you will actually use. Add up the credits and lounge visits you would really take in a year, put a value on them, and compare that total with the fee. If the total is smaller, a no-fee card plus the occasional paid lounge visit costs less.

Living in the euro area

Two cards in this edition are issued in Germany. Paying in euros inside the euro area involves no currency conversion. The foreign currency fee applies when you pay in another currency, for example in pounds, Swiss francs or US dollars. Our no foreign fee guide compares those fees side by side.

How to choose in five minutes

1. Where do you live? Pick from cards issued in your country of residence.
2. Do you travel outside your currency? If yes, check the foreign currency fee column first.
3. Will you pay the full balance every month? If not, the interest rate matters more than any reward, and no card on this page fixes that.
4. Cash or travel? Cash back is simple. Points and Avios reward effort.
5. Fee or no fee? Pay a fee only for benefits you can name and will use.

Not sure which fits your spending? Polo Match ranks cards for your numbers.

Common questions

Is American Express accepted everywhere in Europe? Acceptance varies by country and by shop. Many people carry a Visa or Mastercard as well, so a declined Amex never leaves them stuck.

Can I get a UK card if I live elsewhere in Europe? UK issuers normally require a UK address and UK credit history. The same applies the other way round for cards issued in Germany.

Does applying affect my credit file? A full application usually leaves a hard search on your file. Use the issuer's eligibility checker where it offers one, since those checks do not affect your score.

This guide explains how to compare cards. It is not financial advice. Card terms change, so confirm the current terms with the issuer before you apply.