Best Rewards Credit Cards of 2026

We analysed the UK credit card market to find the best rewards cards, considering welcome bonuses, annual bonuses, long-term rewards rates on your spending and other features like air upgrades, companion vouchers, free hotel stays and foreign transaction fees. Many of these cards can deliver hundreds of pounds in overall annual benefits to the average UK household each year.

According to our analysis of the market, the following cards stand out as objectively the best for certain purposes. The best card for you will depend on your individual situation and spending patterns. Note: anyone trying to earn cashback rewards from a credit card is assumed to pay back their entire balance each month (otherwise, interest charges wipe out cashback rewards).

Best Rewards Credit Cards for Cashback

The rewards rates on cashback cards are typically lower than those found on air and hotel rewards cards, but they're so easy to use that many people prefer them. No faffing about with points and miles. How does "cashback" work? Typically, cashback rewards automatically appear on your statement once a year, effectively reducing your balance on that month's statement.

Important note regarding Amex welcome bonuses: The Amex 24-month rule means you cannot earn a welcome bonus on a card if you have received a welcome bonus on that same card within the past 24 months. Keep this in mind when assessing the suitability of any below of the cards for your situation.

Best Rewards Credit Card: Platinum Cashback by American Express

Our favourite all-around cashback card is the Platinum Cashback Card by American Express, which offers simple and effective rewards for people who want rewards but don't want to worry about them. The Platinum Cashback card doesn't have a complicated points-based rewards system to manage, but instead pays simple cashback that automatically appears on your credit card statement once a year, reducing your balance.

Currently the card is offering a welcome rate of 5% cashback in your first three months (capped at spend of £2,500 for £125 in rewards), which is handy for any large upcoming purchases like a new appliance or holiday. Ongoing rewards rates are also very solid: 0.75% up to £10,000 of spend and 1.25% beyond that. Overall rewards are not capped, making this a great card for big spenders. Those spending less than £10,000 a year on the card will earn higher rewards with the free Platinum Cashback Everyday card.

Those who can't (or don't want to) invest the time needed to maximize rewards on an air, hotel or other points-based reward system (e.g., Avios), may find this cashback card invaluable for ease of use and solid rewards. There are no points to track, no miles to redeem, no companion vouchers to find seats for, no store vouchers to remember. The average UK cardholder can expect to earn around £500 of rewards over the first two years using the Amex Platinum Cashback card.

Note the 34.6% representative variable APR (and 29.1% variable purchase rate).

Cashback is not earned on cash advances, balance transfers, travellers' cheques, FX transactions, interest, any spending beyond your credit limit, charges for returned payments, late payment or referral charges and finance charges.

Best Cashback Card with No Annual Fee: Platinum Cashback Everyday Card from American Express

The Platinum Cashback Everyday card from American Express is a great cashback card for those spending less than £10,000 a year. While it sports lower cashback rates than our top cashback pick and its sister card, the £25 per year Platinum Cashback card, the lack of annual fee makes the free Everyday card a surefire winner for smaller spenders. The Platinum Cashback Everyday card offers long-term cashback rates of 0.5% to 1%. As cashback comes in the form of statement credits, the card is a good choice for those desiring a simple rewards card.

Note the 29.1% representative variable APR.

Cashback is not earned on cash advances, balance transfers, travellers' cheques, FX transactions, interest, any spending beyond your credit limit, charges for returned payments, late payment or referral charges and finance charges.

Best Rewards Credit Cards for Groceries

The average household in the UK spends more than 10% of their household budget on groceries. In pound terms, more than £4,000 is spent per household on food at home and another £1,200+ on food out (takeaway or restaurants). With so much of our budgets going towards food, it is sensible to consider a credit card with extra rewards in this category and that can be redeemed at the till for your weekly shop.

Amex Nectar Credit Card

The Nectar Credit Card is probably the most flexible grocery credit card, because unlike other grocery-related credit cards, the Nectar card gives you the same approximate 1% rewards rate on all shopping. So you can shop at any grocery store you want and also use the card for general spending and earn the same rate. Most grocery loyalty credit cards only give this type of rate on your in-store spending.

The first year with the card is the most valuable—the fantastic welcome bonus of 20,000 Nectar points (earned when you spend £2,000 in the first three months) is worth around £100, more than any other grocery welcome bonus. While you are not limited in how you earn points, you can only redeem points at one grocery chain (Sainsbury's) or other Nectar partners. Cardholders can expect to earn Nectar points worth around £450 in their first two years with the card, assuming £20,000 of annual spend which is approximately the amount that the average UK household can spend on a credit card.

Note the 35.8% representative variable APR (and 29.1% variable purchase rate).

Best Rewards Cards for Travel

If you are a frequent traveller or enjoy earning free flights and hotel stays, then a hotel or air rewards credit card can create value. These types of travel rewards cards will take more active management to get the most out of them.

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card

The Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card remains a top-tier choice for 2026, consistently providing high value for frequent flyers. It currently offers an 18,000 Flying Club miles welcome bonus (with your first card spend in the first 90 days) and a valuable Reward Voucher—valid for a companion seat or cabin upgrade—triggered after spending £10,000 within a card year.

Keep in mind that the Rewards+ card does come with a £160 per year annual fee, but cardholders get an easy-to-earn welcome bonus of 18,000 Flying Club miles (potentially worth £180 and triggered with your first purchase), higher rewards rates around 1.5% on general spending, 3% on eligible Virgin Atlantic/Holidays spending and the chance to earn the extra rewards.

Those spending under ~£10,000 a year on the card are probably better off with the free card.

Note the 69.7% representative variable APR (and 26.9% variable purchase rate).

Summary

Best Air Rewards Travel Card: British Airways American Express Premium Plus Credit Card

The British Airways American Express Premium Plus card is a solid airlines reward card for frequent BA flyers who are bigger spenders and will charge at least £15,000 a year on their cards (or half that on British Airways purchases) to trigger the Companion Voucher. Depending on how you redeem your Avios points, you can see rewards rates around 1.5% on general purchases and 3% on BA flight and Holidays spending. Consider using your Avios points to upgrade from Premium Economy to Business, which is a sweet spot for creating value with Avios (e.g., you might achieve rewards rates topping 6% on your BA purchases).

Smaller spenders are probably better off with the free BA Amex credit card.

Note the 135.7% representative variable APR (and 29.1% variable purchase rate).

Summary

Membership Rewards Card: Preferred Rewards Gold Card

The Preferred Rewards Gold Card is the highest-earning Amex Membership Rewards card, and is especially for frequent travelers. Assuming a value of 1 pence per Membership Rewards point, cardholders can earn 1% on general spend, 2% on flight purchases and 3% on spend at American Express Travel. The bare minimum you'll get for Membership Rewards points is 0.5p/point, which is the rate at which you can convert points to gift cards. Redeeming points for flights or hotels should create at least 2X as much value.

A welcome bonus of 20,000 points is worth at least £100 (assuming 0.5p per point, the value you get for gift cards), depending on how you use the points (you can potentially get a value of 1p/point or more, but 0.5p would be the minimum). Be aware of the £195 annual fee—you'll need to charge around £39,000 a year just to make up for this fee (except that the annual fee is waived in the first year) assuming a minimum value of 0.5p/point.

Generally speaking, this card is good for big spenders, frequent travelers and those who can pay back their full balance every month. Assuming average UK household spend that can be applied to a credit card of around £20,000 a year, the Preferred Rewards Gold Card can deliver over £400 of value over the first two years (if you get a value of 1p/point). Much of this value is created in the first year, due to the welcome bonus and the waived annual fee. Keep in mind some of the premium perks delivered by the Preferred Rewards Gold that aren't included in this calculation such as lounge access and Global Assist.

Note the 85.8% representative variable APR (and 29.1% variable purchase rate).

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

The Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard has established itself as a premier alternative to the airline Avios/Amex cards for 2026. Its primary advantage is the Mastercard network, which offers significantly wider acceptance than American Express, ensuring you earn rewards on almost every transaction, from local independent shops to major retailers.

At a cost of £20 per month (£240 per year), it sits between the free BA Amex and the Premium Plus card in terms of price but matches the top-tier earning rate. To understand how this works, see this table of expected rewards for £2,000 of monthly spend on the two BA Amex cards and the Barclaycard Avios Plus card:

Note the 80.1% representative variable APR (and 29.9% variable purchase rate).

Summary

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard (Free)

The free Barclaycard Avios Mastercard is the entry-level alternative to the airline Avios/Amex cards, and like its Plus sibling, it runs on the Mastercard network — meaning wider acceptance than American Express and Avios earned on virtually every transaction. Note there is no lounge access perk with the free Avios card, and also the spend threshold to get the upgrade voucher requires 2x the spend (£20,000 vs £10,000) compared to the paid Plus card.

With no annual fee, it earns 1 Avios per £1 spent, matching the free BA Amex on earn rate but with the practical advantage of Mastercard acceptance. The table below compares expected rewards for £2,000 of monthly spend:

Note the 29.9% representative variable APR.

Summary

How Rewards Credit Cards Work

Depending on the type of reward credit card, spending on the card will earn you points, miles, cashback, etc. Rewards can be redeemed as often as you like on some cards; on other cards like the Amex Platinum cashback cards, accumulated rewards are delivered once a year.

Rewards rates vary widely, from as little at 0.1% up to 3% or even more on some air miles cards (there, your rewards rate largely depends upon how you spend the miles). Typically, rewards cards that charge an annual fee will pay higher rewards. The free, no annual fee rewards cards tend to offer lower earning power but may be more suited to those on lower budgets.

Summary of Best Rewards Credit Cards

Below is a summary of some of the best rewards card across different categories. Rewards rates are estimates and will depend on how you're able to redeem your points.

How to Choose a Rewards Card for You

Choosing a rewards card is largely a personal decision, based on your spending patterns and the type of rewards you prefer to earn. For instance, some rewards cards have bonus categories of spending (e.g., 2X rewards on flights) and therefore deliver higher rewards rates in these categories.

Take a look at your spending habits and pick a rewards card that delivers well on the biggest sections of your budget. In our analyses we bring all calculations back to a common rewards rate based on average UK household spending. Spend on bonus categories would earn extra rewards.

In terms of reward type, people often wonder whether cashback, miles or points are better. This is an individual decision, based largely on your appetite for managing miles or points-based systems. Cashback cards often pay back lower maximum rewards than airline, hotel, or other points-system rewards cards. However, the potential rewards on these air, hotel, and points-based cards are not always realized—for example, points can expire or companion vouchers can expire before they're used. It's happened to us.

In that sense, cashback cards can be safer because rewards are delivered straight into your credit card account. Look out, however, as missing payments can mean you forfeit your accumulated cashback rewards!

If you're not looking for a personal card but a card for your business, the folks at iwoca have put together some information on rewards credit cards for businesses.