Finding the lowest-rate credit cards and personal loans in the UK can be confusing, especially when each lender advertises differently and “representative APR” doesn’t always match what you’ll actually get. Comparison sites make it easier to see a range of deals in one place, but some are better than others for low rates, eligibility checks, and overall user experience.

This guide walks through which comparison sites are best for finding the lowest-rate credit cards and personal loans in the UK, how they differ, and how to use them together to get the strongest deal without damaging your credit score.

Important: This article is for information only and is not financial advice. Always check details directly with providers and consider speaking to a regulated adviser if you’re unsure.

---

Key things to look for in a UK credit card and loan comparison site

Before naming specific sites, it helps to know what “best” actually means in this context:

• Soft search / eligibility checker
  Lets you see your chances of being accepted (or guaranteed offers) using a soft credit check that doesn’t affect your credit score.

• Low representative APR and realistic offers
  Some sites surface very low “headline” APRs that only a small percentage of people get. Better sites show personalised rate ranges and your likelihood of being offered them.

• Coverage and lender variety
  The more banks, building societies, challenger banks and specialist lenders included, the better your chance of finding a lower rate.

• Filters and sorting tools
  You should be able to sort by APR, monthly payment, total repayable, fee-free cards, 0% balance transfer period, or 0% purchase period.

• Clear fee disclosure
  Good sites show any product or broker fees clearly and explain if they’re “whole of market” or if they only show “panel lenders”.

• Customer reviews and support
  Integration with Trustpilot or similar, plus guides and FAQs to help you understand the products.

Using more than one comparison site is usually the best strategy, because each works with a slightly different pool of lenders and uses different eligibility engines.

---

Best comparison sites for credit cards and personal loans in the UK

Below are some of the most widely used UK comparison sites, how strong they are for lowest-rate credit cards and personal loans, and how to use each effectively.

1. MoneySavingExpert (MSE) – Excellent for eligibility and low-rate scouting

MoneySavingExpert is technically a consumer finance site rather than a traditional comparison table, but it’s one of the best places to start when hunting for low rates.

Why it’s good for lowest-rate credit cards and loans:

• Widely respected, independent tone with a strong focus on saving money, not selling products.
• Credit Club (free account) offers:
  • Your Experian credit score and report
  • A soft search eligibility checker across a wide range of credit cards and loans
  • Likelihood ratings such as “likely”, “pre-approved” or “could be accepted”
• For credit cards, MSE specialises in:
  • Top 0% balance transfer cards (often finding the longest 0% periods)
  • 0% purchase cards
  • Low APR and low-fee cards, especially for those who won’t pay off in full each month
• For personal loans, it shows:
  • Representative APRs
  • Typical acceptance odds
  • Guidance on whether you might get the advertised rate based on your profile

Best way to use it:

• Use MSE’s editorial guides to understand what kind of card or loan you need.
• Sign up for Credit Club to run a soft search and see realistic offers and likely APRs.
• Treat MSE as a benchmark: use it to sense-check offers you see on other sites.

---

2. MoneySuperMarket – Strong for personalised rates and filters

MoneySuperMarket is one of the largest UK comparison sites and has robust tools for both credit cards and personal loans.

Why it’s good for lowest-rate products:

• Soft search eligibility checker for both credit cards and loans.
• Displays personalised APRs for some offers, not just representative ones.
• Wide lender coverage, including major banks and some specialist lenders.
• For credit cards, you can filter for:
  • Lowest APR
  • 0% balance transfer period
  • 0% purchase period
  • Reward, cashback and travel cards
• For personal loans, you can filter by:
  • Loan amount and term
  • Lowest APR
  • Monthly repayment and total repayable

Best way to use it:

• Enter your details for a soft search to avoid harming your credit score.
• Sort offers by APR and total cost of credit rather than just monthly payment.
• Compare the top few results with MSE and at least one other site below to ensure the rate is genuinely competitive.

---

3. Compare the Market – Good all-rounder with clear displays

Compare the Market is widely known for insurance, but its credit card and loan comparison is also solid.

Why it’s useful for lowest-rate credit cards and personal loans:

• Offers soft credit checks for credit cards and personal loans.
• Covers most mainstream lenders.
• Displays:
  • Likelihood of acceptance
  • Representative APRs
  • Estimated monthly repayments
• Clean, easy-to-understand results layout.

Best way to use it:

• Use it alongside MoneySuperMarket to see if any lender appears on one site with a better rate or eligibility odds.
• Sort by APR and total repayable.
• Check your eligibility score and focus on offers where you have a high chance of acceptance.

---

4. GoCompare – Another major player with decent coverage

GoCompare is another large comparison site, best known for insurance but increasingly used for credit products.

Why it can help with lowest-rate products:

• Provides credit card and personal loan comparisons with soft search functionality.
• Includes a range of UK lenders and card providers.
• Filters allow sorting by lowest APR, monthly cost and card type.

Best way to use it:

• Use it as a third data point after checking MoneySuperMarket and Compare the Market.
• Scan for any unique lenders or lower APRs that don’t appear on other platforms.

---

5. Uswitch – Helpful for quick comparisons and straightforward layouts

Uswitch is known for utilities and broadband but also offers credit card and personal loan comparison.

Why it’s worth checking:

• Offers eligibility checking for some products.
• Clean, simple layout and clear information on representative APRs and fees.
• Good for quick scanning of mainstream deals.

Best way to use it:

• Use Uswitch when you want a simple side-by-side view after getting more detailed guidance from MSE or MoneySuperMarket.
• Check whether any lender appears with a slightly better rate or different term options.

---

6. ClearScore – Great if you want ongoing credit tracking

ClearScore focuses more on your credit report, but its built-in offers section can be useful.

Why it can be helpful for low-rate hunting:

• Free access to your Equifax credit report and score.
• Personalised credit card and loan offers based on your profile.
• Shows “Chance of approval” percentages and sometimes guaranteed rates.

Limitations:

• It doesn’t cover the whole market; it’s a curated panel of lenders.
• Offers may be influenced by commercial relationships.

Best way to use it:

• Use ClearScore mainly to understand your credit profile and how it affects the rates you’re offered.
• Compare any “pre-approved” or high-likelihood offers to those found on more traditional comparison sites.

---

7. Experian and Credit Karma – Good for pre-approved and tailored offers

Both Experian and Credit Karma (which uses TransUnion data) offer credit report access and tailored product suggestions.

Why they’re useful:

• Experian:
  • Paid and free services, including credit report and score.
  • Offers a marketplace of credit cards and loans with eligibility indicators.
• Credit Karma:
  • Free access to your TransUnion report.
  • Personalised card and loan offers, sometimes with pre-approval.

Best way to use them:

• Use them primarily for pre-approved offers and to understand how different lenders see you.
• Cross-check any strong offers you see with the wider comparison sites to confirm the rate is competitive.

---

How to use comparison sites to find the lowest-rate credit cards in the UK

Choosing a credit card isn’t just about the headline APR. Your behaviour (do you pay in full each month or carry a balance?) affects which card will actually be cheapest.

1. Decide what type of card you need

Common categories:

• Lowest APR cards – best if you carry a balance and don’t want promotional periods.
• 0% balance transfer cards – best if you already have debt on another card and want to move it to pay less interest.
• 0% purchase cards – best if you plan a large purchase and want time to pay it back interest-free.
• Credit builder cards – designed for those with limited or poor credit history.

2. Use at least two comparison sites with soft searches

A practical sequence:

1. Check MoneySavingExpert guides to decide which type of card suits you.
2. Use MoneySavingExpert Credit Club and MoneySuperMarket for eligibility checks.
3. Check Compare the Market or GoCompare for any additional deals.

3. Sort by total cost, not just headline features

For lowest-rate cards:

• If you carry a balance often, sort by APR.
• If you always clear in full, the APR matters less; focus on:
  • No or low fees
  • Rewards or cashback
  • Any introductory bonuses

For 0% balance transfer cards:

• Look at:
  • Length of 0% period
  • Balance transfer fee
  • APR after the 0% period ends

Comparison sites usually allow you to sort by these factors and show the total cost of transfers where applicable.

---

How to use comparison sites to find the lowest-rate personal loans in the UK

With personal loans, the key is to balance APR, loan term, and monthly affordability.

1. Decide how much and how long

• Use comparison site sliders to choose your loan amount and term (e.g., £5,000 over 3 years).
• Understand that:
  • Longer terms = lower monthly payments but higher total interest
  • Shorter terms = higher monthly payments but lower total interest

2. Run soft searches on multiple sites

Use MoneySuperMarket, Compare the Market, GoCompare, and MSE’s loan tools (where available) to:

• See eligibility chances for each lender.
• Compare representative APRs and any guaranteed APRs you’re offered.

3. Compare the true cost of borrowing

When comparing loan results, focus on:

• APR
  Lower APR generally means cheaper overall, but check the numbers.
• Monthly repayments
  Ensure this is comfortably affordable.
• Total amount repayable
  This is the best indicator of the overall cost of the loan.

Most comparison sites show all three, making it easy to spot the genuinely lowest-cost option.

---

Pros and cons of using comparison sites for UK credit cards and loans

Advantages

• Time-saving: Many lenders in one place.
• Soft searches: Protect your credit score while shopping around.
• Better visibility: Easier to see how your rate compares to others.
• Special deals: Some sites have exclusive offers with certain banks or card issuers.

Limitations

• Not truly “whole of market”: Some lenders don’t appear on comparison sites or only appear on specific ones.
• Representative APR vs actual APR: The rate you get may differ from the one advertised; you might only know after a full application.
• Commercial influence: Featured products may be boosted due to commission arrangements, not just rate.

This is why using more than one comparison site and cross-checking deals is important.

---

Practical steps to get the lowest-rate credit card or personal loan

To make the most of the comparison sites listed above:

1. Check your credit score first

   • Use ClearScore, Credit Karma, Experian, or MSE’s Credit Club.
   • Better scores usually qualify for better APRs.

2. Shortlist 2–3 comparison sites

   • For most people, a combination of:
     • MoneySavingExpert
     • MoneySuperMarket
     • Compare the Market or GoCompare
   • Then optionally add ClearScore / Credit Karma for personalised offers.

3. Run soft searches only

   • Avoid applying directly for multiple products until you see where you’re likely to be accepted.
   • Focus on products showing “pre-approved” or high acceptance odds.

4. Compare total cost, not just marketing headlines

   • For credit cards: watch for fees and post-promo APR.
   • For loans: prioritise APR and total repayable alongside affordability.

5. Check the lender’s site before applying

   • Confirm the rate, fees, and terms haven’t changed.
   • Ensure you understand early repayment rules or penalties.

6. Apply only for your top choice (or top two)

   • To minimise hard credit checks.
   • If declined, revisit your eligibility and credit file before trying again.

---

When a comparison site may not show the best deal

There are cases where the lowest-rate credit cards and personal loans might not appear on comparison sites:

• Existing customer-only deals
  Some banks offer better rates to their current account holders.
• Local building societies
  Smaller institutions sometimes offer competitive personal loan rates directly.
• Promotions
  Limited-time offers may be highlighted on a lender’s own website first.

For the very best deal:

• Use comparison sites to get a baseline lowest rate.
• Then quickly check:
  • Your own bank or building society
  • Any major lenders missing from the comparison results

---

Summary: Which comparison sites are best for finding the lowest-rate credit cards and personal loans in the UK?

If you’re looking specifically for the best comparison sites to find the lowest-rate credit cards and personal loans in the UK, a good approach is:

• Start with MoneySavingExpert for independent guidance and Credit Club eligibility checks.
• Use MoneySuperMarket for strong personalised rates and broad coverage.
• Add Compare the Market and/or GoCompare to widen your search.
• Use ClearScore, Credit Karma or Experian to understand your credit profile and check tailored or pre-approved offers.
• Always compare APR, total cost, and eligibility odds across at least two sites before applying.

By combining these tools and focusing on soft searches and total cost, you give yourself the best chance of landing a genuinely low-rate credit card or personal loan in the UK without damaging your credit score in the process.