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Some whack all their spending on them, while others won't touch them with a bargepole – credit cards can be divisive.

It's true that you can get into a sticky situation with a credit card, whether it's by accidentally missing payments, or only paying the minimum each month. You might also amass a huge balance over an interest-free period – then get hit with whopping interest charges once it ends.

But depending on the card, there's a host of benefits when used well, from valuable protections to cashback and cheap borrowing.

And with the festive season usually heralding ample spending, it's a good time to consider whether a new credit card can help you make more of your money.

For example, you can currently get an interest-free period of up to 25 months with some credit card providers, letting you spread the cost of purchases over that time and put your money to better use elsewhere.

Here we reveal the best credit cards for Christmas and the sales, including Black Friday. We explain the options available, the benefits, plus the pitfalls to avoid.

> Compare credit cards with Moneysupermarket* 

Credit cards for Christmas: Don't ignore this vital protection...

A major benefit of using a credit card for large purchases is the protection it provides in the form of Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. This makes the credit card provider equally liable as the seller for problems with goods and services.

It covers individual items that cost between £100 and £30,000. If the goods or services you've bought don't arrive or aren't up to standard, you may be able to claim a refund using Section 75. This cover also applies if it turns out the company misrepresented the items, for example in its advertising.

You should contact the company first to see if it can put things right, but Section 75 means you can speak to the credit card provider if the situation doesn't get resolved.

Which type of credit card should you apply for?

The answer depends on how you'd like your spending to work for you. Here are your options:

0 per cent purchase card: This helps you spread the cost of your purchases over a long time, freeing up your budget and allowing your money to be put to good use elsewhere. There's no interest to pay, provided you pay off the whole balance by the end of the 0 per cent period.

Cashback card: Earn hard cash on your purchases with one of these, making your spending more rewarding. Some cards come with introductory periods that boost your earnings, so you could take out a cashback card when you've got large purchases coming up. You'll need to make sure you clear your balance in full each month to avoid hefty interest charges, which would far outweigh earned cashback.

Reward card: Get points back on your spending that you can convert into rewards. Popular options include credit cards issued by supermarkets that boost earned loyalty points – such as Clubcard or Nectar points – and cards that give you points you can use on travel. Again, you must clear your balance in full each month to avoid paying interest.

Words of caution, no matter which card you decide on...

A credit card is a good financial product – when used well. If you've struggled with debt in the past, or are already struggling to pay off debt, it's likely one won't be right for you. 

You can speak to free debt advice charities such as StepChange or National Debtline for help.

It's important you don't overspend using your credit card, because you'll always need to pay the money back. They're best used for planned purchases, with the view that bonuses such as 0 per cent interest periods or cashback help you make the most of your money. For example, spreading the cost of a purchase at 0 per cent lets you keep more of your money in a savings account elsewhere, earning a high rate of interest. Discover our pick of the best easy-access savings accounts.

Applying for a credit card will likely affect your credit score in the short term, because it can signal to banks and financial institutions that you need to borrow money. So, if you're going to apply for a mortgage soon, you should probably think twice before taking out a new credit card.

However, using a credit card responsibly over a long period can boost your credit score, as it proves to lenders that you can borrow and pay it back on time.  

It's also a good idea to use a free eligibility checker to work out the chances of being accepted for a credit card before you apply – many providers have baked these into their application processes. Too many applications for credit over a short time will hit your credit file negatively.

Best credit cards: Longest interest-free periods, plus top rewards and cashback

Our best-buy credit cards are below – we've compiled this with the help of rates scrutineer Moneyfacts, along with our own research.

Top 0% purchase cards

M&S Bank Credit Card Purchase Plus – 25 months:

• Interest-free period of up to 25 months
• 0 per cent on balance transfers for up to a year, on transfers made within 90 days (3.49 per cent fee)
• 24.9 per cent APR on purchases outside of the 0 per cent period
• Earn reward points you can convert into M&S vouchers

TSB Platinum Purchase Card – 25 months:

• Interest-free period of up to 25 months
• 0 per cent on balance transfers for up to 18 months, on transfers made within 90 days (3.49 per cent fee)
• Outside of the 0 per cent period, interest is charged at a representative 24.9 per cent APR

How to make the most of these cards: Whack large purchases on one of these cards and set up a large enough monthly direct debit that helps spread the cost, ensuring the balance gets paid off in good time. It makes sense to go for the longest 0 per cent offer available. This gives you plenty of time to pay off the balance.

Watch out for: Racking up a huge balance while only paying the minimum each month, which could leave you with a hefty bill at the end of the interest-free period. You must still pay the minimum amount each month, despite the interest-free period. If you don't, you could lose the interest-free deal and get slammed with late payment charges, affecting your credit file.

You might not get the full interest-free period when you apply, depending on your circumstances – look out for providers that mention 'up-to' a certain number of months.

Top cashback cards

American Express Cashback Everyday Credit Card:

• Introductory 5 per cent cashback for five months – up to a maximum of £125 cashback earned – plus £10 bonus cashback as a new American Express customer
• Regular 0.5 per cent back on £1 to £10,000, and 1 per cent back above that
• The representative interest rate is 29.4 per cent APR

Lloyds Ultra Credit Card:

• Introductory 1 per cent cashback on purchases for a year, then 0.25 per cent after that
• The representative APR is low at 12.9 per cent
• There are no foreign exchange fees when you use the card abroad

How to make the most of these cards: Look for cards that have an introductory offer on cashback, which boosts the money earned. Shifting all your spending – or as much of it as possible – to the credit card will maximise your cashback during the introductory offer. But you must manage your money well and make sure you pay the card off in full each month.

Watch out for: Without a 0 per cent interest period, you must make the payment in full each month. Otherwise you'll have to pay interest charges, which will negate the cashback earned. Watch out for credit cards that have annual fees – they might give you more cashback, but this is only worth it if you'll spend enough to recoup the fee.

Top reward cards

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card:

• Introductory 40,000 bonus points for new American Express customers who spend £5,000 in the first six months, with the offer closing on 13 January
• There's no annual fee in the first year, but it then rockets to £195 – so be sure to close the card if you don't want to pay up
• American Express says 25,000 points is worth up to £125 in gift cards
• The purchase interest rate is 29.4 per cent – the representative APR is 86.3 per cent, because this factors in the annual fee

Amazon Barclaycard:

• You'll get a £40 Amazon gift card if your application is approved before midnight on 2 December 2025
• There's 1 per cent back in rewards on Amazon shopping and 0.5 per cent back everywhere else – so you'll earn 50p to spend at Amazon when you spend £50 on the platform
• There's a six-month interest-free period, helping you spread the cost of your spending over the festive season
• The regular representative APR is 28.9 per cent

How to make the most of these cards: Again, look for introductory periods that can boost the points you earn, and make all of your regular purchases using the card. You should dig into where and how you can redeem your points – it's no good earning rewards for somewhere you don't regularly shop. Credit cards tied to a loyalty scheme such as Clubcard or Nectar allow you to earn points outside of your regular food shop.

Watch out for: The real value of the points you receive – you should check what the points you earn will actually net you. You might end up earning a measly return, so be sure to weigh this up. And you must make the payment in full each month, otherwise you'll be hit with high interest charges.

> Compare credit cards with Moneysupermarket*