Perform a legal smash and grab raid on a credit card company right now. There's tonnes of freebies available; £90 gift vouchers, BMI, Flybe and more flights to Europe, £15 Play vouchers, 20% off Ted Baker shopping and more.
Credit cards offer free gifts to new cardholders; sign up for the card, grab the freebie, and forget it!
In this guide
Best Buys: Top freebies
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Why are freebies offered?
Credit cards are so lucrative, companies are often willing to pay £40 - £80 to acquire a new customer: small potatoes compared to their potential profit from debts. This money materialises in a variety of ways; heavy advertising spend, introductory 0% offers, and free gifts or inducements to sign up for the card.
Also earn cashback with every purchase
Some cards pay up to 5% cashback on all spending on them; pay them off in full each month so you're not charged interest, and you can make serious money, see the Cashback Cards article.
How to grab credit card freebies
While cards offer freebies to newcomers, the gifts aren't actually doled out on application or acceptance; to trigger the freebie gift most providers require you to spend on the card.
Spend as little as possible
Some cards don't set a minimum spend trigger; provided ANY amount is spent on the card, though others specify a trigger amount. The challenge is to spend as little as possible.
Happily most supermarkets allow credit card payments for any amount so buy chewing gum, chocolate or (for health-conscious MoneySavers) an apple, and hey presto the freebie's yours.
Then pay off the balance in full
With the vast majority of credit cards (including all these below), if you pay off the balance in full at the end of the month, you don't pay any interest. So for the freebie to be totally free, ensure that you do this.
For this reason, even if the card has a higher minimum spend freebie trigger, the same principle applies. Just do some of your normal spending on the card, ensure you repay in full at the end of the month and you won't pay interest.
The Top Freebies
Many top freebie offers come through direct mailshots or e-mails; if you see these, check through the terms and grab ‘em. Yet a number of offers are currently available to everyone. My top picks are:
£90 gift cards inc. Boots, M&S;, AmazonSpend in lots of big name retailers
- Representative variable rate: 17.9% APR Official APR Example
- Min. Spend Trigger: £500 each month for 3 months
- Min. Income: £30,000 household income
- Freebie: 18,000 points (worth £90 in vouchers)
Already a top reward card for the first three months Amex Rewards* now gives 6,000 bonus points in each month you spend over £500 for the first three months.
What are the points worth?
Each point is worth 0.5p, so the full 18,000 is worth £90, which can then be converted into gift cards to spend at M&S;, House of Fraser, Amazon, Boots, HMV, Waterstones, iTunes, Homebase, Comet, Net-a-Porter & more.
Plus as well as the bonus points you'll be earning on the normal reward scheme on top, which adds around 500 points per £500 - possibly more as points are tiered depending on where you spend. Yet you need 5,000 points to redeem each voucher, as the smallest is £25, but if you don't redeem the full amount the remainder will be rolled over.
It's also 0% interest for 6 month
The card also offers 6 months 0% on purchases, so you don't have to rigidly follow the 'Always pay off in full' rule to start with - if you needed to spread the cost of something. However, do ensure it's clear when the 0% deal ends or the rate jumps to 17.9% representative APR.
Cancel if you're not using it
The card has a good reward scheme afterwards, so there's no harm carrying on using it, provided you're repaying in full to prevent interest. Yet if you stop, cancel it or you'll be hit by a £20 dormancy fee. Plus you need earn a minimum 5,000 points per year to get rewards, not a problem in year one due to bonuses but could be for future years.
Amex is not quite as widely accepted as Visa or Mastercard; although most high street stores and big chains take it, some small restaurants and independents don't.
Free BMI Business flight 20,000 Miles
- Representative variable rate: 16.9% APR Official APR Example
- Min. Spend Trigger: £250
- Taxes Included: No
- Freebie: 20,000 BMI miles
Get a BMI Amex* card, do £250 of your normal spending on it within 90 days, and you'll get 20,000 of BMI's 'Destination Miles'. These can be redeemed for a return business-class flight to Russia, Turkey, Majorca and others (see what you can get).
A normal flight to one of these 'Zone 2' countries costs 12,000 miles, but for 18,000 you can upgrade to business. Alternatively, you can get two standard flights to a closer destination such as France, Germany or within the UK. Compare this card to similar ones in the Airline Credit Cards guide.
You will have to pay any taxes and charges for the flight, but this is still a great deal. It's worth comparing the cost of taxes and charges as they're higher for business class. This also has a decent balance transfer offer of 0% for 12 months with a 3% fee (see the Balance Transfer article for how this compares). The 16.9% representative APR means you should make sure you pay the card of in full each month.
20% off Ted Baker online For 6 mths. Plus more shopping discounts
- Representative variable rate: 9.9% APR Official APR Example
- Min. Spend Trigger: N/A
- Min. Income: £20,000
- Freebie: 20% off full price Ted Baker items online for six months, plus other discounts.
- Any other restrictions: Must be 21 or over, be a homeowner and owe under £10,000 on credit cards
The Capital One* Click credit card gives discounts at specific online retailers if you use it to make the purchase. The juiciest on offer is 20% off full price items at clothing brand Ted Baker when you buy online. Pay off each month in full to avoid the 9.9% rep. APR.
So if you spent £200, you'd get £40 off - great if you would have been spending at Ted Baker anyway. This offer will last for six months from the date you register for Capital One's 'Extra Plus' reward zone - you have to shop via this online shopping hub.
The other offers (all lasting for six months) include 30% off online at Zavvi, but big-ticket items like games consoles, laptops and iPods are excluded; and 50% off ticket exchange site Viagogo, but you must buy two tickets for selected events, and they may not be very competitively priced.
Free European flights with Flybe Excludes taxes and charges
- Representative variable rate: 18.9% APR Official APR Example
- Min. Spend Trigger: No minimum
- Taxes Included: No
- Freebie: Free European flight voucher.
Grab Flybe's credit card and once you've spent anything on it you'll be sent a voucher for a return flight on any of its European routes. Taxes aren't included, so you'll have to pay these; but the plus is that there's no minimum spend. Buying a bag of crisps or an apple (for the health-conscious) still qualifies for the freebie.
Plus if you then spend £500 within 90 days you'll be sent another voucher for a European return flight. The card has an 18.9% representative APR.
However we've heard reports that finding flights to book with these vouchers can be difficult due to poor availability - and you have to call an expensive phone number too - so bear this in mind. Please let us know your feedback.
Free 5000 Nectar points Must spend £500 in first three months
- Representative variable rate: 19.9% APR Official APR Example
- Min. Spend Trigger: £500 in 3 months
- Freebie: 5000 Nectar points
Sign up to the Amex Nectar* card, spend £500 on it in the first three months, and you'll get 5,000 points. These are worth around £25 and can be spent on anything in the Nectar catalogue.
A small selection of retailers give 1p per point, making this freebie worth £50 at theme parks Legoland, Alton Towers, Thorpe Park, Chessington, Madame Tussauds and Warwick Castle (read Loyalty Schemes for ways to max these).
As long as you spend the £500 on items you would have bought anyway (food shopping, for example), this is £25 for free. The 19.9% representative APR means you should make sure you pay the card of in full each month.
Free £15 Play.com voucher Buy CDs, DVDs, Games etc. from Play.com
- Representative variable rate: 16.9% APR Official APR Example
- Min. Spend Trigger: £150
- Freebie: 1,500 Playpoints
Open a new Play.com credit card, and spend £150 on it within 90 days, and you'll get 1,500 Playpoints, redeemable for a £15 voucher to spend on the Play.com website (eg. CDs/DVDs/Games/Books/Electricals).
In addition, you get 9 months 0% on spending when you take out the card, meaning you needn't repay the balance in full straight away, though ensure whatever you spend is fully repaid by the end of the interest free period as it goes to 16.9% representative APR. You always need to pay the monthly minimum payment too.
There is also a balance transfer offer on this card; 6 months 0% with a small 1.5% fee (see the Balance Transfer article for how this compares). However, avoid using this card for both spending and balance transfers, as this breaks the golden rule and could cost you big.
Free £10 Amazon gift certificate Get money credited on your account
- Representative variable rate: 16.9% APR Official APR Example
- Min. Spend Trigger: None
- Freebie: £10 gift certificate
New Amazon credit card holders will instantly get a free £10 Amazon gift certificate when successfully apply. It also has 0% on spending for 9 months, so you needn't repay the balance in full straight away, though ensure whatever you spend is fully repaid by the end of the interest free period as it jumps to 16.9% representative APR.
The card also offers twelve months 0% on balance transfers, for a 2.5% one-off fee. This can easily be beaten, see the Balance Transfer guide. Though don't use the card for both spending and balance transfers, as it could be costly see below for more details.
More Free European Flights Free Ryanair flight
- Representative variable rate: 19.9% APR Official APR Example
- Min. Spend Trigger: £100
- Taxes included: No
- Freebie: Ryanair Flight
Another airline has a similar offer to the other free flights deals. Ryanair gives you a free European flight once you've spent £100, though you still have to pay the taxes. It has a high, 19.9% representative APR.
The card also offers twelve months 0% on balance transfers, with a fairly high 2.99% one-off fee. Though this can be beaten by the Top Balance Transfer Cards. Though don't use it for both spending and balance transfers, as it could be costly see below for more details.
Others Find out when new freebies are available
Some of the other freebies available are mostly through bonus reward scheme points given on application. If you spot any more top freebies, discuss them.
Find out as soon as new freebies are available
In the past Caribbean flights, mp3 players and £50 shopping vouchers have been briefly offered as freebies amongst other things. Yet they come and go quickly. To ensure you don't miss them, sign up to my free weekly Money Tips e-mail, which includes all top MoneySaving freebies.
For other types of credit card benefits including free extended warranties and ID fraud protection see the Credit card perks guide.
Don't miss out on new freebies Get MoneySavingExpert's free, spam-free weekly email full of guides & loopholes
Think before adding the 'insurance'
Payment protection insurance is commonly sold with credit cards - the idea is it'll make some payments for you, usually for a year, if you are unable to (eg, if you lose your job).
There have been a myriad of cases where it has been missold eg, borrowers didn't realise they were signing up for it, or it was totally unsuitable for them, and some big lenders have been fined.
The protection isn't always bad, though policies sold with cards are often overpriced (you pay a monthly amount depending on the size of your balance). If you want it, compare the lender's cover with standalone providers such as Paymentcare or Best Insurance.
Always be vigilant to check you aren't getting more than you bargained for when you fill in the application, then check your statement each month to check you aren't inadvertently paying for extras if you didn't ask for them.
How freebie grabbing hits your credit score
Every time you apply for credit it has an impact on your credit score – and thus your ability to get further new credit (see the Credit Rating: Understand and improve yours guide). Yet if you've a good credit history there's no need to be unduly worried. There are no hard and fast rules, but many have successfully applied for ten cards without problem.
It's not how many, but how often that counts
Each time you apply for a card, a search is added to your credit file. Lots of these in a short space of time will shoot down your credit score; the overall number of applications is less important than the frequency. Therefore if you're grabbing multiple freebies, after the first couple of applications, spread others out every few months. Other factors that count include total debts, repayment history and income.
Cancel old unused cards
Once you've decided you're not going to use a card any more, ensure you cancel it. That means actually calling up the card company and requesting the account is closed, not just cutting the card up. This is because having high available credit can diminish your credit score, not just the amount of outstanding debt.
Is it worth grabbing freebies?
I wouldn't worry unduly about the credit score impact, providing you pick applications wisely and never bag a freebie just before needing credit elsewhere. This includes applying for a new contract mobile phone, car or home insurance, as well as loans, mortgages or credit cards for borrowing.
Yet, if you're happy with your current stock of cards, or never borrow, there's no harm going for additional freebies. If you need new credit, then choosing a freebie card that also offers decent borrowing terms is sensible and easily do-able. There's a simple rule of thumb to follow here:
"If I'm only going to be allowed a limited number of credit cards, is what I'm applying for important enough to use a card up for?"
Beware of Balance Transfers
Cards which offer a sign-up freebie, also tend to give cheap balance transfer deals. A balance transfer means the new card pays off the debts on old cards for you, so you owe it the money, hopefully at a cheaper interest rate (see the Balance Transfers article).
Avoid spending and balance transfers together
The cheap balance transfer rate usually doesn't apply to any debts accrued from spending. If you do both, unless you can repay the expensive spending debt in full every month, you'll get charged interest.
By far the best thing to do is use separate cards for spending and balance transfers, see the Balance Transfers article.
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