Top 7 Credit Cards for 2025 with the Best Cashback & Rewards in the UK

1. American Express Cashback Everyday Credit Card

• Intro Offer: 5 % cashback (up to £125) for the first five months of membership (Mintify, MoneySavingExpert.com, The Independent).
• Ongoing Cashback: 0.5 % on spending up to £10,000/year; 1 % thereafter, with a £3,000/year minimum spend requirement (Mintify, MoneySavingExpert.com, Money To The Masses).
• Fees: No annual fee (Mintify, MoneySavingExpert.com).
• Why It’s Great: Outstanding for high introductory returns, especially for larger spenders. Frequent referral promotions may sweeten the deal even further (Reddit).

2. American Express Cashback Credit Card

• Intro Offer: 5 % cashback (up to £125) for the first three months (Lovemoney, Money To The Masses, The Independent).
• Ongoing Cashback: 0.75 % up to £10,000/year; 1.25 % beyond that, with a £25 annual fee (often waived in year one) (Lovemoney, Money To The Masses).
• Why It’s Great: Higher ongoing cashback rates justify the fee for consistent high spenders.

3. Santander Edge Credit Card

• Intro Offer: 2 % cashback (capped at £15/month) for the first 12 months; afterwards 1 % with same cap (Lovemoney, Money To The Masses).
• Fees: £3/month (~£36/year) (Lovemoney, Money To The Masses).
• Eligibility: Must hold a Santander current account and meet income criteria (Lovemoney, Money To The Masses).
• Why It’s Great: A solid fit for medium spenders with existing Santander accounts.

4. Barclaycard Rewards Credit Card

• Cashback Rate: Typically 0.25 %, recently boosted to 0.5 % until November 30, 2025 (MoneySavingExpert.com, MoneyWeek).
• Fees & Perks: No annual fee, no foreign transaction fees if paid in full, and free overseas cash withdrawals (MoneySavingExpert.com, MoneyWeek).
• Why It’s Great: A reliable, fee-free option with travel-friendly benefits.

5. American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card

• Intro Bonus: Around 20,000–40,000 membership reward points (worth roughly £115–£180) for £3,000 spend in 3 months (MoneySavingExpert.com, Reddit).
• Ongoing Rewards: 1 point per £1 spent + bonus points with heavy use; includes lounge passes and Deliveroo credits (MoneySavingExpert.com, Reddit).
• Fees: Free in the first year; £195/year from year two (MoneySavingExpert.com, Reddit).
• Why It’s Great: High-value perks for frequent spenders who can justify the annual fee.

6. Amazon Barclaycard

• Rewards: 1 % cashback on Amazon purchases (2 % during Prime Day/Black Friday); 0.25 % elsewhere—recently boosted to 0.5 % for a limited time (The Scottish Sun, MoneySavingExpert.com, MoneyWeek).
• Extras: Often comes with a £20 Amazon voucher on approval (The Scottish Sun, MoneySavingExpert.com).
• Why It’s Great: Perfect for avid Amazon shoppers maximizing top deals.

7. John Lewis Partnership or M&S Bank Reward Cards

• John Lewis Partnership Card (points-based): Earn “points” convertible into vouchers—see full terms as per Which? analysis (Which?).
• M&S Loyalty Credit Card: Earn “M&S Points” with optional Club Rewards for further perks (Wikipedia).
• Why They’re Great: Best for shoppers loyal to these brands, offering extra value in-store.

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Summary Table

Card	Intro Offer	Ongoing Benefit	Fee (Year 1)
Amex Cashback Everyday	5 % up to £125 (5 mo)	Up to 1 % cashback	£0
Amex Cashback	5 % up to £125 (3 mo)	Up to 1.25 % cashback	£0 (then £25)
Santander Edge	2 % (1-yr)	1 %	£3/mo
Barclaycard Rewards	0.5 % (boosted)	0.25 %	£0
Amex Gold	20–40k pts bonus	Points + perks	£0 (then £195)
Amazon Barclaycard	Voucher + varied	Up to 2 % on Amazon	£0
John Lewis / M&S	Points/vouchers	Brand loyalty value	£0–£65

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Tips to Maximize Returns:

• Always pay off your balance each month—the high APR can quickly negate rewards (Lovefood, MoneySavingExpert.com, The Scottish Sun).
• Check that card benefits and fees match your spending habits—one size doesn’t fit all!
• Use referral bonuses (especially with Amex) to boost value—just ensure you’re eligible (Reddit).

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