What Is the Best Barclays Credit Card?

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Soccer isn’t the only thing Barclays imports to the United States.

The international banking conglomerate and sponsor of the English Premier League is no newcomer to the U.S. financial market. The British company offers a host of services tailored to its overseas clients, including a recent partnership with PayPal. Those services include almost two dozen credit cards.

With so many options available, it can be hard to cut through the jungle and find the card that’s right for you.

Looking for a card with beaucoup rewards? Want to maximize your cash back? Or do you simply need a card with minimal fees?

Consider this guide your credit card machete. We’ve reviewed all of the offerings, and we’ve found the best Barclays credit card for whichever purpose you prioritize. Read on to find the one that’s right for you.

If you don’t know your priorities yet when it comes to a credit card, allow us to stimulate your search.

Barclays sets its credit card options apart from other card issuers with its rewards. But like any credit card rewards, they can be a tangle to unravel.

Barclays card owners can accumulate points to redeem a wide variety of rewards. Depending on the card you have, you can earn free or discounted airfare, cruises, hotel stays, NFL tickets, gift cards to various stores, merchandise, travel statement credit, and cash back. Barclays cash back comes in the form of a deposit to your bank or a credit on your statement.

Here’s the way it works. Most Barclays points translate to about one cent per point, but even with that, the value varies wildly depending on how you use them.

You can earn points with almost every purchase on your Barclays credit card. Most purchases earn one point per dollar spent, but purchases made with Barclays partners can earn many times that number, depending on your card. For instance, the Barclays Priceline Rewards Visa Card allows customers to earn five times the points on select purchases through Priceline.com.

To give you a sense of the kinds of purchases on which you can earn rewards, here is the list of businesses partnering with Barclays on credit cards.

• American Airlines
• Frontier Airlines
• Carnival Cruise Line
• Choice Hotels International
• JetBlue
• Wyndham
• National Football League
• Barnes & Noble
• Apple
• Diamond Resorts International
• Hawaiian Airlines
• Holland America Line
• Lufthansa
• Priceline
• Princess Cruises
• RCI
• Uber

This list also gives you insight on the kinds of rewards you can earn from these various cards.

Rewards aren’t the only thing to look for in a credit card.

Don’t forget to factor in the various fees and penalties involved with each card you consider. These can be real dealbreakers in your decision.

If you plan to carry a balance from month to month, you want a card with a low-interest rate. If you’ll pay in full each month, the annual fee comes to the forefront of importance.

And it’s unavoidable that you’ll need to think about your own credit. If it’s anything below excellent, it’s just reality that you won’t qualify for some cards.

Fortunately, there are always options for people with even the worst credit, and a credit card is a great way to build your credit. Barclays offers you the ability to check your Barclays credit card eligibility right on their website.

That ideal card is not out of reach!

With your priorities determined and your newfound knowledge of rewards, it’s time to dive into the options. Here is our rundown of the best Barclays credit card offers, with handy notes for comparison.

Barclaycard Ring is the top introductory card the company offers.

APR: 10.49% variable

Additional Benefits: The online Ring Community allows cardholders to ask questions and share their own ideas for how to improve the card.

Fees

Annual: $0

Balance Transfer: $0

Cash Advance: $0

Foreign Transaction: $0

The Arrival Premier card is a step up from the Ring in terms of responsibility, but it comes with a ton of rewards, including lots of airline miles.

APR: 17.49%, 21.49%, or 24.49% variable, depending on creditworthiness (26.74% variable for cash advances).

Additional Benefits: The card’s $0 Fraud Liability protection means cardholders are not responsible for any unauthorized charges they report. Members can earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase and up to 25,000 loyalty bonus miles every year. They also gain access to over 800 exclusive travel lounges worldwide.

Fees

Annual: $150

Balance Transfer: $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater.

Cash Advance: $10 or 5% of the amount of the advance, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transaction: $0

This is one of two cards that are the result of a partnership between Barclays and American Airlines.

APR: 17.49%, 21.49%, or 26.49% variable, depending on creditworthiness (26.74% variable for cash advances).

Additional Benefits: $0 Fraud Liability, preferred boarding and first checked bag free on American Airlines flights.

Fees

Annual: $95

Balance Transfer: $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater.

Cash Advance: $10 or 5% of the amount of the advance, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transaction: $0

This is the card for people looking for discounts on Frontier’s already low air travel prices.

APR: 17.49% or 26.49% variable, depending on creditworthiness (26.74% variable for cash advances).

Additional Benefits: Zero liability; 2X miles on purchases at FlyFrontier.com; 40,000 bonus miles; and a $100 Frontier Airlines flight discount voucher.

Fees

Annual: $69

Balance Transfer: $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater.

Cash Advance: $10 or 5% of the amount of the advance, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transaction: 3% of each transaction.

Frequent vacationers can benefit from this card, a partnership between Barclays and Carnival Cruise Line.

APR: 15.49%, 20.49%, or 25.49% variable, depending on creditworthiness (26.74% variable for cash advances).

Additional Benefits: $0 fraud liability; a 10% reFUNd on Carnival shore excursions, 2X FunPoints on Carnival and World’s Leading Cruise purchases; and 10,000 bonus FunPoints.

Fees

Annual: $0

Balance Transfer: $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater.

Cash Advance: $10 or 5% of the amount of the advance, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transaction: $0

Barclays’ card with Choice Hotels International offers rewards for people looking for the possibility of big discounts on travel accommodations.

APR: 16.74%, 21.49%, or 26.49% variable, depending on creditworthiness (26.74% variable for cash advances).

Additional Benefits: $0 Fraud Liability, ample opportunities to earn tens of thousands of bonus points, and free nights at participating hotels.

Fees

Annual: $0

Balance Transfer: $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater.

Cash Advance: $10 or 5% of the amount of the advance, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transaction: 3% of each transaction.

Wyndham’s card with Barclays rewards gives cardholders an extra three points per dollar spent on eligible purchases for participating hotel stays and two points per dollar spent on eligible gas, utility, and grocery store purchases.

APR: 16.74%, 21.49%, or 26.49% variable, depending on creditworthiness (26.74% variable for cash advances).

Additional Benefits: Zero liability; points redeemable for free nights at participating hotels; and 15,000 bonus points.

Fees

Annual: $0

Balance Transfer: $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater.

Cash Advance: $10 or 5% of the amount of the advance, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transaction: $0

This is Barclays’ way of sponsoring a different kind of football.

APR: 16.74%, 21.49%, or 26.49% variable, depending on creditworthiness (26.74% variable for cash advances).

Additional Benefits: NFL game tickets, once-in-a-lifetime team experiences, and cash back.

Fees

Annual: $0

Balance Transfer: $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater.

Cash Advance: $10 or 5% of the amount of the advance, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transaction: 3% of each transaction.

Book lovers may appreciate the merchandise rewards from this card.

APR: 15.49% or 26.49% variable, depending on creditworthiness (26.74% variable for cash advances).

Additional Benefits: $0 Fraud Liability protection, cash back on Barnes & Noble purchases, a Barnes & Noble gift card, and extra points for purchases at restaurants.

Fees

Annual: $0

Balance Transfer: $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater.

Cash Advance: $10 or 5% of the amount of the advance, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transaction: 3% of each transaction.

Savings can add up when you apply these rewards to your Apple tech and gadget purchases.

APR: 15.49%, 21.49%, or 28.49% variable, depending on creditworthiness (26.74% variable for cash advances).

Additional Benefits: $0 Fraud Liability protection, identity theft protection, special financing on Apple purchases, and gift cards for iTunes and the Apple Store.

Fees

Annual: $0

Balance Transfer: $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater.

Cash Advance: $10 or 5% of the amount of the advance, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transaction: 3% of each transaction.

Barclays’ partnership with another airline gives cardholders extra points for purchases at restaurants and grocery stores.

APR: 17.49%, 21.49%, or 26.49% variable, depending on creditworthiness (26.74% variable for cash advances).

Additional Benefits: $0 Fraud Liability protection, points redeemable for seats on JetBlue flights, and no blackout dates on JetBlue-operated flights.

Fees

Annual: $0

Balance Transfer: $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater.

Cash Advance: $10 or 5% of the amount of the advance, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transaction: $0

When you want a card that offers rewards on not just airfare but all sorts of travel purchases, Barclays offers its Priceline credit card.

APR: 16.49%, 21.49%, or 26.49% variable, depending on creditworthiness (26.74% variable for cash advances).

Additional Benefits: $0 Fraud Liability protection; concierge service; 5,000 bonus points; and ample opportunities for more bonus points.

Fees

Annual: $0

Balance Transfer: $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater.

Cash Advance: $10 or 5% of the amount of the advance, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transaction: $0

This is an ideal card for people who do a lot of online shopping, eating out, and traveling.

APR: 16.49%, 22.24%, or 25.24% variable, depending on creditworthiness (26.49% variable for cash advances).

Additional Benefits: $0 Fraud Liability protection; up to $600 in mobile phone protection; $100 cash back; and extra points on food, travel, and online purchases.

Fees

Annual: $0

Balance Transfer: $10 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater.

Cash Advance: $10 or 5% of the amount of the advance, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transaction: $0

Now let’s zoom out and crown some winners in this search.

The Barclaycard Ring Mastercard just can’t be beat when it comes to its best-in-class APR and near-complete lack of associated fees.

The Barclays Arrival Premier World Elite Mastercard offers too many ways to earn thousands of miles for any of the airline or hotel cards to compete with it.

There are so many ways to earn cash back with the Uber Visa Card. You get 1% back on all purchases, and purchases at nearly every kind of food, travel, and web establishment for additional savings.

There are two sides to the sword of Barclays offering so many different credit cards. On one side, there is a mind-boggling variety of options from which to choose. But on the other side, you get enough options that you can find the card that fits your needs and purchase plans as perfectly as possible.

There may be no such thing as the single best Barclays credit card, but there are excellent options for nearly every consumer. Allow us to guide you even beyond the bounds of Barclays with our guides to the best credit cards.