Best credit card to use in the USA: Top 6 UK picks

Planning a trip to the USA? Whether you’re hitting up a big city like NYC, L.A. or Las Vegas, driving along Route 66 or exploring nature in one of the country’s many vast national parks, you’ll need to find the best way to spend in US dollars.

If you prefer the convenience of a credit card when spending abroad, we’re here to help. Read on for a rundown of the best UK credit cards to use in the USA, including top picks from the likes of NatWest, Halifax, Barclays and more.

We’ll also show you a travel-friendly alternative - the Wise card. It’s not a credit card but an international debit card linked to your Wise account. You can use it for spending in 150+ countries including the USA, automatically converting your pounds to the local currency at the great mid-market exchange rate, only adding a tiny, transparent conversion fee*.

Learn more about the Wise card 💳

Table of contents
Top picks compared: The best UK credit cards to use in the USA Halifax Clarity Credit Card Barclaycard Rewards Card Bip Credit Card NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card Zopa Credit Card RBS Reward Black Credit Card How do credit cards work in the USA? Is it best to use a credit card in the USA? What to look for in a good credit card to use while travelling to the USA FAQ

Top picks compared: The best UK credit cards to use in the USA

To help you find the best way to spend abroad, here’s our top picks for travel-friendly credit cards you can use in the USA:

Card name	FX rate	Foreign currency transaction fees	ATM fees	Interest rate (APR)	Best feature
Halifax Clarity Credit Card¹	Mastercard	None	None	Check eligibility to find out	No ATM fees
Barclaycard Rewards Card²	Visa	None	None	28.9% Interest-free for 56 days³	No ATM fees
Bip Credit Card⁴	Mastercard	None	None	29.9% Interest-free for 48 days	Cardless credit
NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card⁵	Visa	None	3% (min. £3)	27.9% Interest-free for 56 days	Cashback on travel spending
Zopa Credit Card⁶	Visa	None	£3	34.9% Interest-free for 56 days	Easy in-app management
RBS Reward Black Credit Card⁷	Mastercard	None	3% (min. £3)	40.7% Interest-free for 56 days	Rewards on spending

Halifax Clarity Credit Card - Best for withdrawing cash in the USA

The Halifax Clarity Credit Card is a near-perfect card for overseas spending.

It charges no annual, foreign transaction fees or ATM withdrawal fees,¹ although interest on cash withdrawals is likely to start accruing right away. It uses the Mastercard exchange rate for converting currency.

You’ll need to check your eligibility on the Halifax website to see what interest rate and credit limit you’ll get, along with your interest-free period on purchases.¹

Barclaycard Rewards Card - Best for withdrawing cash and cashback on spending

Like the Halifax Clarity Credit Card, the Barclaycard Rewards Card charges no fees for spending or withdrawing cash overseas. It also has an extra benefit, giving you 0.25% cashback on all everyday spending.²

The representative APR is 28.9% (variable)² and you’ll get a 56-day interest-free period on purchases.³ Interest on cash transactions like ATM withdrawals is likely to start accruing right away. The card uses Visa’s exchange rates for converting currency. It has no annual fees.

Bip Credit Card - Best for cardless credit

The Bip Credit Card is a little different to others on our list. It’s a digital credit card, meaning it only lives on your phone - in the Bip app and in your digital wallet. This is ideal for people who prefer to pay using their phone, but it could be a little tricky to find a cardless ATM during your trip to the USA.

The card charges no foreign transaction fees for spending or cash withdrawals in USD or other currencies.⁴

It has a representative APR of 29.9% (variable), a 48-day interest-free period for purchases (none for cash withdrawals) and uses the Mastercard exchange rate for converting currency. And there are no annual fees to worry about either.⁴

NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card - Best for cashback on travel spending

The NatWest Travel Reward Credit Card is specially designed for spending overseas, including the USA. It has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees on spending, only a 3% (£3 min.) fee for cash withdrawals.⁵ It uses the Visa exchange rate for converting currency.

You’ll get a 56-day interest-free period on purchases, but interest on cash withdrawals will start accruing right away. The representative APR is 27.9% (variable).⁵

A perk of this card is the cashback it pays on eligible travel-related purchases. You’ll get:⁸

• 1% cashback on flights, trains, car rental, ferries, buses, hotel accommodation, travel agents, cruises, campsites and more.
• 1% to 15% cashback at selected partner retailers.

Zopa Credit Card - Best for in-app money management

The Zopa credit card has no annual fees and doesn’t charge for purchases in foreign currencies. However, it does have a cash withdrawal fee of £3 per transaction, which applies whether you’re in the UK or overseas.⁶

You’ll get a 56-day interest-free period on purchases (none for cash transactions) and a representative APR of 34.9%. Currency conversions are carried out using Visa exchange rates.⁶

One of the best features of the Zopa card is its in-app tools, which include a Credit Cushion feature, instant spending notifications and real-time balance updates. The company was also named Best Credit Card Provider at the British Bank Awards 2024.⁹

RBS Reward Black Credit Card - Best for spending rewards

The RBS Reward Black Credit Card charges no foreign transaction fees for spending abroad, although there’s a 3% (min. £3 fee) if you withdraw cash over in the USA.⁷

You’ll get rewards for spending, including 1% at supermarkets and 0.5% on spending at supermarket petrol stations. Plus, between 1 and 15% at selected retailers, and 0.5% everywhere else.¹⁰

The card has an annual fee of £84, although this is waived if you have an RBS Premier Reward Black current account.¹⁰ This also has a fee, but it comes with a number of useful travel benefits.

The credit card has a representative APR of 40.7% (variable) and an interest-free period on spending of 56 days. Interest on cash withdrawals will start accruing right away. The card uses Mastercard’s exchange rates for currency conversions.⁷

How do credit cards work in the USA?

Credit cards in the USA work in just the same way as in the UK. You can use them for spending and cash withdrawals (although this usually comes with a fee, so is best avoided) anywhere that accepts Visa/Mastercard.

Anything you spend will be added to your balance, and you need to pay off the minimum amount required before the interest-free period ends or you’ll be charged interest.

Can I use my UK credit card in the USA?

Yes, you should be fine to use your UK credit card in the USA. As you’ll be spending in US dollars though, you’ll just need to check whether your credit card charges any foreign currency transaction fees (also known as non-sterling transaction fees).

If it does, you may be best switching to a travel-friendly credit card, or even a debit card which has no foreign currency transaction fees.

Is it best to use a credit card in the USA?

It depends on the card and what fees it charges for use in foreign currencies. If you’ll mainly be spending and your card doesn’t have non-sterling transaction fees, you should be fine to use your card anywhere that Visa or Mastercard is accepted. Credit cards are widely accepted across the USA, especially in bigger towns and cities.

You can also use prepaid USD cards if you’d like to manage your spending, although be aware that these cards aren’t accepted absolutely everywhere.

There are also costs involved - read our guide to rates and fees for prepaid US travel cards.

What to look for in a good credit card to use while travelling to the USA

Here’s a quick checklist of things to look for when choosing a credit card for your trip to the USA:

• No foreign transaction fees
• No overseas cash withdrawal fees
• A generous interest-free period for purchases - this gives you plenty of time to make repayments after your trip
• Cashback or rewards on travel or everyday spending
• Decent currency exchange rates - most credit cards use Visa or Mastercard rates, which are known to be pretty good.

FAQ

Do you get charged for using a credit card in the USA?

Your credit card provider may charge you for spending or withdrawing cash in US dollars during your trip. You’ll need to check the fees list for your card, ideally before you travel.

The vendor may also add a credit card surcharge - it’s best to ask before you pay.

How do I avoid credit card foreign transaction fees?

To avoid or minimise fees when using a credit card abroad, follow these tips:

• Choose a credit card with no foreign transaction fees
• Avoid cash withdrawals overseas - these usually come with fees
• Always pay in the local currency
• Remember to make minimum repayments before the interest-free period ends.

Is it better to pay in local or foreign currency on a credit card?

It’s always best to pay in the local currency when spending overseas. This will mean that Visa or Mastercard exchange rates will be used, which are usually much better than those applied by the vendor, retailer or ATM.

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That concludes our guide to the best credit card for spending in the US. Hopefully, this helps you find the one that suits your needs best.

And if you want another option for spending abroad without worrying about exchange rate markups and hidden fees, the Wise card could be a great solution.

Open a Wise account online and you can order the Wise card for a one-time fee of £7. You can use this clever card in 150+ countries, including the USA. It automatically converts your pounds to local currency whenever you spend using the mid-market exchange rate, only adding a tiny, transparent conversion fee* – or it’s free if you already have the local currency in your Wise account.

Sign up with Wise for free 🚀

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Sources used:

1. Halifax - Clarity Card
2. Barclays - Barclays Rewards
3. Barclaycard Rewards - Summary Box
4. Bip - Summary box
5. NatWest - Summary box for Travel Reward credit card
6. Zopa - Summary box
7. RBS - Summary box for Reward Black credit card
8. NatWest - Travel Reward Credit Card
9. Zopa - Credit card
10. RBS - Reward Black Credit Card

Sources last checked on date: 19-Feb-2024