Best 0% credit cards revealed as Christmas shoppers get up to 35 months interest-free

This gives consumers close to three years to clear spending on presents, food and other Christmas costs.

The comparison service also warned anyone relying on credit this Christmas should begin with a clear repayment strategy.

Experts at the service stressed planning early can help consumers reduce their debt faster.

Three card providers are offering the leading 35-month interest-free periods.

HSBC’s Balance Transfer Credit Card has the lowest transfer fee of the group at 3.19 per cent.

Barclaycard’s Platinum Balance Transfer Visa follows with a 3.45 per cent transfer fee.

TSB’s Platinum Balance Transfer Card Mastercard completes the trio, charging a 3.49 per cent fee to move debt.

MoneyFactsCompare said several alternatives are available for those who do not qualify for the top three products.

Virgin Money, MBNA and NatWest are each offering 34-month interest-free terms, which sit marginally behind the longest deals.

The cards allow borrowers to move existing balances to a new provider in order to avoid interest charges while paying off debt.

A recent YouGov survey suggested that the average consumer expects to spend around £300 on Christmas presents.

The same survey reported shoppers plan to spend about £150 on festive food and drink.

MoneyFactsCompare said these figures highlight the pressure that many households face during the Christmas period.

Tesco Bank research found that nearly one in three consumers, or 29 per cent, believe they will end 2025 in debt.

The study identified credit cards as the most common form of unsecured borrowing currently held by consumers.

The research showed that credit cards often remain cheaper than using an overdraft and can offer additional protections to shoppers under consumer law.

Rachel Springall, finance expert at MoneyFactsCompare, said the market-leading offers could prove useful for eligible borrowers.

She said: "Credit cards can be the ideal way to cover costs, and they protect consumers from being ripped off, as any goods or services not received which are valued over £100 up to £30,000 are covered under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act."

She also highlighted the cost of relying on overdrafts in the absence of savings or an existing credit card.

"Those spenders who don't have an existing credit card or a savings pot in place to cover Christmas could dip into their overdraft, but this is costly as the biggest brands charge almost 40 per cent EAR," she said.

"If this is unavoidable, applying for a credit card to make a money transfer could be a sensible option."

MoneyFactsCompare recommended that consumers check their credit report before applying for a new card.

It said reviewing credit records can help identify errors that may affect an application.

Ms Springall cautioned applicants against submitting several card applications in quick succession.

She said lenders may view multiple applications as a sign of financial difficulty, and advised borrowers to compare transfer fees before deciding on a provider.

She explained: "Upfront fees get added to the debt that's moved across via a balance transfer, so that's worth keeping in mind when setting up the repayment."

She added borrowers should avoid making only the minimum repayment each month, stating: "It's much wiser to change this to a fixed repayment to clear the debt sooner, particularly within the interest-free term."

MoneyFactsCompare said that careful planning, accurate budgeting and consistent repayment behaviour will help consumers make the most of the longest interest-free offers available this Christmas.