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How we picked theseFinder Score for credit cards
To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Costs, perks and suitability across 120+ cards are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the card – simple.
Read the full methodology
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card
- 30,000 Membership Rewards point welcome bonus
- 4 complimentary airport lounge visits per year
- No annual fee in year 1
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 30.4% (variable) p.a. with a fee of Year 1 - £0, Year 2 onwards - £195 per annum, your representative rate is 87.8% APR (variable).
What is a black credit card?
A black credit card is a premium credit card that offers more status and benefits than standard, gold or platinum credit cards. The use of the term “black” for this type of credit card refers to the level of the account, similar to how airline and hotel programs have different status levels.
However, there are some standard credit cards that are also labelled as “black” cards by the provider. These cards may offer more benefits than other similar cards, but without the exclusivity of the elite black cards.
What benefits can I find with a black credit card?
Black credit cards offer a range of exclusive features that vary between cards. A few notable features may include:
- Higher credit limits
- Special card construction, such as titanium or carbon
- Greater travel insurance coverage
- Complimentary status upgrades for hotel and airline programs
- Special upgrades at select hotels
- Access to hundreds of airport lounges around the world
- 24/7 concierge service
- Travel credits
- Access to special events and experiences
What are the most prestigious credit cards?
Approval for any credit card depends on your status. The representative APRs shown represent the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances, the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Moneyfacts.
How much does a black credit card cost?
As you’d expect, the perks offered by the best black credit cards can often come with a premium price tag. Depending on the card, you may be faced with an annual fee in the thousands of pounds, though many black cards have annual fees around £300 or less.
Who should get a black credit card?
Most black credit cards are designed for people with high incomes and high monthly charges. They’re also usually reserved for those with excellent credit scores.
But meeting the application requirements doesn’t necessarily mean you should get a black credit card. If you never travel, for example, you won’t leverage perks like travel credits, airport lounge access and status upgrades in hotel and airline programs. In that case, it might not be worth paying a high annual fee.
On the other hand, if you travel often and love accessing special events through your card, you might find your card pays for itself many times over.
How to compare black credit cards
There are three main factors to consider when comparing black credit cards:
- Rewards. Black credit cards often don’t have the most powerful rewards, as their main value lies in their benefits. If rewards are important to you, consider a travel card or look into cashback credit cards. When evaluating a black card, check if it offers elevated rewards for certain categories. Then consider your spending in these categories to see if you’re likely to benefit.
- Complimentary extras. Compare benefits based on what’s valuable to you. Black cards tend to offer certain features across the board, such as Global Entry and access to airport lounges. But you’ll see differences between products, such as varying values of airline fee credits and perks in specific loyalty programs.
- Fees. Preferably, your card’s benefits will outweigh the annual fee. Consider whether you’ll use perks like airport lounge access and travel credits. Additionally, look into your spending and see whether you’ll earn enough rewards to offset the annual fee.
Bottom line
Not everyone will qualify for the most exclusive black credit cards, which is part of the appeal. This type of card comes with a high annual fee, robust luxury features and is often available by invitation only.
However, there are some black cards that offer better rewards and benefits, without the associated cost. You also don’t have to get a black card to enjoy high-class travel benefits. If you don’t meet the criteria or are looking for a more affordable option, compare travel credit cards and see if you can find the alternative that’s right for you.
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