Want more travel hacks and credit card perks? For our entire collection of reviews and guides, click here. Your next Avios windfall might be just a swipe away. Welcome to the Barclaycard Avios credit card review:
Want to earn Avios without battling Amex acceptance issues? The Barclaycard Avios Mastercard is the best free non-Amex Avios card on the UK market, and it’s more than just a backup. With a solid earning rate, a (hard-earned) upgrade voucher, and the full power of Mastercard acceptance, this no-fee card is quietly brilliant.
In This Post
What You Need to Know
- Annual Fee: £0
- Sign-Up Bonus: 5,000 Avios after spending £1,000 in 3 months
- Earning Rate: 1 Avios per £1 spent
- Upgrade Voucher: Spend £20,000 per card per year
- Foreign Exchange Fees: 3% outside the Eurozone
- Representative APR: 29.9% variable
- Accepted: Everywhere Mastercard is accepted
The Sign-Up Bonus: A Quick Avios Kickstart
New cardholders get 5,000 Avios after spending £1,000 in the first three months.
It’s not a huge windfall, but for a free card, it’s more than decent. If you’re likely to spend more, say £3,000 in three months, you’re better off grabbing the Barclaycard Avios Plus first for a 25,000 Avios bonus, and downgrading later.
Savvy tip: Barclaycard lets you downgrade to this version later without losing your original bonus.
Earning Avios: Better Than You’d Expect
For a free Mastercard, the earning rate is top-tier:
- 1 Avios per £1 spent in the UK and abroad
- No confusing categories or hoops to jump through
- Just keep in mind: your monthly Avios earning is capped at 4x your credit limit, most people won’t hit it
It’s the best non-Amex earning rate for Avios, full stop.
The Upgrade Voucher: Worth the Spend?
Spend £20,000 on the card in a single year, and you’ll receive an Avios upgrade voucher, valid for two years.
How It Works:
- Upgrade a return flight for one person (e.g. Premium to Club World)
- Or upgrade one leg of a return trip for two people
- Must use the highest Avios / lowest cash redemption option
No First Class redemptions, and short-haul uses aren’t great, but on long-haul, it’s seriously valuable.
Prefer points? You can opt for 7,000 Avios instead of the voucher.
Foreign Spending: Not Its Strong Suit
- 3% FX fee outside the Eurozone
- 0% FX fee when spending in Euros, Swedish Kronor, or Romanian Lei
If you spend abroad regularly, this card’s not the best choice. Use a fee-free debit like Currensea or a travel-focused credit card instead.
Barclaycard Avios vs BA Amex (Free)
Still deciding between this and the free BA Amex? Here’s the head-to-head:
| Feature | Barclaycard Avios Mastercard | BA Amex (Free) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Fee | £0 | £0 |
| Earning Rate | 1 Avios per £1 | 1 Avios per £1 |
| Voucher Type | Upgrade voucher at £20,000 | 2-4-1 companion voucher at £15,000 (Economy only) |
| Voucher Expiry | 2 years | 1 year |
| Accepted Everywhere? | (Mastercard) | (Amex not accepted everywhere) |
| Best For | Upgrades, full acceptance | Companion vouchers, Economy travel |
If you value upgrades and want Mastercard acceptance, go with Barclaycard. If you’re flying Economy with a partner, the BA Amex wins.
Can You Switch Between the Free and Paid Versions?
Yes. You can:
- Upgrade to the Avios Plus Mastercard anytime to get a better earning rate (1.5 Avios/£1) and unlock the voucher with just £10,000 spend, but your spending counter resets.
- Downgrade to this free version later to save the £240 annual fee; you keep your sign-up bonus, but voucher progress is lost.
Flexibility is a win here.
Should You Get This Card?
✅ Yes, if…
- You want the best free Avios-earning card available
- You already hold a BA Amex and need a Mastercard backup
- You don’t want to pay annual fees
- You’re unlikely to spend £10k+ per year (Avios Plus won’t pay off)
❌ No, if…
- You want a 2-4-1 companion voucher rather than an upgrade
- You travel abroad often and want 0% FX fees
- You’re planning to spend £3,000+ in 3 months, go for the Plus version first
Final Thoughts: The Best Free Avios Card in the UK?
If you want to earn Avios without paying a fee and you’re not a fan of Amex, this is the best free Avios card on the market. The 1 Avios per £1 rate is unmatched for a Mastercard, and the upgrade voucher, while requiring a steep £20,000 spend, gives more flexibility than BA Amex’s Economy-only 2-4-1.
Wingtips move: Start with the Avios Plus, collect 25,000 Avios, and downgrade to this free version once the bonus posts.
Ready to rack up Avios for free?
Power Play: Start with the Plus version, bag that 25,000 Avios bonus, and then downgrade to the Barclaycard Avios free credit card.
Keep the Miles Rolling
- Virgin Atlantic Reward Voucher vs Barclaycard Upgrade Voucher: Which One Wins?
- BA Avios Vouchers Compared: Barclaycard Upgrade vs Amex Companion
- Barclaycard Avios vs Avios Plus: Which Card Should You Get?
