Best credit card Sweden

Which is the best credit card in Sweden?

The best credit card in Sweden 2026 is the Bank Norwegian credit card according to us at Kreditio. The card has a minimum of 0.5% cashback on all purchases and up to 5% CashPoints on airline tickets with Norwegian. It comes with comprehensive travel insurance, and the card has a 0% withdrawal fee and a 0 SEK annual fee.

Best credit cards in Sweden

Comparison of the best credit cards

We at Kreditio have compiled a comparison of the best credit cards in Sweden for 2026 in the table below. Our test has taken into account benefits, fees and credit terms.

Comparison table of the best credit cards in Sweden.

What is a credit card?

A credit card is a type of payment card that is linked to a line of credit with the card-issuing bank. When you use the credit card, the card company pays the merchant for your purchase and then bills you, the cardholder. You can choose to pay off the credit in full at once or pay the credit invoice in installments.

How Credit Card Interest Works in Sweden

Credit cards in Sweden typically offer an interest-free period of 30-60 days for purchases. If you pay your balance in full within this period, no interest is charged. Interest rates usually range from 15-25% annually, making it important to pay your balance in full to avoid high interest charges. Different transaction types (purchases vs. cash withdrawals) often have different interest rates.

Who does a credit card fit for?

Credit cards are particularly suitable for these types of people.

• Are financially stable and able to pay back the credit on time.
• Want the option of deferring payments.
• Want to enjoy benefits like bonuses, cashback and insurance.
• Shop frequently online or abroad and want to pay safely.
• Need a buffer for unexpected expenses How does interest on credit cards work?

Pros and cons of credit cards

The advantages of credit cards are that they include benefits, provide flexibility and are a safe means of payment. The disadvantages are that it can incur expensive interest charges and the risk of poor credit and debt if not used sustainably.

Pros

• Benefits. Many credit cards offer bonuses, cashback or discounts on some or all purchases, allowing you to save money.
• Insurance. Most credit cards come with insurance, most notably travel insurance when you pay at least 50% of the cost of your trip with the card.
• Flexibility. Credit cards defer payment with interest-free days. You often have between 40 and 55 interest-free days.
• Security. Credit cards are safer to use compared to cash or debit cards.

Cons

• High interest rates. Credit cards have high interest rates of between 15 – 25% per year if you don’t pay back the credit within the interest-free days.
• Risk of indebtedness. If you don’t pay on time, you could end up in a debt trap where new interest rates and fees will prevent you from getting out of debt.
• Fees. Expensive credit card fees are usually a withdrawal fee and a currency surcharge, which is usually 2%.
• Payment defaults. If you don’t pay your bills on time, you may get a payment default notice, which will negatively affect your credit rating.
• Purchase addiction. When you have the option to buy now and pay later, you may develop a buying addiction that you can’t really afford.

Different types of credit cards in Sweden

Depending on the benefits a credit card offers, it is suitable for different people. To help you find the category that’s right for you, we’ll look at credit cards with different types of benefits and who they’re for below.

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Credit cards with bonuses

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Credit card with cash back

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Travel credit cards

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Gas credit cards

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Credit cards for groceries

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Different card networks for credit cards in Sweden

There are 3 major credit card networks in Sweden and they are Visa, Mastercard and American Express.

Visa

Visa was founded in 1958 and was issued under the name BankAmericard by Bank of America, however, the name Visa was registered in 1970 and in 1976 the company changed its name to Visa Inc. Now there are over 4.1 billion Visa cards around the world operating in over 200 countries. Visa has expanded globally significantly in recent decades, becoming the largest payment network in the world.

In Sweden, there are around 20 banks that issue Visa cards. These include major banks such as Nordea, SEB, ICA Banken, Skandiabanken, Bank Norwegian and smaller niche banks such as Marginalen Bank and Collector Bank.

Mastercard

Mastercard was founded in 1966 as Interbank and then changed its name to Mastercharge before changing its name to Mastercard. Today, Mastercard is the second largest payment network in terms of number of cards with just over 3.1 billion cards issued.

In Sweden, 22 banks have Mastercard cards and there are both major banks such as Handelsbanken, ICA Banken, Danske Bank, Länsförsäkringar Bank, Nordea, SEB and Swedbank as well as niche banks such as Re:member, Marginalen Bank and Resurs Bank that have Mastercard cards.

American Express

American Express, often abbreviated as Amex, is an American credit card company that operates as both a payment network and a card issuer of its own credit cards. The credit card company is known for its exclusive credit cards.

In Sweden, American Express is an issuer of credit cards and payment services, with a focus on the premium segment.

• Acceptance. Amex cards are accepted at many major chains, hotels and restaurants, but generally have a lower acceptance rate than Visa and Mastercard, especially at smaller merchants.
• Partnerships. Amex works closely with SAS, resulting in cards that offer EuroBonus points.
• Different cards. In Sweden, Amex offers several cards, including SAS EuroBonus cards in different levels as well as their own cards such as Green Card and Platinum Card.
• Corporate cards. Amex has a strong focus on corporate cards and offers solutions for companies of different sizes.
• Benefits. Amex cards in Sweden are known for their generous travel insurance, lounge access and other premium benefits.

How to compare and find the best credit card in Sweden?

To compare credit cards, you should start from your own needs and evaluate different factors such as requirements, cost, credit terms, benefits and customer reviews. Below we have developed a step-by-step guide of 6 steps you can follow to compare and find the best credit card for you.

1. Do you meet the requirements for the credit card?

All credit cards have basic requirements that all applicants must meet in order to be granted the credit card. Check the basic requirements of the credit card you intend to apply for and make sure you meet them.

In the list below we have gathered common basic requirements for credit cards.

• At least 18 years old. You need to be at least 18 years old, but some card issuers have higher age limits.
• No payment history. Payment defaults indicate poor financial standing and are not accepted.
• Registered in Sweden and a valid social security number. You need to have been registered in Sweden for 2-3 years.
• Some form of income. You do not need to be permanently employed, but have some declared income.
• No debts with the Swedish Enforcement Authority called ”Kronofogden”. Indicates that you are careless or have a poor ability to pay.

2. How much will the card cost?

There are several different fees and costs that can be added to credit cards such as annual fee, foreign exchange surcharge, withdrawal fee and interest.

• Annual fee. The fee that is charged each year to allow you to use the card. The annual fee is usually between 0 – 200 SEK.
• Currency surcharge. When the bank exchanges SEK for another currency, a currency exchange surcharge is added. The currency surcharge is on average 2%.
• Withdrawal fee. A fee is charged every time you withdraw money with your card. The withdrawal fee is usually between 1 – 2% and usually has a minimum fee of SEK 25.
• Interest. If you do not pay the credit invoice within the interest-free days, interest will be added.
• Other fees. In addition to the fees above, there are also reminder fees if you are late with payments. In addition, there may be a newspaper fee of around SEK 30 per month and you want a paper notice.

3. What are the credit terms?

Read through the credit terms such as the interest-free days, credit limit and minimum monthly payment before you apply. Interest-free days. The number of days you have to pay the credit bill before interest is added. It’s common for a credit card to have between 45 – 55 interest-free days. Credit limit. This regulates the total amount of credit you can use with the credit card. Credit cards usually have high credit limits, but you must have a high income to be granted them. Minimum monthly payment. The minimum amount of credit you must pay off each month.

4. What benefits are included?

The inclusion of benefits such as bonuses, cashback and discounts is important to help you save money and get more out of your credit card.

• Bonuses. Some credit cards have their own bonus schemes that allow you to collect bonus points that can then be spent in a bonus shop.
• Cashback. You can get cashback on purchases, and it can apply either to all purchases or just some. Compare the level of cashback as a percentage and consider which purchases qualify for the cashback.
• Discounts. Credit cards can give you exclusive access to discounts at well-known stores to save you money on your purchases.

More credit card benefits collected in the list below.

• Lounge access
• Priority pass
• Fast Track
• Concierge service
• Wireless payment (Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay)

5. Does it include any insurance?

Most credit cards include travel insurance, but shopping insurance such as purchase protection and price guarantee may also be included. Based on your needs and what insurance you currently have, try to fulfill these needs through the credit card’s insurance.

6. What do customers say?

Customer reviews are an important factor to consider when comparing credit cards. What customers say about the credit card will give you an idea of whether the card is working properly and whether promises are being kept.

You can easily look up customer reviews for credit cards on our reviews page on Credittio or use an independent website that collects customer reviews, such as Trustpilot.

How to Apply for a Credit Card in Sweden

Apply for a credit card in Sweden through these 4 steps.

1. Choose the right credit card. Compare several credit cards to make sure you have chosen the right one before applying.
2. Fill in the application form. Go to the credit card application form and fill in your personal, income and employment details and sign the application online with BankID.
3. Credit check. Once you have submitted your application, the bank will run a credit check on you with UC and, based on the information, either approve or reject your application directly on the screen.
4. Activate the card. If your application is approved, you can in some cases immediately add the credit card to your digital wallet and start using it or you will need to wait for the physical version of the card, which usually arrives within 5-7 working days.

How to Use Credit Cards Responsibly

Using credit cards sustainably is basically just about paying on time and thus avoiding expensive interest charges. If you forget to pay on time, you will incur high interest on the outstanding debt and this can lead to debt traps and payment defaults, which is not healthy for the economy. In the list below, we have gathered points for healthy credit card use.

• Pay your bill on time. Always pay within the interest-free days.
• Compare the effective interest rate. Use the APR, which is the total cost of the credit, when you compare. This way you also include fees that may be hidden from the nominal interest rate.
• Review the monthly bill. Look at the monthly bill and identify what unnecessary expenses you have to eliminate them.
• Maximize benefits. Make the most of the benefits offered by the credit card. This includes, for example, making use of the stores where you get the highest bonus.

How Many Credit Cards Should You Have?

For most people, it is best to have only one credit card, as it means less to keep track of. In addition, the annual fee can make having multiple credit cards expensive unless you avoid the annual fee by choosing specific credit cards.

However, for some people, having multiple cards can be beneficial. Especially if you have a large spread of expenses in different categories, you can combine several different benefits of different credit cards and maximize the outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Vanliga frågor

Which is the Most Advantageous Credit Card?

The most advantageous credit card in our opinion is the Marginalen Traveler which has a 1% bonus on all purchases. It also has very comprehensive travel insurance with cancellation cover up to €30,000 per person.

Are there disadvantages to credit cards?

Yes, there are disadvantages to credit cards. Mainly, the cards have a high effective interest rate, which makes it expensive to pay after the interest-free days.

Why am I denied a credit card?

It’s because the card issuer has done a credit check and considers you not financially stable enough. Most often, this is due to a low fixed income or previous payment defaults.

Can Foreigners Get Credit Cards in Sweden?

It’s challenging without a Swedish personal number (personnummer) and residence history. International visitors should consider cards from their home country with low foreign transaction fees or prepaid options available in Sweden.