The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.
As with all other types of credit cards, zero-interest credit cards let you make purchases on credit, which you can then repay by making at least minimum monthly payments. When you carry forward balances from one billing cycle to the next with a regular card, the outstanding amount accrues interest. However, with a card that comes with a 0% APR offer on purchases, you get to pay no interest for a predetermined time. Once this period ends, you need to start paying interest toward any outstanding promotional balance.
More about 0-APR Credit Cards
MoneyGeek’s Take: Top 11 0% APR Credit Cards
Card Name | BT Offer Length | BT Offer | BT Fee | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | 21 months | 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months then a 17.74% – 28.49% Variable APR afer that | Introductory Fee– either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater for the first four months of account opening, after that balance transfer fee of $5 or 5% after first four. | |
2. | 21 months | 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months then a 17.74% – 28.49% Variable APR afer that | $5 or 5%, whichever is greater | |
3. | 21 billing cycles | 0% Intro APR on balance transfers | $10 or 3%, whichever is greater | |
4. | 18 months | 0% Intro APR on balance transfers | $5 or 3% of each transfer amount (whichever is greater) in the first 60 days. After that, either $5 or 5%, whichever is greater. | |
5. | 18 months | 0% Intro APR on balance transfers | 3% | |
6. | 18 months | 0% Intro APR on balance transfers | Intro balance transfer fee: 3% or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, for 120 days from account opening. After that, up to 5% for each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5 | |
7. | Discover it® Cash Back | 15 months | 0% Intro APR on balance transfers | Introductory Fee– 3% of the amount of each transfer for transfers that post to your account by March 10, 2023, with 0% intro APR balance transfer offer. After that, 5% of the amount of each transfer. |
8. | 15 months | 0% Intro APR on balance transfers | $5 or 3% of each transfer amount (whichever is greater) in the first 60 days. After that, either $5 or 5%, whichever is greater. | |
9. | 15 months | 0% Intro APR on balance transfers | $5 or 5%, whichever is greater | |
10. | 15 months | 0% Intro APR on balance transfers for the first 15 months, then a 19.24% – 27.99% Variable | $5 or 3% of each transfer amount (whichever is greater) in the first 60 days. After that, either $5 or 5%, whichever is greater. | |
11. | 15 months | 0% Intro APR on balance transfers | Intro balance transfer fee: 3% or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, for 120 days from account opening. After that, up to 5% for each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5 |
On This Page
Best 0% APR Credit Cards
Our experts have selected the best no-interest credit cards after accounting for all their pros and cons. For example, if a card comes with an extended promotional period, we inform you about it at the start.
Some of the best 0% APR cards come with promotional periods of 15 months or more. Several such cards let you earn rewards or cash back. The top alternatives tend to come with no annual fees as well. As long as you pay off your balance before the end of the promotional period, you pay no interest. You might consider using such a card to make an expensive purchase that you plan to pay off within a stipulated time frame.
- Citi Simplicity® Card
Best for long intro APR offer on balance transfers
- 0% Intro APR (then variable APR)Balance Transfer Offer
- 21 monthsBalance Transfer Duration
- 19.24% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $5 or 3% whichever is greater; $5 or 5% after first four months*Balance Transfer Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
Best balance transfer card for immediate transfers
- 0% Intro APR (then variable APR)Balance Transfer Offer
- 21 monthsBalance Transfer Duration
- 18.24% – 28.99% VariableAPR
- $5 or 5%, whichever is greaterBalance Transfer Fee
- ExcellentRecommended Credit
- BankAmericard® credit card
A good no-annual-fee credit card with a 0% APR offer on purchases and balance transfers
- NoneRewards Rate
- 16.24% – 26.24% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- Citi® Double Cash Card
A great no-annual-fee card that offers up to 2% cash back
- 0% Intro APR (then variable APR)Balance Transfer Offer
- 18 monthsBalance Transfer Duration
- 19.24% – 29.24% VariableAPR
- $5 or 3% whichever is greater; $5 or 5% after first four months*Balance Transfer Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
A good no-annual-fee card with a lengthy 0% APR offer
- 0% Intro APR (then variable APR)Balance Transfer Offer
- 21 monthsBalance Transfer Duration
- 17.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- 5% for each balance transfer, minimum $5Balance Transfer Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- Discover it® Cash Back
A good no-annual-fee cash back credit card with revolving bonus categories
- 1%–5% Cash backRewards Rate
- 17.24% – 28.24% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
A great no-annual-fee cash back card with a unique bonus category system
- 1% – 5% Cash BackRewards Rate
- 19.24% – 29.24% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
- Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
A great no-annual-fee cash back card with a 0% APR offer
- 2% Cash BackRewards Rate
- 19.99%, 24.99%, or 29.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
The Best Credit Cards for 0% APR at a Glance
Our experts analyze 57 data points they collect from issuer websites, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau and details provided by our partners to make sure we give you the most accurate information possible. They subject all new and existing cards from this segment to our unique ranking methodology that takes multiple parameters into account to arrive at the best of the lot.
- APR: 3%
- Annual Fee: 5%
- Cash Back Rate: 5%
- Miles Rate per $: 5%
- Points Rate per $: 5%
- Balance Transfer Offer: 25%
- Balance Transfer Duration: 25%
- Balance Transfer Fee: 5%
- Balance Transfer APR: 5%
Quick Tips for Comparing Zero Interest Credit Card Offers
You need to consider different factors before applying for a 0% interest credit card.
- Applicable categories: Determine if you need a 0% APR card for purchases, balance transfers or both. Depending on the card you get, the APR offer might apply to just one of the two.
- Introductory offer period: Introductory APR offer periods with consumer credit cards typically vary from 12 to 20 months. The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card has a unique offer with a 0% intro APR for 18 months, which you may extend by up to 3 months by making on-time minimum payments.
- APR after the intro period: No matter whether you get a 0% APR card for purchases or balance transfers, you need to start paying interest toward any outstanding amount that remains at the end of the promotional period. This aspect requires your particular attention if you plan to carry forward balances from one month to the next in the future.
>>MORE: APR vs. APY
- Balance transfer fee: If you plan to use a card’s 0% APR offer on balance transfers, find out how much you’ll need to pay as balance transfer fees in advance. With the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card, you need to pay either $5 or 3% of the transferred amount (whichever is greater) on transfers you carry out within 60 days of account opening. Then, it changes to $5 or 5% of the transferred amount.
- Annual fees: None of the 0% interest credit cards we’ve selected come with annual fees.
- Rewards/cash back rate: While some 0% APR cards let you earn cash back, others offer reward points that you may redeem in different ways. In both cases, you may find alternatives that offer higher earn rates on category-based spending. For instance, the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express offers 3% cash back on groceries at U.S. supermarkets, on up to $6,000 in purchases per year; 2% cash back on gas purchases at U.S. gas stations, and at select department stores in the U.S.; and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Added perks: Since the 0% APR cards that MoneyGeek has selected come with no annual fees, they generally don’t offer premium benefits. However, some include valuable benefits, like no foreign transaction fees, fraud protection, basic insurance coverage and travel assistance services.
Other Cards to Consider
MoneyGeek’s Quick Guide to Understanding 0% APR Credit Cards
A 0% APR credit card is one that charges no interest on purchases, balance transfers or both for a predetermined time frame. More often than not, you need good to excellent credit to qualify. Low-interest credit cards, unlike 0% APR cards, come with low APRs that stay in place for as long as your account remains active. Some cards from both categories come with no preset spending limits. This means that your credit line fluctuates based on your purchase, payment and credit histories.
What’s the Difference Between a 0% Credit Card and a Low-Interest Card?
When you get a credit card with a 0% APR offer, you get to pay no interest for a given number of months, typically ranging from 12 to 20. Once the introductory period ends, any outstanding balance starts accruing interest. Depending on the card you get, the 0% APR offer might apply either on new purchases or balance transfers or even on both. You’ll find out the APR that will apply after the intro period once you get approved for your card, and it essentially depends on your creditworthiness.
The low APR of a low-interest credit card stays in effect as long as your account remains active. However, credit card interest rates are typically variable, which means it is subject to change based on federal prime interest rates. Even if your card’s low APR changes because of fluctuations in prime rates, you can still expect it to be toward the lower end of the spectrum.
With low-interest credit cards, the APR that applies to purchases might not be the same as the APR that applies to balance transfers. In addition, the APR on cash advances is typically high no matter which card you get.
If you take advantage of a 0% balance transfer offer, you must still pay off all of your purchases each month to avoid interest on those transactions. — Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com
How Do 0% APR Credit Cards Work?
0% APR cards work in the same basic manner as regular credit cards do, wherein you are required to make at least minimum monthly payments toward the amount you borrow. In addition, they charge no interest for a stipulated time frame. However, there’s more:
- Eligibility: Qualifying for the best 0% APR credit cards requires that you have good or excellent credit. If you don’t, you might consider applying after you’ve taken steps to build your credit.
- Not all transactions are covered: The interest-free period may only apply to purchases or balance transfers depending on your 0% promo offer. Make sure you understand the details of your offer before charging anything to your card. Cash advances start accruing interest from the day of the transaction, and these never come with interest-free days.
- Limits might apply: This might be the case with 0% balance transfer APR offers. For example, you might not be able to transfer more than a fixed percentage of your new card’s available credit limit.
- Outstanding balances will accrue interest: Once the promo period ends, any outstanding balance will start accruing interest. You get to know the APR that will apply well in advance.
- Your card provider might cancel the offer: It’s important that you keep making at least your minimum monthly payments on time. If you don't, your card provider might cancel the intro APR offer before it expires. A late or returned payment might also result in a penalty APR that is notably higher than your regular APR.
How to Take Advantage of Zero-Interest Credit Cards
A 0% APR card can help you avoid or minimize how much you pay in interest charges. If you have no outstanding balance at the end of the promo period, you pay no interest at all. Once the promo period ends, any outstanding balance starts accruing interest at the card’s regular APR. That is why you should try to pay off as much of the balance as possible before the intro 0% APR offer ends.
Consider the example below to see how much a balance transfer can save.
how much a balance transfer can save
How Much You Will Pay With Your Current Credit Card | How Much You Will Pay When You Transfer Your Balance |
---|---|
Current outstanding balance: $10,000 | Balance transfer amount: $10,000 Total savings: $1,851.16 |
Are 0% APR Credit Cards Worth It?
A 0% APR credit card can be worth it if you have a clear goal in mind. When appropriately used for a predetermined time, this type of card can provide the help you need to make a large purchase or to avoid paying interest on existing credit card debt. However, you need to determine if the benefits outweigh the possible drawbacks at the very onset.
Benefits & Risks
- The large purchase factor. If you plan to make a large purchase on credit and know that you will be able to repay the amount within a given time frame, a card with a 0% APR offer on purchases might work well for you. As long as you repay the amount during the promotional period, you’ll pay no interest.
- Balance transfers. If you have high-interest credit card debt, you may consider transferring it to a card that has a 0% APR offer on balance transfers. This way, you get a predetermined period to repay the amount without it accruing any interest. Since all your repayments go toward the principal and not interest, you get the opportunity to repay your debt faster.
- The 0% APR is not permanent. Depending on the card you get, the 0% APR offer might last for 12 to 20 months. Then, the regular APR kicks in and applies to any outstanding balance. The regular APR depends on your creditworthiness and does not have to be low. This requires being careful about carrying forward balances when the promo period ends.
- Balance transfer fees. It is common for cards with 0% APR offers on balance transfers to charge balance transfer fees. This is usually 3% or 5% of the transferred amount (minimum fees of $5 to $10 may apply).
- Penalty APR may apply. You might have to say goodbye to the 0% APR if you make a late or returned payment. In such a scenario, a high penalty APR might apply.
Expert Advice For Finding the Right Card
We’ve asked academic and financial experts a few questions, the answers to which can help you determine if you should consider getting a card that comes with a time-bound 0% APR offer.
- Could making a large purchase on a 0% APR card affect one’s credit score?
- Could you benefit from a 0% APR offer on balance transfers even if you don’t plan to pay off the entire balance during the promo period?
- Might it be worth transferring high-interest credit card debt to a 0% balance transfer APR card and then transferring the outstanding balance at the end of the promo period to another 0% balance transfer APR card?
FAQs About 0% APR Credit Cards
In this section, we provide answers to other commonly asked questions about 0% APR credit cards.
Now that you know how 0% APR cards work on new purchases and balance transfers, determine if getting one might work well for you. If you think it might, make sure you compare your alternatives across aspects such as promotional periods, fees and rewards.
Further Reading
About Rajiv Baniwal

sources
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "Credit card agreement database." Accessed October 11, 2022.
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