Best 0% APR Credit Cards in 2023

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.

• Best 0% APR Credit Cards
• Quick Tips for Comparing Zero Interest Credit Card Offers
• Quick Guide to Understanding 0% APR Credit Cards
• FAQs

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.