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Best low-interest credit cards for March 2024

Updated March 11, 2024

Paying your credit card bill in full each month will allow you to avoid interest entirely, but we know that's not always possible. If you sometimes carry a balance, a low-interest credit card can help you save money and pay down your balance more quickly. To see how much you can save with a low-interest credit card, use our credit card interest calculator. Then, check out our recommendations for the best low-interest credit cards from our partners.

Info
Best for long intro APR offers
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3
Info
Apply now Lock
on Wells Fargo's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
Info

0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening

Purchase intro APR

Regular APR

N/A

Intro offer

Info

N/A

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Best for cash back
Rating: 4.4 stars out of 5
4.4
Info
Apply now Lock
on Discover's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit

0% for 15 months

Purchase intro APR

Regular APR

Intro offer

Info

1% - 5%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Info
awards-badge
2024 Bankrate Awards Winner
BEST FOR FLEXIBILITY
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3
Info
Apply now Lock
on Bank of America's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
Info

0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Purchase intro APR

Regular APR

Intro offer

Info

1% - 3%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Info
BEST FOR BANK OF AMERICA CUSTOMERS
Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5
3.8
Info
Apply now Lock
on Bank of America's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
Info

0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases

Purchase intro APR

Regular APR

Intro offer

Info

1.5%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Info
awards-badge
2024 Bankrate Awards Winner
BEST FOR FAMILIES
Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6
Info
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
Info

0% on purchases for 15 months

Purchase intro APR

Regular APR

Intro offer

Info

1% - 3%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

BEST FOR FIRST-YEAR VALUE
Rating: 4.6 stars out of 5
4.6
Info
Apply now Lock
on Discover's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit

0% for 6 months

Purchase intro APR

Regular APR

Intro offer

Info

1% - 5%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Info
awards-badge
2024 Bankrate Awards Winner
BEST FOR LONG-TERM VALUE
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
5.0
Info
Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
Info

0% intro on purchases for 15 months

Purchase intro APR

Regular APR

Intro offer

Info

1% - 8%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Info
awards-badge
2024 Bankrate Awards Winner
Best for large purchases
Rating: 4.3 stars out of 5
4.3
Info
Apply now Lock
on Wells Fargo's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
Info

0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening

Purchase intro APR

Regular APR

Intro offer

Info

2%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Info
BEST FOR FLAT-RATE REWARDS
Rating: 3.8 stars out of 5
3.8
Info
Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
Info

0% intro on purchases for 15 months

Purchase intro APR

Regular APR

Intro offer

Info

1.5% - 5%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Info
Best for balance transfers
Rating: 4.1 stars out of 5
4.1
Info
Apply now Lock
on Citi's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
Info

0% for 12 months on Purchases

Purchase intro APR

Regular APR

N/A

Intro offer

Info

N/A

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Best for base rate
Rating: 5 stars out of 5
5.0
Info
Apply now Lock
on Chase's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit

0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months

Purchase intro APR

Regular APR

Intro offer

Info

1.5% - 5%

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Info
BEST FOR EVERYDAY SPENDING
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
4.0
Info
Apply now Lock
on Citi's secure site
Good to Excellent (670 – 850)
Info
Recommended Credit
Info

0% intro for 15 months on Purchases

Purchase intro APR

Regular APR

Intro offer

Info

1X - 5X

Rewards rate

Info

Annual fee

Compare Bankrate’s top low-interest credit cards

Card Name Variable APR Best for Bankrate review score
Intro Offer: N/A
Regular APR: 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR

Long intro APR offers

4.3 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Wells Fargo's secure site
Intro Offer: Cashback Match
Info
Regular APR: 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Cash back

4.4 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Discover's secure site
Intro Offer: $200
Info
Regular APR: 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Flexibility

4.3 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Bank of America's secure site
Intro Offer: $200
Info
Regular APR: 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Bank of America Customers

3.8 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Bank of America's secure site
Intro Offer: Earn $200
Info
Regular APR: 19.24% - 29.99% Variable

Families

4.6 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on American Express's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply
Intro Offer: Cashback Match
Info
Regular APR: 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
First-year value

4.6 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Discover's secure site
Intro Offer: $200
Info
Regular APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Long-term value

5.0 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site
Intro Offer: $200 cash rewards
Info
Regular APR: 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR

Large purchases

4.3 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Wells Fargo's secure site
Intro Offer: $200
Info
Regular APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Flat-rate rewards

3.8 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site
Intro Offer: N/A
Regular APR: 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable)

Balance transfers

4.1 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Citi's secure site
Intro Offer: Up to $300 cash back
Info
Regular APR: 20.49% - 29.24% Variable

Base rate

5.0 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Chase's secure site
Intro Offer: 20,000 points
Info
Regular APR: 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)

Everyday spending

4.0 / 5

Info
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock
on Citi's secure site
Image of Gold Visa® Card
Gold Visa® Card
Intro Offer: N/A
Regular APR: 17.99% Variable APR

Low ongoing APR

On This Page

A closer look at Bankrate’s top low-interest credit cards

Image of Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

Best for long intro APR offers

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It gives you a chance to pay off expenses or debt with one of the longest intro APR offers on the market, so it’s one of your best options if you need to minimize interest charges.

Anyone looking to finance a large purchase or refinance high-interest debt.

If you don't mind a brief intro APR period, the Chase Freedom Unlimited may be a better alternative — especially if you want to have the chance to earn rewards.

Image of Discover it® Cash Back

Discover it® Cash Back

Best for cash back

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This card’s rotating cash back categories offer terrific value and variety, and the first-year rewards from Discover’s Cashback Match™ can be a true windfall, especially if you maximize bonus categories.

Anyone who’s looking for a low-interest cash back card and is content with waiting for the new cardholder bonus.

If you want to earn cash back but don’t want to deal with the hassle of activating bonus categories every quarter, tracking spending restrictions, and modifying your spending patterns, the Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card may be a more straightforward option than the Discover it® Cash Back.

Image of Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

BEST FOR FLEXIBILITY

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It has a lot of flexibility for a low-interest card. Along with hard-to-find bonus categories like home improvement, the card's list of eligible categories covers everyday spending like gas and dining, giving it terrific short- and long-term value.

People who enjoy strategizing about where and when to buy to maximize their earnings each month

If you don't want to keep track of your spending each month to maximize rewards, consider a card with a higher base cash back rate like the Chase Freedom Unlimited card. It not only offers bonus rewards in popular everyday categories like dining, but also a flat 1.5 percent cash back rate for all general purchases.

Image of Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card

BEST FOR BANK OF AMERICA CUSTOMERS

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If you can take advantage of the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program, this could be one of the most rewarding low-interest cards on the market.

Bank of America customers who qualify for the Preferred Rewards Program and its best-in-class cash back rates.

If you don’t have substantial savings or investments in a qualifying Bank of America or Merrill account, you might want to consider a low-interest card with a higher cash back rate or multiple bonus categories. The Discover it® Cash Back card could be a great alternative thanks to its combination of solid intro APR offers and great mix of rotating categories.

Image of Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Best for families

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Most welcome offers provide three months to meet the spending requirement, but not this one. With the Blue Cash Everyday Card, you can earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 6 months.

People whose daily routines involve a lot of mealtimes and motoring around. This no-annual-fee card can help you earn considerable cash back at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, as well as U.S. online retail purchases.

If you don't plan to spend much on gas or groceries, a more flexible cash back card, such as the Discover it® Cash Back, for example, may be preferable.

Image of Discover it® Balance Transfer

Discover it® Balance Transfer

Best for first-year value

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It boasts a unique welcome offer that could carry a ton of value, especially if you’re looking to save on the cost of a balance transfer. It also charges limited fees and gives you a chance at a potentially low ongoing APR.

Anyone who wants to minimize interest charges without sacrificing long-term value.

If you're looking for a low-interest card with a simpler rewards structure, consider the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card, which offers unlimited 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases.

Read our full Discover it® Balance Transfer review or jump back to offer details.

Image of Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Best for long-term value

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It offers a terrific mix of everyday rewards categories, making it one of your best bets for ongoing value after you take advantage of the welcome offer and intro APR offers. 

Anyone looking to chip away at debt or finance new purchases without sacrificing everyday rewards.

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express carries a potentially low ongoing APR, a solid welcome offer and an impressive rewards rate at U.S. online retailers, U.S. gas stations and U.S. supermarkets. The online retailer category is especially unique and could hold a ton of value for some shoppers.

Image of Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Best for large purchases

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Along with this card’s terrific, low-maintenance flat cash rewards rate, you can take advantage of a solid intro APR offer on both purchases and qualifying balance transfers.

People who want to earn rewards on everyday spending while chipping away at outstanding balances

If you don't mind keeping track of rotating bonus categories, the Discover it® Cash Back card could be a good alternative since it offers an intro APR for balance transfers and purchases, a chance at a low ongoing APR and a mix of practical and popular spending categories.

Read our full Wells Fargo Active Cash review or jump back to offer details.

Image of Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

BEST FOR FLAT-RATE REWARDS

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This card is fairly well-rounded, with decent flat-rate rewards, a reasonable regular variable APR range and few fees. If you want a no-fuss card that earns steady cash back rewards on everyday purchases, the Quicksilver Cash Rewards is a notable consideration for your wallet.

Consumers who want to earn solid flat-rate rewards on all purchases and have multiple options to redeem earnings.

The Chase Freedom Flex Card is an excellent pick if you prefer to strategize and earn even more cash back by tracking and managing bonus categories.

Image of Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Best for balance transfers

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It has one of the longest intro APR offers available for balance transfers made in the first 60 days, making it a great option if you’re looking to maximize your breathing room as you pay down debt.

People who are focused on paying off credit card debt can benefit most from this card despite the fact that it has no rewards or welcome offer. While this limits the card’s long-term value, its long intro APR offer can help you pay off debt with minimal extra costs.

If you want a low-interest balance transfer card that also offers rewards, consider the Discover it® Balance Transfer, which not only carries an intro APR on balance transfers, but also comes with bonus cash back in a mix of rotating categories.

Image of Citi Rewards+® Card

Citi Rewards+® Card

Best for everyday spending

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The combination of the intro APR offer on both purchases and balance transfers with its rewards program makes the Citi Rewards+ Card a solid option for frugal shoppers. Also, the Citi Rewards+ is the only card that automatically rounds your points up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase with no cap.

People who want a low-interest card that also earns rewards on everyday spending.

If you would rather have a card with a higher rewards rate on grocery store purchases, the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express — which earns 3 percent on U.S. supermarkets purchases (on up to $6,000 in expenditures each year, followed by 1%) would be the most ideal alternative.

Image of BankAmericard® credit card

BankAmericard® credit card

BEST PURCHASE INTRO APR OFFER

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It carries a potentially low ongoing APR and one of the longest introductory APR periods on the market especially for purchases, making it a great first option if you’re looking to save on interest. 

*The information about the BankAmericard® credit card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Anyone looking to pay off debt or finance new purchases, though it makes the most sense if you’d rather have a long intro APR than ongoing rewards.

The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card also boasts a very long intro APR period on both purchases and qualifying balance transfers, and it may make more sense if you’d like to switch to one of that issuer’s rewards cards in the future.

Image of Gold Visa® Card

Gold Visa® Card

Best for low ongoing APR

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You’ll enjoy one of the lowest ongoing variable APRs on the market. That makes this card one of your best bets if you think you’ll need to carry a balance long term.

People looking for both a decent intro APR period on balance transfers and a low ongoing APR after that.

This card is a great option if you need to carry a balance long term and want to keep interest charges low, but if a long intro APR period or rewards are more important to you, consider the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card. It comes with a long intro APR offer, a low balance transfer fee and a decent flat cash back rate on all purchases.

Read our full Gold Visa Card review.

What’s a low-interest credit card?

A low-interest credit card is defined by its APR (annual percentage rate), which can be either variable or fixed. If the low end of the variable percentage is around 18 percent, it generally qualifies as a low-interest card. Most credit cards are variable-rate credit cards, meaning their APRs fluctuate alongside the prime rate.

Paying your balance on time and in full every month is the surest way to avoid interest altogether, and this method is what we recommend first. Alternatively, a low-interest card could help you pay less interest if you carry a balance.

Understanding your card’s interest rate

Although annual percentage rates are expressed on a yearly basis, your lender will charge you each month you carry a credit card balance. It can appear fairly straightforward at first glance, but understanding how that percentage applies to your current balance requires some calculations. For example, if your average daily balance for the billing cycle was $500 and your card’s APR is 15 percent, you’ll find that you owe $6.25 in interest for the month. The formulas are as follows:

Credit card APR ÷ 365 days = Daily periodic rate

(Previous cycle’s unpaid balance + Total purchases) ÷ Number of days in billing cycle = Average daily balance
Daily periodic rate x Average daily balance x Number of days in billing cycle = Total interest charge for the month

Credit card APR Daily periodic rate Average daily balance Total interest charge for the month
15% 0.041% $500 $6.16

How much could you save with a low-interest card?

Few people actually know the APR on their credit cards. In fact, one Bankrate survey found that 49 percent of cardholders were “debt revolvers” in 2023. As credit card APRs steadily climb, intentionally picking a card with a below-average interest rate could give your wallet a bit of a break. 

Current credit card interest rates

Unlike a card with a zero percent intro APR offer, you won’t completely skip interest if you carry a balance on a low-interest card. However, you could still save more than you would with a card that has a high interest rate. Here’s an example of how much interest you’d pay on a card with an 18 percent interest rate versus a balance on a card with an interest rate at the current average of around 20 percent.

Credit card APR
Daily periodic rate
Average daily balance
Total interest charge for the month
18% 0.049% $500 $7.39
20% 0.054% $500 $8.22

Pros and cons of low-interest credit cards

Pros

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    You’ll save on interest: Lower-than-average interest rates mean that if you carry a credit card balance, you won’t incur as much in interest charges.

  • Checkmark

    You can save on existing credit card debt: By completing a balance transfer to a low-interest credit card, you can save yourself a lot on interest payments and consolidate high-interest credit card debt, making your debt payoff journey simpler.

  • Checkmark

    Ideal for large purchases: If you plan to make a large purchase but may need some time to pay it off, a low-interest credit card can be a helpful tool to reduce hefty interest charges.

Cons

  • Few rewards: Low-interest cards typically come with limited rewards programs. If you want a card that helps you accumulate high amounts of points, miles or cash back, you’ll likely have to pay a little extra.

  • Credit requirements: You typically need good or excellent credit to qualify for low interest rates. If you’re not at the good-to-excellent level yet, you should improve your credit score before applying for the best approval odds.

  • Limited long-term value: While low-interest credit cards can be quite helpful, their lack of premium perks and benefits hinder their usefulness, especially for people who pay off their balances regularly.

Still unsure if a low-interest credit card is right for you? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool, where you can get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.

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Bankrate Insight

According to one Bankrate survey, about 93 percent of economists say the Federal Reserve, the entity that sets the prime rate, will likely follow through with cutting interest rates in 2024. However, the rates may remain at record highs for a bit longer as experts are split on whether the cuts will come in the first or second half of the year, making low-interest cards an even more attractive tool to have in the meantime. 

Expert advice for low-interest cards

Here’s how one Bankrate expert uses his low-interest credit card

Bankrate editor Garrett Yarbrough wants people to understand the advantages of having a low-interest credit card, even after it stops being your go-to card:

“Even though I now use rewards cards for my everyday spending, I still make sure my old credit union card is always in my wallet. It doesn’t earn rewards or carry any perks worth mentioning, but its greatest strength is one of the main reasons to have a credit union card: the interest rate is far less than the typical APR on a card from a major issuer. In fact, my credit union card’s current purchase APR is 12.75 percent variable — much less than the current average interest rate and even the 17 percent to 19 percent minimum APR you see on popular cards nowadays.

I still try to avoid carrying a balance since I don’t want to owe interest or hurt my credit score. But my credit union card has definitely saved me money in a pinch before, like on college textbooks while between paychecks and on hefty moving expenses when I needed to stay liquid for a month or two. Since there’s no annual fee and it was my first credit card, keeping it around only gives me extra options and helps my credit score."

— Garrett Yarbrough, Writer, Credit Cards

In the news: Experts still foresee a possible recession in the near future

After a year of record-high inflation, the Fed is preparing to cut interest rates within the next year as unemployment falls. However, economists are still wary of the possibility of a recession later this year. Although our survey found the odds of a recession have fallen from 64 percent in Q1 2023 to 45 percent in Q4 2023, many experts say we should still proceed with caution. 

By having a low-interest credit card, you guard yourself against a higher-than-necessary interest rate. You may also be able to get a lower-than-average interest rate as the Fed begins implementing rate cuts.

How we assess the best low-interest credit cards

Document
100+
card ratings
Credit Card Apr
400+
APRs tracked
Search
3000
data points analyzed
Credit Card Reviews
40+
perks evaluated

When evaluating the best balance transfer and low-interest cards, we consider a mix of factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether cards offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders. 

This includes users who need to carry a balance long term, need as much time as possible to chip away at debt or are looking for maximum long-term value via rewards.

We analyzed over 100 of the most popular balance transfer and low-interest cards and scored each based on its introductory APR, intro APR period length, ongoing APR, balance transfer fee, perks and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup.

Here are some of the key factors that we considered:

Frequently asked questions about low-interest credit cards

Ask the experts: Is it possible to get a card with a low interest rate if you have bad credit?


Contributor, Credit Cards

There is a strong correlation between the interest rate you are eligible for and your credit score. The higher your credit score is, the better the rate issuers offer you might be. Even if your credit score is poor, however, you won't be charged any interest if you keep the balance to zero. Most cards will give you a 25 to 30 day grace period. It won’t matter how high your interest rate is, issuers won’t charge finance fees as long as you pay your bill in full before or by the due date. The more you do that, your credit score should rise, so if and when you want a new credit card with a low APR, you will be in a better position to qualify.

Financial Educator, Debt and Credit

The average credit card rate is now well above 20 percent. For consumers with blemished credit history, the rates are typically closer to 30 percent due to the increased risk for the issuer. Consumers with bad credit will find it difficult to qualify for any unsecured credit card and may have to start with a secured credit card to help build or rebuild positive credit history. Consumers with bad credit who apply for an unsecured credit card will typically only be approved for sub-prime cards with a low credit limit and high interest rate. These cards may also carry high fees. Bad credit users should take special care not to carry a balance on the card or use more than one-third of the credit limit at any one time.

Contributor, Personal Finance

If you have bad credit, your options for cards might be limited, and your focus should be doing what you can to get your credit score up. Shop around for the lowest rate you can find. No matter what the interest rate is on the card you do get, the best thing to aim for is to not put more on your card than what you can comfortably pay off every month by your due date. It doesn’t matter what the interest rate is if you aren’t carrying a balance. Frequent on-time payments will help you build your score up to land a lower rate card.