Best 0% interest credit cards: 0% intro APR period until 2023

Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Please visit AmericanExpress.com/BenefitsGuide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Compare Bankrate’s top 0% intro APR credit cards

A closer look at our top 0% intro APR credit cards

Wells Fargo Reflect Card: Best for longest intro APR

• What we love about the Wells Fargo Reflect Card: If you can meet the terms of the offer by transferring a qualified balance within 120 days and making on-time minimum monthly payments, you’ll qualify for one of the longest promotional interest offers on the market.
• Who this card is good for: Anyone who wants the maximum amount of time to pay off an existing credit card balance or large purchase.
• Alternatives: Yes, if you need a lot of time to pay off debt or a large purchase, this card is a top pick for that priority. If you don’t need the extra time and want a card with longer-term value, consider a card that offers promotional interest and base rewards such as the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.

Learn more: Wells Fargo Reflect benefits guide.
Read our full Wells Fargo Reflect Card review or jump back to offer details.

U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card: Best for long 0% intro APR offer

• Why we love U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card: Cardholders who pay their cell phone bill with this card are automatically eligible for cell phone protection, which protects against damage or theft up to $600 (with a $25 deductible).
• Who this card is good for: Someone who wants one of the longest windows to avoid interest. 0 percent intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 20 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR of 15.24% – 25.24% applies.
• Alternatives: If your goal is to obtain one of the longer intro APR periods on the market, this card is perfect. However, if you want to earn rewards and access higher long-term value, you’ll do better with a different card like the Discover it Balance Transfer card.

Learn more: U.S. Bank Visa Platinum benefits guide.
Read our U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card review or jump back to offer details.

Discover it Cash Back: Best for rotating category cash back

• What we love about Discover it Cash Back: As a welcome offer, Discover will match the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year with the card through Discover Cashback Match.
• Who this card is good for: People who are open to a compromise between cash back earnings and the length of the introductory APR offers.
• Alternatives: This card is among the highest-rated cards available from Bankrate’s credit card partners. However, if you want a rewards program that doesn’t need as much attention, the Wells Fargo Active Card has one of the highest flat-rate rewards rates on the market at 2 percent cash rewards.

Learn more: Is the Discover It Cash Back card worth it?
Read our full Discover it Cash Back review or jump back to offer details.

Citi Custom Cash Card: Best for automatic bonus category

• What we love about the Citi Custom Cash Card: The automatic bonus category adjusts to your top eligible spending category each billing cycle, not the other way around. It’s an interesting, low-maintenance approach to bonus cash back.
• Who this card is good for: People who want to earn generous cash back rates without having to enroll in bonus categories or plan out a spending strategy in advance.
• Alternatives: The cash back program outshines the introductory APR offers, so if you’re mainly interested in getting the longest introductory APR offers possible, the Wells Fargo Reflect Card is a better fit.

Learn more: Citi Custom Cash vs. Citi Diamond Preferred.
Read our full Citi Custom Cash Card review or jump back to offer details.

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for dining and entertainment

• Why we love the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: While a lot of other cards offer rewards on dining, the SavorOne also includes entertainment in its 3 percent cash rewards category.
• Who this card is good for: Devotees of food and fun who want to capitalize on generous cash rewards and a lengthy introductory APR offer for purchases and balance transfers.
• Alternatives: This no-annual-fee card has a lot to offer for people who want cash rewards tailored to their enjoyment of simple pleasures like meals, movies and music but has a pretty high ongoing interest rate. The Discover it Cash Back has a lower APR rate and still gives you 5 percent on popular categories with activation on rotating categories each quarter (up to $1,500 in purchases, then 1 percent).

Learn more: How to use the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards card sign-up bonus.
Read our full Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to offer details.

Chase Freedom Unlimited: Best for rewards

• What we love about the Chase Freedom Unlimited: Benefits that come along with this card include trip cancellation/interruption insurance and extended warranty coverage.
• Who this card is good for: Fans of Chase cards who also potentially hold a premium Ultimate Rewards card to combine and boost rewards.
• Alternatives: The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a rewards card that covers a range of cash back categories from restaurant purchases to travel to drug store purchases but the low rates on travel outside the Chase Unlimited Rewards portal hinder the cash back opportunities. The Citi Custom Cash Card could be better for you as it automatically rewards 5 percent to your highest eligible spending category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent, 1 percent cash back thereafter).

Learn more: What’s to love about the Chase Freedom Unlimited card.
Read our full Chase Freedom Unlimited review or jump back to offer details.

Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express: Best for cash back on everyday purchases

• What we love about the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express: The American Express brand is often associated with luxury travel and business, but the Blue Cash Everyday is a no annual fee card that rewards family-friendly purchases.
• Who this card is good for: Heads of households who spend a lot of money keeping the pantry stocked, the gas tank full and the kids outfitted, but are also in the market for an introductory APR offer.
• Alternatives: The rewards rates, the introductory APR offer and the lack of an annual fee make this card a worthy candidate to add to your financial family. However, if you want something that rewards you at a higher rate for similar types of spending, the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express can really boost your rewards game.

Learn more: Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express benefits guide.
Read our full Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express review or jump back to offer details.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for 1.5% cash back

• What we love about the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: You’ll earn a $200 sign-up bonus after spending just $500 within the first 3 months of opening your account—a good proportional relationship between the bonus and how much you have to spend to earn it.
• This card is good for: People wanting a simple way to earn unlimited cash back while they enjoy a temporary break from interest with an introductory APR offer on purchases.
• Alternatives: Even without the introductory offer, the Quicksilver is among Bankrate’s highest-rated cash back cards. The chance to temporarily avoid interest on new purchases is icing on the cake. However, there are cards with longer intro APR terms and an introductory bonus offer to keep an eye out for like the Chase Freedom Unlimited.

Learn more: What’s to love about the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards card.
Read our full Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to offer details.

Citi Diamond Preferred Card: Best for excellent credit

• What we love about the Citi Diamond Preferred Card: The 0 percent introductory APR on balance transfers completed within the first four months of account opening for 21 months (then 14.49 to 24.49 percent variable APR) is one of the longest currently on the market.
• Who this card is good for: Anyone who values function over flash. This card’s main selling point is the length of the introductory offers.
• Alternatives: This card doesn’t have a rewards program, but it can help you temporarily avoid credit card interest with the intro APR offers. However, if you want to avoid interest for both intro purchases and balance transfers for a lengthy period, the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card could be worth looking into.

Learn more: Is the Citi Diamond Preferred card worth it?
Read our full Citi Diamond Preferred Card review jump back to offer details.

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card: Best for 2% cash rewards

• What we love about the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card: Very few rewards cards earn unlimited cash rewards on purchases at this rate, making the Active Cash unique in this sense.
• Who this card is good for: People who want a card that earns unlimited cash rewards at an outstanding rate.
• Alternatives: This card charges a 3 percent foreign transaction fee, which can chip away at its overall value and usefulness for frequent travelers. If you travel a lot and don’t mind a slightly lower rewards rate, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards card will probably be better long term.

Learn more: Wells Fargo Active Cash Card benefits guide.
Read our full Wells Fargo Active Cash Card review or jump back to offer details.

Citi Simplicity Card: Best for no late fee

• What we love about the Citi Simplicity Card: The promotional APR on balance transfers (0 percent intro interest for 21 months, then 15.49 to 25.49 percent variable APR, if you transfer the balance within four months of account opening) is one of the longest on the market.
• Who this card is good for: Someone who wants to transfer a balance to a card with a lengthy promotional APR that also offers a break from late fees and annual fees.
• Alternatives: This card is worth it so long as you meet the terms. You’ll get an extra-long promotional APR on balance transfers, and the card also offers a long-ish promotional APR on purchases. Since it doesn’t have a rewards program, your best bet for long-term value is probably the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express. With cash back categories being 3 percent at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1 percent), it holds good long-term value.

Read our full Citi Simplicity Card review or jump back to offer details.

Discover it Balance Transfer: Best balance transfer card with rewards

• What we love about the Discover it Balance Transfer: You’ll be able to reap the benefits of both a lengthy intro APR on purchases and balance transfers alongside earning a decent rewards rate, which is a bit rare for balance transfer cards.
• Who this card is good for: Anyone scouting out a card that will hold up long-term value, even after the intro APR offers have ended.
• Alternatives: Discover’s Cashback Match program, which matches all of the cash back you earn at the end of your first year, makes this card worthwhile on its own. Still, the value drops after the first year. For ongoing value, a card similar to the Citi Custom Cash would be better.

Learn more: Is the Discover it Balance Transfer card worth it?
Read our full Discover it Balance Transfer review or jump back to offer details.

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express: Best for families

• What we love about the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express: The rewards program is truly best-in-class, offering an industry-leading 6 percent cash back on U.S. supermarket purchases (up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1 percent).
• Who this card is good for: Families who need some time to pay off a large purchase but want to ultimately earn rewards with their credit card.
• Alternatives: This card’s rewards program is top-notch so long as you can pay off your purchase each billing cycle. However, this card comes with no intro balance transfer offer and an annual fee of $95 after the first year ($0 introductory annual fee for the first year). If your main focus is a balance transfer, the Discover it Balance Transfer card has an introductory period of 18 months as well as rewards.

Learn more: How to maximize the Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express.
Read our full Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express review or jump back to offer details.

What is a 0% intro APR credit card?

They go by different names—0 percent APR credit cards, zero-interest credit cards, introductory APR credit cards—but they all have the same purpose: a 0% intro APR is a temporary break from interest charges as you steadily pay off large credit card purchases or balance transfers.

Interest is essentially the cost of borrowing money; it doesn’t take effect if you keep your balance paid off in full every month, but a balance that remains unpaid past the grace period of a billing cycle will accrue interest in accordance with your annual percentage rate (APR). Even worse, a penalty APR could apply if you have a late payment more than 60 days overdue. Your APR for purchases may differ from your APR for balance transfers, but the lower the APR, the better.

The good news is that you could use a 0 percent intro APR credit card to temporarily avoid the cost of interest charges during the introductory period before the regular rate takes effect. A 0 percent intro offer may apply to new purchases, balance transfers or both.

Want to learn more? Read our full guide on how credit card interest works.

How do 0% intro APR offers work

When you open an account with a credit card issuer, they may offer you an 0 percent introductory (APR) period or no-interest financing on purchases made during that time frame. Credit card companies will often offer this type of promotion for up to 18 months, although it can sometimes be shorter than that.

While there are usually no upfront fees or penalties associated with this type of promotion, be aware that it won’t last forever. When your 0 percent intro APR offer ends, any balance that remains will start accruing interest at its regular rate—which can be anywhere between 12 percent and 25 percent or more annually—plus any other applicable fees or charges (such as late payments).

If you’re planning for a home renovation, medical expense or another large purchase that’ll require some time to pay off, a card with a 0 percent introductory offer can reduce some of the financial strain. The current average interest rate on a credit card is around 16 percent. A card with a 0 percent introductory APR period helps reduce your immediate financial burden and gives you time to pay for your purchases without any interest. Consider the following example, here our cardholder makes a $3,000 purchase:

APR terms you should know

APR—or annual percentage rate—is the interest rate a cardholder is charged if their credit card balance isn’t paid in full at the end of each billing cycle. Understanding your credit card APR isn’t always straightforward. There are actually different annual percentage rates on your credit card for different transactions like balance transfers or cash advances. If you want to quickly and easily calculate your credit card interest rate, get to know these terms:

• Introductory APR: The “introductory” in introductory APR means that the 0 percent APR offer lasts for a certain period of time. The best introductory APR cards give cardholders 18 to 21 months of interest-free credit card payments, after which cardholders are responsible for making interest payments if they carry a balance at the end of each billing cycle.
• Purchase APR: 0 percent purchase APR on credit cards usually refers to interest that would have been applied to purchases made on the card. This means you won’t pay interest on balances you carry on the card as a result of making purchases for a specific time period.
• Balance transfer APR: When you transfer the balance from an existing credit card account to a new credit card, you’re completing a balance transfer. The amount is charged 0 percent interest until the balance transfer period is over.
• Cash advance APR: If a cardholder pulls cash from their credit card at an ATM, this is considered a cash advance. Cardholders will almost always be charged interest—and this interest rate is usually significantly higher than the standard APR.
• Ongoing APR: Your ongoing APR is the interest rate charged after the introductory period ends.
• Variable APR: Most credit cards today have a variable APR that can (and usually will) change over time. Your variable APR is a margin determined by your credit score and a base rate.

Pros and cons of 0% intro APR credit cards

Whether you use it for purchases or balance transfers, even the best 0 percent intro APR credit card isn’t a quick fix. You’ll still need to hold up your end of the bargain by making regular monthly payments and erasing the debt before the intro offer expires, to reap the full benefits.

Want to learn more? Read our full guide on pros and cons of zero percent APR credit cards.

Who should get a 0% intro APR credit card?

Generally, if you’re avoiding credit card interest, applying for one of the best 0 percent intro APR cards makes sense. Consider one of these cards if you find yourself in the following situations.

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  The large expense planner

  Maybe you need to replace your broken washing machine and dryer or an old personal computer that’s undergone one too many software updates. It could be an upcoming medical procedure not fully covered by health insurance. In all scenarios, you’ll buy yourself some time to pay off those purchases and save on interest charges during the introductory period with a 0 percent intro APR card.

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  The debt manager

  Do you want to transfer a balance from a high-interest credit account? Alternately, you might be looking for a break from high APR on a credit card balance or loan. In either case, a credit card offering zero interest on balance transfers can save you money. Just be sure to account for any applicable balance transfer fees.

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  The credit card newbie

  If you want the benefits of a credit card, but you’re still learning how to best leverage one, a 0 percent APR card provides a buffer as you get up to speed. Within the introductory APR period, you’ll have some leeway, and you may be able to skip interest charges altogether if you don’t stay on budget in a given billing cycle. (Note: If you tend to carry a balance, consider a low-interest credit card.)

Still unsure if a zero-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.

How to choose the best 0% intro APR credit card

Consider the following when choosing a credit card with a 0 percent introductory APR offer:

• What’s your goal? Are you looking to make a large purchase and want to use your 0 percent APR card to pay for it interest-free over time? Then consider a card with a long introductory APR period. If you’re looking to pay down existing credit card debt and complete a balance transfer, then you might consider a card with no balance transfer fee. Whatever your goals are, keep them top of mind when deciding between 0 percent APR cards.
• How much time will you need? A 0 percent APR card offers a temporary interest-free option for credit cards. Knowing what you can afford to pay back before the 0 percent APR period ends is important because not all intro offers provide the same length of time. The best 0 percent APR cards typically offer cardholders between 18 and 21 months. Plus, it’s important to make sure your balance is as close to zero as possible when the intro period ends, as any existing balance at the end of your 0% intro period will be subject to interest charges, even if you made the purchases before the intro period ended.
• Are you looking for long-term value? While it’s important to find a card with an affordable introductory rate and no annual fee, it’s also important to look at how much value you can get out of your cash back, points or miles once your 0 percent introductory period has ended. If your goal is just to pay down your debt without earning rewards, then choosing any zero-interest credit card will do just fine; however, if you want both a 0 percent introductory rate and rewards that are worth collecting over time, then it pays to do some research before applying for any new cards.

Want to learn more? Read our full guide on how choose a 0% APR credit card.

What happens when the 0% intro APR ends?

Though 0 percent intro APR offers are a great perk, there is a time limit on this benefit. When you are approved for a credit card, both your credit limit and ongoing interest rate are set by the issuer. The issuer considers your credit score, payment history, number of open credit accounts and other information about your personal credit use—so the higher your credit score and the lower your credit usage, the lower your interest rate.

When your 0 percent intro APR offer ends, the card’s regular interest rate will apply to any future balance you carry month to month. For example, if your intro APR period is over and you still have a balance of $200 on your card, your next credit card statement will show that you owe $200 plus any additional charges from the interest you’ve accrued.

You can find your credit card’s ongoing APR in the fine print so you know how much interest is charged after the intro period ends. To avoid interest charges completely after your intro APR period ends, pay off your balance in full before your next statement closing date each month.

More information on 0% intro APR credit cards

If you’re looking for more information on how 0% APR credit cards can help you reach your financial goals, check out some of our top resource articles:

• • • Why do issuers increase credit card interest rates?
    • Here’s what happens after a balance transfer.
    • What is deferred interest?

Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.