Editorial disclosure: All reviews are prepared by Bankrate.com staff. Opinions expressed therein are solely those of the reviewer and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, presented in the review is accurate as of the date of the review. Check the data at the top of this page and the bank’s website for the most current information.
Some of the offers on this page may have expired.
This page includes information about the Discover it® Balance Transfer product which is no longer offered by Discover.
The information about the Citi Simplicity® Card, Wells Fargo Platinum Card, Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
Your guide to choosing and using the best 0% intro APR credit card
Credit cards with 0% introductory APR offers can help you temporarily avoid paying interest on purchases and balance transfers for anywhere from several months to a year or more.
As of November 11, Bankrate estimates the three-month trend for variable credit card interest rates at 16.02 percent. If you’ve ever carried a balance on your credit card, you know how much APR can cost. One possible remedy is a credit card with a 0% intro APR offer.
Below you’ll find more information about limited-time, interest-free credit card offers and how to use them for making a large purchase or transferring a balance while getting a temporary reprieve from interest charges. Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about the best introductory zero-interest cards with the best offers.
Compare Bankrate’s top 0% intro APR credit cards
| Card |
Purchase offer |
Balance transfer offer |
Regular APR (Variable) |
Bankrate Review Score |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited® |
15 months |
N/A |
14.99% – 23.74% |
4.6 / 5
(Read full card review) |
| Discover it® Cash Back |
14 months |
14 months |
11.99% – 22.99% |
4.7 / 5
(Read full card review) |
| Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card |
15 months |
N/A |
15.49% – 25.49% |
4.7 / 5
(Read full card review) |
| Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card |
18 months |
18 months |
14.74% – 24.74% |
4.1 / 5
(Read full card review) |
| Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express |
0% intro APR for 15 months |
N/A |
13.99% – 23.99% |
4.5 / 5
(Read full card review) |
| Alliant Visa® Platinum Rewards Credit Card |
0% – 5.99% APR for 12 months |
0% APR for 12 months |
13.24% – 23.24% variable |
N/A |
| Citi® Double Cash Card |
N/A |
18 months |
13.99% – 23.99% variable |
4.7 / 5
(Read full card review) |
| Citi Rewards+℠ Card |
15 months |
15 months |
13.49% – 23.49% |
4.6 / 5
(Read full card review) |
| Alliant Visa® Platinum Credit Card |
0% APR for 12 months |
0% APR for 12 months |
10.24%–22.24% variable |
N/A |
| Chase Freedom Flex℠ |
15 billing cycles |
N/A |
14.99% – 23.74% |
4.5 / 5
(Read full card review) |
| Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card |
15 months |
N/A |
15.49% – 25.49% |
4.6 / 5
(Read full card review) |
| American Express Cash Magnet® Card |
0% intro APR for 15 months |
N/A |
13.99%-23.99% |
4.4 / 5
(Read full card review) |
| Citi Simplicity® Card |
18 months |
18 months |
14.74% – 24.74% |
4.4 / 5
(Read full card review) |
| Wells Fargo Platinum card |
18 months |
18 months (on qualifying) |
15.49% – 24.99% |
4.1 / 5
(Read full card review) |
| Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® card |
15 months |
15 months (on qualifying) |
13.99%-25.99% variable |
4.5 / 5
(Read full card review) |
| Discover it® Balance Transfer |
see terms |
see terms |
see terms |
4.6 / 5
(Read full card review) |
A closer look at our top zero APR credit cards
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best for 0% APR period and unlimited cash back
This card currently offers a 15-month introductory period for new purchases (then 15.49% – 25.49% variable APR thereafter). Plus, you’ll earn 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases and a $200 bonus after spending $500 within the first 3 months of account opening. If you’re looking for a simple way to earn cash back while you save on interest with an introductory APR offer, you’ve found the right card.
How to maximize this card’s long-term value
Make the Quicksilver your go-to purchase method to keep earning a steady 1.5 percent cash back and keep enjoying the lack of annual fees and foreign transaction fees. You can also take advantage of the Extended Warranty, Travel Accident Insurance and other perks.
Read our Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card Review.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Best for overall versatility
The 15-month introductory period on new purchases (14.99% – 23.74% variable APR thereafter) is solid. Plus, you’ll earn 5 percent on travel purchased through Chase, 3 percent at restaurants and drugstores and 1.5 percent on all other purchases. The higher cash back categories make this much more than a typical 0% intro APR credit card.
How to maximize this card’s long-term value
You’ll need to make travel purchases through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal to earn the 5 percent cash back rate in the travel category. Don’t forget that you can also earn 5 percent cash back on Lyft purchases through March 2022.
Read our Chase Freedom Unlimited® Review.
Discover it® Cash Back
Best for rotating category cash back
You’ll get a 14-month 0% APR introductory period for purchases and balance transfers before 11.99% – 22.99% variable APR takes effect. However, this card’s standout feature is earning 5 percent cash back in rotating categories on up to $1,500 per quarter, then 1 percent (activation required). In addition, Discover will match the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year owning the card.
How to maximize this card’s long-term value
The introductory APR offers aren’t as long as other top cards in this category, but the long-term value of the Cashback Bonus Program helps compensate. This card offers a good match for those who can align their shopping habits with the card’s rotating categories (and remember to activate each quarter, which is crucial.)
Read our Discover it® Cash Back Review.
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
Best for excellent credit
With an outstanding 18-month 0% APR introductory period on balance transfers (14.74% – 24.74% variable APR after the intro offer), the Citi Diamond Preferred is one of the industry’s best options for paying off transferred debt. The combination of the 0% intro offer and the competitive regular APR makes this card an intriguing choice if you want to maintain your excellent credit score while reducing your exposure to high interest charges.
How to maximize this card’s long-term value
The card has no rewards program, but if you’re looking to avoid interest on a big purchase or a balance transfer, rewards are probably not your top priority. Still, the regular variable APR could help excellent-credit consumers save money on interest if they keep the card after they’ve taken advantage of the 0% intro offer.
Read our Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card Review.
Alliant Visa® Platinum Rewards Credit Card
Best credit union card for 0% intro APR
The Alliant Visa Platinum Rewards card could provide some temporary relief from interest on both purchases and balance transfers. The twin offers last 12 months, with introductory APR ranging from 0% – 5.99% depending on your creditworthiness and regular variable APR of 13.24% – 23.24% after.
How to maximize this card’s long-term value
Under Alliant’s Points Program, this card earns two reward points for every dollar spent. The rewards rate has the potential to help you rack up a considerable amount of points, which you can redeem for cash back, travel, merchandise, charitable contributions and more.
Review for Alliant Visa® Platinum Rewards Credit Card coming soon.
Alliant Visa® Platinum Credit Card
Best for low balance transfer fee
The Alliant Visa Platinum Credit Card has a balance transfer fee that beats the industry standard. Instead of charging 3 percent of the amount transferred, this card charges 2 percent or $5, whichever is greater. With one large balance transfer or multiple transfers, the low fee could save you a tidy sum.
How to maximize this card’s long-term value
With no rewards program, your best bet for long-term value could come from the checking account benefits that helped Alliant earn Bankrate’s best credit union of 2020 title.
Review for Alliant Visa® Platinum Rewards Credit Card coming soon.
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best for dining and entertainment
If you have a taste for food and fun but the thought of paying high credit card APR gives you heartburn, consider the Capital One SavorOne. The card has an intro offer for purchases: 15 months at 0% APR, followed by 15.49% – 25.49% variable. As a cash back card, it also earns unlimited rewards in the categories of dining and entertainment (3 percent) and grocery stores (2 percent).
How to maximize this card’s long-term value
If you get this card for the 0% intro offer on purchases for 15 months (15.49% – 25.49% variable thereafter), you just might decide to keep it for the rewards program and the lack of an annual fee. The SavorOne has a lot to offer for consumers who make simple pleasures like meals, movies and music a central part of their daily life.
Read our Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Review.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Best for everyday cash back
The 15-month 0% introductory APR on purchases is a great perk, but that’s not all the card offers (13.99% – 23.99% variable APR thereafter). The Blue Cash Back Everyday® Card provides a generous cash back program that allows you to earn rewards with the purchases you make every day, like gas and groceries. To make it even better, the cash back you earn won’t expire for the length of the account, so the rewards that you earn will always be yours.
How to maximize this card’s long-term value
If you decide on this card for the lengthy introductory APR offer, you’ll want to stick around for the rewards program. This card offers considerable benefits to those who spend a lot on items such as groceries, gas and clothing. Spending $6,000 per year in the U.S. supermarkets category alone punches your ticket for $180 in cash back, and the cash back earnings in the other categories are unlimited.
Read our Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express Review.
American Express Cash Magnet® Card
Best for payment flexibility
If you’re planning a big purchase but wondering about the best way to pay for it, the American Express Cash Magnet offers some intriguing options. You can avoid credit card APR for 15 months thanks to the introductory 0% offer on purchases, paying 13.99% – 23.99% variable after the intro period expires. Also, you can take advantage of the Plan It® benefit for more flexibility in payment options on a large purchase.
How to maximize this card’s long-term value
The card earns unlimited 1.5 percent cash back and doesn’t charge an annual fee, both of which increase its value along with the American Express Member Benefits. Be aware that Plan It® applies only to eligible purchases of $100 or more, and your ability to create plans is based on your creditworthiness and other factors.
Read our American Express Cash Magnet® Card Review.
Citi Rewards+℠ Card
Best for rewards
A credit card doesn’t have to be part of an extravagant lifestyle. The Citi Rewards+ can help you do a couple of simple but smart things. One is earning rewards (2X ThankYou Points at supermarkets and gas stations on up to $6,000 in combined purchases per year, plus 1x ThankYou Points on all other purchases). The second is temporarily avoiding interest on purchases and balance transfers (0% intro APR for 15 months, then 13.49% – 23.49% variable APR).
How to maximize this card’s long-term value
If you spend $6,000 or more at supermarkets and gas stations each year, you’ll maximize the value of that 2X Points category. Also, the Citi Rewards+ rounds up all rewards to the nearest 10 points and offers 10 percent points back on the first 100,000 points you redeem every year.
Read our Citi Rewards+℠ Card Review.
Citi® Double Cash Card
Best for double cash back (1% when you make purchases, 1% when you make payments)
It’s important to note that (1) the Citi Double Cash Card’s intro APR offer is for balance transfers only, not purchases, and (2) balance transfers don’t earn rewards. This card still has a lot of potential for utility and value. Just be sure to make paying off your transferred balance the main priority and focus on earning cash back later.
How to maximize this card’s long-term value
You can earn up to 2 percent cash back with this card — 1 percent when you make purchases, then 1 percent as you pay for them. You might find that this two-part system offers extra motivation to make timely payments in full so that you can reap the full rewards.
Read our Citi® Double Cash Card Review.
Chase Freedom Flex℠
Best for cash back in multiple categories
If your first priority is introductory APR on purchases, this card offers the intro rate of 0% APR for the first 15 billing cycles (14.99% – 23.74% variable after). In addition to the intro offer, the Chase Freedom Flex earns exceptional cash back rates in categories including restaurants, drugstore purchases and, for the first year, up to $12,000 in grocery store purchases (not including Target® or Walmart® purchases) .
How to maximize this card’s long-term value
The 5 percent cash back returns on up to $12,000 in grocery store purchases (not including Target® or Walmart® purchases) are generous, but that rate applies only during your first year. Still, the other high-earning categories (5 percent on travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, 3 percent at restaurants and 3 percent on drugstore purchases) are open-ended. The card also earns 5 percent cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in Chase’s rotating bonus categories each quarter you activate. The long-term cash back earnings are potentially huge.
Read our Chase Freedom Flex℠ Review.
Citi Simplicity® Card
Best for long balance transfer offer
The Citi Simplicity Card is a very useful option for transferring or consolidating debt. With an intro 0% APR period of 18 months on balance transfers (14.74% – 24.74% variable APR thereafter), you could save thousands of dollars by temporarily avoiding interest as you pay off debt. This card also does not charge a late fee, although you don’t want to make it a habit to pay late because of the impact on your credit score.
How to maximize this card’s long-term value
This one’s a bit tricky, since the Simplicity card doesn’t have a rewards program. Your best bet for long-term value is probably Citi® Identity Theft Solutions. Keep the card active by making an occasional purchase with it and you can enjoy that extra layer of protection against identity theft.
Read our Citi Simplicity® Card Review.
Wells Fargo Platinum card
Best for personal finance management
The main reason to get a zero-interest credit card is to pay off a big purchase or a balance transfer during the introductory period and avoid paying APR. The Wells Fargo Platinum can help you reach that goal thanks to its 18-month 0% APR offer on qualifying balance transfers (15.49% – 24.99% variable APR after), but it can also help you pursue the larger goal of better financial health with the My Money Map system.
How to maximize this card’s long-term value
Although this card doesn’t offer a rewards program, using the My Money Map resources to improve your spending and budgeting habits could prove rewarding in the long run. You also get up to $600 protection on your cell phone against covered damage or theft (a $25 deductible applies) when you pay your monthly cellphone bill with the card, and the Wells Fargo Platinum doesn’t charge an annual fee.
Read our Wells Fargo Platinum Card Review.
Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® card
Best for digital wallet users
If you regularly reach for your phone instead of your wallet when it’s time to pay, this card could be the zero-interest option you’ve been looking for. The introductory APR offer lasts 15 months, after which you’ll pay 13.99% – 25.99% variable. The added incentive for digital wallet users is the 1.8 percent cash rewards rate on qualified purchases such as Apple Pay® or Google Pay™, during your first 12 months. (The rate for regular purchases is 1.5 percent.)
How to maximize this card’s long-term value
The 1.8 percent cash rewards on qualified digital wallet purchases goes away after your first 12 months, but the regular rate of 1.5 percent on all purchases can still provide a reliable source of rewards. Don’t forget that using the card to pay your monthly cellphone bill makes you eligible for up to $600 protection against covered damage or theft, with a $25 deductible.
Read our Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® card Review.
Discover it® Balance Transfer
Best for overall balance transfer value
Few cards can match the intro offer for balance transfers: see terms, then see terms variable (see terms; up to see terms on future balance transfers, see terms*). Fewer still combine that kind of balance transfer offer with a rewards program that earns 5% cash back on rotating bonus categories up to $1,500 each quarter after activation and 1% back on everything else. However, we don’t recommend the Discover it Balance Transfer for paying off a big purchase. The introductory see terms for purchases is just see terms, after which variable APR goes to the regular see terms.
How to maximize this card’s long-term value
Much like the Discover it Cash Back, the rewards program holds the key to this card’s long-term value. The potential earnings in bonus categories make the Discover it Balance Transfer well worth considering for a long engagement after the intro APR period ends. The card also features Discover’s Cashback Match™, a dollar-for-dollar match of the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Read our Discover it® Balance Transfer Review.
What is a 0% intro APR credit card?
Using a credit card can be a lot more convenient than paying cash or writing a check. However, the convenience of credit cards sometimes comes with a price — the potential for steep interest charges if you don’t pay your monthly statement on time and in full.
Fortunately, credit cards with introductory 0% APR offers could provide a solution.
A credit card with a 0% APR introductory offer isn’t really an interest-free credit card. It’s a way to help you reduce your exposure to credit card interest charges for a limited period of time. To meet that goal, you’ll need to pay off your large purchase or transferred balance before the zero-percent intro rate expires and the regular APR takes effect. Some of these cards also let you transfer a balance from a high-interest credit account.
Whether it’s a big purchase or a big balance, this type of credit card could help you temporarily avoid the high cost of interest.
Zero-interest APR for purchases
If you have a large purchase planned, getting a credit card with a zero-interest APR offer ahead of time can truly pay off. Putting your big-ticket item on the 0% intro APR credit card instead of your regular card means a chance to avoid paying interest for the length of the intro period. The choice between 0% interest and the average 16 percent interest should be an easy one.
Learn more with Bankrate: Should you use a credit card for large purchases?
Zero-interest APR for balance transfers
Results of a recent Bankrate.com survey found that 16 percent of Americans have more debt than they did just a few months ago. One possible remedy for unpaid debt involves transferring it to a 0% APR credit card with an introductory balance transfer offer. If you pay off the debt before the introductory zero-interest offer expires, you could save money that would otherwise go to paying interest charges.
Learn more with Bankrate: Try out the Credit Card Balance Transfer Calculator.
Purchase or balance transfer? Get the right card for the job
Most of the cards we’ve chosen offer an introductory 0% APR rate on both purchases and balance transfers, for the same period of time. If you’re only interested in transferring a balance, you can check out our list of Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards.
Also, don’t forget that some balance transfer cards work with more than just credit card debt. In addition to credit card balances, you might be able to transfer debt from personal loans, student loans and other types of credit accounts.
Regardless of what kind of debt you’re transferring, though, you might have to pay the credit card issuer a fee. The typical balance transfer fee can range from 3 percent to 5 percent of the amount being transferred. A small number of cards charge no fee for balance transfers, but in some cases the trade-off might be a shorter intro period or an offer of low interest rather than zero interest.
CardSmart: A zero-percent intro offer in action
 Last December, a consumer named Carol emailed me for advice. She was considering a 0% intro APR credit card to pay for some upcoming dental work that would cost $8,000.
Using some basic math and Bankrate’s Credit Card Payoff Calculator, I was able to simulate what would happen if she got a credit card with a 12-month zero percent introductory offer to pay for the procedure. Then I compared that outcome with another where she used a regular credit card with a typical APR, which at that time was 18 percent.
Long story short, it looked like Carol could avoid several hundred dollars in interest charges with a 0% intro APR offer:
|
Balance |
Term |
Interest |
Average monthly payment |
| 0% intro APR |
$8,000 |
12 months |
$0 |
$667 |
| 18% APR |
$8,000 |
12 months |
$801 |
$733 |
The takeaways
- If she paid off the balance in full before the end of that 12-month promotional period, Carol wouldn’t owe any additional money in interest.
- If she were to put $8,000 on a regular card with 18 percent APR and pay off the balance in 12 months, she would face $801 in interest charges over time.
- Her average monthly payment with a regular card would be $733 instead of $667, or about 10 percent higher.
I exchanged a few emails with Carol over the course of a week. She wound up getting a 0% APR card with a 12-month intro offer and made a plan to pay off the cost of her dental work on schedule to avoid interest.
If you have a question about using a zero-interest APR offer to save money like Carol, please email me at bbridges@bankrate.com. |
How to choose the right zero interest credit card
Which type of credit card you should get depends on your long-term goals for the card.
- To pay for a large purchase: The longer the 0% intro offer on purchases, the better. It will give you more time to take advantage of the zero-interest window as you gradually make the payments.
- To transfer a balance or consolidate debt: Pay attention to the length of the balance transfer offer (the longer, the better) and the balance transfer fee.
- To get long-term value out of the card. Do you want to be able to earn rewards long after the zero-interest intro offer ends? Look for a card that offers a generous rewards program for cash back or travel.
Sometimes, though, a 0% intro APR credit card might not be the best option. If you want to make a purchase you know you won’t be able to pay off within the offer period, it might be better to look at your personal loan options. Personal loans charge a much lower interest rate than credit cards, so even if you have to pay some money in interest, you’ll still be saving.
How much could you save with a 0% intro APR offer?
If you decide to put a big purchase on a credit card, you have another decision to make when the next bill comes due. You can:
- Pay off the entire monthly balance, including the large purchase, and face no APR charges.
- Make a partial payment on the monthly balance and pay APR on whatever amount is left over.
Of course, the problem with option B is that it could cost you a lot of money. The cost is likely to increase with every partial monthly payment you make. Over time, you’d have to devote more and more money to paying off not just the original purchase but also the mounting interest of rolling over unpaid debt from month to month.
You can contact your credit card issuer to ask for a lower interest rate. However, this strategy might be a longshot unless you’re a longtime customer with an established history of paying off your balance on time and in full.
A zero-interest credit card offer could help you avoid this kind of cycle by offering a temporary break from APR. Here’s an illustration of how it works, using Bankrate’s Credit Card Payoff Calculator:
The big buy
You spend $3,000 on a big purchase (a vacation, for example) using a credit card.
With your regular card
The average credit card interest rate is about 16 percent. If you were to isolate the $3,000 vacation purchase and pay it off in equal installments over a year’s time on your regular credit card, the payment schedule would look like this:
| Total Principal Paid |
Total Interest Paid |
Monthly Payment |
Total Cost |
| $3,000 |
$266 |
$272 |
$3,266 |
In addition to the $3,000, you’d also pay $266 in interest. Interest (in the form of APR) would account for 8 percent of your total cost.
With a 0% intro credit card
In the second scenario, you get a new credit card with a 12-month zero interest offer and use that card to pay for your $3,000 vacation. The payment schedule (also one year of equal installments) would look like this:
| Total Principal Paid |
Total Interest Paid |
Monthly Payment |
Total Cost |
| $3,000 |
$0 |
$250 |
$3,000 |
As long as you paid off the entire $3,000 before the 12-month offer expires, you wouldn’t be on the hook for the $288 in APR charges. Your monthly payment would be $24 less, too.
What’s the best 0% intro APR credit card?
Looking only at the length of introductory offers, the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card has a 2-month edge among currently available competitors:
| Card |
Purchase offer |
Balance transfer offer |
Regular APR (Variable) |
| U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card |
20 months |
20 months |
13.99% – 23.99% |
| Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card |
18 months |
18 months |
14.74% – 24.74% |
| Citi Simplicity® Card |
18 months |
18 months |
14.74% – 24.74% |
| Wells Fargo Platinum card |
18 months |
18 months (on qualifying) |
15.49% – 24.99% |
While the introductory offers are the key feature of 0% intro APR credit cards, they aren’t the only feature. You should also factor in the card’s long-term value. For instance, many of the zero-interest cards with the longest offers don’t have rewards programs.
Maybe the length of the introductory offer isn’t your only priority. If you want to strike a balance between a card’s 0% intro APR benefits and its rewards programs, consider options such as:
Citi Rewards+℠ Card
Purchase and balance transfer offers: 15 months at 0% intro APR, 13.49% – 23.49% variable APR after
Rewards: 2X ThankYou Points at supermarkets and gas stations on up to $6,000 in combined purchases per year, 1x ThankYou Points on all other purchases
Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® card
Purchase and qualifying balance transfer offers: 15 months at 0% intro APR, 14.49%-24.99% variable APR after
Rewards: 1.5 percent cash rewards on purchases, with qualified digital wallet purchases earning 1.8 percent during your first 12 months
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Purchase offer: 0% intro APR for 15 months, 13.99% – 23.99% variable APR after
Rewards: 3 percent cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%), 2 percent cash back at U.S. gas stations and at select U.S. department stores, 1 percent cash back on other purchases
What to do when the zero-interest period ends
Should you cancel the card after the purchase or transfer is paid off? Once a zero-interest APR credit card has served its initial purpose, you might assume you don’t need it anymore. Don’t be too quick to act on that assumption.
Canceling a credit card could have a negative effect on your credit score. The reason involves credit utilization, the relationship between two numbers: how much available credit you have vs. how much of that credit you’re using. A canceled credit card lowers the first number, which means you’ll use more of the credit left available to you.
Why is higher credit utilization potentially a problem? It could give lenders the impression that you’re having financial difficulties and make it seem like you’re more of a credit risk.
If you’ve used a 0 interest card for a credit card balance transfer, you should also think carefully before canceling the original card — yes, the one that got you into debt in the first place. Even with a card that doesn’t get much use, putting it in a drawer while leaving the account open could keep your credit score from taking the hit from a cancellation. Also, longstanding accounts generally look good on your credit score.
A 0% APR card can affect your credit in a number of ways, depending on how you use the card. If you’re using your card to consolidate debt, it can actually help boost your credit score over time. A large factor in determining your credit score is your credit utilization ratio. By consolidating and paying down credit card balances, you’re lowering that ratio.
In addition, if you use a zero APR credit card to pay off a large purchase over time, you can boost your credit score just by showing lenders that you can consistently make on-time payments.
How we chose our best zero-interest credit cards
Bankrate uses a 5-star scoring system to evaluate the credit cards available from our partners. In selecting the cards featured on this page, we further refine the criteria to focus on qualities that define the best credit cards with 0% APR intro offers.
Length of the introductory offer
For zero-interest cards, the longer the period without APR, the better. A longer intro period means more time for you to pay for a big purchase or pay off a transferred balance, whichever the case may be, without facing high APR charges.
Regular variable APR
Regular APR, sometimes called standard “go-to” APR, refers to the interest rate on a credit card’s outstanding balance after the introductory zero-interest period ends. While you shouldn’t carry a balance on your card, choosing a card with a reasonable go-to APR can help ease the burden if you find yourself in a situation where you have to.
Long-term value
“Should you keep this card after it’s served the initial purpose?” That’s a key question we ask when evaluating credit cards with 0% APR intro offers. Several cards on this list have rewards programs and other features that can make them worth keeping even after you’ve paid for a big purchase or paid off transferred debt.
Frequently asked questions on 0% intro APR credit cards
What determines the APR on a credit card?
A number of factors play a part in credit card APR, including government regulators and banks’ lending standards. Rather than diving into a complicated analysis of the federal funds rate, the prime rate and the constant push and pull of various economic forces, try to focus on the one factor that you can directly influence: your credit score.
Generally, having a higher credit score means you can qualify for lower APR not only on credit cards but also on personal loans, auto loans, mortgages and other forms of credit. A solid track record of diligently paying what you owe tells potential lenders that they face less risk if they decide to do business with you.
With credit cards, different types of APR come into play. Some fluctuate with economic factors and others (such as penalty APR for making late payments) are set by credit card issuers.
Should you pay off a 0% APR credit card?
If you get a zero-APR card to transfer a balance or pay for a big purchase, pay off the debt as quickly as you can — but don’t cancel the card once you’re done.
The best use of a zero-APR credit card involves avoiding interest during the intro period. The temporary interest-free window can help you reduce debt faster and improve your credit score, in addition to saving money on the interest charges you’d otherwise pay. However, canceling the card immediately after you’ve paid off the debt could undo some of the good work you’ve done for your credit score in three ways:
- Reducing your available credit, which raises your credit utilization ratio
- Lowering the average age of your credit accounts
- Affecting your credit mix
Together, these three factors account for 55 percent of your overall credit score. Your best strategy is to keep the zero-interest card open and use it occasionally to keep the account active.
Also, making this card a long-term addition to your wallet means you should try to choose one that doesn’t charge an annual fee — or at least an annual fee that you think you can afford.
Do no interest credit cards hurt your credit?
The APR you pay on a credit card has no direct impact on your credit score. However, a 0% APR credit card could help you lower your credit utilization ratio, which counts for 30 percent of your credit score. Here are two examples:
- 0% APR balance transfer offer. If you transfer an outstanding balance to a card with an introductory zero-interest offer, you have an opportunity to pay down the balance while temporarily avoiding the interest you were paying previously. Use the money you’re saving on interest to make larger regular payments on the transferred balance and erase the debt faster.
- 0% APR purchase offer. As with a balance transfer, using a 0% intro APR offer on purchases provides a temporary interest-free window to pay off a large purchase. The absence of interest frees up money that you can use to pay off the purchase and get that particular debt off the books faster.
Having less debt in relation to your available credit lowers your credit utilization ratio. We recommend using no more than 30 percent of the total credit available to you, and making it closer to 25 percent if possible.
What’s the difference between a balance transfer and a zero-percent APR card?
A balance transfer is one of the moves you can make to address debt. A zero-percent APR card is one of the tools you can use to do it.
A balance transfer involves moving high-interest debt from one or more credit accounts to a different account (often a balance transfer credit card) with low or zero-percent interest. With a credit card that has a 0% intro APR offer on balance transfers, you’re exempt from paying interest on your balance during the promotional period, which usually runs between 12 to 18 months.
Can you get a zero interest card with bad or fair credit?
Although you might be able to qualify for certain cards with bad or fair credit, you’ll probably have to settle for less in two critical areas:
- The introductory offer could be shorter than the 15- to 18-month range typical among the best zero APR cards.
- The intro offer could involve a low interest rate rather than a zero interest rate.
Credit card issuers typically reserve the top zero-interest intro offers for consumers with good to excellent credit scores (670 FICO and up). Your credit score helps issuers evaluate your ability to repay your debt and how much risk they would take on by adding you as a customer.
Before applying for a zero APR credit card, check your credit score and credit report. Make sure to fix any incorrect information on your report that could negatively affect your overall credit
Senior Editor Barry Bridges has been writing about credit cards, loans, mortgages and other personal finance products for Bankrate since 2018. His work has also appeared on websites including Nasdaq.com, Zillow.com and The Simple Dollar. He was previously an award-winning newspaper journalist in his native North Carolina. Send your questions about credit cards (and fantasy baseball) to bbridges@bankrate.com.
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