Best for purchases
Discover it® Cash Back

- 15 months 0% for 15 months
Purchase intro APR
Balance transfer intro APR
Regular APR
Rewards rate
Recommended credit
A credit card with a 0 percent intro APR period allows you to make purchases interest-free for a set length of time. The top cards also let you transfer a balance, for a fee, and pay no interest on it during the intro period. This type of card could be a big help if you’re experiencing financial stress. The average credit card balance is more than $5000, according to a recent TransUnion report, and most people don’t have enough savings to cover an emergency.
The best 0 percent APR credit cards help you avoid interest for up to 15 months or longer. Though you’ll still need to make minimum payments, with the right strategy, they’re among the best tools to pay off past debt or cover emergency expenses. To find the right 0 percent APR card for you, check out our top picks and advice below.
Purchase intro APR
Balance transfer intro APR
Regular APR
Rewards rate
Recommended credit
Purchase intro APR
Balance transfer intro APR
Regular APR
Rewards rate
Purchase intro APR
Balance transfer intro APR
Regular APR
Rewards rate
Recommended credit
Purchase intro APR
Balance transfer intro APR
Regular APR
Rewards rate
Purchase intro APR
Balance transfer intro APR
Regular APR
Rewards rate
Purchase intro APR
Balance transfer intro APR
Regular APR
Rewards rate
Purchase intro APR
Balance transfer intro APR
Regular APR
Rewards rate
Recommended credit
Purchase intro APR
Balance transfer intro APR
Regular APR
Rewards rate
Purchase intro APR
Balance transfer intro APR
Regular APR
Rewards rate
Recommended credit
Purchase intro APR
Balance transfer intro APR
Regular APR
Rewards rate
Recommended credit
Purchase intro APR
Balance transfer intro APR
Regular APR
Rewards rate
Recommended credit
Purchase intro APR
Balance transfer intro APR
Regular APR
Rewards rate
Recommended credit
Purchase intro APR
Balance transfer intro APR
Regular APR
Rewards rate
Card name | Welcome offer | Intro APR offer | Bankrate score |
---|---|---|---|
Discover it Cash Back | All cash back earned at the end of your first 12 months is matched, essentially doubling first-year rewards |
|
4.4 / 5 (Read full card review) |
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card | $200 cash rewards after $1,000 of purchases in the first three months |
|
4.3 / 5 (Read full card review) |
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | $200 cash back after $500 of purchases in the first three months |
|
4.9 / 5 (Read full card review) |
Citi Simplicity Card |
None |
|
4.2 / 5 (Read full card review) |
Wells Fargo Reflect Card | None |
|
4.7 / 5 (Read full card review) |
U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card
|
None |
|
4.1 / 5 (Read full card review) |
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
|
Travel rewards |
|
4.7 / 5 (Read full card review) |
Citi Custom Cash Card | $200 cash back (20,000 ThankYou points) after $1,500 of purchases in the first six months |
|
4.4 / 5 (Read full card review) |
Discover it Balance Transfer |
All cash back earned at the end of your first 12 months is matched, essentially doubling first-year rewards |
|
4.7 / 5 (Read full card review) |
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | $200 cash back after $500 of purchases in the first three months |
|
3.8 / 5 (Read full card review) |
Citi Diamond Preferred Card | None |
|
4.0 / 5 (Read full card review) |
BankAmericard credit card | None |
|
5 / 5 (Read full card review) |
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express | $250 statement credit after $3,000 of purchases in the first six months |
|
4.4 / 5 (Read full card review) |
My GM Rewards Card | 15,000 bonus points after $1,000 of purchases in the first three months |
|
3.9 / 5 (Read full card review) |
Learn more: Why expert Holly Johnson loves the Discover It Cash Back card
Read our full Discover it Cash Back review or jump back to offer details.
Learn more: Expert Aja McClanahan discusses if the Wells Fargo Active Cash is worth it
Read our full Wells Fargo Active Cash Card review or jump back to offer details.
Learn more: Why expert Ana Cvetkovic loves the Capital One SavorOne card
Read our full Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to offer details.
Learn more: Citi Simplicity vs. Citi Diamond Preferred
Read our full Citi Simplicity Card review or jump back to offer details.
Learn more: Card expert Holly Johnson's take on if the Wells Fargo Reflect Card is worth it
Read our full Wells Fargo Reflect Card review or jump back to offer details.
Learn more: Card expert Sara Coleman shares if the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum is worth it
Read our U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card review or jump back to offer details.
Learn more: Is the Citi Custom Cash worth it?
Read our full Citi Custom Cash Card review or jump back to offer details.
Learn more: Card expert Erin Bendig's take on if the Discover it Balance Transfer card is worth it
Read our full Discover it Balance Transfer review or jump back to offer details.
Learn more: Why expert Nicole Dieker loves the Capital One Quicksilver
Read our full Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to offer details.
Learn more: Why expert Andy Shuman loves the Citi Diamond Preferred card
Read our full Citi Diamond Preferred Card review jump back to offer details.
Learn more: Why expert Margaret Wack loves the BankAmericard
Read our full BankAmericard credit card review or jump back to offer details.
Learn more: Why expert Ted Rossman loves the Blue Cash Preferred Card
Read our full Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express review or jump back to offer details.
Learn more: How to buy a car with a credit card
Read our full My GM Rewards Card review or jump back to offer details.
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 percent intro APR is a temporary break from interest charges as you steadily pay off large credit card purchases or balance transfers. In the case of credit cards, the term interest rate is interchangeable with APR. Both refer to the interest rate that is applied to your credit card.
There are two different types of intro APR offers for credit cards. One is purchase intro APR, in which no interest is automatically applied to new purchases made on the card, and balance transfer intro APR, where no interest is applied to the balance transferred onto the card from another card. Both can come with different limitations on validity, so make sure to check the terms. A card can have one, both or neither of these types of introductory offers.
Interest is essentially the cost of borrowing money. You won’t have to pay interest on your credit card purchases if you keep your balance paid off in full every month.
If you still have a balance on your credit card past the grace period of a billing cycle, the balance will accrue interest. The amount of interest you’ll need to pay is based on your card’s 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 can use a credit card's 0 APR offer to temporarily avoid interest charges during the introductory period before the regular or ongoing APR takes effect. A 0 percent intro offer may apply to new purchases, balance transfers or both.
Most ongoing APRs (the interest rate you’ll accrue after an introductory APR period is over) are variable, meaning that the interest rate can change based on the market rate. Entities like the Federal Reserve make decisions that affect a bank’s likelihood of raising or lowering credit card interest rates.
When you open an account with a credit card issuer, they may offer you a 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 interest-free promotion for anywhere from 12 to up to 21 months.
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 remaining balance will start gaining interest at its regular rate — typically between 16 percent and 29 percent at the moment — plus any other applicable fees or charges (such as late payments).
If you’re planning for a large purchase better suited for a credit card instead of a loan, such as a small home renovation or vacation expense, a card with a 0 percent introductory APR offer allows you to pay it off over time without accruing interest. The current average interest rate on a credit card is quite high, hovering around 20 percent.
Consider the following example we plugged into Bankrate’s credit card payoff calculator. Our cardholder makes a $3,000 purchase and wants to pay it off in 12 months. With a zero-interest credit card, they only have to focus on settling the balance with $250 monthly payments. If they have a card with no intro APR, they immediately start accruing interest (a 17 percent APR, in this example), which increases their overall payments to $273 due to the $283 in the additional interest they’ll end up owing.
Interest rate | Total principal paid | Total interest paid | Monthly payment | Total cost |
---|---|---|---|---|
17% | $3,000 | $283 | $273 | $3,283 |
0% intro for 12 months | $3,000 | $0 | $250 | $3,000 |
The gift of time: A primary goal of 0 percent APR credit cards is to give you time to pay off a large debt. The best intro offers are 18 months or longer.
Saving on interest: You could potentially save hundreds of dollars on interest charges via an introductory 0 percent APR on purchases and balance transfers.
Lower monthly payments: Having several months (or even longer) to pay off a balance during the introductory period could result in lower monthly payments.
Potential long-term credit score improvements: Responsibly managing debt can help your credit score in the long run and show lenders that you’re a low-risk borrower.
Missing payments could forfeit your introductory APR period: If you miss a payment on your new 0 percent APR credit card, the issuer could consider it a violation of the introductory offer terms and start charging the standard APR.
Credit score impact: You have to apply for a new credit card, which means a hard credit inquiry on your credit reports and a dip in your credit score. Luckily, hard credit inquiries fall off your report after a year.
Balance transfer fees: Most credit card issuers charge a balance transfer fee, usually 3 percent or 5 percent of the amount transferred.
Intro APR offers don’t last forever: Remember that intro APR offers end and when they end depends on the length of the offer detailed by your card issuer.
Want to learn more? Read our full guide on pros and cons of 0 percent APR credit cards.
While you’re narrowing your choices down, it’s important to know how to evaluate the quality of each card’s features. Having a baseline idea of whether a certain feature is stronger or weaker than average will help you make a confident choice.
Here are a few factors to look for when comparing 0 percent intro APR credit cards:
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.
Still unsure if a 0 percent APR 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.
Though 0 percent intro APR offers are a great perk, this benefit has a time limit. When your 0 percent intro APR offer ends, the card’s regular, ongoing 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 gained.
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. 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.
When you are approved for a credit card, the issuer sets both your credit limit and ongoing interest rate (your interest rate after your intro period ends). The ongoing interest rate is often variable, meaning it can change or be different for different people depending on several factors. 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.
Several other external factors also play a part in credit card APR, including government regulators and banks’ lending standards. Due to recent interest hikes by the Federal Reserve, you’ll begin to see a general increase in rates across most cards.
As the Federal Reserve continues to raise interest rates to combat inflation, credit card issuers are raising the APRs of cards with variable rates. That means higher credit card interest rates for many Americans, which can make it harder to pay off balances.
If you are carrying a balance on a credit card, the beginning of the year is a good time to look over your finances and figure out how to pay off your debt. Finding the right budgeting method could help, or you may need to come up with a debt repayment strategy. For some, that may mean looking for ways to lower the amount of interest you’re getting charged.
Some of the best credit cards for paying off debt offer 0 percent introductory periods that let you transfer over your debt. Then, you have anywhere from 15 to 21 months to make payments without additional interest charges.
To make sure a balance transfer card is right for you, use a balance transfer calculator. It allows you to compare how much interest you'll pay and how long it will take to pay off the balance based on your total debt and how much you can afford to pay each month.
Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
Erica Sandberg
Credit And Money Management Expert Contributor
The best way to avoid interest charges is by paying your monthly statement balance in full. Nearly all credit cards offer to waive interest charges for those who do. Another way to avoid interest is to open a new credit card account with 0 percent APR financing on new purchases, balance transfers or both. These offers can last as little as six months, and the most competitive ones extend to 15 or 18 months. Note that 0 percent APR balance transfers will almost always require the payment of a 3 percent or 5 percent fee. Once you already have credit card debt, you can avoid interest charges by paying down your debt as quickly as possible. Never pay just the minimum balance, always pay more. You can even make multiple payments each month.