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A 0% APR credit card with an introductory offer on purchases, balance transfers or both can help you temporarily avoid interest charges and potentially save hundreds of dollars. On this page, you can compare the best 0% APR credit cards available from our partners and get expert advice on how to manage debt responsibly. See how it works with our Credit Card Payoff Calculator and Credit Card Balance Transfer Calculator.
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Credit cards with 0% introductory APR offers can help you temporarily avoid paying high interest rates on purchases and balance transfers for anywhere from several months to a year or more.
As of Sept. 15, 2021, Bankrate estimates the average credit card interest rate at 16.21% variable. If you’ve ever carried a balance on your credit card, you know how much credit card interest 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.
| Card name | Intro purchase offer | Intro balance transfer offer | Regular APR (variable) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Citi Custom Cash℠ Card | 15 months | 15 months | 13.99% – 23.99% variable |
| Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card | 18 months | 18 months | 13.74% – 23.74% |
| U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card | 20 billing cycles | 20 billing cycles | 14.49% – 24.49% |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card | 15 months from account opening | 15 months (on qualifying transfers) | 14.99% – 24.99% |
| Wells Fargo Platinum card | 18 months from account opening | 18 months (on qualifying) | 16.49% – 24.49% |
| Discover it® Cash Back | 14 months | 14 months | 11.99% – 22.99% |
| Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | 15 months | N/A | 15.49% – 25.49% |
| Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | 15 months | N/A | 15.49% – 25.49% |
| Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card | 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 billing cycles | 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days | 13.99% – 23.99% |
| Citi Simplicity® Card | 18 months | 18 months | 14.74% – 24.74% |
| Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | 0% intro APR for 15 months | N/A | 13.99% – 23.99% |
| Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card | 15 billing cycles | 15 billing cycles for any transfers made within the first 60 days | 13.99% – 23.99% |
| BankAmericard® credit card | 0% intro APR on purchases for 18 billing cycles | 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days | 12.99% – 22.99% |
Read our full Citi Custom Cash℠ Card review.
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Read our full Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card review.
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Read our U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card review.
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Read our full Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card review.
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Read our full Wells Fargo Platinum card review.
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Read our full Discover it® Cash Back review.
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Read our full Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card review.
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Read our full Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card review.
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Read our full Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card review.
Jump back to offer details.
Read our full Citi Simplicity® Card review.
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Read our full Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express review.
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Read our full Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card review.
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Read our full BankAmericard® credit card review.
They go by different names — 0% APR credit cards, zero-interest credit cards, introductory APR credit cards — but they all have the same purpose: to provide a temporary break from interest charges as you steadily pay off large credit card purchases or balance transfers.
An APR (annual percentage rate) determines how much interest applies to a credit card account for transactions in a particular billing cycle. Interest is money you must pay in addition to the initial amount you borrow, so the lower the APR, the better. Interest 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 APR. Even worse, a penalty APR could apply if you have a late payment that’s more than 60 days overdue. Your APR for purchases may be different from your APR for balance transfers. (Learn how credit card interest works.)
The good news is that you could use a 0% intro APR credit card to temporarily avoid the cost of interest charges during the introductory period before the regular rate takes effect. A 0% intro offer may apply to new purchases, balance transfers or both.
Even if you’re generally familiar with the concept, you might not know some of the key details about 0% APR credit cards. It’s important to understand how they work and consider the advantages and disadvantages, which include:
Whether you use it for purchases or balance transfers, a 0% intro APR credit card isn’t a quick fix or a silver bullet. You’ll still need to hold up your end of the bargain, making regular monthly payments and erasing the debt before the intro offer expires, to reap the full benefits.
Generally, if you’re trying to delay accruing or paying credit card interest, a 0% intro APR card makes sense. Consider one of these cards if you find yourself in the following situations.
Maybe you need to replace your broken-down washing machine and dryer or an old personal computer that’s undergone one too many software updates. It could be an upcoming medical procedure that’s not covered by your health insurance or is just partially covered. In both scenarios, you’ll buy yourself some time to pay off those purchases and save on interest charges within the introductory period with a 0% intro APR card.
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.
If you want the benefits of a credit card, but you’re still learning how to best leverage one, a 0% APR card can provide a bit of 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: It’s generally best practice to pay your credit card balances in full each month to avoid interest. If you do happen to revolve a balance, aim to pay it off by the time the intro APR expires. If you tend to carry a balance more frequently, consider a low interest credit card.)
If you’re worried about your ability to control your spending, avoiding the added temptation of 0% interest is a good idea. It’s best to have your purchases and payments planned in advance when taking advantage of a 0% intro APR offer. That way, it’s easier to avoid the “buy now, worry later” mentality and leave the intro period with little to no debt left over.
Choosing the best 0% intro APR credit card for you depends on a few key factors.
There are two types of introductory zero-interest offers.
Some cards have one type of introductory offer while others have both. The offers apply to different kinds of transactions, but both can help you achieve the same goal of temporarily avoiding interest charges.
The longer the 0% intro offer, the better. A lengthy 0% introductory APR offer will give you more time to take advantage of the zero-interest window as you gradually make payments, whether it’s on a large purchase or on a transferred balance.
Most 0% intro APR credit cards require a good or excellent credit score. In most cases, the recommended credit score ranges would be:
Other factors that come into play during the application process include annual income, the number of delinquencies on your credit report and your overall credit history. Make sure to take all factors into account when you apply for a credit card.
Because the intro offer will expire after a few months, it’s worth considering what else the card brings to the table. Although some 0% interest cards are short on extras, a good number of them have rewards programs and other benefits. We recommend that you focus on paying down debt while you’re taking advantage of the introductory zero-interest offer. Once you’ve cleared your debt, you can turn your attention to earning rewards.
Learn more: What is a good APR on a credit card?
Sometimes a 0% intro APR credit card might not be your best option. Here are some possible alternatives:
At the same time, facing difficult questions about big purchases and debt repayment could be a sign that you need to look at the bigger picture. A long-term strategy for managing debt might be in order.
If you decide to put a purchase on a credit card, you have two repayment options. You can:
Of course, the problem with option 2 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 (the principal) but also the mounting interest of rolling over unpaid debt from month to month.
A zero-interest credit card offer could help you avoid this kind of cycle by offering a temporary break from your regular APR. Here’s an illustration of how it works, using Bankrate’s Credit Card Payoff Calculator and the average credit card interest rate, which is currently around 16 percent:
| Interest rate | Total principal paid | Total interest paid | Monthly payment | Total cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16% | $3,000 | $266 | $272 | $3,266 |
| 0% intro for 12 months | $3,000 | $0 | $250 | $3,000 |
With the regular credit card, you’d pay $266 in interest in addition to your principal $3,000 balance. Interest would account for 8 percent of your total cost.
A credit card is a type of loan, and virtually every loan involves interest. It’s possible to avoid paying credit card interest, but only under a few well-defined conditions.
Even though no single choice will be a perfect fit for everyone, the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card has the edge over many other options.
The card’s current offer for new purchases and balance transfers is 20 billing cycles at 0% introductory APR, 14.49% to 24.49% variable APR after. Many competitors vying for the title of “best 0% APR credit card” have introductory offers lasting 18 months. Having an extra two billing cycles could give you more cushion when you’re trying to pay off a big purchase or a transferred balance while avoiding interest. Also, the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum card’s regular APR range (14.49% to 24.49% variable) is lower than those of many other 0% APR cards.
However, some of its competitors offer things that the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum doesn’t: welcome offers and rewards programs. One example is the Discover it® Cash Back. Its introductory offer for purchases and balance transfers (14 months at 0% APR, 11.99% to 22.99% variable APR after) is significantly shorter, but it does have a cash back program that includes rotating bonus categories. You earn 5% cash back in the rotating categories on up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter followed by 1% (enrollment required), as well as unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
While the introductory offers are the key feature of 0% intro APR credit cards, they aren’t the only feature. You might also consider the card’s long-term value, in which rewards programs and welcome offers play a big part.
During the pandemic, the unemployment rate multiplied from 3.5% in Feb. 2020 to 14.7% in April 2020. One would have thought that so many people suddenly out of work would run up unmanageable credit card balances, but in reality, total credit card balances actually fell 17%, from $927 billion in Q4 2019 to $770 billion in Q1 2021, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
After a year of living in the pandemic world, it’s no surprise that many want to live their best lives and splurge now that the world has started to open up. While this can be an expensive endeavor, more than half of millennials and Gen Zers don’t seem to be bothered by the prospect of taking on debt to fully enjoy themselves.
In fact, according to a survey by CreditCards.com, 56% of Gen Zers and 59% of millennials are willing to go into credit card debt to celebrate the end of the pandemic. The lack of vacation opportunities over the last year or so has created a sense of “travel fever,” as 38% of millennials and 39% of Gen Zers anticipate spending more on travel in the second half of 2021. These generations also want to take advantage of out-of-home entertainment like movie theaters, concerts and sporting events (34% of millennials and 36% of Gen Zers) and spend their money on clothing and accessories (33% of millennials and 34% of Gen Zers), among other categories. While going out, traveling and looking great while doing it sounds enticing, is it worth risking your financial health?
Fortunately, there are methods to project your finances and enjoy all the post-pandemic world has to offer. First, this is a perfect time to reevaluate your budget or create one if you haven’t done so yet. Carefully consider the categories you plan to spend on most and what types of expenses you could afford to cut or reallocate. Next, keep in mind that it’s never too late to start saving. It’s OK to ease into spending if you’re eyeing a big purchase or a dream vacation. It’s perfectly natural to want to treat yourself but your treat will be that much sweeter if it’s interest-free.
Finally, shop around for the right credit card that can fund your post-pandemic wants. A 0% introductory APR card offers a zero-interest promotional period (usually between 12 and 18 months) during which you can take your time paying off your balance — just be sure you pay the card off in full before this period ends or you’ll be responsible for APR charges.
Learn how to choose your next credit card.
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.
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.
A card’s 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.
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.
Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.
* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.
