Not sure what a zero interest credit card is? Think of it this way: It’s a way to pay no interest on a balance transfer or a larger purchase for a limited time. Also called a 0% intro APR offer, this kind of offer means you may not pay interest well into 2022, provided you follow terms. Once the offer ends, you pay interest each month for any remaining balance.
Our experts have analyzed 1,002 different credit card offers with a 0% introductory APR period and listed the best no interest offers from our partners to suit different spending habits, making your decision that much easier. For more, check out our tips below our selection of cards.
Not sure what a zero interest credit card is? Think of it this way: It’s a way to pay no interest on a balance transfer or a larger purchase until 2022. Also called a 0% intro APR offer, this kind of offer means you may not pay interest well into 2022, provided you follow terms. Once the offer ends, you pay interest each month for any remaining balance.
Our experts have analyzed 1,002 different credit card offers with a 0% introductory APR period and listed the best no interest offers from our partners to suit different spending habits, making your decision that much easier. For more, check out our tips below our selection of cards.
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match - only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match - only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
Editorial disclosure: All reviews are prepared by CreditCards.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.
All information about the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card has been collected independently by CreditCards.com. The issuer did not provide the content, nor is it responsible for its accuracy.
Comparing Zero Interest Credit Card Offers
Here, we show you how to choose the best 0 interest card for your purposes, whether you are refurbishing your home in the spring or planning to travel in the summer. And there’s more to share, like how to compare two zero interest cards and how interest works. But first, here is more on our favorite 0% intro APR cards.
Not only will you earn 5% cash back on the first $1,500 you spend in rotating bonus categories each quarter (upon activation, then 1%), you can match your cash back at the end of your first year. The Q1 2021 categories include groceries, CVS and Walgreens. Also, take advantage of a 0% intro APR for 14 months on new purchases and balance transfers (11.99%-22.99% variable after that).
If paying off debt is your top priority and you have the excellent credit needed to qualify, the Citi Diamond Preferred Card could be a lifesaver. The card comes with an extremely long introductory APR offer: 0% for 18 months on balance transfers and purchases, after which your APR is a relatively low 14.74%-24.74% (variable). The fees are minimal with this card, including no annual fee. Unfortunately, there are no rewards, points or miles to be earned for everyday spending.
This no annual fee card has a longish 0% intro APR on purchases of 15 months, which means you pay off purchases without paying interest throughout 2021; it’s 15.49%-25.49% variable after that. However, there’s no 0% intro APR on balance transfers. Earn $200 after a $500 spend within the first 3 months, and earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
Good to excellent credit is required to qualify, but if you make the cut, this no annual fee card should offer terrific long-term value. That means you’ll need a FICO Score of at least 670 out of a range of 300-850 to even be considered for this card. You’ll enjoy an impressive cash back rewards program, and there’s a 0% intro APR on purchases (15 months, then 13.99%-23.99% variable), although not so on balance transfers.
Choose one of 6 valuable categories each calendar month for 3% cash back: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores or home improvement/furnishings. Plus, you’ll also earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter, then earn 1%). New cardholders can take advantage of a 0% introductory APR on purchases and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days for 12 billing cycles (after that it’s 13.99%-23.99% variable).
Just wow. The SavorOne offers 3% cash back on dining and entertainment, as well as 2% cash back at grocery stores. It’s 1% cash back on everything else. There’s a 0% intro APR offer on purchases for 15 months (then it’s 15.49%-25.49% variable), but not so with balance transfers.
The sign-up bonus on this card has dramatically improved in recent months to $200 after a super-low $500 spend within the first 3 months. Needless to say, the spend is one of the lowest around for what you get. While there’s no 0% intro APR offer on balance transfers, you can get 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases, then it’s 14.99%-23.74% variable.
One of our favorite flat-rate cash back cards, the Citi Double Cash Card is ideal for rewards-savvy applicants with excellent credit. Also, you’ll pay 0% interest for the first 18 months on balance transfers, after which the APR is 13.99%-23.99% (variable), although no such luck with 0% intro APR on purchases.
The Blue Cash Preferred’s welcome offer is one of the best among cash back cards – earn $300 statement credit after a $3,000 spend within the first 6 months. If you’re looking to get 0% intro APR on new purchases, this card has a 12-month offer (then it’s 13.99%-23.99% variable). However, there’s no 0% intro APR on balance transfers.
You can earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants for up to $1,000 each quarter, earning you up to $20 a quarter or $80 for the year. Then it’s 1% cash back. You can match your cash back at the end of your first year. So, that $80 becomes $160 at the end of your first year. Also, the 0% intro APR is 14 months on purchases and balance transfers, which becomes a low 11.99%-22.99% variable after that.
With this card, you’ll have 12 billing cycles to take advantage of a 0% introductory APR on both balance transfers made within the first 60 days and purchases. After that, your regular APR ranges from 12.99%-22.99% variable. The low regular APR and lack of an annual fee make this card more valuable than the average 0% APR card.
What are 0 interest credit cards and how do they work?
An introductory zero interest credit card is a product that allows you to pay down debt without paying interest for a set amount of time. They usually require good or excellent credit and often have no annual fee.
If you’re approved and it’s a balance transfer card, you’ll have the opportunity to transfer balances from older cards, although there’s usually a balance transfer fee involved.
If it’s a card with an intro 0% purchase offer, you can make purchases within a set amount of time and not pay interest until the offer ends.
Note that once the offer ends, if you still have a balance, you will start paying interest until you pay off the debt. Want to avoid paying interest? Pay off your debt before that offer ends.
When looking for an intro 0 percent card, you’ll have options – according to our January 2020 survey, there were 90 cards offering deals on balance transfers. Surprisingly enough, two-thirds of consumers we polled said they had never applied for a credit card to pay 0% on a new purchase.
How do I choose a credit card with no interest?
Now we understand why it’s worth your while to get a credit card with zero introductory interest, but how do you choose one? Credit scores, length of offer, annual fee – all of these factor into which you choose.
Credit score – The bulk of cards with high-quality balance transfer and purchase offers require good or excellent credit. There are exceptions, but the offers may not include a term with 0% or they may have a short offer. For example, the Discover it® Student Cash Back offers 0% intro APR for 6 months on purchases and 10.99% for 6 months on balance transfers (then it’s 12.99%-21.99% variable).
Balance transfer fee – Most cards that allow balance transfers charge a fee, which is usually 3% or a set dollar amount, whichever is greater. A precious few cards sometimes waive this fee, which can save you hundreds of dollars, depending on your balance. But there’s a tradeoff, because you may not get rewards or a lengthy offer. For example, the Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum card offers no balance transfer fee but no rewards to speak of.
Length of offer – When you are looking for rewards in an intro 0% credit card, the 0% offer is often lower than a card that exclusively offers an introductory 0% on balance transfers and/or purchases. An exception is the Citi® Double Cash Card, which has strong rewards, as well as an 18-month 0% intro APR offer on balance transfers (then it’s 13.99%-23.99% variable).
Annual fee – Most cards with a 0% intro offer have no annual fee, although there are a few that do, so check before committing. For example, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has a 12-month 0% intro APR offer on purchases (then it’s 13.99%-23.99% variable) and a $95 annual fee, although it is waived in the first year.
How higher interest rates can cost you more money
We’ve talked about how 0% intro APR credit cards work, but we still need to address the impact of interest rates on your wallet.
Most credit cards have a variable rate. (You can consider a good APR rate to be one that is below the national average, which is currently about 16%.) The rate you are given by the card issuer depends in part on your creditworthiness. The higher the rate, the more you’ll pay in interest charges and the longer it can take you to pay off the debt.
Say you owe $5,000 and you are assigned a 14% interest rate. If you pay down $300 each month, it will take you 19 months and you will pay $593 in interest.
Now, take that same $5,000 but with 27% interest. If you pay the same $300 each month, it will take you 22 months and it will cost you $1,338 in interest.
Obviously, an intro 0 interest card offer means that you can at least delay the interest charges, and if you are diligent, you can avoid interest charges altogether. More on that in a bit. In the meantime, use CreditCard’s.com’s payoff calculator to find out how much you are paying in interest.
How your credit score affects your interest rate
Not only does your credit score impact whether you get credit, your score affects what interest rate you get. This is true of all types of credit, including mortgages, car loans and credit cards.
Your credit card issuer will look at your application and your credit score to decide where on that variable range your interest rate will land. For example, the range may be 11.99%-22.99% variable APR, and because you have excellent credit and a solid income, you are granted a lower interest rate of say, 12.99%. Have a credit report that shows some missed payments? The interest rate you are assigned will likely be on the higher end.
How do I avoid interest charges with a 0% intro APR credit card?
You’ve been accepted for a card with an introductory interest-free offer. Yay for that! Now comes the work.
Best intentions can fail without a plan, and paying off card debt is no exception. You’ll need to change some habits and develop new ones to make this work.
Budget. If you don’t already have one, make one. You need to know how your money comes in and goes out. Don’t forget to budget for fun and for emergencies (no, that new mega-sized TV isn’t an emergency).
Calculate. Figure out how much you have to pay toward the debt to avoid paying interest. Don’t forget to factor in any balance transfer fee. Will you still have to pay after the offer ends? That’s OK, just stay on target until the debt is paid off.
Avoid spending. Don’t be tempted by that shiny object chasing you around the internet by way of ads. Keep your use of the new card to a minimum until the debt is paid off. If it’s a rewards card with a sign-up bonus, assess whether you are capable of paying off the required spend quickly.
Plan. Think about what you’ll do with the card once you’ve wiped out the debt. Maybe you want to use it to build credit. Or you might want to use it for rewards.
How to reduce your interest costs
We’ve talked about how interest rates can impact your bottom line. Let’s look now at how to lower your interest costs.
Pay more each month. By paying just $100 more each month toward your balance, you can dramatically lower how long it takes to pay off the debt, as well as the total you pay in interest.
Get a purchase or balance transfer offer credit card. A 0% intro APR offer will significantly drop the total amount of interest you pay, provided you double down on how much you pay each month toward the balance to pay off the debt before the offer ends.
Ask for a lower rate. We’ve found that by picking up the phone and calling, you have a fair shot of getting your issuer to lower the rate.
Don’t carry a balance over to the next month. By paying your balance in full and on time each month, you not only avoid interest charges, you give your credit score a boost.
Research methodology
0% intro APR credit cards analyzed: 1,002 Criteria used: 0% intro APR period for purchases, 0% intro APR period for balance transfers, balance transfer fee, regular APR, other rates and fees, rewards rates, extra benefits and features, customer service, credit needed, ease of application, security.
Frequently Asked Questions
A 0% intro APR offer allows you to carry a balance month to month while paying no interest for a set amount of time, up to 21 months. Then the regular APR kicks in, which is typically a variable rate within a specific range.
These are great cards for paying off a card balance (or two) without incurring more interest charges. They are also good for consolidating debt into a single payment. These cards can sometimes offer 0% APR on purchases for a limited time. With balance transfers, you can avoid the debilitating costs of interest fees, which can number in the thousands of dollars over time.
Unlike other types of loans, credit cards have several APRs, which we look at here.
Regular APR – This APR is applied when you make a purchase. When you allow the balance to carry over past the grace period, you face interest charges. This is the most common interest rate on a credit card.
0% intro APR on purchases – If you make purchases while your card has a 0% intro APR offer on purchases, you will not pay interest, provided you follow the issuer’s rules. Once the offer ends, if a balance remains, the go-to rate kicks in.
0% intro APR on BT – When you transfer a balance to a new card, if there is a 0% intro APR offer, you will not pay interest during the offer period, provided you don’t violate any rules. If there is a balance after the offer ends, the go-to rate kicks in.
Go-to APR – A go-to APR, typically the regular APR, is the rate you pay once a 0% intro APR period ends.
Penalty APR – If you aren’t making payments – in other words, you are delinquent – you can face this rate. This rate is quite a bit higher than the other rates. Some cards, such as the Discover cards, don’t have a penalty APR.
Cash advance APR – When you take out a cash advance, such as when you make an ATM withdrawal, you are charged this rate. While not as high as the penalty rate, it is typically higher than purchase or balance transfer APRs. There is no grace period with a cash advance, so count on being charged interest from day one.
You know now that paying down your debt is optimal, but high interest rates can increase the total amount you pay in interest and delay your payoff timeline. Most credit cards have a variable rate, anywhere from 14%-27%. The rate you are given by the card issuer depends in part on your creditworthiness.
Say you owe $5,000 and you are assigned a 14% interest rate. If you pay down $300 each month, it will take you 19 months and you will pay $592.79 in interest.
Now, take that same $5,000 but with 27% interest. If you pay the same $300 each month, it will take you 22 months and it will cost you $1,337.32 in interest.
As you’ve probably figured out, the sooner you pay the debt, the less in interest you’ll pay. But the interest rate is another huge factor, as you’ve seen. Check out our handy-dandy calculators to crunch the numbers yourself and see how you can minimize your interest charges.
There are 2 types of 0% intro APR offers: balance transfers and purchases. In the last year, balance transfer offers all but dried up, but they are now starting to come back, and there are excellent opportunities out there. Purchase offers are more common and we had no trouble finding superior purchase offers for you.
Long balance transfer offer. The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers 0% intro APR for 20 billing cycles on balance transfers. Then it’s 13.99%-23.99% variable. If you’re looking for a product with a superior BT offer and rewards, the Citi® Double Cash Card is stellar, with an introductory 18 months at 0%, then it’s 13.99%-23.99% variable. The advantage to the Double Cash is that it offers rewards, while the Platinum doesn’t.
Long purchase offer. Again, the U.S. Bank Platinum Visa offers 0% intro APR for 20 billing cycles on purchases, making it top-notch. Looking for a purchase offer in the CreditCards.com lineup? Consider the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card, with 0% intro APR on purchases for 18 months, then it’s 14.74%-24.74% variable. (The Diamond Preferred also offers 18 months with no interest on balance transfers, then 14.74%-24.74% variable.)
A 0% intro APR credit card offers that rate for a limited time, anywhere from 6 months to 18 months, then you are charged the card’s go-to rate for the remaining balance, which is typically the regular variable APR.
A low interest credit card is usually a card with a rate that is below the national average, which is currently about 16%. Because most credit cards in the U.S. offer a variable rate that is tied in part to your credit score, you could still be granted a rate above the national average, even if your bank offers a variable rate that falls below that average. For example your card’s rate may be 11.99%-22.99% variable APR, but you might be granted a rate of 18%.
We’ve found that 0% intro APR offers typically require good or excellent credit. There are some intro APR cards that accept lesser credit and even no credit history, but their offers are typically not as rich.
If you have your eye on a 0% intro APR card but you don’t think you have the credit for it, you’ll need to pay your card bills on time each month and start making a dent on your debt. Ironically, you might want the 0% APR card because of existing debt, but you might need to pay some of it down to free up your available credit, which is the second most important aspect of your credit score.
Once you get your FICO score to 670, it’s time to start applying. Make sure you don’t apply for multiple cards at once, because each card you apply for temporarily knocks your score down a few points. Card issuers also look at your income, so make sure you include all income that you have legitimate access to, such as your spouse’s income.
Of the 0% intro APR offers on purchases that CreditCards.com features, the average offer period is 13.3 months and starts at 6 months and goes up to 18 months. Balance transfer offers with 0% intro APR average about 14 months and can also go up to 18 months. These figures are as of 2/9/21.
About the Author
Laura Mohammad
CreditCards.com Senior Editor Laura Mohammad writes, edits and coaches extensively on all things credit cards and works to bring you the most up-to-date analysis and advice. In Laura's 20+ years as a financial and personal finance journalist, her work has appeared in such publications and websites as The New York Times, The Associated Press, StreetAuthority.com and American City Business Journals. You can reach Laura at laura.mohammad@creditcards.com.
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CreditCards.com is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. The offers that appear on this site are from companies from which CreditCards.com receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and the likelihood of applicants' credit approval also impact how and where products appear on this site. CreditCards.com does not include the entire universe of available financial or credit offers. CCDC has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover.
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