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These cards offer an outstanding 0% intro APR on purchases, balance transfers, or both. This can help you finally get your debt managed and under control by transferring an existing balance, or can help you fund a bigger purchase. 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.
These cards offer an outstanding 0% intro APR on purchases, balance transfers, or both. This can help you finally get your debt managed and under control by transferring an existing balance, or can help you fund a bigger purchase. 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.
Back to topEditorial 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.
Updated: April 1, 2020
During these turbulent times, credit card debt is something that can be a cause for worry. With the current uncertainty about the economy, it is important to practice an overabundance of caution with our finances. However, sometimes life doesn’t work out that way. We might have had back-breaking medical bills. Or the car broke down again. The fact is, while credit cards are partly for convenience, sometimes they can seem rather inconvenient because of a steep balance.
While not a cure-all, a card with a 0% APR offer on purchases, balance transfers or both can help pull you up out of ever-building debt by temporarily halting the interest charges that come with carrying a balance. We evaluated over 1,000 credit cards with a 0% intro APR offer and calculated the estimated savings of each offer and the other benefits for each card. Here, we look at:
Your credit card possibilities open up considerably when you have good credit, and the Blue Cash Everyday is a prime example. With a strong 0% intro APR and excellent rewards on this card, it’s easy to see why good credit is worth attaining.
The go-to rate for the Blue Cash Everyday, at 12.99%-23.99% variable APR, compares well with other 0% intro APR cards, and the 0% offer is 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (then it reverts to the go-to rate).
There’s a lot to love about this card, but one possible downside is that if you have a need for a longer 0% intro APR offer on purchases or balance transfers, you may have to forego this card’s rewards for better low interest intro APR terms.
This card is one of our favorites for both 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers – pay no interest for 18 months, then it’s 15.49%-24.99% variable.
For the consumer with excellent credit and an upcoming purchase that you want to avoid paying interest on, the Wells Fargo Platinum may just be the card to suit. There’s also cellphone protection of $600 (with a $25 deductible) against covered damage or theft when you pay your monthly cellphone bill with this card.
The Wells Fargo Platinum has no sign-up bonus or ongoing rewards, and the regular APR starts out high at 15.49%-24.99% variable.
Offering to double your cash back at year end, this card can earn you up to $600 in cash back your first year with its 5% back on select categories up to the quarterly maximum of $1,500 in purchases after activating, making it $300 for the year, then another $300 at year-end. Categories for Q1 2020 include the super-practical category of groceries, along with Walgreens and CVS purchases.
The Discover it Cash Back has one of the lowest variable APRs among 0% interest cards, with 11.99% – 22.99%, which is handy if you think you may carry a balance after the no interest offer ends. Also, the rewards are strong, even with no sign-up bonus.
While decent, the intro offer of 14 months of 0% interest on purchases and balance transfers isn’t the longest offer out there – if your primary concern is to pay a sizeable balance off while avoiding interest charges, you may want to look elsewhere. There also isn’t a lot in the way of purchase and travel benefits with this card.
This card goes toe-to-toe with other cash back cards, not only in the rewards arena, but also with its low ongoing regular rate and by offering 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. It’s a super low 12.99%-23.99% variable APR after that.
Looking for a cash back card with oomph? With the Cash Magnet, you can earn a $150 statement credit after a $1,000 spend within the first 3 months and 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Also, begin using this card immediately upon being approved, provided you are eligible for Instant Card Number.
Although not currently an issue due to a near-shutdown of international travel, as an American Express card, the Cash Magnet would not be widely accepted overseas because the American Express network doesn’t have much of a presence beyond U.S. borders. Besides, there’s a 2.7% foreign transaction fee with this card (see rates and fees).
It’s hard to find a card that matches the Diamond Preferred’s intro 0% interest offer, making it the best in its class among cards that accept excellent credit. Also, its regular APR of 13.74%-23.74% variable starts out lower than the Citi Simplicity.
The Diamond Preferred stands out for its no interest offer on balance transfers – get it for 21 months, then 13.74%-23.74% variable APR after that.
This card has no sign-up bonus and no ongoing rewards, which means you’ll need to consider whether it’s a good card for the long haul. Also, the 0% interest offer on purchases is only 12 months (it’s 13.74%-23.74% variable APR after that).
If you struggle to pay on time or keep track of due dates, this card’s forgiving fee and penalty policy will be a lifesaver. It’s one of the only cards that charges absolutely no late payment fee or penalty APR, no matter how many times you pay late.
You’ll get 21 months to chip away at a transferred balance while paying no interest (the APR is 14.74%-24.74% after that). You can also take advantage of the card’s 0% APR for the first 12 months on new purchases (14.74%-24.74% thereafter) to finance large expenses over time.
Since it offers no rewards program and few notable perks, the card will have little long-term value for most cardholders. The balance transfer fee is also steep (5% or $5, whichever is higher). You may be better off with a card that charges no balance transfer fee, even if it offers a shorter promotional APR period.
Not only does the Wells Fargo Cash Wise offer a $150 sign-up bonus that requires a low $500 spend within the first 3 months, there’s also the 1.5% cash rewards offer on purchases.
This card’s cellphone protection is worth your notice – get $600 protection (after a $25 deductible) against covered damage or theft when you pay your cell bill with your new card. Also, enjoy 1.8% cash rewards on qualified digital wallet purchases, such as Apple Pay® or Google Pay™, during the first 12 months from opening your account.
While the 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers is competitive (it’s 13.99%-25.99% variable after that), you may want to consider a card with a longer 0% offer if your balance is sizable.
You’ll be hard pressed to find a better cash back card – earn 1% cash back when you make a purchase and another 1% cash back after you’ve paid for that purchase, which beats out such cards as the Cash Wise in ongoing rewards.
The Citi Double Cash offers 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, an unusual feature for a cash back card. It’s 13.99%-23.99% variable after that.
Unfortunately, the Double Cash has no sign-up bonus and there’s no 0% intro APR offer on purchases.
| Credit Card | Best For: | 0% APR – Balance Transfers | 0% APR – Purchases | Regular APR | CreditCards.com Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | Good credit | 15 months** | 15 months | 12.99% – 23.99% Variable | 3.5 / 5 |
| Wells Fargo Platinum card | 0% intro APR | 18 months** | 18 months | 15.49% – 24.99% Variable | 4.4 / 5 |
| Discover it® Cash Back | Rotating category rewards | 14 months | 14 months | 11.99% – 22.99% Variable | 3.9 / 5 |
| American Express Cash Magnet® Card | Low interest | 15 months** | 15 months | 12.99% – 23.99% Variable | 2.9 / 5 |
| Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card | Balance transfer | 21 months | 12 months | 13.74% – 23.74% Variable | 3.9 / 5 |
| Citi Simplicity® Card | No late fees | 21 months | 12 months | 14.74% – 24.74% Variable | 3.7 / 5 |
| Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® card | Sign-up bonus | 15 months^ | 15 months | 13.99% – 25.99% Variable | 3.8 / 5 |
| Citi® Double Cash Card | Cash back | 18 months | n/a | 13.99% – 23.99% Variable | 3.7 / 5 |
* For balance transfers made in the first 60 days
^ For qualifying balance transfers made in the first 120 days
** For qualifying balance transfers
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
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. Surprisingly, two-thirds of consumers we polled said they had never applied for a credit card to pay 0% on a new purchase.
CreditCards.com November 2018 0%/BT survey
Unlike other types of loans, credit cards have several APRs, which we look at here.
As we mentioned, there are a number of factors to consider when choosing your 0% intro APR card, including rewards, length of the purchase and balance transfer offers, annual fee and balance transfer fee.
Here, we look at the Amex EveryDay®† Card and the Chase Freedom Unlimited. Both have no annual fee and both offer 0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the Freedom Unlimited has a higher go-to APR of 16.49%-25.24% variable, while the EveryDay’s is 13.99%-24.99% variable.
(The information for the Chase Freedom Unlimited has been collected independently by CreditCards.com. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.)
For our purposes we average that consumers spent $21,765 on consumer credit cards in 2018, based on our analysis of this 2019 Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection report. The same consumer had an average of $5,294 of card debt. We compare the cards in the first year of card membership; the second year; and the benefits offered.
| Card: | Amex EveryDay† |
Chase Freedom Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome offer: | 10,000 points ($100) after $1,000 spend in first 3 months |
$150 after $500 spend within first 3 months |
| Rewards rate: | 2 points per dollar on U.S. supermarket purchases ($6,000 limit on purchases per year, 1% thereafter), 1 point per dollar other purchases |
1.5% cash back on all purchases |
| Spending: | Groceries: $5,005*2 points= 10,010 points ($100) Other qualified purchases: $16,758*1 point= 16,758 points ($168) 20% bonus on qualified purchases: 26,768 points*20%= 5,354 points ($54) |
$21,765*1.5%= $326 |
| Cost of balance transfer: | $0 when made within the first 60 days |
$159 |
| Annual Fee: | $0 | $0 |
| 1st year value: | $422 | $317 |
| Card: | Amex EveryDay† |
Chase Freedom Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
| Spending: | Groceries: $5,005*2 points= 10,010 points ($100) Other qualified purchases: $16,758*1 point= 16,758 points ($168) 20% bonus on qualified purchases: 26,768 points*20%= 5,354 points ($54) |
$21,765*1.5%= $326 |
| Annual Fee: | $0 | $0 |
| 2nd year value: | $322 | $326 |
| Card: | Amex EveryDay† |
Chase Freedom Unlimited |
|---|---|---|
| Card benefits: | Free access to credit score Purchase protection Car rental loss and damage insurance Exclusive access to ticket presales & and cardmember-only events Global assist hotline |
Free access to credit score Purchase protection Extended warranty Car rental insurance Baggage delay insurance Roadside dispatch Travel accident insurance |
Yes, credit card interest fees raise your debt, but they can also make it difficult to pay down that debt if you are paying the minimum each month. Here, we look at how they can cost you money, how your credit score impacts them and more.
The regular interest rate on your credit card is based primarily on your credit score, which in turn is informed by the amount you owe compared to your available credit as well as your on-time payments. The higher your score, the lower your risk to the bank, and therefore the lower the interest rate you will likely get.
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.
Use Creditcard’s.com’s payoff calculator to find out how much you are paying in interest.
We’ve found that you can save roughly $200 a year when you take advantage of your grace period. But that means that you pay in full before the deadline each month to qualify.
You may know that you should pay in full each month to avoid interest charges, but here’s a tip – consider paying the balance off multiple times a month. Why? Because it will help keep your credit utilization ratio low, thereby helping your credit score.
We run the risk of overcharging on credit cards because we don’t “see” the transaction – in other words, money doesn’t leave our hands. By managing your credit card on a weekly cadence, you are less likely to go over your budget because you can correct yourself sooner.
If you simply can’t pay down the balance, at least don’t pay only the minimum. The more you pay each month, the faster you’ll pay down the debt, but also you’ll pay less in interest.
One little-known way to lower your interest is to simply ask for a lower rate. If you are assigned a higher rate on the card’s range, don’t be shy about asking for a lower rate. We found that 56% of consumers who asked were granted a lower interest rate.
Sometimes you’ll see the opportunity to pay over time at, say, a furniture store or a jewelry store and defer interest. Be careful, because that means you are accruing interest from the beginning, and you may have to pay that interest if you don’t pay the balance before the offer ends. By comparison, 0% intro offers on credit cards don’t charge interest during the offer period, although interest does kick on any remaining balance once the offer ends.
Having a credit card with a no interest offer not only helps you save money. It can be good for consolidation, non-card debt, emergencies, and sometimes, rewards. But there are, as with everything, downsides as well.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Save money on interest | Temptation to incur more debt |
| Can offer rewards | May have to choose between rewards and lengthy term |
| Typically no annual fee | Typically requires good or excellent credit |
| Good for major purchases, consolidation, balance transfers | May be a poor choice for non-card debt, emergencies |
The national average APR has been hovering just above 17%. The average rate among low interest credit cards is currently under 14.10%. Usually, your credit cards’ interest rates are variable and depend on the Federal Reserve’s rates as well as your payment habits. In the case of 0% APR cards, the lower rate on the scale is sometimes below the national average.
Credit card issuers don’t just charge high rates because they want to gouge the consumer – they face significant risk when they issue a credit card.
Why? Because they are committing to lending you money, just as when a bank grants you a mortgage or car loan. However, cards differ because they are what is called an unsecured product, while a loan to buy a car or house is secured. That means that with a card, there is no collateral, or an asset the lender can recover if you don’t pay them their money back.
Also, unlike a lending product such as some student loans in which the federal government may back the loan, no one is backing the loan you are taking out with a credit card every time you make a charge.
† All information about The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer. The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express is no longer available through CreditCards.com.
Laura Mohammad is an editor and writer at CreditCards.com. She regularly covers the best credit cards and works to bring you the most up-to-date analysis and advice. You can reach Laura at laura.mohammad@creditcards.com.
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