Using a credit card to pay down a balance over time can be convenient, but there is a trade-off: interest charges. You can think of interest as the fee you pay for borrowing money, usually expressed as a percentage of your balance. You can avoid interest entirely if you pay your balance in full each month.
With a zero interest credit card, you get the best of both worlds: the ability to split up payments over a certain amount of time without accruing interest charges. These credit cards will typically offer new cardholders a 0% introductory APR period – usually 12 months or longer – in which new purchases or even balance transfers made with their card do not accumulate any interest.
With the right zero interest card, you can save hundreds or more. Our experts have analyzed 1,002 different credit cards with a 0% introductory APR period and listed the best offers from our partners, making your decision that much easier. For more, check out our payoff calculator to estimate how much you could save with a zero-interest credit card.
Using a credit card to pay down a balance over time can be convenient, but there is a trade-off: interest charges. You can think of interest as the fee you pay for borrowing money, usually expressed as a percentage of your balance. You can avoid interest entirely if you pay your balance in full each month.
With a zero interest credit card, you get the best of both worlds: the ability to split up payments over a certain amount of time without accruing interest charges. These credit cards will typically offer new cardholders a 0% introductory APR period – usually 12 months or longer – in which new purchases or even balance transfers made with their card do not accumulate any interest.
With the right zero interest card, you can save hundreds or more. Our experts have analyzed 1,002 different credit cards with a 0% introductory APR period and listed the best offers from our partners, making your decision that much easier. For more, check out our payoff calculator to estimate how much you could save with a zero-interest credit card.
Chase Freedom Unlimited® – 15-month 0% intro APR for purchases
Regular APR is 14.99 - 23.74% Variable
Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card – 15-billing-cycle 0% intro APR for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days and purchases
Regular APR is 13.99% - 23.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Wells Fargo Platinum card – 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 18 months from account opening
Regular APR is 16.49%-24.49% (Variable)
Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® card – 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for 15 months from account opening
Regular APR is 14.49%-24.99% (Variable)
Citi® Double Cash Card – 18-month 0% intro APR for balance transfers
Regular APR is 13.99% - 23.99% (Variable)
BankAmericard® credit card – 18-billing-cycle 0% intro APR for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days and purchases
Regular APR is 12.99% - 22.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
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.
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.
Earn 15,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $150 in gift cards at thankyou.com
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.
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
At A Glance
0% Intro APR Purchase Period
0% Intro APR for 12 billing cycles for purchases
0% Intro APR Balance Transfer Period
Intro offer only applies to purchases
Regular APR
13.99% - 23.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
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.
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.
If paying off debt is your top priority and you have the good to 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). For new cardholders, the balance transfer fee is $5 or 3% of the amount transferred, whichever is greater. Unfortunately, the lack of a rewards system limits this card’s long-term value, but there is no annual fee.
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 grocery stores, 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). There is a 3% intro balance transfer fee (up to 5% fee on future balance transfers).
This no annual fee card has a decent 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.
The sign-up bonus on this card is $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.
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 15 billing cycles (after that it’s 13.99%-23.99% variable). Keep in mind that any balance transfers will be subject to a fee of 3% ($10 minimum).
The Wells Fargo Platinum boasts an impressive 18-month-from-account-opening introductory APR period for both purchases and qualifying balance transfers (then 16.49%-24.49% variable APR). If you’re looking to maximize the amount of time you can avoid interest charges, this is one of the best offers on the market. However, there is a tradeoff if you’re going to transfer a balance: a fee of 3% or $5 (whichever is greater) for transfers made within the first 120 days from account opening, then up to 5% after that ($5 minimum). Also, there is no rewards program, so the long-term value of this card is limited.
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.
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 15-month introductory APR period from account opening for purchases and qualifying balance transfers made within the first 120 days isn’t especially long (14.49% – 24.99% variable APR thereafter). Plus, there’s an intro balance transfer fee of 3% for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5% ($5 minimum) However, the card keeps its value long after that period ends, offering 1.5% cash rewards on purchases. Plus, you’ll earn a boosted rate of 1.8% cash rewards on digital wallet purchases for the first 12 months if you use the card to pay through Google Pay™ or Apple Pay®.
One of our favorite flat-rate cash back cards, the Citi Double Cash Card is ideal for rewards-savvy applicants with good to 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). The balance transfer fee for new cardmembers is either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater. On the flip side, there is no 0% intro APR offer for purchases.
With this card, you’ll have 18 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 balance transfer fee is a standard 3%, with a $10 minimum. The low regular APR and lack of an annual fee make this card more valuable than the average 0% APR card.
Every credit card comes with an APR, also known as an interest rate, which is usually expressed as a percentage. APR stands for annual percentage rate and is essentially the cost of using the credit card to borrow money. The lower the interest rate, the less interest you will pay.
A 0% interest credit card is a product that allows you to use the card without accumulating interest for a set amount of time. Some cards even offer a 0% intro APR period for debt you transfer from a different card, too, which can be a saving grace for those who are overwhelmed by an existing credit card balance. Zero interest cards usually require good or excellent credit and often have no annual fee.
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 0% interest credit cards work?
Each zero percent introductory offer is different, but there are a few generalities that you should be familiar with.
Only for new accounts
Usually, 0% introductory offers are only for new applicants. If you’ve already had the card for years when you find out about the 0% offer, chances are you won’t qualify.
Another situation that usually makes one ineligible for a 0% intro APR offer is completing a product change. Say you call your card issuer and ask to trade your card for a different one without closing your account. Even if the card is new to you, your account wouldn’t be considered new.
For balance transfers or new purchases
Some cards offer a zero percent intro APR period only for new purchases made with the card. Others offer that 0% rate for balance transfers. Some offer the same 0% intro APR period for both.
With balance transfers, the 0% intro APR offer is usually only valid for balance transfers made within a short period of time after you open the account, such as 60 days. Sometimes you can transfer balances from multiple cards. You’ll usually have to pay a fee for transferring a balance, something like 3% – 5% of the transfer amount. If you still have a balance when the intro APR period is over, the APR will apply to whatever the current balance is.
With new purchases, it’s pretty straightforward. You can carry a balance from month to month without accumulating any interest until your intro period is over. Once that period ends, any balance remaining on your card will accrue interest.
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 zero percent 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 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 to make the most of your zero interest intro APR
Transfer existing, high-interest debt. Chipping away at credit card debt is a good thing, but it’s even better to do so without paying interest charges. Use our balance transfer calculator to determine how much you could save by transferring your balance to a card with a 0% intro APR. Our calculator factors in the cost of balance transfer fees too.
Plan large purchases ahead of time. Do you have a home improvement project on the horizon? What about a car repair, or even a vacation? If you have a large purchase planned, taking advantage of a 0% intro APR offer can reduce some of the financial strain.
Make sure your balance is as close to zero as possible when the intro period ends. Any balance that you still owe at the end of your 0% intro period will be subject to interest charges, even if you made the purchases before the intro period ended. For that reason, you should be hyper-aware of when that period ends.
How to reduce your interest costs
All good things must come to an end, and that includes 0% introductory APR periods. When that time comes, your credit card balance will be subject to interest charges, which can add up quickly if you’re not careful. Let’s look now at how to minimize your interest costs.
Don’t carry a balance over to the next month. The best way to avoid interest charges is to pay your balance in full and on time each month. Not only will you avoid interest charges, but you’ll also give your credit score a boost.
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.
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.
If you’re looking to pay down a balance over time while minimizing interest charges, a 0% intro APR card is one of the best ways to do so. But there are shortfalls, like the fact that you usually need good to excellent credit to qualify. Here are a few similar options for those looking to pay minimal interest.
Bad credit? Consider transferring a balance to a card with no intro APR. Not all balance transfer cards offer introductory 0% interest periods. If you’ve got bad credit, you might have a better shot at approval for a balance transfer card with no introductory APR offer. If you can find a card with a better APR, you may still be able to save money by transferring a balance, even without the introductory period.
Look for a low interest credit card. While a 0% intro APR period is nice, the ongoing interest rate is important in the long term. If you might carry a balance in the future, a low interest card can save you money.
Negotiate a lower APR with your current issuer. Some credit card issuers may lower your APR if you make a good case for why you need it. Citing the current financial hardship you’re experiencing, as well as a positive history of on-time payments, will help your case. Read our full guide to lowering your credit card interest rate for step-by-step help.
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.
A credit card with a 0% introductory APR usually offers new cardholders a certain amount of time to use the card without accruing any interest at all — maybe for new purchases, balance transfers or both. Once that period ends, the regular APR kicks in. On the other hand, a low interest credit card might offer an introductory APR, but the main selling point is that the regular APR is lower than average.
Credit card offers are always changing, but one of the longest 0% intro APR offers we’ve seen is that of the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card, at 20 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers (after that it’s 14.49% to 24.49% variable).
A zero interest intro APR of 15 months is about average. On the high end, you’ll find intro APR offers of 18 months or longer. On the low end, 14 months or shorter is common.
Closing a credit card may ding your credit score, so it’s best to avoid doing so without good reason. Even if you don’t plan to use the card, an inactive account isn’t a bad thing. If nothing else, it helps your credit score by contributing to your total credit available.
On the other hand, if the card is costing you money to have around – maybe by way of an annual fee – closing the account may be the right move.
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.
About the Reviewer
Ted Rossman
Creditcards.com analyst Ted Rossman has helped consumers make well-informed decisions about credit cards for over ten years. His advice is regularly featured with major media outlets such as the TODAY Show, Good Morning America, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times among others. He can be reached at ted.rossman@creditcards.com.
Essential news and expert tips in your inbox every week
Your credit cards journey is officially underway.
Keep an eye on your inbox—we’ll be sending over your first message soon.
Advertiser Disclosure
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.
Know your odds before you apply
See your unique approval odds listed next to cards on our site. We’ll do a soft credit pull to find them, which will never impact your credit score.
Calculating your approval odds
Oops! Something went wrong.
We’re sorry, but something went wrong and we couldn’t find your approval odds. Instead, you’ll see recommended credit ranges from the issuers listed next to cards on our site to help you determine which cards you’re likely to be approved for.
Back to top
