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What's better than taking that dream vacation, or finally getting that big ticket wish list item? Not having to pay for it right away; enter the 0% intro APR credit card!
These types of credit cards offer zero interest, meaning you don't rack up interest during a set period of time. The best no interest credit cards can give you up to 21 months with no interest on purchases and/or balance transfers, before you start accruing interest on your credit card balance.
With plenty of options on the market, here's a highlight of our expert picks making it easy to cut through the noise.
Great for: Unlimited cash back
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Purchases: 0% intro APR, 15 months from account opening
Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
Regular APR
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
Rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
2% cash rewards
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
$200 cash rewards
This card’s unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases is the highest we’ve seen for a flat-rate rewards card with no annual fee. It also has an incredibly easy-to-earn $200 welcome bonus and a generous intro APR offer. We simply haven’t come across this combination of top perks in one card before. Read Full Review
Great for: Balance transfers and cash back
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 6 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months
Regular APR
18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
Rewards 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically
1% - 2% Cashback
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer N/A
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Features the typically impressive slate of Discover card perks, but without the big bonus cash back. Read Full Review
Great for: Long 0% intro APR
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
Purchases: 0% intro APR, 21 months from account opening
Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
Regular APR
18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR
Rewards
N/A
Annual Fee N/A
$0
This no-frills card is a solid choice if your priority is to avoid credit card interest for as long as possible. It offers an incredible 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. The balance transfer fee (5%, min: $5) is higher than some cards — but if you want an equally long intro APR on purchases, then this card is hard to beat. Read Full Review
Great for: No Penalty APR or late payment fee
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 21 months
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.99% (Variable)
Rewards
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Lower intro balance transfer fee
This is one of our favorite cards for balance transfers. It has 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers and a discounted balance transfer fee for the first four months. That combo makes it one of the most generous balance transfer offers we’ve seen. Plus, you can choose from any available payment date. That way, you can set up automatic payments that are aligned with your paycheck. Read Full Review
Great for: Cash back versatility with a big bonus
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months
Regular APR
20.49%-29.24% Variable
Rewards 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.
5% cash back offer
Annual Fee N/A
$0
Welcome Offer Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening!
$200 bonus
This Chase card is one of our favorites, and with good reason. You earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate, alongside other standout perks (and at least 1% on all purchases). Plus, this one comes without an annual fee and with a generous welcome bonus. Read Full Review
Great for: Bonus cash back
Fair to Excellent (580-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
Rewards 5% cash back in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle (up to the first $500 spent), 1% cash back on other purchases. Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.
1% - 5% cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
20,000 ThankYou® Points
We love this card’s easy-to-use yet lucrative cash back program. Each billing cycle, cardholders earn 5% cash back in their top spend category (up to $500 spent in eligible categories). Eligible categories include grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, select travel and more. The card automatically adjusts to your spending habits, which makes it easy to maximize your rewards. Read Full Review
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Great for: Purchases and balance transfers
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% on purchases and balance transfers for the first 21 billing cycles on purchases billing cycles, and after that 18.74% - 29.74% (Variable).
Purchases: 0%, 21 billing cycles on purchases
Balance Transfers: 0%, 21 billing cycles
Regular APR
18.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
Rewards
N/A
Annual Fee
N/A
Welcome Offer
N/A
Got a big purchase to finance over time? Consider this U.S. Bank card, as it'll give you a whopping 21 billing cycles of 0% APR on purchases. This also goes for balance transfers, making this one a great fit if you have some existing debt to pay off. It also comes without an annual fee.
Let's take a deeper look at how to best leverage your 0% intro APR card for maximum benefit.
This is one of our favorite cash rewards cards, earning an unlimited 2% on purchases. It also has a competitive 0% intro period, although it's not quite as long as some other cards on this list.
This 0% intro APR credit card is best for:
Apply for the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Some balance transfer cards are light on rewards, or don't offer them at all. That's not the case with this Discover card, which has one of the longest balance transfer offers as well as a rewards program and an excellent welcome offer.
This 0% intro APR credit card is best for:
Apply for the Discover it® Chrome
This award winner is purely a 0% intro APR credit card. Other benefits are limited. Most notably, it doesn't have any sort of rewards program. That means no cash back or points, and no sign-up bonus for new cardholders.
This no interest credit card is best for:
Apply for the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
This Citi card has a lengthy balance transfer offer, and it's also light on fees. There's no annual fee, no late payment fee, and no penalty APR.
This 0% intro APR card is best for:
Apply for the Citi Simplicity® Card
This card is The Motley Fool Ascent's award winner for best the no annual fee credit card. Cash back and a 0% intro APR are one of the best combinations you can get from a credit card. It's where this Chase credit card excels, as it's made for earning cash back bonuses and paying off purchases interest-free.
This no interest credit card is best for:
Apply for the Chase Freedom Flex®
With 0% intro APR cards, the intro rate applies to any type of purchase you make. That's also the case with this Citi card, but it's unique in that it earns 5% back in your top eligible spend category (from a list of 10) every billing cycle, up to a spending cap of $500.
This no interest card is great for:
Apply for the Citi Custom Cash® Card
Not only will you have plenty of time to pay off your card's balance, you'll also be able to do it on your schedule, as U.S. Bank lets you pick the due date that works best for you.
This 0% intro APR credit card is best for:
Card | Rating | Great For |
---|---|---|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Unlimited cash back |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Balance transfers and cash back |
|
2024 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Long 0% intro APR |
2024 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 4.00 out of 5 stars.
4.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: No Penalty APR or late payment fee |
2024 Award Winner
|
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Cash back versatility with a big bonus |
Rating image, 5.00 out of 5 stars.
5.00/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Bonus cash back |
|
Rating image, 4.50 out of 5 stars.
4.50/5
Our ratings are based on a 5 star scale.
5 stars equals Best.
4 stars equals Excellent.
3 stars equals Good.
2 stars equals Fair.
1 star equals Poor.
We want your money to work harder for you. Which is why our ratings are biased toward offers that deliver versatility while cutting out-of-pocket costs.
= Best = Excellent = Good = Fair = Poor |
Great For: Purchases and balance transfers |
Most of the top 0% intro APR cards we've reviewed can be compared by these three features:
The most important part of getting approved is your credit score. Card issuers consider your credit score and credit history as a whole, and this generally plays the largest role in their decision.
Some card issuer's also have their own rules about applications. These are normally related to the number of credit cards an applicant has opened. If you've opened a large number of cards recently, that could cause your application to be denied, even if you have a high credit score.
Here are more details on each of these factors.
A FICO® Score of around 670 or higher.
The majority of cards with 0% intro APR offers require you to have good credit. However, that's not to say you won't be approved with a lower credit score (or rejected with a higher one). The issuer will consider your entire credit history, as well existing income and debt, when making its decision.
You may be able to check for pre-approved offers if you're unsure of your credit qualifications. Getting pre-approved won't mean you're guaranteed approval, but it's definitely a positive sign that your credit doesn't immediately disqualify you.
Folks with a troubled credit history may not qualify for any 0% APR cards.
In that case, you may need to work on rebuilding your credit before you try to apply for a card with an intro APR offer.
If you have average credit, or even no credit, you'll have to look a little harder for a 0% APR card. Some starter cards may come with 0% APR offers, though they aren't usually as appealing as those from cards with higher credit requirements.
You may also need to look at issuers other than the big national banks. Smaller regional banks may have more flexible credit requirements. And local credit unions can have some great credit card offers for all sorts of credit backgrounds.
Expand each section below to learn more.
Credit cards offering 0% APR on purchases
If you're looking to finance a future purchase, you'll want a card with a great zero interest card offer on new purchases. The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is built for this job, offering a long intro period that eclipses our other top picks.
While the best no interest credit cards on purchases all have fantastic intro APR offers -- that's about all you get. These cards don't come with rewards or other perks that will make you want to keep them for the long haul.
Credit cards with zero interest on balance transfers
Our top pick here is also the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card thanks to its long zero interest introductory period and a low introductory balance transfer fee. If you want to compare other options, those are the two main features to consider.
0% APR rewards credit cards
A good pick for most folks will be the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, which pairs a high flat rewards rate with a competitive introductory term. Many rewards credit cards also offer intro APR deals, so you can earn rewards and still save money on interest fees. Remember that you only earn rewards on new purchases. You won't earn cash back rewards on any transferred balances.
Business credit cards with 0% APR
Business credit cards with intro APR offers used to be fairly rare, but they've become increasingly common. You can now find 0% APR offers on business cards that are nearly as good as those on personal cards. Here a few examples:
Anyone with a business can apply for a small business credit card. This includes sole proprietors and independent contractors. There are no minimum revenue requirements in most cases.
Keep in mind that you must personally guarantee your small business credit cards. The issuer will run a personal credit check. As with personal cards, 0% APR business cards typically require good personal credit.
Credit cards with a 0% intro APR are useful if you want to avoid interest charges, either on purchases or balance transfers.
Make sure to consider how long of a 0% APR period you need. Cards with the longest 0% introductory periods often offer just that -- long 0% APR periods -- but nothing else.
Ideally, we'd all pay our credit card balances in full each month. But sometimes you just need a little more time. You can get that time -- without the high interest fees with a top 0% APR credit card. But make note, once the intro period ends, you'll start accruing interest at the go-to rate.
If your specific needs are met with a somewhat shorter introductory APR period, you may be able to find a card that meets that need and provides rewards or cash back, for instance.
The simple answer here is: sometimes.
It's not uncommon for issuers to offer you random APR deals on existing credit cards. Sometimes, those deals may even include a 0% APR for a limited time. (In my experience, it's more often a reduced APR, not a 0% APR.)
Anecdotally, I've read stories of people who have successfully called up their issuer and asked for a 0% APR offer. This is most likely to be successful if you have a long history with the issuer, use the card often, and always pay on time.
These plans are different from APR offers in that your actual interest rate won't be impacted. However, they may still be a good option for repaying large purchases in some cases.
Some issuers may offer a payment plan option for large purchases. For example, both American Express (Pay Over Time) and Chase (My Chase Plan) offer payment plans where you can spread out payments for a purchase over a few months for a set monthly fee.
There are also store credit cards that offer zero interest promotional financing on purchases. Note that these are often deferred interest offers. With deferred interest, if you don't pay off your entire balance within the promotional period, the card issuer can charge you interest going back to the purchase date.
At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.
Our highest-rated credit cards have:
We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Motley Fool Ascent rates credit cards.
A 0% APR credit card doesn't charge interest on purchases for an introductory period. If you carry a balance from purchases during that time, you won't incur any interest charges. You are required to make minimum payments because if you don't, the card issuer may cancel the zero-interest offer.
Once the 0% APR offer ends, the credit card APR standard will apply to the current balance and new charges. This means you'll start paying the regular interest rate on any remaining balance you couldn't pay off before the end of the intro period. That's why it's highly recommended you pay off your entire balance before the end of the intro 0% APR offer.
The length of the intro period varies by card. Some credit cards offer a 0% intro APR for six months or less, but there are also intro 0% APR credit cards offering 18 months or longer without interest.
You can avoid paying credit card interest on the best 0% APR credit cards by paying off your entire balance before the introductory period ends. This can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars compared to what standard credit card interest rates would cost you.
We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent, a Motley Fool service, does not cover all offers on the market. The Ascent has a dedicated team of editors and analysts focused on personal finance, and they follow the same set of publishing standards and editorial integrity while maintaining professional separation from the analysts and editors on other Motley Fool brands.
For rates and fees for the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, click here
The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Visa and Mastercard.