Our experts answer readers’ credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess credit cards). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Chase Freedom Flex℠, Citi Prestige® Card. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.
A 0% APR credit card can help you save money when you need to carry a balance on your purchases. Insider reviewed dozens of the best credit cards with introductory 0% APR offers to come up with the 10 best-in-class products.
Best 0% Interest Credit Cards
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card: Extra-long 0% intro APR offer Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Our favorite cash rewards cardChase Freedom Unlimited®: Best Chase intro APR cardCiti Custom Cash℠ Card: Best intro APR card if your spending changes month to monthChase Freedom Flex℠ : Intro APR and maximum cash back, if you work for itBlue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Intro APR and bonus cash back at U.S. supermarketsCapital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Intro APR and bonus cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One TravelCapital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: High cash back on diningDiscover it® Cash Back: Rotating cash-back categoriesChase Slate Edge℠: For starting out or building credit
0% APR Credit Card Details
0% APR Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions
How do 0% interest credit cards work?
Credit cards with 0% introductory interest periods allow you to carry a balance for a specified period of time without paying interest, as long as you make at least the minimum payment each month. These cards come with a 0% intro APR on purchases, balance transfers, or both. As long as you pay off the entire balance before the introductory period ends, you won’t pay interest on your balance.
Should I pay off a 0% interest credit card?
Yes, you need to pay off your 0% interest credit card eventually, because the intro offer won’t last forever. During the introductory period, you typically need to make the minimum payment on the card (if not more) in order to avoid losing your intro 0% APR. You should have a plan to pay off your entire balance before the intro period ends to avoid paying interest on your remaining balance.
How do I get a card with 0% interest?
You can get a 0% interest credit card by applying online. You can also check with your bank in person to see if it offers any 0% intro APR cards that appeal to you. Keep in mind most cards with intro APR offers require you to have at least a good credit score, which means a FICO score of 670 or higher.
Does a 0% APR credit card hurt your credit?
Using a zero interest credit card won’t hurt your credit. In fact, if the intro APR offer allows you pay down your debt before the intro period ends, it could actually help your credit score by reducing your amount owed. Make sure to only spend what you can afford to pay off to avoid incurring more debt and high interest fees.
0% APR Credit Card Reviews
Read more about our top picks and find the card that is right for you.
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card – Product Name Only
Introductory APR offer: Wells Fargo Reflect® Card – Intro APR, followed by a Wells Fargo Reflect® Card – Regular APR APR
Annual fee: Wells Fargo Reflect® Card – Annual Fee
If you’re looking for an ultra-long no-interest period on purchases, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card – Product Name Only fits the bill. It’s got an outstanding intro APR offer, good for 21 months.
The downside is that the card doesn’t earn rewards for spending, so if that’s important to you, you might be better off with a card that offers a slightly shorter zero-interest period that does earn rewards. Beyond the intro APR offer, the card comes with a modest array of benefits, including cell phone protection and roadside dispatch.
Wells Fargo Reflect Credit Card Review
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card – Product Name Only
Introductory APR offer: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card – Intro APR, followed by a Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card – Regular APR APR.
Annual fee: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
If you’re looking for a card with a solid welcome bonus offer and strong Wells Fargo Rewards earning on all purchases, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is an excellent choice. New cardholders earn Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card – Intro Bonus.
The card’s intro APR offer is generous, and you’ll have access to a number of good benefits, including cell phone protection. Just be aware this card charges foreign transaction fees, so it’s not a good pick for international travel.
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card Review
Chase Freedom Unlimited® – Product Name Only
Introductory APR offer: Chase Freedom Unlimited® – Intro APR, followed by a Chase Freedom Unlimited® – Regular APR APR
Annual fee: Chase Freedom Unlimited® – Annual Fee
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® starts new customers off with $200 after spending $500 in the first three months from account opening.
They can also earn 5% back on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, 3% back on dining and drugstores, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.
Considering the card’s intro APR offer, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a standout choice for consumers who want to earn rewards on a big purchase and pay down their balance over time without paying any interest.
Chase Freedom Unlimited Review
Citi Custom Cash℠ Card – Product Name Only
Introductory APR offer: Citi Custom Cash℠ Card – Intro APR, followed by a Citi Custom Cash℠ Card – Regular APR APR
Annual fee: Citi Custom Cash℠ Card – Annual Fee
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is a great choice if your spending habits tend to change from month to month. It offers a welcome bonus of Citi Custom Cash℠ Card – Intro Bonus. In addition, cardholders earn 5% cash back on up to $500 in purchases in the eligible category they spend the most in each billing cycle (then 1%), and 1% on all other purchases.
The qualifying categories include everyday expenses that should appeal to most folks: restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment.
Although it’s marketed as a cash-back card, the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card actually earns Citi ThankYou points, which are worth 1 cent apiece for cash back, travel booked through Citi, gift cards, merchandise, and more. And again, if you have a Citi Premier® Card or Citi Prestige® Card (no longer available to new applicants), you can pool your rewards and transfer points to Citi’s airline and hotel partners.
Chase Freedom Flex℠ – Product Name Only
Introductory APR offer: Chase Freedom Flex℠ – Intro Bonus, followed by a Chase Freedom Flex℠ – Regular APR APR.
Annual fee: Chase Freedom Flex℠ – Annual Fee
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers a bonus of Chase Freedom Flex℠ – Intro Bonus.
It also earns 5% back on up to $1,500 spent in rotating bonus categories like Amazon and streaming services when you activate each quarter (then 1%) and on travel purchased through the Chase travel portal. It also offers 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on all other purchases. From July 1 to September 30, 2023, the Chase Freedom 5x categories are gas stations, EV charging, and select live entertainment.
This card is a great option for anyone who wants to avoid interest payments for a limited time while earning rewards on their purchases. If you pair the Chase Freedom Flex℠ or Chase Freedom Unlimited® with an annual-fee Chase card that earns Chase Ultimate Rewards points — like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — your rewards become more flexible, since you can transfer points to Chase’s airline and hotel partners in addition to redeeming for cash back.
Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card Review
Not sure which Freedom card is right for you? Check out our comparison of the Chase Freedom credit cards for a full rundown of earnings, benefits, and perks.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express – Product Name Only
Introductory APR offer: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express – Intro APR, followed by a Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express – Regular APR APR
Annual fee: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express – Annual Fee
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers a welcome bonus of Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express – Intro Bonus.
You can also earn 3% back on up to $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each calendar year (then 1%), 3% back at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 spent in purchases and at U.S. supermarkets each calendar year (then 1%), 3% back on online retail purchases on up to $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each calendar year (then 1%), and 1% back on everything else (cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as statement credits).
Blue Cash Everyday Amex Card Review
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card – Product Name Only
Introductory APR offer: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card – Intro APR, followed by a Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card – Regular APR APR
Annual fee: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card – Annual Fee
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card earns an unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 1.5% back on all other eligible purchases, and that’s on top of the welcome offer: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card – Intro Bonus.
Since this card also comes with a Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card – Intro APR, then a Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card – Regular APR APR, it’s an excellent option for debt consolidation or avoiding interest on large purchases.
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card also offers cardholders up to six months of Uber One monthly membership (through November 14, 2024).
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card Review
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card – Product Name Only
Introductory APR offer: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card – Intro APR, followed by a Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card – Regular APR APR
Annual fee: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card – Annual Fee
If your goal is earning cash back while saving on interest on purchases, check out the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. This card has a good welcome offer: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card – Intro Bonus.
You can earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through November 14, 2024, and 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. You can also earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 3% back on dining, grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), entertainment, and streaming services, and 1% back on everything else you buy.
There’s no annual fee, and you’ll receive a Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card – Intro APR, followed by a Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card – Regular APR APR
Capital One SavorOne Card Review
Discover it® Cash Back – Product Name Only
Introductory APR offer: Discover it® Cash Back – Intro APR, then Discover it® Cash Back – Regular APR APR
Annual fee: Discover it® Cash Back – Annual Fee
Consider the Discover it® Cash Back if you want to earn rewards and save money on interest without an annual fee. Once you enroll, this card lets you earn 5% back on up to $1,500 spent in quarterly bonus categories that change every three months (then 1%) plus 1% back on all other purchases Discover It Cashback rotation.
Discover Cashback Match will match all the cash back you earned in your first year of card membership, which works as a delayed welcome bonus of sorts. And that’s not to mention the lucrative intro APR offer this card extends.
Discover it Cash Back Card Review
Chase Slate Edge℠ – Product Name Only
Introductory APR offer: Chase Slate Edge℠ – Intro APR, then a Chase Slate Edge℠ – Regular APR APR
Annual fee: Chase Slate Edge℠ – Annual Fee
The Chase Slate Edge℠ comes with no welcome bonus offer, and it doesn’t earn rewards. It’s geared toward those who are taking steps to improve their financial situation, and offers features that can help you increase your credit score and reduce the amount of interest you pay.
One benefit designed to help you build your credit is an automatic, one-time review for a higher credit limit if you’ve paid on time and spent at least $500 in your first six months of opening the Chase Slate Edge℠. A higher limit could have a positive effect on your credit utilization ratio and potentially improve your credit score.
In addition, on each account anniversary, you’ll be considered for a 2% APR reduction, as long as you’ve paid your card on time and spent at least $1,000 on purchases in the previous anniversary year. The reduction is capped, though — it will only be reduced until your APR reaches the Prime Rate plus 9.74% Prime Rate.
Should you use an introductory 0% APR credit card offer?
Before you take advantage of an introductory 0% APR credit card offer, it’s important to consider the following:
Know your offer. Make sure to read the fine print and understand exactly how long your offer lasts. Also, make sure you understand your new interest rate once the 0% intro APR comes to a screeching halt. Take debt repayment seriously. Pay off all your debt (or as much debt as possible) before your 0% intro offer runs out. Once it ends, your card’s APR will revert to the standard variable rate, which is much higher. Stop using credit cards. While it can make sense to use a 0% intro APR credit for a large expense if you get zero interest on purchases for a limited time, it’s best to avoid using cards for regular purchases unless you have the cash to pay your credit card balance off in full each month. If you let 0% intro APR go to your head, you could wind up with a ton of new debt you didn’t plan for.
Why are credit card interest rates so high?
Just a few short years ago, having excellent credit meant your credit card interest rate was low. Some people even selected cards based not only on miles, rewards, and cash back, but also on the very interest rate a card charged annually.
My, how things have changed. Good credit still rocks, of course, but today, interest rates on credit cards are some of the highest they’ve been in the past quarter-century. The interest rate on your credit card varies by the card issuer, and the better your credit score, the lower the interest rate you’re likely to receive. Well, within those historically high rates, of course.
In 2009, Congress passed the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which in essence restricted card issuers from changing the terms, including the interest rate, on your card after you opened it. Hard to believe that was once allowed.
Now that it’s harder for card issuers to raise rates in response to economic downturns, they’ve raised the rates on new accounts across the board.
What are credit card APRs right now?
In this time of historically high credit card rates, the very best credit card interest rates are still offered to those with top credit scores, usually considered 700 or above. What’s more, rewards credit cards may have some of the higher APRs available, since card issuers are aware that consumers with good credit are typically using these cards for rewards and paying them off monthly.
While rates may vary according to the type of card you get, the average credit card interest rate clocks in at just over 20%.
The problem is that when you apply for a card, you can only see the card’s range of interest. You won’t know the exact interest rate you’re likely to receive until you’re approved and actually receive your card.
You can take an educated guess that if your credit score is 700 and above, you’ll probably get the lowest of the range for that card. If your scores fall in the mid to high 600s, you’ll likely hit the card’s mid-range interest rate, and if your scores are lower than the mid-600s, you can count on being offered the highest end of that card’s interest rate range.
What is a good interest rate on a credit card?
The average credit card interest rate is about 20%, so anything below that number would be considered a relatively good APR. Of course, no APR is better than a low APR, so if you’re able to take advantage of an intro APR offer that waives interest on balance transfers and/or purchases, you’ll come out even further ahead.
Why is my APR so high?
If you feel your credit card’s APR rate is high, you’re not alone. Because credit card debt isn’t secured in any way (unlike mortgages, which are secured by property), credit card issuers impose high-interest rates if you default on your payments.
While credit card APRs are high in general, the specific APR you’re assigned on your credit card falls within a range. The higher your credit score, the lower your APR will generally be. That’s because a high credit score generally indicates that you’ve successfully paid off your credit card debts promptly.
How can I lower my APR?
Beyond applying for a credit card with an introductory APR offer, you can contact your credit card issuer and request a decrease in your APR. There’s no guarantee the issuer will decide to lower your APR, but if you have a good payment history and you indicate that you may move your business elsewhere if you can’t get a lower APR, you could have a solid case for getting the rate reduced.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Zero-Interest Credit Cards
Insider chose the best zero-interest credit cards by looking at all the credit cards currently available with 0% intro APRs on purchases.
We then narrowed down the list by looking at the terms and length of each introductory offer, with longer introductory periods ranking highly. We also considered rewards, like cash back or travel points, card benefits, and factors like annual fees and foreign transaction fees.
Here’s Insider’s methodology for rating credit cards.
