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Best 0% APR credit cards
Our top picks have intro periods of a year or more.
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The best 0% APR credit cards feature the longest intro period length for balance transfers or purchases, and offer rewards or other value after their intro period is over. Finder’s credit card experts spend nearly 200 hours each week evaluating 0% APR credit cards based on several factors, including intro period length, balance transfer fees, rewards options, and similar features that can extend the value of an intro APR card past its promotional period.
Read on to see our list of top zero intro APR credit cards across 9 categories, and narrow down your search to the card that’s right for you.
- Why trust us? Unlike our competitors, Finder’s credit card experts research and write about all credit cards, including those from providers who aren’t partners on our site. Our trustworthy, unbiased evaluations are solely meant to help you choose the best credit card for your financial needs.
Best credit cards with 0% intro APR
We compared these 0% APR credit cards based on a few factors, other factors consumers might consider when looking for the best interest-free credit cards. Cards with standout performance in one or several of these areas were chosen as our top pick in a category.
What are the best 0% intro APR credit cards?
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best for everyday card with long intro APR on purchases
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best value for point transfers
- Chase Freedom Flex℠: Best 5% cashback credit card
- Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card: Best for 0% intro APR for balance transfers
- U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card: Best for 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card: Best 0% APR travel credit card
- Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card: Best cashback 0% APR card for purchases and balance transfers
Best for everyday card with long intro APR on purchases
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
★★★★★
670
Min. credit score
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Annual fee
Up to
3%
Cash back
Cash back
$200
Welcome offer
Welcome offer
With a high rewards rate on groceries, gas and department stores, this is a card worth adding to your wallet. What's more, it comes with one of the longest interest-free periods you can use to make large purchases and pay them off in more than a year.
- Cash back. Earn 3% back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 in spending each year, reverting to 1% after. Earn 2% back at US gas stations and department stores, and 1% back on all other purchases.
- Intro APR period. Get a 0% intro APR period on purchases for the first 15 months. After that, a variable 13.99% to 23.99% applies.
- Welcome offer. Earn $200 cash back when you spend $1,000 in your first 3 months of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees. Making purchases abroad or online with foreign merchants will cost you 2.7% of the amount of each transaction.
- Cash back restrictions. The groceries category for cash back doesn't apply to warehouse stores or superstores.
- No balance transfers. You can't make balance transfers with this card.
| Annual Fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable) |
| Balance transfer APR | N/A |
| Welcome offer | $200 after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months |
| Rewards | 2% at US gas stations and select US department stores, 3% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year, then 1% after that and on all other purchases |
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.
Best value for point transfers
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
★★★★★
670
Min. credit score
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Annual fee
Up to
5%
Cash back
Cash back
$200
Welcome offer
Welcome offer
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is no longer just your average 1.5% cashback card. Pair it with a Chase Sapphire card and even your base 1.5% cash back becomes either 1.87% or 2.25% for travel redemption.
- Point transfer value. Pair this card with one of the Sapphire cards and you get either 25% or 50% higher redemption value for travel purchases at the Chase Ultimate Rewards program.
- Intro APR period. Get 0% intro APR period on purchases for the first 15 months. After that, a variable 14.99% to 23.74% applies.
- Cash back. Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases and % cash back on groceries on up to during your (then 1.5%). Until March 2022, earn 5% cash back on Lyft rides. You'll earn 5% cash back on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards and on Lyft through March 2022, 3% back at restaurants and drugstores and unlimited 1.5% back on all other purchases.
- Foreign transaction fees. Making purchases abroad or online with foreign merchants will cost you 3%% of the amount of each transaction
| Annual Fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 14.99% to 23.74% variable) |
| Balance transfer APR | 14.99% to 23.74% variable |
| Welcome offer | $200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months |
| Rewards | 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase, 5% on Lyft, 3% on dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases |
Best 5% cashback credit card
Chase Freedom Flex℠
★★★★★
670
Min. credit score
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Annual fee
Up to
5%
Cash back
Cash back
$200
Welcome offer
Welcome offer
Competitor cards offer 5% back on rotating categories only. The Freedom Flex, however, lets you earn a high cashback rate on other cateogires of purchases on top of the rotating categories.
- Cash back. Earn 5% back on travel purchased via the Chase Ultimate Rewards, 5% back on Lyft rides through March 2022 and 5% back on up to $1,500 each quarter on rotating categories. After reaching the cap you earn 1% back. Purchases made at drugstores and restaurants, including takeout and delivery, earn 3 back. All other purchases earn 1% back.
- Intro APR period. Get 15 months of 0% intro APR period on purchases. A variable APR of 14.99% to 23.74% applies thereafter.
- Signup bonus Earn a $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 in the first 3 months.
- Foreign transaction fees. Every purchase made abroad or online with foreign merchants will cost you 3% of the amount.
- No intro APR period on balance transfers. There's no 0% intro APR period on balance transfers to help you pay off other credit card debt.
| Annual Fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 14.99% to 23.74% variable) |
| Balance transfer APR | 14.99% to 23.74% variable |
| Welcome offer | $200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months |
| Rewards | 5% back in rotating categories up to $1,500 combined each activated quarter (then 1%), 5% on travel purchased through Chase, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases |
Best for 0% intro APR for balance transfers
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
670
Min. credit score
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Annual fee
n/a
Rewards
Rewards
n/a
Welcome offer
Welcome offer
If you want to squeeze the most out of your 0% intro balance transfer APR period, try the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card. Though the intro APR on purchases isn't nearly as impressive, it's still solid.
- Intro balance transfer APR. Get 0% intro APR period on balance transfers for 18 months following your account opening, and 14.74% to 24.74% variable after that.
- Intro APR period on purchases. You also get 18 months intro APR period on purchases. After that, a variable APR of 14.74% to 24.74% applies.
- No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee for the card
- No rewards program. You won't earn any rewards with this card.
- Foreign transaction fees. You'll pay 3% fee of the amount of each transaction you make abroad or online with foreign merchants.
| Annual Fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 18 months (then 14.74% to 24.74% variable) |
| Balance transfer APR | 0% intro for the first 18 months (then 14.74% to 24.74% variable) |
| Welcome offer | N/A |
| Rewards | N/A |
Best for 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
740
Min. credit score
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Annual fee
n/a
Rewards
Rewards
n/a
Welcome offer
Welcome offer
The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers the longest 0% intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers. Combined with a low balance transfer fee, this is one of the best cards for consolidating debt or buying big-ticket items and paying them off for almost two years with no interest.
- Intro APR. Get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 20 months, then 14.49% to 24.49% variable. The closest competitor card offers 18 months of 0% intro APR period. Two months may not seem like much, but if you're paying off larger balance, it could make a difference.
- No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee for the life of the card.
- No penalty APR. If you miss a payment, US Bank won't impose a penalty APR. Other cards often impose penalty APR of up to 32% and may cancel any 0% intro APR offers. That's one less thing to worry with this card, however.
- No rewards program. You get a long intro APR period, but you don't get to earn any rewards.
- Foreign transaction fees. Transactions made abroad or online with foreign merchants will cost you 3% of the amount.
| Annual Fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 20 months (then 14.49% to 24.49% variable) |
| Balance transfer APR | 0% intro for the first 20 months (then 14.49% to 24.49% variable) |
| Welcome offer | N/A |
| Rewards | N/A |
Best 0% APR travel credit card
Wells Fargo Propel American Express® Card
670
Min. credit score
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Annual fee
Up to
3x
Points
Points
20,000
Points welcome offer
Points welcome offer
Travel credit cards almost never offer a 0% intro APR period. But this card is the exception to the rule. With a long interest-free period on purchases and balance transfers, and 3x points on travel and dining, this is one of the best no-annual-fee cards you can get your hands on.
- Intro APR period. Get 0% intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months following your account opening, and 14.49% to 24.99% variable after that.
- Reward points. Earn 3x points on eating out, ordering in, gas, rideshares, transit, flights, hotels, homestays, car rentals and popular streaming services. Earn 1x points on all other eligible purchases.
- Welcome offer. Earn 20,000 bonus points when you make $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months of card membership.
- Balance transfer limitations. To use the intro APR period, request your balance transfer within the first 120 days when you open your account.
- Limited eligibility for bonus offers and intro APR. You aren't eligible to earn the signup bonus or use the 0% intro APR period if you had opened a Wells Fargo credit card in the past 15 months.
| Annual Fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 12 months (then 14.49% to 24.99% variable) |
| Balance transfer APR | 0% intro for the first 12 months (then 14.49% to 24.99% variable) |
| Welcome offer | 20,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months |
| Rewards | 3x points on dining, gas, transit, travel and streaming and 1x points on all other purchases |
Best cashback 0% APR card for purcahses and balance transfers
Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card
670
Min. credit score
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Annual fee
Up to
1.5%
Cash back
Cash back
$150
Welcome offer
Welcome offer
When the pandemic started, most card providers removed 0% balance transfer offers or completely removed the option to make balance transfers. The Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card is one of the last remaining cashback cards that offers a long 0% intro APR period on both purchases and balance transfers.
- Intro APR period. Get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months after account opening, then 13.99% to 25.99% variable.
- Cash back. Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
- Signup bonus. Earn a $150 cash rewards bonus after you make $500 in purchases within the first 3 months after account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees. You will incur a 3% fee on every transaction converted to US dollars.
| Annual Fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 13.99% to 25.99% variable) |
| Balance transfer APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 13.99% to 25.99% variable) |
| Welcome offer | $150 after spending $500 in the first 3 months |
| Rewards | 1.5% cash back on all purchases |
What’s changed in 2021
All best credit cards remained strong this year, with the exception of the two Chase Freedom cards that got stronger. With their revamped rewards structure and a 0% intro APR period on purchases, they won their spots on our list, easily.
How do I compare 0% APR cards?
Before you pull the trigger and apply for a 0% APR credit card, here’s what to keep in mind:
Purchase or balance transfer APR
If you’re making a large purchase to pay off over time, look for a 0% intro APR on purchases. If you want a lower interest rate on your debt, look for a 0% intro APR on balance transfers.
0% APR length
Most credit cards offer an intro APR period between 12 and 15 months. If you want the longest 0% period on balance transfers, you might need to settle for a more simple card with no rewards.
Ongoing low APR
Once the 0% intro APR period expires, a standard ongoing APR will start to apply. If you can’t pay off your balance while the intro APR period lasts, look for cards with low ongoing APR.
Annual fee
Most cards with 0% intro APR period come with no annual fee. But there are a few that do charge an annual fee. Consider if the card’s benefits will make the fee worth it.
Balance transfer fees
Balance transfer cards often come with fees of either 3% or 5% of the amount transferred. This can make your $5,000 balance transfer cost either $150 or $250. Determine if the fee would be more or less than the interest you’d save. If it’s more, the card may not be worth it. There are some cards, though, that waive the balance transfer fee for a certain period after you open your account.
Rewards
Cards that offer 0% intro APR period are often cashback cards. However, travel cards, including airline and hotel cards rarely offer this perk.
Bottom line
The best credit card will depend on your credit score, spending habits and favorite perks. If none of these feel like the right fit, compare more cards to find the one that is.
How we rate our cards
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
Our team evaluates credit cards to determine their value against similar cards on the market.
We rank card types — travel, cash back, business — on a set of factors that are most relevant to that type of card. We create these rankings to help you narrow down a credit card that best suits your spending and budget.
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