Check out the table to compare 0% APR credit card options. Select up to four cards to see how cards stack up side-by-side. By clicking "Show filters" you can also filter options that best fit your credit score and financial needs.
A 0% APR credit card offers an introductory period of time where you’ll pay no interest on certain financial activities. After this introductory period is over however, your card reverts to a standard APR and gains interest as usual. There are two main types of 0% APR offers.
You have a few key features to examine when determining which 0% APR credit card is right for you.
Here’s an example of how much in interest you might expect to save on a purchase using a 0% purchase intro APR card. In this example, there are three credit cards with three different interest rates, each making the same $2,500 purchase. Assuming you take a full 15 months to pay off your purchase — the length of card A’s intro APR period — here’s how much you’d have to pay each month and how much interest you’d accrue on each.
| Credit Card A | Credit Card B | Credit Card C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase balance | $2,500 | $2,500 | $2,500 |
| Purchase APR | 0% | 14.99% | 22.99% |
| Repayment period | 15 months | 15 months | 15 months |
| Monthly payment | $167 | $184 | $193 |
| Interest Paid | $0 | $257 | $401 |
As you can see, you’d end up paying at least an additional $257 in interest on Card B and a whopping $401 in interest on Card C if you needed the full 15-months to pay off your purchase.
Here’s a quick look at which banks offer some form of 0% APR offer on their cards and the maximum intro period length it offers.
| Bank | Number of Balance Transfer cards | Number of 0% Purchase cards | Maximum length |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express | 0 | 12 | 15 months |
| Wells Fargo | 8 | 9 | 18 months |
| Bank of America | 12 | 17 | 18 months |
| Capital One | 0 | 7 | 15 months |
| US Bank | 6 | 6 | 20 months |
| Citi | 5 | 5 | 18 months |
| HSBC | 3 | 4 | 18 months |
| Chase | 0 | 6 | 15 months |
| TD Bank | 3 | 1 | 15 months |
| Discover | 3 | 7 | 14 months |
It pays to do a little math to ensure you can make the necessary payments to pay off your balance before the end of your intro period. Here are some quick tips for using a 0% intro APR card effectively.
Generally, the longer your intro period, the better. Give yourself plenty of time to pay off your balance and you won’t get caught flat-footed if you need to allocate those repayment funds to a more pressing matter in a given month.
If it looks like you won’t be able to pay your balance before the end of your intro period, look at your revert APR and calculate how much interest is going to start building. If the interest looks severe, it can pay to bump up your typical payments to quickly finish off your balance.
If you miss one of your monthly payments, your provider may revoke your 0% intro APR period. In this case, your balance would start accruing interest immediately. To make sure you don’t miss a payment, set up your account for autopay for the amount you want to pay each month.
You’ve probably seen 0% deferred interest offers with many store credit cards. This may sound the same as a 0% intro APR period, but it’s not. With deferred interest, you must pay off your full balance before the promotional period ends.
If you have any unpaid balance after that, you’ll pay interest accrued from the day you made the purchase. This is not the case with a 0% intro APR card as you’ll start to accrue interest only on your unpaid balance.
If you still have a balance on your card and your intro APR will expire soon, you have a few options. For more information, read about what happens when an intro APR period ends.
Regardless of the type of interest-free credit card you choose, you still need to make repayments by the statement due date each month. If you fail to maintain these regular repayments, some of the repercussions you could face include:
If you’re struggling to make a repayment by the due date on your statement, contact your credit card provider as soon as possible. Customer service staff will assess your situation and discuss repayment options based on your individual circumstances.
Getting a 0% APR credit card can be a smart move for certain purchases, and it can be helpful if you need a lower interest rate on existing debt. However, be careful with it — your card provider is hoping you won’t pay off your balance by the time your 0% intro APR ends.
If you think you’ll carry a balance for a long time, consider a low-interest rate credit card.
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Hi Toni!
Thanks for contacting finder – the leading comparison website & general information service built to give you advice in your buying decision needs.
Yes, you can cancel the card and transfer to a cheaper one after a promotional period. However, you may have to contact your bank how to go about this before your promotional period ends to make sure there is no balance left on the card.
Please note that we’re a product comparison website and we hold no affiliation with any company we feature on our site. We provide general information on products to assist you in your buying decision process hence we cannot recommend product / service that is rightfully fit for you.
Hope this helps!
Best regards,
Nikki