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7 Best low-interest credit cards for 2021
Compare APRs as low as 7.99% variable.
With good to excellent credit, you have a higher chance of getting a below-average credit card APR. While you should strive to pay off your balance in full each month, a low APR can be helpful if an emergency or life event necessitates carrying a balance for a while. Here are our some of Finder’s favorite credit cards with low interest.
To select our top picks, we compared credit cards on the market with low-interest rates as well as other card features important to consumers looking for such a card. Features we compared include annual fees, introductory APRs, rewards, balance transfer capabilities, and the type of revert APR. Cards that excelled in one or more of these categories were singled out for our top list.
What’s changed in 2021?
We’ve removed the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card from this list. At the time of this writing, the card still offers an excellent intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. However, the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card takes the lead in these areas.
Note that Citi periodically changes the lengths of its intro APRs. That said, consider sitting tight if you’re willing to wait for the perfect promotional interest rate.
What are the best low-interest credit cards?
You’ll typically find the lowest interest rates with credit unions. With major credit card providers, you’ll likely receive a purchase and balance transfer APR of at least 14% — potentially much higher.
The following cards are market-leading choices for a low APR.
You’ll find a range of ongoing interest rates with this card. But if you have excellent credit, you could score an ongoing APR on all balances as low as 9.49% fixed. Your APR won’t fluctuate based on the prime rate.
Potentially low APR. Your ongoing purchase, balance transfer and cash advance APR could be as low as 9.49% fixed. With poorer credit, your APR for all balances could be as high as 17.99% fixed.
Intro APR. As low as 5.49% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, and on balance transfers for 12 months after your transfer. After that, your APR reverts to 9.49% to 17.99% fixed.
Light on fees. No annual, balance transfer, cash advance or foreign transaction fees.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
5.49% intro for the first 6 months (then 9.49% to 17.99% fixed)
Balance transfer APR
5.49% intro for the first 12 months (then 9.49% to 17.99% fixed)
Welcome offer
N/A
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards
N/A
Best for lowest fixed interest rate (one APR) Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card
This is a secured card, meaning you have to put a secured deposit to use the card. Despite that, it has one of the lowest interest rates you can find in any card at 9.99%% fixed. The card also reports to Experian, Equifax and TransUnion, which makes it a decent starter credit card to build your credit while paying low interest rates.
Low APR. Get a 9.99%% fixed APR on purchases, which is one of the lowest you can find in a credit card.
No credit check. Applied Bank won’t run a credit check on you when you apply for the card. Instead, all you need to do is provide your identity, residence and ability to pay for the card.
Annual Fee
$48
Purchase APR
9.99% fixed
Balance transfer APR
N/A
Welcome offer
N/A
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards
N/A
Best for lowest variable interest rate (range of APRs) UNIFY Financial Credit Union Variable-Rate Visa® Credit Card
With stellar credit, you might shoot for an even lower interest rate. UNIFY Financial Credit Union Variable-Rate Visa® Credit Card offers a card with an APR as low as 7.99% variable on all balances.
Potentially low APR. Your purchase, balance transfer and cash advance APR could be as low as 7.99% variable. With poorer credit, your APR for all balances could be as high as 17.24% variable.
Light on fees. No annual, balance transfer, cash advance or foreign transaction fees.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
7.99% to 17.24% variable
Balance transfer APR
N/A
Welcome offer
N/A
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards
N/A
Best fair-credit card with low APR DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card
Even if you need a secured card to rebuild your credit, you don't have to pay an exorbitant interest rate. The DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card is a no-annual-fee option that offers a 11.5% variable APR on all balances.
APR. 11.5% variable APR on all balances.
Fees. No annual fee. No balance transfer, cash advance or foreign transaction fees.
Annual Fee
$0
Purchase APR
11.5% variable
Balance transfer APR
11.5% variable
Welcome offer
N/A
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards
N/A
Best for 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers a superb 0% intro APR for 20 months on both purchases and balance transfers, then 14.49% to 24.49% variable.
Intro APR. Get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 20 months, then 14.49% to 24.49% variable.
No annual fee. Keep in mind you will pay foreign transaction fees.
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
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards
N/A
How do I choose the best low-interest credit card?
Picking the best low-interest credit card comes down to your personal financial needs. Here are some items to consider to help you choose:
Do you want an intro APR? If you plan on making a big purchase, an intro 0% APR can give you some time to repay that purchase interest free.
Are rewards a big deal to you? A few low-interest cards offer rewards. However, they often don’t offer as many perks as you’d find with top rewards cards.
What are the fees and penalties? If you worry about being able to always make your payments, you’ll want a card with low penalty fees and a low penalty APR.
Pros and cons of a low-interest rate credit card
Pros
Savings. These cards can be a cheaper option as you pay less interest on purchases, which will help you save money and avoid falling into unmanageable debt.
Low fees. Many low-interest rate credit cards are paired with low fees, which can also help you save.
Promotional offers. Low-interest rate credit cards sometimes come with 0% promotions on purchases and balance transfers, allowing you to avoid interest altogether for an introductory period.
Cons
Less valuable if you pay your balance in full. If you pay your balance in full each month, you won’t have to worry about interest at all. This reduces the overall value of the card.
Less competitive rewards. Some low rate credit cards come with rewards programs, but they usually have lower earn rates and bonus points offers than more expensive cards.
Fewer extra features. Low rates generally come with fewer extra features, unlike platinum cards which often come with concierge services and airport lounge passes.
Revert rates. If your card charges 0% on purchases for a promotional period, it will revert to a higher purchase rate after that.
What is a low-interest rate?
As of this writing, the average credit card APR is around 17%. If you have average credit, it’s not uncommon to receive an APR several points higher than this.
If you have good or excellent credit, however, you might be able to get a below-average interest rate. The lower the APR, the higher the credit score you may need. APRs tend to bottom out at around 7% to 8%.
How is credit card interest calculated?
Credit card interest rates are usually advertised based on the annual rate that applies to the account, also known as the Annual Percentage Rate (APR). However, interest on your account balance is typically calculated daily and then charged monthly on the statement due date. This means that for every day that you don’t make a payment, the interest charges will build up (or compound). In this case, you’re essentially paying interest on interest.
Looking for a more in-depth example of how interest is calculated? Check out Finder’s credit card interest guide for more examples, calculations and data tables.
How much money can I save with a low-interest credit card?
Even a small difference in your credit card’s interest rate can save you a lot of money. Say you have a $2,000 balance on your credit card and you take six months to pay it off. With an interest rate of 20%, you’d pay $118.30 in interest on this debt.
But if you had a low-interest rate card that charged 12% APR, you’d pay $70.60 in interest over the same period of time. That’s a saving of $47.70 compared to the higher interest card. And the bigger your credit card debt, the bigger the difference gets. That’s why comparing interest rates before you apply for a new credit card can help you find one that’s affordable based on your needs.
How can I get a low-interest credit card?
You can apply for a low-interest credit card like any other card, though you’ll have more options, and a better chance of being approved the better your credit score.
To apply, you can visit the provider’s site, find the card you want, and click Apply. You can also peruse available cards using our card comparison tool. From there, you’ll need to provide details about yourself, your employment situation and your financial situation.
In order to prove your identity, you will usually need your driver’s license. Most online credit card applications give you a response within 60 seconds of submitting the completed form.
Is a low-interest credit card right for me?
These cards are designed to help consumers save on interest costs. If you struggle to pay your balance in full by the due date on your statement, a low-interest credit card is your best bet for paying as little as possible for using the card. You could also benefit from a low-rate card if you’re a student or new to paying on plastic and want a cheaper credit card option.
Compare low-interest credit cards
Credit card APRs can vary widely — from as low as around 8% to as high as 30%. Here are a few cards with below-average interest rates.
Bottom line
You should always plan to avoid carrying a balance on a credit card. However, a low-interest credit card can make for a great emergency card to help you avoid big interest on those unforeseen purchases.
If you’re looking for a card with more bells and whistles though, check out our guide to the best credit cards for a look at what’s available in the wide world of credit cards.
This type of card might be useful if you plan on carrying a balance for a very long time. However, keep in mind that you can find cards with very long intro APRs — up to 20 months at the time of this writing.
For most credit cards, a variable APR is based on the US prime rate plus an extra margin set by the card issuer. For example, your APR could be 5.5% plus 12%, giving you a 17.5% APR. But because the 5.5% prime rate could fluctuate, your APR can increase or decrease.
A fixed APR, on the other hand, isn’t pegged to an index like the prime rate. Your interest rate can change, but your provider has to notify you well in advance.
Kevin Joey Chen is a credit cards, banking and investments writer whose work and analysis have appeared on CNN, U.S. News & World Report, Business.com, Lifehacker and CreditCards.com. He's passionate about helping you get your finances in order by expertly navigating cutting-edge financial tools — including credit cards, apps and budgeting software.
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