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 for an introductory period, 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.On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.
On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.
On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% intro APR
Purchases: 0% intro APR, 15 months from account opening
Balance Transfers: 0% intro APR, 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
Rewards Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
2% cash rewardsAnnual Fee N/A
$0Welcome Offer Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
$200 cash rewardsA standout cash back card that has no annual fee and comes with a competitive cash rewards welcome offer and 0% intro APR offer. Read Full Review
On Discover's Secure Website.
On Discover's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 6 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 months
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
Rewards Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases — automatically.
1% - 5% CashbackAnnual Fee
$0Welcome Offer Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Cashback Match™️Get the best of both worlds with a great intro APR on balance transfers and valuable cash back rewards. Read Full Review
On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.
On Wells Fargo's Secure Website.
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
18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR
Rewards
N/AAnnual Fee
$0A clear leader with a 0% intro APR offer that is among the longest we've come across. Read Full Review
On Citi's Secure Website.
On Citi's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 12 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 21 months
19.24% - 29.99% (Variable)
Rewards
N/AAnnual Fee
$0Welcome Offer There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening.
Lower intro balance transfer feeWith a long 0% intro APR offer, no late fees, no annual fee, and no penalty rate, this card is an unmatched pick. Read Full Review
On Chase's Secure Website.
On Chase's Secure Website.
Good/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months
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 Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.
5% cash back offerAnnual Fee
$0Welcome Offer Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening!
$200 bonusChecks all the boxes for a cash back credit card, with high cash back rates across several categories, a 0% intro APR, and a big sign-up bonus. Read Full Review
On Citi's Secure Website.
On Citi's Secure Website.
Fair to Excellent (580-850)
Intro APR
Purchases: 0%, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0%, 15 months
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
1% - 5% cash backAnnual Fee
$0Welcome 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® PointsA leading cash-back card that includes a big sign-up bonus, great rewards program, and long 0% intro APR offers, all with no annual fee. Read Full Review
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Great for: Purchases and balance transfersGood/Excellent (670-850)
Intro APR 0% on purchases and balance transfers for the first 18 billing cycles on purchases billing cycles, and after that 18.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
Purchases: 0%, 18 billing cycles on purchases
Balance Transfers: 0%, 18 billing cycles
18.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
Rewards
N/AAnnual Fee
$0Welcome Offer
N/AOur expert picks for the best no interest credit cards include 2 cards from Wells Fargo, 2 0% APR card offers from Citi, and 1 card each from Chase, Discover, and U.S. Bank. But why these? In addition to offering amazing no interest intro card offer term lengths, many of these also offer great rewards and exclusive benefits, beyond the attractive introductory offers.
Jump to a specific no interest credit card offer review:
This Wells Fargo card does it all at a high level. Because of that, it's not just one of our favorite 0% APR credit cards. It's our award-winning pick for the best overall credit card out of the hundreds that we've analyzed.
It doesn't have the longest 0% intro APR, so if you'll need as much time as possible to pay off your balance, then you should check out some of the other options on our list. But it does have competitive intro 0% APR offers that apply to purchases and qualifying balance transfers, plus generous rewards with unlimited 2% cash back and a welcome offer.With the high cash back rate, the welcome offer, and the 0% intro APR, this card is great for financing purchases while earning big rewards. It's also well-suited for consumers who want an easy-to-use 0% APR and rewards card. It's packed with high-value, straightforward benefits, so there's no learning curve to make the most of this card.
View more pros & cons of the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Many 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 one of the best rewards programs.
It has a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, so it gives you plenty of time to pay off debt. This card also earns up to 5% back and has Discover's special welcome offer, where it automatically matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.Another great thing about Discover cards is the customer service. It consistently ranks near the top of the J.D. Power studies. If you're not sure how to transfer a balance, Discover makes it easy, and you can contact customer support at any time for assistance.It normally makes sense to keep credit card spending to a minimum as you get out of debt. But if you want a balance transfer card you can use to earn cash back while paying off credit card debt, this Discover card is a top option.
View more pros & cons of the Discover it® Balance Transfer
If you need as much time as possible to pay off purchases or debt, this is the card for you. It has the longest 0% intro APR we've seen on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, an incredible 21 months on each of them. That's nearly two years without paying credit card interest.
This is purely a 0% APR credit card, so 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.
If you think you can pay off everything in 18 months or less, there are better card options out there. But if you're dealing with a large amount of credit card debt, or you have a sizable purchase to make, this card's 0% intro APR could save you the most money.
View more pros & cons of the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
There are plenty of credit card horror stories. This Citi card is the solution for consumers who have had a bad experience with credit cards. It's one of the best options for refinancing debt, and it does away with several of the most frustrating credit card fees.
The balance transfer offer is as long as we've seen, with a 0% intro APR on qualifying balance transfers for 21 months. Another special thing about this card is that it doesn't charge late fees, an annual fee, or a penalty APR.It's always best to avoid late fees and penalty APRs in the first place, by paying your credit card bill on time. But at least with this card, you know you won't have to deal with them, no matter what. If you're been burned by missed payments in the past, racking up lots of fees and a high balance, you can transfer your balance over to this card and avoid interest while paying it down.View more pros & cons of the Citi Simplicity® Card
Cash back and a 0% intro APR are one of the best combinations you can get from a credit card. Those are two areas where this Chase credit card excels, as it's made for earning cash back bonuses and paying off purchases interest-free.
With most rewards cards, especially those with no annual fee like this one, you're lucky to get one 5% back category. With this Chase card, you can earn 5% back across three separate spending categories, and earn 3% back in two more. You're probably going to have plenty of bonus opportunities, to say the least.
With its cash back program, this card is great for maximizing your savings on costly expenses. After all your purchases, you can redeem the cash back you earn as a statement credit to reduce your card's balance. For the remaining balance, you can pay it off over time. All you need to do is pay it off in full before the intro period ends to avoid interest charges completely.
View more pros & cons of the Chase Freedom Flex℠
For that reason, this card is a good fit for consumers with high spending in a single category, and who are looking to stretch some purchases out over the intro APR period. If that's the case, you can take full advantage of both this card's top benefits: The long 0% intro APR and the excellent cash back rate.
To give you a few examples, it would be a fantastic choice for financing home improvement projects. That's because home improvement stores are one of the eligible 5% back categories. It would also work well for paying off concert and other event tickets over time, as live entertainment is another of the 5% back categories. The bottom line is that if any of its categories matches where you plan to spend money, this 0% APR card from Citi could be a winner.
View more pros & cons of the Citi Custom Cash® Card
For payment flexibility, this U.S. Bank card is as good as we've seen. The 0% intro APR lasts for 21 billing cycles and applies to purchases and balance transfers. 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.
While there are lots of cards with 0% intro APR offers, this one also gives you another financing option -- a U.S. Bank ExtendPay® Plan. It allows you to divide eligible purchases into equal monthly payments with no interest for your chosen repayment period. There is a small, fixed monthly fee, but we love that the card lets you set up your own repayment plan.
With such a long 0% intro APR, it's no surprise that this card doesn't earn rewards. But the balance transfer offer, and a helpful free credit score tool, make it ideal for improving your credit score by paying down debt and monitoring your credit.
Card | Rating | Great For |
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|
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.
|
Great For: Unlimited cash back |
Rating image, 4.25 out of 5 stars.
4.25/5
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.
|
Great For: Balance transfers and cash back | |
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.
|
Great For: Long 0% intro APR | |
Rating image, 4.75 out of 5 stars.
4.75/5
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.
|
Great For: No Penalty APR or late payment fee | |
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
Great For: Purchases and balance transfers |
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.
The main thing to consider here is how long you need to pay off your purchase. If you need as long as you can get, then you may have to sacrifice rewards for a longer introductory period. However, if you can pay off your purchase in 15 months or less, there are a lot of rewards cards worth considering.Sometimes, you know going into it that you'll need as long as possible to pay off a particularly large purchase (such as a car repair or medical bill). These cards are all built for long-term financing, offering at least 18 months of 0% APR on new purchases.Card | 0% Intro APR Offer | Regular APR | Rewards |
---|---|---|---|
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card | 0% intro APR, 21 months from account opening | 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR | N/A |
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card | 0%, 18 billing cycles on purchases | 18.74% - 29.74% (Variable) | N/A |
Our top pick here is the Citi Simplicity® Card (see ) thanks to its long zero interest 21 months introductory period and a low introductory balance transfer fee. If you want to compare your other options, those are the two main features to consider.
Learn more: Balance transfer guide
Many folks will have been dealing with their debt for a while before they transfer it, so it's likely you'll be looking to get as much time as possible to pay it off. The cards below have the longest no-interest introductory periods of our top picks.Although these offers mean you won't accrue interest for up to 21 months, you don't have the whole intro period to transfer your balance. Instead, each card has its own time limit on when you need to transfer your balance for it to be eligible for the 0% intro rate. Any balance transferred after this time limit won't qualify for the zero interest offer.The balance transfer fee is charged by the card you move the balance to, not the one you move the balance from, so you only need to pay it once per transfer.
Keep in mind that the balance transfer fee counts against your balance transfer limit. In other words, it reduces the total amount you can transfer to that card, so be sure to include it in your calculations.Card | Balance Transfer Intro APR Offer | Regular APR | Balance Transfer Fee |
---|---|---|---|
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card | 0% intro APR, 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers | 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR | 5%, min: $5 |
Citi Simplicity® Card | Intro APR of 0%, 21 months | 19.24% - 29.99% (Variable) | 3% ($5 min) for first 4 months, then 5% ($5 min.) |
Discover it® Balance Transfer | Intro APR of 0%, 18 months | 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR | 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)* |
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.
Compare our other top cards with both rewards and intro APR offers below.See more: Best rewards credit cards
Card | Intro APR Purchase Offer | Regular APR | Rewards |
---|---|---|---|
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | 0% intro APR, 15 months from account opening | 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR | 2% cash rewards |
Chase Freedom Flex℠ | 0%, 15 months | 20.49%-29.24% Variable | 5% cash back offer |
Citi Custom Cash® Card | Intro APR of 0%, 15 months | 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable) | 1% - 5% cash back |
Discover it® Balance Transfer | Intro APR of 0%, 6 months | 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR | 1% - 5% Cashback |
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.
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.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.If you have credit card debt to refinance, then a zero interest credit card balance transfer is the way to go. A balance transfer is when you move existing credit card balances onto a new card. The top 0 balance transfer credit cards have 0% intro APR periods on any balances you transfer over. In most cases, you'll have to pay a balance transfer fee. Head to our balance transfer calculator to find out whether the interest you'd save with a balance transfer credit card is worth its balance transfer fee.
Compare our picks: Check out The Ascent's best balance transfer credit cards
Compare our picks: Check out The Ascent's best low interest credit cards
Compare our picks: Check out The Ascent's best personal loans
You can get a debt consolidation loan for any type of debt. It can be more versatile than a balance transfer card, because some balance transfer cards (but not all) can only be used for credit card debt. Debt consolidation loans are also a good choice when you need more time to pay off your debt than the intro period a balance transfer card gives you.
Compare our picks: Check out The Ascent's best debt consolidation loans
Credit card interest is the fee you pay when you borrow money using your credit card. Every billing cycle, the card issuer will apply the credit card APR to any transactions eligible for interest charges.
APR stands for annual percentage rate, and on credit cards, it serves as the interest rate. Most credit cards have a variable APR. With a variable APR, your interest rate can change over time. Most credit cards have a predetermined APR range, and your actual APR is determined in part by your credit score.
Many credit cards also charge a different variable APR for each type of transaction (purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances). If you get behind on your payments, some credit cards may start charging a higher penalty APR.
Not all transactions incur interest. Credit cards, including interest free credit cards, typically have a grace period between the date your statement is sent to you and its due date. If you pay off the full statement balance, you won't be charged interest on your purchases. And of course, you also won't be charged the interest rate if your card has a 0% intro APR offer in effect.Learn more: How to Lower Your Credit Card Interest Rate
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 does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.