A credit card with a 0% APR offer is a clever choice for managing large purchases or reducing existing debt efficiently. The top cards in this category provide extended interest-free periods, often 15 months or more, while minimizing annual fees and balance transfer fees.
Do not be deterred by a balance transfer fee when considering a 0% APR balance transfer offer on a specific card. These offers can still save you money and expedite the repayment of high-interest debts. However, it is crucial to perform the necessary calculations before committing to a new card.
To compile our list of the finest options, we thoroughly evaluated a wide range of 0% APR credit cards from various issuers. Here are our chosen selections.
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
The credit card offers an introductory APR of 0% for 21 months on purchases and balance transfers made within the first 120 days. After that, the APR becomes variable, ranging from 17.99% to 29.74%. When transferring a balance, there is a 5% fee with a minimum of $5. There is no annual fee associated with this card. However, it does not provide any rewards or welcome bonus. If you use the card for foreign transactions, a fee of 3% will apply. While you can enjoy the benefit of 21 months of interest-free financing on new purchases and balance transfers by making timely payments, keep in mind that this card does not offer any rewards.
BankAmericard® credit cardÂ
The APR is 0% for the first 21 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After that, the APR varies from 15.99% to 25.99%. A 3% fee is charged for balance transfers. There is no annual fee for this card. No rewards or welcome bonus are offered. For foreign transactions, there is a 3% fee. In terms of benefits and drawbacks, this card provides 21 billing cycles of introductory APR financing. It is a straightforward card with minimal fees but limited benefits.
Citi® Diamond Preferred® CardÂ
The credit card offers an introductory APR of 0% for balance transfers for 21 months and 0% for purchases for 12 months. Following the introductory period, the APR will vary between 17.99% and 28.74%. It is important to note that balance transfers must be completed within the first four months. A fee of either $5 or 5% of the transfer amount, whichever is greater, applies to balance transfers. There is no annual fee associated with this card, and no rewards or welcome bonuses are offered. However, a foreign transaction fee of 3% is applicable. In terms of benefits, you have four months from account opening to qualify for the introductory APR on balance transfers.
Discover it® Cash Back
The APR for this credit card starts with a 0% intro rate for 15 months on purchases and eligible balance transfers. After that, the rate varies from 16.99% to 27.99%. If you transfer a balance, there is a fee of up to 5% of the transferred amount. There is no annual fee associated with this credit card. You won’t have to pay anything each year just to keep the card. When you use this credit card for purchases, you can earn cash back rewards. You get 5% cash back on purchases at different places each quarter, up to $1,500 spent per quarter when activated. On all other purchases, you earn 1% cash back.
As a welcome bonus, Discover will automatically match all the cash back you earn at the end of your first cardmember year. It’s a great way to maximize your rewards. When you use this credit card abroad, you won’t be charged any foreign transaction fees. It’s convenient for international travel or online purchases from foreign merchants. In addition to the mentioned benefits, this card offers a feature called Freeze it. You can turn your account on or off at any time, adding an extra layer of security. Plus, you can receive alerts regarding your Social Security number for added protection against identity theft.
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit cardÂ
The APR starts with a 0% intro rate for 18 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers made within 60 days. After that, the variable APR ranges from 17.99% to 27.99%. A 3% fee is applied to balance transfers. There is no annual fee for this credit card. For every $1 spent on purchases, you earn 1.5 points as rewards.
Upon opening an account, you can earn a welcome bonus of 25,000 points by spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days. No foreign transaction fees are charged when using this card internationally. In addition to the introductory APR, you can enjoy 18 billing cycles of 0% financing on new purchases and balance transfers. Furthermore, you earn 1.5 points per $1 spent on purchases. These are the key features and benefits of the credit card.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit cardÂ
The APR for this card is 0% for the initial 18 billing cycles when making purchases or balance transfers. Afterward, the variable APR ranges from 17.99% to 27.99%. A 3% fee is applicable to each balance transfer, and the introductory rate only applies to transfers made within the first 60 days. There is no annual fee associated with this card.
Using this card allows you to earn rewards. You can select a category of your preference and receive 3% cash back. Additionally, you earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, up to a combined total of $2,500 in quarterly purchases. For all other purchases, the cash back rate is 1%. By spending $1,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of opening the account, you can receive a welcome bonus of $200 cash rewards. Transactions made outside of the country incur a foreign transaction fee of 3%. One advantage of this card is the ability to choose a category for increased cash-back earnings. You have control over which purchases qualify for a higher cash-back rate.
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students
The APR is 0% for the first 18 billing cycles for purchases and balance transfers made within 60 days. After that, the APR becomes variable, ranging from 17.99% to 27.99%. A 3% fee is charged for all balance transfers. There is no annual fee associated with this card. On purchases, you can earn 1.5% cash back as rewards. By spending at least $1,000 within the first 90 days of account opening, you can receive a $200 cash reward as a welcome bonus. A 3% foreign transaction fee applies. One notable feature of this card is its 18 billing cycle intro APR financing, which is rare among student cards.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
The credit card offers an introductory APR of 0% for the first 15 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. After that, a variable APR of 19.99%, 24.99%, or 29.99% applies. Balance transfers made within 120 days are eligible for the introductory rate and a 3% fee. Following that, a fee of up to 5% applies with a minimum of $5. There is no annual fee associated with this credit card.
Cardholders can earn 2% cash rewards on their purchases. As a welcome bonus, customers can receive a $200 cash rewards bonus by spending $500 on purchases within the first three months of opening the account. A foreign transaction fee of 3% is applicable.
One of the additional benefits is up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. This coverage is activated when the monthly cell phone bill is paid and allows for up to two claims within a 12-month period. However, there is a $25 deductible for each claim.
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
The credit card offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. After that, the regular APR ranges from 17.99% to 28.99% and varies. There is no annual fee associated with the card. When using the card at U.S. supermarkets, you can earn 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 spent, up to $6,000 per year. After reaching that limit, you earn 1 point per $1. On American Express Travel purchases, you earn 2 points per $1, and on other purchases, you earn 1 point per $1.
Additionally, if you use the card 20 or more times in a billing period, you receive 20% extra points. As a welcome bonus, you can earn 10,000 Membership Rewards points by spending $2,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. When making transactions in foreign currencies, there is a 2.7% fee on each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
Should you get a 0% APR credit card?
If you have significant credit card debt, consider opening a new card with a 0% APR promotion for balance transfers. This allows you to transfer your balance and avoid interest charges during the introductory period. Paying off your debt becomes faster as your payments solely reduce the principal.
To maximize these offers, divide the transferred balance by the remaining months in the introductory period. Set up automatic monthly payments for that amount using your card’s autopay feature. As long as you don’t accumulate new balances, you’ll be debt-free before accruing interest.
Keep in mind that balance transfer cards often charge a fee of 3% to 5%. Despite the fee, you can still save money compared to carrying a balance on a card with interest charges.For consumers expecting significant purchases they can’t immediately pay off, cards with 0% APR on new purchases are useful. Plan strategically by budgeting for monthly payments that clear the balance before the promotional period ends.
Guide to 0% APR credit cards
There are credit cards available with 0% APR introductory financing, also known as promotional financing. These cards provide interest-free financing for new purchases or balance transfers, or sometimes both. The law requires these offers to last for a minimum of six months, but the most competitive cards offer at least 15 months of 0% APR financing.
Different types of credit cards offer 0% APR financing, such as no-frills cards, student cards, cash-back cards, and travel rewards cards. Fortunately, most 0% APR credit cards do not have an annual fee. However, when transferring a balance, most cards will charge a fee. If you plan to use your card internationally, it’s important to find one that doesn’t have foreign transaction fees.
