Credit card companies try to understand how to appeal to every different consumer segment. And one of those segments is frugal individuals who don’t want to give card issuers any more money than necessary.
If you fall into this category, you’ll enjoy reading about credit cards that never impose an annual fee and waive interest charges for a year or longer. Best yet: All these cards offer excellent rewards and benefits.
Best Credit Card Offers With No Annual Fee or Interest
Your money goes further when you don’t have to spend it on annual fees or interest charges. The following are the best examples of money-stretching credit cards that will appeal to frugal cardholders.
1. Chase Slate Edge℠
This card is currently not available.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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The Chase Slate Edge℠ card caters to consumers who plan to make big-ticket purchases or consolidate high credit card balances. This simple card offers no signup bonus or reward points, which is actually a good thing because it keeps costs down.
Chase understands which incentives entice consumers who care more about costs than benefits. This card features a long 0% APR promotion for purchases and transfers. It also allows creditworthy cardholders to earn lower post-promotion APRs and higher credit limits.
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
- Use your card to book your trip how and where you want – you’re not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
- Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% – 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
- If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
- Contactless Cards – The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
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0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%)
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18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
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$0
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Excellent/Good
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Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card offers a handsome signup bonus and a flat rewards rate on all eligible purchases. This travel card attracts new customers who want a long introductory 0% APR period on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. It never charges an annual or foreign transaction fee, and your points never expire.
You can redeem your points to pay for dining purchases, flights, hotel stays, baggage fees, and vacation rentals without blackout dates or booking restrictions. The card provides security and convenience, including account alerts, $0 liability protection, optional overdraft protection, fraud detection, and free FICO score updates.
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
- Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishing purchases.
- If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
- No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% – 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
- Contactless Cards – The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
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0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%)
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18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
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$0
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Excellent/Good
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Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card allows you to control how you earn cash back rewards. The bank gives you several merchant category options that will receive the highest reward rate. You choose the top-tier rewards category from a list that includes gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, and home improvement or furnishings.
You can change your category once each calendar month. The card offers a modest signup bonus when you spend a set amount within 90 days of account opening. As a new cardmember, you also receive an introductory 0% APR period on new purchases and balance transfers.
- INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back!
- Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
- After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% – 29.24%.
- No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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0% Intro APR on Purchases 15 months
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0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers 15 months
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20.49% – 29.24% Variable
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$0
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Good/Excellent
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The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card pays points (which you can easily convert to cash) on every eligible purchase, allowing you to rack up solid rewards. You will also pay an introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers during the promotional period.
If you also own a Chase Sapphire card, you can upgrade your Freedom points to Chase Ultimate Rewards points, which provide additional value when you redeem them for travel.
- Earn $250 back in the form of a statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership
- 3% cash back on groceries from U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
- 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%)
- 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, 1% back on other purchases
- Introductory 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable rate applies
- Find out if you Pre-Qualify for the Blue Cash Everyday® Card or other offers in as little as 30 seconds
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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0% for 15 months
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0% for 15 months
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19.24% – 29.99% Variable
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$0
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Good
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The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is an excellent choice for gas, online, and grocery purchases, with limited bonus cash back on eligible transactions. The card doesn’t charge an annual fee, and offers relatively high credit limits.
It provides an attractive introductory 0% APR promotion but imposes a hefty penalty APR if you miss a payment. The signup bonus, albeit small, gives you six months to spend the required amount on purchases.
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- 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.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- No annual fee.
- Terms and conditions apply.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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0% Intro APR for 15 months
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0% Intro APR for 15 months
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17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR
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$0
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Excellent/Good
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The Discover it® Cash Back card offers a high cash back rate on quarterly rotating merchant categories, including grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, among others. You must activate the new category each time it changes, and there is a quarterly maximum amount you can earn at the top rate.
As an introductory offer, Discover automatically matches all the cash back posted during your first membership year. You can redeem the Cashback Match after the end of your first year and regular rewards for the cash back credit card as soon as you earn them. You never lose your unredeemed rewards, even if you cancel the card.
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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0% for 15 months
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0% for 15 months
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19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
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$0
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Excellent, Good
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The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card offers No Hassle Rewards® that pay a lower flat rate than that of some of its competitors. But it has a special, high-rate tier for rental cars and hotels you book through Capital One Travel.
VentureOne never charges an annual or foreign transaction fee. You can use your reward miles to pay for future travel or to reimburse past purchases. Its 0% intro APR promotion applies to qualifying balance transfers as well as eligible purchases.
- 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 18.24% – 28.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Get free access to your FICO® Score online.
- With Citi Entertainment®, get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more.
- No Annual Fee – our low intro rates and all the benefits don’t come with a yearly charge.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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0% 12 months on Purchases
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0% 21 months on Balance Transfers
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18.24% – 28.99% (Variable)
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$0
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Excellent, Good
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Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card provides an extended introductory period for 0% APR balance transfers and a shorter promotion for interest-free purchases. Fees apply to each balance transfer transaction. The card offers relatively high credit limits — yours will depend on your credit score and history— but no rewards.
This card offers automatic account alerts and allows you to choose a payment due date. You can also tap this chip-enabled, contactless card on a merchant’s card reader to shop securely.
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 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.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025. - No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
- No Annual Fee
- Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
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Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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0% 15 months Purchases and Balance Transfers
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0% 15 months Purchases and Balance Transfers
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19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
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$0
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Excellent, Good, Fair
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Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.
If you own the Citi Custom Cash® Card, you can choose which merchant category will earn the top reward rate. The card places a tight monthly cap on the bonus ThankYou points that category will pay. You can arrange for this rewards card to alert you to payment due dates, low balance levels, and attempts to exceed your credit limit.
You can use the Citi Mobile App to choose your monthly payment due date and access your account anytime. The app allows you to pay bills and view essential data, including your available credit, current balance, and a spending summary.
What Is a 0% APR Credit Card?
APR stands for annual percentage rate, which is the interest rate that the credit card charges on balances not paid in full by a specific due date.
No credit card delivers 0% interest rates perpetually. Still, several cards offer new cardholders an introductory 0% APR promotion on purchases or balance transfers without paying interest for a set amount of time.
0% intro APR promotions are time-sensitive and available only to new cardmembers. The introductory period begins with account opening and typically lasts no longer than 21 months.
How Do 0% APR Credit Cards Work?
The length of your 0% APR introductory period varies by card. You still have to pay any fees due during this period. Some cards offer a short interest-free period of six months, while others may extend the intro APR period to as many as 21 months.
By law, the minimum period for an introductory APR promotion is six months, but there is no statutory maximum. Competitive pressures currently limit the longest 0% APR promotion to 21 months.
Paying your bills on time is always important, but it is essential during a 0% APR promotion. Credit card issuers often respond to overdue payments by charging a fee and canceling the interest-free promotion.
Your unpaid balance will immediately begin incurring interest at the card’s regular rate. But even worse, many issuers replace your 0% APR with a penalty interest rate, potentially 29.9% or higher.
Past due payments trigger events that can carry a significant cost, especially if you have a large unpaid balance. You face ongoing daily interest charges until you pay off your balance.
You’ll also start paying interest — at the card’s regular APR — if you have any balance remaining when the 0% promotion expires. That’s why you want to repay the entire balance before the expiration date to get the most value.
0% APR promotions may have different promotional periods that apply to purchases and balance transfers.
Purchases
Almost all credit cards have interest-free grace periods that provide at least 21 days to pay your balance to avoid interest fees. The grace period spans from the end of the billing cycle to the payment due date. You don’t incur interest on charged purchases if you pay your entire balance by the due date.
You need to pay only a specified minimum amount on the due date. The unpaid balance carries into the next billing cycle, accruing daily interest and providing returns to the credit card issuer.
You’ll continue to accrue interest until you pay your entire balance — unless, of course, you’re enjoying an active 0% APR offer, which acts as an extended grace period.
You are still responsible for your credit card debt as well as the monthly payments, but the card will charge no interest during the introductory period.
Balance Transfers
A balance transfer is a service your credit card may offer that allows it to take on the existing balances from one or more credit cards.
By transferring other balances to a single card, you can consolidate your credit card debt in one place with one monthly payment that’s easy to schedule. Consolidating your credit card balances frees you from contending with the payment schedules and interest rates of your other cards.
When you consolidate all your credit card balances, you will no longer need to make multiple minimum payments each month, meaning more of your money is available to pay down your balance.
Many cards offer a 0% introductory APR for balance transfers, allowing you to pay down your credit card debt interest-free for the life of the promotional period.
Maximizing the benefits of your interest-free balance transfer card often depends on the size of your credit line. After all, a 0% APR offer diminishes in value if your credit limit is small relative to your outstanding balances.
When selecting a new credit card, it makes sense to compare the credit limits of competing cards and pick one with a large enough limit to accommodate your consolidation plans.
Some cards limit the amount you can transfer. For example, Chase caps balance transfers at $15,000 within a 30-day period. If you have some sizeable existing credit card balances you want to move, be aware of any issuer-imposed limits that might interfere with your plans.
A balance transfer card might offer other benefits not found on your current cards, including a signup bonus, an introductory 0% promotion for purchases, better rewards, and no annual fee.
Another interesting feature of balance transfers is that you can often expand the types of debt you can pay off beyond credit card balances. That’s because some issuers offer convenience checks you can order for your credit card account.
Credit card convenience checks function as cash advances you can use to pay other debts. You can then transfer the cash advance balances, just as you would your purchase balances.
You can request transfers from each participating card over the phone or online. You must provide the account number and balance for each participating credit card. You can request balance transfers at account opening or at a later time.
The card issuer manages all the transfer arrangements, including contacting the issuers of your current cards and paying off your remaining balances.
If you transfer only a partial balance, you’ll have to make monthly payments to both the old and new cards until you repay your balances.
Each balance transfer triggers a transaction fee. The fee for a $2,000 transfer will usually range from $60 to $100.
Allow two weeks or more for your transfers to go through. The following processing periods are typical:
- American Express: 5 to 7 days, but up to 6 weeks
- Capital One: Between 3 and 15 days
- Chase: Between 7 and 21 days
- Citi: Between 2 and 21 business days
- Discover: Between 4 and 14 days
You must continue to make the minimum payments to your old credit cards until the transfer is complete. Failure to do so can result in late fees and damage to your credit scores.
Don’t worry if you overpay your old cards because of in-process transfers –- issuers will refund the excess after the transfers finish. Cards with 0% intro APRs on balance transfers frequently offer similar purchase promotions.
Please beware of the early deadlines some balance transfer cards impose on their 0% intro APR promotions. Even if the promotion period is 21 months, the card may limit qualifying transfers to those you complete within two to four months of account opening.
How Do Annual Fees Work?
Some credit cards charge an annual fee, while others don’t. The fee, which can run from $25 to $500 or more, automatically appears on your credit card statement once per year.
The fee is a lump-sum charge, and it typically appears on your account opening anniversary date. Cards that charge an annual fee typically offer upgraded perks, benefits, and rewards.
You pay the annual fee as you would a regular purchase. Some issuers waive the fee for the first year or change the fee amount in subsequent years.
Using a card that waives the first year’s annual fee allows you to evaluate whether you like the benefits enough to start paying the charge in the second year.
An issuer may provide a pro-rated refund of your annual fee if you cancel your card before the year ends, but not all do.
Some issuers, notably Capital One, offer no-annual-fee cards that are a downgrade of similar cards that charge the fee. For example, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card doesn’t carry an annual fee. It offers some of the same features as the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, which has a moderate yearly fee.
Interestingly, VentureOne offers a 0% APR promotion, whereas the more expensive Venture card doesn’t.
You may be willing to sacrifice the upgraded perks of a card that charges an annual fee and pocket the savings. This strategy may suit you if you won’t likely use any of the additional benefits annual fee cards offer.
You may need to limit your card choice to one that doesn’t charge an annual fee if you can’t afford it or if your credit isn’t good enough to qualify.
No annual fee cards are available in all credit categories, from excellent credit to poor credit. Some secured cards and student cards also don’t charge an annual fee.
How Do I Qualify For a Credit Card With 0% APR and No Annual Fee?
After reviewing our choices for the best credit card offers with no annual fee and 0% APR, you can apply for the card that best suits your requirements. All 0% interest credit cards require credit approval.
If you submit an application and qualify, you will receive your new credit card in the mail within five to 10 business days. You can start using the card as soon as you activate it.
Some issuers provide instant access to your new credit account via a virtual card number, available through the bank’s mobile application. While you can’t use this virtual number for in-person purchases, you can use it to make purchases online, in-app, or over the phone.
Is It Better to Have 0% APR or No Annual Fee?
We have shown that you don’t have to choose between these two amenities when applying for a new credit card. But if you had to decide between the two, you would want to consider your financial situation, spending habits, and financial goals.
You may prefer 0% APR cards for the following reasons:
- Financing large purchases: A 0% APR card will be beneficial if you’re planning a big-ticket purchase and want to pay it off over time. This feature allows you to carry a balance without incurring interest charges for the promotional period (typically between six and 21 months).
- Balance transfers: If you have high-interest debt on other credit cards, transferring the balances to a card with a 0% introductory APR can help you pay down the debt faster since your payments will go entirely toward the principal balance.
Remember that the 0% APR promotional rate will expire after a certain period, and the interest rate will increase to the card’s regular APR.
Here are some reasons to prefer a card with no annual fee:
- Infrequent use: If you don’t use your credit card frequently or don’t charge many purchases, a no-annual-fee card may be more cost-effective, as you won’t have to shell out a yearly fee when you don’t care about rewards or other benefits.
- Long-term use: You can keep no-annual-fee cards open for a long time without incurring costs, potentially helping you improve your credit score by increasing the length of your credit history.
- Less pressure to spend: Without an annual fee, you may feel less pressure to offset the yearly charge by using the card to earn rewards or benefits.
Before making a final decision, consider other card features, including rewards programs, cash back, travel benefits, and other perks. You can calculate whether the benefits of a card with an annual fee outweigh the fee. Compare this with the savings from a 0% APR card based on your expected balance and repayment period.
Also, think about your long-term financial goals and how each card type fits within that plan. If you plan to carry a balance, a 0% APR card may be a better choice, at least in the short term.
A no-annual-fee card may be more cost-effective if you’re looking for a card to keep over a longer period.
Do 0% APR Credit Cards Hurt My Credit?
Credit cards with 0% APR offers won’t directly impact your credit. The promotion’s effects are similar to those of a signup bonus and annual fee — it doesn’t figure into the calculation of your credit score.
Opening a new credit card account (with or without an introductory APR) can impact your credit in a few ways, starting with the application. When you apply for a loan or new credit card, the issuer checks your credit score to determine your creditworthiness. The result is a hard credit inquiry recorded in your credit report.
One or two hard credit inquiries won’t have much impact on your credit score. However, multiple hard inquiries in a brief period can cause your credit score to drop because creditors and scoring algorithms associate these inquiries with financial distress.
A new credit card can also impact your average account age, a factor that makes up about 15% of your credit score. Creditors prefer long credit histories and average account ages of at least two years.
On the plus side, opening a new card can improve your credit scores by reducing your credit utilization ratio — or how much credit you use compared to how much you have available. You can further lower your CUR by consolidating and repaying your card balances.
A low CUR can boost your credit score, but rates above 30% can harm your score. So, avoiding a shopping spree when you get a new credit card is a good idea.
What Should I Look For In a No-Annual-Fee Card With a 0% APR?
You may want to consider the following factors when selecting a credit card with a 0% intro APR and no annual fee:
- $0 liability for fraudulent transactions
- A high credit limit
- A signup bonus
- Credit score requirements
- Customer service
- Foreign transaction fees and other costs
- Online and mobile app access to your account
- Penalty APR, if present
- Points, miles, or cash back credit card rewards
- The card’s regular grace period
- The length and type of the promotion(s)
- The regular APR after the promotion expires
Before you apply for a no-annual-fee credit card with a 0% APR introductory promotion, read the terms and conditions carefully to understand all aspects of the card. Consider how you will use the card and how it fits into your overall spending strategy.
Finally, consider the repercussions if the card encourages you to overspend and you can’t repay on time.
What Are the Risks of a 0% APR Card?
Most risks from a 0% APR card arise from misuse or neglect. For example, you could be in trouble if you don’t pay your balance before the promotion ends. You’ll be stuck with the card’s regular APR on that balance, possibly costing you hundreds of dollars in interest.
Overspending is another risk with a 0% APR card. It can be alluring to overspend if you don’t have to pay interest on your purchases for 15 or 21 months. But you must repay your balance eventually, and overspending can bust your budget.
Also, be mindful of balance transfer fees — typically 3% to 5%. These fees can add up if you transfer large balances.
There isn’t much risk to your credit score unless you use your new card for costly purchases and run up your credit utilization ratio. But, presumably, you obtained a card with a 0% APR on purchases because you plan some expensive shopping, so you may not care about the initial impact to your credit score.
Delinquent payments are a serious risk because your card issuer may assess a fee, cancel your promotion, and leave your balance vulnerable to the card’s regular or penalty APR. Payments more than 30 days overdue go on your credit report and can damage your score.
You can avoid these risks by using your card responsibly. Have a plan for paying off the balance before the promotional period ends, and understand the card’s terms and conditions to avoid unexpected interest charges and other costs.
How Much Can I Save With a 0% APR and $0 Annual Fee Card?
Your savings depend on your unique circumstances. The savings from a no-annual-fee card don’t need much explanation. Here are three 0% APR scenarios to consider.
Scenario 1: Financing a Large Purchase
- Purchase Amount: $5,000
- Repayment Period: 12 months
- Interest Rate on a Standard Card: 18% variable APR
In this scenario, paying off the $5,000 over 12 months on a standard credit card with an 18% APR would cost approximately $450 in interest. With a 0% APR card and no annual fee, you would pay $0 in interest and fees, saving you around $450 for the year.
Scenario 2: Carrying a Balance
- Average Monthly Balance: $2,000
- Repayment Period: Ongoing
- Interest Rate on a Standard Card: 18% variable APR
If you carried a $2,000 balance on a standard card with an 18% APR, you would incur about $360 in interest charges over one year. With a 0% APR card and no annual fee, you would avoid these interest charges, saving you $360.
Scenario 3: Balance Transfer
- Balance Transfer Amount: $3,000
- Repayment Period: 12 months
- Interest Rate on a Standard Card: 18% variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee: 3%
In this scenario, transferring a $3,000 balance from an 18% APR card to a 0% APR card could save you around $270 in interest charges over 12 months. The amount you save will be offset by $90 in balance transfer fees, leaving you with a net savings of $180.
Compare No-Annual-Fee Cards With 0% APRs
We’ve reviewed the credit cards with no annual fees and 0% intro APRs that we consider the best available. But there are many more cards that combine these benefits, so it should be fairly easy for you to find the card that fits your lifestyle best.
No matter which card you choose, use it to reduce your costs without driving up your debt. And ensure you pay at least the minimum monthly payments on time to avoid losing the promotion before it expires.
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