Writer: Eric Bank
Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Reviewer: Ashley Fricker
Disclosure: When you apply through links on our site, we may earn a referral fee from our partners. For more, see our ad disclosure and review policy.
Key Takeaways
Here are our top recommended cards for interest-free financing and travel rewards:
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The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is our top choice for an easy flat-rate travel rewards card with no annual fee.
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We recommend the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card for earning air miles you can transfer to travel partners or redeem for past trips.
Is a 0% APR credit card a sensible way to pay for big purchases or a way to save on your next adventure? It depends on how you use the promotion, and some credit cards can give you the best of both worlds.
That’s why you should consider the best 0% APR travel and air miles credit cards if you want to make your next excursion — or big purchase — a little more flexible.
Best Travel Cards With 0% APRs
These travel cards offer new cardmembers a 0% intro APR on purchases or balance transfers for a year or longer. If you dream about two weeks in Hawaii with a year or more to repay interest-free, these cards can help make it a reality.
- 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.
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on everyday purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through BofA Travel.
- Turn daily purchases into everyday wins. Simply use your Travel Rewards credit card for the things you already buy – from gifts to getaways – BofA Rewards™ members earn more points.
- 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 17.49% – 27.49% 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 5%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- This offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
- Earn 20,000 bonus Points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months; after that, the variable APR will be 18.49% – 28.49%, based on your creditworthiness. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
- Earn 3 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent in an eligible Self-Select Category of your choice (Fitness Clubs, Select Streaming Services, Live Entertainment, Cosmetic Stores/Barber Shops/Hair Salons, or Pet Supply Stores). Choose your eligible Self-Select Category on Citi Online or by calling customer service. The default Self-Select Category is Select Streaming Services.
- Earn 5 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals and Attractions booked on Citi Travel® via cititravel.com; earn 3 ThankYou Points for each $1 spent at Supermarkets, on Select Transit purchases, and at Gas & EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 2 ThankYou® Points for each $1 spent at Restaurants; earn 1 ThankYou® Point for each $1 spent on All Other Purchases.
- No Annual Fee
Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 18.49% – 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- Top rated mobile app
Even better, these cards don’t have any annual fees, allowing you to retain more of your money. Plus, they offer travel rewards you can eventually use to help pay for your next adventure.
Best Miles Cards With 0% APRs
Miles rewards a specific type of travel card. Miles come in two flavors: The first is general-purpose miles that you can use on any airline or eligible travel purchase, just like points you earn with the cards above. The second is frequent-flyer miles that apply to particular air carriers, including cards carrying the Delta, United, or American Airlines logos.
In either case, a 0% intro APR makes the following cards all the more desirable.
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- 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, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 18.49% – 28.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- Top rated mobile app
- UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited mile-for-mile match for all new cardmembers. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a mile-for-mile match. You could turn 35,000 miles into 70,000 miles.
- Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x miles on every dollar of every purchase
- No annual fee.
- Turn miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants, and more. Redemption rates for these options may vary and are subject to change.
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 17.49% – 26.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies.
- Terms and conditions apply.
As you can see, the mainstream competition for travel cards with 0% promotional APRs is kind of slim. Travel rewards are some of the most valuable you can earn, some of which are valued even higher when transferred to travel partners. This is why they’re rarely coupled with 0% interest rates.
What is a 0% APR Credit Card?
A 0% APR credit card provides interest-free purchases and/or balance transfers to new cardmembers for a set period (typically between six and 21 months) after account opening. Along with signup bonuses, 0% financing is a promotion banks and credit unions use to recruit new credit card customers.
Credit cards partition the calendar year into monthly billing cycles. The statement date — the date the card issuer generates your latest billing statement — is the last day of a billing cycle.
The statement reports all the cycle’s activity, opening and closing balances, minimum amount due, and payment due date. That due date is usually 21 to 27 days after the statement date, an interval called the grace period.
Your purchases won’t incur interest charges if you pay your entire balance by the due date. You must pay at least the minimum amount due, but you can finance some or all of the remaining balance at the daily interest rate (i.e., the annual percentage rate or APR divided by 365). The card suspends grace periods until you repay your entire balance.
The card issuer can terminate a 0% APR promotion early if you don’t pay the monthly minimum on time or if you close the account. Some issuers restrict introductory offers for applicants who currently have or recently held the same card, so review the offer terms before applying.
What Credit Score Do I Need for a Card With a 0% APR?
Most 0% APR travel cards are designed for applicants with good to excellent credit, generally corresponding to a FICO score of 670 or higher. Approval isn’t guaranteed at any particular score.
If you’re aiming for a 0% card but your credit isn’t quite there yet, there are steps you can take to improve it. Start by making timely bill payments and gradually reducing your credit card balances.
| FICO Score Categories | Score Range | VantageScore Categories | Score Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exceptional | 800-850 | Superprime | 781-850 |
| Very Good | 740-799 | Prime | 661-780 |
| Good | 670-739 | Near prime | 601-660 |
| Fair | 580-669 | Subprime | 501-600 |
| Poor | Below 580 | Deep Subprime | 300-500 |
It’s best to keep your credit utilization ratio (the percentage of your revolving credit limits currently in use) below 30% for both FICO and VantageScore models, and under 10% for the best scores.
What Makes Up a FICO Score?
These are the factors FICO considers and what percentage of your score each factor accounts for:
- Payment history
- Amounts owed
- Credit history length
- New credit
- Credit mix
Try to avoid applying for multiple credit accounts or loans in the six months leading up to applying for a 0% interest card. Too many applications in a short timeframe can hurt your credit score.
Also, check your three credit reports for mistakes that hurt your credit score. Copies of all three credit reports are free at AnnualCreditReport.com, and you can access them as often as weekly. You can attempt to fix the errors yourself or hire a reputable credit repair company to do the work for you.
Improving your credit score with positive actions can take time. If your credit isn't quite where you want it yet, here are some other strategies to consider:
- Become an authorized user: Almost no major credit card issuer allows traditional cosigners today. Instead, you can ask a trusted family member with pristine credit to add you as an authorized user on their account, allowing their positive payment history and low utilization to benefit your credit file without holding you legally liable for payments.
- Get a secured card: In most cases, your credit score is only of secondary importance when you apply for a secured card. Your deposit acts as collateral for your credit line, easing default concerns. Using a secured card is a proven method of building credit when you consistently pay on time. Secured credit cards report your activity to all three major credit bureaus, allowing your timely payments to boost your score over time.
What Happens When the 0% Intro APR Ends?
When the introductory period ends, any unpaid balance begins accruing interest at the card’s regular variable APR. Unlike deferred-interest financing, a standard 0% intro APR card generally won’t charge interest retroactively on the balance you carried during the promotional period.
Check the expiration date and divide your planned purchase by the number of promotional months to create a repayment schedule. You must still make at least the minimum payment each month to keep the account in good standing.
What’s the Difference Between Flexible Travel Cards and Airline Credit Cards?
Travel cards provide rewards (points or miles) you can redeem for travel on any airline. Air miles cards are a type of travel credit card offering reward miles that may be general purpose or tied to a specific airline or brand. Both card types provide significant travel-related benefits, even those with no annual fee.
Travel Cards
Travel cards offer points, miles, or cash back you can use with multiple airlines. The cards may offer bonus reward rates for travel-related purchases, including airline trips, hotels, and car rentals.
These cards generally offer two ways to use travel rewards:
- Book or cover travel purchases: Some travel cards allow you to redeem rewards for upcoming travel, while others let you use them to pay for eligible past travel expenses. For example, Capital One allows cardholders to cover eligible travel purchases or book upcoming flights, hotels, and rental cars directly through Capital One Travel.
- Redeem points for statement credits: Bank of America Travel Rewards lets you book travel on any site and redeem points for statement credits toward eligible travel and dining purchases.
Air Miles Cards
Airline credit cards are co-branded with a particular carrier and offer frequent flyer miles identical to those you earn on flights. These cards generally provide two types of value:
- Frequent flyer miles: You can redeem miles for flights with the airline and, in some cases, its travel partners. These miles are less versatile than general-purpose rewards but may be more valuable. Their value can vary because airlines determine the number of miles required for each flight.
- Airline-specific benefits: Depending on the card, benefits may include free checked bags, priority boarding, in-flight discounts, or airport lounge access.
Some travelers own multiple co-branded air miles cards to ensure they earn the maximum airline rewards regardless of the carrier.
What Benefits Do Travel Cards Offer?
In addition to 0% APR promotional windows, travel cards may offer numerous benefits, including:
- Travel insurance: Travel cards may offer various insurance policies, including those for accidents, flight interruptions and cancellations, lost luggage, and rental car collision damage.
- Signup bonuses: New cardmembers may qualify for a bonanza of travel points by spending the required amount on eligible purchases during an introductory period (usually three months). Typically, the spending requirement ranges from $500 to $5,000.
- Access to airport lounges: The more expensive travel cards usually provide access to specific airport lounges for free or at reduced prices.
- Travel credits and reimbursements: You may be eligible for travel credits such as TSA PreCheck and Global Entry reimbursements, anniversary travel credits, checked bags, hotel stays, Uber rides, etc.
- No foreign transaction fees: You can save 3% to 5% on your international purchases when your card waives foreign transaction fees. Even travel cards with $0 annual fees may offer this perk.
Naturally, the travel cards in this review offer a 0% introductory APR, a feature that can finance trips large and small.
Are Air Miles Better Than Cash Back?
Cash back is incredibly versatile, but air miles can sometimes be more valuable. The tricky part is that the value of frequent flyer miles can fluctuate when airlines change their rewards programs.
Consider both how many miles you’ll earn per dollar spent and how many miles the airline requires for the flights you want. Redemption requirements can vary by flight, departure date, destination, cabin, and seat, although programs may also offer valuable upgrades and in-flight perks.
Cash back travel cards offer rewards that may be applied to eligible travel purchases or redeemed in other forms, including cash. Co-branded airline cards, however, typically don’t allow you to convert frequent flyer miles into cash. This makes cash back more flexible, while air miles may provide greater value for travelers who can take advantage of a particular airline’s rewards program.
Are Air Miles Credit Cards Worth It?
Flexible travel points and general-purpose miles are usually easier to use, while airline miles may offer greater value for travelers who regularly fly with a particular carrier.
Before you apply for an air miles credit card, think about your travel habits and how you like to use rewards. Besides earning miles, many cards come with perks like free checked bags, priority boarding, TSA PreCheck and Global Entry reimbursements, and lounge access for a more comfortable trip.
Here are some example travel redemption values (and cash back values) for some of the most popular points programs:
| Rewards Program | Travel Redemption Value | Cash Back / Statement Credit Value | Transfer to Travel Partners? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Miles | 1.0 cent/mile (via Capital One Travel or 90-day Travel Purchase Eraser); 1.0 to 1.8+ cents/mile via transfer partners | 0.5 cents/mile (general cash back or statement credit) | Yes (15+ airline & hotel partners, mostly 1:1) |
| Bank of America Rewards | 1.0 cent/point (redeemed for travel or dining statement credits within 12 months) | 0.6 cents/point on Travel Rewards (or 1.0 cent/point on Premium Rewards) | No (Fixed-value statement credits only) |
| Discover it® Miles | 1.0 cent/mile (statement credit for travel purchases within 180 days) | 1.0 cent/mile (direct bank deposit or general statement credit) | No (Direct cash/statement credit only) |
If you prefer to maintain rewards flexibility, you want to pay special attention to the issuer's air miles redemption policies. Some may offer similar redemption values across a wide range of options, but others may limit your air miles value when it comes to redeeming them in certain categories (such as statement credit or gift cards).
For business owners who travel frequently, dedicated business cards from these issuers provide structured perks and high earning rates. Notable examples include the Capital One Venture Business and the Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card.
How Do I Get The Most Value Out of My Travel Rewards?
It's vital to know all the perks and rewards of a travel card before applying. Articles like this one can help you compare different cards, enabling you to pick the one that strikes the perfect balance between benefits and costs.
Timing can also affect how far your rewards take you. In this short video, credit expert Erica Sandberg explains the best times of year to redeem travel rewards and potentially get more value from your points or miles.
But if you'd like a more personalized recommendation, we created this tool to help you find the right type of rewards card based on your unique situation and travel preferences:
For those searching for more general advice on how to maximize the value of travel rewards, here are a few additional expert tips:
- Know redemption values: The values of points and miles usually depend on how you redeem them. For example, if you redeem Capital One miles against past travel charges or transfer them to airline partners, you'll preserve the full 1+ cent/mile value, avoiding the 0.5-cent cash-out rate.
- Maximize welcome bonuses: Enjoy generous signup bonuses and 0% intro APRs. These reduce the net price of travel and other purchases, which can make a big difference on big-ticket items. For example, a 100,000-point signup bonus and 18-month 0% APR could save you thousands of dollars if you’re contemplating a cruise or flight.
- Consider owning multiple cards: You may want to own several co-branded air miles cards if you often fly without loyalty to any particular carrier. Hotel cards can be very valuable if you favor a specific chain, as they may offer free stays, room upgrades, and other perks.
- Juggle your credit lines: If you have multiple cards from the same issuer, you can move part of your credit lines around to where they will do the most good. For example, suppose you have a travel and a cash back card from the same issuer, each with a $10,000 credit limit. You may want to move $7,500 from the cash card to the travel card to finance more expensive trips and receive better travel rewards.
- Don’t pay for benefits you won’t use: The better travel credit cards assess three-digit annual fees to fund all their excellent benefits. But why pay for benefits you won’t use? For example, if you don’t like airport lounges, you may be able to save several hundred dollars a year by getting a less expensive travel card.
It's crucial that you never miss a payment due date. Missing it can lead to a penalty fee, an early end to your 0% APR, and possibly a penalty APR.
Methodology: How We Rate 0% APR Travel & Air Miles Credit Cards
A travel card with a 0% APR intro period can give you the best of both worlds: Time to pay off a vacation or large purchase without interest, plus points and miles toward your next trip. Our experts dug into the fine print to let you know which cards deliver real value without surprise costs.
Here is what we look at when we rank each card:
- Length of the 0% Intro Offer: How many months you get to pay off purchases with zero interest.
- Earning and Using Miles: How you earn rewards on everyday purchases and how easy it is to book flights and hotels with your rewards.
- Annual and Foreign Transaction Fees: Whether the card charges an annual fee and if it skips the extra 3% fee on international purchases.
- Built-In Travel Perks: Valuable extras like rental car insurance, TSA PreCheck and Global Entry reimbursement, lost luggage coverage, and travel delay protection.
As issuers adjust their rates, welcome offers, and perks, we also update our ratings and rankings. This can help you pick the right card to save money, earn rewards, and fund your next adventure.
Get the Travel Card That Fits Your Needs
We've reviewed the top 0% APR travel and air miles credit cards, perfect for travelers looking to fund a big trip. These cards not only offer a range of rewards and benefits but also provide extended interest-free periods for new cardmembers.
Be sure to read the credit card agreement closely before choosing a card. Doing so will help you avoid overlooking any of the perks available and any costs or limitations lurking under the covers.
Advertiser Disclosure
CardRates.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation for referrals for many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across CardRates.com (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CardRates.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.
Editorial Note: Our site content is not provided or commissioned by any credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed on CardRates.com are the author's alone, not those of any credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by credit card issuers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information; however, all credit card offer details, including information about rewards, signup bonuses, introductory offers, and other terms and conditions, is presented without warranty. Clicking on any offer on CardRates.com will direct you to the issuer's website, where you can review the current terms and conditions of the offer.
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