Fierce competition among credit card companies motivates them to appeal to the masses in several ways. One of their most potent marketing ploys is to offer no-interest borrowing and balance transfers for new cardmembers.
Our experts have identified the best credit cards with no interest for at least one year. This can be especially useful if you want to charge a big-ticket item or consolidate your credit card balances. Read on to learn which cards give you the best interest-free introductions.
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Cards with 0% Interest on New Purchases for 12+ Months
These cards let new cardmembers stretch out interest-free payments on new purchases for a year or longer. Depending on your credit limit, an introductory offer could save you hundreds of dollars in interest charges.
4.9
- $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/furnishings 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%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- 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 cardholders to choose a category that will yield them an elevated 3% cash back. These categories include online shopping, which provides even more money back for purchases you’re already making. Who doesn’t love free money?
4.7
- Limited Time Intro Offer: Earn a $250 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% 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 18.99% – 28.49%.
- No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
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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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18.99% – 28.49% Variable
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$0
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Good/Excellent
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The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card offers new cardmembers interest-free purchases for a promotional period. This no-annual-fee card provides zero liability protection, 120-day new-purchase protection, a year extension on eligible warranties, and free unlimited access to your credit score.
4.7
- 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 and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- 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; 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
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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% - 29.24% (Variable)
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$0
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Excellent, Good
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The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card markets to new cardmembers by offering over a year of 0% APR on purchases. This no-annual-fee card offers unlimited cash back rewards on all purchases and a one-time cash bonus when you spend a set amount in the first three months from account opening.
4.7
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- 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; 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
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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% - 29.24% (Variable)
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$0
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Excellent, Good
|
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers new cardmembers a 0% APR on promotional purchases. It has three tiers of unlimited cash back rewards and a one-time cash bonus when you spend the required amount on purchases during the first three months. The card charges no annual fee.
4.6
- 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.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- Apply and you could get a decision in as little as 60 seconds. No annual fee.
- Start shopping and earning rewards in minutes with our digital card, before your physical card arrives in the mail, if eligible.
- 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. Activate by mobile app for free.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% to 27.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- 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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18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
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$0
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Excellent/Good
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The Discover it® Cash Back card offers an extended introductory APR for new customers. The regular APR will apply after the introductory period ends. When activated, quarterly bonus categories offer high cash back rates (up to the quarterly maximum) and cash back at a reduced standard rate on all other purchases.
4.7
- UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers—only from Discover. 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 Miles-for-Miles match. You could turn 35,000 Miles to 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.
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% - 27.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
- 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. Activate by mobile app for free.
- Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide.
- 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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18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
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$0
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Excellent/Good
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The Discover it® Miles card offers a lengthy introductory period on new purchases. The regular APR will apply after the introductory period ends. You also earn miles rewards on all purchases with no brand restrictions and free Social Security number alerts. Other benefits include a free FICO score and instant account freeze/unfreeze.
4.6
- $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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19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
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$0
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Excellent, Good
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The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card gives new cardmembers an initial 0% APR on purchases. This $0-annual-fee card offers a mileage reward on every dollar you spend on purchases. Furthermore, you get bonus miles when you purchase the required amount in the first three months. Your miles never expire as long as the account remains open.
Cards With 0% Interest on Balance Transfers For 12+ Months
These cards give you a period of at least 12 months to avoid interest on balances transferred from other credit cards. Most charge a one-time fee for each transfer, even in the introductory period. Also, some require you to complete your transfers in the first several months after account opening to get the promotional rate.
4.9
- 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 and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- 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; 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% for 15 months
|
0% for 15 months
|
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
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$0
|
Excellent, Good
|
You get an introductory 0% rate for balance transfers and purchases with the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. Balance transfers incur a fee and earn no cash back. Purchases earn unlimited cash back, and you get a one-time cash bonus by spending the required amount during the first three months after opening the account. The card charges no annual fee.
4.8
- 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.
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers. Then 18.24% to 27.24% Standard Variable APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- 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. Activate by mobile app for free.
- No annual fee.
- Terms and conditions apply.
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 6 months
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0% Intro APR for 18 months
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18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
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$0
|
Excellent/Good
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The Discover it® Chrome offers a lengthy introductory period on balance transfers. You earn bonus cash back, up to a spending cap, on quarterly rotating categories that you activate, plus regular flat-rate cash back on all other purchases. Transferred balances do not earn rewards. Keep in mind, the regular APR will apply after the introductory period ends.
4.8
- 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.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% - 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- 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).
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
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Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
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Credit Needed
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|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
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0% 18 months on Balance Transfers
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18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)
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$0
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Excellent/Good/Fair
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Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.
The Citi Double Cash® Card charges an introductory 0% APR on balance transfers you complete within four months of account opening. Transfers must be made within four months of opening the account to qualify for the intro rate, and a fee applies to each transfer.
4.8
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- 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; 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
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Intro (Purchases)
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Intro (Transfers)
|
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% - 29.24% (Variable)
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$0
|
Excellent, Good
|
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is a tiered rewards card with varying rates of cash back on different purchase categories. You must pay a fee for each balance transfer during the introductory period. Transfers earn no cash back, and the annual fee is $0.
What Does 0% APR for 12+ Months Mean?
The annual percentage rate, or APR, is the interest rate a credit card charges on unpaid balances. Normally, if you pay your entire card balance by the next due date, you will not face interest charges.
An introductory 0% APR for 12+ months means you won’t have to pay interest on the balance during a promotional period of at least 12 months from account opening. Credit cards sometimes make separate 0% introductory offers for purchases and balance transfers.
Many cards charge a balance transfer fee that is the larger of a fixed percentage or cash amount. For example, you may see a fee of 3% of the transferred amount or $5, whichever is greater.
None of the cards in this review charge retroactive interest on transferred balances that are not fully paid by the end of the introductory period. However, if you pick a card that is outside of this group, check the fine print before applying.
How Can I Avoid Paying Interest on My Card?
One way to avoid interest charges is to always use a card that offers a 0% APR to new cardmembers. This involves switching to a new credit card when the introductory period on your current card expires. With so many cards offering a year or more of no interest, there is no shortage of cards from which to choose when the time comes.
If you pick a new card that offers no interest on both purchases and balance transfers, you can move your remaining balance on your old card to the new one. This will extend your 0% APR from the old card, but you will have to pay a fee for the maneuver. Typical transfer fees range from 3% to 5%.
| Amount Transferred | 3% Fee | 5% Fee |
|---|---|---|
| $1,000 | $30 | $50 |
| $2,000 | $60 | $100 |
| $3,000 | $90 | $150 |
| $4,000 | $120 | $200 |
| $5,000 | $150 | $250 |
| $6,000 | $180 | $300 |
| $7,000 | $210 | $350 |
| $8,000 | $240 | $400 |
| $9,000 | $270 | $450 |
| $10,000 | $300 | $500 |
The downside of this strategy is that you will accumulate credit cards over time, cards that you likely won’t use once the introductory period expires. That’s not necessarily a bad thing because your available credit will rise with each new card, thereby lowering your credit utilization ratio and potentially increasing your credit scores.
The other method of avoiding credit card interest is simply to pay your full balance every month. Use the credit card as a convenient alternative to cash and checks, not as a way of financing your lifestyle. You’ll avoid interest charges throughout the year and won’t have to worry about replacing your credit card or transferring balances when the introductory period expires.
How Do I Transfer My Credit Card Balance?
Transferring your high-interest credit card debt to a card with 0% interest can be a smart move to save on expensive fees and consolidate debt. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
1. Check Your Current Balance and Interest Rate
Log in to your account and note your current balance and its interest rate. This will help you compare offers and see if a balance transfer will actually help you save money when you factor in the transfer fee.
2. Choose and Apply For a Card
Once you find your perfect match, it’s time to apply. Your credit score and income will determine the types of cards you qualify for.
You’ll need your Social Security number, household income (you can include your spouse’s income and any other money you have access to), and personal details such as your address, email, and phone number to complete the application. Most applications take no longer than five minutes to finish, and you should receive a near-instant approval decision once you click “submit.”
3. Initiate the Transfer
During the application process, a screen may appear that asks whether you have a balance you want to transfer. Here is where you’ll input your existing account details and the amount you want to move to the new card.
If this screen doesn’t appear, you’ll need to contact the new card issuer to initiate the transfer. You can do this over the phone or online, but the steps are the same — you must provide your existing account details, and the new issuer will submit the transfer request.
4. Wait for the Transfer to Process
It could take 5-21 days for your old balance to reach $0 and the transferred amount to appear on your new card’s balance. Be sure you don’t miss a payment due date on the old card and schedule payment as you normally would. You don’t want to be slapped with an unnecessary late fee.
5. Begin Paying Down the Debt
Once you see the balance on the new card, it’s time to calculate how much you need to pay each month to ensure the debt is cleared before the 0% promotional rate ends. The longer the promotional period, the longer you’ll have to pay, which makes your monthly installments smaller and easier to manage.
But be sure not to use the previous card to rack up a new balance, or else you’ll be worse off than before.
Finance a Purchase or Get Out of Debt With a 0% Card
You have plenty of choices if you want to avoid paying credit card interest. The cards that offer up to 18 months of interest-free purchases are perfect for financing a big-ticket item.
On the other hand, if the interest on your credit card balances is eating you alive, you can use a card that offers no interest on balance transfers to start climbing out of debt. These cards allow you to apply 100% of your monthly payment to reducing your balance. The only cost is a one-time transfer fee.
Whatever your motivation for seeking an interest-free card, compare all features, including bonuses and rewards, when considering your options.
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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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