Most consumers today have felt the sting when they realize that the price tag that first lured them in has snowballed beyond recognition at the moment of checkout. For example, that $10 pizza delivery somehow ends up costing you $20 by the time the tax, tip, and delivery fee are included.
And it doesn’t stop there. If you use a credit card to pay for your purchases and then carry that balance past the grace period, you’ll start accruing interest fees on top of everything else.
While taxes are unavoidable (and tipping is just good manners), you can avoid — or, at least, minimize — interest fees with the right credit card. You may even earn rewards while you do so. We’ve researched a variety of credit cards to compile the list below, featuring our selections for the best low-interest credit cards. The varied list should contain something for nearly every consumer, whether you prefer a low purchase APR, cash back, or travel perks.
0% Purchases | 0% Balance Transfers | Cash Back | Travel | Business | Low Ongoing
Although paying off your balance before the end of your card’s grace period is the easiest way to avoid interest fees, carrying a balance for a few months is sometimes necessary.
For these situations, a credit card with an introductory 0% APR offer can give you at least six months of interest-free purchasing. And the best intro-APR offers, like some of our picks below, offer more than 12 months of 0% interest.
0% INTRO APR RATING
★★★★★
4.9
- Start off strong with 0% Intro APR for 18 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers. A variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24% on balance transfers and purchases after the introductory period ends.
- Lower your interest rate by 2% each year. Automatically be considered for an APR reduction when you pay on time, and spend at least $1000 on your card by your next account anniversary.
- Raise your credit limit. Get an automatic, one-time review for a higher credit limit when you pay on time, and spend $500 in your first six months.
- All for no annual fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Slate Edge℠ card
- Keep tabs on your credit health - Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more
- Member FDIC
|
|
|
|
|
|
0% Intro APR on Purchases 18 months
|
0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers 18 months
|
20.49% - 29.24% Variable
|
$0
|
Good/Excellent
|
0% INTRO APR RATING
★★★★★
4.8
- $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 - now with expanded categories, 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.
- Newly expanded categories based on Bank of America customer feedback! 3% cash back on Gas (to now include Electric Vehicle Charging (EVC) Stations) and Online Shopping (to now include Cable, Streaming, Internet and Phone Services).
- If you're a 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 no expiration on rewards.
- 0% Introductory APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
- 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
|
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
|
18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
|
$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
0% INTRO APR RATING
★★★★★
4.8
- 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.
- 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% Introductory APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
- If you're a 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
|
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
|
18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
|
$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
+See More Cards with 0% APR on New Purchases
As handy as intro-APR offers can be, they do have some limitations, not the least of which is that they are introductory, meaning your APR will revert to the default rate once the promotional period expires.
Furthermore, some transactions will not qualify for the 0% APR. While some deals may cover new purchases and balance transfers, others will only cover new purchases. Cash advances will not be covered and will usually start accruing interest fees immediately.
Whether from one large purchase or a series of smaller ones, it can be all too easy to wind up with a credit card balance that starts accruing interest. And when the interest rate is near the average 16.9% APR, those fees can get very expensive very quickly.
If your current card isn’t cutting it in the interest rate department, you can often transfer your balance to another card with a lower rate. Choosing one with an introductory 0% APR offer on balance transfers, such as our cards below, can potentially cut your fees down to $0 for 12 months or more.
0% BALANCE TRANSFER RATING
★★★★★
4.8
- 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
0% 12 months on Purchases
|
0% 21 months on Balance Transfers
|
18.24% - 28.99% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Excellent, Good
|
Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.
0% BALANCE TRANSFER RATING
★★★★★
4.8
- No Late Fees, No Penalty Rate, and No Annual Fee... Ever
- 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 19.24% - 29.99%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- There is an introductory balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% of the amount of the transfer, whichever is greater for balances transfers completed within 4 months of account opening.
- Stay protected with Citi® Quick Lock
|
|
|
|
|
|
0% Intro APR Period 12 months on Purchases
|
0% Intro APR Period 21 months on Balance Transfers
|
19.24% - 29.99% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Excellent, Good Credit
|
Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.
0% BALANCE TRANSFER RATING
★★★★★
4.8
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – 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.
- No annual fee.
- Terms and conditions apply.
|
|
|
|
|
|
0% Intro APR for 6 months
|
0% Intro APR for 18 months
|
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
|
$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
+See More Cards with 0% APR on Balance Transfers
Keep an eye on the length of the promotional period, as your remaining balance will be subject to the default balance transfer APR once the offer ends.
Additionally, most credit cards will charge a balance transfer fee for the service. These fees can range between 3% and 5% of the total transferred balance and will reduce the total amount you can transfer.
Despite the fees, however, balance transfers can still be very valuable savings tools, especially if your current APR is very high. You can use an online balance transfer calculator to determine if the balance transfer fee is worth the interest rate savings.
What’s better than paying 0% interest on your new purchases for a year or more? Why, earning cash back rewards on those purchases, of course.
In today’s competitive credit card market, issuers are stacking the perks to draw in customers. This means some of the best cash back cards out there, including the options below, also come with awesome intro-APR offers.
CASH BACK RATING
★★★★★
4.8
- SPECIAL OFFER: Unlimited Matched Cash Back. Use your card for all your purchases and at the end of your first year, Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned! There is no limit to how much you can earn. Every dollar in cash back rewards you earn is a dollar Chase will match.
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back is just the beginning of what you can earn. You'll enjoy 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
- 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 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!
- 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, real-time alerts, and more.
|
|
|
|
|
|
0% Intro APR on Purchases 15 months
|
0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers 15 months
|
20.49% - 29.24% Variable
|
$0
|
Good/Excellent
|
CASH BACK RATING
★★★★★
4.9
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
|
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
|
$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
CASH BACK RATING
★★★★★
4.8
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% on all other purchases
- Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
- 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% for 15 months
|
0% for 15 months
|
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Excellent, Good
|
+See More Cash Back Cards
To make the most of your cash back card, look for cards with bonus categories that complement your spending habits. If you dine out a lot, for instance, look for a card that offers bonus rewards for restaurant purchases.
Be sure to pay off your purchases before your APR offer expires, however, or you’ll end up wasting your rewards on interest fees. Regular interest rates will almost always exceed any cash back rewards rate, so the credit card company will likely win if you allow interest to accrue.
With the average international vacation topping $3,000, it’s likely fair to say that many who charge their trips will be spending a little time paying them off.
With such a high cost, it makes sense to use an intro-APR card to cut out the interest fees, but that means giving up on travel rewards for your trip. Or does it? While only a few travel cards come with 0% intro-APR offers, the list below includes some of our top-rated cards.
AIR MILES RATING
★★★★★
4.9
- UNLIMITED BONUS: Only Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
- Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
- No annual fee
- Turn Miles into cash in any amount, any time. Or redeem as a statement credit for travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% - 28.24% 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. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
- Freeze your account in seconds with an on/off switch either on the mobile app or website to prevent new purchases, cash advances, and balance transfers.
- Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites. Activate for free.
- Terms and conditions apply.
|
|
|
|
|
|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
|
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
|
$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
AIR MILES RATING
★★★★★
4.9
- $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
|
|
|
|
|
|
0% for 15 months
|
0% for 15 months
|
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Excellent, Good
|
+See More Travel Rewards Cards
If you’re heading abroad and charging your travel expenses, be sure to check out whether your card charges foreign transaction fees on purchases made in a foreign currency.
With rates of 2% to 4% of the total purchase amount, foreign transaction fees can add a lot of cost to your travels.
You can eliminate that cost by choosing a card that doesn’t charge any foreign transaction fees at all. In particular, many travel credit cards, including the ones above, will waive foreign transaction fees.
Similar to a living creature, businesses continually grow and change — and so do their financial needs. Major expenses can come when you least expect them, and revenue ups and downs can make paying for them a challenge at times.
A good business credit card can be a vital tool for any business, but one with a 0% intro-APR offer can be even more lucrative when you need a little time to pay down your balance. Happily, several of our favorite business cards also come with sweet interest offers.
BUSINESS CARD RATING
★★★★★
4.6
- Earn $900 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year
- Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- No Annual Fee
|
|
|
|
|
|
0% Intro APR on Purchases 12 months
|
N/A 12 months
|
18.49% - 24.49% Variable
|
$0
|
Good/Excellent
|
BUSINESS CARD RATING
★★★★★
4.7
- 0% Intro APR for the first 12 months; 21.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere — with no limits or category restrictions
- No annual fee
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Rewards won't expire for the life of the account
- Redeem your cash back rewards for any amount
|
|
|
|
|
|
0% for 12 months
|
N/A
|
21.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Good
|
14. Capital One® Spark® Miles Select for Business
This card is currently not available.
Business Rating
★★★★★
N/A
Additional Disclosure: Information for this card not reviewed by or provided by Capital One.
+See More Business Cards
Always remember that intro-APR offers tend to expire, and you’ll be stuck paying the default purchase APR on any remaining balance. Pay off your card before your promotion expires to avoid interest fees.
As with consumer cards, choosing the best business credit card for your company will often come down to maximizing rewards where you spend the most.
If your business goes through a lot of office supplies, for example, select a card that offers bonus rewards for purchases made at office supply stores. You can also find business credit cards that offer bonus rewards for digital advertising, communications services, and even shipping costs.
Despite the value introductory interest rates offer, they do have one major downfall: they expire. Even the best 0% APR offers will end eventually and you’ll start accruing interest at the default rate after that.
If your balance-carrying needs are likely to be a regular concern, then a card with a low ongoing APR can be a good investment. Some of our low-rate cards even include rewards and low or no annual fees.
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – 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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
|
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
|
$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on Balance Transfers and Convenience Checks that post to your account within 90 days of account opening. After this time, the Variable Regular APR will apply to your balance.
- Our lowest-rate card: Pay less in interest if you carry a balance from month to month
- Travel benefits include Auto Rental Coverage, Travel Accident Insurance, Baggage Delay and Reimbursement, and Trip Cancellation and Interruption Coverage
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
- This offer is only open to members of military-affiliated groups and their families
|
|
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
0% for 15 Months
|
9.15% - 26.15% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Good to Excellent
|
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – 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.
- No annual fee.
- Terms and conditions apply.
|
|
|
|
|
|
0% Intro APR for 6 months
|
0% Intro APR for 18 months
|
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
|
$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
+See More Cards with Low Ongoing APRs
Most credit cards come with a range of potential APRs, with the exact APR you are offered dependent upon your credit risk. Choosing a card with a low APR range can be a good way of ensuring you are offered a low rate (if approved).
The only guaranteed way to obtain lower interest rates, however, is to improve your credit profile. Paying down debt, limiting new inquiries and new accounts, and always paying your debts on time and as agreed can all help improve your credit score and, thus, your interest rates.
Like taxes, fees seem to be an inevitable facet of consumer life. But they don’t have to have the upper hand in every battle.
By choosing the right credit card (and using it responsibly) you can avoid adding interest fees to the long list of extras inflating the cost of your purchases. What’s more, with a good rewards card, you may even gain a little ground of your own.
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.
![What is a Good Credit Card APR? 5 Best Low APR Cards ([updated_month_year])](https://www.cardrates.com/images/uploads/2017/11/good-apr2.png?width=158&height=120&fit=crop "What is a Good Credit Card APR? 5 Best Low APR Cards ([updated_month_year])")
![7 Low APR Credit Cards For Bad Credit ([updated_month_year])](https://www.cardrates.com/images/uploads/2021/01/shutterstock_615601223-4.jpg?width=158&height=120&fit=crop "7 Low APR Credit Cards For Bad Credit ([updated_month_year])")
![11+ Best Low-Interest Credit Cards ([updated_month_year])](https://www.cardrates.com/images/uploads/2018/11/low-int-1.png?width=158&height=120&fit=crop "11+ Best Low-Interest Credit Cards ([updated_month_year])")
![What is Credit Card APR? 9 Best 0% APR Cards ([updated_month_year])](https://www.cardrates.com/images/uploads/2017/05/what-is-apr.jpg?width=158&height=120&fit=crop "What is Credit Card APR? 9 Best 0% APR Cards ([updated_month_year])")
![8 Best Low-Interest Credit Cards with 0% Intro ([updated_month_year])](https://www.cardrates.com/images/uploads/2017/07/low-interest.png?width=158&height=120&fit=crop "8 Best Low-Interest Credit Cards with 0% Intro ([updated_month_year])")
![15 Cheap Credit Cards: Low Interest & $0 Fees ([updated_month_year])](https://www.cardrates.com/images/uploads/2017/12/cheap.png?width=158&height=120&fit=crop "15 Cheap Credit Cards: Low Interest & $0 Fees ([updated_month_year])")
![8 Low Interest Credit Cards For Beginners ([updated_month_year])](https://www.cardrates.com/images/uploads/2021/12/Low-Interest-Credit-Cards-For-Beginners.jpg?width=158&height=120&fit=crop "8 Low Interest Credit Cards For Beginners ([updated_month_year])")
![APR vs. Interest Rate: Is There a Difference? ([updated_month_year])](https://www.cardrates.com/images/uploads/2019/11/APR-vs-Interest-Rate-Feat.jpg?width=158&height=120&fit=crop "APR vs. Interest Rate: Is There a Difference? ([updated_month_year])")