9 Best Deals on Credit Card Interest Rates (May 2025)
Updated:
Writer: Brittney Mayer
Brittney Mayer, Credit Analyst
Brittney is a Credit Strategist and Finance Expert who has spent years honing her knowledge of the credit industry both personally and professionally. Brittney applies her more than a decade of research experience to crafting in-depth consumer guides designed to help CardRates readers make better, more informed financial decisions.
Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to the CardRates team. She has worked at The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Gwinnett Daily News, Gainesville Sun, and The New York Times, where she covered demographics, consumer issues, and the business and financial sectors. Lillian has a degree in journalism and communications from Georgia State University and brings her fact-checking expertise to ensure Digital Brands content is accurate and engaging.
Ashley Fricker has more than a decade of experience as a finance contributor and editor, and has specialized in the credit card industry since 2015. Her credit card commentary is featured on national media outlets that include CNBC, MarketWatch, Investopedia, and Reader's Digest, among many others. She has worked closely with the world’s largest banks and financial institutions, up-and-coming fintech companies, and press and news outlets to curate comprehensive content and media. Ashley holds a bachelor's degree in multimedia journalism from Florida Atlantic University.
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Although intimidating to some novice cardholders, credit card interest rates isn’t a particularly complicated concept to understand — and it’s certainly worth whatever time it takes to learn. Once you know how credit card interest works, you can find ways to not only minimize the interest you incur on your credit card balances, but how to avoid paying interest fees altogether.
For example, when you understand how your credit card’s grace period operates, you can enjoy interest-free credit card purchases indefinitely, as you’ll know exactly when to pay your balance to avoid racking up fees.
Furthermore, with a bit of credit education, you can even avoid paying fees on your new and existing revolving balances. Indeed, with the proper use of introductory and ongoing interest rate offers, you can score zero-interest and low-interest deals perfect for any balance you need to carry from month to month — or already carry. In the following article, we’ll take a look at some of our top picks for the best credit cards available today with 0% introductory rates on purchases, 0% introductory rates on balance transfers, and ongoing low APRs.
Whether you’ve planned your purchase or are making an impulse buy, putting a few thousand dollars (or more) on your credit card can be a big mistake if you carry the balance for long. That’s because interest fees don’t take long to add up, and while that 19% APR didn’t seem like a big deal at first, it’ll cost you around $1,000 a year to carry a $5,000 balance at that rate — enough to turn your bargain bedroom set into a full-price faux pas.
However, that’s not to say you have no other options; for those purchases that you simply can’t pay off at once, you may still be able to use a card to cover the cost — you simply need to select the right card. Specifically, those with good credit can find introductory APR deals offering 0% APR on new purchases made with your card for the length of the offer. Our top-rated deals provide 0% interest on new purchases for 14 months or more.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
4.8/5.0
About this rating
Our experts rate 0% intro APR credit cards based on the length of the promotional rate, the regular APR, annual and other fees, and approval rates. Offers are compared to similar cards to evaluate overall value. Issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
4.9/5.0
About this rating
Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.
$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.
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%)
18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
$0
Excellent/Good
Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
Our experts rate 0% intro APR credit cards based on the length of the promotional rate, the regular APR, annual and other fees, and approval rates. Offers are compared to similar cards to evaluate overall value. Issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.
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 all 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 the Bank of America Travel Center.
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%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
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. You could earn 3.75-5.25 points for every $1 you spend on travel purchases made through the Bank of America Travel Center.
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 any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%)
18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
$0
Excellent/Good
Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
Our experts rate 0% intro APR credit cards based on the length of the promotional rate, the regular APR, annual and other fees, and approval rates. Offers are compared to similar cards to evaluate overall value. Issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.
Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
Enjoy 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; 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.
Another great benefit to a card offering an introductory 0% APR for new purchases is that you can typically still earn rewards on those purchases during the interest-free period. Since interest fees can be a major reward killer, this can be a great benefit, especially when trying to reach spending requirements for a juicy signup bonus.
Introductory offers providing 0% APR will revert to a higher APR at the end of the offer terms.
Of course, when comparing introductory interest offers be sure to look at more than the length of the offer and the rewards you’ll earn. You also need to look carefully at the default purchase APR you’ll see when your offer terms end, as this will likely be a standard purchase APR in the 12% to 25% range (depending on your individual creditworthiness).
Best “0% Balance Transfer Intro Rate” Credit Cards
As awesome as 0% APR offers are for new purchases, they only work for, well, new purchases, and only new purchases made with that particular card. These offers will do little good for those already carrying a balance on their existing cards; no, that’s when you need 0% APR balance transfer offers, which are good on any existing balance that you transfer to your new card.
For the most part, a balance transfer works exactly as it sounds — you transfer your existing balance from one card to another card. Ideally, the new card has a lower interest rate than the first, reducing your fees and monthly payments. Our top balance transfer offers provide 0% APR on transferred balances for up to 18 months.
Our experts rate balance transfer offers on the length of the promotional rate, regular APR, fees, rewards, and approval rates. We also consider additional cardholder needs and compare offers to evaluate the best terms. Issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.
0% Intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months and on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 17.24% - 27.99%, 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.
Our experts rate balance transfer offers on the length of the promotional rate, regular APR, fees, rewards, and approval rates. We also consider additional cardholder needs and compare offers to evaluate the best terms. Issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.
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.
Our experts rate balance transfer offers on the length of the promotional rate, regular APR, fees, rewards, and approval rates. We also consider additional cardholder needs and compare offers to evaluate the best terms. Issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.
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).
As with most good things in life, balance transfers do have a catch: balance transfer fees. Typically 2% to 4% of your transferred balance, these fees can eat into the savings you achieve by lowering your interest rate, so keep it in mind when considering a transfer.
Furthermore, introductory balance transfer deals will have the same limitation as new purchase offers, due to the temporary nature of the deal. After the introductory period on your balance transfer offer ends, your interest rate will revert to the default rate and you’ll start being charged interest on your transferred balance. Since the average credit card interest rate in the US is around 17%, the new rate can get expensive — fast.
Best “Ongoing Low Interest Rate” Credit Cards
If the introductory offer has a particular weakness, it is the fact that it is introductory. No matter how great the offer, it must come to an end eventually. At that point, the default APR of your credit card becomes remarkably important. The best way to avoid nasty interest rate surprises at the end of your introductory term — or in general — is to find a card that offers a low ongoing APR.
While the exact interest rate you are charged will depend primarily on your individual credit, you can take some of the chance out of the equation with careful card selection. All credit cards will have a designated range of potential interest rates specific to that card, and the range determines the minimum and maximum APR an applicant can receive. The top-rated cards on our list have APR ranges starting as low as 11.99% for qualified cardholders.
Our experts rate low APR credit cards based on the ongoing interest rate, fees, rewards, approval rates, and any available bonuses. We also consider rate stability, grace periods, and how APRs compare across similar cards. Issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.
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% Cashback Bonus® at Grocery Stores and Wholesale Clubs, April 1 through June 30, 2025, on up to $1,500 in purchases, 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 your 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.
Our experts rate low APR credit cards based on the ongoing interest rate, fees, rewards, approval rates, and any available bonuses. We also consider rate stability, grace periods, and how APRs compare across similar cards. Issuers have no influence on our ratings.
OVERALL RATING
4.4/5.0
USAA Rate Advantage Visa® Platinum Credit Card
4.4/5.0
About this rating
Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.
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
Our experts rate low APR credit cards based on the ongoing interest rate, fees, rewards, approval rates, and any available bonuses. We also consider rate stability, grace periods, and how APRs compare across similar cards. Issuers have no influence on our ratings.
OVERALL RATING
4.0/5.0
DCU Visa® Platinum Credit Card
4.0/5.0
About this rating
Our experts rate credit card offers based on factors like rewards, APRs, signup bonuses, fees, and approval rates, with a focus on benefits that provide the best value. We also consider cardholder needs such as credit-building potential, issuer reputation, and customer service. Our ratings are unbiased, updated regularly, and not influenced by issuers.
Extended Warranty With Warranty Manager Service
No annual fee, balance transfer fee, or cash advance fees
Must meet eligibility criteria to join Digital Federal Credit Union
Fraud notifications and the ability to freeze/unfreeze your credit card
When you add your DCU credit or debit card to your Mobile Wallet and make a purchase, your personal information is encrypted – so even if retailer is hacked, your cards won’t be compromised
Even with the lowest possible ongoing APR, you can still find yourself paying higher interest fees than you are comfortable with. One easy way to reduce the amount of interest you pay is to make multiple payments throughout the month. This is because interest is compounded daily, based on your average daily balance. Making more frequent payments decreases your average daily balance and, thus, decreases your total interest.
Credit cards may have multiple APRs for each type of balance, which are listed in the cardholder agreement.
If you are unsure of the exact APR charged by your new (or old) credit card, you can find it listed in your cardholder agreement. Make sure you look at the correct APR for your transaction type, however. New purchases, transferred balances, and cash advances can all have different APRs. Additionally, your card may have a penalty APR that applies if you miss a credit card payment.
Save Big By Lowering Your Credit Card Interest Rates
For all that credit cards are a secure and convenient way to buy, the high interest rates charged for the pleasure of purchasing with plastic can be a pain — an expensive pain. Even the most qualified applicants can be stuck paying interest rates of 14% or more, and as your credit score goes down, your interest rates head in the opposite direction. Be sure to check your credit report at least once a year, if not more often, to make sure there are no mistakes or erroneous information dragging your score down. Many credit cards even come with free credit monitoring these days.
Luckily, with a little knowledge (and the right deal) you can take the sting out of your interest payments, or even eliminate them altogether. Quality low-interest and no-interest credit card offers can be an easy way to decrease the cost of your debt and make it easier to repay your existing balances.
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