Best 0% Intro APR Credit Cards

The best 0% APR credit cards can make your life much easier, and not just for the few months the introductory period lasts.

When you take advantage of an interest-free introductory period at the start of your card membership, you can make a large purchase, consolidate high-interest debt, or cover the cost of an emergency without paying finance charges or other exorbitant fees.

That will help you immediately and continue to pay dividends long after you’ve settled the debt and moved on with life.

Depending on the card you choose to apply for, you may be able to enjoy a year or more during which no interest is added to your purchases. To obtain a 0% intro APR credit card offer — and use it effectively — it’s important to know at least a few key facts about these products. Let’s get started with the basics:

1. What is a 0% APR Credit Card?

No credit card will offer interest-free financing forever, but several cards will offer an introductory APR period for new cardholders that lets you make purchases or transfer existing balances without paying any interest for a set amount of time.

“Intro” is short for introductory, and it’s an indication that the deal occurs at the beginning of the account’s lifespan. In other words, intro-APR offers are time-sensitive deals that are typically only available for new accounts.

The length of your 0% APR introductory period will depend on the card you apply for. Even during this period, you may still have to pay an annual fee or other recurring charges the card issuer passes on to cardholders. Some cards will offer a short interest-free period of six months, while other card issuers may extend the intro APR period to as many as 18 months.

By law, any card issuer who offers an introductory APR rate has to allow for at least six months of interest-free financing.

APR stands for annual percentage rate. In the case of credit cards, the APR refers to the annual interest rate that the credit card issuer will charge on balances that are not paid in full by their due date. Interest accrues monthly on those balances.

Most credit cards come with interest-free grace periods that give you at least 21 days to pay your balance to avoid interest fees. The grace period is the time between when your statement closes and when the bill for that credit card is due; basically, if you pay your full statement balance before the due date, you won’t be charged interest.

If you don’t pay off your full balance, or you carry over a balance from a previous billing cycle, you will be charged interest on that balance at the rate outlined in your terms and conditions. You’ll continue to accrue interest until your full balance has been paid — unless, of course, you’re enjoying an active 0% APR offer.

As the name implies, these offers effectively drop your interest rate to 0%. This means you won’t pay interest on your new purchases even if you carry a balance beyond your grace period.

Just to be clear, you are still responsible for the debt you incur as well as the monthly payments, but no interest will be added to the amount you owe during the introductory period.

2. What Happens When the 0% Period Ends?

No matter how long your introductory offer lasts, it will expire eventually, so knowing what your regular APR will be when your offer ends is important. Not only will this be the rate charged on any balance that remains after your promotional period expires, but it will also be the rate for any new balances you carry in the future.

For example, if you make $2,000 worth of purchases during the introductory period and have a $200 balance at the end of the promotional period, you’ll start accruing interest on that $200.

However, some credit cards — primarily store credit cards — will offer what they call “special financing” or another promotional rate that uses deferred interest. If your promotional interest rate was from an offer with deferred interest, you’ll need to pay off the entire financed amount before the end of the promotional period, or you’ll be charged interest on the whole amount from the time you made the purchase.

So, with a deferred interest offer, if you financed a $2,000 purchase, you’ll need to pay off the full $2,000 before the end of the promotion. If so much as 2¢ is left as a balance after the end of the promotion, you’ll be charged interest on the entire $2,000.

If you reach the end of your promotional APR period with a $0 balance on your card, you’ll continue as you would with any other credit card. You’ll receive interest charges on any new purchases you do not pay off before the end of your grace period. You also won’t be eligible for a new promotion — as those are typically only reserved for new cardholders.

The issuer may also bar you from receiving a promotional period if you sign up for another card with the same company. This will vary by the issuer, so check with the bank before you apply.

You may consider closing out your zero-interest credit card after the promotion ends, and your balance is paid. While that will stop the temptation to spend on a card with few rewards or benefits, it could also increase your credit utilization — which accounts for 30% of your overall FICO Score.

You should only consider closing out a credit card if it contains a high annual fee, and it is a card that you rarely use. Don’t pay for access to an unnecessary credit line. But if you aren’t paying an annual fee or maintenance charge for the card, it wouldn’t hurt to stash the card somewhere other than your wallet and use it only in case of emergencies.

The extra available credit will help your credit score, and you’ll have access to cash if times get tough.

3. How Do I Get a 0% APR Credit Card?

We’ve listed our choices for the best 0% APR credit cards above. Once you’ve researched the lot, you can apply for the card that best suits your needs and financial situation. All of these credit cards are subject to credit approval.

Many card issuers provide a prequalifying form where applicants can initiate a soft credit pull to see whether they qualify for the card. This type of credit inquiry will not affect your credit score and will give you a better idea of your approval odds before you formally apply.

While a prequalification is not an approval guarantee, it often mirrors the outcome of a formal application.

If you submit an application and are approved, you should receive your new credit card in the mail within seven to 10 business days and can begin using it as soon as you activate the card. Some issuers provide instant access to your new credit account via a temporary card number that is available through the bank’s mobile application.

While you can’t use this temporary number in stores or at the register, you can use it to make purchases over the phone or online at just about any retailer or service provider.

4. Can an Introductory APR Offer Help with Credit Card Debt?

An introductory APR offer that’s only good on new purchases won’t impact your existing credit card debt, but it can be useful if you want to reduce interest fees on new purchases while paying down existing debt.

On the other hand, many credit cards that offer an introductory rate on new purchases also apply the same rate to balance transfers. This allows you to transfer an existing balance to the new card and enjoy a promotional period of 0% interest on the transferred balance.

Balance transfers can be a good way to save money if you have a high interest rate on an existing card, or you’re having trouble reducing debt as quickly as you’d like. The key to taking full advantage of a balance transfer is to only move debt from a credit card with a higher interest rate onto a card with a lower interest rate.

The downside to balance transfers is that most credit cards will charge a balance transfer fee of 3% to 5% of the total transferred amount. That said, transfer fees can be worth paying if an introductory APR offer will significantly reduce your interest rate.

Here is a look at the potential balance transfer savings for a 0% APR offer vs. a credit card with a 20% APR over 12 months:

Amount Transferred	3% Balance Transfer Fee	Interest Savings Over 12 Months
$1,000	$30	$200
$2,500	$75	$500
$5,000	$150	$1,000
$7,500	$225	$1,500
$10,000	$300	$2,000

There are a few catches, though. You need to have a healthy credit rating to qualify for a 0% intro APR balance transfer credit card. You must also be conscious of account management.

If you pay late, the interest rate will escalate prematurely. Plus, any debt that you carry over after the end of the introductory period will be subject to the regular interest rate, and it could be higher than what you had on the original account.

Some credit cards that offer a 0% introductory APR will also end the promotion early if you miss a payment or pay late. The card’s promotion rules are typically outlined in the cardholder agreement you receive when you apply.

If you’re looking to use a new card with an introductory APR period to improve your credit score, consider these important tips before proceeding:

• Know when the promotional period expires: Longer introductory rates are always nice, but time can slip by, and you can lose track of when the promotion ends. That may leave you with a big deferred interest bill if you’re not careful.
• Keep track of your new purchases and balance transfers: Quite often, a new card will offer a 0% APR promotion on new purchases and balance transfers, but each has a different promotional period. For example, you may have a card that offers 15 months of 0% APR for new purchases and 12 months of 0% APR on balance transfers. Make sure you have a plan to tackle both debts before the promotional periods expire.
• Make your payments on time: This is vital to keep your promotion active. If you’re late on a payment, the card issuer can impose a penalty fee or even end your promotion early. That could leave you with a large debt that starts accruing interest immediately. Or worse, you could have a large deferred interest charge added to your next statement.

By following those three guidelines, you can make sure you’re set up for success with your card and that you won’t find yourself saddled with a large and unexpected interest charge because your promotion ended without you realizing it.

5. How Long is the Typical Introductory Period?

Legally, credit cards cannot offer promotional interest rates with periods less than six months, but there’s no cap on how long it can extend. It’s fairly easy to find 0% APR deals of up to 18 months or longer.

Keep in mind that cards with extremely long introductory periods will likely offer few additional perks. These cards will also tend to require at least good credit, with excellent credit required to receive the best credit limits.

And those credit limits may not be as high as you’re used to on a non-promotional credit card. One way card issuers offset the 0% APR period is by offering slightly lower credit limits. These allow you to maintain your promotion without taking too much advantage of the interest-free perk.

That doesn’t mean you still won’t find generous credit limits on promotional APR credit cards. Since these cards only consider applicants who have good credit or excellent credit, you’ll likely see healthy credit limits that allow you to make a large purchase or transfer existing debt over to your new card.

Here’s a look at the FICO credit score ranges so you can get an idea of where your credit score falls:

FICO Score Categories	Score Range
Exceptional	800-850
Very Good	740-799
Good	670-739
Fair	580-669
Poor	Below 580

Just as important, the promotion will apply to any purchase you make within its set time frame. So if you pay off your existing card balance, you can continue to enjoy the promotion on further purchases or qualifying balance transfers until the promotional period expires.

Credit card issuers began offering these rates as a way to entice new customers to sign up for their cards. As the offering gained popularity, cards began extending the promotional period to stand out from the competition.

Before you apply for a credit card for its introductory APR period, you should map out your finances to determine how much time you’ll need to fully take advantage of the promotion. If you need to transfer a small debt that you can pay off fairly quickly, you may want to consider a credit card that has a shorter introductory offer but offers more robust cash rewards or other benefits.

If you need more time to pay off your debt, you may opt instead to forego the cash back and other perks and choose a card with a longer introductory APR period.

6. How Do You Find the Ongoing APR/Regular Purchase APR?

The easiest way to find the regular purchase APR for your credit card — sometimes called the ongoing rate — is to check your card statements, which are required to show your interest rate alongside your credit card balance and minimum payment amounts.

Alternatively, you can check your cardholder agreement, which will usually list your regular purchase APR, as well as any other rates, such as those charged for balance transfers or cash advances. Your cardholder agreement is sent out along with your new card and is available digitally through your online banking platform.

For a card you don’t already have, the general interest rate available to potential cardholders will be listed in the card’s Terms & Conditions — also called the “Disclosure,” or “Rates & Fees” documentation.

You can often find the key details of the promotion you’re offered in the Schumer box. This is the table in your cardholder agreement that discloses important information about the card — including interest rates, fees, payment schedules, terms and conditions, and promotion details.

Credit card issuers must present you — either in hard copy or digital form — with the paperwork before you accept and activate a card.

These documents can generally be found on individual card pages located on an issuer’s website. Rates should also be disclosed during the application process.

The card issuer will list the most important information in a Schumer box within your card disclosure document. You can find this information in any credit card disclosure document — be it a student credit card, consumer credit card, or business credit card.

This is the series of boxes where you will find your ongoing APR for new purchases, balance transfers, and cash advances. You’ll also have a more detailed explanation of any promotional periods and penalty rates.

The law requires a list of all other fees, charges, and penalties in a specific bold font. Every card issuer must provide consumers with a copy (either a hard copy or access to a digital version) of its card disclosure document before they submit an application.

7. Can You Earn Cash Back or Rewards While Using an Intro APR Offer?

One of the great things about the introductory APR offers on most regular credit cards is that they don’t impact your ability to earn rewards. So long as your card offers rewards, your purchases should earn them even while you’re enjoying a 0% APR deal.

Keep in mind that you’ll generally only earn rewards on net purchases; if you make any returns, you’ll forfeit those rewards.

Most credit cards will allow you to earn rewards on purchases during your 0% APR promotional period, but you won’t earn them on any balance transfer amounts.

There are two main exceptions to earning rewards during an introductory APR deal. The first is in the case of balance transfers — just about every rewards card does not offer cash back or points for balance transfers — with or without an interest rate deal in place.

The other exception is for some store credit cards that offer special financing. In these cases, you’ll typically have a choice between receiving special financing or earning rewards on your purchase, but not both. For these offers, you should do the math to see if the interest rate savings are worth losing the rewards (or vice versa).

8. Do You Need to Make a Monthly Payment with Intro APR Offers?

Although you won’t be charged any interest on purchases when you use the card during the introductory period, you will still have to adhere to the account’s payment terms. This means making at least the minimum required payment each month before the due date for that statement cycle.

Every month, you will receive an account statement that lists the details of your charges. It will specify where you used the card, the transaction amount, the grand total of what you owe, the minimum amount you’re required to pay that month, and the date by which you need to make that payment.

While it varies by card and issuer, in general, the minimum payment is calculated as 3% of the balance or $35, whichever is greater. As long as you make at least the minimum payment, your account will be considered in good standing, and you won’t be penalized with a fee (or credit damage if you skip the payment cycle entirely). Additionally, making at least the minimum payment by the due date will ensure the 0% APR introductory rate does not expire prematurely.

During a 0% introductory APR promotion, you’ll still need to make monthly minimum payments. But if you transfer a balance, you want to ensure you’re paying enough each month to settle the entire balance before the offer expires.

Of course, that minimum amount is just that — the minimum. It is not a wise idea to get into the habit of only paying the lowest amount possible, even if you’re not accruing interest thanks to an introductory deal.

That’s because the minimum payment isn’t designed to pay off your debt in a timely manner, it’s designed to earn interest fees for the issuer. So, unless you can make a lump-sum payment to clear your debt at the end of the promotional period, the regular interest rate will kick in — and could undo the work you’ve done to consolidate your debt or pay down balances on old credit cards.

Since the regular rate can easily be over the 20% mark, even with good credit, you may be faced with an overwhelming balance that will become quite expensive with the new interest rate. In other words, the freedom that a 0% Intro rate credit card provides is fantastic, but you need to maintain steady payments and work to pay your debt off as the expiration date nears.

9. Do Intro APR Credit Cards Charge a Penalty APR If You Make a Late Payment?

When you’re trying to keep track of about a million different things, making a late credit card payment can be all too easy. Unfortunately, if you’re currently enjoying an introductory APR deal, that late payment could be a disaster.

That’s because even a single late payment can trigger the credit card company to cancel the deal and revert you to the regular APR immediately. Moreover, some credit cards also have penalty rates, which is an even higher APR that will apply to your purchases for six months or longer.

And, yes, penalty APRs can kick in even if you have an APR deal in place. The average penalty rate APR can bring your credit card interest rate to a staggering 20% to 35%. Some penalty rates never go away, whereas others return to the original APR after you make a set number of on-time payments.

Either way, you will not be able to return to your promotional period once it’s canceled by the bank.

In the majority of cases, the credit card issuer will also charge you a late payment fee, which is typically between $25 and $35. Skip an entire billing period and you’ll also damage your credit score.

But with the best 0% APR credit cards — and some responsible spending — you can skip the fees and eliminate debt without racking up large finance charges.

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.

The information on this page was reviewed for accuracy on March 5, 2025.

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