Best 0% APR Credit Cards

Final Verdict

APR promotions help cardholders eliminate existing debt and make new purchases without incurring any interest. These promotions usually last one year, but many offer no-interest financing for close to two years. When applying for one of these cards, consider all of the card's fees and benefits to ensure that it is a good fit for you.

Our choice for the best 0% APR credit card is the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card. It offers the longest APR promotion of any card on this list and no annual fees. You'll enjoy a low intro APR for 20 billing cycles, which gives you almost two years to pay off your balance. Your cell phone is protected when using the card to pay your bill and U.S. Bank provides a free credit score to monitor your progress to grow your credit.

Compare the Best 0% APR Credit Cards

Editorial Picks for the Best 0% APR Credit Cards

U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

Overall Winner; Longest 0% Intro Rates

The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card is the overall winner by offering the longest 0% introductory rates and added benefits, like cell phone protection. While the card has limited value after the promotion, cardholders have 20 months of 0% APR financing to pay off account balances without incurring regular interest charges .

Chase Slate

Best for Fair Credit

The Chase Slate includes 15 months of 0% APR promotions on balance transfers and purchases, which is one of the top offers for people with fair credit. Balance transfers made within the first 60 days can avoid the 3% balance transfer fee that most cards charge.

BankAmericard for Students

Best for Students

The best 0% APR promotion for students is the BankAmericard for Students with 15 months of no interest. When the promotion expires, students can receive a standard interest rate as low as 12.99%.

U.S. Bank Business Platinum

Best for Business

Business owners who need extra time to pay off debt or new purchases should apply for the U.S. Bank Business Platinum. It has no annual fee and offers a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months.

Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa

Best for Simple Cash Back

The best 0% APR card for simple cash back is the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa with its unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. New cardholders can earn a $150 bonus and 1.8% cash back on eligible digital wallet purchases for the first year.

SunTrust Cash Rewards

Best for Regular APR

The best regular APR from 0% APR cards comes from the SunTrust Cash Rewards Card. Customers with excellent credit can receive an APR starting at just 11.24%.

Capital One SavorOne

Best for Dining Rewards

The Capital One SavorOne offers the best dining rewards for 0% APR cards with an unlimited 3% cash back on dining. You'll also earn a $200 cash back after spending $500 within three months.

Discover it Cash Back

Best for Bonus Cash Back

The Discover it Cash Back is our choice for the best bonus cash back because you earn up to 5% on rotating quarterly categories. Plus, all of the cash back you earn is doubled at the end of the first year, meaning that you can earn up to 10% cash back with this card.

Chase Freedom Unlimited

Best for Travel

The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase and (through March 2022) 5% on Lyft rides. The cash back can also be redeemed to book flights, hotels, and more through the Chase website.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is a 0% APR Credit Card?

A 0% APR credit card offers a promotional interest rate on balance transfers, purchases, or both for a set length of time. Purchases and balance transfers are not charged interest during the promo. However, balance transfers often incur a fee of 3% to 5% of the balance transferred. When the promotion expires, your interest rate reverts back to the standard APR.

Does a 0% APR Hurt Your Credit Score?

The credit bureaus do not know the interest rate your balances are being charged. When taking advantage of a 0% APR offer through a new credit card, your credit score is primarily affected in two ways. First, by opening a new account you'll have a new credit inquiry and the average age of your accounts may be reduced. More importantly, if the balance transfer amount is close to the credit limit, your utilization ratio may go up, which could reduce your credit score.

How Should I Use a 0% APR Credit Card?

When using a 0% APR credit card, it pays to look at the fine print. These details can make the difference between a good deal and a bad one. Pay close attention to these areas:

• Interest charged on purchases while paying off a balance transfer
• How payments are applied–are purchases or promotional offers paid first
• Length of your promotional APR offer
• Whether the offer be revoked if a payment is missed or the balance goes over the credit limit
• The fees (and minimum fee) for balance transfers
• How soon balance transfers must be completed after the opening account
• Whether all purchases count towards APR promotion or only for a limited time

What Happens When My 0% APR Credit Card Offer Ends?

When your promotional interest expires, any unpaid balance is now charged the standard interest rate for balance transfers and purchases going forward. Unlike some retailer cards, you will not owe interest accrued during the promotional period.

Methodology

We analyzed the details of over 300 credit cards to find the best purchase and balance transfer promotional offers. Data points on rewards, annual fees, interest rates, benefits, and more were assigned scores so that we could rank them against each other. The credit cards above are our choices for the best 0% APR credit cards for a variety of customer profiles. We continuously monitor bank websites for changes to card details to ensure that our rankings provide the most value for our readers.