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Insider reviewed dozens of cards with introductory 0% APR offers to come up with 12 best-in-class products. We considered factors like annual fees, intro periods, and rewards to help find the right card for you.
Compare the best 0% APR and low-interest credit cards
It seems counterintuitive, but another credit card could be just what you need to pay off your credit card debt for good. Some credit cards with introductory 0% intro APR periods allow you to transfer a balance from another credit card. Cards in this category might let you pay 0% interest on purchases, balance transfers, or both for a specified period of time that can range from nine to 21 months.
Some 0% intro APR cards that allow balance transfers require a balance transfer fee upfront — but the interest savings can easily outweigh the fee by hundreds or thousands of dollars. Especially if your financial situation has been impacted by unemployment or other pandemic factors, a credit card with a 0% intro APR offer can give you some breathing room to get back on your feet.
Before you consider taking advantage of a 0% intro APR offer, be sure you have the means and a plan to pay off the balance before the introductory period expires — otherwise, you could be on the hook for high-interest charges. Also, keep in mind you’re still responsible for making at least the minimum payment on your card each month, even with a 0% intro APR offer.
Longest 0% intro APR credit card offer: Citi Diamond Preferred Card
Introductory APR offer: Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card, followed by a 14.74% – 24.74% Variable APR APR.
Balance transfer fee: 5% (minimum $5)
Annual fee: Citi® Diamond Preferred® Credit Card
Read our review: Citi Diamond Preferred review
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Credit Card offers one of the longest 0% introductory offers on the market today. A balance transfer fee of 5% (a minimum of $5) applies, but this card is still ideal for anyone with a ton of high-interest debt they want to consolidate and pay down over time.
Long 0% intro APR offer and no late fees: Citi Simplicity Card
Introductory APR offer: Citi Simplicity® Card, followed by a Citi Simplicity® Card APR.
Balance transfer fee: 5% (minimum $5)
Annual fee: Citi Simplicity® Card
Read our review: Citi Simplicity card review
If you want to consolidate high-interest credit card debt without having to worry about extra fees or penalty rates, the Citi Simplicity® Card is a great choice. It offers a Citi Simplicity® Card (then a Citi Simplicity® Card APR).
The card doesn’t add late fees or charge a penalty rate, and there’s no annual fee either. You won’t earn rewards for your spending, but if debt consolidation is a priority, this card is a good choice.
Our favorite cash rewards card: Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Introductory APR offer: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, followed by a Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card APR
Balance transfer fee: Introductory fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater, for 120 days from account opening (after that, up to 5% for each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5)
Annual fee: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Read our review: Wells Fargo Active Cash card review
If you’re looking for a card with a solid welcome bonus offer and strong cash rewards earning on all purchases, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is an excellent choice. New cardholders earn Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card.
The card’s intro APR offer is generous, and you’ll have access to a number of good benefits, including cell phone protection. Just be aware this card charges foreign transaction fees, so it’s not a good pick for travels overseas.
High cash-back rate and long intro APR on balance transfers: Citi Double Cash Card
Introductory APR offer: Citi® Double Cash Card, followed by a 13.99% – 23.99% (Variable) APR.
Balance transfer fee: 5% (minimum $5)
Annual fee: Citi® Double Cash Card
Read our review: Citi Double Cash credit card review
The Citi® Double Cash Card is popular with consumers since it offers 2% back for everything you buy — 1% (1 point per dollar) when you make a purchase and another 1% (1 point per dollar) when you pay it off. You’ll also secure a lucrative 0% intro APR offer that can help you save thousands of dollars on interest for a limited time.
It doesn’t normally offer a welcome bonus, but for a limited time, you can earn Citi® Double Cash Card.
The Citi® Double Cash Card earns rewards in the form of Citi ThankYou points, which you can redeem at a rate of 1 cent apiece for cash back, travel, merchandise, gift cards, and more.
The Citi® Double Cash Card is one-third of the Citi Trifecta, along with the Citi Premier® Card and Citi Custom Cash℠ Card. This trio of Citi cards can supercharge your ThankYou Rewards balance by earning anywhere from 2x to 5x rewards on every single purchase.
Best Chase intro APR credit card: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Introductory APR offer: Chase Freedom Unlimited®, followed by a 14.99%–23.74% variable APR
Balance transfer fee: Intro fee of 3% of the amount of each transfer (minimum $5), on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that: 5% of the amount of each transfer (minimum $5).
Annual fee: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Read our review: Chase Freedom Unlimited card review
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® starts new customers off with $200 after spending $500 in the first three months from account opening.
They can also earn 5% back on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, 3% back on dining and drugstores, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.
When you consider the card’s intro APR offer, it’s easy to see why it’s best for consumers who want to earn rewards on a big purchase and pay down their balance without any interest over time. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® (and the Chase Freedom Flex℠) recently added balance transfers to its 0% intro APR offer, which makes this an even better deal.
Best intro APR card if your spending changes month to month: Citi Custom Cash Card
Introductory APR offer: Citi Custom Cash℠ Card, followed by a Citi Custom Cash℠ Card APR
Balance transfer fee: 5% (minimum $5)
Annual fee: Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
Read our review: Citi Custom Cash credit card review
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is a great choice if your spending habits tend to change from month to month. It offers a welcome bonus of Citi Custom Cash℠ Card. In addition, cardholders earn 5% cash back on up to $500 in purchases in the eligible category they spend the most in each billing cycle (then 1%), and 1% on all other purchases.
The qualifying categories include everyday expenses that should appeal to most folks: restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment.
Although it’s marketed as a cash-back card, the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card actually earns rewards in the form of Citi ThankYou points, which are worth 1 cent apiece for cash back, travel booked through Citi, gift cards, merchandise, and more. And again, if you have a Citi Premier® Card or Citi Prestige® Card (no longer available to new applicants), you can pool your rewards and transfer points to Citi’s airline and hotel partners.
Intro APR and maximum cash back, if you work for it: Chase Freedom Flex
Introductory APR offer: Chase Freedom Flex℠, followed by a 14.99% – 23.74% APR.
Balance transfer fee: Intro fee of 3% of the amount of each transfer (minimum $5), on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that: 5% of the amount of each transfer (minimum $5).
Annual fee: Chase Freedom Flex℠
Read our review: Chase Freedom Flex card review
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers a bonus of $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
It also earns 5% back on up to $1,500 spent in rotating bonus categories like Amazon and streaming services when you activate each quarter (then 1%) and on travel purchased through the Chase travel portal. It also offers 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on all other purchases.
This card is a great option for anyone who wants to avoid interest payments for a limited time while earning rewards on their purchases. Keep in mind that with the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited®, if you pair your card with a Chase card that earns Ultimate Rewards points — like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card — your rewards become more flexible, as you have the option to transfer points to Chase’s airline and hotel partners in addition to redeeming for cash back.
Not sure which Freedom card is right for you? Check out our comparison of the different Freedom credit cards for a full rundown of earnings, benefits, and perks.
Introductory APR and bonus cash back at U.S. supermarkets: Amex Blue Cash Everyday
Introductory APR offer: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, followed by a 13.99% to 23.99% variable APR APR
Annual fee: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Read our review: Amex Blue Cash Everyday credit card review
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers a welcome bonus of a $150 statement credit after you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months from account opening.
You can also earn 3% back on up to $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each calendar year (then 1%), 3% back at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each calendar year (then 1%), 3% back on online retail purchases on up to $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each calendar year (then 1%), and 1% back on everything else (cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as statement credits).
Intro APR and bonus cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel: Capital One Quicksilver
Introductory APR offer: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, followed by a Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card APR
Balance transfer fee: 3% for balance transfers that post to your account during the first 15 months that your account is open (or at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time). None for transferred balances at the purchase APR after the first 15 months that your account has been open.
Annual fee: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Read our review: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards card review
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card earns an unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 1.5% back on all other eligible purchases, and that’s on top of the welcome offer: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card.
Since this card also comes with a Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card (then a Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card APR), it’s an excellent option for debt consolidation or avoiding interest on large purchases.
High cash back on dining: Capital One SavorOne
Introductory APR offer: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, followed by a 15.49% – 25.49% variable APR APR
Balance transfer fee: 3% for balance transfers that post to your account during the first 15 months that your account is open (or at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time). None for transferred balances at the purchase APR after the first 15 months that your account has been open.
Annual fee: Capital One® SavorOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card
Read our review: Capital One SavorOne credit card review
If your goal is earning cash back while saving on interest on purchases, check out the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. This card has a good welcome offer: Capital One® SavorOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card.
You also earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 3% back on dining, grocery stores, entertainment, and streaming services, and 1% back on everything else you buy. There’s no annual fee, and you’ll qualify for a Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, then a 15.49% – 25.49% variable APR APR.
Rotating cash-back categories: Discover it Cash Back
Introductory APR offer: Discover it® Cash Back, then Discover it® Cash Back APR
Balance transfer fee: 3% intro fee; then up to 5% on future balance transfers (see terms)
Annual fee: Discover it® Cash Back
Read our review: Discover it Cash Back credit card review
Also, consider the Discover it® Cash Back if you want to earn rewards and save money on interest without an annual fee. Once you enroll, this card lets you earn 5% back on up to $1,500 spent in quarterly bonus categories that change every three months (then 1%) plus 1% back on all other purchases Discover It Cashback rotation.
You’ll also have all your rewards matched after your first year of card membership, which works as a delayed welcome bonus of sorts. And that’s not to mention the lucrative intro APR offer this card extends.
If you’re looking specifically for a long balance transfer period, the Discover it® Balance Transfer is an even better choice for new cardholders with a Discover it® Balance Transfer (after that, there’s a Discover it® Balance Transfer APR). Here’s our full Discover it Balance Transfer card review.
For starting out or building credit: Chase Slate Edge
Introductory APR offer: Chase Slate Edge℠, then a Chase Slate Edge℠ APR
Balance transfer fee: 3% (or $5, whichever is greater) for balance transfers made in the first 60 days of account opening; after that, the fee goes up to 5%
Annual fee: Chase Slate Edge℠
Read our review: Chase Slate Edge card review
The Chase Slate Edge℠ comes with a Chase Slate Edge℠, but it doesn’t earn rewards. It’s geared toward those who are taking steps to improve their financial situation, and offers features that can help you increase your credit score and reduce the amount of interest you pay.
One benefit designed to help you build your credit is an automatic, one-time review for a higher credit limit if you’ve paid on time and spent at least $500 in your first six months of opening the Chase Slate Edge℠. A higher limit could improve your credit utilization ratio and potentially give your credit score a boost.
In addition, on each account anniversary, you’ll be considered for a 2% APR reduction, as long as you’ve paid your card on time and spent at least $1,000 on purchases in the previous anniversary year. The reduction is capped, though — it will only be reduced until your APR reaches the Prime Rate plus 9.74% (currently 15.24% variable APR based on the Prime Rate of 5.5% as of August 2, 2022).
The best credit cards with low interest rates
Here’s a roundup of cards with relatively low interest rates, including their introductory APR offer and their interest rate ranges for comparison.
Discover it® Cash Back: Discover it® Cash Back, then a Discover it® Cash Back APRCapital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, then a 14.49% – 24.49% (Variable) APRBlue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from account opening , then a 13.99% to 23.99% variable APR APRCiti® Double Cash Card: Citi® Double Cash Card(when transfers are completed within 4 months from date of account opening), then a 13.99% – 23.99% (Variable) APRCapital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, then a 15.49% – 25.49% variable APR APRCiti® Diamond Preferred® Credit Card: Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card, then a 14.74% – 24.74% Variable APR APRChase Freedom Flex℠: Chase Freedom Flex℠, then a 14.99% – 23.74% APR
For comparison’s sake, here are some credit cards, including some rewards cards, without intro APR offers and with APRs that start much higher than those on the cards above:
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: No intro APR offer; then a 17.24% to 24.49% variable APRChase Sapphire Preferred® Card: No intro APR offer; then a variable APR of 15.99%-22.99% Variable APRCapital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card: No intro APR offer; then a 22.99% variable APR APR
Credit card issuers are allowed to charge whatever interest rate they want; they only have to disclose the rate in the card’s terms and conditions. You should always make sure you know the interest rate range of the card you apply for, and when you receive the card, check the rate you were approved for.
Other Insider credit card guides
This guide highlights the best credit card options if you’re looking for an introductory 0% APR offer. But if you want to narrow down your choices even further, here are other in-depth credit card guides for the following categories:
The best credit cardsThe best rewards credit cardsThe best cash-back credit cardsThe best travel rewards credit cardsThe best small-business credit cardsThe best no-annual-fee credit cardsThe best credit cards with no foreign transaction feesThe best credit cards for bad creditThe best credit cards for average creditThe best credit cards for studentsThe best hotel credit cardsThe best airline credit cardsThe best credit cards for Amazon purchasesThe best credit cards for gas purchasesThe best credit cards for diningThe best credit cards for grocery shopping
Intro 0% APR credit cards frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Should you use an introductory 0% APR credit card offer?
Before you take advantage of an introductory 0% APR credit card offer, it’s important to consider the following:
Know your offer. Make sure to read the fine print and understand exactly how long your offer lasts. Also, make sure you understand your new interest rate once the 0% intro APR comes to a screeching halt. Take debt repayment seriously. Pay down all your debt (or as much debt as you can) before your 0% intro offer runs out. Once it ends, your card’s APR will revert to the standard variable rate, which is much higher. Stop using credit cards. While it can make sense to use a 0% intro APR credit for a large expense if you get zero interest on purchases for a limited time, it’s best to avoid using cards for regular purchases unless you have the cash to pay your credit card balance off in full each month. If you let 0% intro APR go to your head, you could wind up with a ton of new debt you didn’t plan for.
Why are credit card interest rates so high?
Just a few short years ago, there was a time when having excellent credit meant your credit card interest rate was low. Some people even selected cards based not only on miles, rewards, and cash back, but also on the very interest rate a card charged annually.
My, how things have changed. Good credit still rocks, of course, but today, interest rates on credit cards are some of the highest they’ve been in the past quarter-century. The interest rate on your credit card varies by the card issuer, and the better your credit score, the lower the interest rate you’re likely to receive. Well, within those historically high rates, of course.
In 2009, Congress passed the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which in essence restricted card issuers from changing the terms, including the interest rate, on your card after you opened it. Hard to believe that was once allowed.
Now that it’s harder for card issuers to raise rates in response to economic downturns, they’ve raised the rates on new accounts across the board.
What are credit card APRs right now?
In this time of historically high credit card rates, the very best credit card interest rates are still offered to those with top credit scores, usually considered 700 or above. What’s more, rewards credit cards may have some of the higher APRs available, since card issuers are aware that consumers with good credit are typically using these cards for rewards and paying them off monthly.
While rates may vary according to the type of card you get, the average credit card interest rate clocks in at around 16%.
Opening a new credit card can improve your credit score if you use it responsibly and pay your bill fully and on time.
The problem is that when you apply for a card, you can only see the card’s range of interest. You won’t know the exact interest rate you’re likely to receive until you’re approved and actually receive your card.
You can take an educated guess that if your credit score is 700 and above, you’ll probably get the lowest of the range for that card. If your scores fall in the mid to high 600s, you’ll likely hit the card’s mid-range interest rate, and if your scores are lower than the mid-600s, you can count on being offered the highest end of that card’s interest rate range.
What is a good interest rate on a credit card?
The average credit card interest rate is about 16%, so anything below that number would be considered a relatively good APR. Of course, no APR is better than a low APR, so if you’re able to take advantage of an intro APR offer that waives interest on balance transfers and/or purchases, you’ll come out even further ahead.
Why is my APR so high?
If you feel your credit card’s APR rate is high, you’re not alone. Because credit card debt isn’t secured in any way (unlike mortgages, which are secured by property), credit card issuers impose high interest rates if you default on your payments.
While credit card APRs are high in general, the specific APR you’re assigned on your credit card falls within a range. The higher your credit score, the lower your APR will generally be. That’s because a high credit score generally indicates that you’ve successfully paid off your credit card debts promptly.
How can I lower my APR?
Beyond applying for a credit card with an introductory APR offer, you can contact your credit card issuer and request a decrease in your APR. There’s no guarantee the issuer will decide to lower your APR, but if you have a good payment history and you indicate that you may move your business elsewhere if you can’t get a lower APR, you could have a solid case for getting the rate reduced.