Best 0% APR Credit Cards – Maximize Savings
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Finding the right credit card for your lifestyle is important if you want to build credit and responsible spending habits. Many people are tempted by 0% APR credit card offers thanks to their low-interest appeal. But are these cards too good to be true?
The truth is, 0% APR interest credit cards can make excellent resources — when used smartly. I’ll walk you through some of the top options on the marketplace with 0% introductory APR periods and help you decide if this type of card is right for you.
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Overview of the best 0% APR cards
Bank | Best for |
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | Best overall |
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | Flat-rate cash back |
Chase Freedom Unlimited® | Unlimited cash back |
Chase Freedom Flex℠ | Big bonuses |
Citi Simplicity® Card | No late fees |
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | Unlimited rewards |
American Express Cash Magnet | Ongoing rewards |
Raise Your Credit 80 points*
- 5 star service trusted by over 450,000 members
- Have processed over $11,000,000 in bill payments for members
- No deposit, no credit check, no interest
- New member promotions available
*Potential increase based on StellarFi member data. StellarFi numbers observed an average of 80 points VantageScore® 3.0 increase during a member’s lifetime. Score increase based on members with an incoming score range of 300-499 pts, who made regular on-time payments, with regular on-time payments. Results may vary.
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Card Name
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
APR
19.99% - 29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Average, Fair, Limited
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
Earn $50 Cash Back
Special Offer Terms
when you spend $100 in the first three months
Rewards Rate
1.5 % Cash Back on every purchase, every day. 5 % Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply).
Terms
Special Offer Terms
when you spend $100 in the first three months
Why We Like It
- Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats
- No annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
- Earn 8% cash back on entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Card Name
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
APR
19.24% - 29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Good, Excellent
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
Earn a $200 statement credit
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
Rewards Rate
3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
Why We Like It
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening.
- Earn cash back at U.S. supermarkets on eligible purchases
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Card Name
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
APR
20.49% - 29.24%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year)
Special Offer Terms
— worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.
Rewards Rate
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
Terms
Why We Like It
- Higher cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back.
- No annual fee.
- Monitor your credit for free access using Chase Credit Journey.
Chase Freedom Flex℠
Chase Freedom Flex℠
Card Name
Chase Freedom Flex℠
APR
19.24% - 27.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
Earn a $200 Bonus
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening!
Rewards Rate
5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.
Terms
Why We Like It
- No minimum to redeem for cash back.
- No annual fee.
- Free access to your credit score and real-time alerts through Chase Credit Journey.
Citi Simplicity® Card
Citi Simplicity® Card
Card Name
Citi Simplicity® Card
APR
19.24% - 29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
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.
Special Offer Terms
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.
Rewards Rate
N/A
Terms
Why We Like It
- No late fees and no penalty rate.
- No annual fee.
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Card Name
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
APR
19.99% - 29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
$200 Cash Back
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Rewards Rate
3 % Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®). 5 % Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). 8 % Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. 1 % Cash Back on all other purchases.
Terms
Why We Like It
- Unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- No rotating categories or sign-ups are needed to earn cash rewards.
- No annual fees or foreign transaction fees.
American Express Cash Magnet® Card
American Express Cash Magnet® Card
Card Name
American Express Cash Magnet® Card
APR
19.24% to 29.99%
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer Terms
0% introductory APRs and introductory plan fees are not available to applicants who have or have had this Card.
Rewards Rate
Unlimited 1.5% Cash Back on your purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.
Terms
https://card.americanexpress.com/d/cash-magnet-credit-card/
Card Details
Low Intro APR. 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening, then a variable APR, 18.99% to 29.99%.
Raise Your Credit 80 points*
- 5 star service trusted by over 450,000 members
- Have processed over $11,000,000 in bill payments for members
- No deposit, no credit check, no interest
- New member promotions available
*Potential increase based on StellarFi member data. StellarFi numbers observed an average of 80 points VantageScore® 3.0 increase during a member’s lifetime. Score increase based on members with an incoming score range of 300-499 pts, who made regular on-time payments, with regular on-time payments. Results may vary.
Best 0% APR cards summary
Credit card issuer | 0% APR Period | Rewards | Annual Fee | Regular APR |
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | 15 months | 1.5 % Cash Back on every purchase, every day. 5 % Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). | $$0 | 19.99% - 29.99% |
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | 15 months | 3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 1% Cash Back on other purchases. | 0 | 19.24% - 29.99% |
Chase Freedom Unlimited® | 15 months | 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 | 0 | 20.49% - 29.24% |
Chase Freedom Flex℠ | 15 months | 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases. | $0 | 19.24% - 27.99% |
Citi Simplicity® Card | 21 months for balance transfers / 12 months for purchases | N/A | $0 | 19.24% - 29.99% |
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | 15 months/ billing cycles | 3 % Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®). 5 % Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). 8 % Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. 1 % Cash Back on all other purchases. | 0 | 19.99% - 29.99% |
American Express Cash Magnet | 15 months | 1.5% cash back | $0 | 18.99% to 29.99% |
Considerations for 0% APR credit card
While 0% APR cards may sound like a dream come true, they should not be used lightly. Here are some factors to remember before applying for a 0% APR credit card.
Balance transfers
A 0% APR card can be a good way to pay down existing credit card debt without worrying about interest through balance transfers. Before counting on these to act as balance transfer credit cards, keep a few things in mind:
- Make sure you have a plan to pay your total balance before the introductory APR period ends.
- Know that a balance transfer might impact your credit score. Not only will requesting the transfer possibly ding your report, but using a high credit utilization percentage on one card could impact your score. For instance, if you’re approved for $10,000 on a 0% APR card and transfer $8,500 in existing debt from other cards, your credit utilization percentage will be at 85% for this card alone, well over the recommended 30%.
- Make sure you research balance transfer fees. While 0% APR is great, some credit cards charge high fees per transfer that you should consider while researching your options.
With that in mind, it can be a good idea to take advantage of balance transfer options, as long as you know you can pay the balance and deal with a higher credit utilization percentage.
Related: Best Balance Transfer Cards
On-time payments
With a 0% APR credit card, make sure you pay at least your minimum payment on time every month is very important. Many of these introductory 0% APR cards can cancel your terms if you miss a payment, even by a day. Your interest rate could change from 0% to the current APR overnight.
Rewards cards
Earning rewards on purchases can be great, but if you plan to use a 0% APR card to pay off debt, these cards can be risky. When paying off debt, it's a good idea not to utilize your card until your balance is paid off. Adding a little here and there can be risky and might leave you in jeopardy of being unable to pay off your full balance before the introductory period ends.
Related: Best Rewards Cards
Regular APR rates
Since your introductory APR period will end one day, compare the regular APR ranges before selecting a card, so you don’t get locked into a card with an unusually high APR.
Other options
If you’re looking to make a big purchase with a 0% APR credit card to enjoy no interest for 12 to 21 months, it might be worth looking into other options like 0% APR loans. For instance, if you’re buying a car, it might be worthwhile to look for low or no-APR loan options rather than subsidizing your payment amount with a credit card.
FAQs
Does 0% APR mean no interest charges on a credit card?
Credit cards with 0% APR offer no interest for an introductory period of time. This means you’ll pay no interest on purchases or balance transfers (if offered) during this introductory period. This can make them great options for paying off debt or large purchases interest-free, as long as you pay the balance in full before your introductory 0% APR ending due date, otherwise, you can be hit with a variable APR that can soar into the mid-20% range, based on your creditworthiness.
Can you extend your 0% APR period?
It’s not common that credit cards extend your 0% introductory APR period, but it is possible. It’s best to call the credit card company if you’re facing financial challenges or are hoping to add a month or two to your existing terms.
How long are 0% APR card terms?
The introductory 0% APR periods tend to provide zero-interest from 15 to 18 months. However, some cards offer 12 to14 month APR options, while others extend your APR period to 18 to 20 months.
What’s the minimum balance on a 0% APR credit card?
Most credit card companies will charge you 1% of your balance to meet your minimum payment. There are a few companies, like Discover, who set your minimum payment to 2% of your balance.
Raise Your Credit 80 points*
- 5 star service trusted by over 450,000 members
- Have processed over $11,000,000 in bill payments for members
- No deposit, no credit check, no interest
- New member promotions available
*Potential increase based on StellarFi member data. StellarFi numbers observed an average of 80 points VantageScore® 3.0 increase during a member’s lifetime. Score increase based on members with an incoming score range of 300-499 pts, who made regular on-time payments, with regular on-time payments. Results may vary.
The bottom line
You can find great credit cards with 0% APR terms if you have good to excellent credit. Decide which type of card works best for your lifestyle (rewards or simple cards). Be sure to be smart about any purchases made or balances transferred during your introductory 0% APR period.
For rates and fees of American Express Cash Magnet, please click here. The information for the American Express Cash Magnet has been collected independently by JoyWallet.com and the card is not currently available on the site. The information has not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer and it is accurate as of the date posted.
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JoyWallet has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. JoyWallet and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
Writer
Courtney Johnston is a freelance writer, specializing in finance, travel, and health. She has written for The Chicago Tribune, Benzinga, BestReviews, Mashvisor, Fundera, MoneyGeek, and The Culture Trip. She also teaches writing instruction at the University of Indianapolis. Courtney currently resides in Indianapolis.
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