Reviews

Best 0% APR Credit Cards

Interest-Free Periods: Identify cards that offer 0% introductory APR periods, allowing you to make large purchases or balance transfers without accruing interest for a set period.

Rickie C. Keys, Ph.D., MPH

Mar 21, 2024 — 9 min read

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card

Features

Annual Fee: $0 intro for the first year, then $95, making it accessible for those testing its value.
Rewards Rate: Earn 3% cash back in a category of your choice and 2% at grocery stores/wholesale clubs (on up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases), plus 1.5% on all other purchases.
Sign-Up Bonus: $250 bonus after spending $2,000 within the first 120 days, offering immediate value.
Intro APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, followed by a Variable APR of 18.24%-28.24%.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card

Features

APR: For purchases and balance transfers made in the first 60 days, there is a 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles, followed by a Variable APR of 18.24%—28.24%.
Annual Fee: $0, making it budget-friendly for students.
Rewards Rate: Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 on all purchases, allowing flexible earning without categories.
Sign-up Bonus: Earn 25,000 online bonus points after $1,000 purchases within the first 90 days, equivalent to a $250 statement credit for travel purchases.

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card

Features

Annual Fee: $0, making it a cost-effective choice for any spender.
Rewards Rate: An uncomplicated 1.5% cash back on all purchases, ensuring rewards on every dollar spent.
Sign-Up Bonus: Offers a $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days, adding immediate value.
Intro APR: Enjoy a 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, offering a reprieve from interest.

BankAmericard® Credit Card

Features

Annual Fee: $0, making it accessible to many users.
Intro APR: 0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 18 billing cycles for transfers made in the first 60 days.
Regular APR: 16.24%-26.24% Variable APR, a competitive rate post-intro period.
Balance Transfer Fee: 3% for the first 60 days, then 4%, allowing for cost-effective debt management.
Credit Score Requirement: 690-850 (Good to Excellent), targeting responsible users.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Features

Annual Fee: $0, ensuring cost-efficiency for all users.
Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, providing temporary relief from interest costs.
Regular APR: A variable rate of 19.24%-29.99%, catering to various credit profiles.
Cash Back Rewards:
- 3% at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%).
- 3% at U.S. gas stations (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%).
- 3% on U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%).
- 1% on all other purchases.
Bonus Offer: Earn a $200 statement credit after $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Features

No Annual Fee: Enjoy the benefits of a credit card without the burden of an annual fee.
Cash Back Rewards: Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no categories to track or limits on how much you can earn. Additionally, earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Credit Building: This card is ideal for individuals with limited or bad credit history. It reports to all three major credit bureaus, improving credit scores.
Additional Benefits: Up to 6 months complimentary Uber One membership, $0 Fraud Liability, automatic consideration for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months, and access to CreditWise from Capital One to monitor your credit score.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

Features

Annual Fee: $0, offering high value without the cost.
Rewards Structure: A dynamic mix of 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500 in combined purchases upon activation), 5% on travel booked through Chase, 3% on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% on everything else.
Intro APR: 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, easing the burden on large expenses or existing debt.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Features

Annual Fee: $0, making it an economical choice for all users.
Rewards Rate: Versatile earning with 1.5% cash back on all purchases, 3% on dining and drugstore purchases, and 5% on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Intro APR: Offers 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, providing a window of financial flexibility.
Sign-Up Bonus: An attractive offer of an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (up to $20,000 spent) in the first year, potentially adding up to $300 cashback.

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Features

Annual Fee: $0, making it a budget-friendly option.
Rewards: Earn 5% cash back in your highest spending category each billing cycle (on up to $500 spent, 1% thereafter), plus an unlimited 1% back on all other purchases.
Sign-Up Bonus: Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 in the first 6 months. The bonus is fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, redeemable for $200 cash back.
Intro APR: 0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months, after which a variable APR of 19.24%-29.24% applies.
Recommended Credit Score: 630-850 (Fair to Excellent).

Citi Double Cash® Card

Features

Annual Fee: $0, making it an economical choice for all users.
Cash Back Rewards: Earn 2% on every purchase—1% when you buy, plus another 1% as you pay for those purchases, ensuring rewards for both spending and responsible payment.
Intro APR: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months, offering relief on existing credit card debt.
Regular APR: Variable APR of 19.24% to 29.24%, tailored to your creditworthiness.
Sign-up Bonus: Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 in the first 6 months, provided as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, redeemable for $200.

Citi Rewards+® Card

Features

Annual Fee: $0, making it easily accessible for various users.
Intro APR: 0% on balance transfers for 15 months from the date of the first transfer and on purchases from account opening, then a variable APR of 18.74%-28.74%.
Rewards: Earn 2X points at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 per year, then 1X. All other purchases earn 1X points.
Sign-up Bonus: 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,500 within the first 3 months, equivalent to $200 in gift cards.
Round-Up Feature: Rounds up to 10 points on every purchase, with no cap.

Citi Simplicity® Card

Features

Annual Fee: $0, offering cost savings from the start.
APR: 0% Intro APR for 21 months on Balance Transfers and 12 months on Purchases, transitioning to a regular APR of 19.24%-29.99% Variable APR.
Recommended Credit Score: 690-850 (Good - Excellent), ensuring it's aimed at users with strong credit histories.
Balance Transfer Fee: Starts at 3% ($5 minimum) during the initial four months, then increases to 5% ($5 minimum), which impacts the cost-effectiveness of transferring large balances.
Foreign Transaction Fee: 3%, affecting the cost of international transactions.

Discover it® Cash Back

Features

Annual Fee: $0, making it an attractive option for budget-conscious users.
Rewards Rate: Earn 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories up to the quarterly maximum when you activate, plus unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Intro APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, providing flexibility for new purchases or debt consolidation.
Sign-Up Bonus: An innovative Unlimited Cashback Match for the first year, where Discover matches all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, with no limit.

U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

Features

Annual Fee: $0, eliminating the worry of additional costs.
Intro APR: Enjoy 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, ideal for managing large expenses or existing debt.
Regular APR: After the introductory period, the APR shifts to a variable rate of 18.74%-29.74%.
Balance Transfer Fee: Initially, either 3% of the transfer amount or $5 (whichever is greater) is charged for transfers made within the first 60 days of account opening. After 60 days, the fee increases to 5% of the transfer amount or $5 minimum.
Recommended Credit Score: 690-850 (Good - Excellent), targeting users with strong credit backgrounds.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Features

Annual Fee: $0, ensuring cost-effectiveness over time.
Rewards Rate: 2% cash rewards on all purchases, offering simplicity and high value.
Intro Offer: $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months, a rare find among 2% cash back cards.
Intro APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, followed by a variable APR of 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99%.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card Review: Simplify Your Spending, Amplify Your Rewards

2% on everything, $0 fee, $200 bonus, 0% APR intro.

Keys to Credit AIRickie C. Keys, Ph.D

Best 0% APR Credit Cards

Rickie C. Keys, Ph.D., MPH

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card

BankAmericard® Credit Card

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Chase Freedom Flex℠

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Citi Double Cash® Card

Citi Rewards+® Card

Citi Simplicity® Card

Discover it® Cash Back

U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

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