When you have a credit card with a 0% introductory APR, that means you won’t be charged interest during the introductory period. Once that introductory period expires, any balance remaining will be subject to the card’s ongoing APR or interest rate.
APR stands for “annual percentage rate.” With some financial products, your APR and your interest rate differ, but credit cards keep it simple — APR and interest rate are interchangeable in regard to a credit card.
Many credit cards offer new cardholders a 0% intro APR period, ranging from 12 to 21 months long typically. This intro period means that no interest will be charged during the promotional period and can apply to purchases, balance transfers or both, depending on terms set by the credit card issuer.
Before applying for a new credit card to take advantage of a tempting 0% intro APR, make sure to read the offer carefully to determine if it applies to purchases, balance transfers or both.
If you get a card offering a 0% intro APR on purchases, that means you won’t accrue interest on new spending for the duration of the intro period. This can be helpful if you need to pay for a big-ticket item, such as furniture or electronics, and need to spread out the payments over time.
Meanwhile, if you get a credit card offering a 0% intro APR on balance transfers, that means you won’t accrue interest during the intro period on debt moved over from another account. While balance transfers can be used to pay off a variety of debts — such as loans or medical debt — they’re typically used to move debt from a high-interest credit card to a balance transfer card offering a low or 0% introductory offer. A balance transfer offers breathing room when you’re struggling to pay off high-interest credit card debt, as 100% of your payment goes toward the principal of the debt instead of the principal plus interest during the promotional period.
Note that many credit cards offering long intro periods charge a balance transfer fee of 3% to 5% of the amount transferred, which added to the amount moved to the new balance transfer card.
When your 0% introductory APR ends, any balance you’re still carrying on the card will begin to incur interest charges at the regular APR you were approved for when you applied for the card. To avoid incurring interest, you’ll have to pay off your balance within the promotional time frame.
If you decide to use the card on an ongoing basis once the intro APR ends, you can avoid interest charges entirely if you pay off what you charge in full every month. Typically, there’s a grace period between the end of your billing cycle and your payment due date — this means if you pay the card in full by the due date, you should be able to avoid interest charges.
It’s important to read the fine print to see if a “no interest” credit card offer involves deferred interest or a 0% intro APR. Both offer the opportunity to avoid incurring interest charges, but deferred interest deals are much more risky.
With a deferred interest offer — which is typically associated with store or retail credit — it’s very important to pay off what you’ve charged to the card before the promotional period ends. If you don’t, you’ll be charged interest on the full purchase amount from the date of the purchase. That can be expensive, especially since deferred interest offers are often found on store cards with high APRs.
Plus, just making a minimum payment each month with a deferred interest offer typically won’t be enough to pay off your full purchase amount within the promotional period. If you decide to utilize a deferred interest deal, make sure you know exactly when it ends and how much you’ll need to pay each month to zero out the whole balance before that deadline.
In contrast, 0% intro APR cards start charging interest at the regular APR only on any balance remaining once the intro period ends. So, even if you end up paying interest on any unpaid balance, it’s likely to be less expensive than what you’d be charged on a deferred interest card.
There are currently many credit cards offering 0% intro APR periods for purchases and balance transfers, but the best card for you will depend on factors such as how long of an intro APR period you need, whether you intend to make a big purchase or transfer debt from another account and whether you’re willing to pay a balance transfer fee.
Based on our research of cards available through LendingTree, as well as top cards offered by major issuers, we picked some of the top 0% APR card offers available depending on your needs. Just know that if you’re planning a balance transfer, make sure to select a card from a different issuer than you currently have, since you can’t transfer debt between two cards from the same issuer.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card offers long 0% intro APR periods on both purchases and balance transfers.
On purchases, enjoy a 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening with a 17.49%, 23.99%, or 29.24% Variable APR applying after that time — that’s almost two years to pay off your next high-end purchase with no interest.
And on balance transfers, take advantage of a 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers; after, a 17.49%, 23.99%, or 29.24% Variable APR applies.
The balance transfer fee is 5%, min: $5.
You won’t earn rewards or a sign-up bonus with the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card, but the annual fee is $0.
And if you’re traveling abroad, be aware of the card’s 3% foreign transaction fee.
Who’s this card best for?
This card has the longest 0% intro APRs on both purchases and balance transfers that we’ve found anywhere. If you need to finance an expensive purchase or move debt from a non-Wells Fargo credit card, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card is one of the best cards you’ll find.
However, due to the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card‘s lack of sign-up bonus, you might be better off with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card if you can get by with a shorter 0% intro APR period.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Take advantage of an intro APR of 0% intro apr for 21 months on balance transfers with the Citi Simplicity® Card; after, a 18.49% - 29.24% (variable) APR applies. But know that a high there is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5) Still, it’s worth considering for almost two years of no interest.
Unfortunately, the intro APR on purchases is much shorter: 0% intro apr for 12 months on purchases, after which a 18.49% - 29.24% (variable) APR applies.
You won’t earn rewards or a sign-up bonus with this card. The annual fee is $0, though, so you don’t have to pay to carry it.
But if you’re traveling abroad, take note there’s a foreign transaction fee of 3%.
Who’s this card best for?
The Citi Simplicity® Card is consistently among our top picks for balance transfer cards. It offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers as long as we’ve seen anywhere. And while the balance transfer fee is a bit on the high side, thanks to the lengthy intro period, it can still help you save money on interest charges.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers long 0% intro APRs on both purchases and balance transfers.
Enjoy a 0% intro APR for 21 billing cycles on Purchases; after, a 18.24% - 29.24% (variable) APR applies.
And if you need to transfer a balance, there’s a 0% intro APR for 21 billing cycles on Balance Transfers, after which a 18.24% - 29.24% (variable) APR applies. The balance transfer fee is reasonable at an introductory fee of either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater, for balances transferred within 60 days of account opening. After that, either 5% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater..
The annual fee is $0. Unfortunately, there is a foreign transaction fee: 3% of each foreign transaction
In addition, you won’t earn rewards or a sign-up bonus with the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card.
Who’s this card best for?
This is a relatively no-frills credit card. However, it comes with lengthy 0% intro APRs on purchases and balance transfers — just a month shorter than the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card Whether you need to spread out payments on a costly purchase over time or move debt from a non-U.S. Bank credit card, the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card is a strong choice.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening, after which a 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable APR applies. Plus, earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
If you need to transfer a balance, there’s a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers. After, a 19.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% Variable APR applies. The balance transfer fee is 3% for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5.
This card is worth keeping around after you pay off your initial balance, too. You’ll earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases, making this one of the top flat-rate cash back cards around.
The annual fee is $0. However, there is a 3% foreign transaction fee.
Who’s this card best for?
Though the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card‘s 0% intro APRs are shorter than what you’ll find on some of the cards listed here, this card is still an excellent choice if you want to earn a sign-up bonus and get ongoing value in the form of cash back rewards.
Your cash back can be redeemed in a variety of ways:
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.The Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card has a relatively short 0.99% introductory APR for 12 months for balance transfers requested within 60 days of account opening, after which a 11.49% to 18.00% (variable) APR applies. However, this card stands out thanks to its $0 balance transfer fee.
There’s no intro APR on purchases, so you’ll start out at the regular 11.49% to 18.00% (variable) purchase APR. If you get an APR on the lower end of that range, that’s exceptionally low — so this card is worth keeping for when you have an unexpected expense and would like to put it on a low interest credit card.
You won’t earn rewards or a sign-up bonus, but the Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card charges a $0 annual fee and a $0 foreign transaction fee too.
Who’s this card best for?
This card requires membership in Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) to apply. Membership is open to active duty and retired United States military members, veterans, family members and U.S. Department of Defense civilian employees.
If you qualify for NFCU membership and you’re looking for a no-balance-transfer-fee credit card, the Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card is one of the best options around. Plus, once the intro APR ends, the low regular APR makes it worth keeping around for unexpected situations where you have to carry a balance and want to keep interest charges low.
There aren’t many downsides to 0% intro APR credit cards when used responsibly. To get the most value from your introductory 0% APR period, take the following actions:
The information related to the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card, Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, Citi Simplicity® Card, U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card and Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
