Best 0% APR credit cards of May 2025
The best 0% APR credit cards offer a compelling combination of rewards and a valuable interest-free financing window. These cards can significantly ease the burden of large purchases, providing a strategic alternative to store credit cards or external loans.
By carefully choosing the right card, you can extend your repayment timeline without incurring interest or fees. While opening a new card may raise concerns, it often presents a cost-effective solution compared to tapping into your savings or taking out a separate loan. However, responsible management is crucial; failing to settle the balance before the intro period ends results in standard rates, and late payments can further escalate the situation. For financially disciplined individuals, these cards present a remarkable opportunity to improve their financial well-being. Our team of experts has carefully selected the best 0% APR credit cards to empower informed decision-making!
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CardRatings’ top picks for the best 0% APR credit cards
Are you looking to make a significant purchase without breaking the bank? These interest-free credit cards offer an opportunity to spread out your payments over time without paying interest during the card’s introductory period. Considering introductory offers and terms, rewards, and additional credit card perks, our editors have curated a list of the best 0% APR credit cards available. Find the perfect card to suit your needs!
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Why we like it
Enjoy a solid introductory 0% APR period plus a healthy cash-back program that rewards expenses most of us make everyday! American Express is a CardRatings advertiser.
Enjoy a solid introductory 0% APR period plus a healthy cash-back program that rewards expenses most of us make everyday! American Express is a CardRatings advertiser.
- For a credit card with no annual fee, this card offers high rewards opportunities.
- This card offers really solid rewards in categories that benefit the majority of people: U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. online retail purchases.
- The length of the intro 0% APR period is a step up from many other cards, especially considering the fact that the card offers so many other great perks.
- The 3% earn rate in a few everyday categories is great, especially for a card with no annual fee; however, that earn rate is capped annually at $6,000 spent each year in each category. After that, users will only earn 1% on those purchases. For many people though, this might not be a problem.
- Be sure to pay attention to what American Express considers a supermarket. For example, superstores such as Walmart and Target do not qualify for 3% back.
- Though the fee is better than some, this might not be the card for you if you frequently travel abroad as it charges a foreign transaction fee of foreign_fee
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Why we like it
This is a great travel card for anyone looking to enter the world of travel credit cards. It rewards all purchases which can then be redeemed for travel, but also has a great intro APR period so it’s a good option too if you need some extra time to pay off expenses.
This is a great travel card for anyone looking to enter the world of travel credit cards. It rewards all purchases which can then be redeemed for travel, but also has a great intro APR period so it’s a good option too if you need some extra time to pay off expenses.
- Given that this card doesn't charge an annual fee, it's a great starter card for those looking to introduce a travel credit card to their wallet.
- This card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees – which is rare for a card with no annual fee – so it's a great option to take abroad with you.
- There's a lot of flexibility when it comes to redeeming your rewards. Use your miles to get reimbursed for travel purchases, redeem them by booking a trip through Capital One Travel, or transfer them to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs.
- For a travel card, the earn rate is kind of low, but that’s to be expected for a card with no annual fee.
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Why we like it
If you're searching for an easy way to earn rewards, this card offers just that. Cardholders can earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases made, no matter the category.
If you're searching for an easy way to earn rewards, this card offers just that. Cardholders can earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases made, no matter the category.
- If you are a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25% to 75% more cash back. So instead of 1.5% cash back, you might get as much as 2.62% cash back on every purchase.
- There is no limit to the amount of cash back you can earn and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- In addition to its intro 0% APR offer, the card also offers a nice cash-back welcome bonus opportunity to eligible new cardholders.
- If you're willing to be savvy with how you use your cards, you could stand to earn more with other cash-back rewards cards as there are other options with higher cash-back rates; however, these cards often charge annual fees or only offer bonus rewards in select categories.
- If you aren't a Preferred Rewards member of Bank of America, or if your bank account simply isn't full and robust enough to become one, you might feel like you’re losing out a bit on the cash back rewards available.
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Why we like it
If you're willing to be strategic with your spending, you could earn up to 5% back in rotating categories on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter, when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. This is a lucrative offer for a card with no annual fee.
If you're willing to be strategic with your spending, you could earn up to 5% back in rotating categories on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter, when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. This is a lucrative offer for a card with no annual fee.
- Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year as a cardholder. If you plan your spending right, you stand to earn a massive welcome bonus through this offer.
- There is no annual fee or foreign transaction fees, and your first late-payment fee is waived.
- The quarterly categories are typically popular spend categories so opting into them each quarter is a good way to earn rewards on your everyday expenses.
- Because of how the welcome bonus works, this isn't a great choice if you're searching for a card that will reward you with a welcome bonus right away. With this card, you'll need to wait until the end of your first year as a cardholder to receive it.
- This isn't a good option for people who don’t want to think about how and where they're earning rewards. If you'd rather just spend and earn, this might not be the best option for you.
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Why we like it
When you can pair a solid introductory offer with the opportunity to earn bonus cash back in a category of your choosing (from a list of six options), you're looking at a winner of a credit card.
When you can pair a solid introductory offer with the opportunity to earn bonus cash back in a category of your choosing (from a list of six options), you're looking at a winner of a credit card.
- This card allows you to maximize your cash back in the category of your choice, which is a nice perk for anyone who has expenses all over the place.
- Once you choose your bonus category, you're not locked into it. You can change your choice category once each calendar month.
- If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards client you could earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase made. That means the 3% choice category rewards could be worth as much as 5.25% and the 2% categories could be worth as much as 3.5% back! That’s excellent rewards-earning for any card, but especially for a card with no annual fee.
- One potential downside of this credit card depends on your spending habits. You do get to choose the category you want your cash back rewards in, but the cap is $2,500 per quarter. Do the math, do your homework, and make sure it's worth it for you. You don't want to leave money on the table if you could earn more with another card.
- A balance transfer fee applies of BalanceTransferFees. This is pretty standard for balance transfer credit card offers, though.
- This card charges a foreign_fee foreign transaction fee, so if you frequently travel abroad, you might want to consider bringing another card along for your international purchases.
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Why we like it
If you're an excellent money manager, you may not be intrigued by promises of no late fees or penalty rates that some cash-back cards offer – you're probably never going to pay those anyway. But you may be very interested to know the unlimited 1.5% cash back is just the beginning of what you can earn with this card!
If you're an excellent money manager, you may not be intrigued by promises of no late fees or penalty rates that some cash-back cards offer – you're probably never going to pay those anyway. But you may be very interested to know the unlimited 1.5% cash back is just the beginning of what you can earn with this card!
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- There is no minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts.
If you frequently travel abroad, this might not be the card for you as it charges a foreign_fee fee on all foreign transactions.
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Why we like it
Most no-annual-fee cards charge fees on foreign transactions, however, this is one of the rare options that doesn’t. If you’re looking for an option to keep in your wallet for when your travels take you abroad, this is a great card to consider.
Most no-annual-fee cards charge fees on foreign transactions, however, this is one of the rare options that doesn’t. If you’re looking for an option to keep in your wallet for when your travels take you abroad, this is a great card to consider.
- Take this card abroad with you without worrying about extra fees. This card does not charge foreign transaction fees.
- This card offers a simple and easy way to earn rewards thanks to 1.5% earned on all purchases, no matter the category.
- As if the intro APR offer wasn’t enough, this card offers a cash-back welcome bonus for eligible new cardholders, too.
- This card is best for people who value simple rewards earning over maximum rewards earning. If you're willing to keep up with some categories or spending caps, you can earn much more with a card that offers bonus rewards for certain purchases.
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Why we like it
A lengthy 0% intro APR period, a welcome bonus and generous ongoing rewards on dining and entertainment purchases make this card a winner in our book!
A lengthy 0% intro APR period, a welcome bonus and generous ongoing rewards on dining and entertainment purchases make this card a winner in our book!
- Finally, a card for foodies! We love that this no-annual-fee card offers bonus rewards on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), rewarding us for something we all have to do – eat!
- Not only is this a good card for dining out, but it’s great for eating in as well thanks to bonus rewards earned at grocery stores, too.
- There's a great intro APR offer for new cardholders, plus a tasty cash-back opportunity.
- This is an excellent no-annual-fee card for people whose spending is largely on food, whether dining out or shopping at grocery stores. If that isn't you, you'll want to search for a cash-back card with higher earn rates in other categories.
- If you like to accumulate miles for travel or like to redeem your rewards for merchandise, this is likely not the card for you. It's technically possible to redeem your rewards for things like gift cards, but it's really designed as a cash-back card and the value of redemption changes when you start looking at other redemption options.
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Why we like it
As a top rewards card for small businesses, this card offers cash back on all purchases without any limit on how much you can earn. You can request employee cards at no additional cost and set individual spending limits on these as well. Of course, the card also comes with a solid intro 0% APR offer as well.
As a top rewards card for small businesses, this card offers cash back on all purchases without any limit on how much you can earn. You can request employee cards at no additional cost and set individual spending limits on these as well. Of course, the card also comes with a solid intro 0% APR offer as well.
- This card is routinely among our top picks for small business credit cards without an annual fee thanks in large part to its rewards of as much as 5% cash back in popular small business spending categories.
- Office supply stores sell much more than ink refills and staplers. Big ticket items like computers, software and office furniture purchased at office supply stores all earn 5% as well (up to the cap), offering you the chance to realize big rewards.
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- Be mindful of the cap on bonus cash back. If you know you'll spend more than $25,000 in the 2% and 5% categories, you might be better off with a card with a higher limit, or no limit, instead.
- This isn’t the best card for frequent international travelers as it charges a fee on all foreign transactions.
Compare 0% APR credit cards by perks and features
Want to see how our picks for the best 0 interest credit cards stack up against each other? Our comparison tool makes it easy to compare up to threetwo cards at a time. Simply select the cards you’re interested in and we’ll automatically display their key perks and features side-by-side. With a quick glance, you can easily identify the card that best suits your needs and preferences.
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Compare the best 0 interest credit cards by user ratings
By analyzing real-world user experiences, we have developed a robust rating system that reflects the performance and value of various credit cards based on consumer insights. This chart allows you to easily compare these ratings side-by-side, enabling informed decision-making based on the feedback of actual cardholders.
How did each of our winning cards rate according to you?
CardRatings commissioned Slice MR in November 2024 to survey 1,666 cardholders nationwide. Responses were given on a scale of 1-10 and respondents’ ratings were then averaged under broad topics.
How did each of our winning cards rate according to you?
CardRatings commissioned Slice MR in November 2024 to survey 1,666 cardholders nationwide. Responses were given on a scale of 1-10 and respondents’ ratings were then averaged under broad topics.
COST EFFECTIVENESS
REWARDS SATISFACTION
CUSTOMER SERVICE
WEBSITE/APP USABILITY
LIKELIHOOD OF CONTINUING TO USE
RECOMMEND TO A FRIEND/COLLEAGUE
Survey results by card
Select a card below to see the results for each card.
Survey methodology: CardRatings commissioned Slice MR in November 2024 to survey 1,666 cardholders nationwide. CardRatings’ website analytics from Jan. 1, 2024-Oct. 31, 2024 were used to determine a selection of the most popular cards. Responses to 10 questions were given on a scale of 1-10. For nine of these questions, respondents’ scores were averaged under broad topics. The overall rating represents an average of respondents’ responses to their overall rating of each card. “Cardholder favorite” cards are those scored in the top 10 overall.
Ask CardRatings’ experts
How can cardholders ensure they're choosing the right 0% APR credit card?
Decide if you want 0% APR on purchases, balance transfers or both. From there, you can compare cards based on the length of their intro APR offers, their annual fees and the benefits they offer. Some 0% APR credit cards offer cash back for spending, plus sign-up bonuses if you can meet a minimum spending requirement within the first few months. Picking the right 0% APR credit card typically means finding a card that has the most of what you want for the lowest annual fee possible (or even a $0 annual fee).
Choosing the right 0% APR card will depend on whether you're seeking to pay off existing debt and need a balance transfer offer or looking for extra time to pay off an expensive purchase and need a 0% APR offer on purchases. The other factors to consider are the length of time of the offer and how much you’d pay in balance transfer fees.
I find that people often apply for the first intro APR credit card they see. That can lead to an undesirable experience. It's best to research available options to find the right fit so you can minimize fees and ensure the card is the right fit for you.
What is the most effective strategy to maximize savings during the 0% APR period?
Pay down as much debt as possible during your card's intro 0% APR offer. Also, stop using the card (and other credit cards) for new purchases while you're actively working on paying down debt.
To maximize the savings during the 0% APR period, divide the amount of money you’re looking to pay off by the number of months the card won’t charge interest and aim to pay at least that amount each month. For example, if you are aiming to pay off $10,000 in debt over 18 months, you’ll have to make monthly payments of at least $555.56 to make sure you’ve paid it off before the intro period expires.
When used wisely, a 0% APR period can be a fantastic way to access an interest-free loan. I have found success using a 0% card to fund a purchase then repaying it before the introductory period ends. This is a great way to avoid dipping into savings and to earn rewards. Just make sure you repay the charges before the introductory period ends.
Our CardFinder tool is also a great way to find the right card for you!
Tired of searching for the right credit card? CardFinder makes it quick and easy. Simply tell us your preferences and we’ll do the heavy lifting. Our three-step process saves you time and effort, so you can spend less time searching and more time enjoying the rewards. Get started today!
Frequently asked questions about 0% APR credit cards
What does 0% APR mean?
Most simply put, a credit card with 0% APR means that it does not charge interest. You read that right: zero interest. Sound too good to be true? It's not; however, not all 0% APR cards operate the same way. Credit card issuers typically offer a 0% introductory APR for purchases or balance transfers (or both) allowing you to transfer a balance from a high APR card or make a large purchase and pay it down within a specific period of time without paying interest. This can help you pay off debt without the additional expense of interest.
What credit score is required for a 0% intro APR card?
Credit cards with 0% APR offers are generally reserved for consumers with good to excellent credit scores.
Can I get a 0% APR credit card with bad credit?
Unfortunately, it's very unlikely that you'll be approved for a 0% APR credit card if you have bad credit.
How do 0% APR credit cards work?
Most often, 0% APR is an introductory rate. That means you won't have to pay any interest on purchases or balance transfers for a specific number of months after you open an account. Some cards limit the offer to only purchases or balance transfers while others offer 0% APR on both. Some issuers will even offer a few months on one, and an extra few months on the other, so just be sure to pay close attention to the offer details.
However, there can be caveats to 0% APR cards. For instance, a card may offer 12 months of zero interest, but that could only apply to balance transfers made within the first 60 days. What's more, even if you aren't being charged interest, you might still have to pay a balance transfer fee. Read the fine print before transferring money since the terms for each card can be different.
Also, be aware that if you miss a payment or are late, there could be a penalty such as increased APR, so you’ll want to be sure to still complete your payments on time. And furthermore, if you have a balance on your account when the introductory 0% APR period expires, you’ll be charged the regular APR rate on that balance, so be sure you pay your card off or at least down as much as possible before the introductory period expires.
What happens after the 0% APR period ends?
Once an introductory 0% APR period ends, the card's regular APR will apply. That means any balances that remain will be subject to the card's potentially high APR. Therefore, it's very important that you pay off your balances before the promotional period expires or you might find yourself in a worse position than where you started.
When should you use a 0% APR credit card?
The best time to use a 0% APR credit card is when you want to avoid paying interest on a necessary but expensive purchase that is going to take some time to pay off.
When should I avoid a 0% APR credit card?
How do you qualify for a 0% intro APR offer?
Is a 0% APR credit card it worth?
What is the best 0% interest credit card?
What credit card has the longest 0 APR?
Meet the editorial team
Rating methodology: CardRatings’ experts review the fine print, details, perks, rewards and features of hundreds of cards and compare them side-by-side with similar cards. A card that makes an excellent balance transfer card may not make a great cash-back rewards card even though it offers those rewards. While the Best of the Year list is announced annually, that list – and all other “best of” lists on CardRatings – are regularly reviewed and updated as issuers change the terms and features of each card often.
For rates and fees for American Express cards mentioned in this post, please see the following links: card_name (See Rates and Fees);
The information in this article is believed to be accurate as of the date it was written. Please keep in mind that credit card offers change frequently. Therefore, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information in this article. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. See the online credit card application for full terms and conditions on offers and rewards. Please verify all terms and conditions of any credit card prior to applying.
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