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Best 0% intro APR credit cards of March 2024

Excellent intro 0% APR credit cards offer rewards, $0 annual fees, extra perks and the opportunity to take some extra time to pay off a balance without racking up interest charges. View More

Finding the best introductory 0% APR credit card offer could make a major purchase in your future a lot easier to swallow. Before you consider a store credit card or an outside loan, it’s a smart move check out our 0% intro APR interest credit card offers from our partners. Pick the right card and you can spread out your payments over time without paying interest or fees.

Many balk at opening a new card, but it can actually be cheaper than dipping into your savings account since you’ll allow that money to remain untouched and still earning interest. And, if done correctly, it’s certainly cheaper than taking out a separate loan on which you’ll be paying interest.

This course should be carefully considered, though. If you don’t pay off the balance before the zero-interest introductory period ends, the standard rate kicks in, and standard credit card rates are rarely cheap forms of a loan. And, if you’re seriously late making a monthly payment, you could find the whole deal scrapped and standard or even penalty rates applied. But, for the right person, diligent with managing money, these deals could be too good to pass up. Think of them as interest-free (for a time, at least) loans.

Here are some of our expert picks for the best 0% APR credit cards: View Less

author Brooklyn Lowery
Terms apply; see the online credit card application for full terms and conditions of offers and rewards.

20+ years

finding the best card for you

1,500+ cards

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5,000+ cardholders

polled about their cards

243 reviews

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List of Winners

  • CardName – Best for Cash-Back Rewards
  • CardName – Best for Rotating Categories
  • CardName – Best for Everyday Purchase Categories
  • CardName – Best for Dining and Entertainment Rewards
  • CardName – Best for Flexible Categories
  • CardName – Best for Rewards/Points
  • CardName – Best for the Longest Intro APR Period
  • CardName – Best for the Longest Intro APR Period With Excellent/Good Credit
  • CardName – Best With Cash Back for Businesses
  • CardName – Best With Flat Rate Cash Back for Businesses

At CardRatings.com we discuss the most up-to-date news and trends within the credit card space. Since we first pioneered the concept of online credit card reviews in 1998, our team of financial experts has provided comprehensive and unbiased credit card reviews for more than 175 cards, plus hundreds of additional resource articles to help educate everyday cardholders so they can feel more confident about their card choices. All our content is written and reviewed by industry experts. Though our content may occasionally contain references to products from our partners, we maintain strict editorial integrity and advertiser relationships and compensation never influences ratings, reviews or featured products. The difference between editorial content and advertising must always be clearly stated. Learn more.

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CardName discontinued 

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
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. Enjoy 6.5% 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; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).

Read our full CardName review.

Special Offer
Additional 1.5% cash back Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

Intro offer:  Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

0% Interest Details: CardName features a 0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (then, RegAPR).

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: Enjoy 6.5% 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; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on Chase travel; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining; and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

  • Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
  • Enjoy 6.5% 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; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
  • After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on Chase travel; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining; and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

CONS:

  • If you frequently travel abroad, this might not be the card for you as it charges a foreign_fee fee on all foreign transactions.
Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 78.9 85.0
Rewards Program Satisfaction 7.8 8.4
Customer Service 7.7 8.6
Website/App Usability 8.0 8.9
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.6 9.0
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 7.9 8.1

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued 

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: You not only get a 0% intro APR for new purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then RegAPR but you also get an opportunity to earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases in quarterly bonus categories, 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases and 1% cash back on other purchases, all without an annual fee. Information related to Chase Freedom FlexSM has been collected independently by CardRatings and was neither reviewed nor provided by the card issuer

Read our full CardName review.

Welcome Bonus
$200 Earn $200 cash back (in the form of 20,000 Ultimate Rewards points) after you spend $500 in the first three months
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

The Bonus:  Earn a $200 bonus, worth 20,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards® points, after spending $500 within the first three months of account opening.

0% Interest Details:  0% introductory APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (then, RegAPR).

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal and 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in categories that rotate quarterly (activation is required each quarter). You can also earn 3% cash back at restaurants, including takeout and delivery, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

  • It’s rare to find a credit card with no annual fee that offers bonus cash back in multiple categories. This card covers more categories than many others, especially if you’re looking for a card to use on day-to-day purchases.
  • It’s also rare for a no-annual-fee card to offer a welcome bonus. You can earn a bonus worth $200 just by spending $500 with the card in the first three months of opening the account. This is not only a valuable bonus, but it also has a fairly low spending threshold to meet.
  • This is one of the few credit cards offering cell phone insurance if you use the card to pay your phone bill.

CONS:

  • You can earn 3% and 5% cash back in multiple categories but at least for the 5% you’ll need to remember to activate rotating categories. This, along with all of the different bonus cash back categories can be overwhelming and difficult to manage.
  • This isn’t a card you want to use on purchases you make outside of the U.S. because of the foreign_fee fee on all foreign transactions.
Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 74.3 80.6
Rewards Program Satisfaction 7.4 7.8
Customer Service 7.1 8.4
Website/App Usability 7.5 8.2
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.0 8.3
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 7.4 8.1

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued 

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: The CardName offers cardholders a solid introductory 0% APR period – (15 months on purchases and balance transfers (then, RegAPR)), but also comes with a healthy cash-back rewards program. American Express is a CardRatings advertiser.

Read our full CardName review.

Welcome Bonus
$200 statement credit Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months.
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

The Bonus: Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months.

0% Interest Details: The CardName features a 0% introductory APR of 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (then, RegAPR).

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: Cardholders earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and on U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 spent in each category per year, then 1%), and 1% back on other eligible purchases.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

  • For a credit card with no annual fee, Blue Cash Everyday® has high ongoing rewards: 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations as well as 3% back on U.S. online retail purchases (3% earning is on up to $6,000 spent in each category annually, then 1%) and 1% cash back for other purchases.
  • This card offers really solid rewards in categories that benefits 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.

CONS:

  • 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
Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 82.2 78.0
Rewards Program Satisfaction 8.2 7.8
Customer Service 8.1 8.1
Website/App Usability 8.4 7.9
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.8 7.7
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 8.1 7.6

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued 

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: A lengthy 0% APR period, a welcome bonus and generous ongoing rewards make the CardName a winner in our book.

Read our full CardName review.

Welcome Bonus
$200 Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

The Bonus: New cardholders can earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

0% Interest Details: Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (balance transfer fee applies), then RegAPR.

Annual fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), and 1% on all other purchases. Additionally, you earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). Plus, earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases.

Credit needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

  • Finally, a card for foodies! We love that this no-annual-fee card offers 3% cash back on dining and entertainment purchases, 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 3% earned at grocery stores, too.
  • You can earn a tasty one-time $200 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first three months after opening your account.

CONS:

  • 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.
Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 79.2 84.5
Rewards Program Satisfaction 8.0 8.4
Customer Service 7.5 8.4
Website/App Usability 8.8 9.0
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.7 8.5
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 7.5 8.4

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued 

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: When you can pair a solid introductory offer with the opportunity to earn top cash back in a category of your choosing (from a list of six options), you're looking at a winner of a credit card.

Read our full CardName review.

Welcome Bonus
$200 Earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus when you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

The Bonus: Earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases on your new card within the first 90 days.

0% Interest Details: Enjoy IntroAPRRate and on balance transfers made within the first 60 days (then, RegAPR). A 3% intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open; after that the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: Earn 3% cash back in a category of your choosing from the following list: on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishing purchases; earn 2% back on your grocery store and wholesale club purchases (3% and 2% earnings apply to the first $2,500 spent quarterly on combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases, then earn 1%); and 1% back on everything else.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

  • This card allows you to maximize your cash back in the category of your choice: on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishing purchases. That kind of opportunity is impressive.
  • Earn a $200 online cash back bonus after you spend at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days after account opening. 
  • 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.

CONS:

  • 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.
Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 81.1 80.2
Rewards Program Satisfaction 8.1 8.1
Customer Service 7.9 8.1
Website/App Usability 8.6 8.1
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 9.0 7.9
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 7.7 7.8

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued 

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: With this card you're able to rack up points fast as it essentially rewards points in increments of 10. You'll earn two points for every dollar spent at supermarkets and gas stations (up to $6,000 in purchases each year) and one point for every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. However, since Citi rounds up points on every purchase to the next highest 10, you'll get a bit more than that. For example, buy a $3 cup of coffee and get 10 points instead of three. Spend $41 at the supermarket and get 90 points instead of 82. Plus at 15 months long, the intro 0% purchase and balance transfer APR offer is good too (after the intro period RegAPR APR will apply). Citi is a CardRatings advertiser

Read our full CardName review.

Welcome Bonus
20,000 points Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases within three months of opening an account
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

The Bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after making $1,500 in purchases within the first three months. Plus, earn 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked via the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.

0% Interest Details: Enjoy 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from the date of first transfer (must be made in the first four months) and on purchases from the date of account opening (then, RegAPR.

Balance Transfer Fee: BalanceTransferFees

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: Earn 2X ThankYou® Points at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 per year and then 1X point thereafter. Plus, earn 1X point on all other purchases.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

  • Rounding up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase is a unique feature that means your points could add up quite quickly.
  • An intro 15 months of no interest on purchases and balance transfers is a nice length of time to pay off a transfer or big purchases interest-free (then, RegAPR).
  • Since this card's awards accumulate as ThankYou® Points, you can use your rewards for travel, cash back or a number of other redemption options.

CONS:

  • Don't overlook the balance transfer fee: BalanceTransferFees. That's in line with other cards' fees, but you should still consider it if you're making a transfer.
  • Speaking of fees, this card isn't great for traveling overseas as you'll be charged foreign transaction fees of foreign_fee on every purchase while abroad.
  • Keep an eye on the spending cap to earn your 2x points at supermarkets and gas stations – if you'll spend well over that $6,000 per year in those categories combined, you could miss out on higher rewards through another card that doesn't cap those purchases.
Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 78.7 75.3
Rewards Program Satisfaction 7.8 7.5
Customer Service 7.6 7.4
Website/App Usability 7.9 7.8
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.5 8.2
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 7.9 7.3

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued 

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: The CardName is a favorite because it combines an exceptionally long intro 0% interest period with credit health through FICO® score monitoring.

Read our full CardName review.

Intro 0% APR
21 months on balance transfers, 12 months on purchases Enjoy intro 21 months 0% interest on balance transfers from date of first transfer (all transfers must be made in the first four months. ) and 12 months introductory no interest on purchases (then, RegAPR)
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

0% Interest Details: The CardName features 0% introductory APR for 21 months from the date of first transfer on balance transfers (all transfers must be made within the first four months), and for 12 months from the date of account opening on new purchases. This intro period gives you ample time to spread out your payments without paying interest (then, RegAPR).

Balance Transfer Fee: BalanceTransferFees

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: There are no traditional ongoing rewards offered with this card.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

  • If you have a large purchase that will take a while to pay off, this is a clear winner for the task.
  • This is an excellent card for those who are looking to consolidate high interest credit card debt, with no annual fee.
  • While there aren't rewards, there are some nice extra perks and access offered by this card.

CONS:

  • There is no traditional ongoing rewards program offered with this card.
  • This card charges a fee on foreign transactions so it’s probably not the best choice for frequent international travelers.
  • It’s all about priorities when determining if this card is right for you. If you’re looking for a low interest card for balance transfers and purchases, this is a great choice. If you’re looking for high-ongoing perks like cash back or airline miles, this isn’t the card for you as it doesn’t earn points on purchases.
Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 74.3 76.6
Features Satisfaction 7.3 7.4
Customer Service 7.4 7.8
Website/App Usability 7.7 7.9
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.2 8.2
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 7.2 7.6

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued 

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: Enjoy IntroAPRRate, as well as balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening an account (then RegAPR). If you're looking to pay off debt by doing a balance transfer, or you want to buy something big and pay it off over time, without being hobbled by interest, this could be your card.

Read our full CardName review.

Welcome Bonus
NA
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

The Bonus: Paying late won't automatically raise your APR, which is a nice bonus of sorts. Be aware, though, that there is still a late fee (late_fee) for late payments.

0% Interest Details: Enjoy IntroAPRRate and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account. After that, RegAPR applies. Balance transfer fees - BalanceTransferFees - also apply.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: There are no traditional rewards offered with this card, however, you could easily consider the extra money you'll save on interest charges thanks to that no APR period, as a reward.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

  • The intro APR offer is for both new purchases AND balance transfers made in the first 60 days, which is nice. After that, RegAPR applies.
  • Access your FICO® score for free within the Bank of America online banking app or your mobile banking app.
  • No penalty APR. Paying late won't automatically raise your interest rate. Other account pricing and terms apply.

CONS:

  • This is a no-frills card that does not offer ongoing rewards for cardholders.
  • There is a balance transfer fee of BalanceTransferFees. This is not unusual for balance transfer credit cards, however.
Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 80.9 83.1
Features Satisfaction 7.9 8.2
Customer Service 8.3 8.5
Website/App Usability 8.0 8.5
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.6 8.5
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 8.0 8.1

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued 

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
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 on purchases, at 12 months long. Better still? There’s a cash-back bonus for new cardholders, AND no annual fees.

Read our full CardName review.

Welcome Bonus
$750 Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

The Bonus: Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

0% Interest Details: Enjoy 0% introductory APR on purchases made within 12 months of the account's opening. After that, a RegAPR APR rate will apply.

The Annual Fee:: AnnualFees

The Rewards:: Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year; 2% back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year; and 1% back on all other purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.

Credit Needed:: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

  • 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.
  • New cardholders can jump start their rewards earning with $750 bonus cash back after spending $6,000 in the first three months of card membership.

CONS:

  • 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.
Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 78.0 78.7
Rewards Program Satisfaction 7.7 7.7
Customer Service 7.8 8.0
Website/App Usability 7.9 8.2
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.1 7.6
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 7.7 8.0

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

CardName discontinued 

EditorRating
 
foreign_fee AnnualFees
Why We Like It: From workflow to inventory to floor plans, your business is constantly changing. This card gives you the power to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power. Just remember, the amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the card, your payment history, credit record, and other factors. And this is all in addition to the introductory APR offer and cash back on eligible purchases.

Read our full CardName review.

Welcome Bonus
$250 Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your card in your first three months.
Annual Fee
AnnualFees
Regular APR
RegAPR
Credit Score
CreditScoreNeeded

Welcome Bonus: Earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your card in your first three months.

0% Interest Details: Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening, then RegAPR.

The Annual Fee: AnnualFees

The Rewards: Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Cash back earned is automatically credited to your statement.

Credit Needed: CreditScoreNeeded

PROS:

  • There is an annual spending cap on the amount of bonus rewards you can earn, yes, but it’s quite high for a card with no annual fee.
  • Your business needs likely change all the time. From office supplies to airfare, this card rewards you for it all.
  • This card offers Expanded Buying Power, which allows you to spend beyond your credit limit. Just remember, the amount you can spend above you credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with your use of the card, your payment history, and credit record.

CONS:

  • Though the annual spend cap on bonus rewards is quite high, it could be prohibitive. If you know that your business spends more than $50,000 each year, you might want to consider another card.
  • This isn’t the best card for frequent international travelers as it charges a foreign_fee fee on all foreign transactions.
Current Scores Past Scores
Overall Score 79.1 n/a
Rewards Program Satisfaction 7.6 n/a
Customer Service 8.2 n/a
Website/App Usability 8.4 n/a
Likelihood of Continuing to Use 8.2 n/a
Recommend to a Friend/Colleague 7.8 n/a

*Scores above reflect the results of surveys with actual cardholders. Full methodology below.

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FAQ

It might seem obvious but let's drill down a little bit into what a 0% intro APR credit card is. Let's say you get a credit card that offers 0% interest for 12 months and over the next 12 months you pay off a sofa that you purchased for $1,500.

Meanwhile, your best friend buys a sofa for $1,500 (use your imagination; there's a sofa sale going on) and pays everything off over the same period with a credit card that has a 13.99% APR.

With your no interest credit card, you've spent $1,500. Your best friend spent more like $1,723.84 (the $1,500 plus roughly an extra $223.84 in interest).

So you can see that a 0% intro APR credit card can be a great money-saver. If you want to make an expensive purchase and don't want to (or can't) pay it all off in that billing cycle, you can spread out the payments and keep your cash flow manageable. But, of course, that's assuming you paid off the $1,500 within 12 months.

Let's say, for the sake of argument, that you paid off $1,000 of the sofa and you still have $500 left over - and that you also bought a TV, a computer, some lawn furniture and a pizza. Once the zero-interest period ended, let's say you're left with a balance of $2,114.56. And your interest shoots up to a 13.99%  APR, just like your best friend's (which is actually a pretty low APR, by the way). Well, you can see how suddenly the zero-interest period on your credit card isn't as useful as you thought it would be. Suddenly, even if you're diligent and pay off that balance within the next 12 months, you'll pay an extra $315.55 in interest for those purchases.

And let's say that two months later, you have some car trouble, and you have to shell out a lot of money to get it fixed, and you miss a credit card payment, and your APR shoots up over 20% as a result. Do you really want us to show you the numbers for that? It isn't pretty.

Obviously the math and money only work out well if you pay off what you owe before the zero-interest period is over. If you struggle with money, paying for a big purchase with a zero-interest credit card and hoping that you can manage to pay it off before the interest period ends is a huge gamble.

The best 0% introductory APR credit card is usually the card offering both a 0% APR on purchases and balances, for the longest period of time. In this case, it would be the CardName because it offers a 0% introductory APR for 21 months on balance transfers (from the date of first transfer - balance transfers must be completed within four months of account opening) and for 12 months from account opening on new purchases. After the introductory periods, regular APR will apply (RegAPR.)

Ultimately, deciding which 0% intro APR credit card is the best for you will depend on factors such as whether you need to transfer a balance from another higher APR card, whether you need a longer 0% intro APR for a large purchase you need to make or whether you need both.

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.

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.

The CardName and the CardName have some of the longest interest-free periods of any offers we've seen, with both offering a 0% introductory APR for 21 months from the date of your first balance transfer (balance transfers must be completed in the first four months of opening an account) and 12 months of no interest on new purchases from date of account opening. After the introductory periods, regular APRs will apply (RegAPR for Diamond Preferred® and RegAPR for Citi Simplicity®). Simplicity® – BalanceTransferFees. Diamond Preferred® – BalanceTransferFees

That's the big question, isn't it? Are you looking at 0% intro APR credit cards because you have superior credit and you'd simply like to save even more money by not paying interest for a period of time? Then you're probably a fine candidate for getting a zero-interest period on a credit card. As you probably know, when you have stellar credit, and your paychecks are plentiful, it can become even easier to save money, if you're looking for opportunities.

But just as positive money momentum can build on itself and save you even more money, you can create negative money momentum as well. And so if you're looking into getting a zero-interest credit card as a way to make a bad situation less bad, as noted earlier, you could be playing a risky game. What you don't want is for the no-interest credit card to eventually help your debt get worse.

Mainly, ask yourself - do you have a reason you want this card? If you're thinking of getting a zero-interest credit card as a way to manage holiday spending, for instance, in order to buy family and friends gifts without paying any interest, that's arguably a solid financial strategy and a perfectly good reason for getting a zero-interest credit card, assuming you know you can easily make your payments and your economy isn't likely to collapse in the near future.

Or maybe you know your car is on its last legs, and so you're not planning on spending anything, or anything major, with your zero-interest credit card unless you wind up at the mechanic's. That, too, seems like a sound plan. You'd be smart to also start putting money aside as well, but, hey, a zero-interest credit card could be a very helpful safety net - for the six months, 12 months or however long the zero-interest period lasts.

But if you just want a zero-interest credit card because it sounds like a good idea and you're already dreaming about your zero-interest shopping spree, well, that isn't necessarily a bad reason. But it's best to have a plan. Maybe it would be better to wait until you have a good reason before you start looking for some 0 percent APR credit cards.

Think of 0% intro APR cards as tools that have a specific purpose rather than a toy to play with on a rainy day.

This is a pretty easy, almost self-explanatory question, so we'll just run through the basics. When should you use your 0% intro APR credit card? When you…

…want to rack up your rewards. If you have a 0% APR period on a credit card, you can spend more (within a budget you can pay off in the zero-interest period!) with that freedom of not having to pay interest for awhile. So while typically it's not a good idea to spend money you normally wouldn't spend just to get rewards, in this case, it might not be a bad plan. Obviously, you shouldn't use your credit card to pay for things you don't want, simply to get rewards. That would be pretty dumb. But if you're buying things you want and will need sooner or later, and you know you can pay everything off, this might be a good time to utilize your credit card to maximize your rewards as much as possible.

…want to avoid paying interest on necessary but expensive purchases that are going to take some time to pay off. The imagination can run wild here, why you might want to use your zero-interest period. Your home's heating unit broke down, and it's going to cost a mint to fix it. Your kid's college tuition bill is due, and you'd rather pay it now and then pay back your credit card slowly, over several months. It's the aforementioned holidays, and you have a lot of spending ahead of you, or your car broke down and needs expensive repairs. You want some new furniture and don't want to dip into your savings for it; you're financially responsible and would rather pay it off over several months and skip the interest. That, too, is reasonable. Life is expensive, and a zero-interest period on a credit card can help with that, for a limited amount of time.

OK. So you're thinking that you're going to look around for a 0% intro APR credit card offer. But, as is hopefully already clear, don't just zero in (pun only slightly intended) on the first credit card that you see. You'll want to think through a few issues first.

What's your credit score? Why does this matter? Because as a general rule, credit cards only offer zero-interest credit cards to people with extremely good credit. It may not seem fair since the people who are struggling with their money could use zero-interest credit cards the most. But people with good credit have the best track records for paying back loans, and credit card issuers, because they want customers who are likely to pay them back, reward them with the lowest interest rates - and you can't get lower than zero.

All of this means that if you have a fair or poor credit score, you might struggle to find a zero-interest credit card for which you'll qualify. Local credit unions or a bank with which you already have a relationship are likely your best options for a zero-interest card if you're in the fair/average credit range (roughly 630-689); a score below 630 likely means you won't qualify for a zero-interest card.

Remember too that your credit score generally goes down slightly when you apply for any credit card. That means applying for the wrong card is likely to mean that not only will you be declined, your score may drop a bit as well.

What's the length of time of the zero-interest period? It's best to try to get a credit card with a long period of zero interest. Some credit cards offer as long as 21 months to pay for products and services without interest. Can you imagine if you applied for a six-month card without realizing that there were some that will let you pay without shelling out interest for 12 months, or 18 or 21 months? You'd be kicking yourself.

Now, your credit, again, has to be stellar to be approved for a credit card with a 21-month zero-interest period. Another reason to comparison shop: If you're planning on buying something big, you'll want to figure out how much money a month you'll like spend to pay it off. For that, you can use a payoff calculator (or any calculator, really). That said, what you spend a month to pay something off also depends on your card's monthly minimum payment.

Are there other features that the credit card has that you like, or dislike? That's important, too. If the APR is insane after the zero-interest period is over, or there aren't rewards you are likely to use, or you think the annual fee is too high, well, those are all good reasons to look for a better zero-interest credit card. After all, you're presumably going to keep using the card for years after the zero-interest period is over. It would be smart to like your credit card. Think of it as dating someone. The zero-interest feature is attractive, akin to someone's soulful eyes or appealing physique, and it may be what draws you in. But if you want a real relationship that goes the distance, your credit card better have some substance (i.e., brains and a personality).

Think about your long-term goals. Again, why are you doing this? Are you mostly thinking about getting a rewards card and using the zero interest to help you rack 'em up before you pay everything off within the intro period? OK, sounds good. Are you buying something big, and you want to help pay for it over the long haul instead of within a month? Again, that sounds great. Is this a Hail Mary pass to help you get you out of debt? Yikes. This may not go too well.

author
Brooklyn Lowery
Editor & Credit Card Expert

A journalist for nearly 20 years, Brooklyn has published work on a broad range of topics including personal finance and business as well as travel and human interest pieces. As a finance expert, she has provided commentary on credit cards, card rewards and personal finance for outlets including Forbes, Fox Business and many others. Her own wanderlust and travel experiences...Read more


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