If you want to borrow a large amount of money and can pay it back in a year or so, a credit card with a long intro 0% APR period might fit your bill. You’ll be able to pay back your debt interest free for at least a year, and a nice welcome bonus or cash back rewards could offset your debt even further.
While they’re not specifically designed for debt consolidation like personal loans or balance transfer cards, the best 0% APR credit cards will let you transfer other your debts for a long interest-free period, though you’ll probably need good credit to get approved.
Depending on your credit limit, a great 0% APR card can help you finance a large purchase. Just divide your spending cost by the months in your 0% APR period, and you’ve got a interest-free payment plan with monthly payments that will get you out of debt by the time the intro APR offer expires.
Read on to discover our best partner offers for 0% intro APR credit cards.
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Intro OfferN/A
APR13.74% – 25.74% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Excellent, Good
Reward RatesN/A
Annual Fee$0
Intro Purchase APR0% intro APR for up to 21 months from account opening
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% intro APR for up to 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
Balance Transfer Fee up to 5%; min: $5
Balance Transfer APR13.74% – 25.74% Variable APR
Foreign Transaction Fees 3%
Penalty APR None
Our Take
The Wells Fargo Reflect℠ Card offers a unique proposition among 0% introductory APR cards. Not only can you take advantage of the 0% introductory APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers for an entire 18 months from account opening, but you can earn up to a three month extension on that timeframe if you pay all of your minimum payments on time during the introductory and extension periods. This means you can enjoy up to 21 months from account opening of 0% introductory APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (13.74% to 25.74% variable APR thereafter), which is unmatched by any other offer we could find. The trick is — as with all 0% intro APR cards — to be disciplined.
Check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Reflect℠ Card.
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One of the longest intro APR periods
Intro OfferN/A
APR15.24 – 23.99% Variable
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good Credit
Reward RatesN/A
Annual Fee$0
Intro Purchase APR0% Intro APR on Purchases for 18 months
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months
Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Balance Transfer APR15.24 – 23.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Penalty APR Up to 29.99%
Our Take
The Chase Slate Edge℠ offers a full 18 months of 0% introductory APR on both purchases and balance transfers (15.24% to 23.99% variable APR thereafter), beating out most other cards with intro APR offers. Beyond those 18 months, you’ll have the option to utilize My Chase Plan® on qualifying purchases of at least $100. With this program, you are able to spread out your payments in monthly installments for no interest — the catch is a flat monthly fee of 1.72%. But it is important to note that this fee can end up being very costly, on par with a higher APR if your balance remains unpaid.
See our full review of the Chase Slate Edge for more details.
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A well-rounded combination of benefits
Intro OfferIntro 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!
APR15.24% to 23.99% Variable
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 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
- 1.5% on all other purchases
Annual Fee$0
Intro Purchase APR0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
Balance Transfer Fee Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Balance Transfer APR15.24% to 23.99% Variable
Foreign Transaction Fees 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Penalty APR Up to 29.99%
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 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
- 1.5% on all other purchases
Our Take
Our top pick for best 0% introductory APR credit card, Chase Freedom Unlimited, checks all of the boxes: 15 months of introductory 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers (15.24% to 23.99% variable APR thereafter), a welcome bonus where you earn an additional 1.5% cash back in the first year on up to $20,000 of expenditure, and competitive rewards.
The base reward rate of the Chase Freedom Unlimited card is 1.5% cash back on purchases, and the card issuer offers 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase and 3% back on restaurant dining and drugstore purchases. Even if it’s not travel-related, you’re looking at 1.5% back on your eligible net purchases right off the bat, along with up to $300 cash back from the welcome bonus.
Check out our full review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited for more details.
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Intro OfferN/A
APR15.24% – 25.24% (Variable)
Recommended Credit Good/Excellent
Reward RatesN/A
Annual Fee$0
Intro Purchase APR0% for 20 billing cycles on purchases
Intro Balance Transfer APR0% for 20 billing cycles on balance transfers
Balance Transfer Fee Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater
Balance Transfer APR15.24% – 25.24% (Variable)
Foreign Transaction Fees 2% of each foreign purchase transaction or foreign ATM advance transaction in U.S. Dollars. 3% of each foreign purchase transaction or foreign ATM advance transaction in a Foreign Currency
Our Take
The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card is a great card for a balance transfer, with 20 billing cycles of 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers (though remember you still need to make minimum monthly payments; 15.24% to 25.24% variable APR thereafter). The trade-off is a lack of welcome bonus and rewards, but there is no annual fee either.
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Travel rewards card with an introductory APR offer
Intro Offer25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
APR14.24% – 24.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Recommended Credit Excellent/Good
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire
Annual Fee$0
Intro Purchase APR0% for 15 billing cycles
Balance Transfer Fee Either $10 or 3% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.
Balance Transfer APR14.24% – 24.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Late Payment Fee See Terms
Foreign Transaction Fees None
Penalty APR up to 29.99% APR
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire
Our Take
The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card* features a higher welcome bonus (as well as a modestly higher spending threshold) than other cards in this list. The card also offers a solid introductory 0% intro APR period on purchases for 15 billing cycles (14.24% to 24.24% variable APR thereafter). The 25,000 bonus points (after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days) can be redeemed for a $250 statement credit against travel and dining eligible purchases, and the points never expire. Qualifying travel and dining purchases include taxis, ride shares, buses, trains, bars, fast food, flights, hotels, restaurants and more. For most people, that means redemption shouldn’t be a problem.
FAQs
What is a 0% intro APR credit card?
A 0% introductory annual percentage rate credit card is a simplified term for credit cards with particularly long, introductory 0% APR periods. Most rewards credit cards offer at least 12 months of 0% APR after signing up, but many issuers also have extended offers for select cards. These cards can help you save money in interest payments during that introductory period. But they can also tempt you to carry a balance — which can accumulate into a longstanding debt over time.
When does it make sense to apply for a 0% or low introductory rate credit card?
Ideally, you’re paying off your credit card balance every month to avoid paying an interest charge. If you’re making a significant purchase that you’ll need to pay for over a period of time, using a 0% intro APR card could save you serious money.
These cards may also be useful when you’re in a financial pinch — if you’re between jobs or navigating a period of inconsistent cash flow. As long as the intro APR period doesn’t lure you into spending beyond your means, a 0% intro APR credit card can be a helpful tool.
Are 0% intro APR credit cards good for consolidating credit card debt?
Maybe — but that’s not what they’re designed for. Our picks for the best balance transfer card include a number of options well-suited for consolidating credit card debt — and it may be worthwhile to explore a personal loan, too.
Our methodology
CNET reviews credit cards by exhaustively comparing them across set criteria developed for each major category, including cash-back, welcome bonus, travel rewards and balance transfer. We take into consideration the typical spending behavior of a range of consumer profiles — with the understanding that everyone’s financial situation is different — and the designated function of a card.
For cash-back credit cards, for example, key factors include the annual fee, the “welcome bonus” and the cash-back rate (or rates, if they differ by spending category). For rewards and miles cards, we calculate and weigh the net monetary value of a card’s respective perks. And with balance transfer credit cards, we analyze specs such as the duration of the introductory 0% APR period and the balance transfer fee, while acknowledging secondary factors such as the standard APR and the length of time you have to make a balance transfer after you open the account.
More credit card recommendations
*All information about the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
