Best 0% APR Credit Cards of December 2024: 0% Interest for up to 24 Months

Credit card APR (annual percentage rate) is the yearly rate of interest your credit card charges on unpaid balances. Credit cards tend to have APRs between 13%–23%, which can cost borrowers hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars in interest charges over time.

However, there’s a solution to high interest rates: 0% APR credit cards. This type of credit card, also called a zero-interest credit card, offers an introductory 0% APR for a certain period. This usually lasts 6–18 months, but it can go as high as 24 months.

0% APR cards are commonly used to finance big upcoming expenses or as balance transfer credit cards. Balance transfer cards allow borrowers to move debt from one card to another (ideally one with zero interest) to consolidate debt and ease the cost of repayment.

If you’re in the market for a 0% APR credit card (whether for debt consolidation or to space out paying off a large purchase), there are plenty of cards available. Read on to find out which 0% APR credit card is most suitable for your needs.

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Here are the best 0% APR credit cards available today.

Best overall 0% APR credit card

Credit card with the longest 0% APR period

Best 0% APR credit card for balance transfers

Best 0% APR credit card for business balance transfers

Best 0% APR card with no annual fee

Best 0% APR credit card for travelers

Best low-maintenance 0% APR credit card

Best 0% APR card for entertainment junkies

Best no-interest Amex credit card

Best 0% interest credit card for everyday cash back

Best 0% APR credit card with low regular interest

Best 0% APR rewards credit card for businesses

How do 0% APR credit cards work?

0% APR credit cards are credit cards that offer a number of months of interest-free spending. They serve to give you a temporary break from paying interest on your debt, after which the regular APR applies.

Credit card interest and credit card APR are essentially the same; APR is just an annual expression of your interest rate. Divide your APR by 12 to get an estimate of your monthly interest rate.

When 0% APR matters

Whether you have a 0% APR or a 25% APR is irrelevant if you always pay off your credit card on time. However, if you use your credit card for balance transfers or for purchases you can’t pay off immediately, a 0% APR credit card can save you a lot of money.

Note that many cards also have different APRs for different purposes. Your card could have a different:

• Purchase APR
• Balance transfer APR
• Cash advance APR
• Promotional APRs
• Penalty APR (a higher APR your card issuer may charge you if you make late payments)

Make sure you know which APRs apply in which cases. For example, even if you have a 0% intro APR for purchases and balance transfers, the 0% rate might not apply to cash advances (where you use your credit card to take money out of an ATM). Read a card’s terms carefully before committing to opening an account.

What credit score do you need for a 0% APR credit card?

For most 0% APR credit cards, you’ll need a good credit score to qualify, which means a FICO score of at least 670. Of course, the higher your score is, the more likely you are to qualify, particularly for 0% APR cards with better terms (e.g., rewards and no annual fees).

Many credit cards for people with lower credit scores have high purchase APRs and often don’t even allow balance transfers.

Can I get a 0% APR credit card if I have fair credit?

You probably won’t qualify for a 0% APR credit card if you only have fair credit (a FICO score of 580 to 669 or a VantageScore of 601 to 660).

If you have fair credit and want a zero-interest credit card, consider getting a store card. Many store cards are available to people with lower credit scores and have 0% financing offers for several months or even years.

If you take this approach, watch out for something called “deferred interest.” With deferred interest offers, cardholders who don’t repay their balance in full by the end of the low-interest intro period have to backpay months’ worth of interest on their purchase(s).

How to choose a 0% APR credit card

When you’re choosing a 0% APR credit card, consider the following factors to decide which card is best for you.

• Length of intro APR period: With credit cards offering a 0% intro APR, the regular APR kicks in after around 6–24 months. 1 Obviously, the longer an introductory 0% APR period lasts, the better. However, if you’re using your card to pay off debts and can budget to pay them off within 6–12 months as opposed to 18+ months, you’ll be more likely to find cards with additional advantages like cashback rewards or welcome bonuses in that range.
• Regular APR: Cards with 0% intro APRs tend to have higher regular APRs. Before you get a 0% APR credit card, remember to check the regular APR even if, ideally, you plan to pay off everything by the end of the intro APR period. You should take into account potential interest charges at the end of the promotion period in case you’re still chipping away at your debt when the zero-interest period ends.
• Annual fees: Many 0% APR cards and low-interest cards have no annual fee, but some do. Annual fees are another feature to consider if you’re looking to consolidate your debts or earn rewards; these fees could offset any savings you make.
• Balance transfer fees: Many credit cards charge fees when you transfer a balance onto them, so consider these fees if you’re trying to save money on interest. For example, if you transfer a balance of $5,000 from a credit card with a 24% interest rate to a zero-interest credit card with a 5% balance transfer fee, you will pay $250 in balance transfer fees, but you’ll save $100 a month in interest charges—meaning you’ll probably save money in the long run.
• Rewards: If you use your credit card frequently, you can earn money back from cashback rewards. For example, if you spend $500 a month on a card with a 2% cashback rate, you’ll earn $10 a month in rewards. Take this into account when you’re trying to work out which credit cards will save you the most money.

FAQs

Why should I get a 0% APR credit card?

Zero-interest credit cards can be useful not only for consolidating your debts or financing a major purchase but also for unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs. However, watch out for annual fees. If you’re using your card mainly to get rewards, the annual fee may be worth it, but if you want a credit card just for emergencies or to consolidate your debts, it may not be worth getting a 0% APR credit card with high annual fees.

Does APR matter if I pay on time?

No, APR doesn’t matter if you pay on time. If you pay off your balance in full every month, you’ll avoid paying any interest on your credit card.

What happens at the end of a credit card’s 0% intro APR period?

At the end of a credit card’s 0% intro APR period, it reverts to the regular APR. This means that any balance left on your credit card will start accumulating interest charges at the regular purchase APR.

Is a 0% APR good or bad for my credit score?

A 0% APR doesn’t directly help or harm your credit score. However, it can help your score indirectly by:

• Making your credit card payments easier to budget for (meaning you’re less likely to get late payments or other negative marks on your credit report).
• Speeding up the rate at which you repay your debt (as paying down debts often benefits your score).
  

Is it better to get a credit card with a 0% intro APR or a card with a $0 annual fee?

A 0% APR is very helpful if you’re trying to finance a large purchase or pay back debts through a balance transfer. On the other hand, if you’re using your credit card for everyday purchases and then paying off your balance on time every month, your APR won’t matter, so you should prioritize finding cards with no annual fee.

Do I have to make minimum monthly payments on credit cards with a 0% intro APR?

Yes, you still have to make minimum monthly payments on credit cards with a 0% intro APR. If you don’t, you may lose your 0% rate, and your credit card could switch you to a penalty APR that’s even higher than your regular APR. 2