14 Best 0% interest credit cards: 0% intro APR period until 2025

Whether they are called 0 percent APR credit cards, zero-interest credit cards or introductory APR credit cards, these cards all have the same purpose: a 0 percent intro APR is a temporary break from interest charges as you steadily pay off large credit card purchases or balance transfers. 

A 0 percent APR credit card is a great way to save money on interest, whether on new purchases or your existing credit card debt. But it’s best to understand these cards’ benefits and drawbacks before applying.

With interest rates constantly increasing since 2022, knowing your interest rate is crucial. The current average interest rate is around 20 percent, and this high rate could easily accumulate hundreds of dollars in interest payments before you settle your balance, especially if you charge most of your purchases to the card.

While the changes seem small on the surface, they can add up. Even a small change can make a difference in how long it takes to pay off your credit card balance.

With an intro APR offer, you can pay down your debt through lower payments without racking up additional interest. While the offer won’t last forever, it’ll give you a window that makes paying off your debt easier. With Bankrate’s credit card payoff calculator, the table below shows that an 18-month 0 percent APR offer could save you around $400 in interest on a $3,000 credit card balance.

Advice from other people who’ve used the cards you’re interested in is a great way to shop around for your next credit card. We explored what people had to say about the best zero-interest cards to give you more perspectives on your options. 

A zero-interest card can be a great tool for anyone looking for a break from interest or a way to lower their debt. That said, you’ll get more out of your card if you have a clear purpose for it. Consider the following when choosing a 0 percent intro APR offer card.

How to choose a 0% APR card

When choosing the right zero-interest card for your financial needs, you might evaluate factors like the length of the intro period, additional fees and rates and the card's long-term value.

1. Determine if the intro period is long enough. Make sure you can pay off the balance before the intro period ends. If you need more than a year, choose a credit card with a lengthy APR intro offer.
2. Check the card’s fees. Understand all the fees associated with the card before you apply so you’re not surprised by any charges. Common fees include an annual fee, a balance transfer fee, foreign transaction fee and penalty APR.
3. Decide the card's value after the intro APR period. Some cards offer a lengthy APR period but no other benefits or rewards, while other cards earn rewards but offer shorter intro APR periods. Determine if you want long-term value or prefer to focus only on managing debt.

How to make the most of a 0% APR offer

Zero-interest cards can be effective for managing debt and avoiding added charges. Here’s how to maximize a 0 percent APR offer and get ahead of your finances.

1. Apply at the right time. Be strategic when you apply. For example, if you have home renovations coming up, apply just before you start spending so you get the most time possible to save on potential interest.
2. Understand the offer entirely. Here are some instances that could cause your zero-interest card to charge interest:
   • Missing a payment could void the offer entirely
   • Transferring a balance after the promotional window
   • The intro period only applied to certain transactions
     
     Avoid these mistakes by setting up automatic payments, transferring your balance immediately after approval, and reading the terms and conditions of the offer carefully before you open a card.
3. Calculate your monthly payments. Zero-interest cards work well as an intentional debt management tool. But you'll need to make sure you can pay off the total balance before the intro period ends. Calculate your monthly payments to reach a balance of zero in that timeframe, pay more than the minimum if you can and avoid adding to your debt.
   
   

   Use Bankrate’s minimum payment calculator to help you figure out your costs.

4. Don’t close the card after the intro APR period ends. Closing the card immediately after paying off the balance could hurt your credit score by reducing the average age of your credit accounts. Together, these factors account for 45 percent of your credit score.

How a Bankrate editor used his 0% APR card offer

Bankrate editor Brendan Dyer used the Citi Custom Cash card and its introductory APR on purchases to carry a balance so he could focus on loan payments. Here’s his experience with Citi’s intro offer:

“Shortly after I bought a car, I applied for the Citi Custom Cash card because it had an introductory APR offer I wanted to take advantage of alongside my new car loan. I used the card to buy groceries and occasionally, gas. I never had a loan before so making car payments was new to me. I wanted to get it over with as quickly as possible, or at least get far enough ahead on the loan that I could trim the overall interest I would pay on it.

The Citi Custom Cash card and its introductory APR offer let me carry a balance for all my regular purchases for a little more than one year while I focused on paying off my car. I knew I needed to pay off my card balance eventually, but the intro APR offer helped me avoid a lot of interest on my car loan because I didn’t need to pay my card off right away and could keep paying down the principal on my loan.”

— Brendan Dyer, Editor, Bankrate

How we assess the best zero-interest credit cards

When evaluating the best zero-interest cards, we consider a mix of factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether cards offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders. 

A “zero-interest” designation can apply to several different types of card, each best suited to a different type of cardholder. Some users may need to finance purchases or carry a balance long term, others may need as much time as possible to chip away at debt and still others would love an intro APR but mostly want to maximize a card’s long-term value via rewards.

Here’s a quick look at our card rating methodologies vary based on card type, with most “zero-interest” cards landing in a primary scoring category of Balance Transfer, Low-Interest or Rewards.

For balance transfer and low-interest cards, our scoring breaks down as follows:

For rewards cards, the breakdown looks quite different:

We analyzed over 100 of the most popular zero-interest cards and scored each based on its introductory APR, intro APR period length, ongoing APR, balance transfer fee, perks and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup.

Here are some of the key factors that we considered:

Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

The information about the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.