14 Best 0% APR Credit Cards of October 2024

Intro APR offer: You can take advantage of a 0% intro APR for 15 months from the date you open your Freedom Flex account opening on purchases and balance transfers (20.49% to 29.24% variable APR afterward). There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transfer ($5 minimum) for transfers you make within the first 60 days. After that, the standard balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount of each transfer ($5 minimum).

[ Jump to more details ]

Rewards

None

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

You’ll get an intro 0% APR on balance transfers for a stunning 21 months from the date of the first transfer, after that the variable APR will be 19.24% to 29.99%. For the first four months, there’s an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5). After that, the standard balance transfer fee is 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).

In addition to this card’s balance transfer offer, you’ll also receive an intro 0% APR for 12 months on purchases, after that a variable 19.24% to 29.99% APR applies.

[ Return to card summary ]

Rewards

None

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

Anyone looking to save interest on purchases and balance transfers will appreciate this card’s 21 months of 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. Once the intro APR expires, a variable 17.74%, 24.24%, or 29.49% variable APR applies.

This card also offers roadside dispatch and cell phone protection.

[ Return to card summary ]

Rewards

• 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
• 3% cash back on dining and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®)
• 3% cash back on popular streaming services and entertainment
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

This card has no foreign transaction fees, extended warranty coverage and travel accident insurance.

With a new account, you’ll receive an intro 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, after that a 19.99% to 29.99% variable APR applies. The balance transfer fee is 3% for the first 15 months, then 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time.

[ Return to card summary ]

Rewards

• 2% cash rewards back on purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

The Wells Fargo Active Cash comes with cell phone insurance that covers damage, theft and loss of a cell phone. This insurance has a $25 deductible with a max coverage of $600 per claim. This card also has roadside dispatch, travel and emergency assistance services and rental car collision coverage.

[ Return to card summary ]

Rewards

• 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 5% back on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
• 3% back at drugstores
• 3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
• 1.5% back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on up to $20,000 spent in the first year – worth up to $300 cash back.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

Freedom Unlimited cardholders can utilize 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months your account is open. After the intro-APR offer ends, a standard 20.49% to 29.24% variable APR applies.

You’ll also receive purchase protection, extended warranty protection, rental car coverage and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

[ Return to card summary ]

Rewards

• 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%
• 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, up to $6,000 per year, then 1%
• 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

Welcome bonus

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

Annual fee

$0 (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

For a no-annual-fee card, the Blue Cash EveryDay card has a surprising amount of statement credit perks. You can receive up to $84 back per year in Disney Bundle credit ($7 back per month when you spend at least $9.99 per month on eligible auto-renewing subscriptions; enrollment required). You can also receive up to $180 back per year on Home Chef subscriptions (up to $15 back per month on auto-renewing subscriptions; enrollment required).

[ Return to card summary ]

Rewards

None

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

With a new account, you’ll get 21 months of an intro 0% APR on balance transfers starting on the date of the first transfer, then an 18.24% to 28.99% variable APR applies. To be eligible for the intro APR, you need to complete the balance transfer within four months of opening the account. There is a balance transfer fee of 5% of the amount you transfer ($5 minimum).

[ Return to card summary ]

Rewards

• 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 1.25X miles on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

With the Capital One VentureOne card, you can access exclusive events and experiences through Capital One Entertainment and Capital One Dining. You’ll also have access to the Capital One Travel portal, which offers a price match guarantee and price drop protection on flights.

You can transfer your miles to any of Capital One’s partner airline loyalty programs, including Emirates Skywards, Etihad Guest and Aeroplan®. Alternatively, you can redeem your miles for cash in the form of a check or account credit, gift cards and more, though rates for these other redemption options vary.

This card has no foreign transaction fees.

[ Return to card summary ]

Rewards

• Earn 5% cash back on the first $1,500 in combined purchases in when you activate rotating quarterly categories, then 1% cash back.
• 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Welcome bonus

Discover will match all the cash back earned for all new card members at the end of your first year.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

The cash back you earn with this card is easy to redeem for statement credits, bank deposits, gift cards and Amazon purchases. With this card, you won’t pay any foreign transaction fees.

[ Return to card summary ]

Rewards

Earn 2% cash back: 1% when you make a purchase and 1% when you pay.

Welcome bonus

Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

This card also offers a generous 18 months of an introductory 0% APR on balance transfers, afterward the APR is a variable 19.24% to 29.24%. Balance transfers must be completed within four months of account opening to qualify for the intro APR, and there is an introductory balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) you complete within the first four months of account opening. After that, the balance transfer fee increases to 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum).

[ Return to card summary ]

Rewards

• 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter.
• 1% cash back on all other purchases
• Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked through the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2025.

Welcome bonus

Earn $200 in cash back after spending $1500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening. 

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

Once you’re approved for a new account, you can also take advantage of a 0% introductory APR on purchases for 15 months from the date of account opening and on balance transfers for 15 months from the date of the first transfer, after that a variable 19.24% to 29.24% APR applies. There is a balance transfer fee of 5% of the amount of each transfer ($5 minimum). Balance transfers must be completed within four months of account opening to qualify for the intro APR.

[ Return to card summary ]

Rewards

• 5% back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in rotating bonus categories you activate each quarter (then 1% back)
• 5% back on Lyft rides (through March 2025)
• 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
• 3% back at drugstores
• 3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
• 1% back on all other purchases.

Welcome bonus

Earn a $100 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn 5% cash back on grocery store purchases (excluding Target® and Walmart®) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

This card has a notable intro-APR offer. When you’re approved for a new account, you’ll receive an intro 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from account opening, after that a 20.49% to 29.24% variable APR applies. An intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies to transfers you complete within the first 60 days. After that, the standard balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount of each transfer with a $5 minimum.

[ Return to card summary ]

Rewards

• 2X points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1X)
• 1X points per dollar spent on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® points after making $2,000 in purchases in your first six months of card membership.

Annual fee

$0 (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

You can boost your rewards rate by making 20 or more purchases with your card in a billing period, once you hit that threshold you’ll receive 20% more points on those purchases. The American Express Membership® Rewards points you earn with this card can be transferred to all of Amex’s travel partners, including Marriott Bonvoy, Delta SkyMiles, JetBlue TrueBlue, Hilton Honors and many more.

[ Return to card summary ]

Rewards

• 1.5% cash back on all purchases in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.

Welcome bonus

Earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 in purchases within your first six months of card membership.

Annual fee

$0 (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

When you’re approved for a new account, you’ll receive an intro 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date you open the account. After that, a variable APR of 19.24% to 29.99% applies. There is a balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5, whichever is greater.

[ Return to card summary ]

A 0% APR card is most beneficial when you understand the terms of the offer and set up a plan to pay off your debt. Here’s what to keep in mind if you’re considering a 0% intro APR credit card for your wallet.

Read the fine print

Make sure you familiarize yourself with any fine print associated with the 0% APR offer, such as the expiration date, timeline for completing a balance transfer, any balance transfer fees and the interest rate once the intro period ends.

Create a repayment plan

For example, if you have a $4,500 balance on the Chase Freedom Flex, which offers an intro APR period of no interest for the first 15 months on balance transfers and purchases (after, 20.49% – 29.24% variable APR), you’ll need to pay $300 each month to pay off your old balance before the intro period ends. But if you have the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card, with 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers (then 18.74% – 29.74% variable APR), the monthly payment decreases to $250.

Pay off your balance in full

It’s very important to pay off any transferred debt or lingering new purchase balances before the intro 0% APR period ends. If you don’t, expect to be hit with the regular purchase APR. And if you have a store card, you could be hit with a bill for all the interest you accrued since the date you made your purchase or transfer (known as deferred interest). None of the cards on this list charge cardholders deferred interest.

Credit cards that offer no interest on purchases and/or balance transfers are a great asset for consumers looking to save on interest charges when they carry a balance month-to-month. The best way to use a 0% APR card depends on your situation, but there are times when it makes more sense.

When you’re making a large purchase

When you have credit card debt

If you have debt on a high-interest card, completing a balance transfer to a card with no interest for up to 20 months can help you pay it off faster and cheaper.

If you fall into both categories, a card with no interest on new purchases and balance transfers can help you pay off large expenses and old debt at the same time. Remember that you’ll need to make minimum payments on your balance and pay it off in full before the intro period ends to avoid interest.

If you’re not sure whether a 0% APR card or a low-interest credit card is the right choice, ask yourself the following questions.

After you determine which credit card you want to apply for, there are key factors you’ll want to compare cards.

Length of intro APR period

An intro APR period typically lasts anywhere from six to 21 months. Many popular rewards cards offer no interest for up to 15 months, and non-rewards cards can have 18- and 21-month intro 0% APR periods.

Regular APR

Unfortunately, an intro 0% APR won’t last forever. If you don’t pay off your balance before the 0%-APR period expires, you’ll start accruing interest again. So consider the regular APR before settling on a card if you think you may carry a balance once the intro 0% APR period ends.

Balance transfer fee

Most balance transfer cards charge a fee per transfer, typically 3% to 5% of the transfer amount. The money you save in interest can outweigh this fee, but make sure to do the math. To avoid fees, check out the best no-fee balance transfer credit cards.

Annual fee

Cards with a 0% APR period sometimes also have an annual fee. Make sure to review the annual fee each year and compare it with the value you’re getting from the card’s perks to decide whether it’s worth keeping.

Rewards and perks

The best 0% APR cards also offer cash back, points and miles. In addition, you may also be able to take advantage of other perks such as purchase and travel protections. While these are nice benefits, paying off debt should be your primary goal. Although a card’s benefits shouldn’t drive your decision, they can add to the value you receive and shouldn’t be completely ignored.

We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back). 
 
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.  

For the cards that offered a rewards program, we considered consumer spending data forecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. Since the value of a point or mile varies based on what they can be redeemed for, we also considered things like transferability and the ability to redeem for cash-back. 

When choosing the best 0% interest credit cards, we focused on the length of the intro APR offer and whether the 0% interest applies to purchases, balance transfers or both. We also considered balance transfer fees and the length of time new cardholders have to make a transfer and still qualify for the intro APR. Some 0%-interest credit cards don’t offer rewards, intro bonuses or other ongoing benefits. However, many credit cards provide intro-APR offers and additional perks, when these are available they factored into our decisions.