What credit score is required for a 0% intro APR card?

A good credit score (FICO score between 670 and 739) would give you a solid chance to qualify for a 0 percent APR credit card, and an excellent credit score would give you the best approval odds and rates. You may have the best chance at some zero-interest cards with lengthy 21-month offers if your score is closer to excellent (a FICO score of 740 or higher). You can estimate your approval odds — and potentially find prequalified card offers — through Bankrate’s CardMatch tool if you want an extra vote of confidence.

What happens when the 0% intro APR offer ends?

When your 0 percent intro APR offer ends, the card’s regular, ongoing interest rate will apply to any future balance you carry month to month. For example, if your intro APR period is over and you still have a balance of $200 on your card, your next credit card statement will show that you owe $200 — and the interest has already started compounding again.

What are the longest 0% intro APR credit card offers?

All of the longest intro APR offers on the market currently hover around 21 months. However, these lengthy offers have become harder to find. The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card* offers a 0 percent intro APR for 21 billing cycles on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. (17.74% - 28.74% Variable ongoing) The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card offers a 0 percent intro APR for 21 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate (with a balance transfer fee of 5 percent or a minimum of $5). (17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable APR ongoing) The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card has a 0 percent intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers made within four months of account opening, but its 0 percent intro APR on purchases only lasts 12 months. (17.24% - 27.99% (Variable) ongoing) The Citi Simplicity® Card also has a lengthy 0 percent intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers. However, its 0 percent intro APR on purchases is also limited to 12 months, with the same ongoing rate thereafter. (18.24% - 28.99% (Variable) ongoing)

Is deferred interest the same as a 0% intro APR credit card?

Deferred interest can be much costlier than a traditional 0 percent intro APR if you don’t pay off your balance before the offer period ends. Deferred interest still begins compounding when you open the account, but the interest is forgiven once you pay off your balance in the specified time period. However, that interest that’s been building in the background is added to your balance if you don’t pay the full balance off in time.

Best 0% interest credit cards of May 2025: Introductory APRs until 2026

Compare Bankrate's top 0% intro APR credit cards

	Our picks for		Ongoing APR	Learn more
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card Apply now on Wells Fargo's secure site See Rates & Fees	Long intro APR	21 months 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening	Regular APR: 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable APR	Apply now on Wells Fargo's secure site See Rates & Fees
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees	Shopping	15 months 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months	Regular APR: 18.99% - 28.49% Variable	Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees	Dining	15 months 0% intro on purchases for 15 months	Regular APR: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)	Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
Discover it® Cash Back Apply now on Discover's secure site See Rates & Fees	Rotating bonus categories	15 months 0% for 15 months	Regular APR: 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR	Apply now on Discover's secure site See Rates & Fees
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees	Business purchases	12 months 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 Months	Regular APR: 17.49% - 23.49% Variable	Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply	Everyday use	15 months 0% on purchases for 15 months	Regular APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable	Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees	Travel	15 months 0% intro on purchases for 15 months	Regular APR: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)	Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card Apply now on Wells Fargo's secure site See Rates & Fees	Flat-rate rewards	12 months 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening	Regular APR: 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR	Apply now on Wells Fargo's secure site See Rates & Fees
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees	Simple rewards	15 months 0% intro on purchases for 15 months	Regular APR: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)	Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply	Families	12 months 0% on purchases for 12 months	Regular APR: 20.24%-29.24% Variable	Apply now on American Express's secure site See Rates & Fees, Terms Apply
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card Apply now on Bank of America's secure site	Custom categories	15 billing cycles 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases	Regular APR: 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers	Apply now on Bank of America's secure site
BankAmericard® credit card	Low interest	18 billing cycles 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases	Regular APR: 15.24% - 25.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Citi Custom Cash® Card	Pairing	15 months 0% for 15 months on purchases	Regular APR: 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)

Researching the 0% intro APR credit cards

100+

card ratings

400+

APRs tracked

3000

data points analyzed

40+

perks evaluated

We thoroughly rate and research the best zero-interest offer cards based on key criteria to help you make confident decisions when choosing your next credit card. Learn more about our methodology below.

What is a zero-interest credit card?

A zero interest credit card is a credit card that offers a 0 percent intro APR offer on either purchases, balance transfers, or both upon opening the card. The length of these offers can range depending on the card, but typically last anywhere from 12 to 21 months. The introductory period on these cards can let you save on interest, whether it's by transferring a balance from an existing credit card to your new card, or by delaying interest accrual on new purchases during the intro period.

In the case of both types of intro offers, you'll still need to make monthly payments on your card. Additionally, when the intro period is over, the card's ongoing APR applies to any remaining balance on your card. If you want to take advantage of a zero-interest credit card's introductory offer, its best to make a repayment plan for your balance transfer or purchases before opening the card.

How much can you save with a zero-interest card?

Credit card interest is the cost of borrowing money if you don't pay your balance in full each month. At the end of each billing cycle, the credit card issuer calculates your interest charges using your average daily balance, annual percentage rate (APR) and the number of days in the billing cycle. How much interest you pay depends on the card's APR, which is determined partly by your creditworthiness and federal interest rates, and whether you carry a balance from month to month. It's one of the main ways that credit card companies make money.

Let's say you open an 18-month 0 percent APR card for a $3,000 purchase. Bankrate’s credit card payoff calculator shows that an 18-month 0 percent intro APR offer could save you almost $500 in interest compared to a card with no intro APR offer and 20 percent interest.

APR	Balance with 3% balance transfer fee	Monthly payment	Total interest	Total amount paid
20% for 18 months	$3,000	$194	$497	$3,497
0% intro on balance transfers for 18 months	$3,090	$167	$0	$3,090

What makes a great 0% intro APR card?

The best 0 percent intro APR cards have well-rounded features that meet your needs during the intro period and beyond. While you're shopping for zero-interest cards, look for long periods, reasonable fees and long-term value.

Long intro APR periods

Great examples: The U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card*, BankAmericard® Credit Card* and Wells Fargo Reflect Card

Low balance transfer fees

Great example: The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express

Value after intro period

Great examples: The Blue Cash Everyday Card and Discover it® Cash Back

Using a 0% APR credit card as an interest-free loan

Zero-interest cards news & views

U.S. Bank announced that its new competing card offer in the 0 percent APR space launched March 17: the U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card*. Where some cards offer 21 months of interest-free periods on purchases and balance transfers, this card takes it a step further with 24 billing cycles of 0 percent APR on purchases and balance transfers (followed by 17.74 percent to 28.74 percent variable APR). This is now the new benchmark for intro APR cards, beating the likes of the Wells Fargo Reflect, Citi Simplicity and Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card.

And the fact that the U.S. Bank Shield Visa offers that zero-interest period for both purchases and balance transfers makes it a great card for paying down debt or making large purchases. Some credit card enthusiasts on the r/CreditCards subreddit* doubt its value as a rewards card, but we don't think its meant to be a cash back machine. As one user put it: "This is a 0 [percent] APR card.. for 24 months. Best on the market. Those cards don't usually have any rewards. This just has 4 [percent] to encourage travel portal use, because why not."

While the U.S. Bank Shield Visa just launched, it's not the most popular card yet. We dug into our proprietary data to identify Bankrate’s current most popular intro APR credit card offers in the past six months:

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

24.53 percent of readers who viewed this card clicked on it to learn more

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

24.35 percent of readers who viewed this card clicked on it to learn more

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card*

24.11 percent of readers who viewed this card clicked on it to learn more

Interestingly enough, the Bank of America cards don't have the longest intro APRs available, which aligns with our 2025 Credit Debt Report, which shows an increasing interest in earning rewards over a few more months of an intro APR — even for cardholders with credit card debt. Only the Citi Diamond Preferred has one of the longest intro APR offers, and its length doesn't extend to purchases, just balance transfers.

While a longer intro APR offer can be beneficial in paying off debt, once the offer ends, intro APR-focused cards’ long-term value can be limited. Many of the options with the longest offers don’t earn rewards or carry other notable perks. This can be quite the drawback, especially considering these cards require a good to excellent credit score to qualify.

After the Federal Reserve cut interest rates in December 2024, there was hope that rates may continue to fall as we head into 2025. Unfortunately, further rate cuts aren't in the cards as the Fed kept rates steady in its March 19 meeting. We're not experiencing the record-high rates we had in 2024, but it’s still far from a good time to put large purchases on a card that charges interest.

Zero-interest cards can help you stay ahead of high, stagnant Federal Reserve interest rates and to keep debt at bay — or at least stall it for a while.

*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Be sure to check the issuer's website/terms and conditions for all up to date content. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.

*Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card 17.24% - 27.99% (Variable)

*Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

*Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card 18.24% - 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

BANKRATE EXPERT FAQ

Ask Bankrate staff: How did you use your intro APR offer?

Nouri Zarrugh

Senior Editor, Credit Cards

This may only make sense to me, but I use intro APR offers to lessen the mental ‘blow’ of large purchases. Though I don’t make any purchases I can’t immediately pay off, it never feels good to see a big chunk of money go out of your account. With an intro APR, I can pay off a large purchase in chunks and feel a little less anxiety about it — even if the total amount is no different. It’s just a mental trick that makes life easier for me. A $1,000 car repair is easier to stomach if I think of it as $100 for 10 months than a one-time lump sum of $1,000.

BANKRATE EXPERT FAQ

Ask the industry: What are the best ways to avoid paying interest on a credit card?

Thomas Nitzsche

Financial Educator, Debt and Credit

Whenever possible, pay off your credit cards every month. If you have a balance with a high interest rate, look for balance transfer opportunities and try to pay off the balance within the promotional rate time frame. If you have bad credit and are struggling to pay down your balance, look into a debt management plan through a nonprofit credit counseling agency. Some creditors offer as low as 0 percent through a debt management plan, and multiple monthly payments can be consolidated into one. On average, a debt management plan lasts four years, but there is no prepayment penalty if you are able to pay it off sooner. Keep in mind that a debt management plan will close the accounts you’re consolidating, so this isn’t something you want to do as a first option.

Frequently asked questions about 0% intro APR credit cards

All of the longest intro APR offers on the market currently hover around 21 months. However, these lengthy offers have become harder to find.
- The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card* offers a 0 percent intro APR for 21 billing cycles on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. (17.74% - 28.74% Variable ongoing)
- The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card offers a 0 percent intro APR for 21 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate (with a balance transfer fee of 5 percent or a minimum of $5). (17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable APR ongoing)
- The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card has a 0 percent intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers made within four months of account opening, but its 0 percent intro APR on purchases only lasts 12 months. (17.24% - 27.99% (Variable) ongoing)
- The Citi Simplicity® Card also has a lengthy 0 percent intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers. However, its 0 percent intro APR on purchases is also limited to 12 months, with the same ongoing rate thereafter. (18.24% - 28.99% (Variable) ongoing)

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:

Overall Score

Rates and fees 80%
Perks 10%
Customer experience 10%

For rewards cards, the breakdown looks quite different:

Overall Score

Value 65%
Flexibility 15%
Perks 15%
Customer experience 5%

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:

The primary factor in a balance transfer or low-interest card’s rating and its inclusion in our list is the quality of its introductory APR offer and ongoing APR. This includes both the introductory rate itself and the length of the intro APR promotional on both balance transfers and new purchases.

For cards designed primarily for balance transfers, the intro APR offer on balance transfers has the largest impact on overall score. The quality of these cards’ intro APR on new purchases is also considered, but holds less weight than the intro APR on balance transfers.

For general low-interest cards, the intro APR offer on new purchases has the largest impact on overall score, followed by the ongoing APR and intro APR offer on balance transfers. This weighting assumes cardholders considering a card in this category will prioritize payment flexibility on new purchases or may need to carry a balance long term, whereas cardholders trying to pay off debt will opt for a dedicated balance transfer card.

The cards that score the highest in these categories and are most likely to be included in our list tend to offer long 0 percent intro APRs on both balance transfer and new purchases as well as a lower-than-average low-end APR.

Here’s a closer look at how a card’s rates, fees and intro APR periods are evaluated in our rating methodology:

Balance transfer card rates & fees scoring
Overall rating
Pie chart with 5 slices.
End of interactive chart.

5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Overall Score
- Intro APR and offer length for balance transfers 45%
- Intro APR and offer length for new purchases 18%
- Balance transfer, annual and other fees 22%
- Ongoing APR 15%
Low-interest card rates & fees scoring
Overall rating
Pie chart with 5 slices.
End of interactive chart.

5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Overall Score
- Intro APR and offer length for new purchases 40%
- Ongoing APR 35%
- Intro APR and offer length for balance transfers 13%
- Balance transfer, annual and other fees 12%

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 benefits may be 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, the BankAmericard® credit card, Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card, Citi Simplicity® Card and U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Continue reading:

We use primary sources to support our work. Bankrate’s authors, reporters and editors are subject-matter experts who thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate, timely and relevant.
1. “How does my credit card company calculate the amount of interest I owe?” Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. Accessed on April 7, 2025.
2. "U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card offers 0% intro APR for 24 billing cycles." U.S. Bank. Accessed on April 7, 2025.

Brendan Dyer Writer, credit cards

Brendan Dyer is a Bankrate editor who writes and edits content for rewards, travel, cash back and business credit cards. He’s passionate about informing readers about the most…

Courtney Mihocik Senior editor, credit cards

Courtney Mihocik is an editor at Bankrate Credit Cards and CreditCards.com specializing in credit card news and personal finance advice. Previously, she led insurance content at…

* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.

13 Best 0% interest credit cards of May 2025

+ Show Summary

Compare Bankrate's top 0% intro APR credit cards

Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Discover it® Cash Back

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

BankAmericard® credit card

Citi Custom Cash® Card