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Annual fee<\/p>\n
$0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Welcome offer<\/p>\n
Earn a $200 online cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Introductory APR<\/p>\n
0% intro APR for your first 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account (variable APR of 17.49% – 27.49% after the intro APR ends)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Purchase APR<\/p>\n
17.49% – 27.49% variable<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Rewards rate<\/p>\n
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- 3% cash back + 3% first-year cash back bonus in the category of your choice*<\/li>\n
- 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs<\/li>\n
- Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases<\/li>\n
- *Earn 6% and 2% cash back on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter in the choice category, and at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (unlimited 1% after that); after the 3% first-year bonus offer ends, you will earn 3% and 2% cash back on these purchases up to the quarterly maximum<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Benefits<\/p>\n
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- Bank of America Preferred Rewards\u00ae members can earn up to 75% more cash back on every purchase<\/li>\n
- Choose which category you want to earn 6% cash back in for the first year: gas and EV charging stations; online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming; dining; travel; drug stores and pharmacies; or home improvement and furnishings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n
Why we like it:<\/strong> The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card has no annual fee and a competitive intro period for both new purchases and balance transfers. Throughout the intro period and beyond, you can customize the rewards you earn by choosing a 3% cash-back category once per calendar month.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re planning to use your card for a large upcoming expense, this can be an ideal option for also saving money on your purchase \u2014 with eligible categories like travel, online shopping, and home improvement and furnishings, you may qualify for great rewards on your purchase while giving yourself extra time to pay it off.<\/p>\n
Read our full Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards review<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
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Annual fee<\/p>\n
$0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Welcome offer<\/p>\n
Earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 within the first 6 months<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Introductory Balance Transfer APR<\/p>\n
0% on balance transfers for 15 months<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Ongoing Balance Transfer APR<\/p>\n
19.49%-28.49% Variable<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Introductory Purchases APR<\/p>\n
0% on purchases for 15 months<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Ongoing Purchases APR<\/p>\n
19.49%-28.49% Variable<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n
Why we like it:<\/strong> On top of its long intro APR offer, the Amex Blue Cash Everyday provides an excellent mix of elevated rewards and ongoing benefits, all with no annual fee (see rates & fees). While you might find a card with a few of these perks, it\u2019s rare to find one that has them all.<\/p>\n
This card is a great option to save on daily expenses, and its 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 spent per year, then 1%) is unique among rewards cards. This category can be useful for any number of large expenses you may use your 0% APR for. Maybe, for example, you want to buy long-distance loved ones holiday gifts, and shopping online lets you ship to them directly. You can use your Blue Cash Everyday to save 3% on each gift while also giving yourself plenty of time to pay them off without added interest.<\/p>\n
Read our full Amex Blue Cash Everyday review<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
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Annual fee<\/p>\n
$0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Welcome offer<\/p>\n
Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Introductory Purchases APR<\/p>\n
0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Ongoing Purchases APR<\/p>\n
18.24% – 27.74% Variable<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Introductory Balance Transfer APR<\/p>\n
0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n
Why we like it:<\/strong> Like the other cards on our list, the Chase Freedom Unlimited\u2019s combination of great rewards (it earns a minimum 1.5% on everything plus more in bonus categories) and a long 0% APR intro period can help you save money and avoid debt when you need to make a big purchase. But this cash-back card is also unique for the flexibility it offers when you\u2019re ready to redeem rewards.<\/p>\n
In addition to cash rewards and statement credits to your account, you can redeem your rewards for hotel stays, flights, rental cars, and more through Chase Travel\u2120. This card also makes a fantastic pairing if you already have a travel card from Chase, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred\u00ae Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve\u00ae. As you earn rewards with the Chase Freedom Unlimited (including during the intro period), you can combine them with your Sapphire card and take advantage of that card\u2019s boosted redemptions for travel.<\/p>\n
Read our full Chase Freedom Unlimited review<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
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Learn more: <\/em><\/strong>See our picks for the best Chase credit card<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Annual fee<\/p>\n
$0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Welcome offer<\/p>\n
Discover will automatically match all the cash back you\u2019ve earned at the end of your first year, with no minimum spending requirement or maximum rewards cap<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Introductory APR<\/p>\n
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months (17.74% to 26.74% variable APR after that; 3% intro balance transfer fee until March 10, 2026, then up to 5%)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Purchase APR<\/p>\n
17.74% – 26.74% variable<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n
Why we like it:<\/strong> Few rewards credit cards provide more than 2% or 3% back on purchases, but you can earn up to 5% cash back with the Discover it Cash Back Credit Card while you take advantage of its 0% APR offer. Eligible 5% categories rotate quarterly, and range from restaurants and grocery stores to Amazon.com, digital wallet spending, drug stores, and more.<\/p>\n
This Discover card\u2019s welcome bonus offer also makes it ideal for a large upcoming expense. At the end of your first year, you\u2019ll get an unlimited match on all the cash back you\u2019ve earned since opening. Say, for example, you want to use the 0% APR intro period to help finance a new refrigerator that costs $800. You make the purchase when home improvement stores are a quarterly 5% rewards category, and get $40 cash back. At the end of your first year, after you\u2019ve had time to pay down your purchase, you\u2019ll get that $40 matched again for a total $80 cash back from your purchase.<\/p>\n
Read our full Discover it Cash Back Credit Card review<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nWhy we like it:<\/strong> If you care less about rewards and benefits and more about scoring the longest introductory 0% APR period possible, the U.S. Bank Shield Visa Card may be the best option for you. With two years before you\u2019ll owe interest on your purchases, this card can help you avoid debt with ample time to get through a financial hardship or pay down a big purchase.<\/p>\n
There aren\u2019t a ton of added benefits after the intro period ends, but you can earn cash back when you book select travel through the U.S. Bank Travel Center and get an annual $20 statement credit when you make purchases over 11 consecutive calendar months and keep your account in good standing.<\/p>\n
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Annual fee<\/p>\n
$0<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Welcome offer<\/p>\n
Earn 20,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Introductory APR<\/p>\n
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles, standard variable APR after that<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Purchase APR<\/p>\n
17.49% – 27.49% variable<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n
Why we like it: <\/strong>A 0% APR credit card can be a great financing tool for travel, and you\u2019ll save a significant amount when you combine the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect Visa Signature Card\u2019s long intro period with its solid travel rewards. Not only will you earn 4x points on travel but you\u2019ll also get Priority Pass Select airport lounge access and a statement credit toward TSA PreCheck or Global Entry fees. Plus, you can earn a great welcome bonus when you use your new card for an upcoming trip.<\/p>\n
Even after your trip and the end of the 0% APR intro period, you can use this card to earn bonus rewards across everyday categories, like restaurants, grocery stores, streaming services, and gas stations \u2014 then put those rewards toward a future vacation.<\/p>\n
\nIt can be smart to open a 0% APR credit card for a few different reasons:<\/p>\n
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You have existing debt.<\/strong> You can use a 0% APR credit card to help cover new purchases without accruing interest. This can give you some room in your budget to pay off existing debt.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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You have an upcoming large purchase.<\/strong> When you use a 0% APR credit card to make a large purchase, you can take your time paying it off without interest throughout the intro period. This lets you hold onto cash for other necessary purchases while still making interest-free payments.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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You need to cover an emergency expense.<\/strong> This type of situation can vary, but a 0% APR can be useful for covering expenses \u2014 when you\u2019re between jobs, for example, or if you take on an unexpected cost like a car repair \u2014 especially if you don\u2019t already have a full emergency savings fund.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
The important thing to remember is that 0% APR credit cards are still credit cards. When you use credit, you\u2019re borrowing money from a financial institution that you have to repay, whether there\u2019s interest or not. It\u2019s still essential to use your card responsibly by making on-time monthly payments by the due date and not borrowing more than you can afford.<\/p>\n
A 0% APR credit card may not be a good option for you if you have an ongoing problem with overspending. Once the intro period ends, you\u2019ll take on interest at the card\u2019s regular ongoing interest rate, which may be 20% APR or even higher. If you\u2019re not confident you can pay down your balance by the end of the intro period or you think the 0% APR could lead to spending more than you otherwise would, you may want to avoid opening a new credit card.<\/p>\n
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0% APR offer length:<\/strong> In general, the longer the intro period, the better. Many 0% APR intro periods today range from 12 to 15 months, though may go as long as 24 months.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Balance transfer offer:<\/strong> Many of the cards on this list are also balance transfer credit cards because the 0% APR applies to transferred debt balances as well as new purchases. If you decide to take advantage of a balance transfer offer, you\u2019ll need to pay a balance transfer fee and you can only transfer up to your available credit limit.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Annual fee:<\/strong> We typically only recommend paying an annual fee on a credit card if you get enough value from the card\u2019s benefits to offset the yearly cost. Fortunately, the best 0% APR credit cards don\u2019t tend to have annual fees.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Rewards program:<\/strong> What are you supposed to do with a 0% APR card after the offer period ends? If it\u2019s a rewards credit card, you can continue using it to earn valuable points, miles, or cash back on your purchases.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Credit requirements:<\/strong> Many 0% APR credit cards require a good or excellent credit score to qualify, which is at least a 670 FICO score.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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APR:<\/strong> Ideally, you\u2019ll be able to pay down your 0% APR card balance in full by the time the intro period ends. But it\u2019s still important to know your card\u2019s ongoing APR range and how much you may be charged if you accrue interest in the future.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
A 0% intro APR credit card lets you avoid paying interest on purchases for a set period of time. Through that period, you can carry a balance without worrying about racking up any interest charges, though you\u2019ll still be responsible for making minimum payments.<\/p>\n
The intro period starts upon account opening and typically lasts 12 to 15 months, with some longer offers lasting 18 months or more. Many cards with 0% APR offers also earn rewards. Even throughout the intro period, you can earn rewards on your spending while you take advantage of the extra time without interest.<\/p>\n
You don\u2019t have to pay a fee to take advantage of a 0% purchase APR. However, you still want to pay off your balance before the promotional period ends. Any balance that\u2019s left on your account when the intro period ends will begin to accrue interest at your assigned ongoing APR.<\/p>\n
Before you make a big purchase with a new credit card, make sure to understand whether the card is offering a 0% APR introductory period or deferred interest.<\/p>\n
Each of the cards on our list (and most 0% APR offers from major issuers today) work as described above. Deferred interest can be much more costly, and you\u2019ll typically find it from retail credit cards with special financing offers.<\/p>\n
After you make your purchase, you\u2019ll have several months to pay it off without accruing interest. If you can\u2019t pay the full purchase over that period, though, you\u2019ll be charged interest going all the way back to your purchase date and begin accruing interest on the remaining balance. Compared to standard 0% APR cards, this can leave you paying a lot more in interest overall if you\u2019re unable to pay in full by the end of the deferred interest period.<\/p>\n
Always read the fine print for any new card offer and understand both how you can avoid interest and the consequences for falling behind on payments.<\/p>\n
Many 0% APR cards (including those on our list) have introductory periods up to 15 months. Here are a few cards with longer intro periods for new purchases:<\/p>\n
Getting approved for a new card with a 0% intro rate can be an excellent way to reduce credit card debt. The promotional period lets you pay your balance without worrying about interest charges, which is often better than alternative repayment strategies, such as using a credit card cash advance.<\/p>\n
You typically need good to excellent credit to qualify for a 0% APR credit card. That\u2019s a FICO score of at least 670 and a VantageScore of at least 661. A higher credit score could improve your chances of getting approved for a 0% interest credit card.<\/p>\n
A 0% interest rate credit card can hurt your credit if your credit utilization is too high from carrying a high balance. You could also see a small impact on your credit score from applying for a new card. However, a 0% intro APR credit card could help with building credit over time and increasing your overall creditworthiness if you keep your card account active and make on-time payments.<\/p>\n
To find the best 0% APR cards today, we start with a list of nearly 30 credit cards from major credit card issuers that offer an introductory 0% APR for new purchases to new cardholders. We do not include business credit cards, student credit cards, or co-branded retail credit cards.<\/p>\n
To find the best options among our initial list, we use a weighted rating system. Our rubric prioritizes cards with the longest intro periods that charge no annual fee and also have relatively lower ongoing APRs. We also consider each card\u2019s rewards program, whether it also has a balance transfer offer, and our own expert opinion. This broad rating system means our final picks may not always strictly include the cards with the longest intro periods, but instead the best cards for both short-term 0% APR offers and long-term value, even after the intro period ends.<\/p>\n
Our final list is made up of the cards with the highest ratings that we believe make a good fit for anyone researching 0% APR cards.<\/p>\n
\nEditorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to the Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank\u2019s website for the most current information. This site doesn’t include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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