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Paying interest on credit card debt will quickly wipe out the value of any rewards earned on purchases and can make it difficult to pay down the balance on your credit card. We recommend never carrying a balance on your cards, but, the reality is, whether you have a large purchase on the horizon or an emergency expense you haven’t accounted for, there are times when it isn’t practical or pragmatic to pay down your entire balance at the end of the month.
While many cards offer an introductory 0% APR period on both purchases and balance transfers, we’ve focused this post on cards featuring a 0% intro APR on purchases. Allowing you to take advantage of the purchase protection benefits offered by rewards cards, earn rewards on your purchase, and potentially pay no interest or fees on a large purchase that would cost substantially more using traditional financing.
Top 0% Introductory APR Credit Cards for Purchases
When tossing up between 0% APR cards, it’s essential to ask yourself a few questions, first and foremost being; can you pay off the balance before the end of the introductory-APR period, without making late payments. High credit card interest rates are an inefficient method of financing a purchase, and if you miss a payment, or don’t pay the balance in full before the introductory APR period ends, you’ll be paying double-digit interest rates. Other factors to consider include:
- How much time will it take to pay down the balance? 6 months? 12 months? Longer? This will have a significant impact on the best card for your situation.
- Will points, miles, or cash back provide the best return on your purchase?
- Are there fees to factor into the equation? Annual fees or transaction fees for example.
Once you have a clear idea of your requirements, it's time to find the best card to suit your needs. Below, you'll find some of our favorite 0% intro APR cards listed from the longest 0% intro APR period to the shortest.
| Credit Cards Offering 0% Intro APR on Purchases | 0% APR Period on Purchases | Regular APR | Welcome Offer | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HSBC Gold Mastercard® credit card | 18 months | 13.99% - 23.99% Variable APR | N/A | $0 |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited® | 15 months | 14.99% - 24.74% Variable APR | $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. | $0 |
| Chase Freedom Flex℠ | 15 months | 14.99% - 24.74% Variable APR | Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. | $0 |
| Citi Custom Cash℠ Card | 15 months | 13.99% – 23.99% Variable APR | Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $750 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back. | $0 |
| Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | 15 months | 13.99% - 23.99% Variable APR - Rates & Fees | Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months. | $0 - Rates & Fees |
| The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express | 15 months | 12.99% - 23.99% Variable APR | Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $1,000 in purchases in your first 3 months. | $0 |
| Discover it® Cash Back | 14 months | 11.99% - 22.99% Variable APR | INTRO OFFER: Discover will match ALL the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically. There's no signing up. And no limit to how much is matched. | $0 |
| The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express | 12 months from date of account opening | 13.24% - 19.24% Variable APR - Rates & Fees | Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership. | $0 - Rates & Fees |
| Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card | 12 months | 13.24% - 19.24% Variable APR | Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $0 |
| Ink Business Cash® Credit Card | 12 months | 13.24% - 19.24% Variable APR | Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $7,500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | $0 |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card | 12 months | 14.99% - 24.99% Variable APR | Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel | $0 |
| Citi Simplicity® Card | 12 months | 14.74% - 24.74% Variable APR | N/A | $0 |
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
While it doesn't offer the longest 0% APR intro rate on purchases, the Freedom Unlimited stands out from the crowd thanks to its long-term earning potential for Ultimate Rewards.
The card features a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for up to 15 months (then 14.99% - 24.74% Variable). While advertised as a cashback card, you’re effectively earning Ultimate Rewards points on purchases if you combine your points with one of the Chase cards that allow transfers to Ultimate Rewards partners.
Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card & Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
Both the Ink Unlimited and Ink Cash offer up the perfect mix of high-value welcome bonus and extended intro APR period. Not only will new cardholders pay no interest on purchases until the intro APR period ends, but you can land one of the highest cashback bonuses available across all the rewards cards.
Don’t forget, if you also hold an Ultimate Rewards earning card that charges an annual fee, you can combine the points earned on these two cards with those earned on premium Ultimate Rewards earning cards, and transfer them to partners to achieve exponentially higher value!
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of cards available offering 0% intro APR on purchases, plus you can earn a stack of points, miles, or cash back without attracting the high interest charged on traditional credit cards. It’s great that all the cards listed charge no annual fee as it provides access to low (or no) cost finance for larger purchases that accept credit card payments.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (Rates & Fees), and Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees)
The comments on this page are not provided, reviewed, or otherwise approved by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
the cards that offer low fee 0% balance transfers are also useful.
Are the ones listed with $0 annual fee like that for a year or does some sort of fee kick in at a later date? I’m always very skeptical about these cards, but it seems like there are so many options that I should give one of them a shot! I bank with BoA and I see no cards from them, so maybe it’s time to shop around! Great article, thanks
If you click through to a card you can see all the details.
Great list. This is super useful for large purchases that I need to make, like a new mattress, car & apartment maintenance.
I sure miss those days when one could buy loads of treasury bonds with those introductory 0% APR for 18 months credit cards.
I miss the old days when they had % APR and % balance transfer fees. It was worth it to put the free money in the bank and earn interest.
I recently got the Blue Business Plus and got an 18 month 0% APR on it along with a 20K welcome offer. That was a great offer for a card that gives 2X on all purchases. Plan to use that card long term.
Several credit unions run better deals every year (no transfer fee or a big bonus rebate). The BT fees charged by banks generally make this a bad deal.
I just took advantage of the no interest. Just be sure you check to see if it must be paid off in a specified time to avoid all the back interest if it Applies
Some good card offers detailed above, will give it some extra thought.
I took advantage of such offer light years ago by buying loads of treasury bonds.
Nice move!!!! I spend those years shuffling credit from one to the next!!!1 Now in a Much better place!! $$$$$
Tim, Congrats on being in a much better place… a spot good enough to participate in all these loyalty program efforts!