The top no-annual-fee credit cards with a 0% intro APR
Quick summary
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
While we recommend never carrying a balance on a credit card, there are times when a large purchase or emergency situation arises and having a 0% APR credit card can be a lifesaver. 0% APR credit cards sometimes also apply the 0% rate to balance transfers, which can give you time to pay down a large debt and allow you to use one of these cards as a critical step in your debt-reduction strategy. But you must be disciplined and organized to ensure you don't go beyond the 0% APR time period or miss making payments, both of which might incur further fees.
Today, I'll cover the best credit cards that offer 0% APR for an introductory period on new purchases. As an added bonus, none of these cards charge an annual fee, so you can focus on getting out of debt without having to pay any additional costs.
The best no-annual-fee credit cards with 0% intro APR:
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (see rates and fees)
- Chase Freedom Flex
- Chase Freedom Unlimited
- Citi Simplicity® Card
- Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
| Card | Intro APR offer | Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express | 0% intro APR on new purchases for the first 15 months, 15.49%–26.49% variable APR after (see rates and fees) |
|
| Chase Freedom Flex | 0% intro APR on new purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, 17.24% - 25.99% variable APR after (balance transfer fee applies) |
|
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | 0% intro APR on new purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, 15.24%–23.99% variable APR after (balance transfer fee applies) |
|
| Citi Simplicity Card | 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers and 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening (then a 17.74%–27.74% variable APR applies, and bases on credit worthiness); balance transfers must be completed within the first four months of account opening | N/A |
| Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card | 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening, then a variable APR of 15.99% – 26.74%, based on your creditworthiness.; balance transfers must be completed within the first four months of account opening | N/A |
Before diving into the list, it's important to note that if you're applying for one of these cards to transfer the balance from a high-interest-rate credit card, you usually won't get away scot-free. Most cards will charge a 3-5% balance transfer fee. Balance transfers also do not count toward minimum spending to trigger sign-up bonuses, and you don't earn rewards on balance transfers.
Finally, as a reminder to active duty U.S. military members, Barclays and Citi will lower your interest rate to 0% for all products opened prior to active duty for the duration of your active service. This can be a blessing and a curse, depending on whether you can withstand the temptation to spend with no interest. But it remains an option to lower any debt you currently have.
Related: The best credit cards for active-duty military
Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
If you're looking for a card with an intro APR that provides respectable cash back earnings for groceries, the Blue Cash Everyday may be your card. It provides:
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per calendar year in purchases (then 1%)
- 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Terms Apply
The card is currently posting a welcome offer of a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months of card membership.
The Blue Cash Everyday has no annual fee (see rates and fees) and features 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 15 months, after which a variable APR of 15.49% to 25.49% will apply (see rates and fees).
Related: Amex Blue Cash Everyday card review
Chase Freedom Flex
This card carries no annual fees and can earn you significant Chase Ultimate Rewards points. The card offers a 0% APR for the first 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 17.24% - 25.99% applies. Right now, you can earn $200 (or 20,000 bonus points if you have a higher-tier Chase Ultimate Rewards credit card) after spending $500 in the first three months of account opening. Note that balance transfers don't count toward the $500 spending requirement.
This card offers 5% cash back (or 5x points) on rotating quarterly bonus categories, capped at $1,500 in spending per quarter (activation required), 5% on Lyft through March 2025, 5% on travel booked through Ultimate Rewards, 3% on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other spending. That's a stellar earning potential for a card with no annual fee.
To turn this cash back into valuable travel rewards, you'll also need to hold an Ultimate Rewards-earning card like:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
Related: Best Chase credit cards of 2021
Chase Freedom Unlimited
The Chase Freedom Unlimited, in the same card family as the Chase Freedom Flex, earns 1.5% cash back (or 1.5x points) on non-bonus category spending, making it a great option if you don't want to be bothered with tracking quarterly categories or if you make a lot of purchases that fall outside of a bonus spending category.
It has a $200 sign-up bonus after you spend $500 in the first three months of account opening, and 0% intro APR offer for the first 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (15.24% - 23.99% variable APR after). It also earns 5% back on Lyft through March 2025, 5% back on travel booked through Ultimate Rewards and 3% on dining and drugstores.
Similar to the above Chase Freedom Flex, you can turn this cash back into Chase points by also holding either the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve or the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card.
Related: Chase Freedom Unlimited review
Citi Simplicity Card
The Citi Simplicity Card offers a 0% introductory APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening, then a variable APR of 17.74% – 27.74%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within the first four months of account opening. Another advantage to the Simplicity is that the card doesn't charge late fees or penalty APR rates, which can be great if you're trying to pay down debt and increase your credit score.
The downside is that this card doesn't earn rewards and doesn't offer a sign-up bonus. If you have an excellent credit score, there are definitely cards out there (including those on this list) that will earn a bonus and rewards while giving you a solid intro APR period.
Related: The best Citi credit cards of 2021
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
The Citi Diamond Preferred offers a 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening, then a variable APR of 15.99% – 26.74%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within the first four months of account opening. It also doesn't come with rewards rate for purchases.
For a limited time, you can earn a $150 statement credit after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
Generally, the Simplicity is a better card if you're just looking for a low introductory APR card and can't apply for one that also earns rewards.
Related: Citi Diamond Preferred Card review
How do 0% APR credit cards work?
These 0% APR credit cards work by offering new cardholders the opportunity to make purchases without incurring interest. Offers like these are generally valid for anywhere from the first nine to 20 months of card membership, depending on the issuer. A 0% APR offer usually takes the place of a traditional cash or points sign-up bonus, so don't expect to earn additional rewards most cards with these terms.
Your reward for signing up is the promotional 0% APR period, which depending on the size of your debt and your current interest rates could be worth much more than any points you would have received from other cards.
What are the main benefits of 0% APR credit cards?
While it should be obvious that making purchases without accruing interest is a major benefit all on its own, there are other opportunities to leverage a 0% APR card. As mentioned above, in the event of a surprise such as an unexpected health emergency, these cards can be a lifesaver while you catch up on your finances.
They can also be used to help finance one-time purchases, such as getting a new roof or remodeling the bathroom. Of course, as always, we heavily recommend you pay the balance off before the promotion expires in order to avoid paying any interest. You should also be careful not to use a 0% APR card as an excuse to spend beyond your means. Instead, you should treat this like one element of your emergency fund and only tap into it when necessary.
How to choose the best 0% APR card
Everyone's needs are different, so you'll need to choose the best credit card for you. This is especially true if you're looking to earn rewards while you spend. All of the cards listed above offer varied amounts and types of rewards for the money you spend, and you can choose which is best for you depending on their fees, reward categories, and which bank issuers the card.
Bottom line
There are several solid credit cards offering a 0% APR for an introductory period, and you can earn valuable rewards or cash back — without paying an annual fee — as you work to pay down any outstanding debt. Just make sure you stay on top of your payments and know exactly when the introductory period ends to avoid getting hit with steep fees.
Additional reporting by Madison Blancaflor and Joseph Hostetler.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday Card, please click here.