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The best credit cards with 0% intro APR offers of March 2022
It seems counterintuitive, but another credit card could be just what you need to pay off your credit card debt for good. Some credit cards with introductory 0% intro APR periods allow you to transfer a balance from another credit card. Cards in this category might let you pay 0% interest on purchases, balance transfers, or both for a specified period of time that can range from nine to 21 months.
Some 0% intro APR cards that allow balance transfers require a balance transfer fee upfront — but the interest savings can easily outweigh the fee by hundreds or thousands of dollars. Especially if your financial situation has been impacted by unemployment or other pandemic factors, a credit card with a 0% intro APR offer can give you some breathing room to get back on your feet.
Before you consider taking advantage of a 0% intro APR offer, be sure you have the means and a plan to pay off the balance before the introductory period expires — otherwise, you could be on the hook for high-interest charges. Also keep in mind you’re still responsible for making at least the minimum payment on your card each month, even with a 0% intro APR offer.
Longest 0% intro APR credit card offer: Citi® Diamond Preferred® Credit Card
Introductory APR offer: Qualify for 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months from the date of first transfer (as long as all transfers are completed within the first four months) and purchases for 12 months from account opening, followed by a
Balance transfer fee: 5% (minimum $5)
Annual fee:
Read more: Citi Diamond Preferred card review
The
Long 0% intro APR offer and no late fees: Citi Simplicity® Card
Introductory APR offer: Qualify for 0% APR on balance transfers for 21 months from the date of first transfer (as long as all transfers are completed within the first four months) and purchases for 12 months from account opening, followed by a
Balance transfer fee: 5% (minimum $5)
Annual fee:
Read more: Citi Simplicity card review
If you want to consolidate high-interest credit card debt without having to worry about extra fees or penalty rates, the
The card doesn’t add late fees or charge a penalty rate, and there’s no annual fee either. You won’t earn rewards for your spending, but if debt consolidation is a priority, this card is a good choice.
Our favorite cash-back card: Citi® Double Cash Card
Introductory APR offer: 0% APR on balance transfers for 18 months from the date of the first transfer (when the transfer is completed within the first four months), followed by a
Balance transfer fee: 5% (minimum $5)
Annual fee:
Read more: Citi Double Cash credit card review
The
You can convert cash-back rewards from the
Best Chase 0% intro APR credit card: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Introductory APR offer: 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, followed by a
Annual fee:
The
They can also earn 5% back on travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal, 3% back on dining and drugstores, and 1.5% back on all other purchases.
Read more: Chase Freedom Unlimited card review
When you consider the card’s intro APR offer, it’s easy to see why it’s best for consumers who want to earn rewards on a big purchase and pay down their balance without any interest over time. The
Best intro APR card if your spending changes month to month: Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
Introductory APR offer: 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, followed by a
Balance transfer fee: 5% (minimum $5)
Annual fee:
The
Read more: Citi Custom Cash credit card review
The qualifying categories include everyday expenses that should appeal to most folks: restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment.
Although it’s marketed as a cash-back card, the
Intro APR and maximum cash back, if you work for it: Chase Freedom Flex℠
Introductory APR offer: 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months after account opening, followed by a
Annual fee:
The
It also earns 5% back on up to $1,500 spent in rotating bonus categories like gas stations and streaming services when you activate each quarter (then 1%) and on travel purchased through the Chase travel portal. It also offers 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1% back on all other purchases.
Read more: Chase Freedom Flex card review
This card is a great option for anyone who wants to avoid interest payments for a limited time while earning rewards on their purchases. Keep in mind that with the
Introductory APR and bonus cash back at U.S. supermarkets: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Introductory APR offer: 0% APR on purchases for 15 months, followed by a
Annual fee:
The
Read more: Amex Blue Cash Everyday credit card review
You can also earn 3% back on up to $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each calendar year (then 1%), 2% back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores, and 1% back on everything else (cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars).
Intro APR and 1.5% cash back on every purchase: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Introductory APR offer: 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months after account opening, followed by a
Annual fee:
The
Read more: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards card review
Since this card also comes with a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, it’s an excellent option for debt consolidation or avoiding interest on large purchases.
3% cash back on dining: Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Introductory APR offer: 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months after account opening, followed by a
Annual fee:
If your goal is earning cash back while saving on interest on purchases, check out the
Read more: Capital One SavorOne credit card review
You also earn 3% back on dining, grocery stores, entertainment, and streaming services, and 1% back on everything else you buy. There’s no annual fee, and you’ll qualify for a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then a
Rotating cash-back categories: Discover it® Cash Back
Introductory APR offer: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then
Balance transfer fee: 3% intro fee; then up to 5% on future balance transfers (see terms)
Annual fee:
Also, consider the
Read more: Discover it Cash Back credit card review
You’ll also have all your rewards matched after your first year of card membership, which works as a delayed welcome bonus of sorts. And that’s not to mention the lucrative intro APR offer this card extends.
For starting out or building credit: Chase Slate Edge℠
Introductory APR offer: 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 18 months, then a
Balance transfer fee: 3% (or $5, whichever is greater) for balance transfers made in the first 60 days of account opening; after that, the fee goes up to 5%
Annual fee: $0
The
One benefit designed to help you build your credit is an automatic, one-time review for a higher credit limit if you’ve paid on time and spent at least $500 in your first six months of opening the
In addition, on each account anniversary, you’ll be considered for a 2% APR reduction, as long as you’ve paid your card on time and spent at least $1,000 on purchases in the previous anniversary year. The reduction is capped, though — it will only be reduced until your APR reaches the Prime Rate plus 9.74% (currently 12.99% variable APR based on the Prime Rate of 3.25% as of February 28, 2021).
The best credit cards with low interest rates
Here’s a roundup of cards with relatively low interest rates, including their introductory APR offer and their interest rate ranges for comparison.
Discover it® Cash Back : 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months, thenDiscover it® Cash Back APRCapital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card : 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months after opening, then a14.49% – 24.49% (Variable) APRBlue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express :0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from account opening , then a13.99% to 23.99% variable APR (See Rates) Citi® Double Cash Card : 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months from the date of first transfer (when transfers are completed within 4 months from date of account opening), then a13.99% – 23.99% (Variable) APRCapital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card : 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months after opening, then a15.49% – 25.49% variable APR Citi® Diamond Preferred® Credit Card : 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months from date of first transfer and for 12 months on purchases from account opening, then a14.74% – 24.74% Variable APR Chase Freedom Flex℠ : 0% intro APR for 15 months after opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a14.99% – 23.74% variable APR
For comparison’s sake, here are some credit cards, including some rewards cards, without intro APR offers and with APRs that start much higher than those on the cards above:
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : No intro APR offer; then a17.24% to 24.49% variable APRChase Sapphire Preferred® Card : No intro APR offer; then a variable APR of15.99%-22.99% Variable APRCapital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card : No intro APR offer; then a22.99% variable APR
Read more: Guide to the best rewards credit cards
Credit card issuers are allowed to charge whatever interest rate they want; they only have to disclose the rate in the card’s terms and conditions. You should always make sure you know the interest rate range of the card you apply for, and when you receive the card, check the rate you were approved for.
Other Insider credit card guides
This guide highlights the best credit card options if you’re looking for an introductory 0% APR offer. But if you want to narrow down your choices even further, here are other in-depth credit card guides for the following categories:
- The best credit cards
- The best rewards credit cards
- The best cash-back credit cards
- The best travel rewards credit cards
- The best small-business credit cards
- The best no-annual-fee credit cards
- The best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees
- The best credit cards for bad credit
- The best credit cards for average credit
- The best credit cards for students
- The best hotel credit cards
- The best airline credit cards
- The best credit cards for Amazon purchases
- The best credit cards for gas purchases
- The best credit cards for dining
- The best credit cards for grocery shopping
Intro 0% APR credit cards — Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Should you use an introductory 0% APR credit card offer?
Before you take advantage of an introductory 0% APR credit card offer, it’s important to consider the following:
- Know your offer. Make sure to read the fine print and understand exactly how long your offer lasts. Also, make sure you understand your new interest rate once the 0% intro APR comes to a screeching halt.
- Take debt repayment seriously. Pay down all your debt (or as much debt as you can) before your 0% intro offer runs out. Once it ends, your card’s APR will revert to the standard variable rate, which is much higher.
- Stop using credit cards. While it can make sense to use a 0% intro APR credit for a large expense if you get zero interest on purchases for a limited time, it’s best to avoid using cards for regular purchases unless you have the cash to pay your credit card balance off in full each month. If you let 0% intro APR go to your head, you could wind up with a ton of new debt you didn’t plan for.
Why are credit card interest rates so high?
Just a few short years ago, there was a time that having excellent credit meant your credit card interest rate was low. Some people even selected cards based not only on miles, rewards, and cash back, but also on the very interest rate a card charged annually.
My, how things have changed. Good credit still rocks, of course, but today, interest rates on credit cards are some of the highest they’ve been in the past quarter-century. The interest rate on your credit card varies by the card issuer, and the better your credit score, the lower the interest rate you’re likely to receive. Well, within those historically high rates, of course.
In 2009, Congress passed the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which in essence restricted card issuers from changing the terms, including the interest rate, on your card after you opened it. Hard to believe that was once allowed.
Now that it’s harder for card issuers to raise rates in response to economic downturns, they’ve raised the rates on new accounts across the board.
What are credit card APRs right now?
In this time of historically high credit card rates, the very best credit card interest rates are still offered to those with top credit scores, usually considered 700 or above. What’s more, rewards credit cards may have some of the higher APRs available, since card issuers are aware that consumers with good credit are typically using these cards for the rewards and paying them off monthly.
While rates may vary according to the type of card you get, the average credit card interest rate clocks in at around 16%.
The problem is that when you apply for a card, you can only see the card’s range of interest. You won’t know the exact interest rate you’re likely to receive until you’re approved and actually receive your card.
You can take an educated guess that if your credit score is 700 and above, you’ll probably get the lowest of the range for that card. If your scores fall in the mid to high 600s, you’ll likely hit the card’s mid-range interest rate, and if your scores are lower than the mid-600s, you can count on being offered the highest end of that card’s interest rate range.
What is a good interest rate on a credit card?
The average credit card interest rate is about 16%, so anything below that number would be considered a relatively good APR. Of course, no APR is better than a low APR, so if you’re able to take advantage of an intro APR offer that waives interest on balance transfers and/or purchases, you’ll come out even further ahead.
Why is my APR so high?
If you feel your credit card’s APR rate is high, you’re not alone. Because credit card debt isn’t secured in any way (unlike mortgages, which are secured by property), credit card issuers impose high interest rates if you default on your payments.
While credit card APRs are high in general, the specific APR you’re assigned on your credit card falls within a range. The higher your credit score, the lower your APR will generally be. That’s because a high credit score generally indicates that you’ve successfully paid off your credit card debts promptly.
How can I lower my APR?
Beyond applying for a credit card with an introductory APR offer, you can contact your credit card issuer and request a decrease in your APR. There’s no guarantee the issuer will decide to lower your APR, but if you have a good payment history and you indicate that you may move your business elsewhere if you can’t get a lower APR, you could have a solid case for getting the rate reduced.
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