0% Intro APR Credit Cards: How They Work & How to Use Them Wisely

There are several different types of credit cards on the market, each with its own unique features. Depending on your financial situation and needs, the right credit card can be a valuable financial tool.

Zero percent intro APR credit cards, in particular, can provide significant savings if you need to make a large purchase or transfer a balance from another credit card, then pay off the debt over time. If you’d like to learn more about what 0% APR means and how these cards can benefit you, we’ve got you covered.

Who can benefit from a card with a 0% intro APR offer?

Anyone who qualifies can take advantage of a 0% intro APR offer, so the list of the type of people who can benefit from one is long. However, here are three specific examples in which a 0% intro APR offer can make a significant difference:

• People with emergency expenses: If you’ve lost a job, experienced a short-term disability, or dealt with expensive car or home repairs, a 0% intro APR credit card can help you cover the cost of your emergency expenses and give you time to pay for them interest-free.
• People with crippling credit card debt: If you’re struggling to get ahead on paying down your credit card debt, high interest rates could be part of the problem. If you can qualify for a balance transfer credit card, you can remove interest costs from the equation, at least for a time, while you focus on eliminating your debt.
• Small business owners: If you’re a new business owner with a lot of expenses and little revenue or you’re experiencing fluctuations in your sales, using one of the best 0% intro APR business credit cards could help you cover important expenses while you build your business. These offers can be especially valuable if your business isn’t established enough to qualify for a traditional small business loan.

What are some of the top 0% intro APR credit cards?

If you’re looking for a 0% intro APR credit card, there are plenty of options from which to choose. However, some cards stand out above the rest based on the length of their promotions and the other features they provide to cardholders.

Here are some of the best 0% intro APR credit cards available:

BankAmericard^® credit card

If you’re looking for a card with minimal fees and no temptation from rewards, the BankAmericard^® credit card should be on your radar.

It offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 18 billing cycles (then 16.24% - 26.24% Variable) and a 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any qualifying balance transfers made in the first 60 days (then 16.24% - 26.24% Variable).

Beyond that, the card doesn’t provide any benefits of note. But if your ultimate goal is to save money on interest and fees, this one’s tough to beat. Also, if you’re the type of person who might be tempted to spend more on a card that offers rewards, the BankAmericard credit card can be a safe bet.

For more information, check out our full BankAmericard credit card review.

Citi Simplicity^® Card

The Citi Simplicity^® Card is best suited for people who want a long time to pay off a balance transfer. The card’s 0% introductory APR promotion lasts 21 months (then 19.24% - 29.99% (Variable)), which is a competitive length when it come to major credit cards.

You also get a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months (then 19.24% - 29.99% (Variable)). That means you have a long time to make and pay down purchases with the card. Just don’t plan to make any purchases after that period if you’re still working on paying off your balance transfer. This will help you avoid having interest accrue immediately on new charges.

In addition to a great balance transfer deal, the Citi Simplicity also charges a $0 annual fee and no late fees. That said, paying your bill late could cause you to lose your introductory APR, and it could also wreck your credit score.

One major downside to the card is that it doesn’t offer a rewards program. This means that once the intro APR promotion is over, there are few incentives to keep using this card. But if maximizing your savings with a long into balance transfer offer is a top priority, the lack of rewards may not matter.

For more information, check out our full Citi Simplicity Card review.

Citi^® Diamond Preferred^® Card

Similar to the Citi Simplicity, the Citi^® Diamond Preferred^® Card offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months (then 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable)). It also offers a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months (then 18.24% - 28.99% (Variable)).

Also, like the Citi Simplicity Card, this card doesn’t have a rewards program. However, you can use it to get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including presale tickets and exclusive experiences. Depending on your lifestyle, this benefit could provide lasting value.

Another way the two cards differ is that this one doesn’t waive late fees on the account, so it’s best to pay at least the minimum amount due each month.

For more information, check out our full Citi Diamond Preferred Card review.

Citi Double Cash^® Card

The Citi Double Cash^® Card isn’t just one of the best balance transfer credit cards on the market, it’s also one of the best cashback credit cards.

The card offers 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months (then 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)). Additionally, you’ll earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24. This rewards rate is one of the best you can get, and it means you’ll get value out of the card long after the 0% introductory APR promotion is over. Like the Citi Diamond Preferred Card, you’ll get access to Citi Entertainment deals with the Citi Double Cash Card.

That said, there is no 0% intro APR deal on new purchases, which means that interest will be charged on all new purchases unless you pay your full balance (including the balance transfer) on time every month. So it’s best to avoid using the card for anything other than the balance transfer promotion until you’ve paid off that debt.

For more information, check out our full Citi Double Cash^® Card review.

Amex EveryDay^® Credit Card

The Amex EveryDay^® Credit Card is unique because it provides significant value: you’ll get a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months then 18.24% to 29.24% (variable). Plus, you’ll earn rewards in the form of a welcome offer and ongoing rewards.

In addition to interest savings, you’ll earn 10,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $2,000 in the first 6 months. You’ll also get 2X points per dollar (on the first $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each year, after that 1X), and 1X on all other eligible purchases. Regular users will also earn 20% more points for every billing period in which you make 20 or more purchases.

This card can be a solid option for someone who’s looking for both upfront and long-term value. However, its incentives to use the card early and often for new purchases could cause you to rack up more debt, which can be negative if you don’t have a clear plan to pay off everything you owe before the 0% intro APR promotion ends.

For more information, check out our full Amex EveryDay Credit Card review.

Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card

The Ink Business Unlimited^® Credit Card is designed for business owners, and its 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months (then 18.49% - 24.49% Variable) can provide some valuable savings. What’s more, you can earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, plus unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase.

These rewards only complement the card’s value 0% intro APR offer, and can be used to boost your bottom line. It doesn’t, however, have a 0% intro APR promotion on balance transfers.

For more information, check out our full Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card review.

What is a 0% intro APR credit card?

A 0% intro APR credit card is a card that offers a 0% intro annual percentage rate for a set promotional period. Among major credit cards, these promotions often last anywhere from six to 21 months. You can carry a balance on your credit card during the introductory period and pay no interest charges, as long as you make at least the minimum payment every month.

Once the introductory period ends, your interest rate will jump to the credit card issuer's regular APR, and you’ll start paying interest on the remaining balance unless you pay it in full.

It’s important to note that 0% intro APR deals are a bit different than deferred interest promotions. The latter is common with store credit cards and retail financing in general, and both offer no interest for a set period. The difference is that with deferred interest promotions, you have to pay off the balance in full before the promotional period ends, or you’ll owe interest retroactively based on the original debt amount.

It’s best to avoid deferred interest promotions unless you know for certain that you’ll be able to pay off the debt within the prescribed time. Even then, you’ll take on less risk with a 0% intro APR credit card.

How does a 0% intro APR offer work?

There are two different types of 0% intro APR offers and depending on the credit card you apply for, you may get one of the two or both.

Purchases

When you use a credit card normally, you’ll have until your monthly due date to pay your balance from the previous month in full — otherwise, you’ll owe interest on the amount you carry over to the new month.

A 0% introductory APR on purchases allows new cardholders to use a credit card during the promotional period without paying any interest on the balance, even if you carry it from month to month. The catch is that you need to pay at least the minimum amount due every month. Otherwise, you could lose your 0% intro APR promotion.

You can use a 0% intro purchase APR promotion for anything you can charge to your credit card. That includes things like home improvements, major appliances, tuition, or even everyday expenses. There are no fees or other costs attached to the promotion, which helps you maximize your savings.

Balance transfers

The average credit card interest rate is 16.61%, according to February 2020 data from the U.S. Federal Reserve, and many cards charge variable APRs that range upward of 20%. With a balance transfer 0% intro APR deal, you can use one credit card to pay off some or all of the balance from another, then pay it off interest-free over a set period.

As long as you pay off the debt before the promotion ends, you won’t pay any interest on the balance. If there’s a balance left over at the end of the promotional period, you’ll pay interest only on the amount that remains.

Balance transfer credit cards are solid options if you’re looking to consolidate credit card debt, and the best balance transfer cards may even allow you to transfer other forms of debt.

That said, there are some catches to 0% intro balance transfer APR deals:

Transfer fees: Most cards that offer balance transfer promotions charge an upfront balance transfer fee, which typically ranges from 3% to 5% of the transfer amount. This fee is rolled into your balance, which you’ll pay off over time. You can, however, find credit cards that don’t charge a balance transfer fee, and some even offer 0% intro APR promotions.

Limitations: The amount you can transfer is often limited to your credit limit on the card you want to use. So if you have $10,000 in debt on one card and get a balance transfer card with a $3,000 limit, you’ll only gain interest savings on $3,000 of the initial debt. Also, some balance transfer cards may offer only a 0% intro APR on transfers requested within a certain time frame after you open your account — that’s typically four months or less.

Other interest: If you have a 0% intro APR balance transfer promotion on your credit card but not a 0% intro APR on purchases, you may not get a grace period on your purchases until you’ve paid the balance transfer in full. As such, it’s best to avoid putting new purchases on a new balance transfer card unless there’s a comparable 0% intro APR benefit on purchases.

Foreign transaction fees: These cards often come with foreign transaction fees, generally between 3-5%. They are not the best option if you plan to use them abroad.

FAQs about 0% intro APR credit cards

As we researched 0% intro APR credit cards, we came across several common questions. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions, along with their answers.

The final word

Zero percent APR credit cards can provide some significant savings to people who need help with credit card debt. If you need to make a large purchase, pay some emergency expenses without the income to back it up or transfer a balance from a high-interest credit card, 0% intro APR deals can be just what you need to accomplish your goal.

Extra Long Intro APR on Purchases & Qualifying Balance Transfers

Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card

4.9

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Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card

Apply Now

Rates and fees

Current Offer

Benefit from a long introductory APR period on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Annual Fee

$0

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• 0% intro APR on qualifying balance transfers and purchases for 21 months from account opening, then 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR
• Cell phone protection
• $0 annual fee

Drawbacks

• No rewards for spending

Card Details

• Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
• 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, min $5.
• $0 Annual Fee.
• Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
• Through My Wells Fargo Deals, you can get access to personalized deals from a variety of merchants. It's an easy way to earn cash back as an account credit when you shop, dine, or enjoy an experience simply by using an eligible Wells Fargo credit card.