The 8 Best Zero Interest Credit Cards [Spend Money And Save]

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Zero-interest credit cards are becoming more popular as the financial debt among Americans soars past $14 trillion. 0% APR credit cards undoubtedly have their perks — you can make credit card purchases interest-free and transfer your current debt to pay back without interest.

But not all zero-interest credit cards provide the benefits that fit your financial needs.

“Zero-interest card cards are a good solution for those planning to transfer an existing balance to a new card or to make a big purchase,” shared John Davis from ScoreSense. “Taking advantage of the zero interest helps people to get out from under credit card debt or pay down large purchases quickly.”

Instead of spending hours researching every card under the sun, we’re going to make this easy. Keep reading to find out the eight best zero-interest credit cards that you can apply for today!

Related: Should You Consolidate Your Credit Card Debt?

What Is A Zero Interest Credit Card?

A zero-interest credit card will allow you to make purchases on your card without being charged interest. This “zero-interest” promotional period will last for a predetermined period, usually around 12 months or more, before transitioning to a regular APR. Any unpaid balances that remain on your account after the zero-interest period will accumulate interest at your new APR.

Balance transfers will also receive zero-interest for a period of time, which can save you considerably in the course of a year or more. Be mindful of the date your introductory period ends, and your balance transfer converts to the regular APR, as the date of first transfer typically starts the time clock.

Qualifying for a zero-interest credit card is a bit unlike qualifying for your run-of-the-mill credit card. In most cases, you’ll need a FICO® score of at least 670 to be approved, though higher is always better. To get the best APR after the introductory period, having good to excellent credit is most beneficial.

There may also be limitations. For example, you may not be able to transfer your current credit balances to the new card, and you may face a balance transfer fee. Each credit card issuer will have a schedule of fees associated with a balance transfer.

The most important thing you can do is read the fine print to ensure you’re making an excellent financial decision with the right zero-interest card.

Here are eight of the best zero-interest cards available right now:

1. Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card is a zero-interest credit card that’ll get you the most bang for your buck. With this card, you’ll be free of interest on all new purchases for a whopping 18-month introductory period. This unusually long promotional period gives you more than enough time to repay your hefty balance transfer or the ability to invest in a luxury island vacation for the whole family.

Along with 18 months of interest-free purchases, the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card also comes with a few additional perks. The most notable benefit as a cardholder is the access to Citi Entertainment®, an exclusive feature that’ll give you first dibs on tickets for the hottest concert and sporting events in the nation.

Additional benefits include the highly secure “Tap to Pay” contactless payment method, identity theft protection, the ability to choose your payment due date, and the potential for an interest rate as low as 14.74% once the 18 months conclude.

Annual Fee: $0

Regular APR: 14.74% – 24.74%

Intro APR: 0% for 18 months

2. Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® Card is a great zero-interest credit card if you have pre-existing credit card debt and like a little extra cash in your pocket. The 0% APR period is 15 months from the account opening, so this might be the year to replace your outdated entertainment center or buy that high-end gaming computer without paying interest charges.

For every cent you spend, you’ll get some of your hard-earned money back. You can get a $200 bonus once you spend $500+ on groceries, 5% cashback rewards on groceries for the first year, and a 1.5% return on everything else. This card will also give you three free months of DashPass on DoorDash and 5% back on all Lyft rides, so feel free to treat yourself and splurge now and then.

This credit card’s benefits go further than most, including contactless pay, real-time fraud monitoring and automated fraud alerts to keep your balance safe from hackers, and $100 for every friend you refer to this card.

Annual Fee: $0

Regular APR: 14.99% – 23.74%

Intro APR: 0% for 15 months

3. Discover it® Cash Back

The Discover it® Cash Back Card is an incredible zero-interest credit card for maximum cashback on all of your favorite stores. You’ll maintain access to the 0% intro period for just over a year (14 months from account opening), giving you a little leeway for paying back your current credit card debt. When that 0% APR finally ends, you might transition to a below-average 11.99% APR, which is perfect for large purchases.

You’ll earn a cool 1% back on all purchases that you make with the Discover it® Cash Back Card. But you’ll also be able to get more in your pocket thanks to 5% cashback on certain bonus categories purchases throughout the year. You’ll know the best time of year to buy gifts on Amazon, treat the family to a nice restaurant meal, and stock up on wholesale goods.

Related: Costco Vs. Sam’s Club [The Great Wholesale Showdown]

As if this credit card wasn’t impressive enough, there are other benefits you’ll likely enjoy. You’ll double your cash back earnings throughout year one. You can redeem your cash back whenever it’s convenient for you, you’ll pay no late fees for your first late payment, and there are no penalty APRs. Plus, you’ll find out about fraud on your account deep within the Dark Web.

Jacob Dayan, CEO and Co-founder of Community Tax, shared what he loves most about the Discover it® Card, “Their mobile app is very user friendly, easy to navigate, has a lot of good features.”

Annual Fee: $0

Regular APR: 11.99% – 22.99%

Intro APR: 0% for 14 months

4. Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card

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The Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card is a neat zero-interest credit card if you want decent cashback on everything you buy. The 0% APR offer for this card lasts 15 months from the date of account opening, making this a great card if you’re in desperate need of new home appliances or other pricey home improvement projects. You’ll then transition over to an admirable variable rate as low as 14.49%, depending on creditworthiness.

This card enables you to buy whatever you want and earn a well-deserved 1.5% cashback. You can also increase what ends up back in your account by spending $500 within the first three months of account opening ($150 cash bonus) or by using digital wallet methods like Apple Pay and Google Pay to make your purchases during year one (increased cashback to 1.8%).

This zero-interest credit card offers 24/7 fraud monitoring, so it’s extremely secure. By signing up for this card, you’ll also get a cell phone protection plan to cover damages, Wells Fargo ATM access, unique vehicle collision coverage, and an immediate cash advance for a stolen card.

Annual Fee: $0

Regular APR: 14.49% – 24.99%

Intro APR: 0% for 15 months

5. Citi® Double Cash Card

The Citi® Double Cash Card is a superior zero-interest credit card if you crave twice as much cash back in your pocket with each purchase. This card’s 0% APR rate lasts for 18 months and will then transfer over to a variable APR as low as 13.99%. This new APR is below the “average,” meaning accidentally missed payments won’t send you into financial ruin.

The vital benefit of this card is the 2% cashback on all purchases you make. You’ll earn 1% back at the time of purchase and another 1% back when you pay your bill, giving you a nice financial surprise when you stay current on your payments. You can even use this cashback as a statement credit to pay off some of your credit card bills or earn points you can use on online purchases.

Enrolling for this credit card will give you access to exclusive features offered only by Citi. You can replace a stolen or lost card within 24 hours, clinch tickets to your favorite musical acts before they’re offered to the public, and learn about fraudulent activity on your account.

Annual Fee: $0

Regular APR: 13.99% – 23.99%

Intro APR: 0% for 18 months

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6. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express does come with an annual $95 fee, but that’ll pay itself off with the practically unheard-of cashback that you’ll receive. This promotional 0% APR lasts just 12 months, so this is an awesome card if you have no debt and don’t swipe your plastic much. That’ll turn into a regular variable APR as low as 13.99% when the year ends.

You’ve seen cashback offers before, but none quite like this Amex offers. You’ll earn 6% cashback on streaming subscriptions, purchases from grocery stores or U.S supermarkets, and another 3% return on transit and gas stations. Add that to the 1% cashback on everything else you buy, and you won’t have to hesitate so much before every purchase decision you make. Your money is yours to spend!

In addition to the impressive cashback offer, you’ll also get return protection within 90 days of purchases, access to concert tickets before the general public knows they’re happening, a lower than average foreign transaction fee and $300 back on the first $1,000 you spend.

Annual Fee: $95

Regular APR: 13.99% – 23.99%

Intro APR: 0% for 12 months

7. PNC Points Visa® Credit Card

The PNC Points Visa® Credit Card doesn’t offer cashback like most other cards on this list — it offers points instead. You’ll be privy to the 0% APR for just a year, but the regular APR as low as 11.99% will put you in a great financial position. A missed payment won’t drown you in interest, and you’ll have some peace of mind knowing PNC is a leading bank in the nation.

You won’t get more cash in your pocket, but you won’t be leaving empty-handed. You’ll earn 4 points for every $1 you spend, totaling over 72,000 points a year (on average). These points (plus an additional 50,000 bonus points if you spend $750 in the first three months) can be used to cash in on free hotel and travel expenses, gift cards, car rentals or electronics!

The benefits go a bit further than a paid-for family vacation or a road trip across America. You can also earn bonus points (25% – 75%) if you have a bank account with PNC, auto-lock your account if your card is lost or stolen, and pay without inserting the chip into a machine.

Annual Fee: $0

Regular APR: 11.99% – 21.99%

Intro APR: 0% for 12 months

8. U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card is as simple as zero-interest credit cards can get, free of all the unnecessary bells and whistles. You’ll have a 0% introductory APR for two months longer than most of the cards on this list, 20 months. After nearly two years, a high credit score will get you a regular APR of 13.99%.

This barebones credit card doesn’t offer the benefits of the other cards we’ve gone over thus far, but it does have a few perks. You can use the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card to protect your cell phone if you’re using this card to pay your cell bill. This feature will cover up to $600 in damages or theft with just a $25 deductible, likely better than what your cell provider offers!

Sabrina Hamilton, Creator of Finance Over Fifty, recommends the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card to pay for unexpected expenses, interest-free. “Due to the current world health crisis, both my husband and I have been furloughed since March.” she shared. “We could not afford to pay our federal taxes, but we were able to charge the payment to our U.S. Bank Platinum Visa, interest-free. This allowed us to pay on time and avoid any IRS penalties or fees.”

Some of the other benefits will go under-appreciated until the day you need them. These extra benefits include being able to coordinate your due date with your other bills, a free TransUnion® score report upon enrollment, and notifications of fraud on your account.

Annual Fee: $0

Regular APR: 13.99% – 23.99%

Intro APR: 0% for 20 months

Other Honorable Mentions

These eight zero-interest credit cards are all great in their own way. Some offer points, others come with cashback offers, and a few have extended 0% APR promotional periods. But if you want a few more options to choose from, check out the following cards.

• Citi Rewards+℠ Card (0% for 15 months & point rewards on purchases)
• PenFed Gold Visa® Card (0% for 12 months & regular APR as low as 7.49%)
• Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (0% for 15 months & up to 3% cashback)
• Quicksilver® from Capital One® (0% for 15 months & $150 cash bonus)

A zero-interest credit card can be a financial savior if you’re looking to make big purchases or better manage your finances by paying off your current credit card debt. But you need to be diligent when applying for these cards. So consider the following:

• Your credit score will be impacted by each application (a hard inquiry).
• Any unpaid balance on your card assumes your regular APR once the 0% is over.
• Not all cards offer cash back or points on all purchases. Look specifically for a rewards credit card if these features are more important.
• Some cards are only available to new cardholders.
• Watch for balance transfer fees, usually 3%, based on the amount of each transfer.

Now that you’ve got some ideas in mind, it’s time to send out those applications. Take the reins on your finances and apply now.

And, remember, every credit card can be a zero-interest credit card if you pay the total balance each billing cycle.

You may also be interested in: The 5 Best Credit Cards for People with Bad Credit

The 8 Best Credit Cards That Offer Zero Interest

• Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
• Chase Freedom Unlimited®
• Discover it® Cash Back
• Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® Card
• Citi® Double Cash Card
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
• PNC Points Visa® Credit Card
• U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card