Best 0% APR and Low-Interest Credit Cards of January 2024 – Newsweek Vault (2024)

A Closer Look at the Best Low-Interest Credit Cards

Best Travel Card for Business: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Why we love this card: We love the Amex Blue Business Plus because it has an intro APR on purchases, which is unique among business credit cards. Get a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months (followed by a variable APR of 18.49% to 26.49%). This card also earns 2X Membership Rewards points on the first $50,000 spent each calendar year, then 1X points, and features a first-year welcome bonus. The card does charge foreign transaction fees, which is something to note if you travel outside of the U.S. for business.

Who should have this in their wallet: This card is ideal for business owners who want to earn Amex Membership Rewards points for no annual fee while paying down purchases interest-free.

Other cards to consider: The Ink Business Unlimited is another small-business credit card with an intro APR and rewards for spending. Another alternative is the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card since it offers an intro APR on purchases and generous bonus category rewards.

Best Cash Back Card for Business: Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Why we love this card: The Ink Business Unlimited has a generous welcome offer and a flat rewards rate of 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Cardholders also earn 5% back on Lyft rides through March of 2025. A 0% intro APR on purchases applies for 12 months (18.49% to 24.49% variable APR after), and cardholders get free employee cards and a range of insurance and consumer protections.

Who should have this in their wallet: This card is best for business owners who want to earn flat-rate cash back and skip interest on purchases for a year. This could be a business that needs to invest in equipment or inventory or one that needs some wiggle room in its budget and help managing cash flow in the short term.

Other cards to consider: If you want to earn flexible travel rewards points instead of cash back without an annual fee, look into the Amex Blue Business Plus Credit Card instead. American Express also offers The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card for no annual fee (see rates and fees). The Blue Business Cash also has an intro APR on purchases, comes with a generous welcome bonus and earns 2% cash back on the first $50,000 spent in a calendar year (then 1% back).

Best for Debt Consolidation: U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

Why we love this card: The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum made our ranking as the best card for debt consolidation based on its lengthy intro APR offer and competitive balance transfer fee. Cardholders get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers (transferred in the first 60 days) for 21 billing cycles (followed by a variable APR of 18.74% to 29.74%). The 3% balance transfer fee (minimum $5) is also lower than some competing cards for debt consolidation.

Who should have this in their wallet: Because the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card doesn’t offer rewards, it’s best for consumers who want to consolidate high-interest debt from other credit cards and focus their efforts on paying it down. The length of this card’s offer also makes it ideal for people with considerable amounts of debt who need an intro APR for as long as possible.

Other cards to consider: The BankAmericard is another card to consider for debt consolidation, although the intro APR offer isn’t quite as long, and you also won’t earn rewards. If you want to earn cash back on purchases and enjoy an intro APR that applies to new spending and balance transfers, consider the Wells Fargo Active Cash or Chase Freedom Flex.

Best for Debt Consolidation, Runner-Up: BankAmericard® Credit Card

Why we love this card: We chose the BankAmericard as the runner-up in this category because it has a competitive balance transfer fee (3%) and a slightly shorter intro APR offer than the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum. Cardholders who apply for the BankAmericard get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers made within 60 days for 18 billing cycles (followed by a variable APR of 16.24% to 26.24%).

Who should have this in their wallet: Because the BankAmericard doesn’t offer rewards for spending or a welcome offer of any kind, this card is best for people who really need to pay down debt above all else. The fact balance transfers only qualify for the intro rate if they’re completed within 60 days of account opening makes this card a good option for people who are ready to begin paying down debt right away.

Other cards to consider: Consider the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card if you don’t want to earn rewards but want a few more billing cycles to pay down debt sans interest. If you’re willing to have an even shorter intro APR offer and want to earn cash back, consider the Wells Fargo Active Cash.

Best for Earning Cash Back: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Why we love this card: The Wells Fargo Active Cash is an excellent choice for individuals who want to pay down consolidated debt or large purchases while earning cash back in the process. Not only do cardholders get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers (transferred within the first 120 days) for 15 months (followed by a variable APR of 20.24%, 25.24% or 29.99%), but they earn 2% cash back on every purchase. Its first-year welcome bonus is just the icing on the cake.

Who should have this in their wallet: The Wells Fargo Active Cash is best for people who want to earn rewards on a large purchase, like furniture or new appliances, then pay down their balance over time. The intro rate also applies to balance transfers, so this card can also work well for debt consolidation.

Other cards to consider: Several of the best low-interest credit cards offer rewards for spending and intro APRs on purchases and balance transfers. Both the Chase Freedom Flex and Chase Freedom Unlimited fall into this category.

Best for Everyday Spending: Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Why we love this card: We chose the Chase Freedom Unlimited because you can earn rewards in a variety of categories for no annual fee, and it features a fairly long intro APR on purchases and balance transfers. Cardholders earn 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 5% back on Lyft rides (through March 2025), 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases and 1.5% back on all other spending. Further, get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (20.49% to 29.24% variable APR after).

Who should have this in their wallet: The Chase Freedom Unlimited is ideal for people with small amounts of debt to consolidate and pay off or for those who want to earn cash back on spending while paying down their balance over time.

Other cards to consider: If you’d prefer to earn a flat rate of cash back instead of bonus category rewards, consider the Wells Fargo Active Cash instead. And if you want a longer intro APR offer on balance transfers, consider cards like the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card or Citi Simplicity Card.

Best for No Late Fees: Citi Simplicity® Card

Why we love this card: The no-annual-fee Citi Simplicity made our list due to its lengthy intro APR on balance transfers and its lack of a penalty rate or late fees. Cardholders get a 0% intro APR on balance transfers (transferred within the first four months) for 21 months and on purchases for 12 months (19.24% to 29.99% variable APR after).

Who should have this in their wallet: The Citi Simplicity is worth considering for people who are worried about making late payments and the havoc doing so can cause. This card won’t hit you with a late payment if you accidentally pay your bill late, nor will you be charged a penalty interest rate.

Other cards to consider: One major downside of the Citi Simplicity is its shorter intro APR period on purchases. If you want to skip interest on new spending for a longer period, consider cards like the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum or the BankAmericard.

Best for Lengthy 0% APR Offer: Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

Why we love this card: The Wells Fargo Reflect made our ranking due to its lengthy intro APR offer on purchases and balance transfers, which is one of the longest on the market: 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (transferred within the first 120 days) for 21 months (18.24%, 24.74% or 29.99% variable APR after). The card also comes with no annual fee and cellphone protection.

Who should have this in their wallet: This card is ideal for those who want to pay down large purchases interest-free for as long as possible. When it comes to transferring a balance, the 5% balance transfer fee (minimum $5) can take away from your interest savings, but its still one of the longest intro APR periods available.

Other cards to consider: If you have high-interest debt to consolidate and want to pay a lower balance transfer fee, several cards have competitive intro APR offers with lower fees. Alternatives that fit the bill include the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum or BankAmericard.

Best for Rotating Rewards: Chase Freedom Flex℠

Why we love this card: The Chase Freedom Flex features a 0% intro APR offer on both purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (20.49% to 29.24% variable APR after), but that’s not all. New cardmembers can earn a generous welcome bonus, plus 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in activated, rotating bonus categories each quarter (then 1% back), 5% back on travel purchases booked through Chase, 5% back on Lyft rides (through March 2025), 3% back on dining and drugstore purchases and 1% back on all other purchases. The card also comes with no annual fee and features World Elite Mastercard benefits.

Who should have this in their wallet: The Chase Freedom Flex is great for people who want to skip interest on purchases and balance transfers for more than a year while earning rewards on their spending. Just remember that the intro balance transfer fee only applies for the first 60 days, so you need to be ready to transfer balances and consolidate debt right away.

Other cards to consider: Several other low-interest credit cards offer rewards and a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the same length of time. For example, you could also look into the Chase Freedom Unlimited or the Wells Fargo Active Cash.

Best Option for Students: Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students

Why we love this card: The Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students is great for college students since it comes with 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Not only that, but cardholders get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers made within 60 days for 15 billing cycles (followed by a variable APR of 18.24% to 28.24%). There’s a 3% balance transfer fee, which is standard among balance transfer cards.

Who should have this in their wallet: This card is absolutely ideal for students who want to earn flat-rate rewards and save money on interest. The fact it’s a student credit card also means it’s easier to qualify for with a limited credit history.

Other cards to consider: Don’t get this card if you’re not a college student and can qualify for an unsecured card with a better intro APR offer (and more lucrative rewards). If you’re not a student and you have good credit, look into rewards credit cards like the Chase Freedom Unlimited or the Wells Fargo Active Cash. If you are a student but care more about credit cards with low interest than rewards, you can consider an alternative card like the BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students.

What Are 0% APR and Low-Interest Credit Cards, and How Do They Work?

Low-interest credit cards are credit cards that have a lower interest rate than average, whereas 0% APR credit cards actually let you pay zero interest for a limited time. However, it’s worth noting that most cards in this niche only offer introductory rates that last for a limited time. After that, a variable APR applies.

This means that, when you choose a 0% APR credit card, you need to know exactly how long the intro rate lasts and the variable rate you’ll be charged thereafter. Armed with this information, you can focus on paying down as much debt as possible before the intro rate expires.

Credit cards that have introductory rates typically charge balance transfer fees of 3% or 5% of the amount transferred upfront. This means that, if you use a balance transfer card to consolidate $10,000 in credit card debt from other cards, you’ll see $300 or $500 added to your new balance upfront. While that probably seems less than ideal, the interest savings you get from having 0% APR can more than make up for these fees over time.

As an example, let’s say you have $5,000 in credit card debt on a card with a 22% APR, and you can afford to pay $250 per month. In this case, it would take you 26 months to become debt-free, and you would pay $1,285.72 in interest along the way. If you transferred this debt to a 0% APR credit card with zero interest for 21 months and a 3% balance transfer fee, you would start the debt repayment process owing $5,150. With 0% interest, however, you could pay the same $250 payment for just under 21 months and become debt-free with $0 in interest charges.

How Does My Credit Score Affect My Interest Rate?

Most credit cards on the market today, including the best credit cards for low interest, advertise a range of interest rates. For example, a card might have an intro APR of 0% for a limited time, followed by a variable APR of 19.99% to 29.99%.

This range represents the range of interest rates you can qualify for based on your credit score when you apply. Generally speaking, individuals with higher credit scores qualify for the lower rates within the advertised range, whereas those with lower credit scores and shorter credit histories tend to pay the highest advertised rates.

Fortunately, you only pay credit card interest when you carry a balance from month to month outside of 0% intro APR periods. This means that, generally speaking, you can use a credit card for purchases and avoid interest charges by paying your credit card statement balance in full each month.

How Do I Choose the Best 0% APR or Low-Interest Credit Card for Me?

The best 0% APR or low-interest credit card for you really depends on your goals. The fact is, some cards are much better suited to people who need to consolidate and pay off high-interest debt, while other cards work better for paying off large purchases. Consider these factors as you decide which of the best low-interest credit cards to apply for.

Your Personal Situation

Decide whether you want a 0% APR on balance transfers, purchases or both. Where lengthy intro rates on balance transfers make the most sense for debt consolidation, cards that offer a 0% APR on purchases work well for those looking to pay off large purchases over time (such as a couch or new kitchen appliances).

Length of Intro APR Offers

Consider how long you want to have 0% APR, as well as the variable rate that applies thereafter. This factor is especially important if you have considerable amounts of high-interest debt to pay down and need zero interest for as long as possible.

Potential for Rewards

Decide if you want to earn rewards for your spending—and if so, what kind. Where some low-interest credit cards offer cash back, others offer flexible points or miles for use toward travel. Some also throw in a welcome bonus you can earn if you meet a minimum spending requirement within the first few months of account opening.

Credit Card Perks

Many 0% APR credit cards offer additional benefits outside of their introductory interest rates. For example, you can find cards in this niche that include purchase protection against damage or theft, extended warranty, cellphone protection and travel insurance benefits.

Fees

None of the cards in our ranking charge an annual fee, but there are other fees to be aware of. Make sure you know of and understand balance transfer fees that can apply, as well as late fees and penalty interest rates that can kick in if you pay your bill late.