Best 0% APR Credit Cards of May 2021

Clocking in with an unbeatable 20-billing-cycle introductory period, the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card* is not only our top pick for 0% interest on new purchases, but it also tops our balance transfer list (variable APR 13.99 – 23.99% after introductory period). Its appeal is simple, but effective. While you won’t enjoy many bells and whistles in the form of ongoing rewards or benefits, it’s the best card on the market for the introductory period alone.

The Visa Platinum charges no annual fee, no penalty APR (though you may incur a late payment fee up to $40), and has an ongoing variable APR between 13.99 and 23.99%. This card has no rewards offerings, but provides cellphone protection insurance if you use it to pay your monthly phone bill.

Read our full review of the U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card

This card is best for anyone whose card search prioritizes the singular best 0% interest introductory offer. Whether you’re planning a large purchase you’d like to pay off in interest-free installments or you’ve already accumulated a balance on another card and want plenty of flexibility to pay it off over time, this is the card to have in your wallet.

In general, you should avoid charging new purchases to a card you’re using to pay down debt via balance transfer, but this card’s extended intro period means you could potentially take advantage of both intro offers. For example, say you have $2,000 in debt to transfer to the Visa Platinum, and you’re able to make $400 monthly payments, paying it down in 5 months interest free. That leaves 15 months over which you can still use the 0% interest offer on purchases before accruing interest.

The Citi Simplicity Card*, with an 18-month 0% introductory period on purchases and balance transfers (14.74 – 24.74% variable APR thereafter), just barely falls short of our top pick in length of the 0% APR. But it’s still a valuable (and comparable) choice for anyone looking to either take advantage of 0% interest on upcoming purchases or get a head start on debt payoff.

There’s no annual fee, but a balance transfer will cost 3% of your balance (minimum $5). After the intro period you’ll take on an ongoing variable APR between 14.74 and 24.74%. Citi Simplicity offers no ongoing rewards, but there are other protections for cardholders: no late fees or penalty APR charges — ever.

Read our full review of the Citi Simplicity Card

Like our top pick, Citi Simplicity is best for someone looking for a straightforward, lengthy 0% introductory interest offer. Because its intro offer extends to balance transfers as well as new purchases, it makes a great choice whether you have an upcoming large purchase or you’ve taken on debt you want to pay off. But what really sets Citi Simplicity apart is its promise of no late fees and no penalty APR.

Especially during a time of economic uncertainty, these protections can make a difference for anyone taking advantage of an intro period to pay down a costly purchase over time. Forgotten payments and unexpected financial hardship can befall anyone even in the best of times, but protections against them are even more valuable now.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card* offers a 15-month introductory 0% interest period on new purchases (15.49 – 25.49% variable APR thereafter) in addition to its ongoing unlimited 1.5% cash back rewards on every purchase, for no annual fee. Plus, you can earn a $200 cash bonus after spending just $500 within the first three months of account opening, a great added perk when financing a large purchase. 

After the intro period, you’ll take on a variable interest rate of 15.49 to 25.49%, depending on your credit.

Read our full review of the Capital One Quicksilver card

There are several valuable rewards cards that offer similar 0% interest introductory offers on new purchases combined with welcome bonuses. But many of these bonuses among the cards we evaluated topped out at $150 or less and required a minimum spend of $1,000. Capital One Quicksilver’s $200 cash bonus, which requires just $500 spent in the first three months, makes it not only a valuable benefit, but more attainable, too. 

We also love the simplicity of flat cash back rewards. This card’s unlimited 1.5% cash back will continue adding value to your wallet long after your intro period expires. In fact, using average consumer spending data and our best cash back credit cards framework, we’ve calculated this card’s ongoing annual rewards value at $198.87.

If you have an upcoming purchase you’d like to extend payment on with a long intro offer plus save some money with a great welcome bonus, this is the card for you.

When it comes to maximizing value, Chase Freedom Unlimited is tough to beat. Everything that made this our top pick for the best cash back credit card, combined with a 15-month introductory 0% interest period on new purchases, makes it easy to include on this list.

After the intro period, you’ll take on a variable interest rate between 14.99 and 23.74%. But for no annual fee, you’ll also get a host of cash back rewards: 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% on dining, 3% at drugstores, and 1.5% back on every other purchase. First-year cardholders can also get $200 after spending $500 within the first three months of account opening.

Read our full review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited card

Chase Freedom Unlimited should be at the top of your list if you’re not only interested in using a new credit card’s 0% interest intro period alone, but also looking for the greatest ongoing rewards value.

Using average consumer spending data, we calculated this card’s first-year value to total $450.75, and subsequent-year value to be $250.75. When combined with a competitive 0% intro offer and welcome bonus, you stand to gain thousands of dollars in value over this card’s lifetime.

Say you’re planning an upcoming trip, for which your flights and hotel cost a total $2,000. You can automatically earn 5% back by booking through Chase Ultimate Rewards, and qualify for the welcome bonus in the process. Already, that’s $300 back in your pocket. But with the CFU’s 0% interest intro period on purchases (14.99 – 23.74% variable APR thereafter), you can also spread out your travel costs over time. Instead of paying the full $2,000 upfront, you can make manageable payments of as little as $133 (depending on your minimum monthly payment) across the 15 months before your intro period ends.

The PNC Core Visa Credit Card* 0% interest introductory period on purchases, and on balance transfers completed within the first 90 days from account opening, also lasts for 15 billing cycles (9.99 – 19.99% variable APR thereafter), a competitive offer for both purchases and balance transfers given today’s market.

There’s no annual fee or ongoing rewards, but you can earn a $100 bonus after spending $1,000 within the first three billing cycles of account opening and enjoy travel and emergency protection benefits. After the introductory period, you’ll take on an ongoing variable APR of 9.99 to 19.99%, based on creditworthiness (the variable penalty APR is 28.99%). That’s a much lower range than standard APR offers available from the majority of credit cards today.

Read our full review of the PNC Core Visa credit card

It’s on the lower end of our picks for intro period length and doesn’t offer the same rewards as others in the 15-month tier, but PNC’s Core Visa Credit Card stands alone when it comes to ongoing APR.

While the 16% national average is within the variable range given by PNC, many of the cards on our list offer ongoing APRs that top out at 24% or higher. You should avoid carrying a balance from month to month and accruing interest on any card whenever possible. But if you’re unable to pay off your purchase balance within the intro period or you find yourself in a future bind and need to revolve a balance for a few months, doing so on a relatively low interest card can at least slow down your debt’s growth.