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Best Zero-Interest Credit Cards in 2024
Whether you’re looking for an efficient way to get rid of your old debt or want to get the most out of your everyday shopping, zero-interest credit cards are your best choice. During the introductory period, you don’t have to worry about paying interest, so you can focus on earning loyalty points, picking up bonuses, and enjoying some discounted deals.
Top Zero-Interest Credit Cards for December 2024
Citi Diamond Preferred Card
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Citi Diamond Preferred Card
- Cash back: N/A
- Intro APR period: 18 months
- Late payment fee: up to 29.99%
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%
- Fraudulent charge protection
- Citi Entertainment access
Capital One VentureOne Rewards
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards
- Cash back: 1.25 to 5 miles per dollar spent
- Intro APR period: 12 months
- Late payment fee: $40
- Foreign transaction fee: $0
- Numerous security measures
- Multiple reward redemption venues
Chase Freedom Flex
Fortunly's Rating: Our editorial team determines the rating based on a set of evaluation criteria developed for each product and service category.
Chase Freedom Flex
- Cash back: 1-5%
- Intro APR period: 15 months
- Late payment fee: $39
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%
- No point redemption minimum
- Minimum interest rate: 0%
- Chase Ultimate Rewards program
Best Zero-Interest Credit Cards - Our Picks:
- Citi Diamond Preferred Card - Best for balance transfers
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card - Best for travel rewards
- Chase Freedom Flex - Best for easy intro bonus
How We Evaluate Zero-Interest Credit Cards
Before we could present you with a reliable list of the zero-interest credit cards, we had to come up with a solid methodology that painstakingly filtered out any subpar entries. We focused on the five elements we deemed most important and used them to evaluate scores of different products. Here is a breakdown of all the main factors we took into consideration.
APR
The first and the most important element is naturally credit card APR. We searched for companies that offer a 0% introductory rate and checked the duration of the promotion. The industry standard for this intro rate is 12 months, so anything longer gets a positive mark from us.
However, our detailed reviews will also let you know what interest rate you can expect after the promotion is done and whether it covers balance transfers as well as purchases. We’ll also let you know the minimum credit scores the issuers of these cards require.
Bonuses
More often than not, credit card deals also include sign-up or introductory bonuses to give you an added incentive. These can be points, cash credit, or some other type of reward. However, before you can make use of it, you need to meet some requirements and pass the spending threshold.
Fees
Sometimes good credit card deals can be riddled with fees that destroy what seemed like a solid offer. To stop you from falling into this kind of trap, we break down all the fees and point out the biggest hazards.
This part of our review covers annual fees, additional charges for foreign purchases, balance transfer fees, late payment penalties, and anything else that might be important.
Cash Back
A lot of people use zero-interest credit cards specifically because they offer rewards through their loyalty programs. Our reviews will tell you exactly how many points you get for your purchases, where you can redeem them, and how you can boost their efficiency.
High-end card issuers will often offer you a wide selection of redemption options in partnership with big platforms like Amazon. The greater the diversity, the better.
Special Offers
Finally, we check to see if there are any special privileges or services you get with the card. This can be a matter of enhanced security or discounts for your favorite events.
The cards should offer you $0 liability and identity theft protection services while also providing consistent customer assistance. If there’s anything worth your attention we’ll be sure to let you know.
Detailed Reviews of Zero-Interest Credit Cards
With more than 200 million customers worldwide, Citigroup is one of the biggest financial companies in the US. Its Diamond Preferred Card is a perfect example of the kind of high-end product clients have learned to expect from this company.
The main benefit is that you get 18 months of 0% introductory APR that you can use to settle debts or make purchases. This fact alone places it among the leading zero-interest balance transfer credit cards on the market, but it’s not all Citi has to offer. Here’s a short overview of what you can expect.
Intro APR
First off, let’s talk about the APR. With Citi Diamond Preferred Card, you get 18 months of zero interest on both balance transfers and purchases. This is 50% longer than the industry standard, and it might be enough time to help you take charge of persistent debts. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that Citi charges balance transfer fees of $5 or 3% of the amount, whichever is greater. Take that into account when making your calculations so it doesn’t surprise you.
Citi Diamond Preferred switches your rate to its regular APR after the promotional period. The rate will be between 14.74% and 24.74%. This rate depends in large part on your credit score, so it’s always a good idea to boost it up before applying for a card. In any case, you’ll need an excellent score to qualify: above 720.
Fees and Protection
There are other extra charges you need to know about. The minimum interest charge is $0.50, the fee for foreign purchases is 3% after US dollar conversion, and the cash advance fee is $10 or 5% of the amount you take, whichever is higher.
If you’re late with payments on Citi’s card, you will face a penalty APR that can go up to 29.99%. The same rules apply if your payment is returned.
With the Citi Diamond Preferred Card, you get $0 liability on unauthorized charges. This means that you won’t be held responsible for any fraud attempts or misuse of the card. Citi will even help you with identity restoration should someone try to steal your identity.
Citi Entertainment Access
One of the more colorful benefits that this card offers is full access to the Citi Entertainment website. It is a ticket-selling platform that lets you find special deals for events in the world of music, sports, and theater. This is a reward-redeeming option that no other credit cards with zero APR have. It’s simply an exclusive offer that could net card users complimentary tickets, VIP service, and discounts. The platform is easy to use and can be filtered by events, locations, and dates.
Reasons to Apply
- 18-month introductory APR period
- Includes balance transfers and purchases
- Citi Entertainment access
- Identity and purchase protection
- No annual fees
In nearly three decades of existence, Capital One has managed to craft a reputation for being a technology-focused bank. It has invested heavily in automation, synchronization, and connection with massive companies like Amazon. That’s why it makes sense that one of its credit cards would offer you a wide range of point-earning and redeeming options.
Intro APR and Fees
First things first - the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card gives you an introductory APR of 0% for the first 12 months. This period is in line with the industry standard. The promotion applies only to purchases; it doesn’t include balance transfers. After the first year, the APR will rise to 15.49%, 21.49%, or 25.49%, depending on your creditworthiness.
Capital One’s card includes no annual fees, which is standard practice for these types of cards. You also won’t be charged a fee for foreign purchases. Balance transfers are charged 3% per transfer, but only if there is an active APR promotion. If you’re going by regular rates, there is no fee. Cash advances include a fairly standard APR of 25.49% with fees of 3% or $10, whichever is greater. Interestingly, the company will penalize you only for late payments - the charge is $40. There are no other transgressions that might trigger a penalty.
Bonus and Cash Back
The card’s reward system is based on miles. As an introductory bonus, you’ll get 20,000 miles on your account if you spend more than $1,000 during the first three months. The value of Capital One’s intro bonus offer is about $200 in travel. Once you complete the required purchases, the bonus will be added to your account in approximately 20 days.
For every dollar you spend on purchases, Capital One will add 1.25 miles to your account. There is no limit to how many you can collect, and they don’t expire as long as the account is active.
It should be noted that the rate of 1.25 miles per dollar is only for standard purchases.
Other promotions allow you to earn miles faster. For example, paying for hotels through Capital One Travel will get you five miles per dollar, as will food orders through Uber Eats.
You can redeem your rewards with PayPal or use them to buy products at Amazon.
Travel Protection
Most of the zero-interest credit cards will offer you some form of insurance, but Capital One brings insurance to a whole new level. You get the standard $0 fraud liability and security alerts whenever the system detects something suspicious. In addition to that, you have the option to quickly lock your cards in case they get stolen.
You can keep an eye on your credit reports and get notified when something changes.
It’s also possible to use disposable virtual card numbers for your purchases to make sure your originals are safe at all times.
Reasons to Apply
- Intro bonus of 20,000 miles
- 1.25 miles per dollar rewards
- No foreign purchase fee
- No annual fee
- Numerous security measures
With an above-average intro APR period and lower-than-usual bonus requirements, Chase Freedom Flex stealthily earns a place on our list. Its offer isn’t that impressive at first glance, but the more you look, the more you start to appreciate its value. Let’s get through that initial impression and see what’s available.
APR and Fees
The introductory 0% APR lasts for 15 months, which is slightly above the industry standard. This promotion applies only to purchases - not balance transfers.
After 15 months, the rate resets to 14.99% to 23.74%.
The cash advance APR is slightly higher but falls within the standard range at 24.99%. To qualify for this credit card, you don’t need a perfect credit score, but it should be over 670.
The higher the score, the lower your regular APR will be after the first year.
There is no minimum interest rate and no annual fee. Balance transfers will cost you $5 or 5% of the amount, while the fee for cash advances will be $10 or 5%.
Foreign transactions incur a charge of 3% of the total amount once it’s converted to US dollars. There are also the usual penalties for late and return payments - up to $39 each.
Intro Bonus and Cash Back
While the intro bonus of $200 isn’t very different from what the other credit cards have to offer, the requirements are 50% lower. Namely, to get the statement credit, you only need to spend $500 on purchases in your first three months.
Once you meet the requirements, the bonus will appear in your account within eight weeks. Technically, it’s transferred to you in the form of 20,000 points, so you can either turn it into cash or redeem it another way.
Speaking of the cash back rewards program, Chase Freedom Flex can be a bit on the tricky side. Credit cards like this one offer you different rates at which you earn points based on your purchases. For example, standard transactions yield 1% cash back for every dollar spent. A 3% rate comes for drugstore and restaurant dining transactions.
To get the maximum 5%, you’ll need to book your travel through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards program. The same rate applies to grocery shopping (excluding Walmart and Target) and special categories that are updated quarterly. It can be difficult to keep track of all these elements, so feel free to bother customer support asking for specifics.
It’s also worth mentioning that unlike many of the credit cards, Chase Freedom Flex doesn’t require a cash back minimum. You can redeem your points whenever you want and turn them into statement credit, make direct deposits to your savings account, or spend them on Amazon.
Reasons to Apply
- Intro APR period of 15 months
- Cash back up to 5%
- Intro bonus $200
- No minimum interest rate
- No minimum for redeeming points
A Guide to Responsible Zero-Interest Credit Card Use: Do’s and Don’ts
Zero-interest rate credit cards can be quite tempting, but before you apply, make sure you read through our list of basic do’s and don’ts. These are some useful things to keep in mind if you want to stay safe and financially healthy.
Pay Your Balance in Full
If at all possible, pay your balance in full every month, down to the last cent. Even if it’s just a few dollars, do your best to settle the debt. That way you won’t trigger any interest fees or penalties. More importantly, paying your bills regularly improves your credit score and sends positive signals to your bank.
No Interest Doesn’t Mean No Payments
It may sound ridiculous, but some people think that using zero-interest rate credit cards somehow absolves them from monthly payments. As the name suggests, it’s only the interest that’s put on hold - the balance is still there. Be sure to read the terms and conditions fine print before applying for any credit card. It has all the answers.
Be on the Lookout For Identity Thieves
Identity theft is one of the biggest problems on the internet today. We share so much personal information with websites and apps that it’s only a matter of time before someone takes advantage of it. To prevent that, be sure to use proper security measures online, check your accounts regularly, and perhaps even invest in identity theft protection services.
Use Promotions
If you’ve opted for one of these credit cards, remember to use all the promotions available. Check the bank’s website or subscribe to its newsletter to ensure you don’t miss any good deals. Special rewards and offers can help you get the best out of your money.
Charge Only What You Can Afford
Finally, don’t forget the simple truth that any credit you take is money you need to pay back eventually. Don’t get in over your head with debt just because you can. Always be responsible with your funds.
FAQ
Do no-interest credit cards hurt your credit?
Owning and using credit cards with no interest rate in the introductory period won’t damage your score. This is a common misconception. Cardholders who complain about lowered scores have usually made other poor judgments.
These include: applying for a couple credit cards at the same time, thinking that 0% APR means they’re free from paying their monthly bills, or having a high card utilization ratio.
It’s important to remember that APRs rise immediately to high rates after the introductory period, which could catch you off guard. Know your financial obligations and you’ll be fine.
What credit score do I need for 0 APR?
In most cases, card issuers demand a good or excellent score before offering you 0% APR. While the exact values can vary, you should be aiming for a FICO score of at least 670.
To improve your chances of getting a good card offer, try to bump up your score to at least 750 by paying off your outstanding debts and reducing your card utilization ratio. Keep in mind that even if you receive an offer for this type of credit, it doesn’t mean you’ll automatically qualify. Don’t get ahead of yourself.
Is it bad to have a lot of credit cards with zero balance?
The answer to this question depends on the type of balance you have on those cards. If you have a balance of zero because you make all your monthly payments on time, you’re in the clear. However, if you have lots of credit cards lying around that haven’t been used in months, your credit score will plummet.
What’s interesting, however, is that you can easily use that situation to your advantage. Pay off some debts and you’ll decrease your overall card utilization ratio for all cards and accounts, which will bring your credit score up.