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Best 0% APR Offers - Compare the Best 0% APR Credit Cards
Simply put, the best 0% APR credit card offers are the ones with the longest intro term. This applies only to the 0% APR attribute and its impact on saving you money. For example, a credit card with a 0% APR on balance transfers for 12 months is going to save you more money on interest than one that has a term for 6 months. The same is true for purchases. This holds for all situations relating to offers that come with no annual fee, rewards program, balance transfer fees, and are intended for use strictly for transactions performed during the duration of the interest free period. However, it is important to read the wording of the contract pertaining to this attribute. There are typically two different types of wording and the important items to identify are these: language that states "for" and language that states "up to." Additionally there may be reference to the issuer's decision based on a review of your credit history. For 0% APR credit card offers with "up to" language included in the contract it means that after they review your application and perform a hard pull on your credit report, you may be eligible for a 0% rate up to a given amount based on their assessment. For example, if they decide that you have excellent credit based on their standards and the contract reads "up to 12 months," you will most likely be rewarded with a full 12 month 0% APR. Conversely, if they decide that you have good credit on their scale, you may be eligible somewhere in between. Now, if a credit card says strictly "for 12 months," or words to that effect, if you are approved for that card you will receive nothing short of a 0% term for 12 months.
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- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 10.99% - 20.99%*
- 5% Cashback Bonus® in categories that change like gas, restaurants, department stores and more. Limitations apply*
- Up to 20% Cashback Bonus at popular retailers when you shop online through Discover.com
- Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty--16 years in a row! (2012 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report)
- 24/7 access to a U.S.-based Account Manager within 60 seconds
- $0 Fraud Liability plus mobile and email fraud alert options
- Great rewards with no annual fee, no rewards redemption fee, and no additional card fee
- *Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information
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Intro APR
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Intro APR Period
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APR
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Annual Fee
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Balance Transfer
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Minimum Credit Required
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0%*
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15 months on purchases & balance transfers*
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10.99% - 20.99% (Variable)*
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None*
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Yes*
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Excellent
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When the Length of the Term Does Not Determine the Best 0% APR Credit Card
This is a very sticky subject and really is on a case by case basis. In fact, this is the exact reason why you should compare 0% APR credit card offers before you apply. In some cases, certain offers come with annual fees. Therefore, two cards with equal durations but different fees will not be equal when it comes to saving money. The one with a lower fee will be the better option. This scenario is very straight forward. Here is where it gets tricky:
Balance Transfer Fees:
If the new credit card is to be used to transfer a balance and one comes with a balance transfer fee and the other does not, the one without is the better deal. Balance transfer fees are not the same for each product so an analysis of these is necessary to make the most informed decision. At CardBeacon.com our product displays for these types of deals come with balance transfer calculators to help with this analysis. Because there are several elements that impact this type of use, we recommend that you plug and play with several different 0% APR ranges as in some instances a 6 month term may yield greater savings than a 12 month depending on the fee structure and caps. For best results, please read up on balance transfer fees before you decide to compare 0% APR balance transfer cards.
Longterm Vision:
Assuming that you may want to carry a particular offer longer than the 0% APR period, particulary to make purchases, it is relevant to closely examine the purchase rate after the 0% period. If you intend to pay your bill in full every month, this is less of an issue as the adjusted balance will decrease more rapidly, but it is difficult to plan for the future and to protect yourself, locking into a card with a low purchase rate is more beneficial than one with a higher one. On a side note, if you are in a financial situation that allows you to pay in full at the end of each billing cycle, a charge card may better suit you as these come with very good rewards programs which make up for the annual fees that they typically have.
Rewards Programs:
This is a difficult one and is way too personal to firmly make a universal rule. There are way too many scenarios when 0% APR rewards cards and the rewards programs attached to them outweigh the savings from a 0% term. Those who spend heavily on credit cards with the intention of earning cashback, points or plane tickets may find the earnings more beneficial than the interest accrued after a 0% term. Especially in the case of travel rewards card that typically come with bonus miles, this can be tricky. As a responsible consumer, you have to identify your spending habits, lifestyle and personal finances. At that point we suggest that you compare an array of deals to identify the best 0% APR credit card offer for your needs.
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