Best Credit Cards with a 0% Intro APR (2026)

The short answer: A 0% intro APR offer lets you carry a balance interest free for a set window, usually 12 to 21 months, which turns a card into a short interest-free loan. the American Express® Blue Cash Preferred leads our list of strong cards that also run a 0% intro offer.

A 0% introductory APR is one of the most valuable tools a credit card offers. For a set promotional window, commonly 12 to 21 months, you pay no interest on new purchases, on balances you transfer over, or on both, which lets you spread out a large purchase or knock down existing debt without the roughly 21 percent interest a carried balance normally costs.

The cards below all earn real rewards and also run a 0% intro offer, so you get a card worth keeping after the promotion ends rather than a bare balance-transfer card you would cancel. We rank them by the everyday rewards value they deliver, and each pick lists the exact length of its current 0% offer so you can weigh the intro period against the rewards. Always pay off the balance before the promotional period ends, because the regular APR applies to whatever is left.

Our top picks

1. American Express® Blue Cash Preferred 6x on groceries

The American Express® Blue Cash Preferred has a $95 annual fee, plus a welcome offer of $300 statement credit.

  • 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers

2. Citi Double Cash® 2x flat

The Citi Double Cash® has no annual fee, plus a welcome offer of $200 cash back.

  • 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months

3. Wells Fargo Active Cash® 2x flat

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® has no annual fee, plus a welcome offer of $200 cash rewards bonus.

  • 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers

4. U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Signature® 2x flat

The U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Signature® has no annual fee.

  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 billing cycles

5. Chase Freedom Unlimited® 3x on dining

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has no annual fee, plus a welcome offer of $200 cash bonus.

  • 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers

6. Wells Fargo Autograph℠ 3x on dining

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ has no annual fee, plus a welcome offer of 20,000 bonus points ($200 value).

  • 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases

7. Capital One Quicksilver 1.5x flat

The Capital One Quicksilver has no annual fee, plus a welcome offer of $200 cash bonus.

  • 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers

8. American Express® Blue Cash Everyday 3x on groceries

The American Express® Blue Cash Everyday has no annual fee, plus a welcome offer of $200 statement credit.

  • 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases

Compare the top cards

CardRewards rateAnnual feeWelcome offerDetails
American Express® Blue Cash Preferred6x on groceries$95$300 statement creditReview
Citi Double Cash®2x flatNo annual fee$200 cash backReview
Wells Fargo Active Cash®2x flatNo annual fee$200 cash rewards bonusReview
U.S. Bank Smartly™ Visa Signature®2x flatNo annual feeNo current offerReview
Chase Freedom Unlimited®3x on diningNo annual fee$200 cash bonusReview
Wells Fargo Autograph℠3x on diningNo annual fee20,000 bonus points ($200 value)Review
Capital One Quicksilver1.5x flatNo annual fee$200 cash bonusReview
American Express® Blue Cash Everyday3x on groceriesNo annual fee$200 statement creditReview

Rewards rates and offers verified July 2026. Every point is valued at a flat 1 cent. Run your own numbers in the rewards calculator, and check the best current welcome offers for cards running an elevated bonus right now.

Frequently asked questions

How does a 0% intro APR work?
For a set number of months after you open the card, the issuer charges no interest on qualifying balances, either new purchases, transferred balances, or both. When that window ends, the card's regular variable APR applies to any remaining balance, so the goal is to pay it off before then.
Is a 0% intro APR the same as no interest ever?
No. It is a temporary promotional rate. Once the intro period ends, the standard APR kicks in on whatever balance remains, and that rate is often around 20 percent or higher. Treat the 0% window as a deadline, not a permanent feature.
Should I get a 0% card for purchases or balance transfers?
Choose based on your goal. A purchase intro APR helps you finance a planned big buy interest free, while a balance transfer intro APR helps you pay down existing high-interest debt. Some cards offer both, but balance transfers usually carry a one-time fee of 3 to 5 percent, so factor that in.

More best-card guides

Bryce Casson

Bryce Casson, Founder of Cardocrat. About the author.