How Do 0% APR Credit Cards Work? 7 Things to Know Before You Apply

The 0% rate doesn't last forever, doesn't always apply to your entire balance and doesn't come without risks.
Robin Saks Frankel
Claire Tsosie
By Claire Tsosie and  Robin Saks Frankel 
Updated
Edited by Paul Soucy

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Nerdy takeaways
  • A 0% APR on a credit card means that you won’t be charged interest on purchases, balance transfers or both, for a fixed period of time.

  • Once the card’s promotional period ends, you’ll be charged interest on any remaining balance.

  • 0% APR cards require good card-holding habits like paying your balance on time every month.

A 0% APR credit card can be useful for consolidating existing credit card debt or making a large purchase. Such cards offer interest-free periods, which typically range from six months to nearly two years, during which you’re not being charged interest on your purchases, balance transfers or both. Once the introductory period ends, however, the card’s regular APR will kick-in and you'll be charged interest on any remaining balance.

But not all 0% APR offers are equal, so it's critical to understand the terms before you sign up for a new card. Here's how 0% APR credit cards work and what to keep in mind before applying for one.

1. The 0% may not apply to everything

The offer may say "0% APR" in big, bold letters — but that could be referring to the rate on purchases, balance transfers or both. To find out what you’ll pay in each situation, read the Schumer box, a table of rates and fees typically included in credit card offers. A single credit card can charge different interest rates:

  • Purchase APR: This is the interest rate charged on things you buy. If you want to use a 0% card to finance a big purchase, make sure the 0% offer applies to purchases and not just balance transfers. Keep in mind that if a card offers 0% APR on both purchases and balance transfers, the length of the 0% period might be different for one versus the other.

  • Balance transfer APR: This is the rate charged on debt you move from one card to another. Double-check that the 0% offer applies to balance transfers before moving your debt. Otherwise, you could end up paying interest on top of any applicable balance transfer fees.

  • Cash advance APR: You'll often have to pay a higher APR for cash advances than for other types of transactions, and there may be a fee involved, too. Cash advances on a credit card rarely qualify for 0%.

  • Penalty APR: Issuers may slap a sky-high penalty rate on your account under certain conditions, and a 0% offer won't save you. Actions that might trigger a penalty APR include:

    • Failing to make your minimum payment within 60 days.

    • Exceeding your credit limit.

    • Making a payment that doesn’t go through.

And remember, if you're late on payments or max out your credit card, high interest rates aren't your only concern — your credit score may also take a big hit.

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2. Your 0% APR deal could be canceled

Even with a 0% APR card, you’ll still have to make monthly minimum payments — usually a small percentage of your balance. And if your payment is late, even by a single day, your card issuer could cancel the 0% offer and reset your card's interest rate to the ongoing APR.

On top of costing you interest and late fees, missing payments could also end up hurting your credit scores. Payment history accounts for 35% of your FICO score. If staying on top of due dates is a challenge for you, consider setting up automatic payments so you don’t have to worry about losing a no-interest offer.

Since we're on the subject, keep in mind that paying only the minimum each month will avoid late fees, but it won't do much to reduce your debt.


0% APR CREDIT CARDS: A SAMPLING

Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
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Apply now

on Wells Fargo's website

Rates & Fees
BankAmericard® Credit Card
BankAmericard® credit card
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on Bank of America's website, or call (800) 322-7707

Chase Freedom Unlimited Credit Card
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
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on Chase's website

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
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Apply now

on Wells Fargo's website

Rates & Fees
What you get

APR: 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR.

Balance transfer fee: 5% of the amount transferred ($5 minimum).

Rewards: None.

Bonus offer: None.





APR: 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 16.24% - 26.24% will apply

Balance transfer fee: 3% of the amount transferred for 60 days from account opening, then 4%.

Rewards: None.

Bonus offer: None.

APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months, and then the ongoing APR of 20.49%-29.24% Variable APR.

Balance transfer fee: Intro fee of 3% of the amount transferred for the first 60 days; after that, 5% (minimum fee in all cases: $5).

Rewards: 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase; 3% at restaurants and drugstores; 1.5% on other purchases.

Bonus offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

APR: 0% intro APR on Purchases for 15 months and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR.

Balance transfer fee: Intro fee of 3% of the amount transferred for the first 120 days; after that, 5% (minimum fee in all cases: $5).

Rewards: 2% cash back on all purchases.

Bonus offer: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

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3. Big balances can still hurt your credit scores

No matter what promotional deal you got on a new credit card, the rules remain the same as far as your credit scores. The amount of money you owe still accounts for 30% of your FICO score. If your credit utilization ratio — the percentage of your credit limit that you're using — is too high, your scores may suffer. In general, it's best to use less than 30% of your credit limit on any card.

If you got the 0% card to finance a big purchase, a hefty utilization ratio might be unavoidable in the short term, but use it as motivation to pay the debt down quickly. Making a lot of purchases in a short period of time? Consider making multiple payments each month to keep your utilization ratio low and avoid maxing out your card.

4. Interest will be charged on any balance left when the 0% period ends

No-interest credit cards are only interest-free for a limited time. This period typically lasts anywhere from six to 18 months, depending on the credit card. And when this promotional period ends, your 0% APR will reset to the regular ongoing APR. Plus, the credit card issuer isn't obligated to remind you to pay off the debt. If you're still carrying a balance on your card, you'll start accruing interest on that remaining amount. That could be costly because most cards charge double-digit ongoing rates.

Before using your 0% APR card for the first time, consider setting a calendar reminder noting when the promotional APR period ends. Aim to pay off the balance by that date to avoid finance charges.

5. You might not be eligible for the offer

Although there's no "official" limit on how many 0% APR credit cards you’re allowed to have at once, in reality, each lender has its own limits on how much credit they will extend to any individual. An issuer might approve you for multiple cards, but it's likely to cap your total credit, which limits total account balances.

Many banks also have restrictions when it comes to balance transfer offers. Chase, for example, caps the amount of balance transfers at $15,000 within any 30-day period. Further, most issuers also won't allow you to transfer a balance from one of their cards to another. And, of course, your credit has to be good enough to get approved for an offer in the first place. The best 0% offers generally require good to excellent credit.

6. You might not get approved for as much credit as you need

Let's say you're looking to transfer $10,000 in debt to a 0% card, or you have a $10,000 home repair you would like to finance without interest. There's no guarantee you'll get approved for the amount you need on a new card. In most cases, you'll find out your credit limit only after you're approved. If you were hoping to get a break on the $10,000 expense, but you get approved for a limit of $5,000, you're still stuck with figuring out what to do about the difference.

7. The usefulness of a 0% deal depends on your habits

If you pay off your credit cards in full every month, a 0% APR offer might not mean anything to you. That's because if you never carry a balance, you don't pay interest. Unless you're planning on making large purchases and paying off your balance over several months, consider looking for credit cards that offer rewards you can use, like airline miles or cash back on groceries or gas.

Frequently asked questions

A 0% APR on a credit card means that you won’t be responsible for paying your card’s ongoing interest rate for a certain period of time, typically 15 to 18 months. Depending on the card, the promotional APR will apply to purchases, balance transfers, or both.

It is advisable to keep your credit card open after the interest-free period ends, especially if you’ve paid off your balance from the promotional period. This is because closing your card can affect the length of your credit history and your credit utilization ratio, which can potentially hurt your credit score. But, if your card charges a high interest rate or annual fee, it might make sense to opt for a less costly card. You can also consider product-changing to a different card with the same issuer, to avoid opening a new account.

There’s technically no limit to the number of credit cards you can have at once, and the same goes for 0% APR cards as well – as long as your credit is good enough to get approved and you use your cards responsibly by making payment on time. However, some issuers have limits on the number of cards you can have with them. And for balance transfers, you can’t transfer debt between cards issued by the same bank.

Regardless of the type of credit card, every time you apply for a new card, you’ll have a hard inquiry on your credit – which can lead to a dip in your score. Plus, once your card’s 0% APR promotional period ends, the regular interest rate will kick in. And if you’re carrying a balance once the interest-free period ends, you’ll owe interest on the remaining debt which, if unpaid, can negatively affect your credit score.

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