Best low-APR cards - Find Me a Card

Best low-APR cards

(Last updated: September 2021)

If you're looking for a card with a low ongoing APR and/or a 0% intro APR, then read on to see which cards are our favorites.

Notes:

  • The details of each offer mentioned in this article were current as of the time this article was written, but might have changed by the time you're reading this. (For example, signup bonuses tend to change every few months or so.) Therefore, make sure to double-check the card offer details on the respective credit card issuer's website before you decide to apply for any particular card.
  • Total value per year for typical spenders is the average value per year, for the first 5 years of having the card, of all rewards and perks that would be earned by a "typical spender" (spends $1,500 total per month, across spend categories in a way that's consistent with the average U.S. consumer), minus any annual fees.

Best credit cards with a low ongoing interest rate (APR)

Credit card

Summary

Intro APR

Ongoing APR

Signup bonus

Ongoing rewards

Annual fee

Total value per year for typical spenders

TD First Class Visa Signature

A sub-par travel rewards credit card, with a moderate 25K miles signup bonus and 3x miles on travel and dining, but an $89 annual fee and a value per mile of only 1 cent.

13.24% (same as ongoing APR)

13.24%

25K miles

(after spending $3K w/in 6 months)
  • 3x miles on travel and dining.
  • 1 mile per dollar on everything else.

$89

($0 intro)

$398 per year

Citi Costco Anywhere Visa Card

A great no annual fee cash back card for people who are Costco members and spend a lot on gas (4% cash back), restaurants (3%), travel (3%), and Costco (2%) purchases.

15.24% (same as ongoing APR)

15.24%

None
  • 4% cash back on gas (including gas at Costco), for the first $7,000 spent per year.
  • 3% cash back on restaurants and travel.
  • 2% cash back on other Costco purchases (in-store and/or at costco.com).
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases.

$0

$290 per year

Discover it Cash Back

A no annual fee card with a good 5% cash back rate on categories that rotate (1% on everything else), with double the cash back in the first year.

0% for 14 months

11.99-22.99%

Double cash back

(for the first year)
  • 5% cash back (on up to $1,500 spent per quarter) in categories that rotate each quarter (e.g., gas, restaurants, groceries, and Amazon).
  • 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • Discover automatically matches all the cash back you earn dollar for dollar at the end of your first year.

$0

$494 per year

Discover it Miles Travel Card

A mediocre card with a decent rewards earn rate on all purchases (1.5x miles) and no annual fee, but also no signup bonus.

0% for 14 months

11.99-22.99%

Double miles earned

(for the first year)
  • 1.5 miles per dollar on all purchases.

$0

$540 per year

Best credit cards with 0% introductory interest rate (APR)

Credit card

Summary

Intro APR

Ongoing APR

Signup bonus

Ongoing rewards

Annual fee

Total value per year for typical spenders

Citi Simplicity

An extremely basic credit card with no annual fee and a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance purchases, but also no rewards.

0% for 18 months

14.74-24.74%

None

None

$0

$0 per year

Citi Diamond Preferred

An extremely basic credit card with no annual fee and a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance purchases, but also no rewards.

0% for 18 months

14.74-24.74%

None

None

$0

$0 per year

Wells Fargo Platinum

A very basic card with no annual fee, but also no ongoing rewards and no signup bonus.

0% for 18 months

16.49-24.49%

None

None

$0

$0 per year

Chase Freedom Flex

 A no annual fee card with 5% cash back on categories that change every 3 months, 5% on travel (when purchased through Chase's points website), 3% on restaurants and drugstores, and 1% on everything else, as well as a $200 signup bonus.

0% for 15 months

14.99-23.74%

$200

(after spending $500 w/in 3 months)
  • Through March 2022: 5x points on Lyft rides.
  • 5% cash back (on up to $1,500 spent per quarter) in categories that rotate each quarter (e.g., gas, restaurants, groceries, and Amazon).
  • 5% cash back on grocery store purchases, on up to $12,000 spent in the first year. (Does not include purchases at Target or Walmart.)
  • 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase.
  • 3% cash back on restaurants and drugstores.
  • 1% cash back on all other spending.
  • Receive a $10 Lyft credit once per month for every 5 rides you take in a month.

$0

$706 per year

Chase Freedom Unlimited

An excellent all-around (general spending) cash back card for most people, due to its 1.5% cash back rate, $200 signup bonus, and no annual fee.

0% for 15 months

14.99-23.74%

$200

(after spending $500 w/in 3 months)
  • Through March 2022: 5% cash back on Lyft rides.
  • 5% cash back on grocery store purchases, on up to $12,000 spent in the first year. (Does not include purchases at Target or Walmart.)
  • 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase.
  • 3% cash back on restaurants and drugstores.
  • 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

$0

$646 per year

American Express Blue Cash Preferred

An excellent card for cash back on groceries (6%) and gas (3%), with a $200 welcome bonus (plus 20% cash back on Amazon.com purchases for the first 6 months, for up to $200 back), which outweigh the $95 annual fee for most people.

0% for 12 months

13.99-23.99%

$200

(after spending $3K in the first 6 months)
  • 6% cash back on groceries and U.S. streaming services (e.g., Netflix), 3% on gas and transit (e.g., taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses), 1% everywhere else.
  • Plus, 20% cash back on Amazon.com purchases on the Card within the first 6 months, for up to $200 back.

$95

($0 intro)

$743 per year