Slate® Credit Card
Chase
APR score88
0% purchases21 mo
Annual fee$0
See issuer terms for current offer.
Independent · October 2026
Best 0% Purchase APR
Credit Cards of October 2026
Planning a big purchase? Put it on a card with a 0% intro APR and pay no interest while you pay it off. Compare every 0% purchase card by intro length, ongoing rate, and rewards — then use the calculator below to see your interest-free monthly payment. Ranked by math — compensation never changes the order.
Last updated: October 2026 — offers verified with card issuers
Longest 0% purchases
Up to 24 mo
U.S. Bank Shield on purchases
Typical 0% length
15–21 mo
Varies by card and credit
Intro fee to finance
$0
No fee to buy at 0% (unlike transfers)
Sponsored rankings
0
Compensation never changes the order
0% Purchase Financing Calculator
See your interest-free monthly payment — and how much interest you’d avoid versus putting the purchase on a regular card. Adjust the numbers to match your plan.
$
months
%
Pay $0 interest — you avoid
$602
Interest avoided over 18 months$602
Pay this monthly to owe $0 by month 18$167
Total you repay on the 0% card$3,000
Assumes you clear the purchase evenly across the 0% window and carry no other balance on the card. “Interest avoided” is what the same purchase would cost on a regular card at the APR shown. After the intro period, any remaining balance accrues the card’s ongoing APR — check each card’s rate in the rankings below.
Finance a big purchase
Put a large planned expense — furniture, appliances, travel, a repair — on a card with a 0% intro APR on purchases and pay it off over 12–24 months with zero interest. The longer the 0% window, the smaller your required monthly payment.
Model your full walletDo the payoff math
Divide the purchase by the number of 0% months to get the payment that clears it interest-free. $3,000 over 18 months = ~$167/mo, $0 interest. On a 24% card paying the same amount, you’d lose $400+. There’s no fee to finance purchases at 0% — unlike balance transfers.
Paying off debt instead?Rules to know
- Payoff deadlineclear the purchase before the 0% ends — leftover balances accrue the ongoing APR
- Autopayone missed payment can trigger penalty APR and cancel the 0% rate
- Payment orderif you also carry a transfer, issuers may apply payments to the lower-APR balance first
- Rewards bonussome 0% purchase cards also earn cash back — free financing plus rewards
0% Purchase APR Cards Compared
Top 0% purchase APR cards by intro window, ongoing rate, and annual fee — pulled live from our card database, so it stays in sync with the rankings below.
| Card | 0% Purchase period | Ongoing APR | Annual fee | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BankAmericard® Credit Card Bank of America | 21 mo | 14.99%–25.99% | $0 | 88 |
| U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card U.S. Bank | 21 mo | 16.99%–27.99% | $0 | 88 |
| Wells Fargo Reflect® Card Wells Fargo | 21 mo | 17.74%, 24.24% or 28.49% variable APR | $0 | 88 |
| BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students Bank of America | 21 mo | 14.99%–25.99% | $0 | 88 |
| Slate® Credit Card Chase | 21 mo | 18.24%–28.24% | $0 | 88 |
| Eagle Adapt™ Credit Card USAA | 20 mo | 16.40%-26.40% | $0 | 83 |
| Citi Simplicity® Card Citi | 18 mo | 17.49%–28.24% | $0 | 75 |
| Truly Simple®
Credit Card Fifth Third | 18 mo | 18.49% - 29.49% | $0 | 75 |
Ranked by our 0% intro-APR score. Updates automatically whenever a card’s data changes.
Live 0% Purchase APR Card Rankings
Ranked by our 0% intro-APR score — the longest interest-free purchase windows rank highest here.
Search for 24 months, 18 months, rewards, or a bank name. Cards update automatically when issuers change their offers.
Loaded 10 0% purchase cards
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
Wells Fargo
APR score88
0% purchases21 mo
Annual fee$0
See issuer terms for current offer.
U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card
U.S. Bank
APR score88
0% purchases21 mo
Annual fee$0
4% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Travel Center when you use your card.
0% purchase window
21 months
Ongoing APR
16.99%–27.99%
Rewards
4% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Travel Center when you use your card.
BankAmericard® Credit Card
Bank of America
APR score88
0% purchases21 mo
Annual fee$0
none
BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students
Bank of America
APR score88
0% purchases21 mo
Annual fee$0
none
Eagle Adapt™ Credit Card
USAA
APR score83
0% purchases20 mo
Annual fee$0
- 3% cash back on your first $3,000 in combined quarterly purchases across eligible spend categories including groceries, dining, gas and travel
- unlimited 1% cash back on other purchases
0% purchase window
20 months
Ongoing APR
16.40%-26.40%
Welcome offer
Earn a $200 reward bonus after spending $1,000 on qualifying purchases by November 30, 2026.
Rewards
- 3% cash back on your first $3,000 in combined quarterly purchases across eligible spend categories including groceries, dining, gas and travel
- unlimited 1% cash back on other purchases
Truly Simple® Credit Card
Fifth Third
APR score75
0% purchases18 mo
Annual fee$0
See issuer terms for current offer.
Citi Simplicity® Card
Citi
APR score75
0% purchases18 mo
Annual fee$0
none
PNC Spend Wise℠
PNC Bank
APR score75
0% purchases18 mo
Annual fee$0
none
0% purchase window
18 months
Ongoing APR
19.49%–27.49%
Welcome offer
Earn a lower purchase APR when you pay on time and make at least $3,000 in net purchases over 12 billing cycles
Rewards
none
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for Students
Bank of America
APR score63
0% purchases15 mo
Annual fee$0
- 6% cash back first year in choice category (then 3%)
- 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs
- 1% on all other purchases
0% purchase window
15 months
Ongoing APR
17.49%-27.49%
Welcome offer
$200 cash rewards bonus after $1,000 spend in 90 days
Rewards
- 6% cash back first year in choice category (then 3%)
- 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs
- 1% on all other purchases
0% Purchase APR Credit Card FAQ
What does 0% intro APR on purchases mean?
It means new purchases charged to the card accrue no interest during the promotional period — typically 12 to 24 months. As long as you make at least the minimum payment each month, every dollar you pay reduces principal. After the intro period, the card’s regular variable APR applies to any remaining balance.
Which card has the longest 0% purchase period?
The U.S. Bank Shield Visa currently leads at 24 months on purchases with no annual fee. Wells Fargo Reflect offers 21 months, and several rewards cards (Chase Freedom Unlimited, BoA Customized Cash) pair 15 months at 0% with cash back. See the live rankings above for the current lineup.
Is there a fee to finance a purchase at 0%?
No. Unlike a balance transfer — which usually costs a 3–5% transfer fee — there is no fee to make regular purchases at a 0% intro APR. You simply pay for the purchase over time without interest during the promotional window.
Do I still make minimum payments during the 0% period?
Yes — you must make at least the minimum payment every month. Missing a payment can trigger a penalty APR that cancels the intro offer on many cards. Set up autopay for at least the minimum the day you get the card to protect your 0% rate.
What credit score do I need?
The strongest 0% purchase offers target good to excellent credit, typically 670+ FICO. The longest windows (21–24 months) tend to require stronger profiles. Shorter promotional periods and student versions may be available with fair credit.
What happens when the 0% period ends?
Any remaining balance starts accruing interest at the card’s regular variable APR — currently 16–28%+ depending on the card and your credit. Standard 0% purchase cards do not charge back-interest, but aim to pay the balance to zero before the promo clock expires.
Are there 0% purchase cards that also earn rewards?
Yes. Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5% on everything plus 3% on dining and drugstores with 15 months at 0%. BoA Customized Cash earns 3% in a choice category with 15 months. The trade-off: rewards cards usually offer shorter 0% windows than pure long-intro cards.
Should I keep the card after the 0% period ends?
Keep the account open — closing it hurts your credit utilization and average account age. If it earns rewards, use it for everyday spending; otherwise keep it as a backup. Use the wallet optimizer to find your best next card, and note that cash back is not taxable income — see are credit card rewards taxable.