Best Low-Interest & 0% Intro APR Credit Cards (U.S.)
Carrying a balance or transferring debt doesn’t have to cost a fortune. Several U.S. credit cards offer either very low ongoing rates or a 0% introductory APR period to help you save on interest. Below we highlight six consumer-friendly cards – Upgrade’s Triple Cash Rewards, USAA Rate Advantage Visa, Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards, Chase Freedom Unlimited, Capital One Quicksilver, and Discover it Cash Back – detailing their rates, rewards and perks. Each card carries no annual fee, strong benefits, and caters to different needs (balance transfers, cashback shoppers, travelers, etc.).
5/5/20254 min read
Upgrade Triple Cash Rewards Visa®
● Issuer: Upgrade, Inc. (fintech).
● Intro APR: None – this card does not offer a 0% introductory APR on purchases or transfersbankrate.com.
● Ongoing APR: 14.99%–29.99% variableupgrade.com (based on credit, with lowest rates requiring autopay).
● Rewards: Flat cash back – 3% on home improvement, auto, and health expenses (gyms, medical bills, etc.), and 1% on all other purchasesupgrade.com.
● Annual fee: $0bankrate.com.
● Key perks: Unlimited cash-back and fixed loan-like payments help build credit responsibly. No annual fee means you keep all rewards you earnbankrate.com. New cardholders can earn a $200 bonus by opening an Upgrade Rewards Checking Plus account and making just three debit transactions in 60 daysupgrade.com. (Note: foreign transactions carry a 3% feeupgrade.com.)
● Best for: Consumers with fair credit who spend heavily on home, auto or health (e.g. DIY projects, car maintenance, gym memberships). It’s ideal if you want boosted cash back in those niche categories and are okay with paying down balances over timebankrate.com. The card encourages pay-down installments, so it’s good for managing debt with predictable payments.
USAA Rate Advantage® Visa® Platinum Card
● Issuer: USAA (must qualify for USAA membership).
● Intro APR: 0% for 15 months on balance transfers and convenience checks made within 90 days (no 0% intro on new purchases)bankrate.combankrate.com.
● Ongoing APR: 11.15%–25.15% variablebankrate.com (extremely low on the best end).
● Rewards: None – this is a no-frills low-rate card.
● Annual fee: $0bankrate.com.
● Key perks: No annual fee and no foreign transaction feesbankrate.com, making it cheap to carry (even abroad) with robust travel protections (auto-rental insurance, trip-cancellation insurance, etc.). If you have an existing balance to transfer, the 0% intro (for 15 months) can save a lot on interest. Even without transfers, the ongoing APR can be below 12% for qualified buyers – among the lowest of any consumer cardbankrate.com. USAA cards often include Visa benefits like travel insurance.
● Best for: USAA members who want a low-interest card rather than rewards. It’s ideal as an emergency or balance-transfer card to minimize interest charges. Not for rewards-oriented shoppers, but great for military families or anyone who needs to carry a balance at minimal costbankrate.com.
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Card
● Issuer: Bank of America.
● Intro APR: 0% for 15 billing cycles on purchases (and on balance transfers made within 60 days of account opening)bankrate.com.
● Ongoing APR: 18.24%–28.24% variablebankrate.com.
● Rewards: Flat 1.5% cash back on all purchasescardratings.com (unlimited, no caps or categories).
● Annual fee: $0.
● Key perks: $200 online cash rewards bonus when you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days (20% back)cardratings.com. Cash back never expires and can be deposited into a Bank of America checking/Merrill account or taken as a statement credit. If you’re in Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program, your 1.5% back can be boosted up to 2.62% (75% boost) on every purchasecardratings.com. Keep in mind this card does charge foreign transaction feescardratings.com, so it’s best as a domestic-use cashback card.
● Best for: Shoppers who want simplest cash back on every purchase (no category tracking). It’s a good choice if you bank with BofA and could benefit from the Preferred Rewards boost, or if you just want a straight 1.5% rewards card with a good sign-up bonus. Also useful for 0% APR financing on purchases or transfers for 15 months.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
● Issuer: JPMorgan Chase.
● Intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transferscreditcards.chase.com. (Balance transfers done in 4 months, 5% fee.)
● Ongoing APR: 18.99%–28.49% variablecreditcards.chase.com.
● Rewards: Unlimited cash back: 5% on travel booked through Chase, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1.5% on all other purchasescreditcards.chase.com. (Effective rates: 3% dining/drugstores, 5% on Chase Travel, 1.5% base.)
● Annual fee: $0creditcards.chase.com.
● Key perks: $200 sign-up bonus after $500 spent in 3 monthscreditcards.chase.com. No foreign transaction feescreditcards.chase.com means it’s safe to use abroad. It’s a versatile everyday card with higher rewards on common categories and a long 0% intro for financing big buys or transfers.
● Best for: Everyday shoppers who want a flat 1.5% base rate plus extra on dining, drugstores and travel. Because of its lengthy 0% APR period, it works well for large planned purchases or consolidating debt. Good for travel-related redemptions too (points don’t expire).
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards
● Issuer: Capital One.
● Intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transferscapitalone.com.
● Ongoing APR: 19.24%–29.24% variablecapitalone.com.
● Rewards: Flat 1.5% cash back on every purchasecapitalone.com (unlimited). Plus, earn 5% back on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travelcapitalone.com.
● Annual fee: $0capitalone.com.
● Key perks: $200 one-time bonus after spending $500 in 3 monthscapitalone.com. No foreign transaction feescapitalone.com, making it a traveler-friendly cash back card. (Also offers extended warranty and travel/car rental insurance on purchases.)
● Best for: Consumers who want simple flat-rate cashback and plan to travel or buy abroad. The combination of 1.5% on all buys, a decent intro APR and no foreign fee means it’s good for both everyday spending and international use.
Discover it® Cash Back
● Issuer: Discover.
● Intro APR: 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfersnerdwallet.com. (3% intro balance transfer fee through 8/10/25.)
● Ongoing APR: 18.24%–27.24% variablenerdwallet.com.
● Rewards: 5% cash back (up to $1,500 per quarter, activation required) in rotating categories that change each quarter (e.g. groceries, gas, restaurants), and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Categories are announced in Discover’s quarterly calendar.
● Annual fee: $0nerdwallet.com.
● Key perks: Discover matches all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year (dollar-for-dollar, no limit)discover.com – an exclusive bonus effectively doubling your rewards in year one. No foreign transaction fees (and good security and fraud protection). Discover is also known for strong customer service.
Best for: Category-based cashback earners who want a long 0% APR and a big first-year bonus. It’s great if you can plan purchases around the 5% quarterly categories and take advantage of the Cashback Match. Also a solid choice for beginners, since Discover has easy-to-understand rewards and no FTF.


Each of these cards can help you cut interest costs or earn strong rewards. Pick the one whose perks and APR best match your needs – whether that’s a balance-transfer cushion (USAA, Chase, Capital One, Discover) or maximized cash back (Upgrade, BofA, Freedom). By using these cards responsibly, you can save on interest and even build your credit while earning rewards on everyday spending.