How to Pick a Low APR Credit Card

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A credit card’s interest rate is obviously one of its most important factors. Some credit cards offer an ongoing APR that’s lower than average, while others offer a 0% interest rate for an introductory period after opening your account. 

If you’re in the market for a low APR credit card, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorites below. All of the cards in this list at least have a 0% introductory offer.

Note: You’ll notice that most of these credit cards have a variable ongoing APR. Ultimately your interest rate will be determined by your unique credit.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

This card is a good choice if you want a flat-rate cash back rate on all purchases. With a $0 annual fee and straightforward rewards, it's perfect if you want to earn rewards without needing to track spending categories.

Intro APR: 0% intro on purchases 15 months

Ongoing APR: 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Love to eat out? This card is great if you’re wanting to earn rewards on food and entertainment purchases.

Intro APR: 0% intro on purchases 12 months

Ongoing APR: 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

This card is great if you’re interested in earning miles on your purchases. It offers a simple rewards structure and provides a straightforward way to earn and redeem miles for various travel expenses.

Intro APR: 0% intro on purchases 15 months

Ongoing APR: 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable)

How Do Introductory APR Offers Work?

Many credit cards offer a 0% APR for an introductory period, which means you won't pay any interest on qualifying balances within a given length of time after opening your account. (All introductory APR offers say the terms in months or statement cycles. If they don’t specify the terms, it may be a scam.) 

Obviously, there are a lot of reasons why a low or 0% introductory APR is beneficial. Maybe you’re anticipating a big purchase and want to spread out payments without worrying about interest, or maybe you want to transfer a balance from a credit card with a higher APR, for example.

How to Pick a Low APR Credit Card

Although a credit card may have a lower APR, it could also have some downsides like high fees or requiring excellent credit for approval. Here’s a checklist of steps you can take before applying. 

1. Check Your Credit 

In addition to checking your credit score, you’ll also want to know what's on your credit reports before you apply. When you apply for a credit card, most issuers will check your creditworthiness before approving you. This is what’s known as a hard inquiry (as opposed to a soft inquiry, when you check your own credit). Multiple hard inquiries within a short amount of time - like if you get rejected for a card and try to apply for others right away - can hurt your credit. Your best bet is to apply for a card only if you’re confident you’ll be approved. 

Heads up: the best low APR credit card offers tend to require good credit. Many of these lenders want to see a credit score of at least 650 or higher as well as an income and debt situation that ensures you can make your payments. 

2. Research Other Rewards

APR is one thing, but you’ll also want to carefully consider the card’s other features. For example, if you travel a lot, you might be in the market for a travel rewards credit card with a 0% intro APR offer to spread out the cost of your trip over multiple interest-free payments. 

Alternatively, if you like the idea of earning cash back on daily purchases, you might be more interested in a card that offers high amounts of cash back rewards on categories such as groceries or gas.

3. Consider Fees

If you choose a card that offers a 0% intro APR period, make sure you also consider what the ongoing APR will be once the intro offer is over. You’ll also want to carefully consider what other fees the card comes with, including any regular usage fees or penalty fees. Depending on how you use the card, you could end up paying more in fees than what you save in interest. 

If you haven’t checked your credit score in a while, or you’re wondering what may be on your credit reports, you can also take a quick look at your credit by signing up for a free account with Credit.com.

Advertiser Disclosure: Credit.com has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Credit.com and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.