0% APR Credit Card Comparison

The benefits are clear with credit cards that offer 0% APR on purchases. Yet there are a number of considerations that will help you determine which is the best offer when shopping 0% offers. For example, there are a number of credit cards that offer this interest rate as an introductory offer rather than for the life of your credit partnership. Other cards get around the low percentage rate declaring in the terms that they can raise the rates, often to very high percentages, if you are ever late on a payment, for the entirety of your balance.

Considering these factors and more we have selected the following 0% APR credit cards to compare for you.

How Does A Genuine 0 Percent Credit Card Work?

One of the most frequently asked questions about the credit card industry that we get here is how credit cards that offer 0% APR interest make money. In other words, what is the catch? It is a good question and one exploring here to help make sure you select the best offer for you when comparing 0% credit cards.

Credit card companies in business to make money, a fact not lost on anyone, and 0% credit card offers are no different. Their profits however are worked in on other aspects of the offer. Rates and fees can be worked into a credit card offer in a number of ways, the small print hides a bundle, and unfortunately few people take the time to thoroughly read the terms and services of the card they are applying for. In some offers the 0% interest rate is used to lure in new customers, with an expectation of their falling afoul of the agreement traps that will allow them to raise the interest rates or level penalty charges that more than make up for the low APR.

So what should you watch out for when comparing 0% APR credit cards?
The most common ploys are interest rate changes after a late payment, and you should be sure to check your card offer terms carefully to be aware of such terms. In addition to APR changes based on behavior, watch out for out of the ordinary penalty charges, annual fees or balance holding fees.

In some rather tricky 0% APR offers we compared the APR was set to 0% but they were able to claim so because of a costly monthly fee incurred each month that you hold a balance. In other credit cards the 0% APR is used to attract new customers from other cards, yet the balance transfer rate is not set to 0% and you don't get to feel the benefits of 0% APR on purchases for many months as you work to pay down your transferred balance.

OK, so now that you have found a 0% APR credit card you want, how do you use it effectively?
Though we mentioned some of the pitfalls of these low percentage offers, there is much to be said for choosing credit cards with 0% APR for your purchasing. If you avoid the penalties, and manage your credit wisely you can save a significant amount of money. For example, if you hold a large balance over a number of months, but carefully manage your payments and watch to ensure you meet all of the pre agreed terms of the credit card offer you can get exactly what is being offered, a genuine 0% APR credit card offering you an extended credit line on purchases with literally 0% charged.

The key is to 'manage your credit carefully'.

If you watch your credit card balances closely, rarely make late payments, and never find yourself paying credit card penalties, then 0% APR credit cards are probably an ideal choice for your situation. You will be gaining for yourself the flexibility and emergency spending power of an available credit line while side stepping the high APR interest that is typically associated with a credit card.