Best Credit Card Rates

Up-to-date as of: Jun 19, 2013

While there are various types of rates associated with credit card offers, this page focuses on the best credit card rates for purchases, which is a completely different set of cards than the best balance transfer credit cards. It has become common for credit card companies to offer 0% introductory APR periods, which can be very helpful in lowering your interest costs. However, these offers differ based on intro period length as well as the regular interest rate. Compare the options listed below in order to find the best credit card rate for you. Read more about our Editor's Picks for the Best Credit Card Rates.

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Excellent Credit

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Purchase Intro APR: 0% for 18 months
Regular APR: 11.99% - 21.99% (V)
Annual Fee: $0*
Rewards: None
Editor's Notes: The Citi Diamond Preferred Card offers the longest 0% introductory term on the credit card market, at 18 months. While the 0% rate applies to balance transfers as well as new transactions, it’s best suited for the latter purpose given its 3% balance transfer fee. To maximize this card’s value, use a credit card calculator to determine the monthly payments you’ll need to make in order to pay off your balance before regular rates begin to eat away at your savings.…more
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Capital One® Platinum Prestige Credit Card

Purchase Intro APR: 0% until September 2014
Regular APR: 10.9% - 18.9% (V)
Annual Fee: None
Rewards: None
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Chase Freedom® Visa - $100 Bonus Cash Back + 0% Intro APR

Purchase Intro APR: 0% for 15 months
Regular APR: 13.99% - 22.99% (V)
Annual Fee: None
Rewards: Cash Back
- Initial Bonus: $100
- Base Earn: 1%
- Max Earn: 5%
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Discover it® - 0% for 14 months on both Purchases & Transfers

Purchase Intro APR: 0% for 14 months
Regular APR: 10.99% - 22.99% (V)
Annual Fee: $0
Rewards: Cash Back
- Initial Bonus: None
- Base Earn: 1%
- Max Earn: 5%
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Good Credit

Capital One® Platinum Prestige Credit Card

Purchase Intro APR: 0% until September 2014
Regular APR: 10.9% - 18.9% (V)
Annual Fee: None
Rewards: None
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Capital One® VentureOne^SM Rewards Credit Card

Purchase Intro APR: 0% until June 2014
Regular APR: 11.9% - 19.9% (V)
Annual Fee: None
Rewards: Miles
- Initial Bonus: 10,000 miles
- Base Earn: 1.25 miles / $1
- Max Earn: 1.25 miles / $1
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Fair Credit

Capital One® Classic Platinum Credit Card

Purchase Intro APR: 0% until March 2014
Regular APR: 19.8% (V)
Annual Fee: $39
Rewards: None
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Limited History

College Students

Discover it® for Students

Purchase Intro APR: 0% for 6 months
Regular APR: 12.99% - 18.99% (V)
Annual Fee: $0
Rewards: Cash Back
- Initial Bonus: None
- Base Earn: 1%
- Max Earn: 5%
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BankAmericard® for Students

Purchase Intro APR: 0% for 15 months
Regular APR: 10.99% - 20.99% (V)
Annual Fee: None
Rewards: None
Editor's Notes: It’s rare for a student credit card to offer terms comparable to the best credit cards on the market, but the 15-month 0% intro term that the Student BankAmericard provides on new purchases is only three months shorter than the longest 0% period on the market. This card is therefore a great option for students who will need additional time to pay off significant upcoming expenses. While the 0% rate applies to balance transfers as well, that’s not as notable as you might think given its 3% balance transfer fee and the fact that it’s hard for students to rack up enough credit card debt to warrant a balance transfer.…more
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Non-College Students

Capital One® Classic Platinum Credit Card

Purchase Intro APR: 0% until March 2014
Regular APR: 19.8% (V)
Annual Fee: $39
Rewards: None
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Bad Credit

Secured Card

Unfortunately, there are no 0% APR credit cards for people with bad credit. Below is the best secured credit card for people with bad credit.

Capital One® Secured Mastercard®

Min Deposit: $49 - $200
Annual Fee: $29
Monthly Fee: None
One-time Setup Fees: None
Regular APR: 22.9% (V)
Editor's Notes: While the Capital One Secured MasterCard charges a higher annual fee than certain other cards in its class, the fact that it can be a partially-secured card makes it quite an attractive option for many consumers. With a partially-secured credit card, your credit line may exceed the amount of your security deposit, thereby providing you with an emergency line of credit, if needed, and enabling you to maximize your available credit. The more credit you have available, the faster your credit standing will improve. The Capital One Secured MasterCard Credit Card is therefore an option that at least merits consideration if you have bad or limited credit.…more
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Unsecured Card

Unfortunately, there are no 0% APR credit cards for people with bad credit. Below is the best unsecured credit card for people with bad credit.

VISA® Platinum from Credit One Bank®

Annual Fee: $75 1st yr, $99 after
Monthly Fee: None
One-time Setup Fees: None
Regular APR: 23.9% (V)
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Help others find the Best Credit Card with Low Rates on New Purchases for their needs by providing recommendations, cautions, and insider tips.

Preston Sawyer: The BankAmericard for Students was the best card when I was getting started out on my own with college. With the limited credit I had(Purchased my first car with cash, no other loans or cards) I was terrified of either getting rejected or a very high interest rate. Neither of those things happened and I had that card until I got out, paid it off, and moved on. Great card!
June 10 at 12:42pm
Melissa Miller: The BankAmericard was wonderful for me back when I was student. Since I had limited credit when I applied for the card 6 years ago, I was surprised when my interest rate was only around 11-12%. Bank of America treated me very fairly, and I made sure to pay off my balance as much as I could every month. Tuition fees and books tend to add up a lot, so it was nice knowing that card was there when I needed extra help. They never raised my interest rate once. They actually lowered it within the first year of having the card, so that was really nice. This is definitely a card I would recommend for students at college.
May 20 at 10:30pm
Anonymous User: When I was on my honeymoon, we decided to do extensive travel, see a small piece of the world. Considering money was tight, we decided to use a no upfront interest card. I remember this as one of the top choices because you got 18 months no interest. It was perfect because I would be starting a new job with more pay when we returned and this would be just enough time to start saving. Citi has always been a top choice to us; they usually never have an annual fee and are fair about rates. Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card is definitely the one to choose for low interest rates on new purchases, and helped make one of our most precious times a reality.
May 7 at 2:20pm
Mary Cole: The Discover It card for students is the best card in its category because it provides a low intro rate for a segment of the population that has very new credit history. You can buy your books and even pay your tuition with it. In addition, Discover It is a great all-around card to have, perhaps the only one you'll ever need. It has rotating 5% cash back categories each month. One month you will get 5% cash back at drug stores, another month at grocery stores, and so on. Another handy feature of this card is that it has a cash advance feature that allows you to transfer cash into your checking account right from your credit card account online. If you have ever had rent due but were short on funds like I was, this feature might just save you from losing the roof over your head.
April 8 at 2:0pm
Anonymous User: The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is a great card to have due to its lowish rates and excellent customer service. If you tend to have balances each month, you definitely want a card with low APR such as this. Well this card has a nice 0% introductory APR until July 2014, after that rates are only as low as 10.9%, which is still rather decent. Another big plus of this card is it has no annual fee. The only con really is the lack of rewards. However with the excellent low rates and no annual fee, makes it an excellent card.
April 8 at 1:46pm
Amanda Rae Campbell: Through my bank, Veridian Credit Union, I have a Visa Platinum card that I love! The rate has been consistently low over the years that I have had it. The lowest the rate has been since I've had it has been about 4% and the highest has been about 8%. I have not run across a credit card that has such low rates. I actually had to consolidate some credit cards a few years ago and I was able to consolidate on this card, making the interest rate incredibly low. In past years I have felt like interest rates on my credit cards have been outrageous. This card has really pulled through for me.
December 27 at 2:19pm
Laura DeBenedetti: Best credit card is no credit card!
November 21 at 1:29am
Anonymous User: The Citi Simplicity is a great card that I highly recommend to anyone. I have had this Citi card for 3-4 years now, and their service is always exemplary. Interest rates are great, the Extracash is a good rewards program, and Citi is just a large bank that is always there and helpful for you. Their fraud department is great too, as they have caught several attempted fraudulent charges on my account. They stopped the fraudulent charge and refunded the amount the same day. They are also very understanding if you happen to be late on a payment, which is very helpful with the way the economy is today. I highly recommend this card.
November 7 at 3:51pm
Alexander Insco: The Citi Simplicity card is currently my favorite card, and the one I use most often. It requires that the prospective user has excellent credit, so that might put off those who are interested in using it, but it has many benefits if you’ve got the appropriate credit score. This card requires no annual fee, which is great, and it has no late fees or penalties. The main feature of the card is its 0% APR offer, which is on all purchases and balance transfers, and lasts for an eighteen month period. If you’re unable to pay back the purchase in full during this period, it charges a 12.99%-21.99% APR (which changes depending on your credit). The card also offers fantastic customer service, since when you call you are automatically transferred to one of their many helpful representatives.
October 17 at 2:47pm
Michael J Johnson: Capital One Classic Platinum Credit Card is a great card if you are planning on making a large purchase and paying it off quickly, like if you were going to get an income tax return soon. They always offer interest free or very low interest until such and such time. Giving you plenty of time to pay off the charge before you start getting charged interest. That's what caused me to lean towards this card. Afterwards the interest rate is comparable to most cards but as long as you pay off the monthly balance each month there isn't an issue.
October 17 at 2:45pm
Sunshine Burch: The Citi Simplicity card is amazing in my book. I like to have a credit card for emergencies and big purchases and the Citi card has not let me down. I rarely keep a balance, but when I do it is nice that they interest rate is so low. When I got the card the initial interest rate was 0% which allowed me to purchase some furniture I needed and pay it off without being charged a cent. Recently I needed a couple new tires and I was not too upset to use my Citi card because the interest rate is low enough to not cause a huge interest charge if I can't pay it off right away. Customer service has always been easy to deal with and their site is super simple to navigate and make my payments on.
October 17 at 2:42pm
Hari Sharma: Capital One Cash Rewards is the best card I have faced. It is really good for someone like me who makes lot of purchases through credit and their intro rate is 0% which adds a glitter to the whole deal. I have been using it for few months now and I have been very happy with my selection. I normally use cards for few months before I go to different cards so it's definietly an amazing card for me. Even though the customer care told me that the APR after the intro period is very high..I think 19% or something but I am not planning to keep it till June 2013. It's an amazing card just make sure that you pay it off before the intro period is over. A+
October 17 at 2:17pm
Alex Thomas: I have to say that the best card in the category is the Citi Simplicity card. I decided to get this card before buying a new TV due to the 18 months without interest I could get on new purchases with this card. It worked out great for me as I was able to get the TV I wanted without having to pay it all off when I got it. After the 18 month period the interest goes up to well over 15% I think, but for 18 months you have a great card. I don't really use this card anymore, but it served me very well at first. I would recommend to those looking for a low interest rate card that have good credit.
September 11 at 5:51pm
Anonymous User: I believe the best credit card for purchases with a low interest rate has got to definitely be the Citi Dividend Platinum Select Card for College Students. It is hands down one of the best cards I have ever had. The Cash back bonuses definitely come in handy as it does build up over time. Also the fact that this card has no annual fee unlike most other credit cards like this is great! that's extra money in your pocket that you would have to otherwise pay with most other reward credit cards. The low interest rate makes it a lot easier to make purchases and not have to worry about the extra fees attached. Overall this card is great for people looking to save a little bit here and there.
September 11 at 5:40pm
Anonymous User: The Discover Student More Card is awesome and has my endorsement as the best credit card with a low rate. I have limited credit history but had no trouble getting the card. I was offered an awesome rate of 0% for nine months when I got the card and my regular APR was only 12.99%. My card comes in handy for my school expenses every quarter. I purchase all my gas, groceries, and store purchases on this card because I get awesome cash back on my purchases. I'm getting back between 1-5% on all the purchases I make with my card! Not only do I get the great benefits of cash back but the fact that there is no annual fee is also a major perk as I know some people who have to pay $39-$100 a year! I suggest to anyone that is paying that to switch to this card immediately if they can. Great card!
September 11 at 5:17pm
Jeromy Causeway: The best credit card is the Citi Dividend Platinum Select Card for College Students. The reason I believe this is the best, is because, as a college student this suits our needs the most. Every semester, students are bombarded with tuition costs, book costs, and living costs. Not all of us are fortunate enough to have the excess funds to pay for it all. With this card, it makes it easier on the students to make these purchases without having to sweat about it in the future. Also, the cash back bonus is very nice. Gas prices are sky-rocketing, for me personally, I live 5 hours from home and it is nice to be able to fill up my tank at a cheaper price all because I spent money on necessities and received cash back for it. And one last thing, which is a big plus, no annual fees! With the way it has been lately, many banks have been resorting to charging an annual fee upwards in the 50 dollars a year range. That's 50 dollars that could buy me groceries for the week. No thank you, I need the 50 dollars in my pocket. So I believe Citi Dividend Platinum Select Card for College Students is hands down the best.
September 11 at 3:26pm
Anonymous User: The Citi Dividend Platinum Select Card for College Students is a great card we applied for to give our college student and it has turned out to be a great deal. Customer service is friendly and easy to work with. The Citi Dividend Platinum Select Card offers a number of benefits, including interest rate advantages. Any parent with college students in the family will be well advised to get this card for their kids. There is a good feeling knowing that your kids can buy the essentials they need while they are away at school. We recommend this card and would get another as other kids come of college age.
September 11 at 3:8pm
Frank Papageorgio: When it comes to the best credit card rates, one of the first things you should do is contact your current credit cards and simply ask for a lower rate! For example, on my Capital One Venture card I have been a card holder with them for almost 10 years now. By simply calling them up I explained what my current lowest APR was, how I was looking to make some new purchases, have been with them for 10 years, and would love to use their card if they could give me a more competitive rate. And they did! Of course I have never paid a cent of finance charges with Capital One, but they still listened to my request and gave me a lower rate, and now I know it's there if I need it. It's always worth trying to call up your existing credit card companies and just ask, the worst they will say is no.
September 5 at 5:11pm
Lucas Neuffer: The best card is this section would definitely be the Discover® Student More Card to me. I have personally used this card and was able to get it even with limited credit. I have had no troubles the entire time I have had this card and the no annual fees is great. This card comes in handy while I am in school if I run into a situation where I do not have any money on me for books or school-related materials. The card also has a cashback program that is great for first time credit card holders, especially students that will use the card often.
August 29 at 10:9pm
Liz Vi: As a college student, having a credit card is pretty much necessary. The Discover Student More Card is hands down the best credit card for a struggling college student like myself. Every semester, I have to pay for tuition, room and board, books, and other school supplies. This credit card makes my life so much easier because of the great introductory rate (0% APR for the first 9 months) and no annual fee. I also get 5% cashback on items such as gas, groceries, restaurants, and purchases from department stores. On every other purchase you make with this card you also get 1% cashback! It honestly doesn’t get any better than this! This is a great credit card for someone with limited credit history. Every college student should start their credit history with this card.
August 29 at 9:13pm
Anonymous User: Having good credit it really important. As a result you have to start somewhere, especially when you're young. It is really important just to build up when you're young on routine purchases just to show that you can pay bills on time. The Capital One Platinum card is a good example, it offers 0 percent APR for 15 months and does not have a yearly fee. It was one of the first cards that I routinely used. Your mileage may vary with the many different cards that are currently out there in the market place, but that is my experience and most people today would say that you need to start somewhere.
August 29 at 8:43pm
Andrew Simmons: Ever since I turned 16, my parents told me how important it is to have good credit. At the time, it was the furthest thing from my mind, but now, a few years on, I can see how right they were. Unfortunately, in this day and age, just paying off your bills isn't enough for an excellent credit score so I have acquired a range of credit cards which I use carefully to build credit. Of them, the very best is the Capital One Platinum card. Aside from the fact that it offers 0% APR for 15 months, there's no annual fee (unlike some of my other credit building cards) and responsible use of it gives you some very attractive rewards, such as potential bonus rates. Also, after months of paying off the balance on time, your limit grows substantially. Most of my cards are strictly for credit building, but this is my go-to card if it's simply because I want to put something on credit. I can't recommend it enough.
August 24 at 10:5pm
John Kiernan: The best 0% credit card on the market right now is the Citi Diamond Preferred Card. That’s not an opinion, it’s a fact, and I’ll tell you why. First of all, the Diamond Preferred Card offers 0% on new purchases for 18 months, and that’s the longest such term I have seen recently. I know that at least the Citi Simplicity Card offers 0% for that long too, but the Simplicity Card has a slightly higher range of regular APRs you could get when the 0% term ends. That means even if you haven’t quite paid off everything you owe at the end of 18 months, the interest you’ll incur will be slightly less costly. Both cards have no annual fee too. Really, you can’t lose if you have some purchases coming up that you’ll need a bit of extra time to pay off and you get either the Citi Simplicity Card or the Citi Diamond Preferred.
August 24 at 12:8am

Should I get the longest 0% APR period possible?
Assuming you will pay off your balance in full by the end of the introductory period, most definitely yes. If you will not be able to do so, an offer's regular rate must also be part of your consideration. So keep practical payment time frames in mind when comparing credit card rates, and use a payment calculator to find out how long it will take you to pay down your debt.

What if I pay my bill in full every month?
If you pay your bill in full every month, interest rates are of no concern to you and you should get the best rewards credit card possible. However, if you will be making some significant purchases which will result in an end-of-month balance, finding the lowest credit card rates is advisable.

About the Editors' Picks — Best Credit Card Rates
Our editors' recommendations for the Best Credit Card Rates are a reflection of their own subjective opinions, and they should not be relied upon as the sole basis for choosing your credit card. Certain offers originate from paying advertisers, and this will be noted on a card’s details page, when applicable. We work hard to present you with the most accurate credit card information, however, the credit card terms and conditions do not originate from us and thus we do not guarantee the accuracy of the information. Before applying for a credit card we recommend that you verify the credit card terms and conditions on the credit card company's web site. Please let us know if you have any questions or suggestions.