What is a 0% interest purchase credit card and how does it work?
A 0% purchase credit card is similar to an ordinary credit card but there is no interest charged on purchases for an initial period of time set by the card provider. Interest, however, may still be charged on cash withdrawals, balance transfers and transaction made abroad.
The period within which no interest will be paid is set by the credit card provider, currently the maximum interest-free period available is 24 months. When applying for a 0% interest purchase credit card your financial circumstances will be assessed and this will determine whether you are offered the advertised interest-free period, a reduced period or if your application is rejected. It is important therefore to make sure you have your finances in order prior to making an application.
Be aware that credit card providers are not in the habit of lending you money for free. They are fully aware that most people do not pay off the full outstanding balance each month and so they are confident that they will be charging you interest in the long term. To avoid this, make sure you pay off your balance in full every month or prior to the end of the interest-free period.
Best 0% purchase credit card with longest interest-free period
- Best for: Balancing spreading the cost of large purchases with a balance transfer
- Representative APR: 24.90% APR after interest-free period
- Interest-free period: Up to 22 months (some successful applicants may get as few as 11 months) on purchases and 19 months for balance transfers (made within 60 days of account opening)
- Annual fee: £0
- Why we like it: Longest 0% purchase period, plus up to five months of Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple News+ and Apple Arcade for free
Best 0% purchase credit card with longest guaranteed interest-free period
Natwest Purchase and Balance Transfer credit card
- Best for: Spreading the cost of large purchases
- Representative APR: 23.9% variable
- Interest-free period: 0% interest on purchases and balance transfers for 21 months (Balance transfers are subject to 2.99% fee)
- Annual fee: £0
- Why we like it: All that are accepted will get the full 21 months
Best 0% purchase credit card for those with good credit scores
- Best for: The longest 0% period (but only for good credit scores)
- Representative APR: 24.90% APR after interest-free period
- Interest-free period: Up to 22 months on purchases for applicants with the best credit scores, plus 0% interest for 19 months for balance transfers (made within 60 days of account opening)
- Annual fee: £0
- Why we like it: Longest 0% purchase period, plus up to five months of Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple News+ and Apple Arcade for free
Best 0% purchase credit card for rewards
- Best for: People looking to get rewards on top of a 0% purchase period
- Representative APR: 23.9% variable
- Interest-free period: 18 months
- Perks: Collect points that can be converted to M&S vouchers - 1 point for every £1 spent in M&S and 1 point for every £5 spent elsewhere
- Annual fee: £0
- Why we like it: One of the longest interest-free periods available and you can earn rewards on your spending.
If you don't want to earn M&S vouchers, check out the HSBC Rewards card. It offers 2,500 welcome points worth £25 when you make your first payment with the card and an extra 2,500 bonus points if you spend £10,000 or more in a year, plus up to 10 points for every £1 spent with selected retailers and 1 point for every £5 spent elsewhere. You can also get 0% interest on purchases for 6 months.
Best 0% purchase credit card for bad credit
- Best for: Those with poor credit who want the maximum amount of time off from paying interest
- Representative APR: 29.90% variable
- Interest-free period: 12 months
- Annual fee: £0
- Why we like it: The longest interest-free period for those with poor credit
Advantages of a 0% purchase credit card
0% credit cards can be very useful particularly when purchasing more expensive items such as a holiday or large items for your home. If you make sure that the balance is paid off in full before the interest-free period ends you can have access to free money for up to 24 months.
If you have an outstanding balance on an existing credit card, transferring the balance to a 0% credit card will allow you to clear the debt quicker as no interest will be charged for a period of time, although you will usually have to pay a fee of around 2.5%.
Things to consider before opening a 0% purchase credit card
Carefully consider your financial circumstances before applying for any credit card. Getting caught up in the excitement of a pending holiday or a new purchase can cloud your judgement and leave you struggling to clear the debt.
Although a 0% credit card will give you an interest-free period on purchases, it is vitally important that you clear the outstanding debt before the end of this period to avoid getting caught up in a debt spiral.
The advertised conditions, such as the interest-free period, are all subject to your personal circumstances and you may be offered less if your personal finances are not in good shape.
Any application will be subject to a credit score so make sure you check this prior to applying.
0% purchase credit card vs personal loan
0% credit cards are a flexible way of borrowing money over a short period as long as you clear the amount owed every month or within the interest-free period. However, there is a great temptation to keep using your credit card for small everyday purchases allowing the balance to grow over time, incurring high-interest charges.
Personal loans are a more structured way of borrowing money with a set repayment period and interest rate. Interest rates on loans tend to be lower than with credit cards but obviously with a 0% credit card you can take advantage of the interest-free period to clear your debt without incurring any interest charges.
For more information read our article: Is it better to get a credit card or a personal loan?
