Explore the Best Low APR Credit Cards

When you think of low interest credit cards, it’s likely that cards with 0% introductory offers are the first that come to mind. However, even those cards have a regular interest rate that applies once the introductory period ends. These regular APRs determine whether a card truly fits into the “low rate” category. In order to identify cards with the best offers, first you need to know what the average rates look like.

The average interest rate for different types of credit cards can vary widely. What’s considered a “low” APR for a retail card may fall in the mid-to-high range when compared to low interest balance transfer credit cards, for example. As a result, the overall average APR across credit card categories stretches widely between 16% and 23%.

Even with this wide range, you can begin to develop a general sense for what may be considered a low APR card. As a general rule of thumb, the BestCards team saves this label for cards with APRs under 14%.

Many low APR credit cards also come with introductory APR for “x” months on balance transfers or purchases. For example, a credit card may offer 0% APR for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers, or 18 months on balance transfers only. Keep in mind that intro APR on balance transfers does not include balance transfer fees, which typically range around $5 or 3% of the transfer, whichever is greater.