Best interest free credit cards

1 - 10 of 16

Name	Finder Score	Purchase rate p.a.	Balance transfer p.a.	Annual fee	Interest-free period
Virgin Money No Annual Fee Credit Card	Finder score 7.2 Great	Purchase rate p.a. 0% for 6 months, then 19.99%		Annual fee $0	Up to 55 days on purchases	More Info Compare	Save with a $0 annual fee and 0% p.a. on purchases for 6 months.
NAB Low Rate Business Card	Finder score 9.1 Excellent	Purchase rate p.a. 0% for 12 months, then 13.25%		Annual fee $0 first year ($60 after)	Up to 55 days on purchases	More Info Compare	ABN w/ $75,000 p.a. revenue. 0% p.a. interest for 12 months on purchases and receive complimentary unauthorised transaction insurance.
Citi Rewards Card - Purchase and Balance Transfer Offer Citi Rewards Program	Finder score 9.9 Excellent	Purchase rate p.a. 0% for 15 months, then 22.49%	0%	Annual fee $199	Up to 44 days on purchases	More Info Compare	Save with 0% p.a. on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months with a one-time 2% balance transfer fee.
Credit Union SA Education Community Credit Card	Finder score 8 Great	Purchase rate p.a. 0% for 6 months, then 11.49%	0%	Annual fee $0	Up to 55 days on purchases	More Info Compare	Save with an ongoing $0 annual fee and 0% p.a. interest on purchases, balance transfers and cash advances for the first 6 months.
NAB StraightUp Card	Finder score 6.5 Standard	Purchase rate p.a. 0%		Annual fee $0		More Info Compare	Save with 0% p.a. interest charges and 0% foreign transaction fees. Plus, $0 monthly fees when you don't use the card or carry a balance.
Citi Rewards Card - Flybuys Offer Citi Rewards Program	Finder score 6.5 Standard	Purchase rate p.a. 0% for 6 months, then 22.49%	22.99%	Annual fee $199	Up to 44 days on purchases	More Info Compare	Get 100,000 bonus Flybuys points (worth $500 Flybuys dollars) when you spend $5,000 in the first 3 months. Plus, 0% p.a. interest rate on purchases for 6 months.
CommBank Neo Business interest-free card	Finder score 6.5 Standard	Purchase rate p.a. 0%		Annual fee $0		More Info Compare	Get up to $3,000 credit limit with 0% p.a. interest charges and no late payment fees.
Community First n0w Credit Card	Finder score 6.5 Standard	Purchase rate p.a. 0%		Annual fee $0		More Info Compare	Pay 0% p.a. interest on purchases and cash advances, with a monthly fee based on your credit limit instead.
Westpac Flex Card	Finder score 6.5 Standard	Purchase rate p.a. 0%		Annual fee $0		More Info Compare	Offers a $1,000 credit limit, 0% foreign transaction fees and $0 monthly fee when you pay the previous month's balance in full.
Wizitcard	Finder score 6.5 Standard	Purchase rate p.a. 0%		Annual fee $0		More Info Compare	Offers an instant, virtual credit card with 0% interest on purchases and a monthly fee instead.

Showing 10 of 16 results

Cards from

Finder's best interest-free credit card offers for December

The Citi Rewards Card - Purchase and Balance Transfer Offer has a Finder Score of 9.9.
The NAB Low Rate Business Card has a Finder Score of 9.09.
The Credit Union SA Education Community Credit Card has a Finder Score of 8.02.
The Credit Union SA Workplace Benefits Credit Card has a Finder Score of 8.02.

Updated December 2024 by Finder's money editor, Richard Whitten.

This article was fact-checked and reviewed by Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon, an accredited and award-winning finance broker and industry mentor. Content has been updated for 2024.

The lowdown on the interest free Finder score

Every month we carefully analyse over 250 credit card products and assess five features and benefits of each card. We assign a Finder Score out of 10 for each feature, and adjust the scores depending on what category we're looking at.

To be included for the interest free score, credit cards must:

Be available to general consumers
Have 0% interest rate (ongoing or offers) on new purchases

Credit card scores are category-specific (e.g. cashback, frequent flyer), meaning the same card will receive a different score within each category.

The score process is run by our insights and editorial team, independent of any commercial partnerships. Products are reviewed objectively. Remember that Finder Score is just one factor to consider. Look at other aspects like fees, features, benefits and risks to make sure a product is suitable for you. Double-check details that matter to you before applying or buying.

Interest-free credit cards - score weightings

Feature	Definition	Assessment	Weight
Interest Free Days	Number of days for no interest or fees on new purchases	Longer periods earn more points, up to market maximum. 0% purchase rate cards are assigned a default 30 days	10%
Purchase Rate Offer Period	Number of months for interest free purchase rate	Higher the number of months, better the score	50%
First-Year Fee	Annual fee charged in the first year of ownership	Lower fees score higher. $0 fee receives the maximum points	10%
Ongoing Annual Fee	Annual fee charged from the second year onwards	Lower fees score higher. $0 fee receives the maximum points	10%
Purchase Rate	Interest rate on new purchases	Lower rates score higher	20%

Breaking down the score tiers

9+ Excellent - These cards offer the best interest free options - either through a high number of interest free days or no interest on purchases, coupled with low fees.
7+ Great - Reasonable interest free options but may charge higher fees or have a lower number of interest free days.
5+ Satisfactory - These cards may offer a lower number of interest free days or higher annual fees.
Less than 5 – Basic - While these cards may offer interest free days on new purchases, they may be more suited to other categories.

How can I get an interest free credit card?

There are several ways to get 0% interest on your credit card.

0% interest credit cards. You can get a credit card that offers a 0% interest rate permanently. Examples include the NAB Straight Up Card and the Westpac Flex Card. These cards have low credit limits and either charge a monthly fee, or require you to pay off your balance in full each month.
Credit cards with 0% introductory offers. Quite a few credit cards offer 0% interest on purchases as a special introductory offer. Usually for about 6 months, but some cards go higher. After the intro period you'll start getting charged interest if you haven't paid off your balance.
Credit cards with interest-free days. Most credit cards offer a number of interest-free days for purchases. Basically, on the first day of your monthly credit card statement period you have up to 45 or even 55 days before interest is charged. You have to pay the balance off before the interest free days are up, or you get charged interest.

Example: How much you can save with an interest-free card

Say you want to book a holiday for $3,000 and plan to pay $250 off the balance each month.

If you paid for it on a credit card with a 20.16% p.a. interest rate, it would take you just over a year (13.51 months) to pay off the balance and cost you around $378 in interest charges.

In comparison, if you had a credit card that offered 0% p.a. on purchases for 12 months and made the same $250 monthly repayments, you could pay off the holiday in 12 months with no interest charges.

0% balance transfer offers

If you have an unpaid credit card balance that's costing you a lot in interest, you can grab yourself some breathing room by moving the debt to a 0% balance transfer credit card offer. This gives you up to 28 months with no interest charges on the balance. But any new spending will get charged interest.

Pros and cons of interest free credit cards

Pros

Save on interest costs. The obvious benefit of these cards is that you won't have to pay interest for the introductory period.
Pay off debt faster. By not paying interest on your balance, you'll be able to pay it off a lot faster because the amount won't be creeping up every month.
Complimentary extras. Some interest-free credit cards offer perks like travel insurance or rewards that could help you get more value out of the card.

Cons

Revert rate. If you don't pay off your balance in full during the introductory period, this is the interest rate you'll pay on the remaining balance.
Temptation to spend. Because you're putting off paying interest, it could be tempting to spend more than you can actually afford in the short term.
Credit score impact. If you already have a weak credit score, another enquiry could decrease it further and you may not be approved.

How can I get the best interest free credit card?

Use the Finder Score. Use the table above and sort credit cards by Finder Score. We rank interest-free cards based on stacks of data. The higher the score, the better the card.
Figure out what kind of interest-free card you need. For most people, the choice comes down to a card with a permanent 0% rate and a monthly fee, or a card with an introductory 0% offer (we'll give you more tips on how to choose in the next section).
Look for a card with a long 0% interest offer. Unless you've got some short-term purchases in mind, the longer the introductory period, the better. This gives you more time to make interest free purchases and pay them back.
Factor in the cost of fees. Check if the card charges a monthly or annual fee (or both). Factor those in when looking at no-interest cards. Some cards also charge a fee if you don't pay your balance at the end of the month.
Keep an eye on the revert rate (if there is one). Cards with 0% interest rate offers revert to a higher rate once the intro period finishes. This can be above 20% in some cases. If you pay off your spending on time, you won't pay interest. But it's worth keeping an eye on.
Look at all the card's perks, features and benefits. Some credit cards, even 0% ones, can sometimes let you earn frequent flyer points or other rewards.

Our expert says: How to avoid interest on any credit card

"I've never paid a cent in credit card interest. And it's not because I have a 0% interest card. My credit card has a very high interest rate. But I pay it off on time each month and I never miss a payment. If you do this, any card is interest free. Of course, if you can't pay off a card right away, a 0% card can really save you money. Just make a plan to pay it off. Don't forget and let the debt build up. "

Richard Whitten

Editor

How do I find the right interest-free card for my circumstances?

I'm looking to make a big purchase and pay it off later

A card with a 0% introductory offer could give you 6 months or more before you have to pay the card off.

I want to cover a small amount of monthly spending and I want to pay off my spending in full each month

You could consider a card like the NAB Straight Up, Westpac Flex or the Community First n0w Credit Card. Just keep an eye on any fees, and remember these cards have quite low credit limits (around $1,000).

I have a large credit card debt and the monthly interest charges are killing me

You might want to look at a balance transfer credit card.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, you still need to pay at least the minimum amount required by the due date on each statement. This is usually around 2-3% of your account's closing balance, and the exact amount will be listed on your statement.
As an example, if you spent $3,000 on a credit card with a 3% minimum repayment amount, you'd need to repay at least $90 by the due date on your statement. Paying more than the minimum amount also helps you avoid ongoing debt and costs. You can use Finder's credit card repayment calculator to help figure out how much to pay each month and what's affordable for you.
If you don't pay at least the minimum amount listed on each monthly statement by the due date, some of the issues you could face include:
- Late payment fees. If you miss a payment or make it after the statement's due date, you could be charged a late payment fee. Typically, it will cost around $10 to $30 on a standard credit card, or more on a charge card.
- Cancelled promotional interest rates. The interest-free promotion may be cancelled if you don't make your minimum required payments. This penalty varies depending on the card, so make sure you check the terms of your offer.
- Bad credit. Payment history is included on your credit report, which means late payments (or more extreme default accounts) could lower your credit score.
If you're struggling to make a repayment on time, contact your credit card provider as soon as possible so they can discuss repayment options based on your individual circumstances.
A 0% purchase rate offer lasts for an introductory period when you first get the new card. During this time, you won't be charged interest on your credit card purchases as long as you pay the minimum amount listed on each statement.
In comparison, a credit card with interest-free days gives you a period of time in each statement period when you can make purchases without being charged interest. Usually, you need to pay the total amount owed on each statement to be eligible for interest-free days.
With a 0% purchase rate credit card offer, the promotional 0% interest rate is available for a fixed time period. For example, let's say you get a card offering no interest for 12 months on purchases from when you activate the card.
If you make a purchase on the day you get (and activate) your card, you will have 12 months to pay it off before any interest is charged. If you make another purchase after 3 months, you will have 9 months remaining for the 0% interest period, and if you make a purchase 11 months after getting the card, you'll only have 1 month interest-free for that purchase. After that, the 12-month 0% interest offer will end and the standard purchase rate will apply to new purchases.
The revert rate is different for each credit card. Purchase rates in Australia typically range from around 8% p.a. to 27.99% p.a. in 2024. You can check this rate before you apply – look for details of what the 0% interest rate reverts to at the end of the introductory period or check the Key Fact Sheet made available.
You could also look at your credit card statement, online account details or contact the credit card company. If you find yourself struggling to pay back what you owe, consider moving your outstanding debt to a 0% balance transfer credit card, which will give you more time to repay it interest-free.
Introductory 0% interest rate offers change regularly, so there isn't one card that always offers the longest 0% period. In general, the cards on this page usually offer 0% interest on purchases for 6 to up to 15 months. And some balance transfer offers charge 0% interest for up to 28 months.
You can sort the credit cards by "purchase rate" or "balance transfer rate" in the comparison table above to see which cards offer the longest interest-free period.
If you repay the total amount listed on your statement by the due date, you'll typically get an interest-free period for purchases.
There is also a small range of credit cards in Australia that charge no interest ever, with a flat monthly fee instead, including:
- CommBank Neo - 0% interest and a $15-$25 monthly fee based on your credit limit
- Community First n0w - 0% interest and a $9-$19 monthly fee based on your credit limit
- NAB StraightUp - 0% interest and $10-$30 monthly fee based on your credit limit
- Westpac Flex - No interest ever and a $10 monthly fee
- Wizitcard - No interest ever and a $19 monthly fee
Yes, many Australian banks and lenders offer 0% interest credit cards, but they are usually for a set period – such as an introductory offer on purchases for 12 months, or on balance transfers for a year or two. The lender's ultimate goal is for you to keep the card after the 0% interest period and eventually start paying interest so they can turn a profit.
A 0% card is the same as any other form of credit, so it can impact your credit score if you miss payments or if you carry high balances from month to month, after the promotional period, and you're paying interest. Managing the card responsibly can benefit your credit score. For a deeper look at how credit cards can impact your finances, check out this guide on how credit cards work.

Thank you for your feedback!

To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Richard Whitten as part of our fact-checking process.

Written by

Sarah Megginson

Head of editorial

As an authority on all things personal finance, Sarah Megginson is passionate about helping you save money and make money. She is an editor and money expert with 20 years’ experience and an extensive background in property and finance journalism. Sarah holds ASIC RG146-compliant Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification, and she's a regular media commentator, appearing weekly on TV (Sunrise, Channel 7 news, Nine news), radio (KIIS FM, Triple M, 3AW, 2GB, 6PR) and in digital and print media. See full bio

Sarah's expertise

Sarah has written 191 Finder guides across topics including:

Home loans
Personal finance
Budgeting and money-saving tips
Managing the cost of living

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16 Responses

FaisalMay 20, 2023

i need a credit card for all ages

Finder

AmyMay 23, 2023Finder

Hi Faisal,
Credit cards can only be issued to people aged 18 and older if they meet the eligibility requirements. Some credit cards also allow people under 18 to be added as a secondary cardholder, but usually they need to be 16 or over. If you want a card for someone of a different age, you could consider debit cards for children or other prepaid cards that sometimes have lower age requirements. I hope that helps.

HayleyNovember 20, 2016

Hi,

I am needing an amount of $6800 and will be able to pay it back over a year. I will not be using the card for anything else but this one off overseas payment. What would be the best thing for me to do?

Finder

DeeNovember 21, 2016Finder

Hi Hayley,

Thanks for reaching out.

If you are looking for a credit card for overseas payment, you may want to consider reading our overseas transaction fees guide and find credit cards that may not charge foreign currency conversion fees.

You may also want to consider cards with 0% purchase interest rate. These cards allow you to save on interest payments during the promotional period in case you don’t intend to pay your balance in full at the end of the billing period.

Cheers,
Anndy

davidFebruary 15, 2016

if i pay out the balance in the interest free period can i then cancel the card with no fees.

Finder

JonathanFebruary 15, 2016Finder

Hi David, thanks for your inquiry!

Yes this is generally accepted across balance transfer credit cards. Once you have repaid your outstanding balance you can cancel the credit card anytime.

Cheers,

Jonathan

sharonSeptember 8, 2015

Good morning, I read with interest the balance transfer credit cards with no interest for a period of time. I, like many people have that problem of having not paid my CC on the due date and now have a big balance. I currently have an ANZ Platinum CC, can I apply for a balance transfer with no interest?

Thank you

Finder

JonathanSeptember 8, 2015Finder

Hi Sharon,

Thanks for your inquiry.

Balance transfers can be a great way to repay an outstanding credit balance interest-free. You may like to compare balance transfer offers and cards.Select ‘Go to Site’ to head over to their website to apply. Please ensure to read through the relevant product disclosure statement and terms and conditions to ensure that you got everything covered before you apply to the card.

Cheers,
Jonathan

BillyJune 12, 2015

Hi, I’m looking for a credit card to allow me to pay bills between payments from work. Would use it very little only when my funds are a bit tight. Any recommendations? Suggestions

Finder

sally.mcmullen@hiveempire.comJune 12, 2015Finder

Hi Billy,

Thanks for your question.

If you are only planning on using your credit card sporadically, you may wish to consider low interest rate credit cards or no annual fee or a low income credit card.

Credit cards with high annual fees and rates usually come with extra features such as concierge services, complimentary insurance, and rewards programs. If you are after a credit card to use as a backup for your finances, some of these no frills options may be of interest.

You can select the “Go to Site” button of your preferred credit card to proceed with your application. You can also contact the provider if you have specific questions. A gentle reminder, please ensure to read through the relevant product disclosure statement and terms and conditions to ensure that you got everything covered before you apply.

I hope this has helped.

Thanks,
Sally

Best interest free credit cards

Compare 15+ zero interest cards, scored for 5 popular features in December 2024.

Cards from

Finder's best interest-free credit card offers for December

The lowdown on the interest free Finder score

Interest-free credit cards - score weightings

Breaking down the score tiers

How can I get an interest free credit card?

Example: How much you can save with an interest-free card

0% balance transfer offers

Pros and cons of interest free credit cards

Pros

Cons

How can I get the best interest free credit card?

How do I find the right interest-free card for my circumstances?

I'm looking to make a big purchase and pay it off later

I want to cover a small amount of monthly spending and I want to pay off my spending in full each month

I have a large credit card debt and the monthly interest charges are killing me

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to make repayments during the interest-free period?

What happens if I don't repay my balance on an interest-free credit card?

What's the difference between 0% interest credit card offers and interest-free days?

Do interest-free days apply during a 0% purchase promotion?

How does the 0% interest period apply to multiple purchases over time with my credit card?

What is the interest rate after the introductory 0% purchase rate period ends?

Which credit card has the longest 0% interest period?

Can you get a credit card without interest beyond the introductory period?

Can you get a 0% interest credit card?

Does a 0% interest credit card impact your credit score?

Can you get a credit card if you do not have income?

Are interest-free credit cards worth it?

Sarah Megginson

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