Credit cards with the lowest interest rates can save substantial money if you occasionally carry balances. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the lowest APR credit cards across different categories, along with strategies to qualify for these favorable rates:
Traditional Low-APR Credit Cards (2025)
- U.S. Bank Visa Platinum
- Regular APR range: 18.24% – 29.24% Variable
- Standout feature: One of the lowest starting APRs among major issuers
- Additional benefits: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 billing cycles
- Annual fee: $0
- Credit requirements: Good to excellent (670+ FICO)
- Wells Fargo Reflect Card
- Regular APR range: 17.99% – 29.99% Variable
- Standout feature: Low-end APR below most competitors
- Additional benefits: Up to 21 months 0% intro APR (18 months plus 3-month extension with on-time payments)
- Annual fee: $0
- Credit requirements: Good to excellent (680+ FICO)
- Citi Diamond Preferred
- Regular APR range: 18.49% – 28.49% Variable
- Standout feature: Consistent offering of low-rate promotions
- Additional benefits: 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months, purchases for 12 months
- Annual fee: $0
- Credit requirements: Good to excellent (690+ FICO)
Credit Union Low-APR Options (Often Lowest Overall)
- PenFed Gold Visa Card
- Regular APR range: 11.99% – 17.99% Variable
- Standout feature: Both starting and maximum APRs substantially below industry averages
- Additional benefits: No penalty APR, no annual fee, no balance transfer fees
- Membership requirement: Anyone can join Pentagon Federal Credit Union
- Credit requirements: Good to excellent (680+ FICO)
- First Technology Federal Credit Union Platinum Mastercard
- Regular APR range: 11.74% – 18.00% Variable
- Standout feature: Among the lowest maximum APRs available
- Additional benefits: No balance transfer fees, no annual fee
- Membership requirement: Multiple paths to eligibility including joining Financial Fitness Association
- Credit requirements: Good to excellent (680+ FICO)
- Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum Card
- Regular APR: 8.99% – 18.00% Variable
- Standout feature: Potentially lowest APR starting point widely available
- Additional benefits: No balance transfer fees, no foreign transaction fees
- Membership requirement: Limited to military members, veterans, Department of Defense employees, and their families
- Credit requirements: Fair to excellent (640+ FICO)
Best Low-APR Cards with Rewards
- Citi Custom Cash Card
- Regular APR range: 18.49% – 28.49% Variable
- Rewards: 5% cash back on top spending category each billing cycle (up to $500 spent), 1% on all else
- Additional benefits: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months
- Annual fee: $0
- Credit requirements: Good to excellent (700+ FICO)
- Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards
- Regular APR range: 18.24% – 28.24% Variable
- Rewards: 3% in choice category, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 quarterly), 1% on all else
- Additional benefits: 25-75% rewards boost for Preferred Rewards members
- Annual fee: $0
- Credit requirements: Good to excellent (670+ FICO)
- Discover it Cash Back
- Regular APR range: 16.74% – 27.74% Variable
- Rewards: 5% cash back in quarterly rotating categories (up to $1,500), 1% on all else
- Additional benefits: Cash back match for first year (effectively doubles rewards)
- Annual fee: $0
- Credit requirements: Good to excellent (670+ FICO)
Secured and Fair Credit Low-APR Options
- DCU Visa Platinum Secured Credit Card
- Regular APR: 13.75% Variable (same for all approved applicants)
- Standout feature: Fixed low rate regardless of credit profile
- Annual fee: $0
- Credit requirements: Poor to fair (acceptable for rebuilding credit)
- Membership requirement: Multiple paths to Digital Federal Credit Union membership
- First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard Secured
- Regular APR: 14.74% Fixed
- Standout feature: Fixed rate substantially below typical secured cards
- Annual fee: $49
- Credit requirements: Poor to fair (no minimum score, no credit check option available)
How to qualify for the lowest APR offers:
- Improve your credit score
- Pay all bills on time consistently
- Reduce credit utilization below 30% (ideally below 10%)
- Avoid applying for multiple new accounts in short timeframe
- Address any existing derogatory marks
- Target the right issuers
- Credit unions typically offer lower APRs than major banks
- Regional and community banks often have competitive rates
- Consider relationship discounts with your existing financial institutions
- Leverage existing banking relationships
- Bank of America Preferred Rewards members may qualify for rate reductions
- Wells Fargo and Chase offer relationship discounts for some customers
- Credit union membership often provides access to better rates
- Consider secured cards strategically
- Some secured cards offer surprisingly low APRs
- Can be a pathway to better products with continued responsible use
- Credit union secured cards typically have the lowest APRs
Important rate considerations beyond the APR:
- Penalty APRs – triggered by late payments, can raise rates substantially (often 29.99%+)
- Variable vs. fixed rates – most low APR cards today have variable rates that can change with the prime rate
- Rate ranges – you may not qualify for the lowest advertised rate based on your specific credit profile
- Balance transfer fees – typically 3-5% can offset interest savings on transferred balances
- Grace periods – ensure the card offers the standard 21-25 day grace period on purchases
Remember that even the lowest rate credit cards still typically charge higher interest than other lending products like personal loans or home equity lines of credit. The best strategy is to pay balances in full each month when possible, while maintaining access to a low-APR card for unexpected situations where carrying a balance is unavoidable.