Which credit cards have the lowest interest rates (APR)?

Question

ClearValue Editorial Team · Accepted Answer

Low-APR cards run noticeably below the national average, which the Federal Reserve pegged around 21% for all accounts (and slightly higher for accounts carrying a balance) in 2026. Cards marketed as low-rate generally target well-qualified borrowers and carry fewer rewards in exchange. The rate you pay to carry a balance is the APR, and the Federal Reserve's G.19 report tracks the averages — roughly 21% across all accounts in 2026, with accounts actually assessed interest a bit higher; verify the current figure at federalreserve.gov before quoting it. A few structural sources of below-average rates: credit union cards, since federal credit unions are member-owned nonprofits with an 18% APR cap on most cards; bank 'low rate' or 'simplicity' products that trade rewards for a lower purchase APR; 0% introductory-APR cards, which are effectively 0% during a 12-21 month promo before reverting to a standard rate; and some secured cards for rebuilding credit. Since specific rates and offers change constantly and depend on your credit profile, always confirm the APR in a card's live Schumer Box rather than relying on a headline number.