The longest 0% credit cards

If you want to dodge interest payments for as long as possible, these are the best credit cards to go for.

A 0% credit card allows borrowers to avoid interest on their spending or debt. And if you’re anything like me, the longer you can keep interest charges at bay, the better! After all, that way you have a little more breathing space and can pay that balance off in more manageable chunks.

But which cards offer the longest 0% periods? Let’s take a look.

The longest 0% balance transfer credit cards

With balance transfers, you move the outstanding balance from your existing credit card onto the balance transfer credit card, which will offer a set period free from interest. In exchange you’ll pay a fee, which is a percentage of the debt you’re transferring.

And the length of the 0% periods on offer has rocketed in recent times. At the start of 2012, the longest interest-free period you could get your hands on was 24 months. That has grown to 28 months today – well over two years before having to pay any interest!

Let’s take a look at the longest 0% periods available today:

So if you need the absolute longest 0% period around, then the Barclaycard 28-Month Platinum will be your best bet. However, there's a clutch of decent cards from Barclaycard, Halifax, NatWest and RBS which offer just one month less but with a much smaller transfer fee.

[SPOTLIGHT]Before you choose which card to apply for, be sure to crunch the numbers to work out just how long you’ll need to pay off your debt. You may be better off going with a smaller 0% period, thanks to the lower fee on offer.

The longest 0% purchase credit cards

If you know you have a big purchase on the way, then you may prefer to get a 0% purchase credit card to spend with.

As with balance transfer cards, the best offers here have steadily improved over the last couple of years, albeit not quite to the level of balance transfer deals.

The table below highlights the longest 0% periods on offer from 0% purchase credit cards:

So not quite as long as the best balance transfer credit cards, but the top card still gives you a year and a half in which to clear that balance before interest rears its ugly head.

Whether you decide to go for a purchase or balance transfer card is up to you. Personally, as I use a rewards credit card already which allows me to earn Clubcard points on my spending, I’d be more likely to move a big purchase over to a balance transfer credit card. But if you don’t get rewards from your existing credit card, you may prefer to simply go for a 0% purchase card.

Remember, the very best cards will only go to borrowers with the cleanest credit histories. To see what your credit report looks like, you can take a free trial with Experian through Lovemoney. And if you need to clean yours up, check out Ten simple steps to improve your credit record.

More on credit cards:

The best credit cards to use on your travels

The best all-round credit cards

The best money transfer credit cards

The best cashback credit cards