Wells Fargo Reflect Card review: One of the longest 0% intro APR offer available with no annual fee

Americans may be worried about upcoming heavy spending — or even overspending for some — as they gear up for another holiday season. To avoid racking up credit card interest charges on your purchases, the Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card has an excellent introductory offer for consumers: 21 months of no-interest financing from account opening on your purchases or qualifying balance transfers (after, 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% variable APR).

But is the best card for your wallet? Select reviews the Wells Fargo Reflect card, analyzing its low intro APR and other benefits to help you decide if it's the best card for you.

• Welcome bonus
• Benefits and perks
• Rates and fees
• Card comparison
• Who this card is best for
• Bottom line
• FAQs

Many credit cards come with welcome offers that give users either cash back or travel rewards after meeting a specific spending threshold. The Wells Fargo Reflect card doesn't come with a welcome bonus in that form, but the core benefit of the card can be considered a bonus.

This card gives cardholders an introductory 0% APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers; 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days from account opening qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, min $5.

This offer exceeds any other 0% intro APR card offer currently available — you'll have nearly two years of interest-free financing with the Reflect card.

The intro 0% offer is enticing, but the card comes with additional benefits to consider:

• Cell phone protection — get up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your eligible Wells Fargo card (subject to a $25 deductible).
• Roadside dispatch
• Access to My Wells Fargo Deals
• Zero liability on fraudulent purchases

The card does not have any spending incentives in the form of cash back or travel rewards, but if flexible financing and protecting your cell phone is a priority to you, the Wells Fargo Reflect Card may be a great fit.

The Wells Fargo Reflect Card doesn't have an annual fee. However, it has a 3% foreign transaction fee. You'll want to look at cards that have no foreign transaction fees if you plan on traveling abroad.

Late payment fees can be up to $40.

Select analyzed two other 0% intro APR credit cards against the Wells Fargo Reflect Card to see how they match up with one another.

Wells Fargo Reflect Card vs. Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

The Citi Diamond Preferred Card is a great choice for purchasing flexibility as its 0% intro APR runs for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 12 months on purchases from date of account opening, 18.24% - 28.99% variable after that; (see rates and fees). Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.

If you're deciding between the two cards, they are nearly identical. Your decision could simply come down to preference of which bank you want to do business with.

Wells Fargo Reflect Card vs. Chase Freedom Unlimited® Card

The Chase Freedom Unlimited gives a bit more in rewards, but a bit less in interest free purchasing power.

This card offers excellent potential to earn cash back. You will earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining at restaurants (including takeout) and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases.

In addition, the card comes with a simple welcome offer: unlimited matched cash back. At the end of your first year, Chase will automatically match all the cash back you earned.

And if you need an interest-free period, you will have 0% APR for the first 15 months on new purchases and balance transfers; 20.49% - 29.24% variable thereafter. There's an intro balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that it's either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

Two factors should influence your choice when deciding between the two cards: how much you value the cash back you can earn and the six month difference in the two cards' interest-free periods. If you don't value the cash back rewards and need to stretch your purchases out as far as possible, the Wells Fargo Reflect Card will be the better option. If you only need interest-free financing for 15 months or less, the Chase Freedom Unlimited is the way to go.

The Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card is best for consumers who need flexibility to pay their purchases back over an extended period of time, without accruing credit card interest.

For example, if you purchase the new iPhone 13 you may shell out around $1,200, after taxes and accessories. If you stretch that purchase out over the entire 21 months of the intro APR period, your monthly payment would be roughly $57 per month. And if you pay your cell phone bill with the card, you will have a complimentary insurance policy on the your phone.

Keep in mind that there are no spending incentives on the card, such as cash back, points or miles. So if you value those rewards on your purchases you may want to consider a rewards credit card.

The Wells Fargo Reflect^® Card is an excellent credit card with 0% intro APR period. Its 21 months offer is the best currently available, and if you are looking for flexibility for your upcoming purchases or a balance transfer — this card is strongly worth considering.

However, be sure that if you're planning on spending a large amount that you should create a budget first. While this card gives repayment flexibility, it's never wise to overspend because you can stretch out your payments.

Is 0% APR good for your credit?

While not paying credit card interest is helpful for your budget and saving for retirement, it doesn't affect your credit. However, if you have a large credit card balance that uses a significant (over 30%) portion of your credit line, this will impact your credit score.

What is a 0% APR introductory period?

A 0% introductory period is an offer from a credit card where for a specified amount of time, either the balance of purchases and/or a balance transfer do not accrue any interest. However, you must still make the monthly minimum payment.