Best balance transfer credit cards of 2024

Save money by transferring high-interest debt to a balance transfer card. Get matched to credit cards from our partners based on your unique credit profile.

Move your debt

You could save by moving your existing debt to a card with a lower interest rate.

Save on interest

Pay zero interest for a year or more with a 0% intro APR card.

Consolidate payments

Combine multiple balances into one monthly payment.

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All balance transfer credit cards

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Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Intro APR:

0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months

Ongoing APR:

18.74%-29.74% Variable

Rewards:

1%-3% (cash back)

Annual Fee:

$0

Annual fee

Some credit cards have an annual fee you'll pay when you first receive the card and at each cardholder anniversary. Take the cost of an annual fee into account when considering which options will benefit you the most over the course of a year.

Balance transfer annual percentage rate (APR)

A standard APR on a credit card is the interest rate the card issuer charges when you don’t pay off your balance in full each month. A balance transfer APR applies only to eligible balance transfers and is generally 0% for a set time period. It will then increase to a standard APR.

Balance transfer fee

A balance transfer fee is generally 3% or 5% of the amount you transfer. So a $5,000 balance transfer with a 5% fee would come out to $250. This fee is often offset by the interest savings of completing a balance transfer.

Credit limit

Your credit limit is how much you’re able to spend with your card and will be assigned after you’re approved for a card. Cards for bad credit applicants generally have low credit limits, but some allow you to qualify for a higher credit limit over time by making on-time monthly payments.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Intro APR:

0% on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 12 months

Ongoing APR:

18.74%-29.74% Variable

Rewards:

1%-6% (cash back)

Annual Fee:

$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

Citi Double Cash® Card

Intro APR:

0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers

Ongoing APR:

18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)

Rewards:

2% (cash back)

Annual Fee:

$0

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Intro APR:

0% for 21 months on Balance Transfers and 12 months on Purchases

Ongoing APR:

17.74% - 28.49% (Variable)

Rewards:

N/A*

Annual Fee:

$0

Citi Simplicity® Card

Intro bonus:

N/A*

Rewards:

N/A*

Ongoing APR:

18.74% - 29.49% (Variable)

Annual Fee:

$0

Discover it® Chrome

Intro APR:

0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months

Ongoing APR:

17.74% - 27.74% Variable APR

Rewards:

1%-2% (cash back)

Annual Fee:

$0

Citi Rewards+® Card

Intro APR:

0% for 15 months on Purchases and Balance Transfers

Ongoing APR:

18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)

Rewards:

1x-2x (Points per dollar)

Annual Fee:

$0

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Intro APR:

0% for 15 months on Purchases and Balance Transfers

Ongoing APR:

18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)

Rewards:

1%-5% (cash back)

Annual Fee:

$0

Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

Intro APR:

0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Ongoing APR:

17.74%, 24.24%, or 29.49% Variable APR

Rewards:

N/A*

Annual Fee:

$0

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Intro APR:

0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers

Ongoing APR:

19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR

Rewards:

2% (Cash Rewards)

Annual Fee:

$0

Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the banks, lenders and credit card companies.

*For complete information, see the offer terms and conditions on the issuer or partner’s website. Once you click apply you will be directed to the issuer or partner’s website where you may review the terms and conditions of the offer before applying. We show a summary, not the full legal terms – and before applying you should understand the full terms of the offer as stated by the issuer or partner itself. While Experian Consumer Services uses reasonable efforts to present the most accurate information, all offer information is presented without warranty.

Advertiser Disclosure: The offers that appear on this site are from third party companies ("our partners") from which Experian Consumer Services receives compensation. This compensation may impact how, where, and in what order the products appear on this site. The offers on the site do not represent all available financial services, companies, or products.

ΘCredit scores are used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any offer.

How to do a balance transfer

1

Know how much you want to transfer

Determine the amount of debt you’ll be transferring. If you have high amount, it’s important to prioritize balances with higher interest rates first.

2

Choose the right balance transfer card

Research the balance transfer credit cards that fit your need. You can check your credit scores to figure out which ones you’ll most likely get approved.

3

Review the terms

Understand the length of the intro 0% APR period, what the regular APR will be once the promo period ends and how much the balance transfer fee is.

4

Apply and initiate the transfer

Once you’re approved, you can start a transfer. Make a repayment plan to pay off the balance before the intro period ends.

Start with your FICO® ScoreΘ and see card offers matched to your credit profile.

Get started for free

ΘCredit score calculated based on FICO® Score 8 model. Your lender or insurer may use a different FICO® Score than FICO® Score 8, or another type of credit score altogether. Learn more.

Frequently asked questions

A balance transfer is when you move debt from one credit card to another credit card. This is done by moving a credit card balance from one card to a new card that typically has a 0% interest rate for a specific amount of time. By utilizing an intro 0% APR offer, you can save money on interest and put all of your payments toward the principal balance. Take note that most balance transfer cards charge a balance transfer fee, which is often 3% or 5% of the transfer amount.

You generally need good or excellent credit to qualify for a balance transfer credit card. According to FICO, this means having a credit score of 670 or higher.

However, credit card companies look at more than just your credit score to determine your eligibility, so meeting the minimum doesn't guarantee approval. Card issuers may also consider your credit history, income, existing available credit and other factors to determine whether you qualify. It may be possible to get a credit card with a balance transfer promotion with fair credit, but it may not be a 0% APR, and you may also end up with a shorter promotion and a higher fee.

A balance transfer has little impact on your credit score since you are just moving your current debt from one card to another. However, due to applying for a new credit card, if the issuer does a hard credit inquiry your credit score could possibly ding your credit score. However the affect is minor and temporary.

The amount of debt that you can transfer will most likely be the credit limit on the balance transfer credit card. However, there are situations where card issuers may give you a lower balance transfer limit based on your creditworthiness, or a general limit for balance transfers that they have set themselves.

A balance transfer can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on the credit card company, but they're typically done within five to seven days. Continue paying your credit card bill as usual until the balance transfer posts to your new card.

If you have not used the full amount of credit on your balance transfer, any remaining amount of credit on the card can be used for making purchases.

To ensure that you get the best deal available, it's important to shop around and compare options from multiple credit card issuers. Here are some factors to consider as you narrow down your choices:

  • Length of promotion: If you have a lot of debt, prioritize cards with longer promotions. If you can afford to pay it off in a shorter time, though, you may have more flexibility with other card features.
  • Long-term goals: Some of the best balance transfer credit cards don't offer rewards, so once you pay off your debt, you may not get much value from the card going forward. If you want a card that offers long-term value, consider other features, such as rewards, travel perks and more.
  • Costs: Compare each card's balance transfer fee and how much that'll cost you based on how much you want to transfer. If you're unsure whether you can pay off the debt before the promotional period ends, also compare ongoing APRs.
  • Credit score: You may need good or excellent credit to get approved for a balance transfer credit card, so check your credit score to see where you stand and gauge your approval odds for the cards you're considering.

On the surface, balance transfers appear to be straightforward, but there are some key terms and conditions you'll want to understand before you apply for a card. Here’s what to know:

  • You don't have to worry about retroactive interest. Some retailers offer promotional financing that requires you to pay off the balance in full before the promotion ends. If you don't, you'll be charged interest retroactively based on the original balance. Fortunately, that's not the case with balance transfer promotions. If you have a balance at the end of the promotional period, the card's regular APR will apply only to the remaining amount.
  • You can only transfer between different issuers. If you have a credit card with one card issuer, you won't be able to transfer your balance to another card offered by that same issuer.
  • There's a transfer window. Balance transfer credit cards often require you to request a transfer within a certain period after you open the account. If you miss the window, you may not get the 0% APR benefit.
  • Balance transfer fees can eat into your savings. Balance transfer fees, which are usually added to your new balance, typically range from 3% to 5% of the transfer amount. If you're considering a balance transfer card, check the fee and use an online balance transfer calculator to get an idea of whether the interest savings outpace the upfront fee enough to make it worth your while.
  • Your transfers may be limited. You can typically only transfer up to the credit limit on your new card, which won't be revealed until you apply and get approved. Additionally, some cards may set a hard limit for transfers regardless of the credit limit you qualify for.
  • You may not get a grace period on purchases. While our top choices offer intro 0% APR promotions on both purchases and balance transfers, that's not always the case. If you have a card that only offers an intro 0% APR on balance transfers, you may not get a grace period on any purchases you make with the card. In other words, interest will start accruing from the date of your transaction until you've paid off the balance transfer.

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