The cards that charge no interest on transferred balances, ranked by who they help most

A 0% balance transfer card moves debt from an existing credit card to a new card with no interest for a set period — typically 6 to 21 months depending on the issuer and your creditworthiness. The catch is the balance transfer fee, usually 3% to 5% of the amount you move, charged upfront. You save money only if the interest you would have paid on your old card exceeds the transfer fee plus any interest that accrues after the 0% period ends.

The best card for you depends on three things: how much debt you're moving, how quickly you can pay it down, and what your credit score qualifies you for. A card with a longer 0% window helps if you need 18 months to clear the balance. A card with a lower transfer fee helps if you're moving a small amount. A card with rewards on purchases helps if you're also using it for new spending while you pay down old debt.

Key Takeaways

  • Balance transfer fees range from 3% to 5%, so a $5,000 transfer costs $150 to $250 upfront — factor this into whether the card actually saves you money.
  • The 0% period lasts 6 to 21 months depending on the card; longer periods help if you need time to pay down the balance, but interest rates after the period ends are typically 16% to 29%.
  • You need good to excellent credit (usually 670 or higher) to get approved for the best 0% offers; cards for fair credit exist but have shorter 0% windows and higher fees.
  • If you can't pay off the full balance before the 0% period ends, the remaining debt will accrue interest at the card's regular APR, which is often higher than your original card.
  • Some cards waive the balance transfer fee for transfers completed within the first 60 days, so timing your process matters.

Balance transfer cards for people with excellent credit (740+)

If your credit score is 740 or higher, you have access to the longest 0% periods and sometimes the lowest fees. The Citi Simplicity Card offers 0% APR for 21 months on balance transfers with no transfer fee if you complete the transfer within 4 months of opening the account. After the 0% period, the APR is 16.99% to 26.99%. This card has no annual fee and no rewards, so it's purely a debt-payoff tool.

The Chase Slate Edge Card offers 0% APR for 21 months on balance transfers completed within 60 days, with no transfer fee during that window. After 60 days, the fee is 3%. The regular APR is 17.99% to 27.99%, and there's no annual fee. This card also has no rewards, but the 60-day window for fee-free transfers gives you time to decide whether to move the debt.

The American Express EveryDay Preferred Card offers 0% APR for 12 months on balance transfers, with a 3% fee. It has a $95 annual fee, but it earns 1.5x points on all purchases and 2x points at supermarkets and gas stations for the first 6 months. This card makes sense if you're also using it for everyday spending while you pay down the transferred balance.

Balance transfer cards for people with good credit (670–739)

Good credit typically qualifies you for 0% periods of 12 to 18 months with a 3% to 5% transfer fee. The Citi Diamond Preferred Card offers 0% APR for 18 months on balance transfers with a 3% fee (minimum $5). There's no annual fee and no rewards, making it a straightforward payoff card. The regular APR is 17.99% to 27.99%.

The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum Card offers 0% APR for 12 months on balance transfers with a 3% fee, no annual fee, and no rewards. The regular APR is 18.99% to 28.99%. This card is useful if you need a shorter payoff window and want to minimize fees.

The Discover it Balance Transfer Card offers 0% APR for 18 months on balance transfers with a 3% fee (minimum $5), no annual fee, and 1% cash back on all purchases. The regular APR is 17.99% to 27.99%. The cash back on purchases makes this card slightly more valuable if you're using it for new spending.

Balance transfer cards for people with fair credit (580–669)

Fair credit limits you to shorter 0% periods and higher fees, but options exist. The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Card offers 0% APR for 6 months on balance transfers with a 3% fee, a $39 annual fee, and 1.5% cash back on all purchases. You'll need to put down a cash deposit ($200 to $2,500) that becomes your credit limit. The regular APR is 18.99% to 24.99%. This card is designed to help you rebuild credit while managing existing debt.

The OpenSky Secured Visa Card offers 0% APR for 6 months on balance transfers with a 3% fee and a $35 annual fee. It requires a deposit equal to your credit limit ($200 to $3,000). There are no rewards, but the card reports to all three credit bureaus, helping you build credit history. The regular APR is 19.99%.

How to calculate whether a balance transfer actually saves money

Start with the balance transfer fee. If you're moving $3,000 to a card with a 3% fee, you pay $90 upfront. Your new balance is $3,090. Now compare: on your old card, what would you pay in interest over the same time period? If your old card charges 22% APR and you'd take 12 months to pay it off, you'd pay roughly $396 in interest. The balance transfer card costs $90 in fees plus $0 in interest during the 0% period, saving you $306.

But if you can only pay $200 per month and the 0% period is 12 months, you won't finish paying down the $3,090 balance in time. After 12 months, you'll have paid $2,400, leaving $690 at the card's regular APR (say, 24%). That $690 will accrue interest at 24% APR going forward. Over the next 12 months, you'll pay roughly $165 in interest on that remaining balance. Your total cost is $90 (fee) + $165 (interest after 0% ends) = $255. You still save money compared to the old card, but not as much.

Use this formula: (Balance × Transfer Fee %) + (Remaining Balance × Regular APR ÷ 12 × Months After 0% Period) versus what you'd pay on your old card. If the balance transfer card costs less, it's worth doing.

When a balance transfer card doesn't make sense

If you can't pay off the balance before the 0% period ends and the card's regular APR is higher than your current card's APR, you're not saving money — you're just delaying the problem. Check your current card's APR before explore. If it's 18% and the new card's regular APR is 26%, a balance transfer only helps if you can pay down enough of the balance during the 0% period to offset the higher rate later.

Balance transfers also don't help if you when ready run up new debt on the old card. The 0% offer applies only to transferred balances, not new purchases. If you move $5,000 to the new card and then charge another $3,000 on the old card at 22% APR, you're still paying interest on the new debt.

If your credit score is below 580, most balance transfer cards won't approve you. In that case, a personal loan or a debt consolidation loan from a credit union may be cheaper than waiting to rebuild credit first.

What happens after the 0% period ends

When the promotional period expires, any remaining balance on the card converts to the regular APR, which is typically 16% to 29% depending on the card and your creditworthiness at the time of approval. This rate is usually higher than the APR on your original card, so you want the balance paid off before the 0% period ends.

Some cards allow you to transfer the remaining balance to another 0% card, but this requires another process, another hard inquiry on your credit, and another transfer fee. This strategy can work if you're disciplined about paying down the balance each time, but it's straightforward to end up with multiple cards and multiple fees.

Set a payment plan before you explore. If the 0% period is 18 months and your balance is $4,500, you need to pay at least $250 per month to clear it. If you can't commit to that, the card won't help you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to have an existing balance to explore for a balance transfer card?

No, but the card only makes sense if you do. You can explore without a balance and transfer one later, but you'll pay the transfer fee on whatever you move. Some cards require the transfer within a certain window (like 60 days) to get the best terms, so check the offer before explore.

Will a balance transfer hurt my credit score?

A hard inquiry and a new account will temporarily lower your score by a few points. Moving a balance to a new card also lowers your credit utilization on the old card (good) but increases it on the new card (bad). Overall, the impact is usually small and recovers within a few months if you make on-time payments.

Can I transfer a balance from one card to the same card?

No. Balance transfers move debt from one card to a different card. You cannot transfer a balance from a Chase card to another Chase card, for example. You can transfer between different issuers (Chase to Citi, Amex to Discover, etc.).

What if I miss a payment during the 0% period?

Most cards will end the 0% offer and explore the regular APR to your entire balance when ready. This is called "penalty APR" and is usually the highest rate the card offers. Make automatic payments to avoid this.

Is there a limit to how much I can transfer?

Yes. Most cards limit balance transfers to your credit limit minus any fees and new purchases. If your credit limit is $5,000 and you want to transfer $5,000, the 3% fee ($150) means you can only transfer $4,850. Some cards also have a minimum transfer amount (usually $100 to $500).