Hear from our editors: The best balance transfer cards of October 2026
Updated October 16, 2026
This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.
Editorial Note: Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. Information about financial products not offered on Credit Karma is collected independently. Our content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.
Louis DeNicola is a personal finance writer and has written for American Express and Discover.
Written by: Louis DeNicola
Edited by: Rachel Ziemer, Content Coordinator, Loans
Key Takeaway: The best balance transfer cards offer a long introductory APR period, low upfront fees and clear terms that make it easy to consolidate and manage debt payments.
Do you carry a balance on your credit cards? If you do, how much interest are you paying?
Rather than pay interest on your credit card debt or juggle multiple payments each month, you may be able to transfer high-interest debt to a single credit card by doing a balance transfer.
Here are our choices for the best balance transfer cards.
- Best for long 0% intro APR: Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
- Best for a long 0% intro APR: U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card
- Best for long 0% intro APR: BankAmericard® credit card
- Best for long 0% intro APR: Chase Slate®
- Best for no penalty APR: Citi Simplicity® Card
- Best for time to transfer your balances: Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
- Best for simple cash back: Citi Double Cash® Card
- Best for rewards: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Best for long 0% intro APR: Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
Here’s why: This card offers one of the longest 0% intro APR periods you’ll see for a balance transfer card.
The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card features a 0% introductory APR for 21 months on both purchases and balance transfers made within 120 days of account opening. After that, the purchase and balance transfer APRs rise to a variable 17.74%, 24.24%, 28.49%. There’s also a balance transfer fee of 5% (minimum $5).
Learn more about the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card.
Best for long 0% intro APR: U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card
Here’s why: This card has one of the longest 0% intro APR periods available.
The U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card has a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 21 billing cycles after account opening. To qualify for the intro rate, you must transfer your balance within 60 days of account opening. There’s a balance transfer fee: Either 5% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater. After the intro period is over, the regular variable APR for purchases and balance transfers rises to 17.24% - 28.24%.
Best for a long 0% intro APR: BankAmericard® credit card
Here’s why: This card offers a long 0% intro APR period.
The BankAmericard® credit card offers a 0% introductory APR for 21 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account. After the end of that period, both variable APRs rise to 15.24% - 26.24%. There’s also a balance transfer fee of 5% of the amount of each transaction.
Read more about the BankAmericard® credit card.
Best for long 0% intro APR: Chase Slate®
Here’s why: Chase Slate® has a long intro APR period.
Chase Slate® offers a 0% intro APR on both purchases and balance transfers for 21 months from account opening. After the intro period, the APR for both purchases and balance transfers increases to a variable rate of 18.49% - 28.49%. There’s a balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
While Chase Slate® doesn’t offer any cash back, the long intro balance transfer option makes it worthwhile.
Best for no penalty APR: Citi Simplicity® Card
Here’s why: The Citi Simplicity® Card combines low intro APR offers with no late fees or penalty APR if you pay late.
While it’s a good idea to pay on time, this can be a helpful safety net for busy people who are prone to forget their due dates from time to time. Keep in mind that even though this card doesn’t have late fees or a penalty APR, you may still have a late payment reported on your credit if you’re 30 days or more late on your payments.
You’ll also get an intro 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 months from date of account opening (you may see different offers on Credit Karma). There are a few things to know before you apply for this card, though.
- Once those two introductory windows are up, you’ll be charged a variable APR of 17.74% - 28.49% on both purchases and balance transfers.
- To qualify for the low balance transfer rate, you must complete your transfers within four months of your account opening.
- The Citi Simplicity® Card has a balance transfer fee: Intro fee 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum).
Learn more about the Citi Simplicity® Card.
Best for time to transfer your balances: Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
Here’s why: The no-frills Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card gives you more time to get all the paperwork in order for your balance transfers.
The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card comes with a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months from date of account opening for balance transfers completed within the first four months of your account opening.
The card also offers 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months from date of account opening. After the intro APRs expire, you’ll be charged variable rates from 16.74% - 27.49% (note that your purchase APR and balance transfer APR may be different).
Keep in mind that there’s a balance transfer fee: Intro fee 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum).
Learn more about the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card.
Best for simple cash back: Citi Double Cash® Card
Here’s why: The Citi Double Cash® Card has a good 2% cash back rate for when you want to start using the card for purchases: 1% cash back on every purchase, and another 1% cash back when you pay the bill for those purchases.
It also has an introductory 0% APR for 18 months from the date of the first transfer for balance transfers that are completed within four months of your account opening. But there’s a balance transfer fee: Intro fee 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum). And once the intro 0% APR window is up, there’s a variable APR of 18.49% - 28.74% on balance transfers.
Also, there’s no promotional rate for purchases, and your purchase balance may start to accrue interest right away if you’re still paying off balance transfers (the card’s variable APR for purchases is 18.49% - 28.74%). We generally recommend not using the card for new purchases until you pay off your balance transfers.
Learn more about the Citi Double Cash® Card.
Best for rewards: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Here’s why: Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers a solid balance transfer offer and has a variety of cash back categories.
With Chase Freedom Unlimited®, you’ll get an introductory 0% APR for 15 months from opening the account on purchases and balance transfers. Once the intro period is over, you’ll have a variable APR of 18.49% - 27.99% for both. There’s also a balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days. 5% (minimum $5) thereafter.
The card also offers 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5% cash back on everything else.
What to consider when applying for a balance transfer card
There isn’t a balance transfer card that will be right for everyone. The best balance transfer card for you is one that you can qualify for and can help you pay off debt. Here are some things to keep in mind while you’re browsing balance transfer credit card options.
- Eligibility requirements — Balance transfer cards tend to have higher credit requirements compared to other debt consolidation methods, like personal loans. Check with each issuer to make sure you meet their eligibility requirements before applying.
- Intro APR length on balance transfers — Some credit cards that offer intro balance transfer rates have a shorter promotional period than others. You should figure out how long you may need to comfortably pay off your debt and look for a card with a similar intro length.
- Balance transfer fee — Balance transfer fees are usually 3% to 5% of your transferred balance.
- Regular balance transfer APR — Make sure you’re comfortable with the regular balance transfer APR before applying for a credit card. If you’re unable to pay off your debt by the time the intro period is over, you’ll be charged the regular APR on the remaining balance.
- Rewards — While rewards shouldn’t be the main point of a balance transfer card, it could help you decide between two similar cards. Make sure the rewards line up with your typical spending habits.
How to make the most of balance transfer cards
As with rewards cards and low-interest cards, it’s a good idea to compare balance transfer cards to determine which is best for your particular circumstances. If you don’t think you can pay off the debt quickly, a longer promotional period could be best. Or, you may want to try to save as much money as possible by avoiding balance transfer fees.
The right balance transfer card could help you save money while you pay down your debt, but even then it’s not a magic solution. Here are a few things you’ll want to watch out for, plus some tips for getting the most out of your card.
- Some balance transfer cards give you an introductory 0% interest rate on purchases, too, but this may not be the same length as the balance transfer intro period.
- You usually have to pay a fee to transfer your balance to your new card — typically 3% or 5% of your balance.
- Balance transfer cards may provide temporary relief from high interest rates, but they don’t make your debt disappear. If you’re approved for a transfer, you should make a plan for paying your debt down during the introductory APR period.
- A balance transfer calculator can help you estimate how much a particular balance transfer offer could save you.
- Depending on how much debt you’re carrying, you may not be able to transfer all of your debt, even if you’re approved for the card. How much you can transfer will probably be restricted to the credit limit you’re approved for. The card’s issuer may set a maximum transfer amount, too.
- You may need to have good or even excellent credit scores to qualify for a balance transfer card. If you’re still working on your overall credit, a card that can help you build credit may be a better fit for you.
As long as you’re aware of the potential pitfalls and have a plan, a balance transfer card could be a good option for you to help you consolidate and pay down debt.
How we picked these cards
We looked for cards that could help people who are currently in debt and plan to use a new balance transfer card to help them consolidate and pay down their debt. The length of the balance transfer introductory APR period and the balance transfer fee are two essential components, as a longer intro period and lower fees could help you pay off the balance before it starts to accrue interest.
We also considered other card fees, like annual fees, as these expenses could make it more difficult to pay off your debt. In fact, none of our picks for the best balance transfer cards charge an annual fee.
We didn’t consider sign-up bonuses, which can be more common with rewards cards than balance transfer cards.
FAQ: Editors’ answers
How do balance transfers work?
A balance transfer is when you move some or all of your credit card debt onto a single card that’s offering a lower interest rate for balance transfers. And that lower rate should then allow you to save money on interest as you focus on paying down your debt.
Lots of credit cards offer introductory 0% APRs for balance transfers, which last for a set amount of time. For example, you may see an offer advertising an introductory 0% balance transfer for 15 months, before the interest rate rises to a variable percentage that’s based on your credit. These balance transfer cards give you a window of time — which varies by card — to pay down your debt without adding to it with interest charges. But the balance transfer APR will jump once that window is up, and you will start being charged interest again.
When is a balance transfer a good idea?
A balance transfer offer could be a good idea if you have high-interest credit card debt. So it can buy you some time to pay down that debt, and you might be able to avoid interest charges while you do it. But in order to save the most with a balance transfer, it’s a good idea to have a clear plan in place to pay down the debt during the introductory balance transfer APR offer, so you don’t get stuck paying interest and end up with more debt than what you started with.
A balance transfer could also be a good idea if you’re juggling high-interest debt across multiple cards. It may be possible to transfer several balances to a balance transfer card, depending on the card issuer’s rules and how much you’re allowed to transfer. Consolidating your credit card debt can help you streamline multiple payments into one manageable payment.
Is there a downside to balance transfers?
There are several potential downsides to balance transfers. For one, many cards charge a balance transfer fee, which is a percentage of the amount you transfer or a flat dollar amount — whichever is higher of the two. So before you choose a balance transfer, make sure that the amount you can save on interest is at least worth this cost.
Also, if you intend to use the balance transfer card for new purchases as well, you could end up adding to your debt and paying more in interest. So if you don’t have a plan to pay off these new purchases, you may end up creating more problems for your finances.
And you may not be able to transfer all of your debt either. Balance transfer cards frequently limit the amount you can transfer, and some credit card issuers may not allow you to make transfers from the other accounts you have with them.
So before you decide on a balance transfer, read the fine print on the offers to check for any restrictions and or other potential downsides.
Who qualifies for a balance transfer card?
As with any credit card, who qualifies for a balance transfer card is determined by the issuer. Several factors will likely be considered, but one major component is your credit scores. To be approved for a balance transfer card, you may need to have good or excellent credit.
But having higher credit scores doesn’t mean you’ll automatically get approved. If you’re a Credit Karma member, you can use our Credit Karma Approval Odds to get an idea of how likely you are to be approved for a certain card. The Approval Odds aren’t a guarantee, but they can be a helpful tool to determine whether you might be likely to get approved while you’re researching your options.
Do balance transfers affect my credit scores?
Balance transfers may have a negative impact on your credit scores. When you apply for a new credit card, the issuer will run a hard inquiry on your credit reports. A hard inquiry can stay on your credit reports for up to two years, although the hard inquiry itself may lower your credit scores only for a few months.
A new credit card can also lower the average age of your accounts, which can have a negative impact on your scores.
But getting a new balance transfer card can also have a positive impact on your credit scores by lowering your credit card utilization rate (as long as you don’t increase your spending). Your credit card utilization rate is the percentage of your revolving credit you’re using at any given time.
If you choose a balance transfer, consider keeping all of your cards open (including the cards you transfer from) to show your positive payment history, boost your average age of accounts and help you maintain a low credit card utilization rate.
How can you consolidate your credit card debt?
There are a few ways to consolidate credit card debt. Some of the most common methods are using a balance transfer credit card or taking out a personal loan for debt consolidation. Which is best for you depends on your personal situation and needs.
What should I consider when selecting a credit card for debt consolidation?
There are a few things to consider when shopping for a credit card for debt consolidation. First, check if you meet the eligibility requirements. Balance transfer credit cards can have higher credit requirements. Next, you should look at the length of the intro balance transfer APR period and decide if it’s enough time to pay off your debt. And keep in mind that if you don’t pay off all of your debt before the intro period is over, the remaining amount will start accruing interest at the regular balance transfer APR.
