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Stop Paying Interest on Your Credit Card Debt

A balance transfer card lets you move high-interest debt to a new card with 0% APR for up to 21 months. Pay down what you owe — not your bank's interest.

0% APR for up to 21 months

Many cards have no annual fee

Save hundreds or thousands in interest

Last updated: March 23, 2026
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Top Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards of 2026

Expert-ranked cards based on rewards, fees, and benefits

#1
Wells Fargo Reflect credit card
Wells Fargo Reflect

Wells Fargo

Annual Fee
No annual fee
Welcome Bonus
N/A
0% Intro APR
21 months on purchases & transfers
#2
Citi Diamond Preferred credit card
Citi Diamond Preferred

Citi

Annual Fee
No annual fee
Welcome Bonus
N/A
0% Intro APR
21 months on purchases & transfers
#3
Citi Simplicity credit card
Citi Simplicity

Citi

Annual Fee
No annual fee
Welcome Bonus
N/A
0% Intro APR
21 months on purchases & transfers
#4
BankAmericard credit card
BankAmericard

Bank of America

Annual Fee
No annual fee
Welcome Bonus
N/A
0% Intro APR
18 months on purchases & transfers
#5
U.S. BANK SHIELD credit card
U.S. BANK SHIELD

U.S. Bank

Annual Fee
No annual fee
Welcome Bonus
N/A
0% Intro APR
18 months on purchases & transfers
#6
Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card
Bank of America Travel Rewards

Bank of America

Annual Fee
No annual fee
Welcome Bonus
$500 statement credit
0% Intro APR
15 months on purchases & transfers
#7
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards

Bank of America

Annual Fee
No annual fee
Welcome Bonus
$500 statement credit
0% Intro APR
15 months on purchases & transfers
#8
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards

Bank of America

Annual Fee
No annual fee
Welcome Bonus
$500 statement credit
0% Intro APR
15 months on purchases & transfers
#9
Discover it Cash Back credit card
Discover it Cash Back

Discover

Annual Fee
No annual fee
Welcome Bonus
N/A
0% Intro APR
15 months on purchases & transfers

Want to compare these cards side-by-side?

Compare Top 4 Cards

What to Look For

Key factors to consider when choosing your card

Longest possible 0% intro APR period (look for 18–21 months)

Low or no balance transfer fee (typically 3–5% of transferred amount)

No annual fee — debt payoff cards rarely need to cost you anything

Regular APR after the promo ends (look for under 25%)

Transfer window — most cards require you to complete the transfer within 60–120 days

No penalty APR — some cards will end your promo rate if you miss a payment

How to Choose

Divide your total debt by the promo period to find your required monthly payment. If you can realistically pay it all off within the promo window, pick the longest 0% period you qualify for. If the math is tight, prioritize a lower transfer fee. Avoid cards with penalty APR clauses — one missed payment shouldn't cost you the entire promo rate.

Learn More About Credit Cards

Frequently Asked Questions

Get answers to common questions about choosing the right card

You apply for a balance transfer card and request that it pay off your existing card balance(s). The new card takes on that debt, and you pay the new card at 0% APR during the promo period. Most cards charge a transfer fee of 3–5% upfront, but that's often far less than months of high-interest charges on your current card.

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