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10 Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards With 0% Intro APR

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It’s that time of the year. The holidays are here and the bills haven’t started coming in yet. But they will. Here are the best balance transfer credit cards. With most of these cards, you’ll pay 0 interest until 2025!

Did you go a little overboard and spend more than you planned on holiday gifts?

Had a month, two, three, of 12 where Murphy’s Law took control: the car broke down, dental emergency, etc.

Planning several big purchases like a remodel or college tuition?

Need a little breathing room from credit card debt?

You’re not alone. Many Americans carry a balance on their credit card every month. Credit card balances account for $986 billion in debt.

Looking for a 0% interest card?

A balance transfer card might be for you.

I’ve written about the best travel rewards credit cards, the best card for travel hacking, the best travel rewards cards that earn points and cash with a welcome bonus, and how to travel for free with travel rewards cards.

10 Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards With 0% Intro APR

Sometimes we all need a little help. Travel can be expensive especially if you charge everything to your credit card. That’s where a balance transfer credit card comes in.

Balance transfer credit cards let you move debt from one card to another card.

Transferring your balance from one credit card to another credit card can save a lot of money.

With 0% balance transfer credit cards you don’t have to pay interest on the transferred balance.

Each card has specific terms of how long you can avoid interest payments. The most common offers are 12 months, 15 months, 18 months, and 21 months.

Some people use balance transfer cards as a way to consolidate debt. Because when combined with budgeting you can get out of debt faster.

These are the 10 best balance transfer credit cards with 0% intro APR almost all have no annual fee. As a bonus, I’ve added an additional balance transfer card that is worth considering.

Almost all of these cards offer a welcome bonus and a few let you earn points so you can travel for free.

Find the best balance transfer card.

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

The “Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card, one of our top picks for best balance transfer cards with 0% intro APR, offers 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months. You also get 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months. After that the APR is variable, currently, 17.99% to 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness. You have to complete your balance transfer within 4 months of opening our account.

You don’t earn travel rewards or cash back on this card. But almost two years of no interest payments is more valuable if you have to carry credit card debt.

There’s no annual fee on the Citi Diamond Preferred card.

There’s a $5 or 5% balance transfer fee, whichever is greater.

Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 Month BT offer

The Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer is the best balance transfer credit card with 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. After that the APR is variable, currently 18.99% to 28.99%, based on your creditworthiness.

If you want 18 months of interest-free payments, consider getting the Citi Double Cash card.

This card offers no annual fee and 1% unlimited cash back on all purchases plus an extra 1% cash back when you make your minimum payments.

Note: Starting March 28, 2022, cash back will be ThankYou Points that you can convert to cash back, travel, or gift cards.

There’s a 3% balance transfer fee with a $5 minimum during the first four months of having your card. After that, the balance transfer fee is 5% with a minimum of $5.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS CARD.

Find a balance transfer card.

Citi Simplicity® Card

Citi Simplicity® Card offers 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers. You get 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months. After that the APR is variable, currently, 18.99% to 29.74%, based on your credit worthiness. You have to complete your balance transfer within 4 months of opening our account.

If you want a simple card with no annual fee that gives you almost two years to pay off your debt quickly, this could be the card for you.

You’ll pay a $5 or 3% balance transfer fee with a $5 minimum on balance transfers during the first 4 months. After that, there’s a $5 or 5% balance transfer fee, whichever is greater.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is the best balance transfer credit card with 0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that the APR is variable, currently 20.49% to 29.24%.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited offers an additional 1.5% cash back on all your purchases up to $20,000 your first year, 5% cash back on travel booked through the Chase travel portal, 3% cash back at drugstores and restaurants including takeout and delivery, and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

Combine the welcome offer with 0% intro APR on new purchases for your first year and it’s like getting a 3% discount.

You earn unlimited matched cash back on all your purchases your first year.

Then, you earn 5% cash back on travel booked through the Chase portal, 3% cash back at drugstores and restaurants, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases without an annual fee.

So you can your cash back towards paying off your balance.

Or transfer points to cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and use for free flights and hotel rooms.

Because there’s no annual fee, this is a great card to keep to help build your credit and credit score.

There’s a $5 or 3% balance transfer fee, whichever is great.

Pro-tip: During your first 60 days, the intro balance transfer fee is 3% or $5 whichever is greater. After that, it’s $5 or 5% whichever is greater.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CHASE FREEDOM UNLIMITED® AND HOW TO APPLY

Chase Slate Edge℠

The new Chase Slate Edge℠ makes our list of best balance transfer cards because it offers 0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 18 months. After that the APR is variable, currently 20.49% to 29.24%.

With no annual fee and a year and a half of no interest on balance transfers and purchases, this card will help you reduce your debt fast and build your credit score.

The only downside, it’s a no frills card that doesn’t earn points or cash back.

Pro-tip: There’s a $5 or 3% balance transfer fee, whichever is greater, for the first 60 days of opening your account. Then it’s 5% or $5, whichever is greater.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CHASE SLATE EDGE℠ AND HOW TO APPLY

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the best balance transfer credit cards with 0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that the APR is variable, currently 19.99% to 29.99%. Balance transfer fee applies.

You don’t pay interest on your transferred balance for the first 15 months. This means you can pay down your debt faster.

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card has a one-time bonus of $200 when you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months of opening your card.

You earn 5% unlimited cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1.5% on all other purchases.

There’s no annual fee so this is a great card to keep.

A balance transfer fee applies.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CAPITAL ONE QUICKSILVER CASH REWARDS CREDIT CARD AND HOW TO APPLY

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is one of the best balance transfer cards with 0% intro APR for the first 12 months on purchases and balance transfers. You have to request your balance transfer within 60 days of opening your account (see rates and fees) and offers up to 6% cash back. After that the APR is variable, currently 19.24% to 29.99%.

You can earn a statement credit of $250 after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of opening your account. Terms Apply.

At US supermarkets you get 6% cash back up to $6,000 a calendar year, then it goes to 1%.

This card offers 6% cash back on select US streaming subscriptions. So you won’t feel guilty about being a couch potato and catching up on your shows.

You earn 3% cash back on rideshares, taxis, trains, buses, parking, tolls, and more. This is great if you live in a city like New York with great public transportation.

On purchases at US gas stations, you earn 3% cash back on gas and transit such as taxis, rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, and more.

You earn 1% on all other eligible purchases.

Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.

The only bummer about this card is the $95 annual fee. (see rates and fees) Your first year, it’s a $0 introductory annual fee and you can easily earn enough cash back to make it worth paying following years.

Balance transfer fee is 3% or $5, whichever is greater. (see rates and fees)

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BLUE CASH PREFERRED® CARD FROM AMERICAN EXPRESS

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is one of the best balance transfer credit cards with 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers requested within the first 60 days of opening your account and 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 15 months. (see rates and fees)After that the APR is variable, currently 19.24% to 29.99%.

You can earn a statement credit of $200 after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 6 months of opening your account. Terms Apply.

This no annual fee card (see rates and fees) offers 3% cash back at US supermarkets, US gas stations, and US online retail purchases, up to $6,000 a calendar year for each category, then it goes to 1%.

You also earn 1% on all other eligible purchases.

Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.

The Balance transfer fee is 3% or $5, whichever is greater. (see rates and fees)

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BLUE CASH EVERYDAY® CARD FROM AMERICAN EXPRESS

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the top 10 best balance transfer credit cards with 0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that the APR is variable, currently 19.99% to 29.99%. Balance transfer fee applies.

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card has a one-time bonus of $200 after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months of opening your card.

All purchases earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment,  grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart), select streaming service, 5% cash back on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply), 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, and 1% on all other purchases.  

You’ll want to keep this card because there’s no annual fee.

A balance transfer fee applies.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CAPITAL ONE SAVORONE CASH REWARDS CREDIT CARD

United Gateway℠ Card

The United Gateway℠ Card is among the best balance transfer credit card with 0% intro APR on purchases for the first 12 months. After that your APR is variable, currently 21.99% to 28.99%.

You can earn 30,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of opening your account.

The United Gateway is a great card to help build and maintain good credit because there’s no annual fee.

You earn 2 points per dollar at gas stations, on local transit and commuting, on United Airlines purchases, and 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases

There’s a $5 or 5% balance transfer fee, whichever is greater.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE UNITED GATEWAY℠ CARD AND HOW TO APPLY

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is one of the best balance transfer credit cards with 0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that the APR is variable, currently 19.99% to 29.99%. Balance transfer fee applies.

You can earn a one-time bonus of 20,000 miles after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. This is equal to $200 in travel. 

All purchases earn unlimited 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase. You also earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

You can transfer your miles to over 15 travel partners.

This is a great card to keep because there’s no annual fee and miles never expire!

A balance transfer fee applies.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CAPITAL ONE VENTUREONE REWARDS CREDIT CARD AND HOW TO APPLY

How 0% APR Balance Transfer Credit Cards Work

A credit card with a 0% interest on balance transfers means interest is not charged on transferred debt.

If a credit card offers 0% APR on balance transfers for 15 months you aren’t charged interest for 15 months on that transferred balance.

Using a balance transfer card doesn’t mean you don’t have to make your payments. You still have to make payments on your debt but aren’t charged interest.

Think of it as an interest-free loan.

Let’s say you have a $10,000 balance on your credit card with a 27.29% interest rate. Your minimum monthly payment is at least $228 which only covers the interest and not your debt.

It will take you 22.2 years to pay off your balance! And you’ll have paid $50,523.48 in interest!

You can transfer your debt to a 0% balance transfer card like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® which offers 0% intro APR interest on balance transfers for 15 months. After that the APR is variable, currently 20.49% to 29.24%.

All your payments will go toward paying off your debt.

By the end of 15 months, you’ll have paid $3,420 and only owe $6,580 on your transferred balance.

If you’re able to pay extra each month, you can reduce your debt faster.

Pro-tip: You can transfer this balance to another 0% balance transfer card. Repeat until you pay off your debt.

This works best if you aren’t adding extra debt to your existing debt.

Be sure to pay your bill on time or early. With some 0% offers, if you pay your bill late, it cancels your 0% rate. 🙁

The best way to use balance transfer cards is to pay down your debt.

Find balance transfer cards.

Conclusion

Balance transfer credit cards can save you money and help you get out of debt faster. These are the best balance transfer credit cards with 0% intro APR.

Whether you want to save money on interest to pay off your balances sooner, need a little breathing room from high interest rates, or have upcoming large purchases, balance transfer cards can help. You can move your debt from your other cards to balance transfer credit cards with 0% intro APR.

Which are your favorite balance transfer cards?

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For the Amex Blue Cash Preferred rates and fees, click here.
For the Amex Blue Cash Everyday rates and fees, clickhere.

 

Traveling Well For Less has partnered with Your Best Credit Cards for our coverage of credit card products. Traveling Well For Less and YBCC may receive a commission from card issuers.


Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best card to get started in the world of miles and points. It is the first card you should get to start traveling for free because the welcome offer is 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.
 
My favorite perks about this card are earning 5X points on travel when booked through the Chase portal (2X if direct purchase), 3X points on dining, $50 yearly credit on hotels booked through the Chase portal, no foreign transaction fees, and transferring points to 13 airline and hotel partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest.
 

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is one of my favorite cards for earning cash back card and travel rewards. It offers a welcome offer of an additional 1.5% cash back on all your purchases up to $20,000 your first year.
 
My favorite perks about this card are earning 5% cash back on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal, 3% cash back at drugstores and restaurants (including delivery and takeout), 1.5% cash back on all other purchases and no annual fee. When paired with cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card or Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, you can use your points to travel for free.
 

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True

Sunday 10th of January 2021

Absolutely taking advantage of this post! I have never looked into balance transfer as an option but now I'm seriously considering it.

Nbam Ana

Thursday 7th of January 2021

Wow! I don't have a credit card, so gonna share this list with my husband now. Thanks for sharing 🙂

Catalina

Thursday 7th of January 2021

It's great to know more about options I have! Thanks for sharing this info!

Beth

Thursday 7th of January 2021

This sounds like a great choice for people who are looking to reduce their credit card debt.

Debra Schroeder

Thursday 7th of January 2021

Hi Beth,

They sure are. Some people use balance transfer cards as a way to consolidate debt. Because when combined with budgeting you can get out of debt faster.

Kate | Life of a Ginger

Thursday 7th of January 2021

This is great information to have for people who have credit card debt.

Debra Schroeder

Thursday 7th of January 2021

Hi Kate,

Balance transfer credit cards let you move debt from one card to another card. Transferring your balance from one credit card to another credit card can save a lot of money.

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