Best balance transfer cards of September 2025

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Credit cards have notoriously high interest rates, so carrying a balance can be costly. However, some cards offer a path to paying off debt quicker with an introductory 0% APR period. These cards offer no interest for up to 24 months, which can more than offset any balance transfer fees.

Below, CNBC Select reviews the best balance transfer cards and we share what you need to know about using a balance transfer card. See our methodology for information on how we chose these cards.

Who’s this for? The U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa®Card stands alone with its exceptionally generous intro-APR offer. If you want to save on credit card interest, this is the first card to look at.

Balance transfer offer: For a limited time, you’ll receive a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 24 billing cycles, then a variable 17.74% to 28.74% APR applies. To qualify for the intro-APR, you must transfer the balance within 60 days of account opening. There is a balance transfer fee of 5% of the amount of each transfer ($5 minimum).

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Who’s this for? The Citi Simplicity® Card has a generous intro APR period for balance transfers and a lower balance transfer fee than other options.

Balance transfer offer: When you transfer a balance to the Citi Simplicity Card from date of account opening, you’ll receive an intro 0% APR on that balance for 21 months. Then a variable 18.24% to 28.99% APR applies. An intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount you transfer ($5 minimum) applies to transfers you make in the first four months, after that a fee of 5% of the amount you transfer applies ($5 minimum). The intro fee is lower than the balance transfer fee for some cards with a similar 0% APR timeframe.

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Who’s this for? The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card has one of the longest introductory 0% APR periods for purchases and balance transfers.

Balance transfer offer: Balance transfers you make within 120 days of account opening qualify for a 0% intro APR for 21 months, after that a variable 17.24%, 23.74% or 28.99% APR applies. The balance transfer fee is 5% of each transfer with a $5 minimum.

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Who’s this for? The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card is a great option for those with good or excellent credit seeking a long introductory APR period.

Balance transfer offer: You’ll get 0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of account opening (17.24% to 27.99% variable APR afterward). Balance transfers must be completed within four months of account opening and there is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.

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Who’s this for? The Citi Double Cash® Card is one of the best cash-back cards, on top of featuring a generous balance transfer offer.

Balance transfer offer: With the Citi Double Cash Card, you can enjoy a 0% intro APR for the first 18 months on balance transfers you complete in the first four months of account opening. After the intro APR expires, a variable 18.24% to 28.24% APR applies. There’s an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) within the first four months, then the balance transfer fee increases to 5% of any amount you transfer ($5 minimum).

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Who’s this for? The Chase Slate Edge℠ offers introductory 0% APR timeframes for balance transfers and purchases.

Balance transfer offer: With the Chase Slate Edge, you’ll receive an intro 0% APR for 18 months on eligible balance transfers, then a variable 18.99% to 28.99% APR applies. An intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount transferred ($5 minimum) applies to transfers you make in the first 60 days. After that, the balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount transferred ($5 minimum).

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Who’s this for? The BankAmericard® credit card offers a generous intro APR for purchases and balance transfers, plus it has a reasonable balance transfer fee.

Balance transfer offer: You’ll receive a 0% intro APR for 18 months for purchases and qualifying balance transfers. Balance transfers must be completed in the first 60 days from account opening to qualify for the intro APR. Once the intro APR expires, the standard variable APR of 15.24% to 25.24% applies. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transaction for the first 60 days, then the transfer fee increases to 4% of each transaction.

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Who’s this for? The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is an excellent cash-back card to consider if you want to earn rewards while paying down your credit card debt.

Balance transfer offer: Chase Freedom Unlimited® cardmembers can transfer balances and receive an intro 0% APR for the first 15 months, then a variable 18.99% to 28.49% APR applies. An intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount you transfer ($5 minimum) applies for the first 60 days. After that, the balance transfer fee increases to 5% of the amount you transfer ($5 minimum).

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Who’s this for? The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express earns a solid 3% cash back rewards on U.S. supermarkets and online retailers (see rates and fees), and it also comes with some helpful statement credits.

Balance transfer offer: This card has an introductory 0% APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers from the date of account opening, then 20.24% to 29.24% variable. There’s a balance transfer fee that’s either $5or3%of the amount of each transfer (whichever is greater), and transfers must be requested within 60 days of account opening.

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Who’s this for? The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great fit if you’re looking to transfer a balance and want a solid return on everyday purchases.

Balance transfer offer: You’ll get an intro 0% APR on balance transfers for 15 months with the Capital One Quicksilver Credit Card. After the intro-APR offer ends, the standard variable APR of 19.24% to 29.24% applies. There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer you complete in the first 15 months from account opening. After that, there is a balance transfer fee of 4% of the amount you transfer at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time.

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Who’s this for? The Chase Freedom Flex® offers a high return in rotating bonus categories to go along with its intro 0% APR offer.

Balance transfer offer: Chase Freedom Flex card holders can transfer balances and take advantage of an intro 0% APR for 15 months, then a variable 18.99% to 28.49% APR applies. This card’s intro balance transfer fee is 3% of the amount you transfer ($5 minimum) within the first 60 days of account opening. Afterward, the balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount you transfer ($5 minimum).

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Rewards

• 4% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and rental car reservations booked through the U.S. Bank Rewards Center

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

$0

Notable benefits

After you make purchases for 11 consecutive months with your U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa®Card, you’ll earn a $20 statement credit.

You can also qualify for cell phone protection for theft and damage when you pay your monthly wireless phone bill with this card. This insurance provides up to $600 in reimbursement per claim with a $100 deductible (maximum one claim every 12 months).

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Rewards

• 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time
• Earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel

Welcome bonus

Earn a $200bonus after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening

Annual fee

$0

Notable benefits

The Citi Double Cash® Card is a cash-back card at its core, but you earn cash back as Citi ThankYou® Points, which expands your redemption options. You can transfer Citi ThankYou® Points to a handful of travel partners, including Choice Hotels, Wyndham Hotels and JetBlue. However, if you pair this card with a Citi credit card that enables full transfers, like the Citi Strata Premier^®Card (see rates and fees), you can transfer your points to all of Citi’s travel partners at improved ratios.

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Rewards

None

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

$0

Notable benefits

With the Chase Slate Edge℠, you are eligible for an automatic 2% APR reduction after spending at least $1,000 within a card anniversary year and making all your payments on time. You can also earn an automatic one-time review for a higher credit limit after spending at least $500 during your first six months of card membership and making on-time payments during the same period.

You can receive six complimentary months of DoorDash DashPass membership when you enroll by Dec. 31, 2027 (after, you’ll be auto-enrolled at the full price). Once per quarter, you’ll receive a $10 discount on a non-restaurant DoorDash order.

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Rewards

• 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel^SM
• 3% back at drugstores
• 3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
• 1.5% on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening

Annual fee

$0

Notable benefits

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers an intro APR on purchases and eligible purchases qualify for extended warranty protection, purchase protection and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.

You also get six months of complimentary DashPass when you activate by Dec. 31, 2027 (after the six months you’ll be auto-enrolled at the full price). You also receive a $10 discount on a non-restaurant DoorDash order once per quarter.

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Rewards

• 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%
• 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%
• 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%
• 1% cash back on other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first six months

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express earns rewards in popular spending categories and has a $84 Disney bundle credit in the form of a $7 monthly statement credit when spending $9.99 or more each month on an eligible subscription (subject to auto-renewal). Enrollment required.

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Rewards

• Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 1.5% cash back on every purchase

Welcome bonus

For a limited time, enjoy a $100 credit to use towards flights, stays and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel during your first cardholder year. Plus, earn a $200 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening

Annual fee

$0

Notable benefits

On top of the balance transfer offer, you’ll also receive an intro APR on purchases with the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card.

Through Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment, you’ll get access to pre-sales and exclusive events and experiences with this card. You’re also able to book travel through the Capital One Travel site, which provides certain benefits, such as price drop protection and a price match guarantee.

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Rewards

• 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter (activation required)
• Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through the Chase Travel^SM portal
• Earn 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services
• Earn 3% cash back at drugstores
• Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening

Annual fee

$0

Notable benefits

The Chase Freedom Flex® provides an introductory APR on purchases. You can also save on delivery fees with six months of complimentary DashPass when you activate by Dec. 31, 2027 (after the six months you’ll be auto-enrolled at the full price). You can also take advantage of a quarterly $10 discount on a non-restaurant DoorDash order.

This card also has insurance benefits, such as cell phone protection, purchase protection, extended warranty protection and trip cancellation/interruption coverage.

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A balance transfer credit card lets you move your credit card debt from one card to another. The best balance transfer cards offer limited-time no-interest periods for these transfers. This enables you to save on higher-interest debt for a set amount of time, typically anywhere from six months to 24 months.

Completing a balance transfer is usually fairly easy. Sometimes you can even transfer a balance when you apply for the card. Regardless of when you complete a transfer, you will also normally pay a balance transfer fee of 3% to 5% of the amount you transfer.

Another tradeoff is that the cards with the longest intro-APR periods tend not to be as rewarding as the top rewards credit cards. So if you want a card with an exceptionally long intro-APR, you probably won’t earn as many rewards.

Using your card’s balance transfer offer is fairly straightforward. You can usually opt to transfer balances as part of your application or transfer balances once you have your card. However, there are a few things to remember before taking advantage of a balance transfer offer.

Pay attention to fees

Most balance transfer cards charge a balance transfer fee. The fee is usually 3% to 5% of the amount you transfer. For example, transferring $5,000 with a 3% fee will cost you $150. This fee is charged to the balance transfer card, rather than the original card.

These fees can quickly add up and you should factor in this cost when determining if it makes sense to get a balance transfer card.

Know the restrictions

There are a few limitations to be aware of before you apply for a credit card with a balance transfer offer.

The first thing to know is that you can’t make transfers between cards from the same bank. For example, if you have a Chase credit card, you can’t transfer debt to another Chase card. So you’ll need to apply for a card from a different bank than the one you want to transfer debt from.

Also, you may have a limited time to complete your transfers. If you wait too long to make a transfer, you may miss the 0% APR period or the intro balance transfer fee.

You’ll also want to be aware of any limits on the amount of debt you can transfer. Card issuers typically cap the amount you can transfer to a percentage of your credit limit or a specific dollar amount. Issuers may also factor the balance transfer fees into this limit.

See if you qualify for the card

Balance transfer cards usually require good or excellent credit. Qualifying for a balance transfer card can be difficult if you have subpar credit.

Using a balance transfer credit card to consolidate and pay off credit card debt is a great strategy to save on interest charges. However, it also needs to be paired with an overall strategy for paying down your debt.

As you consider what type of balance transfer card makes the most sense for you, you’ll want to do the math to weigh the costs and benefits. Balance transfer cards can earn rewards or even offer upfront bonuses, but the cards with the best intro-APR periods, typically don’t offer rewards. However, the money you save on interest can easily offset any rewards you miss.

Calculate how much you’ll save

The bigger the balance you want to transfer and the longer the zero-interest period, the more you save. Looking at what you’ll save is not always as simple as looking at your current credit card balance and interest rate.

One caveat to consider is how much of your balance you may be able to transfer to a 0%-APR card. If you have a large amount of credit card debt, an intro-APR offer can be quite valuable. However, the benefit is limited by your balance transfer card’s credit limit and any transfer limits imposed by the card issuer.

Know all the costs

Using a balance transfer offer can save you money, but it’s not free, so you need to be sure the benefits outweigh the costs.

Most top balance transfer cards have no annual fee, but it’s something you want to look at before applying. Assuming the card you’re applying for doesn’t have an annual fee, you want to pay attention to the card’s balance transfer fee. These fees generally run 3% to 5% of the amount you transfer and can easily add up to hundreds of dollars when transferring a significant balance.

Pros of a balance transfer card

Cons of a balance transfer card

As valuable as balance transfer credit card offers can be, it’s not an option for everyone. You generally need a high credit score to have the best chance of being approved for these cards. Depending on your debt, you may only be able to transfer a portion of it.

If you aren’t eligible for a balance transfer card or opening a credit card isn’t the right option for you, here are two alternatives to consider.

Debt consolidation loan

A debt consolidation loan is an unsecured personal loan you take out to pay off your existing debts and roll separate payments into a single loan. Depending on your credit score, you may be able to secure a lower interest rate. You could also opt for a loan with a longer repayment term, reducing your monthly payment and adding flexibility to your budget. However, if you take out a longer loan, you can end up paying more interest over the long haul because you’ll spend less toward the principal each month.

These types of loans can make sense if your credit score has been improving and you can qualify for a better rate.

Borrow against your home equity

If you own a home worth more than you owe, you may be able to borrow against your home at a lower interest rate than credit cards and unsecured personal loans. If you’re in this situation, several different financial products are available, including home equity loans, home equity lines of credit (HELOC) and cash-out refinance mortgages.

Home equity loans and HELOCs are both types of second mortgages. That means you keep your original loan and take out an additional loan backed by your home. This option makes most sense if your current mortgage rate is lower than the rate you would qualify for if you took out a mortgage today.

With a cash-out refinance, you are replacing your existing mortgage with a new, larger loan. If today’s mortgage rates are lower than your current rate, you’ll be able to lock in a better rate and get cash back. With a cash-out refi, you can typically borrow up to 80% of your home’s value and there are upfront closing costs that can range from 2% to 6% of the loan amount.

This is a unique strategy that isn’t for everyone, and you have to remember that you are borrowing against your home. If you’re unable to make on-time payments, your lender could force you into foreclosure.

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To determine which cards have the best value for 0% APR balance transfer offers, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.

We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back).

We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

For the cards that offered a rewards program, we considered consumer spending data forecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. Since the value of a point or mile varies based on what they can be redeemed for, we also considered things like transferability and the ability to redeem for cash-back.

When choosing the best 0%-intro-APR balance transfer credit cards, we focused on cards that offer longer intro-APR periods. We also placed a special emphasis on balance transfer fees and whether the cards offered intro APRs for purchases, balance transfers or both.

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