Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards 2027: 6 Top Picks

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By Victor Sterling | Last updated: October 24, 2026

Introduction: Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards 2027

Jason was 34 and carrying $6,200 across two credit cards. The interest rate was 26%, and no matter what he paid, the balance barely moved. “I send in $400 a month,” he told his coworker Lisa. “It feels like I’m bailing out a boat with a spoon.”

Lisa smiled. “Have you looked at a balance transfer card?”

That one question can change the whole game. The best balance transfer credit cards let you move high-interest debt to a new card with a 0% intro APR. For many months, every dollar you pay goes toward the debt, not the interest.

In this free guide, we’ll look at six of the best balance transfer credit cards for 2027, how the fees work, and how to avoid the common traps. The picks are for the USA, and we’ll add a quick note for the UK, Canada, and Australia too. Card offers change often, so always check the issuer’s site before you apply.

Key Takeaways

1. The best balance transfer credit cards offer a long 0% intro APR and a low transfer fee.

2. Most cards charge a balance transfer fee of 3% to 5% of the amount you move.

3. A balance transfer only works if you can pay off the debt before the intro period ends.

4. You’ll usually need good to excellent credit to get approved.

5. Don’t add new debt to the card while you’re paying down the transferred balance.

What Is a Balance Transfer Credit Card?

A balance transfer is when you move debt from one credit card to another. With a balance transfer credit card, the new card offers a 0% intro APR for a set time, often 15 to 21 months. During that window, you pay no interest on the transferred amount.

Think of it like pressing pause on your interest. You still owe the money, and you still have to pay at least the minimum each month. But a bigger share of your payment goes toward the debt itself.

How Much Can a Balance Transfer Save You?

Let’s use Jason’s numbers. At a 26% APR, his $6,200 balance was costing him about $134 a month in interest. Here’s how the math works with a balance transfer:

1. Balance to transfer: $6,200

2. Balance transfer fee at 3%: $186

3. Total to pay off: $6,386

4. Monthly payment to clear it in 18 months: about $355

That $186 fee is a one-time cost. Compare it to roughly $134 in interest every single month on the old card. As long as you actually pay down the balance, the savings add up fast. If your fee is 5%, the same transfer would cost $310, so the fee matters.

What to Look for in the Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards

1. The length of the 0% intro APR. Longer gives you more time to pay.

2. The balance transfer fee. Many cards charge 3% to 5%, with a minimum of $5.

3. The transfer window. Some cards only give the intro rate if you transfer within 60 days, 120 days, or four months.

4. The ongoing APR. If you don’t pay it off in time, this is the rate you’ll face.

5. The annual fee. The best picks usually have none.

6 Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards 2027

We compared widely available US cards using terms advertised in 2026. Offers, fees, and rates change often, and your approval and APR depend on your credit, so verify every detail with the issuer.

1. Wells Fargo Reflect Card: Best for a Long 0% Intro APR

This card is known for one of the longest intro periods around. It has offered up to 21 months of 0% intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, as long as you transfer within 120 days of opening the account. The balance transfer fee is 5% (minimum $5), which is on the higher side. It’s a strong pick if you need lots of time to pay off a big balance.

2. Citi Diamond Preferred Card: Best for Time to Transfer

Citi has offered 21 months of 0% intro APR on balance transfers made within four months of opening the account, plus a shorter intro period on purchases. The intro fee is 3% (minimum $5) for transfers in the first four months, and it’s higher after that. The ongoing APR is variable, so be sure you can pay off the balance in time.

3. BankAmericard Credit Card: Best for a Lower Ongoing APR

The BankAmericard has offered an 18-month 0% intro APR on balance transfers, with a lower fee for transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro period, its ongoing APR has often been lower than many competitors. It has no rewards, but it’s a simple, no-frills way to pay down debt.

4. Discover It Cash Back: Best for Rewards Plus a Transfer Offer

Discover offers about 15 months of 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, with a 3% intro transfer fee that can rise to as much as 5% later. You also earn rotating 5% cash back categories (activation required, with a quarterly cap), and Discover has offered a first-year cash back match. Check whether an 18-month balance transfer offer is available when you apply.

5. Capital One Quicksilver: Best for Flat-Rate Cash Back

If you like simple rewards, the Quicksilver gives you flat-rate cash back on every purchase and has offered a 0% intro APR of about 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. It has no annual fee. Read the balance transfer fee terms closely before you apply, because they affect the real cost.

6. Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards: Best for Choice Rewards

This card has offered about 15 billing cycles of 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, with a 3% fee for transfers in the first 60 days and a higher fee after. You pick a bonus cash back category, like gas or online shopping. It’s a good fit if you’ll keep the card after the debt is gone.

Quick Comparison of the Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards

1. Longest 0% intro APR: Wells Fargo Reflect, up to 21 months.

2. Longest transfer window: Citi Diamond Preferred, four months with a lower intro fee.

3. Lower ongoing APR: BankAmericard.

4. Rotating cash back: Discover it Cash Back.

5. Flat-rate cash back: Capital One Quicksilver.

6. Choice-category cash back: Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards.

How to Do a Balance Transfer Step by Step

1. List your debts, balances, and interest rates.

2. Check your credit score to see which cards you’re likely to qualify for.

3. Compare cards by intro APR length, fee, and transfer window.

4. Apply, and wait for approval and your credit limit.

5. Request the transfer right away, and keep paying your old card’s minimum until the transfer posts.

6. Divide the new balance by the number of intro months, and set up autopay for that amount.

5 Balance Transfer Mistakes to Avoid

1. Missing a payment. A late payment can cost you the intro rate on some cards and hurt your credit.

2. Running up new charges. New purchases can make it harder to pay off the transferred balance.

3. Waiting too long to transfer. Many cards only give the intro rate for transfers made within a set window.

4. Ignoring the fee. A 5% fee on a big balance adds up, so factor it in.

5. Not having a payoff plan. When the intro period ends, the regular APR starts on whatever’s left.

Balance Transfer Cards in the UK, Canada, and Australia

Balance transfer offers aren’t just an American thing, but the details differ:

1. UK: Many banks offer 0% balance transfer cards for a set number of months, usually with a transfer fee. Check the fee and the rate after the offer ends.

2. Canada: Some issuers offer low-rate balance transfer promotions, often with a short period and a fee. Read the fine print.

3. Australia: Several lenders offer 0% balance transfer periods with a fee, and the rate after the offer can be high.

Always check the official consumer agency in your country and compare current offers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Does a balance transfer hurt my credit score?

Applying causes a small, temporary dip because of the hard inquiry. A higher total credit limit and lower balances can help over time, as long as you pay on time.

Can I transfer a balance between cards from the same bank?

Usually not. Most issuers don’t allow transfers between their own cards, so you’ll need a card from a different bank.

Is a balance transfer fee worth paying?

Often, yes, if the interest you’d save is bigger than the fee and you can pay the balance off during the intro period.

What credit score do I need?

You generally need good to excellent credit, but each issuer sets its own rules.

What if I can’t pay it off in time?

You’ll pay the regular APR on what’s left. Make a plan, and consider talking with a nonprofit credit counselor if you’re struggling.

The Bottom Line

The best balance transfer credit cards can help you save money and pay off debt faster, but only if you have a plan. Choose a card with a long 0% intro APR, understand the transfer fee, and pay a set amount each month so the balance hits zero before the promotion ends.

Jason picked a card, moved his $6,200, and set up autopay. “For the first time,” he told Lisa, “I can see the number going down.” That feeling is worth more than any reward.

Disclaimer

This article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It is not financial, credit, or legal advice, and it is not an offer or recommendation for any specific credit card or product.

Credit card terms, fees, interest rates, intro offers, and approval criteria vary by issuer and change often. Examples and figures are illustrative and may not reflect current offers. Your approval and APR depend on your credit, and no outcome is guaranteed.

Always read the issuer’s official terms and consider speaking with a qualified credit counselor or financial professional.

Sources and References

1. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), credit card and debt resources: consumerfinance.gov

2. Wells Fargo, Reflect Card: wellsfargo.com

3. Citi, Diamond Preferred Card: citi.com

4. Bank of America, BankAmericard and Customized Cash Rewards: bankofamerica.com

5. Discover, Discover it Cash Back: discover.com

6. Capital One, Quicksilver: capitalone.com

7. MoneyHelper (UK): moneyhelper.org.uk

8. MoneySmart (ASIC, Australia): moneysmart.gov.au

Author’s Profile

Over a career of more than 40 years, Victor worked as a bookkeeper, casino auditor, systems analyst, financial analyst, and assistant controller for casinos and real estate companies in Las Vegas, Nevada. Along the way, he lived and applied the 12 cores of personal finance, including money management, banking and savings, loans and debt management, real estate investing, stocks and bonds, and taxation. These were not just textbook ideas to him. They were lessons tested in real life.

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