Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
When you’re staring at a lot of high-interest credit card debt, you might be thinking you need as long as you can get to pay it off. That’s where a card like this shines. It has one of the longest intro APR terms we’ve seen, giving you 21 months from account opening at an introductory 0% APR. The go-to 18.24%, 24.74%, or 29.99% Variable APR applies at the end of the intro period (see rates and fees).
What’s more, that same long term applies to both balance transfers and new purchases. Chances are good if you’re dealing with existing high-interest debt, you may also need a break on new purchases. This card lets you save on both types of balances (as long as your limit holds out).
- This best balance transfer credit card is great for: Folks who have a mix of new purchase and balance transfer debt who want to save on interest for both. This card has the same competitively long intro term for both types of balances.
- When to consider an alternative: Wells Fargo Reflect® Card has a balance transfer fee of 5%, min: $5. If you’re transferring a large amount, consider looking for a card with a lower or promotional balance transfer fee. Even something like 2% can wind up getting very expensive if you’re transferring $5,000 or more.
Apply for a Wells Fargo Reflect® Card on the Wells Fargo website.
Discover it® Balance Transfer
Our top pick overall for balance transfer credit cards. It checks a lot of boxes for a good card more generally, too. First, you get 18 months 0% intro APR on balance transfers before the go-to rate of 17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR applies. That’s not the longest term out there, but it’s certainly competitive. And it’s even better when paired with the lower promotional balance transfer fee.
However, that’s not all this card offers. You also get long-term, keeper-card potential out of this credit card thanks to the cash back rewards you can earn on purchases when you activate your rotating categories. Plus, you get Discover’s customer service, which consistently wins awards for its quality.
- This best balance transfer credit card is great for: If you want a balance transfer card now, but a rewards card later, this could be the right fit. You get a competitive intro APR offer on balance transfers, plus you earn cash back rewards on eligible new purchases.
- When to consider an alternative: While the balance transfer offer on this card is great, the one for new purchases isn’t as good: 0% Intro APR for 6 months (after which the go-to rate we mentioned above applies). If you’re looking to save on interest on future purchases, check out some of our other picks.
Apply for Discover it® Balance Transfer on Discover’s website.
Citi Double Cash® Card
First and foremost, this card is a solid pick for balance transfers thanks to its long intro 0% APR offer. The promotional balance transfer fee also helps it stand out from the card crowd (as well as save you some money on your transfer). Added to that, you get up to four months to actually transfer your balances and still qualify for the intro APR, which is way longer than most other issuers offer.
After you’re done paying off your balance transfer, however, you don’t have to cancel this card. Unlike some other picks on the list, this card has staying power thanks to its cash back rewards. While it’s not as straightforward as some rewards cards — you earn 1% when you make a purchase, then another 1% when you pay off your balance — it’ll still be a decent flat-rate card once you’re done with the balance transfer.
- This best balance transfer credit card is great for: This is a solid option for folks who want a competitive intro APR offer on balance transfers that includes a promotional balance transfer fee. It even has some long-term potential thanks to the cash back rewards you can earn on purchases.
- When to consider an alternative: There is no intro APR on new purchases, so avoid this card if you’re going to be using it for purchases on top of any transferred balances. Those purchases will accrue interest. Check out some alternatives with intro APRs on both types of balances if this is important to you.
Apply for Citi Double Cash® Card on Citi’s website.
Citi Simplicity® Card
This is a card that owns what it is: It’s a balance transfer credit card, and it doesn’t try to do anything else. For instance, it’s hard to beat the length of the intro APR offer on this card, since it has a remarkable 21 months for balance transfers.
Top that off with a lower promotional balance transfer fee, and you get a one-two punch that can definitely save you money on high interest credit card debt. You even get something with that card that many other cards lack: time to transfer. You have four months after opening the card to transfer your balances, which is twice as long as what some cards offer.
- This best balance transfer credit card is great for: Anyone whose sole need is to reduce the interest they’re paying on existing card debt. You get a relatively low transfer fee, a good amount of time to make the transfer, and a long time to pay off your balance before the go-to rate kicks in.
- When to consider an alternative: This card doesn’t have as generous an intro offer on new purchases as it does for transfers, so if you need a deal on a future purchase, look for a different intro APR card.
Apply for the Citi Simplicity® Card on Citi’s website.
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Sometimes you just want a credit card that does what you need — and nothing else. This may be that card. It’s a good pick for people who simply want to save on high-interest credit card debt thanks to a long intro 0% APR offer on balance transfers and new purchases.
For your existing debt, there’s the long 0% intro rate for balance transfers, plus a lower go-to balance transfer fee than a lot of other cards. (Some cards only offer 3% as a promotional rate.) Cardholders also get to save on new purchases with the same intro APR offer, which is ideal if you still need to use your card while paying down your transfer balance.
- This best balance transfer credit card is great for: Folks who need a nice long intro APR on balance transfers, but who may also need to use their card while they pay down the transfer balance. The intro APR on this card applies to both transfers and new purchases, giving you added flexibility.
- When to consider an alternative: If you want to earn rewards on your purchases, either while paying down your transfer or after it’s finished, this isn’t the card for you. Look at some other options with both an intro offer and rewards.
Apply for the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card on U.S. Bank’s website.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
The best balance transfer cards aren’t usually good at much else. This card walks the line between balance transfer and rewards card. It offers a really solid intro APR offer for balance transfers, as well as a low go-to balance transfer fee.
The same intro offer also applies to new purchases, which makes the card usable even while you’re working on your balance transfer bonus. Plus, cardholders can earn up to 3% cash back on eligible purchases, which means you’ll get some great functionality out of this card long after your intro offers have expired and your balance transfer is paid off.
- This best balance transfer credit card is great for: If you’re looking for a good balance transfer offer but want a card you can keep for a long time, this might be a good fit. The customizable cash back rewards make a good addition to most wallets, so this card has staying power.
- When to consider an alternative: This card’s balance transfer offer is solid, but it’s hardly the best on the market. Look at some other options if you need a longer intro APR term. Some cards offer up to 21 months.
Apply for Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card on Bank of America’s website.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Some cards are really good at one thing. This card is fairly good at a lot of things. It’s a decent balance transfer card, offering more than a year of 0% intro APR on transfers as well as a promotional balance transfer fee (see rates and fees). The same intro offer also applies to new purchases, which makes it a pretty solid option for saving on interest there, too. The go-to 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR applies at the end of the intro period.
When it comes to rewards, this card winds up on many lists as a good option for non-category spending. Its flat-rate rewards apply to purchases regardless of category type. And the proverbial cherry on top of it all is the welcome bonus, which is great for a no annual fee card.
- This best balance transfer credit card is great for: Folks who need at least a year to pay off a balance transfer, but who don’t need a card that’s only good for transfers. With this pick, you also get a new purchase APR offer, great rewards, and a good welcome bonus.
- When to consider an alternative: Since this card offers a bit of everything, it’s not as good as a dedicated balance transfer card. If you need the longest intro APR period possible, look for other options.
Apply for the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card on Wells Fargo’s website.
Chase Freedom Flex℠
It’s hard to beat this card when it comes to versatility. The balance transfer offer is good enough to be worthwhile, especially with its promotional balance transfer fee. New purchases also get the same intro APR offer, so you can still use your new card without accruing interest even after you’re transferred your balances.
And you’ll probably want to make purchases when you see the rewards you can earn. In addition to high-rate rotating category bonuses, you can get bonus rewards on dining, drugstore purchases, and even Chase travel purchases. Add on the welcome bonus, and you’re looking at a card that’s useful to a huge range of people.
- This best balance transfer credit card is great for: This card is worth considering for people in the market for a balance transfer card they can use for other things, too. The intro APR offers on balance transfers and new purchases are solid, and the purchase rewards are extremely competitive.
- When to consider an alternative: Offering so much in one card means compromise, so this card’s intro APR offer isn’t the absolute best on the market. Look at our other options if you need the longest intro APR term you can get.
Apply for Chase Freedom Flex℠ on Chase’s website.
