Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards of 2025
Last updated: July 2, 2026
If you're carrying high-interest credit card debt, a balance transfer card can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars in interest. The best offers give you 15–21 months at 0% APR — enough time to significantly pay down or eliminate the balance without a single dollar going to interest.
Our top picks
Citi Simplicity® Card
The longest 0% balance transfer period available — 21 months — with no late fees, no penalty APR, and no annual fee.
Annual Fee
$0
APR
19.24%–29.99% variable after intro
Welcome Offer
None
Pros
- ✓0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers
- ✓No late fees ever
- ✓No penalty APR
Cons
- ✗5% balance transfer fee (min $5)
- ✗No rewards program
- ✗High ongoing APR after intro period
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Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
Up to 21 months of 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers — one of the most competitive offers for paying down debt interest-free.
Annual Fee
$0
APR
18.24%–29.99% variable after intro
Welcome Offer
None
Pros
- ✓0% intro APR up to 21 months
- ✓Covers both purchases and balance transfers
- ✓Cell phone protection included
Cons
- ✗5% balance transfer fee
- ✗No rewards after intro period
- ✗Requires good credit
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Chase Freedom Flex℠
Earn 5% on rotating quarterly categories, 3% dining and drugstores, plus 0% intro APR for 15 months — a rare card that rewards spending AND helps with debt.
Annual Fee
$0
APR
20.49%–28.99% variable
Welcome Offer
$200 after $500 spend in first 3 months
Pros
- ✓5% on rotating categories (up to $1,500/quarter)
- ✓3% on dining and drugstores
- ✓0% intro APR for 15 months
Cons
- ✗Must activate 5% categories quarterly
- ✗Mastercard accepted at fewer merchants abroad than Visa
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How we chose these picks
How Balance Transfers Work
You apply for a new card with a 0% intro offer, then request to transfer your existing balance to the new card. The card issuer pays off your old card and you owe the new one instead — at 0% for the intro period. Most cards charge a transfer fee of 3–5% of the balance moved. That fee is almost always worth it compared to 20%+ ongoing interest.
The Math: Is a Balance Transfer Worth It?
If you have $5,000 at 24% APR, you're paying roughly $100/month just in interest. With a 0% balance transfer at 5% fee, you pay $250 upfront — but then every payment chips away at the principal. On a 21-month 0% card, you'd pay about $238/month to eliminate the debt entirely and pay zero interest.
What to Watch Out For
- Missing a payment can void your 0% rate
- The balance transfer fee (usually 3–5%) is charged upfront
- New purchases may accrue interest if not paid in full
- Your old card stays open — don't rack it back up
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