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    Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards of 2025

    Balance transfer credit cards let you move high-interest debt to a card with a 0% intro APR — giving you breathing room to pay it down without accruing more interest. The best balance transfer cards offer intro periods of 18-21+ months, no annual fees, and reasonable transfer fees. Here are the top options for tackling credit card debt.

    Quick Comparison

    CardAnnual FeeRating
    Citi Simplicity® Card

    Best Overall Balance Transfer

    		$04.6/5
    Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

    Best for Extended 0% APR

    		$04.5/5
    Discover it® Balance Transfer

    Best BT Card with Rewards

    		$04.4/5

    Detailed Card Reviews

    1

    Citi Simplicity® Card

    Citi

    Best Overall Balance Transfer

    Annual Fee

    $0

    Sign-Up Bonus

    None

    Regular APR

    19.24% – 29.99% Variable

    Credit Score

    Good to Excellent (670+)

    Rewards Rate

    No rewards

    Intro APR

    0% intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers, 12 months on purchases

    4.6

    Why We Like It

    The Citi Simplicity offers the longest 0% intro APR period available — 21 months on balance transfers. With no annual fee, no penalty APR, and no late fees, it's designed purely for debt payoff. If you're carrying a balance on a high-APR card, transferring to the Simplicity can save you hundreds in interest.

    Pros

    • Industry-leading 21-month 0% intro APR on balance transfers
    • No annual fee
    • No late fees ever
    • No penalty APR

    Cons

    • No rewards program
    • Balance transfer fee (3% or $5 minimum)
    • No sign-up bonus
    • 12-month intro APR on purchases is shorter

    Who Should Apply

    Anyone carrying a balance on a high-interest card who wants the longest possible 0% APR runway to pay it down. The no-late-fee policy provides a safety net while you focus on debt elimination.

    Apply Now
    2

    Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

    Wells Fargo

    Best for Extended 0% APR

    Annual Fee

    $0

    Sign-Up Bonus

    None

    Regular APR

    18.24% – 29.99% Variable

    Credit Score

    Good to Excellent (670+)

    Rewards Rate

    No rewards

    Intro APR

    0% intro APR for 21 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (can extend to 24 months with on-time payments)

    4.5

    Why We Like It

    The Wells Fargo Reflect matches the Citi Simplicity's 21-month intro APR but can extend to 24 months if you make all minimum payments on time. That extra 3 months can make a real difference when paying down a large balance. Cell phone protection is an unexpected bonus for a balance transfer card.

    Pros

    • 21-month 0% intro APR, extendable to 24 months
    • 0% applies to both purchases and balance transfers
    • Cell phone protection benefit
    • $0 annual fee

    Cons

    • No rewards program
    • Balance transfer fee applies
    • Extension to 24 months requires perfect payment history
    • No sign-up bonus

    Who Should Apply

    People who need the absolute longest 0% APR window and are confident in making on-time payments. The 24-month potential is the longest available anywhere. Also good if you want cell phone protection bundled in.

    Apply Now
    3

    Discover it® Balance Transfer

    Discover

    Best BT Card with Rewards

    Annual Fee

    $0

    Sign-Up Bonus

    Cashback Match: all cash back earned in the first year is matched

    Regular APR

    17.24% – 28.24% Variable

    Credit Score

    Good to Excellent (670+)

    Rewards Rate

    5% in rotating quarterly categories (up to $1,500/quarter), 1% on everything else

    Intro APR

    0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers

    4.4

    Why We Like It

    The Discover it Balance Transfer is unique because it combines a strong 18-month 0% intro APR with actual cash back rewards and Cashback Match. Most balance transfer cards offer zero rewards — this one lets you earn while you pay down debt.

    Pros

    • 18-month 0% intro APR on balance transfers
    • Earns cash back rewards (5% rotating + 1% base)
    • Cashback Match doubles Year 1 rewards
    • $0 annual fee

    Cons

    • 0% APR period shorter than Citi Simplicity (18 vs. 21 months)
    • Balance transfer fee applies (3%)
    • Must activate rotating categories quarterly
    • Discover not accepted everywhere

    Who Should Apply

    People who want to pay down a balance transfer while still earning rewards on new purchases. If your debt payoff timeline is under 18 months, this card offers the best of both worlds.

    Apply Now

    Frequently Asked Questions

    A balance transfer moves debt from one credit card to another — typically to a card offering a 0% intro APR. This allows you to pay down the balance without accruing interest during the promotional period. Most balance transfers incur a one-time fee of 3-5% of the amount transferred.

    Balance transfers typically take 5-14 business days to process. Continue making payments on your old card until the transfer is confirmed. Most cards require you to initiate the transfer within 60-120 days of opening the account to qualify for the intro APR.

    Generally no. Closing the old card reduces your total available credit, which can increase your credit utilization ratio and lower your score. Keep the old card open (even with a zero balance) unless it charges an annual fee you don't want to pay.

    Once the promotional period expires, the regular variable APR applies to any remaining balance. This can range from 17% to 30%. It's crucial to pay off as much of the balance as possible during the intro period to minimize interest charges.