Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards
A balance transfer card is a debt-payoff tool, not a rewards play. The goal is simple: the longest 0% intro period and the smallest transfer fee, so the most of your payment goes to principal. We rank on exactly those two levers.
The best balance transfer credit cards in 2026 is the U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card, which tops our ranking with a money8020 score of 94/100. We track 7 balance transfer credit cards, 7 with rates checked against the provider and a regulator. All 7 are ranked and compared below.
Which card gives the longest 0% window at the lowest transfer fee?
Top 3 in this category.
U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card
4% rewards with no annual fee.
BankAmericard
0% intro APR for 21 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, with no annual fee.
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
No annual fee with 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months and on purchases for 12 months.
All 7, ranked.
Compare the numbers.
Click a column header to sort.
| Product | Annual fee | Annual fee | Score | Tier | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Bank Shield™ Visa® Card U.S. Bank | $0 | $0 | 94 | Essential | View |
| BankAmericard Bank of America | $0 | $0 | 93 | Essential | View |
| Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card Citibank | $0 | $0 | 93 | Essential | View |
| Wells Fargo Reflect® Card Wells Fargo | $0 | $0 | 93 | Essential | View |
| Citi Simplicity® Card Citibank | $0 | $0 | 81 | Strong | View |
| Discover it® Chrome Discover | $0 | $0 | 81 | Strong | View |
| Chase Slate Edge® JPMorgan Chase | $0 | $0 | 79 | Strong | View |
How to choose the best balance transfer credit cards
To choose a rewards card, match the bonus categories to where you actually spend, net the rewards against any annual fee, and weigh the sign-up bonus, intro APR, and regular APR.
- Rewards rate in the categories you spend most
- Annual fee versus the rewards you would earn
- Sign-up bonus and the spend required
- Intro APR length for purchases and balance transfers
- Regular variable APR if you ever carry a balance
Frequently asked questions about balance transfer credit cards
How does a balance transfer actually save money?
By moving high-interest debt to a card charging 0% for an intro period, every dollar you pay during that window goes to principal instead of interest. You usually pay a one-time transfer fee of 3–5%, which is still far less than months of 20%+ interest.
What happens when the 0% period ends?
Any remaining balance starts accruing interest at the card's regular APR, which is often high. The strategy only works if you have a realistic plan to clear most or all of the balance before the intro period expires.