Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards

Comparing Balance Transfer Credit Card Offers

By: Laura Mohammad

Updated: February 14, 2019

We found that a whopping 49% of American adults wrongly thought that you can't transfer a balance to a new card and pay 0% for more than a year. Polling 1,259 people from Oct. 5-8, 2018, YouGov PLC found for us that only 51% of those polled correctly answered that statement as true.

So, yes, balance transfer cards are a good way to address that debt – and more.

You might want to consolidate your debt. Or perhaps you want to stop paying prohibitive interest charges. There are a number of reasons for obtaining a balance transfer, all excellent ways to save money and improve your budgeting skills.

However, it’s important to learn from your mistakes, and recognize what got you in the financial straits you are in in the first place. That means start a budget that includes room for fun and saving.

Ready for a balance transfer card? Here, we look at:

• Best balance transfer credit cards of 2019
• How we picked the best cards
• Editor's take on the best balance transfer cards
• Basics of balance transfer cards
• How to perform a balance transfer
• Tips on using balance transfer cards
• Pros and cons
• Is a balance transfer card right for me?
• How to choose the right card
• How to compare cards
• What to do if your balance transfer is rejected

Not sure what the pitfalls are? Want to know more about how to use a balance transfer card? We can help.

Summary: best balance transfer credit card offers

The best balance transfer credit cards come with lengthy 0% intro APR periods and have low balance transfer fees. For example, the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card can help save a substantial amount of money as it has an interest-free period of 18 billing cycles followed up by low regular APR of 14.74% - 25.74% variable.

^† No balance transfer fee after the first 45 days

How we picked the best cards

Number of cards analyzed: 1,002

Criteria used: 0% intro APR period for balance transfers, balance transfer fees, regular APR, savings period, current APR assumption, monthly payment assumption, other rates and fees, customer service, credit needed, security, ease of application, potential rewards, miscellaneous benefits

Ranking methodology: While a large number of factors contribute to the quality of a credit card, the following were our most important criteria in evaluating and choosing the best balance transfer cards:

1. Length of 0% intro APR period: A good balance transfer card should have an introductory 0% APR period of at least 15 months. In a few cases, a card with a shorter intro offer may be worth it for its other benefits but if balance transfers are your primary intended use, then the longer the better.
2. Balance transfer fee: If you have a large balance to transfer, this fee can become quite costly. We only considered credit cards with balance transfer fees of no more than 5%.
3. Regular APR after intro period: Ideally, you want to pay off your balance before the 0% intro APR period is over. However, if this is not possible then you should keep an eye out for cards with reasonable regular interest rates.
4. Annual fee: The entire point of a balance transfer credit card is to avoid paying more than you have to; paying an annual fee would run counter to that goal. The best balance transfer credit cards have no annual fee – you'll notice that we've eschewed cards that charge such a fee in compiling our list.

Here is our breakdown of the top balance transfer credit cards that can help you save on interest.

Editor's take on the best balance transfer cards

Discover it® Balance Transfer

Analysis: This card doubles as a cashback card and a balance transfer card, but it's important to stay on top of any new purchases so you don't carry a balance that incurs interest charges. As long as you pay down at least the balance of the new purchases after the first 6 months and before 18 months, you won't incur interest, and you'll fully benefit from the cash back.

The Discover it Balance Transfer gives you an excellent 18-month 0% intro APR on balance transfers (14.24% - 25.24% variable APR), as well as 5% back on select rotating categories up to the quarterly max each time you activate, and cash back match at the end of your first year. So, if you spend $500 a month on select categories, you can earn $600 – $75 a quarter for your purchases plus $300 at year end.

Annual fee: $0

Balance transfer fee: 3%

Recommended credit: Good to excellent

Bottom line: If you're looking for a card with a generous intro APR on purchases, look elsewhere – this one has a paltry 6-month 0% APR (then 14.24% - 25.24% variable). But with a generous balance transfer offer and rewards, this card can be a great addition to your wallet.

Capital One® Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Analysis: While the Quicksilver's 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfer is 15 months, the regular APR ranges from 15.24% - 25.24% variable. It has a flat rate on all purchases of 1.5% cash back and there's also a $150 cash bonus after a $500 spend within the first 3 months of opening your account.

Annual fee: $0

Balance transfer fee: 3%

Recommended credit: Good to excellent

Bottom line: The Quicksilver' is good for balance transfers—thanks to its long introductory offer—and comes with a nifty sign-up bonus. Also, there's a flat rate of 1.5%, so you don't have to think about what types of purchases you are making.

Wells Fargo Platinum Visa®

Analysis: This card has the unusual feature of 0% APR for 18 months on both purchases and balance transfers. The regular APR weighs in at a high 17.74% - 27.24% variable, so you'll definitely want to pay off your balance before 18 months end. Also keep in mind that you must make your balance transfers within 120 days in order to qualify for intro rates and fees. During the first 120 days, the balance transfer fee is a lower 3%, but goes up to 5% after that. You can also get up to $600 protection on your cellphone (with a $25 deductible) for covered damage and theft when you pay your cell bill with this card.

Annual fee: $0

Balance transfer fee: 3% for 120 days, then 5% ($5 minimum)

Recommended credit: Good to excellent

Bottom line: This card an unusually long 0% intro APR offer; just make sure you are aware of the caveats and pay off your balance before the high regular APR kicks in.

BankAmericard® credit card

Analysis: All in all, this credit card is fairly straightforward. Its 0% APR period is a solid 18 billing cycles (then 15.24% - 25.24% variable), allowing you plenty of time to pay off purchases and balance transfers. Importantly, there is no penalty APR, meaning that your APR won't go up automatically if you pay late (although you should still always avoid paying late). Beyond that, there's not a ton of fancy benefits, but one noteworthy feature is access to your FICO credit score for free.

Annual fee: $0

Balance transfer fee: 3% ($10 minimum)

Recommended credit: Good to excellent

Bottom line: If you need a balance transfer card that gets the job done and you don't mind the lack of bells and whistles, the BankAmericard is a good choice.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Analysis: This card is similar to the Quicksilver, with the lower spend of $500 in the first 3 months for a $150 sign-up bonus, 1.5% back on all purchases, and a 15-month introductory offer of 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers (then 17.24% - 25.99% variable).

Annual fee: $0

Balance transfer fee: 3% ($5 minimum)

Recommended credit: Good to excellent

Bottom line: The Chase Freedom Unlimited can be partnered with one of the Sapphire cards to get an increased rate on travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card

Analysis: The U.S. Bank Visa Platinum card offers one of the best 0% introductory APR offers on the market right now at 18 billing cycles, which is phenomenal if you need more time to pay off an outstanding balance. The variable APR of 14.74% - 25.74% also starts relatively low, so if you have excellent credit and need to carry a balance, it is a reasonable interest rate among low interest credit cards.

Annual fee: $0

Balance transfer fee: 3% ($5 minimum)

Recommended credit: Excellent

Bottom line: This card should be one of your go-to choices if you have excellent credit and need to pay off a balance over an extended period of time.

Chase Freedom®

Analysis: This card offers a solid 15 months of 0% APR on balance transfers followed by a regular APR of 17.24% - 15.99% variable. More importantly, the Chase Freedom is known for its excellent rewards, with 5% on rotating categories each quarter up to $1,500 in combined purchases when you activate. A sign-up bonus of $150 is awarded after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months, which could help to offset balance transfer fees.

Annual fee: $0

Balance transfer fee: 3% ($5 minimum)

Recommended credit: Good to excellent

Bottom line: This card's regular APR is on the higher end, but if you can pay off your balance within the first 15 months then it's an excellent long-term addition to your wallet thanks to its quarterly rewards.

Barclaycard Ring® Mastercard®

Analysis: The Barclaycard Ring Mastercard comes with a few distinguishing features in addition to having no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. Namely, there are no balance transfer fees after the first 45 days of account opening, while the fee is 2% (or $5, whichever is greater) during those first 45 days. Unfortunately, cardholders are forced to choose between the 0 balance transfer fee offer and the 0% intro APR offer, as the latter works the other way around. If you make your balance transfer within the first 45 days, you'll have 0% intro APR for 15 months (then 14.24% variable afterwards), but if you do it after 45 days, you're looking at 14.24% variable APR right off the bat.

Annual fee: $0

Balance transfer fee: 2% (minimum $5) in the first 45 days, 0% after that

Recommended credit: Good to excellent

Bottom line: While the Ring is one of the few credit cards that offer no balance transfer fee, it's set up in a catch-22 of sorts, so most consumers may prefer the Amex EveryDay® Card from American Express* instead.

HSBC Gold Mastercard® credit card

Analysis: This card boasts an excellent offer with its 18-month 0% intro APR on both purchases and balance transfers. The regular ongoing rate of 13.24%, 17.24%, or 21.24% variable applies after the intro period ends. The HSBC Gold's versatility stands out, as it carries no penalty APR, no annual fee, and no foreign transaction fees.

Annual fee: $0

Balance transfer fee: 4% ($10 minimum)

Recommended credit: Good to excellent

Bottom line: This card is good for consumers looking for flexible terms and low regular interest rates alongside a strong intro APR offer.

Citi Simplicity®

Analysis: This card has the rare feature of an 21-month 0% intro APR on balance transfers, although the balance transfer fee is high at 5% or $5, whichever is greater. The regular ongoing rate of 16.24% - 26.24% variable applies after the intro period ends.

Annual fee: $0

Balance transfer fee: 5% ($5 minimum)

Recommended credit: Good to excellent

Bottom line: This card offers no rewards, but it offers no late fees and no penalty rate, and the 0% intro APR offer is superb.

What are balance transfer credit cards and how do they work?

Card debt for the American consumer can be crushing – it averaged $8,195 per bank card (including retail cards) in our recent survey on credit card debt by state, up from $6,354 in 2017 (according to Experian).

What we found with our study was that the states topping the list of the greatest debt burden were weighed down by not only hefty debt, but also low household incomes:

3 states with most card debt burden...

Source: CreditCards.com Card Debt Burden Study

Meanwhile, we found that the states with the least debt burden had a higher median household income: Massachusetts, Wisconsin and Minnesota, with Massachusetts having the least debt burden.

If you find yourself strapped with interest charges and a cycle of never-ending debt, there is a way to pull yourself up and out, and that is with balance transfer cards. But just how do balance transfer cards work?

Balance transfer cards are credit cards that allow you to move debt from one card to another – essentially paying off credit card “A” with new credit card “B.” Typically, a person will transfer his or her balance to a card with a lower interest rate, allowing them to save money on monthly payments or pay off the balance more quickly. For example, if you’re paying 12 percent interest on a $3,000 debt, you will have to pay $560 per month for six months to pay off the balance. If you transfer that $3,000 balance to a card that doesn’t charge interest for the first six months, your payments will be $500 – for a savings of $60 each month.

Given the benefits of balance transfer cards, it was a bit of a shocker for us to find out in our December 2018 debt poll that only 15% of those with a plan for their card debt would consider using a balance transfer card to address the problem. Yet, used correctly, they are an excellent tool for recovering from card debt. Here's more on what our study found:

Ways consumers who have a plan would deal with card debt...

•  69%
• Paying substantially more than the minimum monthly payment
•  26%
• Paying a little more than the minimum monthly payment
•  15%
• Transferring my balance to a different credit card with a lower rate
•  9%
• Asking my credit card issuer for a lower interest rate
•  6%
• Taking out a personal loan to reduce/eliminate/consolidate my credit card debt
•  5%
• Other
•  4%
• Debt settlement (creditor agrees to accept less than you owe)
•  3%
• Engaging with a debt/credit counselor
•  2%
• Bankruptcy

Source: CreditCards.com December 2018 debt poll

As CreditCards.com industry analyst Ted Rossman points out, "Balance transfer credit cards are an excellent tool for getting out of debt at the lowest possible cost. At present, the best offers are 0% interest for 21 months (with a 5% transfer fee) or 0% interest for 15 months (with no transfer fee). Take advantage of these promotions and be careful to avoid running up more debt once you've worked so hard to get out of it."

We found in our January 2019 balance transfer survey that there was actually an increase in no-fee balance transfer cards – of 100 cards, 15 balance transfer cards offer no-fee transfers, up from 9 in our December 2017 survey. In the 2019 survey, 8 others offer either an introductory lower fee or waive the fee entirely if you make the transfer in a set amount of time. Sometimes the waived fee comes after the 0% opportunity ends.

For example, the Barclaycard Ring® Mastercard® offers 0% on balance transfers for 15 months when made within 45 days from opening your account (a variable 14.24% kicks in after the 15-month period), and the balance transfer fee is waived for balance transfers posted after 45 days. For balance transfers posted during the first 45 days, the fee is $5 or 2%, whichever is greater.

Balance transfers are not limited to transferring debt from other credit cards. Some cards also allow you to transfer debt from student loans and other installment payments, such as appliance purchases.

How do they work?

Once you sign up for a balance transfer card, you can request to transfer a card balance onto the new card either online or by calling customer service. You will be required to provide a few key details, including the account number of the old card and the amount you want to transfer. After receiving this information, the credit card company will evaluate your request and, based on your credit limit or other factors, may approve you for all or part of the requested transfer amount.

How to perform a balance transfer

If you’re considering a balance transfer card, you may be wondering how much work goes into moving the balance from one card to another. Overall, the process is relatively simple on the end of the cardholder. Here are the steps you should follow:

1. Apply for a balance transfer card – Before choosing a card, check out our balance transfer calculator, which factors in fees and interest rates to determine how much you’ll save by transferring your existing balance to a different card. Once you find the balance transfer card that best suits you, complete the card application.
2. Collect your information – Next, gather the account details for the card that has the debt – referred to as the “transfer from” card – including the account number and card balance.
3. Contact customer service – After receiving your balance transfer card, call customer service and inform them that you want to transfer a balance onto your new card. Once you provide them with the necessary information, they will reach out to the old card company and move the requested amount onto your new card. Many cards also allow you to make balance transfers through your online account, but Nuata advises that you should wait until you receive the physical card to initiate a balance transfer. "This is the best method because when you do the transfer online, you may not receive a credit line high enough to cover the transfer(s). If you wait until you receive the card, you can always call the bank and explain the situation and request a greater line of credit."

Balances can take up to three weeks to transfer, so we recommend that you pay the minimum amount on your card before transferring the debt to avoid late fees and other penalties. Also, be sure to transfer your balance before the card’s introductory offer ends.

Tips on using balance transfer cards

Balance transfer cards can be an excellent savings tool, but they also tend to carry high APRs, which can be a pitfall if you aren’t diligent in paying down your balance. Here are a few tips to keep you from digging yourself into more debt:

Figure out the best amount to transfer

Usually it makes sense to transfer as much of your debt as possible onto a 0-percent card to minimize your interest payments – but not always. Balance transfer cards usually carry higher-than-average APRs and – if you can’t repay the balance before the introductory period – it could potentially cost you more in interest rates and fees than if you leave the balance where it is. If your current account has a lower interest rate, you should do some math to figure out whether transferring all of your balance or just a portion of it will cost less.

Create a plan to pay off your balance

You’re not off the hook once you’ve transferred your balance – you need to pay it off in a timely manner so you don’t end up racking up a ton of interest on it. Have a plan in place that includes monthly installment payments before you do the transfer.

Pay your bill on time

Be sure to send your payment by the due date to avoid penalty fees. In fact, check the card’s terms and conditions, because making a payment even a day late may result in you losing your 0-percent introductory rate. Set up an automatic payment through your bank and schedule it a few days before your due date to be on the safe side.

Try to pay it off before the introductory period expires

You should try to pay off your balance before the regular APR kicks in. However, you should also take into account balances on other cards. You may want to focus on paying down accounts with higher interest rates first, and then make larger payments toward your 0-percent card once you’ve paid off your other accounts.

Avoid making new purchases on your card

Don’t get yourself in more debt. Incurring new debt could undermine your ability to repay your balance transfer before the introductory period expires, and – unless your new card includes a 0-percent introductory period for new purchases – you will immediately start incurring interest on that new debt. Put your new card to the side until you’ve finished paying it off.

Keep your old card open

Don’t close down your old account once you’ve transferred your balance from it, especially if you’ve had it for a long time. Doing so could significantly lower your credit score, by lowering the average age of your accounts and raising your credit utilization ratio. However, you don't want to incur new debt either. Instead, put a small charge on the old card and pay it off in full each month to keep the account active.

Evaluate your spending habits

Consider how you accumulated a large balance and steps you need to modify your spending habits. Perhaps the balance was the result of an emergency that couldn’t be avoided. Or maybe you are living beyond your means. Create a budget and seek the help of a credit counselor.

Pros and cons of balance transfer credit cards

Here are a few pros and cons of using a balance transfer card.

Pros

• Increase overall credit limit – By taking out a BT card after buying that new freezer, for example, you are increasing your credit limit. This automatically decreases your overall credit utilization ratio, which is a good thing because that means you have a higher limit compared to the same amount of debt. This is assuming you don't incur new debt and you keep your old card.
• Consolidate monthly payments – Instead of keeping track of several card balances and different payment due dates each month, you can streamline your payments by transferring debt from various cards to a single card.
• Save money on interest - You can save money on interest and pay off your debt faster when you transfer your balance from a high-interest card to one with a promotional 0% interest rate. Specifically, you should aim for 0% APR offers rather than just a card with lower interest than your current one. According to Rebecca House of American Financial Solutions, "One of the most common things I see is people using balance transfers to lower payments rather than to get out of debt. If you are transferring a balance solely for lower interest, you may be setting yourself up for financial failure. Use a zero percent interest rate to focus on getting out of debt and have a plan for making that goal a reality."
• Transfer non-credit card debt – Balance transfers are not limited to credit card debt. You may also be able to transfer car loans and monthly installment payments from appliances, furniture and more.

Cons

• Possible negative impact on your credit score – While transferring a balance won’t necessarily affect your credit score, applying for a new balance transfer card will.
• Additional fees – Many balance transfer cards charge balance transfer fees. In our 2018 CreditCards.com fees survey, 79 of the 90 cards that allow a balance transfer had a fee. That's up from 76 out of 89 in 2017. In all, 100 cards were polled.
• Exposure to more debt – Once you transfer your balance to a new card, you may be tempted to continue racking up debt on your old credit card. Additionally, if you don't have a plan in place, you risk carrying your old debt with a higher interest rate should you fail to pay it off before the 0% offer ends.
• You may get a higher interest rate – If you don’t have excellent credit, you typically won’t be approved for promotional interest rates. Instead, you will only qualify for the regular, higher interest rates.

Is a balance transfer card right for me?

If you can relate to any of the following, a balance transfer card may be the right fit for you.

• You want to save money – Balance transfers are typically performed by those who want to reduce the amount of interest they pay. You may even qualify for a card that doesn’t charge interest on balance transfers and/or balance transfer fees.
• You want convenience – Balance transfer cards allow you to make one low-interest payment each month instead of juggling several different card payments.
• You want to pay off your debt fast – You can apply the money you’ll save on interest to the principal of your balance and pay off your debt more quickly.

For those struggling under the weight of heavy credit card debt, a balance transfer card can offer a great opportunity to lower your interest payments and pay off your debt more quickly. If you have debt, perhaps from going overboard with gifts for the kids, you may have thought about getting a balance transfer card. However, a balance transfer isn't always the best way to address your old balance. There are a few important things to consider before making your decision.

First, determine if you can pay off your current balance quickly. If you can pay your current balance off in six months or less, transferring your debt may not be worth it.

Second, consider your credit score. If your credit score is below 720, you most likely will not be approved for a low interest balance transfer offer or a 0 percent introductory offer. Remember: The main reason to transfer your balance to a different card is to get a lower interest rate.

Finally, it is important to be a responsible cardholder. If you have a difficult time making credit card payments on time, you should think twice about getting a balance transfer card. In addition to racking up expensive late fees, issuers will typically cancel any promotional interest rate offers if you pay your bill late – meaning, you could be responsible for high interest payments right away.

If you can pay off your balance within the promotional period of your new card before interest rates rise, then balance transfers are a helpful tool. But if you don’t think you’ll be able to pay off your debt soon after transferring your balance, you should consider alternative options, such as:

• Double down on payments. If your balance is already on a low-interest card, you might consider doubling down on payments and get rid of the debt quickly to minimize interest charges. This is also applicable for other forms of low-interest debt, such as student loans.
• Talk to your card issuer. You may be able to reach your goal without getting a new credit card. Talk to your current card issuer about lowering the interest on your card, which would save you the cost of a balance transfer fee.
• Get a personal loan. Depending on your situation and the offers available to you, it might make more sense to consolidate your debt with a personal loan. Each option has pros and cons, so weigh your options before you decide.

How to choose the right balance transfer card

Just because it says “0-percent” doesn’t mean a balance transfer doesn’t come with costs. Most balance transfer cards charge a 3 and 5 percent fee, which can really add up if you are transferring thousands of dollars. You will find a few cards – that don’t charge a balance transfer fee. Cards without balance transfer fees are rare (only 9 out of the 38 cards in our balance transfer survey), but keep a lookout for them – transferring a balance to a card without a fee could save you more money than transferring a balance to a card with a longer introductory period.

You also want to look for a card that’s not going to hassle you with a lot of restrictions, and – when all else is equal – might be worth keeping in the long run. Here’s a list of criteria you should use in selecting a balance transfer card:

Is it a true 0-percent APR card?

Be on the lookout for cards with deferred interest deals. Deferred interest means just that — if you don’t repay every last cent of your balance by the end of the introductory period -- you will owe interest for all of the preceding months. A true 0-percent balance transfer card does not charge interest during the introductory period (as long as you make your monthly payments on time), even if you are still carrying a balance at the end of the introductory period.

How long is the introductory period?

The introductory period is the length of time that the card offers a 0-percent APR on balance transfers (and new purchases, depending on the card). The length of the introductory period can vary drastically. According to our recent balance transfer survey, the average promotional period lasts 12 months, but you can find offers as short as six months or as long as 21 months. For example, the Citi Simplicity® Card has one of the longest 0% APR offers for balance transfers at 21 months, with 16.24% - 26.24% variable APR afterwards. Generally, you want to shoot for the longest promotional period, but there are other important factors:

What is the regular APR?

Behind a 0-percent introductory offer often lies a very pricey regular APR. Make sure you know exactly how much you are going to be paying in interest once the introductory period expires, so you aren’t caught off card. And keep an eye out for low-interest-rate cards that offer a reasonable APR in combination with a 0-percent introductory APR.

Is there a 0-percent APR on new purchases?

Some cards offer a combination of a 0-percent APR on balance transfers and new purchases. We don’t recommend using your card for new purchases until you’ve paid down your balance, but a card with a 0-percent APR can be useful if you have to use your new card in a bind – at least you won’t incur interest on that new balance.

Is there an annual fee?

Some balance transfer cards include an annual membership fee – try to avoid any cards with annual fees until you’ve dug yourself out of debt.

What is the penalty for missing a payment?

Take a careful look at the card’s terms and conditions to see what’s in store if you send a payment past the due date or completely miss a payment. Possible penalties can include losing your 0-percent introductory APR (even for paying just a day late), penalty fees and interest and penalty APRs of nearly 30 percent. You should opt for a card with more forgiving terms.

What are the other features? Is there a rewards program?

Since you shouldn’t be making new purchases with a balance transfer card, rewards programs shouldn’t be your primary concern. But they’re a nice-to-have in case you want to keep the card in the long run, along with other card benefits such as purchase and travel protections.

Read all the fine print

A misstep with a balance transfer card can be costly, so you should familiarize yourself with all the restrictions in the card’s terms and conditions. Other things to consider: how long do you have to transfer a balance at 0-percent and/or with the balance transfer fee waived? Is there a grace period for new balances? Are there other unexpected fees or penalties? Make sure there’s nothing in the fine print that could catch you off guard.

How to compare two balance transfer cards

When comparing balance transfer cards, your gut may tell you to choose the card with the longest introductory period. You’re not entirely wrong, but there’s another very important consideration: The balance transfer fee. Most balance transfer cards charge a 3 to 5 percent fee to transfer a balance, which can add up to $100 or more in fees if you have a large balance to transfer.

There are a few cards – such as the Amex EveryDay®* Credit Card – that don’t charge a fee for your initial balance transfer within 60 days of account opening. So, which is a better way to go? A no-fee balance transfer offer, or a card with an especially long introductory period? Most of the time, the no-fee card wins out. Here’s the math to help you decide, with the factors from the previous section condensed into a four-step process:

Step 1: Figure out your payment terms

Before you start comparing balance transfer cards, you need to figure out the following:

• What size balance do you want to transfer? – What is the total existing balance that you want to transfer from your existing cards to your new card? (Keep in mind that your new card will come with a credit limit that may restrict the amount that you’re able to transfer.)
• How much can you afford to pay each month? – How much can you reasonably afford to pay on the balance each month? While it’s a good idea to pay down your debt as quickly as possible, you should come up with a manageable amount.

Step 2: Calculate fees and interest

Once you know the size of the balance transfer and the installment amount, you need to calculate the fees and interest for each card. Basically, you need to calculate how much of a balance remains for each card once the introductory period expires (don’t forget to add the card’s balance transfer fee to the initial balance), and then calculate the interest that you will owe each month until the balance is paid off.

Step 3: Compare fees and interest on each card

Using the same balance transfer amount and installment payment, calculate the fees and interest for both cards, then compare the amounts side by side.

For example, in the table below, we compare the costs of transferring a $5,000 balance to the Discover it Balance Transfer card and the Amex EveryDay* cards with a repayment period of 21 months. Even though the introductory period on the EveryDay is shorter, you would save more than $100 with it in this scenario, due to its waived balance transfer fee.

Credit cards without a balance transfer fee

• Amex EveryDay* card - within the first 60 days
• Barclaycard Ring® Mastercard® - after the first 45 days
• Chase Slate® card** - within the first 60 days

Step 4: Compare the cards' remaining features

Finding the card that will cost you the least to pay down your balance should be your first priority. However, if all else is equal between the cards, you should look at remaining features on the cards to see if either is worth holding onto in the long run. For instance, the Discover it Balance Transfer card from our example has a very valuable cash back program. You can enroll every quarter to earn 5 percent cash back on up to $1,500 in purchases made in various categories throughout the year.

What to do if your balance transfer is rejected

Sometimes, you are approved for a balance transfer card but when it comes time to make the actual transfer, it is rejected. What to do?

You may have been denied because the balance is greater than the amount you have been approved for. Balance transfers can be approved for a set amount or a percentage of your credit limit. For example, USAA caps balance transfers at 95% of the credit limit.

Here's what you can do if this happens to you:

• If the balance transfer is denied – Simply ask the card issuer to reconsider. The reason why you were denied can be the deciding factor.
• If your credit is poor – If your credit score was too low or you don't have high enough income, you may be denied. Sometimes you can get approval if there are extenuating circumstances.
• If it's due to lack of available credit – Try resubmitting with a lower amount. If your first problem hasn't been solved (transferring the old balance), you might consider another card. Just make sure you have sufficient income and credit score for that card. Keep in mind that each hard inquiry impacts your score by about 5 points.

* All information about The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer. The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card from American Express is no longer available through CreditCards.com.
** All information about Chase Slate® has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer. The Chase Slate® credit card is no longer available through CreditCards.com.

Laura is an editor and writer at CreditCards.com. She has written extensively on all things credit cards and works to bring you the most up-to-date analysis and advice. Laura's work has been cited in such publications as the New York Times and Associated Press. You can reach her by e-mail at laura.mohammad@creditcards.com and on Twitter @creditcards_lm.