With the average balance transfer card offering an intro period of just 3 months, it's no surprise that many people are interested in finding a better deal. But what makes one offer better than another? We've gone through all the available options and picked out our top 10 balance transfer cards for 2018.
Discover it® Balance Transfer: Top Pick for 0% Intro APR
The Discover it® Balance Transfer is a great choice for anyone looking to get out of debt and begin paying down their balance. It's one of the best rewards credit cards, offering 0% intro APR on purchases for 18 months and 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months. That means you can rent movies or books from Amazon, switch your cable provider (or two), or buy an iPhone 8 with no interest if you need to pay off your old debts first. And this card also offers 5x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and hotels — which are redeemed as cash back when used towards travel expenses.
Other perks include 1% cash back on all other purchases; 2% back in rotating categories; no annual fee; no foreign transaction fees; friendly customer service chatbots available 24/7 by phone or chatbot
BankAmericard® credit card: Best No-Fee Balance Transfer
No fee to transfer your balance.
No intro APR on new purchases.
No balance transfer fee (the same as offering a 0% intro APR).
Annual fee is waived in first year, then $75/year thereafter (not waived if enrolled in another credit card product).
Citi Simplicity® Card: Best Long 0% Intro Term
The Citi Simplicity® Card is a great option for cardholders who have been approved for a credit line with their bank, but haven't had time to use it. This card has no annual fee and offers 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers made within the first 60 days of account opening (a 15-month period). After that, there's a variable 10.99% - 22.99% variable APR depending on your creditworthiness and other factors like how much you owe and when you pay off those balances.
You can also transfer money from another credit card or bank account via PayPass® at checkout in stores; this feature is available only if you have an Apple Pay™ or Android Pay™ enabled device
Chase Slate® Credit Card: Best for a 0% Intro Period for 15 Months on Balance Transfers
The Chase Slate® Credit Card is a credit card that allows you to transfer balances from your other credit cards and pay them off in full. This helps you avoid interest charges, which can be expensive if you don't pay off your balance before it compounds into an interest rate.
The Slate® is one of the best balance transfer cards out there because it offers 0% intro APR for 15 months on transfers, purchases and balance transfers combined. After that period ends (and assuming you haven't done anything stupid), your regular APR will be 14 percent - 25 percent variable depending on your creditworthiness at the time of application.*
It also has no annual fee and no late fees or foreign transaction fees: both common features among good balance transfer cards!
Wells Fargo Platinum Visa® Card: Best for a Longer 0% Intro Offer on Purchases
The Wells Fargo Platinum Visa® Card has a 0% intro APR for 18 months on purchases and balance transfers. It's also the only card on this list that doesn't charge a balance transfer fee, which means you won't have to pay any extra money if you plan to transfer your debt from another card into this one.
The Wells Fargo Platinum Visa® Card also offers 3% cash back in rewards categories (grocery stores, gas stations and drugstores) for the first $1,500 in combined purchases each quarter.
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card: Best for No Penalty APR
The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers a 0% intro APR for 18 billing cycles and no annual fee, so it's a good choice if you're looking to get your cash back out of your credit card debt. In addition to that, the card also has no penalty APR, which means that if you pay off your balance in full each month, there won't be any interest charges on top of that payment—so long as there isn't another late payment during those same months.
If this sounds like something that would work for you and your finances, then the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card could be an excellent option for getting started with balance transfers or cash advances on other cards without having to worry about paying interest charges on top of those payments too soon after making them (and potentially getting hit with fees).
Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card: Top Pick If You Prefer Flat-Rate Rewards
No annual fee
Flat-rate rewards
Bonus categories (including gas, grocery, and drug store purchases)
If you prefer to get paid in cash back instead of points or miles, this card is a great option. The Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card offers flat-rate rewards that can be used toward any purchase—you'll earn 1.5% cash back on the first $2,500 spent each month and then another .05% for every dollar you spend thereafter. There are also bonus categories that award extra points when you spend more than $500 per month in those categories: travel (up to 5%), dining out (4%), shopping online (3%), streaming entertainment services like Netflix & Hulu at least once per month; video games purchased through PlayStation Store or Xbox Live Marketplace at least once per month; movie tickets purchased at an arthouse theater like the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Austin TX/San Antonio TX area/Houston TX area/Dallas TX area etc., theater tickets purchased through Fandango including CDL Theater Center Hollywood near Los Angeles CA area/New York City NY city limits).
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card: Best for Flat-Rate Rewards Plus a Welcome Bonus and 0% Intro APR Offer
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card is a cash back credit card that gives you 1.5% on every purchase, 2% when you buy AND pay off your balance in full each month and a flat rate of 5X points per $1 spent on travel and dining at restaurants, gas stations and drugstores.
It also offers 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (that's free!) along with an additional 15 months of 0% APR for balance transfers, which means there's no interest to pay if you transfer balances from another lender like Citi or Barclays when signing up for this card. This is one of our favorite cards because it earns rewards quickly without having to carry around lots of cash as well as offers some nice perks like bonus miles that can be redeemed online through American Airlines' AAdvantage program!
Amex EveryDay Credit Card from American Express*: Best for Flexible Rewards on Everyday Spending
This card is great for anyone who wants to earn rewards on everyday spending. It has a good rewards rate, no annual fee and can be used for balance transfers. This card also comes with no foreign transaction fees.
Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card*: Best Hotel-Branded Credit Card With No Annual Fee and a Balance Transfer Offer
If you're looking for a hotel-branded credit card with no annual fee and a balance transfer offer, this is it. The Hilton Honors American Express Ascend Card* has the highest rewards on hotel stays among all other hotels-branded credit cards including Hilton HHonors Reserve American Express® Card and Marriott Rewards Premier Plus Credit Card (you'll get 3 points per dollar spent at participating Marriott Hotels & Resorts properties).
In addition to this great deal, this particular Hilton Honors Amex also comes with no foreign transaction fees or balance transfer fees as well as an intro APR offer that gives you 0% for 18 months when you open your account.
These cards offer the best balance transfer credit cards of 2018
Discover it® Balance Transfer: Top Pick for 0% Intro APR
BankAmericard® credit card: Best No-Fee Balance Transfer
Citi Simplicity® Card: Best Long 0% Intro Term
Conclusion
We hope this post has helped you find the best balance transfer credit card for your situation. Remember, there are many different types of cards to choose from, so do your research before making a decision! If you want another option, please feel free to check out our other posts here at MoneyTips.com--we're happy to answer any questions or clarify anything that might be confusing.