Section 01 / The Premise
Compare interest-free intro APR cards offering roughly 15 to 21 months of breathing room. Calculate your exact savings against your current balance before you apply.
Section 02 / Ledger
Click any column header to re-sort. Click any card name for the full review with payoff math.
| Card / Issuer | 0% Window ▼ | BT Fee | Reverts To | Annual | Min FICO | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
01 | 21months | 5%min $5 | 17.49% - 28.24% | $0 | 670+ | Those who want 0% on both transfers and new purchases with cell phone protection |
02 | 21months | 5%min $5 | 16.99% - 27.99% | $0 | 700+ | Those who need the longest possible payoff window with no annual fee |
03 | 21months | 5%min $10 | 14.99% - 25.99% | $0 | 700+ | Those who may not fully pay off the balance and want the lowest post-intro APR |
04 | 18months | 3%min $5 | 17.49% - 28.24% | $0 | 690+ | Cardholders who want a no-late-fee, no-penalty-APR card while they pay down debt |
05 | 21months | 5%min $5 | 21.49% - 29.99% | $0 | 670+ | Closed to new applicants in early 2026. Chase replaced it with the reintroduced Chase Slate card (21-month 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, 5% transfer fee). Existing cardholders keep their accounts and terms. |
06 | 18months | 3%min $5 | 17.49% - 28.49% | $0 | 670+ | Closed to new applicants. Discover's current balance transfer card is the Discover it Chrome (18-month 0% intro APR, 3% intro balance transfer fee). Existing cardholders keep their accounts and terms. |
07 | 15months | 3%min $5 | 17.49% - 28.49% | $0 | 670+ | Closed to new applicants since September 2024. American Express no longer offers a long 0% balance transfer card. Existing cardholders keep their accounts and terms. |
APR ranges shown are representative based on issuer disclosures at the time of writing. Your actual APR depends on your creditworthiness at the time of application and is variable, tied to the U.S. Prime Rate. Intro periods, transfer fees, and APR ranges change frequently, so always verify current terms directly with the issuer before applying.
Section 02b / Calculation Worksheet
Pick a card, enter your current balance and APR, and watch the worksheet update. The fee is added to your transferred balance and paid down over the same window as the rest.
Worksheet / SAVINGS-26
Auto-calculated · values shown in USD
The credit card debt you want to transfer.
Check your latest statement.
D. Bottom line
Net Saving After Fee
$2,499
Interest avoided − 3% transfer fee
Interest Avoided
$2,739
Transfer Fee
$240
3% of $8,000
Monthly Payment Needed
$444
$8,000 ÷ 18 months
Today's Monthly Interest
$153
What you currently bleed each month
Section 03 / Editorial
These picks are independent. We do not take affiliate compensation that influences this list. Each card is chosen for a different scenario, not as a single all-purpose winner.
Citibank
An 18-month 0% window paired with a no-late-fee, no-penalty-APR policy and the lowest intro transfer fee in the comparison. The safest pick for anyone genuinely worried about missing a payment under stress.
Read full review →U.S. Bank
Counts intro APR in billing cycles rather than calendar months, which can quietly add a handful of extra days. Useful when you want every possible week of breathing room on a larger balance.
Read full review →Bank of America
The lowest regular APR range in the comparison and no penalty APR, so a single late payment will not push your rate higher. The safest landing spot if you might still carry a balance when the 0% window closes.
Read full review →Section 04 / Use Cases
The right balance transfer card depends on how much you owe and how aggressively you can pay it down. Here are three common scenarios.
On a balance near $15,000, even a 5% transfer fee is a small price for nearly two years of zero interest. The longer 0% window keeps the required monthly payment manageable, and the avoided interest typically dwarfs the upfront fee by an order of magnitude.
See long-window picks →If you can comfortably handle a higher monthly payment, the priority shifts: minimise the upfront fee. Citi Simplicity charges a 3% intro fee for transfers in the first four months instead of 5%, which saves a real but modest amount on a moderate balance when your payoff plan is aggressive.
See lower-fee picks →If your score sits in the good rather than excellent band, lean toward cards with a lower stated FICO floor. The Wells Fargo Reflect and BankAmericard both open at around 670, and BankAmericard carries no penalty APR, so a single late payment will not push your rate higher while you recover.
See lower-threshold picks →Section 05 / Q & A
Section 06 / Cross-Reference
If a balance transfer card is not quite the right tool, one of these sister sites probably is.
Many balance transfer cards also waive the annual fee. Compare the no-fee landscape across all card types.
If your FICO sits below 670, see cards designed for fair credit applicants who still want a useful intro offer.
Want a permanently low APR instead of a temporary 0% promo window? Compare ongoing low-rate options.
Looking for 0% on new purchases as well as transfers? See cards that combine both promotions.
Considering a personal loan instead of chaining transfers? Read the head-to-head comparison.
If your debt is small and rewards matter more, our dining-rewards comparison may be more relevant.
Updated 2026-08-03