Balance transfer calculator
What moving your balance costs on each of the 61 US cards in our records with a balance transfer offer: the fee plus all the interest until it’s paid off, against staying put. The cheapest card depends on what you pay each month.
Moving $4,350 to the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Credit Card costs $148 and clears it in 24 months. Staying put costs $1,374 over 31 months.
$1,227 less than staying put, and ahead from month 2, once the interest you’d have paid passes the $131 fee.
- Staying put
- Citi® Diamond Preferred® Credit Card
- Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card
- TD FlexPay Credit Card
Calculated from each issuer’s published balance transfer fee, intro rate and APR range in our records, on the numbers you entered. The table above has every figure.
| Card and offer | Transfer fee | Interest | Total cost | Paid off in | Against staying put |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Citi® Diamond Preferred® Credit Card 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months, then 16.74%–27.49% variable APR (Balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening) Terms checked Oct 5, 2026.Apply on the issuer’s site We don’t earn from this card. | $131 3%, at least $5 on transfers in the first 120 days | $17 then 22.12% APR | $148 | 24 months | $1,227 less |
2. Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card 0.99% intro APR on balance transfers for 12 months, then 10.24%–18% variable APR (Balances transferred within 60 days of account opening)Not open to everyoneWho can apply, in the issuer’s words: Navy Federal membership, which is open to active duty servicemembers, veterans, Department of Defense civilians (employees, contractors, retirees and annuitants), and their immediate family and household members. | $0 0% | $196 then 14.12% APR | $196 | 24 months | $1,178 less |
| 3. TD FlexPay Credit Card 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 17.49%–27.49% variable APR (18 billing cycles; balance transfers made within the first 90 days of account opening) Terms checked Oct 6, 2026.Apply on the issuer’s site We don’t earn from this card. | $131 3%, at least $5 on transfers in the first 90 days | $70 then 22.49% APR | $201 | 24 months | $1,173 less |
| 4. Citi Simplicity® Credit Card 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 18 months, then 17.74%–28.49% variable APR (Balance transfers must be completed in the first 4 months of account opening) Terms checked Oct 5, 2026.Apply on the issuer’s site We don’t earn from this card. | $131 3%, at least $5 on transfers in the first 120 days | $72 then 23.12% APR | $203 | 24 months | $1,171 less |
| 5. Citi Double Cash® Card 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 18.49%–28.74% variable APR (Balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening) Terms checked Oct 5, 2026.Apply on the issuer’s site We don’t earn from this card. | $131 3%, at least $5 on transfers in the first 120 days | $74 then 23.62% APR | $204 | 24 months | $1,170 less |
| 6. BankAmericard® Credit Card 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 21 months, then 15.24%–26.24% variable APR (21 billing cycles; balance transfers made within 60 days of opening) Terms checked Oct 6, 2026.Apply on the issuer’s site We don’t earn from this card. | $218 5% | $21 then 20.74% APR | $239 | 25 months | $1,136 less |
| 7. U.S. Bank Shield® Visa® Card 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 21 months, then 17.24%–28.24% variable APR (21 billing cycles; balance transfers made within 60 days of opening) Terms checked Oct 5, 2026.Apply on the issuer’s site We don’t earn from this card. | $218 5%, at least $5 | $23 then 22.74% APR | $241 | 25 months | $1,133 less |
| 8. Wells Fargo Reflect® Card 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 21 months, then 17.74%–28.49% variable APR (Balance transfers requested within 120 days of opening) Terms checked Oct 6, 2026.Apply on the issuer’s site We don’t earn from this card. | $218 5%, at least $5 | $24 then 23.12% APR | $241 | 25 months | $1,133 less |
| 9. Regions Life Visa® Credit Card 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 16.74%–26.74% variable APR (Balance transfers that post within 60 days of account opening) Terms checked Oct 6, 2026.Apply on the issuer’s site We don’t earn from this card. | $174 4%, at least $10 | $73 then 21.74% APR | $247 | 25 months | $1,127 less |
| 10. PNC Spend Wise® Visa® Credit Card 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 19.74%–27.74% variable APR (Balances transferred within the first 90 days following account opening) Terms checked Oct 6, 2026–Oct 22, 2026.Apply on the issuer’s site We don’t earn from this card. | $174 4%, at least $5 on transfers in the first 90 days | $81 then 23.74% APR | $255 | 25 months | $1,119 less |
7 cards with a balance transfer offer we can’t price, and why
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Its balance transfer fee isn’t one figure we can use. The product page says only that a fee applies; the figure is in Capital One’s separate pricing disclosures, which we haven’t saved yet.
- Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card: Its balance transfer fee isn’t one figure we can use. The product page says only that a fee applies and points to pricing and terms, which we have not captured yet.
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Its balance transfer fee isn’t one figure we can use. Capital One charges 3% on transfers that post in the first 15 months, then 4% on transfers at a promotional APR it may offer and nothing on transfers at the purchase APR: several fees, which one figure can’t show.
- Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Its balance transfer fee isn’t one figure we can use. Capital One charges 3% on transfers that post in the first 15 months, then 4% on transfers at a promotional APR it may offer and nothing on transfers at the purchase APR: several fees, which one figure can’t show.
- Discover it® Cash Back: Its balance transfer fee isn’t one figure we can use. Discover charges 3% on transfers that post in the first 15 months, then 5% on transfers at a promotional APR it may offer and nothing on transfers at the purchase APR: several fees, which one figure can’t show.
- Discover it® Miles: Its balance transfer fee isn’t one figure we can use. Discover charges 3% on transfers that post in the first 15 months, then 5% on transfers at a promotional APR it may offer and nothing on transfers at the purchase APR: several fees, which one figure can’t show.
- Discover it® Chrome Gas & Restaurants: Its balance transfer fee isn’t one figure we can use. Discover charges 3% on transfers that post in the first 15 months, then 5% on transfers at a promotional APR it may offer and nothing on transfers at the purchase APR: several fees, which one figure can’t show.
We earn nothing from any card on this page. If that changes, commission will never change the order, which is set by cost alone, and we’ll say so at every link. How we get paid
Which balance transfer card is cheapest depends on your monthly payment
On the example balance of $4,350 at 22.36% APR, we tested every monthly payment from $100 to $600 in steps of $10. The cheapest card changes twice across that range. At $190 a month, the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Credit Card costs $148 in fees and interest against $1,374 for staying put.
- Staying put
- Cheapest card at that payment
| Monthly payment | Cheapest card | Why it wins | Cheapest card anyone can apply for |
|---|---|---|---|
| $100 | Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card 0.99% intro APR on balance transfers for 12 months, then 10.24%–18% variable APR (Balances transferred within 60 days of account opening) | It charges no transfer fee, while the next-cheapest, the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Credit Card, charges $131. | Citi® Diamond Preferred® Credit Card The Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card isn’t open to everyone: Navy Federal membership. |
| $110–$210 | Citi® Diamond Preferred® Credit Card 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 21 months, then 16.74%–27.49% variable APR (Balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening) | Its intro period lasts 21 months, against 12 on the next-cheapest, the Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card. | The same card |
| $220–$290 | Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card 0.99% intro APR on balance transfers for 12 months, then 10.24%–18% variable APR (Balances transferred within 60 days of account opening) | It charges no transfer fee, while the next-cheapest, the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Credit Card, charges $131. | Citi® Diamond Preferred® Credit Card The Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card isn’t open to everyone: Navy Federal membership. |
| $300–$600 | Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card 0.99% intro APR on balance transfers for 12 months, then 10.24%–18% variable APR (Balances transferred within 60 days of account opening) | Its APR after the intro period is lower than that of the next-cheapest, the Navy Federal cashRewards Credit Card. | Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card The Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card isn’t open to everyone: Navy Federal membership. |
Our view: choose by how fast you’ll pay, not by the longest 0% period
It’s tempting to pick the card with the longest 0% period. On the example balance, that is the right choice only for part of the range. What decides it is how fast you pay:
- At $100 a month, the Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card is cheapest: it charges no transfer fee, while the next-cheapest, the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Credit Card, charges $131.
- At $110 to $210 a month, the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Credit Card is cheapest: its intro period lasts 21 months, against 12 on the next-cheapest, the Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card.
- At $220 or more a month, the Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card is cheapest: it charges no transfer fee, while the next-cheapest, the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Credit Card, charges $131.
So we think the first question is what you can pay each month. Decide that, then compare the total cost at that payment.
This is our opinion, drawn from the calculation above. It would change if issuers changed their fees, intro periods or APR ranges, which we re-check every week, or for a balance and APR far from the example. It assumes you make every payment on time and don’t add new purchases, since a late payment can end an intro rate early.
How the balance transfer calculator works
For each card, we add the transfer fee to the balance, charge the card’s intro rate for its intro months and then a point in its published APR range, and take off your payment each month until the balance is gone. Staying put is the same calculation at your current APR with no fee. The total cost is the fee plus all the interest. Cards that can’t clear the balance at your payment within 30 years are listed last, marked “Not at this payment”.
- Interest is worked out monthly at the APR divided by 12, with your payment taken off at the end of each month. Issuers charge daily on the average daily balance, so your statements will differ slightly.
- The whole balance moves in month one, and the transfer fee is added to it. The issuer sets your credit line after you apply, and it can be smaller than your balance.
- Where an issuer charges a lower fee on transfers made soon after opening, we use the lower fee.
- After the intro period, we assume the point you chose in the card’s published APR range. The issuer sets your actual rate.
- No new purchases on either card, and every payment on time. A late payment can end an intro rate early and add a penalty APR.
Every card figure is the issuer’s own, from the terms we saved: the balance transfer fee, the intro rate on balance transfers and how long it lasts, and the APR that follows. Issuer terms for these 61 cards were checked between October 4, 2026 and October 22, 2026, automatically against a saved copy of each issuer’s terms. 7 of them can’t be priced, because the fee isn’t one published figure; the calculator lists why for each. We don’t know your credit line, which the issuer sets and which may be smaller than your balance, and we haven’t applied for these cards.
Moving a balance can leave interest on the old card for the days before the transfer posts: see residual interest after payoff. For what Americans owe and pay in interest, see our credit card statistics. If you pay in full each month, a balance transfer won’t help you: compare the best credit cards by what they’re worth to you instead.
Approved for publication by Matt Woodley on October 29, 2026. Figures are checked automatically against a saved copy of each issuer’s terms. How we check every figure