Use our guide to the best balance transfer credit cards to find the right card and save the most money on interest payments.
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Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards February 2026
We have selected these balance transfer cards based on the length of the 0% balance transfer period, balance transfer fees, and total cost of borrowing on a realistic £5,000 example. Priority was given to cards offering the longest interest-free periods at the lowest overall cost from well-established UK providers.
- TSB Platinum Balance Transfer Card – 0% balance transfer for 38 months (one of the longest on the market), 3.49% transfer fee, representative 24.9% APR, and a total repayment of around £5,175 on a £5,000 balance.
- Barclaycard Platinum 36-Month Balance Transfer Card – Offers 36 months at 0%, a 3.45% transfer fee, 24.9% APR, and an estimated total cost of £5,173, making it a strong long-term debt-clearing option.
- Tesco Bank Clubcard Balance Transfer Credit Card – Provides 36 months at 0%, a 3.45% fee, 24.9% APR, and similar total borrowing costs to Barclaycard, with the added perk of earning Clubcard points on eligible spending.
- HSBC Balance Transfer Credit Card – Comes with 35 months at 0%, a slightly lower 3.19% transfer fee (minimum £5), 24.9% APR, and a lower total repayment of around £5,160.
- MBNA Long 0% Balance Transfer Credit Card – Offers 35 months interest-free, one of the lowest fees at 2.99%, 24.9% APR, and a total repayment of roughly £5,150, making it one of the cheapest overall for long-term transfers.
What is a balance transfer credit card?
A balance transfer credit card allows you to reduce the amount of interest you pay on credit card debt by transferring your credit card debt from another card to a credit card with a balance transfer deal.
Failing to pay off the balance on a credit card can prove a crippling expense. Fortunately balance transfer cards exist which allow borrowers to transfer all their credit and store card debt to a new card, and no longer pay any interest for an agreed period.
Put simply, borrowers can transfer their existing credit and store card debt on which they are paying interest to a new card which moves them to zero interest for an agreed period.
And since, the balance transfer card provider charges no interest on the money which has been moved over, borrowers can better manage their credit card debt.
How do balance transfer credit cards work?
Typically, balance transfers do not charge a fee for short borrowing periods. The fees tend to increase if you want a longer repayment period. For example, the Santander balance transfer card with an 18-month repayment rate charges no fee. In contrast, the HSBC balance transfer card with a 29-month repayment period, charges a 2.75% fee.
The trick is to decide how quickly you can realistically repay the debt and find a card offering the closet repayment period. You should also shop around. As you can see from the comparison table below, the rates and rewards vary, and often quite significantly.
How do you transfer a balance to a different credit card?
Transferring is relatively straightforward and can usually be done online. However, it is not possible to transfer to a new card offered by the same company with which you already hold cards. This might mean it is trickier it may be to find a balance transfer card provider if you hold a lot of cards. Borrowers will also need to meet eligibility criteria. The worse your credit score, the tougher it will be to get accepted, and lenders may charge higher fees or make the borrowing conditions more stringent.
What are the benefits of using a balance transfer card?
The benefits to moving to a balance transfer card are clear; you no longer have to pay interest which means you can repay your debt more quickly and efficiently. Second, credit card companies may also incentivise borrowers to transfer by offering them rewards and other perks. What are the downsides of transferring a balance to a different credit card?
The major drawback of a balance transfer card lies in the high APR. If you fail to pay off the balance within the agreed time parameters, you may end up paying much higher interest than you might on an ordinary credit card. Similarly, if you do not pay off at least the minimum each month, the lender may drop the 0% rate. You must also understand the transfer fees.
Compare Different Types of Credit Card
Best Credit Cards
Everyday credit cards offer you the most flexibility for everyday use while having a reasonable interest rate, a balance transfer option and an initial interest-free period on purchases.
Balance Transfer Credit Cards
Astute credit card holders know they can shop around for a new card and transfer the balance from their old one, benefiting from a lower interest rate or even an interest-free period. Balance transfer credit cards are also a great way to consolidate debt from several cards to one.
Rewards Credit Cards
Reward credit cards are an easy way to earn hundreds of pounds in bonuses, just for your normal spending. But while some offers look valuable, you might be paying through the nose in interest fees. Also, consider whether the rewards offered are worthwhile to you.
Cash Back Credit Cards
You’ll be familiar with the cashback concept, where you earn rewards in the form of money or credit on your account when you spend. You must shop around as the “earn rate” varies, while some cards affiliated to a brand reward more for spending with that brand.
Travel Credit Cards
Don’t get hit by high fees when using your credit card abroad. Look for a credit card that offers no fees on foreign transactions and preferably some rewards as well.
Bad Credit Credit Cards
When you have a poor credit score, perhaps because of bankruptcy or some form of previous default, you can begin to rebuild your score using these cards. For those with credit problems here are our top ten bad credit credit cards.
Money Transfer Credit Cards
Using a credit card to pay off your expensive bank overdraft (or another loan) makes total sense when you can do so interest-free. Therefore, look for a card that has the longest 0% money transfer period and pay off as much as you can from the card quickly.
Air Miles Credit Cards
Bag yourself free travel simply by spending on your credit card. But select your card carefully as only some offer air miles, and some are more generous than others.
Purchase Credit Cards
If you use your credit card simply for purchases and are not concerned about balance transfers and other perks, you need to look at any interest-free purchase promotional period, followed by an ongoing generous low APR.