The best low-fee 0% balance transfer credit cards

Lenders have been rapidly pulling low-fee 0% balance transfer credit cards from the market. We reveal the few remaining deals for those looking to clear debt without incurring hefty up-front charges.

The longest balance transfer cards offer up to 33 months interest-free at the time of writing, although these tend to come with hefty balance transfer fees.

It is possible to get balance transfer cards that charge far smaller fees, giving you a vital opportunity to pay off your debt without incurring any extra costs. 

In this article, we take a look at your options if you're after a low-fee balance transfer card (or you can jump straight in and find a top offer now with Moneysupermarket). 

Lowest fee vs longest 0% period: finding the right balance 

Most balance transfer cards tend to fall into one of three categories: the first is those that offer the longest 0% balance transfer window, for which you'll generally have to pay a hefty fee.

Barclaycard currently offers the longest deal at up to 33 months.

At the other end of the scale, you have the truly fee-free balance transfer deal. As there are no fees, you'll get a much shorter 0% window. 

Barclaycard again comes out on top at up to 14 months.

Traditionally, there has also been a third category: the low-fee transfer card, which usually offers a balance between duration and cost. In some cases, these fees had been as low as 1%.

Recently, however, these offers have been disappearing from the market.

In fact, there are only two noteworthy low-fee deals currently available (see table below).

It's also worth stressing that the best fee-free and low-fee credit cards generally require that you have an excellent credit rating to qualify.

So, it’s worth using a card eligibility checker to work out your chances of getting a deal without leaving a mark on your credit report.

You can view all the best truly fee-free 0% balance transfer cards here

Best low-fee balance transfer cards

If the low-fee option appeals, then below are the top picks.

If you can pay your balance off a little quicker, do look at these fee-free options instead.

As you can see, Tesco offers the lowest balance transfer rate of 0.99%, with an interest-free period of 18 months.

If you're looking for a slightly longer deal, Barclays offers up to 22 months for a 1.99% fee.

It's worth reiterating that you'll need a good credit rating to qualify for most attractive balance transfer deals.

You could also receive a shorter interest-free period or a higher fee, depending on your credit score.

If you get turned down, don't carry on applying as you'll hurt your credit rating. Instead, try to make some cutbacks if you can and pay off more of your debts.

Be sure to keep up your repayments and your credit rating will, in time, improve. Read this guide for more tips on how to boost your rating.

If you're in serious trouble, seek free, independent help from a debt charity. You can find out more in this guide to free debt advice.

Still not found the right card for you? View our complete guide to credit cards to see all your options.