The best fee-free 0% balance transfer cards
Our pick of the best fee-free 0% balance transfer credit cards for those who don't want to pay a balance transfer fee up-front.
If you want to shift debt to another "0%" credit card, you're usually asked to pay a percentage of the debt up front in the form of a transfer fee, which is the lender's way of making a profit.
The longest deals on the market (up to 39 months at the time of publishing) also tend to come with the heftiest fees, often in excess of 3%.
While these are still far cheaper than letting debt rack up costly interest, there is an even better option out there for those able to pay off their debt in under 30 months.
Fee-free balance transfer cards allow you to move debt without paying a penny. The catch? The 0% periods on offer are understandably shorter than their fee-charging rivals.
In this article, we look at the handful of truly free balance transfer cards on the market.
The best cards available right now
|
Credit Card |
0% period on balance transfers |
Representative APR after 0% period ends |
|
29 months |
18.9% |
|
|
TSB Platinum 28 Month Balance Transfer Credit Card* |
28 months |
18.9% |
|
Sainsbury's Bank No Balance Transfer Fee Credit Card |
28 months |
18.9% |
|
25 months |
19.9% |
|
|
25 months |
19.9% |
|
|
24 months |
19.9% |
As you can see, Halifax leads the way on 29 months, but its rivals really aren't far behind at all.
It's worth noting that, with the TSB offer, you'll need to switch your debt within 30 days of opening the account or TSB will hit you with a sneaky 0.5% fee on this particular card.
Will I get the headline rate?
As you can imagine, you’ve got to have a stellar credit rating to get the best deal.
If your score is poor, it’s a better idea to give it a boost. Find out more at How to build an excellent credit history.
Lowest fee vs longest 0% period: finding the right balance
If you are certain that you can clear your debt within that two-year window, then one of these balance transfer credit cards are worth going for as they'll always be cheapest.
The second category of cards are those that offer the longest 0% balance transfer window, but you have to pay a hefty fee up front for the privilege.
Those who have a fair chunk of debt to pay off might want to consider the latter. Check out The best 0% balance transfer credit cards to find out more.
Whichever you go for, make sure you can make the minimum repayments on time and in full every month otherwise you’ll be hit with fees that will negate any benefit that comes with the card.
Compare even more balance transfer deals with loveMONEY
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