Best 0% balance transfer credit cards 2025
In this article
- What is a balance transfer credit card?
- Best 0% balance transfer credit cards
- Balance transfer calculator
- Balance transfer credit card provider reviews
- How to do a credit card balance transfer
- How to use a 0% balance transfer credit card to clear debt
- Balance transfer credit cards FAQs
- How we analyse credit cards
What is a balance transfer credit card?
With a 0% balance transfer credit card you can shift debt from expensive credit and store cards and freeze the interest for a set period. Some deals last as long as 32 months.
This gives you the chance to pay the debt down faster and save money, as all your repayments will go towards the debt itself rather than the debt and interest.
For example, a £2,000 debt on a card charging an 22% APR that you pay £60 a month towards will take more than four years to clear and cost you £2,941. In contrast, a £2,000 debt moved onto a 0% balance transfer card, with the same repayments of £60 a month, will take around 33 months to clear and save you £941.
Here, we reveal the longest-lasting balance transfer cards on the market and our Which? Best Buys. We also provide advice on how to use a balance transfer deal to tackle credit card debt.
Best 0% balance transfer credit cards
When looking for a 0% balance transfer credit card you should consider the length of the 0% period and the size of the transfer fee.
Some cards don't charge a balance transfer fee, but others charge up to 4% for each balance transfer you do, so if you've got multiple cards you want to clear, the fees can add up.
In general, the longer the deal lasts, the higher the fee will be. This means it can be worth avoiding the longest deals if you feel confident that you'll be able to repay the balance within a shorter time frame.
Here are our picks of the best balance transfer deals available if you're simply after the longest-lasting one. We've also awarded Best Buys to the balance transfer credit cards that have no transfer fee and come with a decent 0% period for clearing debt.
Please note that the information in this article is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice. Please refer to the particular terms & conditions of a credit card provider before committing to any financial products.
Longest 0% balance transfer deals
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER Tesco Bank Clubcard Credit Card Balance Transfer Mastercard | 79% | 32 months | 3.19% | £64 | 24.9%. Representative example: assumed borrowing of £1,200 for one year, at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable), representative 24.9% APR (variable). Credit available subject to status. Terms apply. |
Barclaycard Platinum 32 Month Balance Transfer Visa | 72% | 32 months | 3.19% | £64 | 24.9%. Representative example: assumed borrowing of £1,200 for one year, at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable), representative 24.9% APR (variable). Credit available subject to status. Terms apply. |
MBNA Limited Long 0% Balance Transfer Credit Card Visa | 70% | 32 months | 3.2% | £64 | 24.9%. Representative example: assumed borrowing of £1,200 for one year, at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable), representative 24.9% APR (variable). Credit available subject to status. Terms apply. |
HSBC Balance Transfer Credit Card Visa | 71% | 32 months | 3.49% | £70 | 24.9%. Representative example: assumed borrowing of £1,200 for one year, at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable), representative 24.9% APR (variable). Credit available subject to status. Terms apply. |
Tables notes: table correct as of 1 May 2025. Cards are ordered by interest-free period, balance transfer fee and then APR. The average provider customer score is 72%. For more information on our research and the terms we use in the table skip to how we analyse credit card providers and deals.
Which? Best Buy 0% balance transfer deals
We've analysed hundreds of balance transfer credit cards to find the best deals. We looked at credit cards that had no balance transfer fee with 0% periods over 12 months, and checked how customers rated the provider. These cards stood out.
best buy Barclaycard Platinum 14 Month Balance Transfer Visa | 72% | 14 months | 0% | £0 | 24.9%. Representative example: assumed borrowing of £1,200 for one year, at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable), representative 24.9% APR (variable). Credit available subject to status. Terms apply |
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER best buy Santander Everyday No Balance Transfer Fee Credit Card Mastercard | 76% | 12 months | 0% | £0 | 24.9%. Representative example: assumed borrowing of £1,200 for one year, at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable), representative 24.9% APR (variable). Credit available subject to status. Terms apply |
Tables notes: table correct as of 1 May 2025. The average provider customer score is 72%. For more information on our research and the terms we use in the table skip to how we analyse credit card providers and deals.
- Find out more: best credit card deals
Balance transfer calculator
A simple way to find the best deal for you is to take the total amount you have on your credit cards and store cards and divide this by what you can afford to repay each month. The answer will give you your ideal 0% period, which you can use to help you shop for a card.
So if you had £4,000 worth of debts and could afford to repay £150 a month, you would need a card with a 0% period lasting at least 27 months.
Use the calculator below to quickly find the right 0% balance transfer term for you.
Balance transfer credit card provider reviews
As well as the length of a 0% balance transfer deal and the fee, you should also look into whether the provider offers good customer service.
Which? has rated 28 of the biggest credit card providers to help you understand what they're like for service, mobile banking and more before you apply.
You can see how the big names in the 0% balance transfer market such as Barclaycard, NatWest and Tesco Bank stack up in our guide to the best credit card providers.
The companies that combine great deals with top-notch customer satisfaction are awarded our coveted Which? Recommended Provider status.
How to do a credit card balance transfer
When you apply for a 0% balance transfer card you will be asked if you want to move a balance.
At this stage, you can enter the card number of where your existing debt lives and the balance you want to move.
Alternatively, you can make the transfer at a later date. But it's a good idea to shift your balance as soon as possible to ensure you benefit from the full 0% period.
Just watch out for any small print. Some cards stipulate that you only have between 60 and 90 days to complete a transfer to benefit from perks like a reduced balance transfer fee.
How to use a 0% balance transfer credit card to clear debt
Once you have a 0% balance transfer credit card there are a few things to bear in mind to stay on the right track. We've set out the golden rules for you to follow below.
Pay at least the minimum repayment, if not more
It's important to pay at least the minimum repayment on your balance transfer credit card, but you should aim to pay back more than this to help clear what you owe.
Most credit card companies reserve the right to withdraw a deal at any time if you miss a payment, meaning you'll be charged interest at their standard rate.
To make sure you stay on target and never miss a payment, set up a direct debit to repay the minimum amount or more.
Don't spend on the card
Beware of spending on a balance transfer card, as this can be costly.
Some balance transfer cards offer 0% interest on purchases for a limited time, but the deal periods on these cards tend to be shorter than standalone deals.
Just remember your main aim when taking out a balance transfer is to clear your debt, rather than get into any more.
Set a reminder for the 0% end date
To avoid reverting to the standard interest rate, it's important to repay your balance in full before the 0% introductory balance transfer offer comes to an end.
So, it's worth setting up a direct debit based on the monthly amount needed to repay the debt within 0% period, and set a reminder of when the deal ends to give yourself enough time to make other arrangements if you don't manage it.
Shift your debt again
If you do still have outstanding debt at the end of the 0% period, you should consider switching the remainder to a new 0% balance transfer card. Failing that, you should transfer the debt to a card with a lower APR.
Balance transfer credit cards FAQs
Got a burning balance transfer question? Check out if we've covered it in the Q&A below.
How we analyse credit cards
Sam Wilson, credit card market analyst, says: 'At Which? we put credit card products and providers under the microscope to help you save time when shopping around for a new deal.
'We run a survey each year to gather the experiences of customers to help us find the best providers. And we keep a close eye on the credit card market to determine which deals are the best in their category.'
Here's some more information about our research and the terms we use in this guide.
Customer score
Our provider customer scores are based on an online survey of 4,014 members of the public, conducted in October 2024.
Provider scores are worked out using a combination of overall satisfaction and the likelihood of recommending the provider to a friend.
Sample sizes for customer score: Amazon (109), American Express (Amex) (217), Aqua (123), Asda Money (77), Bank of Scotland (76), Barclaycard (440), British Airways (99), Capital One (244), First Direct (112), Halifax (198), HSBC (197), John Lewis (82), Lloyds Bank (219), Marks and Spencer Bank (134), MBNA (125), Nationwide (168), NatWest (193), Ocean (42), Post Office (42), Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) (149), Santander (165), Tesco Bank (207), The Co-operative Bank (76), TSB (99), Vanquis Bank (71), Virgin Atlantic (69), Virgin Money (including Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank) (96), Zopa (40).
Which? Best Buys
To become a Which? Best Buy, a credit card must have been one of the top five cards in its category. It must also satisfy specific criteria for the type of card, such as the size of balance transfer fee or length of 0% period. A provider must have also achieved a provider score of more than 70% in our latest credit card provider customer satisfaction survey.
We also review our analysis regularly, which means we will withdraw Best Buys if providers make adverse changes to APRs, 0% periods or fees.
Which? Recommended Providers
We make lenders Which? Recommended Providers if they meet our benchmarks on customer service and product offering.
To become a Which? Recommended Provider, a lender must have:
- a provider score of at least 74%
- at least one top-10 card in one of the seven main categories available on the market
- a product analysis score that's average or above
- not have a representative APR of more than 35% on any of its mainstream cards at the time of the analysis.
- Find out more: Which? symbols, logos and ratings explained
Why should you trust Which? research?
We’re not influenced by third parties. We work entirely on behalf of you, the consumer – nobody else. See our statement of editorial independence for more.