Compare no-fee balance transfer credit cards

Credit cards with no balance transfer fee can give you a break from paying interest on your existing credit card debt, at no extra cost.

Comparison of balance transfer cards with introductory no-fee periods

Table: sorted by length of 0% balance transfer offer, promoted deals first
Name Product Finder score Finder score Balance transfers Balance transfer fee Purchases Annual/monthly fees Representative APR Incentive Link
Santander All in One Credit Card
4.5
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0% for 15 months reverting to 23.9%
0% for 15 months reverting to 3% (min. £5)
0% for 15 months reverting to 23.9%
£3 per month
29.8% APR (variable)
0.5% after £1 of monthly spend. Maximum of £10 cashback paid per month. Cashback paid Monthly into Card Account. Maximum spend for cashback purposes is limited to credit limit.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 23.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £3 per month, your representative rate is 29.8% APR (variable).
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Royal Bank of Scotland Balance Transfer Credit Card
3.5
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0% for 13 months reverting to 24.9%
0%
0% for 3 months reverting to 24.9%
£0
24.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.9% APR (variable).
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NatWest Balance Transfer Credit Card
3.5
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0% for 13 months reverting to 24.9%
0%
0% for 3 months reverting to 24.9%
£0
24.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.9% APR (variable).
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Santander World Elite Mastercard
4.5
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0% for 18 months reverting to 18.9%
0% for 18 months reverting to 3% (min. £5)
0% for 18 months reverting to 18.9%
£15 per month
49.8% APR (variable)
0.5% on £1 to £3000 of monthly spend. Maximum of £15 cashback paid per month. Cashback paid Monthly into Card Account. Maximum spend for cashback purposes is limited to credit limit.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 18.9% (variable) p.a. with a fee of £15 per month, your representative rate is 49.8% APR (variable).
Ulster Bank Balance Transfer Credit Card
3.5
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0% for 13 months reverting to 24.9%
0%
0% for 3 months reverting to 24.9%
£0
24.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.9% APR (variable).
Santander Everyday No Balance Transfer Fee Credit Card
3.5
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0% for 12 months reverting to 23.9%
0% for 12 months reverting to 3% (min. £5)
0% for 3 months reverting to 23.9%
£0
23.9% APR (variable)
Sign up for Santander Boosts to receive cashback, vouchers, offers and prize draws from selected retailers.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 23.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 23.9% APR (variable).
Barclaycard Platinum 12 Month Balance Transfer Visa
3.5
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0% for 12 months reverting to 24.9%
0%
0% for 3 months reverting to 24.9%
£0
24.9% APR (variable)
Buy tickets for up to 3500 selected live events through Barclaycard entertainment and get 5% off tickets per year and exclusive pre-sale tickets on selected festivals with 10% off ticket prices.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 24.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 24.9% APR (variable).
Danske Bank Standard Mastercard
Not yet rated
Not yet rated
0% for 5 months reverting to 22.85%
0%
0% for 5 months reverting to 22.85%
£0
22.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 22.85% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 22.9% APR (variable).
TSB Advance Credit Card Mastercard
2.5
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
0% for 3 months reverting to 12.95%
0% for 3 months reverting to 5%
0% for 3 months reverting to 12.95%
£0
12.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 12.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 12.9% APR (variable).
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Transferring your current card debt to a 0% balance transfer credit card can be a smart choice if you’re seeking a more affordable way to pay off your outstanding balance.

The best balance transfer credit cards offer an introductory 0% interest period, in some cases more than 2 years, giving you plenty of interest-free breathing space to tackle your debt.

However, transferring your balance to one of these cards often means paying a fee: usually 1-3% of the balance. If you’re planning to transfer a hefty sum, this fee could be painful. Fortunately, there are no-fee alternatives out there.

How do no-fee balance transfer credit cards work?

They work in the same way as any other balance transfer card, except that, as long as the transfer is completed within a set period (usually 60 or 90 days, depending on the provider) you won’t be charged an upfront fee.

If you’re paying interest on existing credit card debt, switching it to a credit card with no balance transfer fee may seem like a no-brainer. However, there are some things you should consider.

Downsides of credit cards with no balance transfer fees

  • You’ll need a good credit score to qualify for the best deals.
  • 0% introductory offers tend to be shorter compared to credit cards that charge a balance transfer fee. For example, as of January 2023, the top no-fee balance transfer card offered 22 months at 0%, compared to 33 months with a fee-charging card.
  • If you don’t pay off your balance before the 0% deal ends, you’ll pay a high rate of interest.
  • When comparing your options, it’s important to assess both the fee and the duration of the 0% introductory offer. If you’re confident you can pay off your debt in a shorter time and you can afford the repayments, opting for a no-fee card is likely to be the best option. However, if you require additional time to pay off your debt, it’s advisable to choose a card with a balance transfer fee. Paying a transfer fee could still work out cheaper than keeping your debt on an existing credit card that’s racking up a lot in interest.

    Balance transfers illustrated

    No-fee balance transfer eligibility criteria

    To qualify for a no-fee balance transfer card, you’ll need to be at least 18 years old and a UK resident. There may also be a minimum income requirement, depending on the provider.

    To access the most competitive no-fee balance transfer deals, you’ll also need a good credit score. Without one your application may be rejected, or you could be offered a shorter 0% deal and a higher rate of interest once the 0% deal ends.

    How to compare no-fee balance transfer credit cards

    The most important thing to look for is the card with the longest 0% interest promotional period. The longer the deal is, the more time you’ll have to pay off your debt.

    It’s crucial to be aware of the balance transfer deadline – the deadline for completing no-fee balance transfers. For most credit cards, the no-fee offer only applies to transfers initiated within the first few months of opening the card account.

    Who is a credit card with no balance transfer fee suitable for?

    As we mentioned, credit cards with no balance transfer fees tend to come with shorter 0% deals than fee-charging balance transfer cards. This means that a no-fee card will only be suitable for you if you can clear your balance within a shorter period.

    Remember that the interest rate jumps as soon as the 0% deal ends, so you don’t want any debt remaining when this happens. You’re better off paying a small fee on a card with a longer 0% deal than risk failing to pay off your no-fee card on time.

    No-fee cards are unlikely to be suitable for those who want to make credit card purchases: few of these cards have decent 0% purchase deals, and the standard interest rate on these cards is often relatively high. If you want to spend on your card, you’re better off applying for a second card to use for purchases.

    Example: Janet and Marcus pay off their £7,000 wedding credit card debt

    Janet and Marcus ran up a £7,000 credit card debt when paying for their recent wedding. The couple decided to transfer the £7,000 debt to a balance transfer card and were considering 2 different cards.

    Card A was a 30-month 0% balance transfer card with a 3% balance transfer fee. With this card, they would have to pay off a total of £7,210 (including the £210 fee) by making monthly payments of £240.

    However, they also looked at Card B: a balance transfer card with no fees, but a shorter 0% interest period of 22 months. Transferring their balance to this card would mean paying back a total of £7,000 in monthly payments of £318.

    Janet and Marcus looked at their budget and worked out that they could afford the monthly repayments of £318, so they decided to opt for Card B. This meant they could avoid both £210 in fee costs and the hundreds of pounds in interest they would have paid on their original credit card.

    * This is a fictional, but realistic, example.

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    Frequently asked questions

    We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you.

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