Best balance transfer credit cards in the US for 2026

Verified Oct 16, 2026USD

Cards with an intro balance transfer rate and a stated transfer fee, ranked by year 1 value for a couple carrying a $5,000 balance at 22%. Each card shows Year 1 against every year after, so a card that's mostly its welcome bonus is easy to spot.

Advertiser disclosure: we may earn a commission when you apply through some links on this page. It never affects rank: cards are ordered by the value worked out from your spending. How we make money · Methodology

Spending: Couple · $2,555/moCarries $5,000 at 22%Rank these on my own spending

#1
Citi
Double Cash
No annual fee
after fees: After the card's annual or monthly fee, and foreign transaction fees if you set foreign spending. Additional-card fees and memberships some benefits need (such as Amazon Prime) aren't included.
Year 1$2,313
Year 2+$613
3 years $3,540 after fees· no fee to coverMostly first-year value
Apply
Breakdown, earn rates and why it's ranked here
Year 1$2,313
Year 2+$613
Welcome or anniversary bonus$200 / $0Rewards on spending$613 / $613Intro APR savings$1,500 / $0Fees (taken off the end)-$0 / -$0
No annual fee
Year 1Year 2Year 3
Earn rate by category
2%
Groc
Groceries
2%
Dine
Dining and takeout
2%
Gas
Gas and EV charging
2%
Air
Flights
2%
Hotel
Hotels and car rentals
2%
Transit
Transit and rideshare
2%
Stream
Streaming
2%
Drug
Drugstores
2%
Online
Online shopping
2%
Bills
Phone, internet and utilities
2%
Other
Everything else
Why it's ranked here
Ranked #1 of 9. By Year 1 value on the couple preset's spending. Over 3 years it's worth $3,540 after fees.
Year 1. $2,313 = welcome bonus $200 + rewards $613 + intro APR savings $1,500.
Each year after. $613 = rewards $613.
Against #2. Beats Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards by $463 over 3 years, mostly on rewards on spending (+$338).
Verified Oct 16, 2026Every term and assumption
#2
Bank of America
Customized Cash Rewards
No annual feeGroceries 2%Dining 3%
after fees: After the card's annual or monthly fee, and foreign transaction fees if you set foreign spending. Additional-card fees and memberships some benefits need (such as Amazon Prime) aren't included.
Year 1$2,180
Year 2+$449
3 years $3,077 after fees· no fee to coverMostly first-year value
Apply
Breakdown, earn rates and why it's ranked here
Year 1$2,180
Year 2+$449
Welcome or anniversary bonus$200 / $0Rewards on spending$605 / $449Intro APR savings$1,375 / $0Fees (taken off the end)-$0 / -$0
No annual fee
Year 1Year 2Year 3
Earn rate by category
2%
Groc
Groceries
3%
Dine
Dining and takeout
3%
Gas
Gas and EV charging
3%
Air
Flights
1%
Hotel
Hotels and car rentals
1%
Transit
Transit and rideshare
1%
Stream
Streaming
3%
Drug
Drugstores
3%
Online
Online shopping
1%
Bills
Phone, internet and utilities
1%
Other
Everything else
Why it's ranked here
Ranked #2 of 9. By Year 1 value on the couple preset's spending. Over 3 years it's worth $3,077 after fees.
Year 1. $2,180 = welcome bonus $200 + rewards $605 + intro APR savings $1,375.
Each year after. $449 = rewards $449.
Against #1. Trails Citi Double Cash by $463 over 3 years, mostly on rewards on spending (−$338).
Against #3. Trails U.S. Bank Cash+ by $152 over 3 years, mostly on rewards on spending (−$152).
Verified Oct 16, 2026Every term and assumption
#3
U.S. Bank
Cash+
No annual feeBills 5%Groceries 2%
after fees: After the card's annual or monthly fee, and foreign transaction fees if you set foreign spending. Additional-card fees and memberships some benefits need (such as Amazon Prime) aren't included.
Year 1$2,126
Year 2+$551
3 years $3,229 after fees· no fee to coverMostly first-year value
Apply
Breakdown, earn rates and why it's ranked here
Year 1$2,126
Year 2+$551
Welcome or anniversary bonus$200 / $0Rewards on spending$551 / $551Intro APR savings$1,375 / $0Fees (taken off the end)-$0 / -$0
No annual fee
Year 1Year 2Year 3
Earn rate by category
2%
Groc
Groceries
2%
Dine
Dining and takeout
2%
Gas
Gas and EV charging
1%
Air
Flights
1%
Hotel
Hotels and car rentals
5%
Transit
Transit and rideshare
5%
Stream
Streaming
1%
Drug
Drugstores
1%
Online
Online shopping
5%
Bills
Phone, internet and utilities
1%
Other
Everything else
Why it's ranked here
Ranked #3 of 9. By Year 1 value on the couple preset's spending. Over 3 years it's worth $3,229 after fees.
Year 1. $2,126 = welcome bonus $200 + rewards $551 + intro APR savings $1,375.
Each year after. $551 = rewards $551.
Against #2. Beats Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards by $152 over 3 years, mostly on rewards on spending (+$152).
Against #4. Beats Bank of America Travel Rewards by $225 over 3 years, mostly on rewards on spending (+$275).
Verified Oct 16, 2026Every term and assumption
#4
Bank of America
Travel Rewards
No annual fee
after fees: After the card's annual or monthly fee, and foreign transaction fees if you set foreign spending. Additional-card fees and memberships some benefits need (such as Amazon Prime) aren't included.
Year 1$2,085
Year 2+$460
3 years $3,005 after fees· no fee to coverMostly first-year value
Apply
Breakdown, earn rates and why it's ranked here
Year 1$2,085
Year 2+$460
Welcome or anniversary bonus$250 / $0Rewards on spending$460 / $460Intro APR savings$1,375 / $0Fees (taken off the end)-$0 / -$0
No annual fee
Year 1Year 2Year 3
Earn rate by category
1.5%
Groc
Groceries
1.5%
Dine
Dining and takeout
1.5%
Gas
Gas and EV charging
1.5%
Air
Flights
1.5%
Hotel
Hotels and car rentals
1.5%
Transit
Transit and rideshare
1.5%
Stream
Streaming
1.5%
Drug
Drugstores
1.5%
Online
Online shopping
1.5%
Bills
Phone, internet and utilities
1.5%
Other
Everything else
Why it's ranked here
Ranked #4 of 9. By Year 1 value on the couple preset's spending. Over 3 years it's worth $3,005 after fees.
Year 1. $2,085 = welcome bonus $250 + rewards $460 + intro APR savings $1,375.
Each year after. $460 = rewards $460.
Against #3. Trails U.S. Bank Cash+ by $225 over 3 years, mostly on rewards on spending (−$275).
Against #5. Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards is worth the same over 3 years; the tie-breakers (lower fee, no foreign fee, earlier break-even) decide.
Verified Oct 16, 2026Every term and assumption
#5
Bank of America
Unlimited Cash Rewards
No annual fee
after fees: After the card's annual or monthly fee, and foreign transaction fees if you set foreign spending. Additional-card fees and memberships some benefits need (such as Amazon Prime) aren't included.
Year 1$2,085
Year 2+$460
3 years $3,005 after fees· no fee to coverMostly first-year value
Apply
Breakdown, earn rates and why it's ranked here
Year 1$2,085
Year 2+$460
Welcome or anniversary bonus$250 / $0Rewards on spending$460 / $460Intro APR savings$1,375 / $0Fees (taken off the end)-$0 / -$0
No annual fee
Year 1Year 2Year 3
Earn rate by category
1.5%
Groc
Groceries
1.5%
Dine
Dining and takeout
1.5%
Gas
Gas and EV charging
1.5%
Air
Flights
1.5%
Hotel
Hotels and car rentals
1.5%
Transit
Transit and rideshare
1.5%
Stream
Streaming
1.5%
Drug
Drugstores
1.5%
Online
Online shopping
1.5%
Bills
Phone, internet and utilities
1.5%
Other
Everything else
Why it's ranked here
Ranked #5 of 9. By Year 1 value on the couple preset's spending. Over 3 years it's worth $3,005 after fees.
Year 1. $2,085 = welcome bonus $250 + rewards $460 + intro APR savings $1,375.
Each year after. $460 = rewards $460.
Against #4. Bank of America Travel Rewards is worth the same over 3 years; the tie-breakers (lower fee, no foreign fee, earlier break-even) decide.
Against #6. Beats Bank of America BankAmericard by $1,080 over 3 years, mostly on rewards on spending (+$1,380).
Verified Oct 16, 2026Every term and assumption
#6
Bank of America
BankAmericard
No annual fee
after fees: After the card's annual or monthly fee, and foreign transaction fees if you set foreign spending. Additional-card fees and memberships some benefits need (such as Amazon Prime) aren't included.
Year 1$1,925
Year 2+$0
3 years $1,925 after fees· no fee to coverMostly first-year value
Apply
Breakdown, earn rates and why it's ranked here
Year 1$1,925
Year 2+$0
Intro APR savings$1,925 / $0Fees (taken off the end)-$0 / -$0
No annual fee
Year 1Year 2Year 3
Earn rate by category
0%
Groc
Groceries
0%
Dine
Dining and takeout
0%
Gas
Gas and EV charging
0%
Air
Flights
0%
Hotel
Hotels and car rentals
0%
Transit
Transit and rideshare
0%
Stream
Streaming
0%
Drug
Drugstores
0%
Online
Online shopping
0%
Bills
Phone, internet and utilities
0%
Other
Everything else
Why it's ranked here
Ranked #6 of 9. By Year 1 value on the couple preset's spending. Over 3 years it's worth $1,925 after fees.
Year 1. $1,925 = intro APR savings $1,925.
Each year after. $0 = nothing.
Against #5. Trails Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards by $1,080 over 3 years, mostly on rewards on spending (−$1,380).
Against #7. Trails U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature by $1,015 over 3 years, mostly on rewards on spending (−$1,840).
Verified Oct 16, 2026Every term and assumption
#7
U.S. Bank
Smartly Visa Signature
No annual fee
after fees: After the card's annual or monthly fee, and foreign transaction fees if you set foreign spending. Additional-card fees and memberships some benefits need (such as Amazon Prime) aren't included.
Year 1$1,713
Year 2+$613
3 years $2,940 after fees· no fee to cover
Apply
Breakdown, earn rates and why it's ranked here
Year 1$1,713
Year 2+$613
Rewards on spending$613 / $613Intro APR savings$1,100 / $0Fees (taken off the end)-$0 / -$0
No annual fee
Year 1Year 2Year 3
Earn rate by category
2%
Groc
Groceries
2%
Dine
Dining and takeout
2%
Gas
Gas and EV charging
2%
Air
Flights
2%
Hotel
Hotels and car rentals
2%
Transit
Transit and rideshare
2%
Stream
Streaming
2%
Drug
Drugstores
2%
Online
Online shopping
2%
Bills
Phone, internet and utilities
2%
Other
Everything else
Why it's ranked here
Ranked #7 of 9. By Year 1 value on the couple preset's spending. Over 3 years it's worth $2,940 after fees.
Year 1. $1,713 = rewards $613 + intro APR savings $1,100.
Each year after. $613 = rewards $613.
Against #6. Beats Bank of America BankAmericard by $1,015 over 3 years, mostly on rewards on spending (+$1,840).
Against #8. Beats American Express Blue Cash Preferred by $161 over 3 years, mostly on welcome bonus (−$250).
Verified Oct 16, 2026Every term and assumption
#8
American Express
Blue Cash Preferred
$95 fee · yr 1 freeGroceries 6%Gas 3%
after fees: After the card's annual or monthly fee, and foreign transaction fees if you set foreign spending. Additional-card fees and memberships some benefits need (such as Amazon Prime) aren't included.
Year 1$1,523
Year 2+$628
3 years $2,779 after fees· pays for itself in month 1
Apply
Breakdown, earn rates and why it's ranked here
Year 1$1,523
Year 2+$628
Welcome or anniversary bonus$250 / $0Rewards on spending$675 / $675Credits$48 / $48Intro APR savings$550 / $0Fees (taken off the end)-$0 / −$95
Pays for itself in month 1 · value so far covers fees so far
Year 1Year 2Year 3
Earn rate by category
6%
Groc
Groceries
1%
Dine
Dining and takeout
3%
Gas
Gas and EV charging
1%
Air
Flights
1%
Hotel
Hotels and car rentals
3%
Transit
Transit and rideshare
6%
Stream
Streaming
1%
Drug
Drugstores
1%
Online
Online shopping
1%
Bills
Phone, internet and utilities
1%
Other
Everything else
Why it's ranked here
Ranked #8 of 9. By Year 1 value on the couple preset's spending. Over 3 years it's worth $2,779 after fees.
Year 1. $1,523 = welcome bonus $250 + rewards $675 + credits $48 + intro APR savings $550.
Each year after. $628 = rewards $675 + credits $48 − fee $95.
Against #7. Trails U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature by $161 over 3 years, mostly on welcome bonus (+$250).
Against #9. Beats American Express Blue Cash Everyday by $410 over 3 years, mostly on rewards on spending (+$457).
Not counted: Some visitors are offered $300; the lowest offer seen is counted (up to $50 more).
Verified Oct 16, 2026Every term and assumption
#9
American Express
Blue Cash Everyday
No annual feeGroceries 3%Online 3%
after fees: After the card's annual or monthly fee, and foreign transaction fees if you set foreign spending. Additional-card fees and memberships some benefits need (such as Amazon Prime) aren't included.
Year 1$1,256
Year 2+$556
3 years $2,369 after fees· no fee to cover
Apply
Breakdown, earn rates and why it's ranked here
Year 1$1,256
Year 2+$556
Welcome or anniversary bonus$150 / $0Rewards on spending$523 / $523Credits$34 / $34Intro APR savings$550 / $0Fees (taken off the end)-$0 / -$0
No annual fee
Year 1Year 2Year 3
Earn rate by category
3%
Groc
Groceries
1%
Dine
Dining and takeout
3%
Gas
Gas and EV charging
1%
Air
Flights
1%
Hotel
Hotels and car rentals
1%
Transit
Transit and rideshare
1%
Stream
Streaming
1%
Drug
Drugstores
3%
Online
Online shopping
1%
Bills
Phone, internet and utilities
1%
Other
Everything else
Why it's ranked here
Ranked #9 of 9. By Year 1 value on the couple preset's spending. Over 3 years it's worth $2,369 after fees.
Year 1. $1,256 = welcome bonus $150 + rewards $523 + credits $34 + intro APR savings $550.
Each year after. $556 = rewards $523 + credits $34.
Against #8. Trails American Express Blue Cash Preferred by $410 over 3 years, mostly on rewards on spending (−$457).
Not counted: Some visitors are offered $200; the lowest offer seen is counted (up to $50 more).
Verified Oct 16, 2026Every term and assumption

All values are after each card's annual or monthly fee, and foreign transaction fees when you set foreign spending. Additional-card fees and memberships some benefits need (such as Amazon Prime or Instacart+) aren't included.

Rates, fees and offers are set by the issuer and may change. Check the issuer's terms before you apply. We don't estimate approval odds.

Values for points and miles are estimates based on published redemption valuations; actual value depends on how you redeem.

More best-of lists

The ranking in numbers

Couple preset, $2,555 a month, after fees. "~" marks estimates.

Card	Year 1	Year 2+	3 years
Citi Double Cash	$2,313	$613	$3,540
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards	$2,180	$449	$3,077
U.S. Bank Cash+	$2,126	$551	$3,229
Bank of America Travel Rewards	$2,085	$460	$3,005
Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards	$2,085	$460	$3,005
Bank of America BankAmericard	$1,925	$0	$1,925
U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature	$1,713	$613	$2,940
American Express Blue Cash Preferred	$1,523	$628	$2,779
American Express Blue Cash Everyday	$1,256	$556	$2,369

Frequently asked questions

What are the best balance transfer credit cards?

On couple spending ($2,555 a month), Citi Double Cash ranks first: $2,313 in year 1 and $613 a year after fees. From year 2, American Express Blue Cash Preferred keeps the most: $628 a year.

How were these cards picked?

Cards with an intro balance transfer rate and a stated transfer fee, ranked by year 1 value for a couple carrying a $5,000 balance at 22%. The order comes from the same calculation as the comparison tool, with the same tie-breakers; commission never changes it.

Will the order be the same for me?

Only if you spend like the preset. Spending more in a card's bonus categories moves it up. Set your own numbers in the tool to see your order.

Sources

Estimates for information only; not financial advice. See how cards are ranked.