Credit card comparison

Balance Transfer Calculator

Compare staying with a current credit card against moving the balance to a promotional transfer offer.

Leave blank to use the current monthly payment.

Results will appear after valid values are entered.

Transfer fee — Added to the balance at the start
New transferred balance — Current balance plus the transfer fee
Payment needed during promotion — Estimated payment needed to finish before the offer ends
Balance when promotion ends — Estimated using the payment after transfer

Compare the total borrowing cost

The current-card scenario keeps the existing balance, APR, and monthly payment. The transfer scenario adds the fee, applies the promotional APR for the selected number of months, and then applies the post-promotional APR to any balance that remains.

Interest on current card — Estimated interest through payoff without transferring
Cost with transfer — Transfer fee plus estimated interest
Estimated savings — Difference between the two borrowing costs
Fee break-even point — When avoided current-card interest covers the fee

Compare the payoff timing

A lower promotional rate can reduce interest, but the payment still determines whether the balance disappears before the deadline. The fee arrives immediately. The promotional deadline has been known to arrive exactly when advertised.

Current card payoff — Estimated with the current monthly payment
Transfer payoff — Estimated with the payment after transfer
Difference in payoff time — Comparison of the two payoff estimates

How this balance transfer calculator works

A transfer fee is calculated from the current balance and added to the amount owed. The calculator then applies the promotional APR for the entered period and the later APR to any remaining balance.

Transferred balance Current balance + transfer fee
Estimated transfer savings Current-card interest - fee - transfer interest

When the payment-after-transfer field is blank, both options use the current monthly payment. Entering a different transfer payment changes both the payoff time and total transfer cost.

The payment needed during the promotion is the estimated fixed monthly payment required to reduce the transferred balance to zero by the final promotional month. Paying less can leave a balance exposed to the later APR.

New purchases, late fees, annual fees, issuer-specific payment allocation rules, lost promotional offers, credit limits, and transfer fees charged in a different manner are not modeled. Review the actual offer terms before applying.

Related guide

Is the promotional offer actually cheaper?

Learn how the transfer fee, promotional deadline, monthly payment, and later APR determine whether a balance transfer saves money.

Is a Balance Transfer Worth It?

Compare the fee, promotional rate, payoff deadline, later APR, and terms that can change the result.

Read the balance transfer guide →

For educational purposes only. Results are estimates and assume fixed monthly payments, monthly interest, no new purchases, and the entered rates remaining in effect. Actual card terms, payment allocation, fees, and payoff timing may differ.