Question 1

Is a balance transfer better than paying off my current card?

Accepted Answer

If you can clear the balance before the intro APR ends and the savings beat the transfer fee, yes. Use the cards above to see the actual numbers for your situation.

Question 2

How do transfer fees affect savings?

Accepted Answer

A 3% fee on a $5,000 transfer adds $150 to your balance. The intro APR has to save you more than that for the transfer to be worth it.

Question 3

Is a debt consolidation loan cheaper than credit card debt?

Accepted Answer

Often — personal loans usually have lower APRs than cards. But longer terms can add interest, and origination fees eat into savings. Compare total cost, not just the monthly payment.

Question 4

Why can a lower monthly payment cost more overall?

Accepted Answer

Lower payments stretch the loan over more months, and more months means more interest. The 'Total cost' row in each card is the apples-to-apples number.

Question 5

What if I have multiple debts?

Accepted Answer

Enter your combined balance and a weighted-average APR for a quick comparison, or compare one debt at a time. For a detailed strategy across debts, use the full Payoff Planner.

Question 6

What happens after a balance transfer intro APR ends?

Accepted Answer

Any remaining balance starts accruing at the post-intro APR — often higher than your original card. The math here applies the post-intro rate to whatever's left.

Find the cheapest and fastest way to get out of debt.

What do you want help with most right now?

How this calculator works

Common questions

Find the cheapest and fastest way to get out of debt.

What do you want help with most right now?

How this calculator works

How payoff timing is estimated

How balance transfer fees affect total cost

How intro APR periods change the math

How debt consolidation loans are compared

Why lowest payment is not always cheapest