Balance Transfer vs. Debt Consolidation Loan: Which Is Best?

What Is a Balance Transfer?

A balance transfer is when you move balances from one or more credit cards to another card. Some card issuers also let you transfer a balance from an outstanding loan to your balance transfer credit card or from your card to a bank account. Additionally, you might be able to use a balance transfer check to pay off other debts or deposit funds into your bank account.

A balance transfer could help you save money if you receive a low promotional annual percentage rate (APR) on your balance transfer card. For example, some cards might offer an intro 0% APR on transferred balances for up to 21 months. If you pay off the card before the promotional rate ends, you won't pay any interest on the transferred balances.

Credit card issuers often use promotional balance transfer offers to entice new cardholders, but you might occasionally receive balance transfer offers on the cards you already own.

Looking for a new credit card?: Check out the best balance transfer credit cards.

Pros and Cons of Balance Transfers

Balance transfer cards can help you combine and pay off debts, but consider the advantages and disadvantages.

Pros

• Save money with an intro 0% APR offer. You may be able to move debt from a high-rate credit card or loan to a card with an intro 0% APR and avoid accruing interest during the promotional period.
• Get more time to pay off balances. Transferring balances can give you more time to pay down the balance while you aren't accruing interest.
• Consolidate multiple debts onto one card. You can transfer balances from multiple credit cards and loans to consolidate your debts. It may be easier to manage your finances and pay off debt if you have fewer bills to pay each month.
• The intro 0% APR may apply to purchases. You generally don't earn rewards on balance transfers, but some rewards cards also offer an intro 0% APR on purchases. You could use them to earn rewards on purchases you were going to make anyway without accruing interest. However, if your card's 0% intro APR only applies to balance transfers, avoid using it to buy things until after you pay off the transferred balances.

Cons

• You'll often pay balance transfer fees. Many card issuers charge a balance transfer fee of 3% to 5% of each amount you transfer to the card. You can compare the cost of the fee to the potential interest savings to see if the card is a good idea.
• Balance transfer cards might have high standard APRs. Once the promotional period ends, your remaining balance could accrue interest at the card's standard APR.
• You won't know the credit limit you'll be offered. Your credit card's credit limit and balance transfer limit can depend on your credit, income, debts, history with the issuer and the card. You can't transfer more than your balance transfer limit, and you won't know your limit until after you apply.
• Each application might hurt your credit. Credit card applications can lead to hard inquiries on your credit report, which can hurt your credit scores a little, even if your application isn't approved.
• Credit card companies may have restrictions. You usually can't transfer balances between cards from the same issuers. Some cards also only allow balance transfers from credit cards (not loans).

Learn more: Should I Complete a Balance Transfer?

What Is a Debt Consolidation Loan?

A debt consolidation loan is a loan you use to pay off other debts. Consolidating debts can save you money if your new loan has a lower interest rate than your other debts. You'll also have fewer payments to manage, and your monthly payment might be lower than the previous combined monthly payments.

Unsecured personal loans are a popular option for debt consolidation loans. Some personal loan lenders even advertise their personal loans as debt consolidation loans and create website pages to highlight this use of the loan.

You could also consolidate debts using different types of loans, such as a home equity loan or home equity line of credit. However, unsecured personal loans are often favored because you don't need collateral to get the loan—your eligibility, loan amount and terms can depend on your creditworthiness and promise to repay. When you use a secured loan, such as a mortgage, to pay off other debts, you risk losing the collateral if you fall behind on loan payments.

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Pros and Cons of Debt Consolidation Loans

Taking out a new loan to pay off existing debt can be a savvy move, but keep the following in mind.

Pros

• Low APRs may be available. Personal loans don't offer introductory 0% APRs, but you might qualify for a low interest rate based on your creditworthiness.
• Get prequalified without hurting your credit. You can try to get prequalified for a personal loan with a soft credit check—the type that won't hurt your credit scores. If you're prequalified, you might see estimated loan amounts and interest rates. If you aren't prequalified, at least you won't take the potential credit hit that can come from submitting a loan application.
• Lock in fixed rates and terms. Unsecured personal loans tend to have fixed interest rates, and you may be able to choose from several repayment terms, such as three or five years. You'll then have fixed monthly payments and will know your loan's payoff date.
• It might improve your credit scores. Using an installment loan to pay down credit card balances could lower your credit utilization rate, and a lower utilization rate is better for your credit scores.

Cons

• You might have to pay an origination fee. Many unsecured personal loan lenders charge an origination fee, which might range from 1% to 12% of the loan amount. The fee gets taken out of your loan's proceeds, so you might need to borrow more than your outstanding balance. If you have good to excellent credit, you might qualify for a personal loan without an origination fee.
• It could lead to more debt. Some people use a debt consolidation loan to pay off credit card balances and then wind up back in credit card debt too. If you tend to overspend or make impulse purchases, freeing up available credit on your credit cards might not be the best solution.
• You might not receive a low rate or high loan amount. Even if you prequalify, you might find you only get approved for a loan with a higher interest rate than your outstanding debt. Or, you might get approved with a lower rate but only for a loan that can pay off part of your outstanding debt.

Learn more: Is a Debt Consolidation Loan Right for You?

Which Is Better: A Balance Transfer Card or Debt Consolidation Loan?

Both balance transfer cards and debt consolidation loans can help you consolidate debt and accrue less interest. However, you can compare offers and consider your finances when trying to determine which will be best.

To help you decide if a balance transfer card is right for you, run the numbers to see how much your existing credit card debt will cost you over time. If you transfer it to a balance transfer card with an intro 0% APR, you could avoid all that interest—just pay off the balance before the intro period ends.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Get Balance Transfer Card and Debt Consolidation Loan Offers

Whether you're considering a balance transfer card or a debt consolidation loan, comparing the options and your offers can help you find the best card or loan possible. With an Experian account, you can start by checking your credit report and FICO^® Score^☉ for free. Then, you can log in to your account and get matched with balance transfer card and debt consolidation loan offers from Experian's partners based on your unique credit profile.