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How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
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Discover it® Balance Transfer Review

Updated on:
Content was accurate at the time of publication.
LendingTree's Review

How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?

Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.
4.9
Discover it<sup>®</sup> Balance Transfer
Balance Transfer APR
0% Intro APR for 18 months, then 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
Rewards Rate
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
Sign-Up Bonus
Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It was not reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.
This product is no longer available, and offer details may be outdated.
Citi is an advertising partner.

Key Takeaway

The Discover it® Balance Transfer is our pick for the best credit card for balance transfers. That’s because it offers a long intro APR on balance transfers, a reasonable APR once the interest-free period ends, cash back rewards and a $0 annual fee.

Pros and cons

  • Lengthy intro APR on balance transfers
  • Generous cash back rewards program
  • Cash back match your first year
  • No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
  • Balance transfer fee
  • Short intro APR period on purchases
  • Cash back program has restrictions

Is the Discover it® Balance Transfer a good card?

If you have a large amount of high-interest credit card debt that you can’t seem to pay down, the Discover it® Balance Transfer is definitely worth it. Along with a $0 annual fee, the card offers one of the longest interest-free periods on balance transfers currently available.

Many of the top balance transfer cards available don’t earn rewards, so once you’ve used them to pay down debt from another card, there’s no reason to keep them in your wallet. In contrast, the Discover it® Balance Transfer comes with a top-of-the-line cash back program if you’re willing to deal with rotating rewards categories.

Just know that there’s a balance transfer fee that’ll cut into the amount you’re able to transfer — but that’s completely normal for a card that offers an intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months or longer.

How much can it save you on a balance transfer?*
We estimate that the Discover it® Balance Transfer can save around $1,163 in interest for a $6,000 balance transfer, versus $938 for the average balance transfer card. We also estimate around $330 in yearly rewards for the average cardholder, versus $267 for the average balance transfer card.
*See our credit card methodology for more details.

Quick facts

    • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
    • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
    • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
    • Your account may not always be eligible for balance transfers. Balance transfer eligibility is determined at Discover’s discretion.
    • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
    • No annual fee.
    • Terms and conditions apply.
  • Recommended Credit
    Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion
  • 660 720 850
    Good / Excellent
  • Free access to your FICO® Score
  • 24/7 customer service based 100% in the U.S.
  • Easily freeze and unfreeze your card
  • Discover® Identity Alerts when you opt in

Intro Purchase APR

0% Intro APR for 6 months

Regular Purchase APR

17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Intro BT APR

0% Intro APR for 18 months

Regular BT APR

17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR

Annual Fee

$0

Cash Advance Fee

Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater.

Foreign Transaction Fee

None

Balance Transfer Fee

3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*

What we like about the Discover it® Balance Transfer

  • Lengthy intro APR on balance transfers

    If you need some breathing room while paying off an existing credit card balance, a card that provides a long interest-free period on balance transfers — like the Discover it® Balance Transfer — is ideal. The card offers a 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers. After, a 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR applies.

    While this is a lengthy time period, it is possible to find a card with a 0% intro APR for up to 21 months — it’s just unlikely to offer a rewards program.

  • Up to 5% cash back on everyday purchases

    The Discover it® Balance Transfer lets you earn a generous cash back rate in popular spending categories. Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.

    There’s a $1,500 spending cap at the elevated rate each quarter, after which you’ll earn just 1% on all purchases. This means you can earn up to $75 in cash back at the 5% rate each quarter, for a total of $300 back each year.

  • Generous sign-up bonus

    This card offers a unique sign-up bonus for new cardmembers: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.

    That said, we recommend avoiding new spending on a balance transfer credit card until you’ve paid off your transferred debt in full. That way, you don’t have to worry about your balance creeping back up while you’re trying to get out of debt. Once you’ve paid in full, you can begin using the Discover it® Balance Transfer for everyday expenses.

  • No annual fee or foreign transaction fees

    The Discover it® Balance Transfer comes with a $0 annual fee. And as for foreign transaction fees — there are none.

    We should note that balance transfer cards usually don’t charge annual fees. Plus, if you’re planning a trip abroad, Discover isn’t as widely accepted in some countries as Mastercard and Visa credit cards.

  • Lower-than-average ongoing APR

    This card has a reasonable APR, especially on the lower end of its range. You’ll get a 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR if you aren’t able to pay your transferred balance in full within the 18-month interest-free period. (For context, the average APR for new 0% balance transfer cards ranged from 18.74% to 27.86% (variable) in Jan. 2024, according to a recent LendingTree study.)

What to watch out for with the Discover it® Balance Transfer

  • Balance transfer fee

    This card charges a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*. For example, if you’re approved to transfer a balance of $10,000 during the intro period, you’ll be charged a balance transfer fee of $300. The balance transfer fee will be subtracted from the initial amount you’re allowed to transfer — reducing that amount to $9,700.

    Most balance transfer cards charge a 3% balance transfer fee, so this amount is pretty standard. In fact, a few competitors, including the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card, even charge a higher balance transfer fee of 5%, min: $5. Transferring $10,000 will cost $500 with these cards. In comparison, the Discover it® Balance Transfer is likely to save you more on a balance transfer, despite its slightly shorter intro period.

    There are balance transfer cards available that don’t charge balance transfer fees, but most are harder to qualify for because they require credit union membership.

  • Subpar intro APR period on purchases

    Although the intro APR period on balance transfers is lengthy, the period on new purchases is pretty short. You’ll get a 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases, after which a 17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR applies.

    There are plenty of cards with much longer intro APRs on purchases — anywhere from 12 to 21 months. But when trying to pay off existing debt, it’s best that you don’t carry a balance from purchases on your card from month to month.

  • Cash back requires activation

    Though this card offers an excellent cash back rate, you’ll need to activate the bonus categories each quarter — otherwise, you’ll only earn 1% cash back on every purchase. You can activate the bonus categories online, and Discover will generally send out reminders before each new quarter comes up.

    If you prefer a simpler approach to earning rewards, a card that offers a flat cash back rate on every purchase may be a better fit.

  • Rotating categories may not line up with your spending

    A big upside to this card is that you can earn an elevated cash back rate in a variety of popular spending categories that rotate quarterly. The downside is that if your spending doesn’t fit into those categories, you’ll only earn 1% cash back on your purchases.

Alternate balance transfer cards

Discover it® Balance Transfer vs. Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

| Disclosures
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card*
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card
0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening
17.74%, 24.24%, or 29.49% Variable APR
$0
None
  • Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
  • 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 17.74%, 24.24%, or 29.49% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, min: $5.
  • $0 Annual Fee.
  • Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
  • Through My Wells Fargo Deals, you can get access to personalized deals from a variety of merchants. It's an easy way to earn cash back as an account credit when you shop, dine, or enjoy an experience simply by using an eligible Wells Fargo credit card.
660 720 850
Good / Excellent
*The information related to the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

If you need even more time to pay off your transferred debt, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card may be a better option. You’ll get a 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, after which a 17.74%, 24.24%, or 29.49% Variable APR applies.

Plus, if you need time to pay off a big purchase, the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card also offers a 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases. After, a 17.74%, 24.24%, or 29.49% Variable APR applies.

Where the Discover it® Balance Transfer stands out is that it offers a cash back program, giving it value after the transferred debt is paid off. It also offers an introductory balance transfer fee that’s 2 percentage points lower if you transfer your balance within the first four months of card membership. While that may not sound like much, it can amount to greater savings, even if you take 21 months to pay off your transferred balance with the card.

The Wells Fargo Reflect® Card, on the other hand, charges a fee of 5%, min: $5 on all balance transfers.

Discover it® Balance Transfer vs. Citi Simplicity® Card

| Disclosures
Citi Simplicity® Card
Citi Simplicity® Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site
Rates & Fees
0% intro APR for 12 months on Purchases
18.74% - 29.49% (Variable)
$0
N/A
  • No Late Fees, No Penalty Rate, and No Annual Fee... Ever
  • 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 18.74% - 29.49%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
  • There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
  • Stay protected with Citi® Quick Lock
660 720 850
Good / Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

The Citi Simplicity® Card also has an extremely long intro APR on balance transfers: You’ll get a 0% intro APR for 21 months on Balance Transfers, then a 18.74% - 29.49% (Variable) APR. However, it does provide a lengthier balance transfer window. This means, while most balance transfer cards require you to transfer your balance within the first 60 days of opening your account to take advantage of the intro APR, the Citi Simplicity® Card gives you four months.

Similar to the Discover it® Balance Transfer, this card offers an intro balance transfer fee. But like the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card, it charges foreign transaction fees and doesn’t come with a rewards program.

Discover it® Balance Transfer vs. Citi Double Cash® Card

| Disclosures
Citi Double Cash® Card
Citi Double Cash® Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site
Rates & Fees
N/A
18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
$0
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you
  • Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
  • Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.
  • Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.74% - 28.74%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
  • If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
  • There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
600 660 720 850
Fair / Good / Excellent

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

If you prefer a balance transfer card with a simpler rewards structure, the Citi Double Cash® Card could be a good fit. The card offers a 0% intro APR for 18 months on Balance Transfers, then a 18.74% - 28.74% (Variable) APR. In addition, you can earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.

Like the Citi Simplicity® Card, the Citi Double Cash® Card comes with a four-month balance transfer window and an intro balance transfer fee. However, the card doesn’t offer an intro APR on purchases and charges foreign transaction fees.

Is the Discover it® Balance Transfer right for you?

If you’re looking for a balance transfer credit card offering well over a year of no interest on transferred debt, as well as a cash back program to offer ongoing value, the Discover it® Balance Transfer is an excellent choice.

However, if you think you’ll need even longer to pay off transferred debt, consider the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card or Citi Simplicity® Card.

The information related to the Discover it® Balance Transfer and Wells Fargo Reflect® Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.

The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.