Why does my payment barely move the balance?

If your monthly payment only covers the interest, the principal never drops. At 24% APR on a $5,000 balance, interest alone is about $100/month — a payment under that amount actually grows the debt. This tool shows your true payoff timeline.

When does a 0% balance transfer make sense?

A transfer beats your current card when the interest you skip exceeds the transfer fee (typically 3–5% of the balance) plus any post-intro rate. The calculator compares total cost side by side so you can see the crossover.

What is the transfer fee?

Most 0% offers charge 3–5% of the transferred balance upfront (e.g., 3% of $5,000 = $150). It is usually added to your cost, not the balance. Some cards waive it for a limited time.

What happens after the intro period ends?

The remaining balance is charged the card’s standard APR (often 20%+). If you haven’t paid it off by then, the deferred interest can erase your savings — so aim to clear it before the intro window closes.

Interactive Estimator

Credit Card Payoff & Balance Transfer Calculator

AI answer boxes can quote a generic "pay more than the minimum" — but they can't tell you your exact months-to-zero, the interest you'll bleed, or whether a 0% balance transfer actually saves money after the fee. This tool compares both.

Compare your current card vs a balance transfer

Balance ($)

Current APR (%)

Monthly payment ($)

Transfer 0% months

Post-intro APR (%)

Transfer fee (%)

Credit Card Payoff Comparison

allmoneycalc.com — estimate, not financial advice

Compares current-card payoff (interest + timeline) against a 0% balance transfer offer including transfer fee and post-intro APR.

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Credit Card Payoff (per-card)
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Educational estimate, not financial advice. Payoff is simulated month by month (interest = balance × APR ÷ 12). A payment at or below the first month’s interest means the balance never clears — raise the payment. Transfer fee is shown as a separate cost, not added to the balance, and the post-intro rate applies to any remaining balance. Actual card terms, minimums, and deferring-interest clauses vary; read your offer. Verify with your card issuer.

Data Sources & Fact-Checking Methodology

✓ Audited for 2026 Tax Year

Standard formulas Amortization, compound interest, and retirement projection equations per finance practice.
Public reference rates Savings/investment assumptions stated as planning estimates; no live market rates.
Internal editorial Calculators reviewed by the AllMoneyCalc editorial team before publication.

🛡️ Editorial Audit & Fact-Checking Standards

All calculations are independently vetted by credentialed practitioners (IRS Enrolled Agent & CFA) against statutory primary sources: 26 U.S. Code § 1(j) (Tax Cuts and Jobs Act rates), IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-32, 29 CFR Part 541 (FLSA labor rules), and CFPB Regulation Z. Models undergo continuous automated verification against synthetic test cases.

Last comprehensive audit: October 2026 · Scheduled re-audit: Monthly · Open Data JSON (CC BY 4.0)

📚 Academic & Media Citation (APA 7th Edition)


AllMoneyCalc Research Board. (2026). Federal Income Tax, Payroll & Personal Finance Calculation Engine (2026 ed.). AllMoneyCalc. https://allmoneycalc.com

Methodology and citations are maintained by the AllMoneyCalc editorial board. Educational tools only; verify specific personal filing situations with a qualified tax professional.

Credit Card Payoff & Balance Transfer Calculator

Compare your current card vs a balance transfer

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