The short answer: yes, but it costs money and usually makes your debt worse
You can pay one credit card with another credit card, but the card issuer will treat it as a cash advance or balance transfer, not a regular purchase. Both routes charge you a fee upfront — usually 3 to 5 percent of the amount — plus a higher interest rate than your regular purchases carry. If you're trying to reduce what you owe, moving the debt from one card to another doesn't reduce it; it just moves it and adds a fee on top.
The only scenario where this makes sense is if you're doing a balance transfer to a card with a 0% introductory rate and you can pay off the balance before that rate expires. Even then, you pay the transfer fee upfront. Moving debt around without a plan to pay it down is one of the fastest ways to end up owing more than you started with.
Key Takeaways
- A cash advance (using your card at an ATM or through a payment service) charges a fee of 3 to 5 percent plus interest that starts accruing when ready, with no grace period.
- A balance transfer (moving debt from one card to another) also charges a fee, usually 3 to 5 percent, but may offer a 0% introductory rate for 6 to 21 months depending on the card.
- Both methods add to your total debt rather than reducing it, unless you have a concrete plan to pay down the balance during a 0% period.
- If you're considering this because you can't pay your current card, contact the issuer about hardship programs or a payment plan instead of taking on new fees.
How a cash advance works when you use one card to pay another
If you walk into a bank or use a payment app to send money from one credit card to another, the card you're charging treats it as a cash advance. The issuer when ready charges you a fee — typically 3 to 5 percent of the amount — which gets added to your balance. So if you advance $1,000, you might pay $30 to $50 in fees right away.
Cash advances also carry a higher interest rate than purchases do. While your regular purchases might be at 18 percent APR, a cash advance on the same card could be 25 percent or higher. Unlike purchases, there is no grace period: interest starts accruing the day you take the advance, even if you pay it back when ready. This is why a cash advance is one of the most expensive ways to move money between cards.
Balance transfers: lower interest, but still a fee and a important date
A balance transfer is different from a cash advance. Instead of withdrawing cash, you're asking the new card issuer to pay off the balance on your old card directly. The new issuer charges a balance transfer fee — again, usually 3 to 5 percent — but then may offer you a 0% introductory interest rate for a set period, often 6 to 21 months depending on the card and your creditworthiness.
This can work in your favor if you meet two conditions: you have a realistic plan to pay down the balance during the 0% period, and you don't rack up new debt on the new card while you're paying off the transfer. If the 0% period ends and you still owe money, the regular APR kicks in, and you're back to paying interest on a larger balance than you started with (because of the transfer fee).
Balance transfers also require you to have a new card or available credit on an existing card. If your credit is damaged or your debt is very high, you may not be approved for a transfer, or the credit limit offered may be too low to cover what you owe.
Why this approach usually makes your debt problem worse
Moving debt from one card to another doesn't reduce what you owe — it just relocates it and adds a fee. If you owe $5,000 on Card A and you transfer it to Card B, you now owe $5,150 (assuming a 3 percent fee) on Card B. You haven't paid anything down; you've paid to move the problem.
The real danger is that after you transfer the balance, Card A now has available credit again. Many people then use that available credit, ending up with $5,150 on Card B and new debt on Card A. You've effectively increased your total debt by the transfer fee plus whatever you charge on the now-empty first card.
This cycle is how people end up with debt spread across multiple cards, each with its own interest rate and payment important date. The fees and interest compound, and the total amount owed grows faster than the ability to pay it down.
When a balance transfer might actually help
A balance transfer makes sense only if you have a specific, realistic plan to pay off the balance during the 0% period. For example: you owe $3,000 on a card at 22 percent APR. You find a card offering 0% for 12 months with a 3 percent transfer fee. You transfer the balance, paying $90 in fees, so you now owe $3,090. If you can pay $260 per month for 12 months, you'll be debt-free when the 0% period ends.
Without that plan, the transfer is just a delay. When the 0% period ends, you'll owe whatever balance remains at the card's regular APR, which is often higher than what you started with. You'll also have paid the transfer fee for the privilege of delaying the problem.
Another legitimate use: you have high-interest debt on one card and you're approved for a card with a significantly lower regular APR (not just a 0% intro rate). In that case, even after the 0% period ends, you're paying less interest going forward. But this only works if you stop using the old card and focus on paying down the transferred balance.
What to do if you can't pay your current card
If you're considering paying one card with another because you can't afford the payments on your current card, moving the debt is not a solution — it's a way to make the problem bigger. Instead, contact your card issuer directly and ask about hardship programs. Many issuers offer temporary payment reductions, interest rate reductions, or formal payment plans for people facing financial difficulty.
These programs don't show up in marketing materials, and you have to ask for them. But they exist, and they're free. You won't pay a fee, and you won't add to your debt. The issuer would rather work with you than have you default or file for bankruptcy.
If you're struggling with debt across multiple cards, a nonprofit credit counselor can help you understand your options without charging you. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC) and the Financial Counseling Association (FCA) both offer free or low-cost guidance. These are different from for-profit debt settlement companies, which often make your situation worse.
The math: how fees and interest compound
Here's a concrete example of why moving debt around costs you money. You owe $2,000 on Card A at 20 percent APR. You can't afford the full payment, so you transfer the balance to Card B, which offers 0% for 6 months with a 3 percent fee.
| Scenario | Total owed after 6 months | Total paid in fees and interest |
|---|---|---|
| Do nothing, pay minimum on Card A | ~$1,900 (if you pay $150/month) | ~$200 in interest |
| Transfer to Card B at 0% for 6 months | $2,060 (if you pay $150/month) | $60 in fees |
| Transfer to Card B, pay nothing for 6 months | $2,060 (balance stays the same) | $60 in fees, then interest at regular rate after 6 months |
The transfer only helps if you use the 0% period to actually pay down the balance. If you transfer and then don't pay, you've paid $60 to delay the problem for six months. When the 0% period ends, you'll owe $2,060 plus interest at the regular rate on whatever balance remains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a debit card or prepaid card to pay off a credit card?
Yes, and this is free. You can pay your credit card bill with a debit card or prepaid card through your card issuer's website or by phone. This is a regular payment, not a cash advance or balance transfer, so there are no fees. The only reason to use a credit card to pay another credit card is if you're doing a balance transfer for the 0% rate.
What's the difference between a balance transfer and a cash advance?
A balance transfer moves your debt from one card to another and may include a 0% introductory rate. A cash advance is when you withdraw money from a credit card (at an ATM or through a payment service) and use that cash to pay another card. Cash advances charge higher fees and interest with no grace period, making them much more expensive than balance transfers.
Will paying one credit card with another hurt my credit score?
Yes, potentially. A balance transfer or cash advance increases your credit utilization on the new card, which can lower your score in the short term. If you're transferring to reduce utilization on the old card, that helps your score, but the net effect depends on your overall credit mix and payment history. The fee and interest are the bigger financial concern.
Can I do a balance transfer if I have bad credit?
You can try, but approval is unlikely if your credit score is very low or you have recent missed payments. Even if approved, the credit limit offered may be too small to cover your balance, or the introductory rate may be shorter than you need. If you're denied, ask your current issuer about hardship programs instead.
What happens if I don't pay off the balance transfer before the 0% period ends?
The regular APR kicks in on whatever balance remains. If you owe $1,500 when the 0% period ends and the regular rate is 22 percent, you'll start paying interest on that $1,500. This is why having a payment plan before you transfer is critical — the 0% period is your window to pay down the debt interest-free.