The Short Answer: Usually Not Directly
You cannot swipe one credit card to pay another credit card's bill in the normal way. Credit card companies do not accept credit cards as payment because they would be lending you money to pay back borrowed money — a chain that creates risk they will not take on.
What you can do is use a cash advance or a balance transfer, both of which pull money from one card to use on another. Both come with costs and higher interest rates. There are also third-party payment services that will process a credit card payment, but they charge fees that usually make the math worse, not better.
Key Takeaways
- Credit card companies block direct credit-to-credit payments because they would be financing borrowed money, which increases their risk.
- A cash advance lets you withdraw money from one card's credit line and use it to pay another card, but charges a fee (usually 3 to 5 percent) plus a higher interest rate starting when ready.
- A balance transfer moves debt from one card to another and may offer a 0 percent introductory rate, but requires a transfer fee (typically 3 to 5 percent) and only works if the receiving card has available credit.
- Third-party payment processors can accept credit card payments on your behalf, but their fees often exceed what you would save, making them useful only in specific situations.
- If you need to pay a credit card bill urgently, a personal loan or line of credit usually costs less than either a cash advance or a balance transfer.
How a Cash Advance Works and What It Costs
A cash advance is a short-term loan against your credit card's available credit. You go to an ATM, a bank teller, or use a convenience check to withdraw cash, then use that cash to pay your other card's bill. The money is treated as a loan, not a purchase.
The costs are when ready and steep. Most cards charge a cash advance fee of 3 to 5 percent of the amount withdrawn — so a $1,000 advance costs $30 to $50 right away. Interest starts accruing the same day, with no grace period like you get on purchases. The interest rate on cash advances is also higher than your regular purchase rate, often 2 to 5 percentage points above it. If your card charges 18 percent on purchases, the cash advance rate might be 23 percent.
A cash advance makes sense only if you need the money for a few days and can pay it back quickly. For anything longer, the interest and fees will cost more than other options.
Balance Transfers: Moving Debt Between Cards
A balance transfer moves the debt itself from one card to another, rather than withdrawing cash. You contact the card you want to transfer to and provide the account number of the card you want to pay off. The receiving card's issuer pays off the old balance directly, and you now owe that amount on the new card instead.
Balance transfers are useful when the receiving card offers a 0 percent introductory rate for a set period — often 6 to 21 months, depending on the card and the offer. During that period, you pay no interest on the transferred balance, only the principal. This can save thousands of dollars if you have a large balance and can pay it down during the promotional window.
The catch is the balance transfer fee, usually 3 to 5 percent of the amount transferred. A $5,000 transfer costs $150 to $250 upfront. Also, the 0 percent rate applies only to the transferred balance — new purchases on that card will accrue interest at the regular rate. And if you do not pay off the balance before the promotional period ends, the remaining amount jumps to the card's regular interest rate, which is often higher than your original card's rate.
Balance transfers work best when you have a specific payoff plan and can clear the debt before the promotional rate expires.
Third-Party Payment Services and Their Fees
Some payment processors — like Plastiq, PayPal, or Square Cash — will accept a credit card payment on your behalf and send the money to your credit card company. You are essentially using one card to pay a processor, and the processor pays your card company.
The problem is the fee. Most charge 2 to 3 percent of the payment amount. If you are paying $2,000, you pay $40 to $60 just to move the money. That fee is in addition to any interest you are already paying on the balance. These services are useful if you need to meet a spending requirement for a sign-up bonus or rewards, but they are expensive as a debt-payment strategy.
A few services advertise no fees, but they make money by offering lower rewards rates or by selling your data. Read the fine print before you use one.
When a Personal Loan or Line of Credit Is Cheaper
If you need to consolidate credit card debt, a personal loan or home equity line of credit usually costs less than a cash advance or balance transfer. Personal loans have fixed interest rates (often 6 to 36 percent, depending on your credit) and no ongoing fees. A home equity line of credit is even cheaper if you own a home, because the rate is lower and the interest may be tax-deductible.
The tradeoff is that personal loans require an process and a credit check, so they take a few days to fund. If you need money today, they will not help. But if you have time to wait, the math usually works in your favor.
Use a personal loan calculator to compare the total cost — interest plus any fees — against a balance transfer or cash advance. Most of the time, the personal loan wins.
What Happens If You Try to Pay Directly
If you attempt to use one credit card to pay another card's bill through the card issuer's website or phone line, the payment will be rejected. The system is designed to block it. Some card issuers will let you enter a credit card number as a payment method, but the transaction will fail when it tries to process.
A few issuers used to allow this years ago, but they stopped because the liability and fraud risk were too high. If you try and the payment goes through anyway, contact your card issuer when ready — it is likely an error and will be reversed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a debit card to pay a credit card bill?
Yes. Debit cards are treated as regular payment methods by credit card companies, so you can use a debit card to pay your credit card bill without fees or restrictions. The money comes directly from your bank account, not from a credit line.
What if I use a credit card to pay a bill at a third-party site that accepts credit cards?
That is different — you are paying a merchant or service provider, not your credit card company. The merchant accepts credit cards as payment, so there is no block. But you are still borrowing money to pay for something, which increases your debt unless you pay the card off when ready.
Does a balance transfer hurt my credit score?
A balance transfer will cause a small, temporary dip in your score because it triggers a hard inquiry and opens a new account. But if it helps you pay down debt faster, your score will recover and improve over time. The long-term benefit usually outweighs the short-term hit.
Can I transfer a balance from one card to the same card?
No. A balance transfer moves debt between two different cards. You cannot transfer a balance to itself. If you want to move debt around on the same card, you would need to open a new card and transfer to that one.
What is the difference between a balance transfer and a cash advance in terms of interest?
A balance transfer may offer 0 percent interest for a promotional period, while a cash advance charges interest from day one at a higher rate. Balance transfers are designed to help you pay down debt; cash advances are short-term loans meant to be repaid quickly.