Updated March 13th, 2014: 2014’s best balance transfer credit cards look a lot like 2013’s. The length of the longest offers remain at 18 months – 50% above average offers – and most balance transfer cards offer a similarly long 0% interest rate on purchases as well.

Below is a breakdown of the 10 best balance transfer offers of 2014 ranked by overall value.

1.) Slate® from Chase: Chase Slate card is presently the only 0% APR, no fee balance transfer credit card available from any major credit card company. This offer provides a 0% APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. This is only three months shorter than the longest offers available, making it an ideal option for anyone who doesn’t need to transfer balances from a Chase credit card.

2-3.)  Citi Diamond Preferred and Citi Simplicity:  Citi’s two value oriented credit cards share a common benefit for consumers – a 0% APR lasting 18 months on balance transfers as well as purchases. Both cards offer essentially the same features, charge low 3% balance transfer fees and provide the longest 0% rates available. These elements make either of these cards ideal for consumers who need more than a year to repay credit card debt as well as those who anticipate the need to make future purchases that cannot immediately be repaid.

4.) Discover it™:  Discover offers a version of their Discover it™ card with a 0% APR for 18 months on balance transfers. This card charges a standard 3% fee. However, unlike many competing offers, this card only offers a 0% APR on purchases for six months. This short period can be an issue for consumers who will use their cards for both purchases and balance transfers, as new purchases will start accruing interest long before the 0% balance transfer rate expires.

5.) Discover it™:  Discover’s flagship card is a better fit for consumers intending to make purchases and balance transfers than their 18 month offer. This balance transfer card offers a 0% APR for 14 months that applies to both purchases and balance transfers.

6.) Citi ThankYou® Card: The Citi Thank You Card, while not the longest balance transfer offer available, does feature the longest 0% introductory rate on balance transfers and purchases amongst rewards credit cards. At 15 months, this card provides ample time to repay balances while also allowing cardholders to earn rewards on purchases made.

7.) Citi Dividend $100 Cash Back Bonus:  The Citi Dividend card is a good option for consumers who can repay credit card balances in 12 months or less and also want to earn rewards on future purchases. Additionally, the $100 cash back bonus earned once $500 in purchases is made can offset the cost of balance transfer fees on a $3,300 transfer. Consumers transferring smaller amounts can thus earn more via the cash back bonus than they might otherwise save by opting for a no fee balance transfer card.

8.) Chase Freedom® Visa with $100 Cash Back Bonus:  The Chase Freedom® Visa is similar to the Citi Dividend card in that it offers a $100 cash back bonus after $500 in purchases are made. However, a key difference between these two offers is the length of the 0% APR period, which was recently extended to 15 months on the Freedom card.

10.) Capital One Platinum Prestige:  The Capital One Platinum Prestige card offers a 0% APR promotion on balance transfers and purchases that is slightly different than what is typically offered. Rather than a specific number of months, this card offers a 0% rate until a certain month that is typically 14 to 15 months away. However, because of the time it takes to apply, get a card and complete a balance transfer, the length of this card’s offer can wind up being much shorter than the implied length would lead one to believe.

For additional information on current offers as well as in depth articles and tips on maximizing the benefits of balance transfers, please see the main section of Smart Balance Transfers.

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