You cannot pay a credit card bill with another credit card directly, but you have workarounds that come with real costs
Your credit card issuer will not accept another credit card as payment. When you log into your account to pay your bill, the system asks for a bank account (checking or savings), a debit card, or a wire transfer — not a credit card. If you try to use a credit card number in the payment field, the transaction will be rejected.
That said, you can move money from one credit card to another through a few routes. The most common is a balance transfer, which moves your balance from one card to another. Others include cash advances, third-party payment services, and peer-to-peer transfers. Each one has different costs and consequences for your credit score.
Key Takeaways
- Credit card issuers do not accept credit card payments directly; you must use a bank account, debit card, or wire transfer.
- A balance transfer moves your debt from one card to another and usually charges a fee of 3 to 5 percent of the amount transferred.
- A cash advance lets you withdraw money from a credit card and pay another card's bill, but charges a fee plus a higher interest rate from day one.
- Third-party payment services like Plastiq or Square Cash can process credit card payments, but they also charge a fee and may report the transaction as a cash advance.
- Using one credit card to pay another increases your total debt unless you are consolidating balances to lower your interest rate.
Balance transfers: moving debt between cards
A balance transfer moves your balance from one credit card to another, usually to a card with a lower interest rate or a promotional 0% APR period. You request the transfer through the new card's issuer, and they pay off the old card's balance on your behalf. The old card is then closed or left with a zero balance.
Balance transfers charge a transfer fee, typically 3 to 5 percent of the amount you move. If you transfer $5,000, expect to pay $150 to $250 upfront. This fee is usually added to your new balance, so you owe it when ready. The benefit is that you may get a lower interest rate or a 0% promotional period (often 6 to 21 months, depending on the card). If you can pay down the balance during that period, a balance transfer can save you hundreds in interest.
Balance transfers do not increase your total debt — they move existing debt from one card to another. Your credit score may dip slightly when you open a new card (a hard inquiry and a new account), but it often recovers within a few months if you keep your balances low.
Cash advances: expensive and when ready
A cash advance lets you withdraw money from a credit card at an ATM or bank, then use that cash to pay another card's bill. This is a straightforward way to move money, but it is one of the most expensive ways to borrow.
Cash advances charge two costs when ready. First, a cash advance fee of 3 to 5 percent (sometimes higher) is charged upfront. Second, the interest rate on a cash advance is usually 2 to 5 percentage points higher than your regular purchase APR, and it starts accruing the day you withdraw the money — there is no grace period. If your card's regular APR is 18 percent, the cash advance APR might be 23 percent. On a $2,000 advance with a 4 percent fee and 23 percent APR, you would owe $80 in fees plus interest that grows daily.
Use a cash advance only if you have no other option and can pay it back within a few weeks. Otherwise, the interest and fees will cost more than the problem you are trying to solve.
Third-party payment services and their hidden costs
Services like Plastiq, Square Cash, and some bill-pay platforms let you pay a credit card bill using another credit card. You enter the card details, the service processes the payment, and the money goes to your card issuer. These services charge a fee, usually 2 to 3 percent of the transaction, which you pay upfront.
The catch is that some of these services report the transaction to your credit card issuer as a cash advance rather than a regular purchase. If that happens, you are charged a cash advance fee and interest rate instead of your regular APR. Before you use any third-party service, call your card issuer and ask whether they will treat the payment as a purchase or a cash advance. If it is treated as a cash advance, the service fee plus the cash advance fee and interest may cost more than paying the bill late.
These services are useful if you need to pay a bill urgently and have no bank account or debit card available, but they should not be your regular payment method.
Peer-to-peer transfers and personal loans
Apps like Venmo, PayPal, and Cash App let you send money to another person, and some let you fund the transfer with a credit card. You could theoretically send money to a friend or family member and ask them to pay your credit card bill for you. However, this adds a middleman and often charges a fee (typically 1 to 3 percent for credit card funding).
A more direct option is a personal loan from a bank or online lender. You borrow money at a fixed interest rate and use it to pay off the credit card. Personal loans usually have lower interest rates than credit cards (often 6 to 36 percent, depending on your credit score), so this can save you money if you have a high-interest card balance. However, a personal loan is a new debt, not a transfer of existing debt, so your total borrowing increases temporarily until you pay off the credit card.
What happens to your credit score when you move balances
Moving money between credit cards affects your score in two ways. First, opening a new card (for a balance transfer) triggers a hard inquiry, which lowers your score by a few points temporarily. Second, your credit utilization ratio — the amount of your total credit limit that you are using — changes based on how you move the money.
If you transfer a balance to a new card and close the old card, your total available credit shrinks, which can raise your utilization ratio and lower your score. If you transfer the balance and keep the old card open with a zero balance, your utilization ratio may improve, which can raise your score over time. The best outcome is to transfer the balance, keep both cards open, and avoid running up new balances on either card.
A cash advance does not open a new account, so there is no hard inquiry, but it does increase your utilization ratio when ready, which lowers your score. The effect is temporary if you pay it off quickly.
When moving balances makes sense and when it does not
Moving a balance between credit cards makes sense if you are consolidating high-interest debt onto a lower-interest card or taking advantage of a 0% promotional period. If you have a $10,000 balance at 22 percent APR and transfer it to a card with 0% APR for 12 months, you save roughly $2,200 in interest (assuming you do not add new charges). The 3 to 5 percent transfer fee ($300 to $500) is worth it.
Moving balances does not make sense if you are just shuffling debt without lowering your interest rate or if you plan to run up new balances on the old card. If you transfer a balance to a new card and then spend $5,000 on the old card, you now owe money on two cards at high interest rates, and your total debt has grown.
Before you move a balance, calculate the total cost: the transfer fee plus the interest you will pay during the promotional period (if any). Compare that to the interest you would pay if you kept the balance on the original card. If the new cost is lower, move it. If not, focus on paying down the balance where it is.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a credit card to pay my credit card bill online?
No. Your card issuer's payment system will reject a credit card number. You must use a bank account, debit card, or wire transfer. If you need to move money between cards, use a balance transfer, cash advance, or third-party service instead.
What is the difference between a balance transfer and a cash advance?
A balance transfer moves your existing balance from one card to another and usually offers a lower interest rate or promotional period. A cash advance withdraws cash from your card and charges a higher fee and interest rate when ready. Balance transfers are cheaper if you are consolidating debt; cash advances are for emergencies only.
Will paying one credit card with another hurt my credit score?
It depends on the method. A balance transfer may lower your score temporarily due to a hard inquiry, but it can improve your score long-term if it lowers your utilization ratio. A cash advance lowers your score because it increases your utilization ratio. Both effects are temporary if you pay off the new balance quickly.
Is there a way to pay a credit card with another credit card without fees?
No. Every method — balance transfers, cash advances, and third-party services — charges a fee. Your only option to avoid fees is to pay with a bank account or debit card. If you do not have access to either, a balance transfer with a 0% promotional period is usually the cheapest option over time.
What should I do if I cannot pay my credit card bill?
Contact your card issuer and explain your situation. Many issuers offer hardship programs, lower interest rates, or payment plans for people in financial difficulty. These options are free and do not involve moving money between cards. Trying to pay one card with another often makes the problem worse by adding fees and new debt.