Can you pay a credit card with another credit card?

In most cases, credit card issuers won’t accept credit cards as a form of payment. So you won’t be able to pay a credit card bill with another credit card. 

The only ways you might be able to use a credit card to pay your bill are through a balance transfer or cash advance, but they could be risky and come with fees that add to your debt. So before you make any decisions, it’s important to understand your options.

Key takeaways

• In general, you can’t pay your monthly credit card bill using another credit card. 
• If you’re set on using a credit card, you might be able to pay with a balance transfer or cash advance, but they can be risky and add to your debt. 
• A balance transfer may offer a promotional period that could save you money in interest. But transfer fees could eliminate any potential interest savings.  
• Using a cash advance to pay a credit card might cost you more in interest and fees. And there may not be a grace period, so you could start accruing interest immediately.

You can’t directly pay one credit card with another. If you see suggestions to use balance transfers or cash advances, it’s important to fully understand the potential risks and expenses. Trying to get around payment rules could end up making your finances and credit even worse.

A credit card balance transfer lets you move debt from one or more accounts to a different credit card. A balance transfer could help you pay off your debt faster by consolidating debt, getting a lower interest rate or both. But there are a few things to keep in mind before making a decision.

Some credit cards offer introductory or promotional interest rates for balance transfers. But those rates are only for a limited time. If you want to take advantage of a low introductory or promotional rate, be sure you know when the low rate will expire and the standard rate will apply.

Balance transfers aren’t necessarily free. Even if a balance transfer comes with a limited-time 0% annual percentage rate (APR), you may still be charged a balance transfer fee. That fee could be a set amount or a percentage of the transferred balance.

After transferring a balance, you’ll still have to make at least the monthly minimum payments on the new card. And if you didn’t transfer the entire balance from your original card, be sure to keep track of payments for that card, too.

If you make a late payment or miss a payment altogether on your new card, you might lose your introductory or promotional interest rate. Your issuer might also charge a penalty APR after a late or missed payment. So be sure to know the terms and conditions of your card.

Lenders usually don’t allow debt transfers from different internal accounts. If you want to do a balance transfer, you typically have to transfer the debt to a different issuer.

A cash advance lets you borrow money against your credit card’s line of credit. Basically, that means you can use your credit card to withdraw cash. 

Experts generally suggest avoiding a cash advance. Using a cash advance to pay off your credit card bill may end up costing you more than your original credit card bill. 

Cash advances usually have a higher APR than regular credit card purchases do. They can also include additional fees. Plus, cash advances might not have a grace period that lets you avoid paying interest for a period of time. So you could start accruing interest on a cash advance immediately. 

Before you consider using a cash advance to pay off another credit card, it’s a good idea to understand the costs. 

Keep in mind that even if actual cash never touches your hands, a transaction might still be considered a cash advance. That might include initiating wire transfers or buying money orders to pay off another credit card.

If you’re unable to pay your credit card bill, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) says to contact your credit card issuer as soon as possible. That goes for Capital One cardholders too. 

The CFPB also says credit counseling could help.

Late or forgotten credit card payments can happen to anyone. But payment history is an important part of your credit scores, so late or missed payments can have a negative impact on them. 

Learn a few tips about how you use credit cards responsibly. 

You typically can’t pay your credit card statement using another credit card. If you’re considering a balance transfer or cash advance, it’s a good idea to consider what additional fees may be involved before pursuing them. 

If you’re looking for ways to consolidate your credit card debt and are interested in a balance transfer, there are a few balance transfer credit cards from Capital One that you might consider.