You cannot pay a credit card bill with another credit card directly, but you have workarounds — and most of them cost money
Your credit card issuer will not accept another credit card as payment. When you log into your account and look for a payment method, you will see options like bank account, debit card, or check — but not another credit card. This is by design: card networks and issuers treat credit card payments as a form of borrowing, and they do not want you borrowing to pay off borrowing.
If you need to move a balance from one card to another, or if you need cash or a payment method urgently, there are three real paths: a balance transfer, a cash advance, or a third-party payment service. Each one works differently, costs differently, and affects your credit differently. Which one makes sense depends on what you are actually trying to do.
Key Takeaways
- Balance transfers let you move debt from one card to another, often with a lower interest rate for a set period, but they charge a one-time fee (usually 3 to 5 percent of the amount transferred).
- Cash advances let you withdraw money using your credit card, but they charge a fee and start accruing interest immediately with no grace period.
- Third-party payment services like Plastiq or Venmo can process a credit card payment to another card's bill, but they charge a percentage fee and may report the transaction as a cash advance.
- Paying one credit card with another always costs money or increases your debt — there is no free way to do this.
- Using these methods to carry a balance or delay payment will damage your credit score and cost you significantly more in interest.
Balance Transfers: Moving debt to a lower rate
A balance transfer moves your debt from one credit card to another, usually one with a lower interest rate or an introductory 0% APR period. This is the most common reason someone wants to "pay" one card with another. You initiate the transfer through the new card's issuer — you do not pay the old card directly.
The new card's issuer pays off your old card's balance for you, and you now owe that amount to the new issuer instead. The catch: you pay a balance transfer fee, typically 3 to 5 percent of the amount you move. On a $5,000 transfer, that is $150 to $250 added to your new balance before you make a single payment.
Balance transfers make sense if the new card's lower rate or 0% introductory period saves you more in interest than the fee costs. If you transfer $5,000 at a 3 percent fee ($150) to a card with 0% APR for 12 months, and your old card charged 22% APR, you save roughly $1,100 in interest — a net gain of $950. But if you only keep the balance for three months before paying it off, the fee might not be worth it.
Balance transfers do not show up as a payment to your old card. They show up as a new account or a transfer on your credit report. If you open a new card just to do a balance transfer, that new account will temporarily lower your average account age and trigger a hard inquiry, both of which can dip your credit score by a few points.
Cash Advances: Borrowing against your credit limit
A cash advance lets you withdraw money using your credit card at an ATM or through a bank teller. You are borrowing against your credit limit, not paying another card. But cash advances are expensive and work differently from regular purchases.
Cash advance fees are usually 3 to 5 percent of the amount withdrawn, with a minimum fee (often $5 to $10). Unlike purchases, cash advances have no grace period — interest starts accruing immediately, usually at a higher rate than your purchase APR. Many cards charge 25% or more on cash advances.
If you withdraw $1,000 as a cash advance, you might pay $30 to $50 in fees plus interest starting the next day. After one month, you could owe $50 to $80 in interest alone. This is not a way to pay another credit card bill; it is a way to borrow money at a high cost.
Cash advances do show up on your credit report and can hurt your credit score if they push your overall credit utilization too high. They also signal to lenders that you may be in financial stress, which can affect future credit decisions.
Third-party payment services: The convenience option with fees
Services like Plastiq, Venmo, PayPal, and Square Cash let you send money using a credit card. Some people use these to pay bills or transfer money to someone else's account, which they then use to pay a credit card bill. This is an indirect route, and it comes with fees.
Plastiq charges 2.5 to 3.5 percent to process a credit card payment. Venmo charges 3 percent for credit card transfers (debit transfers are free). PayPal's fees vary by transaction type but typically run 2.2 percent plus $0.30 for standard transfers. If you send $2,000 to cover a credit card bill, you are paying $44 to $70 in fees.
Some of these services may report your transaction as a cash advance rather than a regular payment, which means higher interest rates and immediate interest accrual. Check the service's terms before you use it. Even if it does not report as a cash advance, you are still paying a percentage fee on top of whatever interest you already owe.
These services are useful for paying bills that do not accept credit cards directly (like rent or utilities), but they are not a solution for paying down credit card debt. You are just moving money around and paying a middleman.
Why credit card issuers block direct credit card payments
Credit card companies do not allow you to pay your bill with another credit card because it would create a cycle of debt. If you could pay Card A with Card B, you could pay Card B with Card C, and so on, never actually paying down debt — just moving it around while the card networks collect fees.
Issuers also want to protect their own revenue. When you pay with a debit card or bank account, the issuer does not pay a processing fee. When you pay with another credit card, the issuer of that card charges the first issuer an interchange fee (usually 1 to 3 percent). Rather than absorb that cost or pass it to you, issuers simply do not accept credit cards as payment.
From a risk perspective, accepting credit card payments would also signal that customers are in financial distress — unable to pay from their bank account and forced to borrow more. This is a red flag for credit risk, and issuers would rather not encourage it.
When these methods make sense and when they do not
A balance transfer makes sense if you have high-interest debt and a new card offers a significantly lower rate or 0% introductory period, and you have a realistic plan to pay off the balance before the rate increases. Run the math: compare the fee against the interest you will save.
A cash advance makes sense only in a genuine emergency when you need physical cash and have no other option. The cost is high enough that you should exhaust every other option first — asking for a loan from family, using a personal loan, or negotiating a payment plan with a creditor.
A third-party payment service makes sense if you are paying a bill that does not accept credit cards and you need to use a credit card to do it. It does not make sense as a way to pay down credit card debt, because you are paying a fee to move money around without reducing what you owe.
None of these methods should be used to delay payment or carry a balance longer than necessary. Each one costs money, and the longer you carry the balance, the more you pay in interest on top of the fees.
The credit score impact of each method
Balance transfers affect your credit in two ways: opening a new account triggers a hard inquiry (a small, temporary dip) and lowers your average account age. But if the transfer reduces your overall credit utilization — the percentage of your available credit you are using — your score may recover quickly. Paying off the transferred balance on time will rebuild your score faster than carrying it.
Cash advances hurt your credit more directly. They increase your credit utilization immediately and signal financial stress. If the cash advance pushes you over 30 percent utilization, your score will drop noticeably. The effect is temporary if you pay it off quickly, but it lingers if you carry the balance.
Third-party payment services do not directly affect your credit score, but if they report as cash advances, they carry the same utilization and stress signals as a cash advance. Check the service's terms to know how they report.
The biggest credit damage comes from carrying any of these balances long-term. Interest accrues, your utilization stays high, and your payment history becomes the most important factor in your score. Missing a payment or paying late will hurt far more than the initial transaction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a credit card to pay another credit card bill online?
No, credit card issuers do not accept credit cards as a payment method on their websites or phone lines. You can only pay with a bank account, debit card, or check. If you want to move debt between cards, you need to do a balance transfer through the new card's issuer, not a payment through the old card's website.
What is the difference between a balance transfer and a cash advance?
A balance transfer moves debt from one card to another and is designed to lower your interest rate. A cash advance withdraws money from your credit limit and is designed to give you cash. Balance transfers have a one-time fee but may offer a lower rate; cash advances charge a fee and interest immediately with no grace period.
Will using a third-party payment service hurt my credit score?
Not directly, but it depends on how the service reports the transaction. If it reports as a regular payment, there is no credit impact. If it reports as a cash advance, it will increase your utilization and may lower your score temporarily. Check the service's terms before you use it.
Is there ever a free way to pay one credit card with another?
No. Every method — balance transfer, cash advance, or third-party service — charges a fee or increases your debt. There is no free way to move money between credit cards or use one card to pay another card's bill.
What should I do if I cannot pay my credit card bill?
Contact your card issuer directly. Many offer hardship programs, payment plans, or temporary rate reductions if you explain your situation. These options are better than using balance transfers or cash advances, which cost money and can trap you in more debt. Your issuer would rather work with you than have you default.