When you transfer credit from one credit card to another, does it count as a cash advance?  Or a purchase?

A cash advance, and there is usually a one-time fee. Wait for a 0% offer.

Not a purchase. Ask the new card if they can pay off your old debt but Im afraid it would count as a cash advance. Only purchases would probably get the lower rate.

Way back when they had zero % cash advances. I did them and had them send me a check which I deposited in a savings account to earn interest. Those deals ended as so many were taking advantage of them. I have seen a few credit unions offer a free balance transfer with a low rate and no fees but they are rare. 12% is still pretty high. I've seen 3.99-5.99% ones.  But I don't carry balances so they are no value to me.

It NEVER counts as a purchase. It may count as a cash advance, but more often it counts as a balance transfer.

It's not a purchase. Some cards have special rates for balance transfers. It might not be at either the purchase rate or the balance transfer rate. They usually don't count it as a cash advance or a purchase. It's usually a third category.

But if they do count it as either a cash advance or a purchase, then they would count it as a cash advance.

It's never counted as a purchase.

You have to read about the terms of the card you are transferring it to.

It's not a cash advance but there may be a fee for transferring.