Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards
Advertiser Disclosure
Credit Card Insider is an independent, advertising supported website. Credit Card Insider receives compensation from some credit card issuers as advertisers. Advertiser relationships do not affect card ratings or our Editor’s Best Card Picks. Credit Card Insider has not reviewed all available credit card offers in the marketplace. Content is not provided or commissioned by any credit card issuers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information, though all credit card information is presented without warranty. When you click on any ‘Apply Now’ button, the most up-to-date terms and conditions, rates, and fee information will be presented by the issuer. Credit Card Insider has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Credit Card Insider and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers. A list of these issuers can be found on our Editorial Guidelines.
In the market for a new, inexpensive credit card? Many card issuers provide no annual fee cards, which can be convenient, low-obligation ways to take advantage of credit card features. As long as you avoid paying interest and other fees, they can be completely free and any value you get from rewards and benefits will be all profit.
By Brendan Harkness
Our Selection Criteria
- Fits your credit profile: Find a credit card offer designed for your level of credit history and scores, as some cards are generally meant for good credit while others are meant for bad, limited, or no credit.
- It’s got what you need: Look for a set of terms and features that suits your current needs, whether you want a decent rewards rate on certain purchases, a long intro APR, a card to travel with, or a way to build your credit.
- Bonus reward categories: The rewards program should fit your spending habits, offering points or cash back for the types of purchases you make most.
- Introductory bonuses: Many no annual fee reward cards include valuable intro bonuses, letting you spend a thousand or so to get a nice point or cash back bonus.
- Introductory APRs: Quite a few cards without annual fees come with 0% introductory interest rates on new purchases and/or balance transfers, letting you pay off your balance over time without accruing interest. After the intro offer expires you’ll get a regular APR, which is typically quite high (so pay your statement balance in full each month).
- Additional perks and benefits: You won’t find the best extra perks on cards without annual fees, but you can still do pretty well with extra reward opportunities, shopping and travel protections, free credit scores, and the occasional discount or special event access.
By Brendan Harkness
Is a No Annual Fee Card Right for You?
There’s a wide variety of credit cards without annual fees. They tend to be a bit more basic than cards with annual fees, but they still offer valuable rewards, benefits, and introductory APRs that make them every bit as useful as more expensive options.
Credit cards with annual fees tend to have better reward programs and extra perks. They might offer more points per dollar, bigger signup bonuses, and better perks like lounge access and travel credits.
Still, it’s a good idea to have a no annual fee card (or a few). Many of them are perfect for everyday purchases, but they’re also handy for building credit. If you tend to go for more valuable or premium cards, no annual fee cards can serve as handy backups.
Even experienced credit card users keep cards without annual fees in their wallets. Here are some common reasons why you might want one:
- Just getting into credit cards: Many people will find it less stressful to jump into the credit card game with a no annual fee card.
- Useful for building credit: Getting some cards without annual fees early on can be an excellent credit-building strategy. You can typically keep them open indefinitely, and they can help improve your credit utilization and boost the average age of accounts on your credit reports more and more over time.
- Great for everyday spending: You’ll find cards for groceries, gas, dining out, online shopping, and more. There are also plenty of flat-rate rewards cards that are perfect for any spending that doesn’t fit the bonus categories of your other cards.
- Simple rewards programs (usually): Cards without annual fees usually have fairly straightforward rewards, with a one-time signup bonus and cash back or points you can redeem for statement credits. Rewards typically don’t expire for the life of the account, and in many cases there are no blackout dates for travel redemptions.
- No annual fee to worry about (duh): For cards with annual fees, you have to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth each year, which could involve traveling in certain ways or shopping at specific retailers. No annual fee cards can sit in the proverbial (or literal) sock drawer until you need them (or until you need to keep them active), and they can be completely free to use, if you use them wisely.
- As a downgrade option: If you have a card with an annual fee now and it’s not serving you well, you may be able to downgrade to a card with no annual fee. This is often a better idea than just closing the card because you can keep the same account on your credit reports.
- An easy and cheap payment method while abroad: International travelers can use no annual fee cards without foreign transaction fees to avoid extra charges and trips to the money changer.
BEST PICK FOR
Flat-Rate Rewards
Citi® Double Cash Card - 18 month BT offer
Details
securely on the issuer's website
The Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer (Review) is one of the few no annual fee cards to offer this much cash back for every purchase. It’s even got an intro balance transfer rate that’s one of the longest on the market.
- 2% cash back for every purchase you make (must pay at least the minimum due on time)
- 1% back when you make a purchase
- 1% back when you pay for that purchase
Cardholders can use the Double Cash everywhere to earn 2% back, without worrying about any bonus categories or which card might be better for which purchases.
2% back for every purchase is rare, but you can get close to that with the new Apple Card. You’ll need an iPhone but you’ll earn 2% cash back for every purchase made with Apple Pay, so if the merchants you frequent take contactless payments you’ll be in the clear. You’ll also get 3% back for Apple, iTunes, and App Store purchases.
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers, and then 13.99% – 23.99% (Variable)
- Free FICO credit score: Monitor your FICO Bankcard Score 8, based on your Equifax credit report.
- Quick customer service: Say “representative” when calling customer support to be connected with a rep more quickly.
PayPal Cashback Mastercard®
- 2% cash back for every purchase
- No foreign transaction fees
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- 5% cash back on:
- Lyft rides (through March 2022)
- Grocery store purchases (not including Target or Walmart purchases; up to $12,000 spent in the first year)
- 1.5% cash back for every other purchase
- $200 bonus for spending $500 in the first 3 months
- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
Discover it® Miles
- 1.5X miles per dollar for every purchase (equivalent to 1.5% cash back)
- Miles Match: Double miles in your first year, awarded at the end of your first year
- Purchase APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms
- Balance Transfer APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms
Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 1.5% cash back for every purchase
- $150 introductory bonus for spending $500 in the first 3 months
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% 15 months, then 15.49% - 25.49% Variable APR
American Express Cash Magnet® Card
- 1.5% cash back for every purchase
- $150 introductory bonus for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 13.99–23.99% Variable APR (Rates & Fees)
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
- To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
- Balance Transfer Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 13.99% – 23.99%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 13.99% – 23.99% based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi’s discretion.
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
BEST PICK FOR
Rotating Bonus Categories
Discover it® Cash Back
Details
The Discover it® Cash Back (Review) is our top pick for rotating cash back categories thanks to its unique Cashback Match. You’ll earn 5% back in categories that change every three months, up to $1,500 spent per quarter (activation required).
Check out the gift card redemption options to get at least $5 added to each redemption.
- 5% cash back on the first $1,500 spent per quarter (then 1%), in categories that rotate throughout the year
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Cashback Match: Cash back earned in the first year is doubled
Take note that you must manually activate your 5% cash back rewards every quarter, and you won’t earn at the 5% rate until you do. This is as simple as logging in and clicking “Activate.” You can activate months in advance, so be sure to do so.
- Free FICO credit score: Track your FICO Score 8 over time, based on your TransUnion credit report.
- Social Security number alerts: Get notified if your SSN is found on any of thousands of risky dark web sites.
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms
- No foreign transaction fee
Chase Freedom®
- 5% cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 2022)
- 5% cash back in rotating categories (up to $1,500 spent per quarter, then 1%)
- $200 bonus for spending $500 in the first 3 months
- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
U.S. Bank Cash+™ Visa Signature® Card
- 5% cash back in your choice of two categories per quarter (up to $2,000 spent per quarter)
- 2% cash back in your choice of one everyday category
- $150 cash bonus for spending $500 in the first 90 days after account opening
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 billing cycles on Balance Transfers*, then 13.99% - 23.99%* Variable APR
The information related to Discover it® Cash Back has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
BEST PICK FOR
Food (Restaurants and Groceries)
Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
The Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card (Review) is one of the most flexible cash back cards around, with a 3% bonus category you can change every month. Dining is one of your choices, along with quite a few other useful options, and you’ll always get grocery stores for one of your smaller categories.
- 3% cash back in one category of your choice:
- Gas
- Online shopping
- Dining
- Travel
- Drugstores
- Home improvement/furnishings stores
- 2% cash back at:
- Grocery stores
- Wholesale clubs
- Spending limit: 3% and 2% rewards only up to $2,500 per quarter, then 1%
- $200 cash rewards bonus for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
- Return on spend: 20%
- Free FICO credit score: Check your FICO Score 8 for free, based on your TransUnion credit report.
- Shopping and Travel protections: Price Protection, Extended Warranty Protection, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, and more.
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 billing cycles, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable APR
Capital One® SavorOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 5% cash back with Uber Eats (through 1/31/21)
- 3% cash back on Dining and Entertainment
- 2% cash back at Grocery stores
- $150 cash bonus for spending $500 in the first 3 months
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% 15 months, then 15.49% - 25.49% Variable APR
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 spent per year, then 1%)
- 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores
- $150 cash bonus for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 13.99–23.99% Variable APR (Rates & Fees)
- No annual fee
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
- NEW OFFER: Maximize your cash back in the category of your choice: gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement /furnishings
- Now earn 3% cash back in your choice category and 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases), and unlimited 1% on all other purchases
- You can update your choice category for future purchases once each calendar month using the Mobile Banking app or Online Banking, or do nothing and it stays the same
- No expiration on rewards
- 0% Introductory APR for 12 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 16.24% – 26.24% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee (min $10) applies to balance transfers
- If you’re a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25% – 75% more cash back on every purchase
BEST PICK FOR
Travel Rewards
Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
The Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card (Review) is an excellent no-fee travel rewards credit card you can use to pay for an upcoming vacation or trip, with the ability to transfer points to a variety of airline partners.
- 5X miles per dollar with Uber Eats (through 1/31/21)
- 1.25X miles per dollar on all other purchases
- 20,000 bonus miles for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months after account opening
- Value: $200–$400 (assuming 1–2 cents per point)
- Return on spend: 20%–40%
- Mile transfer: To a variety of airline loyalty programs.
- Luxury Hotel Collection: Provides benefits during eligible hotel stays, like a $25 food and beverage credit, complimentary WiFi, automatic room upgrades, and more.
- Shopping and Travel protections: Purchase Security, Roadside Dispatch, an Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, and more.
- Purchase APR: 0% 12 months, then 14.49% - 24.49% Variable APR
- No foreign transaction fees
Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 3% cash back in one category of your choice each month, including Travel purchases
- 2% cash back at Grocery stores and Wholesale clubs
- $200 cash rewards bonus for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 12 billing cycles, then 13.99%–23.99% Variable APR
Uber Credit Card
- 5% back in Uber Cash on Uber purchases (Uber rides, Uber Eats, JUMP bikes and scooters)
- 3% back in Uber Cash on Dining, Airfare, at Hotels, and with Travel agencies like Airbnb
- $100 in Uber Cash for spending $500 in the first 90 days
- No foreign transaction fee
Discover it® Miles
- 1.5X miles for every purchase (equivalent to 1.5% cash back)
- Miles Match: Double miles the first year, awarded at the end of the first year
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms APR
- No foreign transaction fee
The information related to Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
BEST PICK FOR
Long 0% Purchase APR
U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
If you need a card with a long 0% intro APR for purchases, it will be hard to beat the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card.
The Visa Platinum provides 20 billing cycles at 0% APR for purchases. After that, the regular 14.99%–24.99% Variable APR applies.
That’s quite a long time compared to most cards, and it’s available for both purchases and balance transfers if you’d like.
- Free VantageScore credit score: Check your VantageScore 3.0, based on your TransUnion credit report.
- Shopping and Travel protections: Including Cell Phone Protection, Extended Warranty Protection, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, and more.
Wells Fargo Platinum card
- Purchase and Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 18 months, then 15.49%-24.99% Variable APR
- Perks: Free FICO Score 9 from Experian, Cell Phone Protection, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Roadside Dispatch, and more.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 13.99–23.99% Variable APR
- 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 spent per year, then 1%)
- 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores
- $150 cash bonus for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 12.99%–23.99% Variable APR
- 2X Membership Rewards points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 spent per year) and Amex Travel
- 20% point bonus for making at least 20 purchases in a billing period
- 10,000 bonus points for spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
Chase Freedom®
- Purchase APR: 0% for 15 months, then 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
- Balance Transfer APR: 14.99% - 23.74% Variable
- 5% cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 2022)
- 5% cash back in rotating categories, up to $1,500 spent per quarter
- $200 bonus for spending $500 in the first 3 months
- 0% introductory APR for 20 billing cycles on purchases and balance transfers, then 14.99%–24.99% Variable
- Savings at various retailers through Visa Discounts
- Travel and shopping protections
- Cell Phone Protection
- Free VantageScore based on your TransUnion credit report
- No annual fee
BEST PICK FOR
Long 0% Balance Transfer APR
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
For a long balance transfer card offer, look no further than the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card (Review).
There are no rewards with this card, but you’ll get 18 months at 0% APR for balance transfers, along with 18 months at 0% for purchases. After those periods are up, you’ll get a regular rate of 14.74% – 24.74% (Variable).
You’ll have to pay a fee, however: 3%, $5 minimum.
This fee could add up to quite a lot, so you may want to check out our runners up, some of which have slightly shorter intro periods but no transfer fees. And take a look at the 0% purchase APR cards above, which may feature great offers for balance transfers as well.
- Citi Entertainment: Access to presale and preferred tickets to concerts, sporting events, dining experiences, and more.
- Say “representative” when you call: Speak with a customer support rep more quickly.
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 18 months, then 14.74% – 24.74% (Variable)
- Purchase APR: 0% for 18 months, then 14.74% – 24.74% (Variable)
- Annual fee: $0
Citi Simplicity® Card – No Late Fees Ever
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 18 months, then 14.74% – 24.74% (Variable)
- Purchase APR: 0% for 18 months, then 14.74% - 24.74% (Variable)
- Perks: Free FICO Bankcard Score 8 from TransUnion, Citi Entertainment
Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer
- Balance Transfer APR: 0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers, then 13.99% – 23.99% (Variable) APR
- Balance transfer fee: Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 3% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum
- 2% cash back for every purchase: 1% back for purchases, 1% back for payments
NFCU Platinum Credit Card
- Purchase and balance transfer APR: 0% for 12 months, for transfers requested within 30 days, 7.49%–18.00% Variable
- Balance transfer fee: None
- Balance transfer limit: $15,000
- Annual fee: $0
- 0% Intro APR for 18 months on purchases from date of account opening and 0% Intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer. After that the variable APR will be 14.74% – 24.74%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
- Get free access to your FICO® Score online.
- With Citi Entertainment®, get special access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more.
- Shop with confidence knowing that you have dependable protection benefits, including $0 Liability on Unauthorized Purchases and Citi® Identity Theft Solutions.
- The standard variable APR for Citi Flex Plan is 14.74% – 24.74%, based on your creditworthiness. Citi Flex Plan offers are made available at Citi’s discretion.
Citi is a Credit Card Insider advertiser.
BEST PICK FOR
Fair or Average Credit
Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One®
Details
The Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One® (Review) is marketed as a student card, but anyone can actually apply for it. This makes it a good option to help build or rebuild your credit, for students and non-students alike. It even offers a bit of cash back, with a bonus for paying by the due date.
- 1% cash back for every purchase
- 1.25% cash back for every purchase when you pay on time
- Access a higher credit line: You may be automatically considered for a higher credit line after six months.
- Capital One CreditWise: Monitor your VantageScore 3.0, based on your TransUnion credit report, and see data from your report as well (available to anyone).
- Shopping and Travel protections: Extended Warranty, Travel and Emergency Assistance, Travel Accident Insurance, and more.
- No foreign transaction fees
Capital One® Platinum Credit Card
- Access a higher credit line: You may be automatically considered for a higher credit line after six months.
Discover it® Student Cash Back
- 5% cash back in rotating categories, up to $1,500 spent per quarter, then 1% (activation required)
- Cashback Match: Double cash back in the first year
Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business
- Designed for small business owners with fair or average credit
- 1% cash back on all purchases
The information related to Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One® has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
BEST PICK FOR
Limited or No Credit
Petal® Visa® Credit Card
Details
securely on the issuer's website
Having limited or no credit can make it tough to get approved for credit cards. That’s where the Petal® Visa® Credit Card steps in.
You still have a shot at approval, even with no credit scores. Petal will ask to connect to your bank account to see how you handle your finances, as an alternative to checking your credit. If you do have some credit established, Petal will likely run a hard inquiry to check it out.
The Petal card doesn’t just have no annual fee — it has no fees of any kind, apart from possible interest charges. And you can even avoid interest by paying your statement balance in full each month, potentially making this card completely free to use.
| Spending Rewards |
|---|
|
- Petal Offers: Get up to 10% back with select merchants, with no activation necessary.
- Visa Local Offers: Earn Uber Cash when making purchases at select merchants by adding your Petal card to the Uber app.
- Free credit score: Check your VantageScore 3.0 credit score from your Experian credit report, whenever you’d like.
- Purchase APR: 12.99% to 29.49% Variable
- Credit limit: $500–$10,000
- No foreign transaction fee
- Annual fee: None
- No fees whatsoever. No late fee, international fee, annual fee, or any-other-kind-of-fee, fee
- Up to 1.5% cash back after making 12 on-time monthly payments
- Variable APRs 12.99% to 29.49%
- 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away
- Up to 10% cash back from select merchants
- Build credit alongside tens of thousands of Petal Card members
- Cash flow technology may help applicants without credit history get approved
- $500 – $10,000 credit limits
- Petal’s mobile app makes it easy to manage your money, track your spending, and automate payments
- See if you’re pre-approved within minutes without impacting your credit score
- Petal reports to all 3 major credit bureaus
- No deposits required
- Card issued by WebBank, Member FDIC
BEST PICK FOR
Bad Credit
The Discover it® Secured (Review) is a secured credit card, which means it requires a refundable security deposit when you’re approved. It doesn’t have an annual fee, but it will require some money to get.
The Discover it Secured will take a security deposit of $200 to $2,500. Your credit limit will be equal to the deposit you make. Every eight months, Discover will review your account and creditworthiness. If it deems you a responsible credit user, your deposit may be refunded and you can continue using the card.
Secured cards are designed for people with bad, limited, or no credit, so they usually come with pretty unfavorable terms. But the Discover it Secured is different, and even provides a decent rewards program. Not only that, your cash back is doubled for the first year! That’s even better than some reward credit cards.
- 2% cash back on the first $1,000 spent per quarter at:
- Restaurants
- Gas stations
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Cashback Match: Cash back earned in the first year is doubled
- Free FICO credit score: Keep tabs on your FICO Score 8, based on your TransUnion report, and get tips to improve your credit scores.
- Social Security number alerts: Get notified if your SSN is found on any of thousands of risky dark web sites.
- Balance Transfer APR: See Terms for See Terms, then See Terms
- No foreign transaction fees
Citi® Secured Mastercard®
- Security deposit: $200 –$2,500
- Can apply without a bank account at a Citibank location
Capital One® Secured Mastercard®
- Security deposit: $49–$1,000
- Access a higher credit line: You may be automatically considered for a higher credit line after six months.
- No foreign transaction fees
The information related to Discover it® Secured has been collected by Credit Card Insider and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of this product.
What Does No Annual Fee Mean for a Credit Card?
An annual fee is a yearly charge for the privilege of using a credit card. “No annual fee credit card” simply means a credit card that doesn’t come with that fee.
Annual fees are typically found on mid-range and high-end travel cards, as the price you pay for their perks. They’re also found on cards designed for bad credit, as the price you pay for having poor credit scores (it helps alleviate risk for the card issuer).
It’s also common to find credit cards that charge an annual fee, but only after the first year. The United℠ Explorer Card (Review) is a good example. It charges: $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
What’s the Best Credit Card With No Annual Fee?
There are quite a few credit cards without annual fees, so the “best” card will be the one that fits your spending habits and lifestyle. The best no annual fee cards include:
- Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer (Review): For an excellent cash back rate on every purchase you make
- Discover it® Cash Back (Review): For valuable 5% cash back categories that switch every three months (up to $1,500 spent per quarter; activation required)
- Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card (Review): If you want to pick your own 3% bonus category, from options like gas, dining, and online shopping
- Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card (Review): For earning travel rewards, with point transfers to travel loyalty programs
- U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card: If you’ve got a large purchase to make and want to pay it off over time at no interest
- Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card (Review): If you’re carrying a credit card balance at a high interest rate, and want to pay it down for less
What’s the Best Cash Back Credit Card With No Annual Fee?
Cash back credit cards are easy to understand — they provide a certain percentage back for every purchase you make, like 1%, 3%, even 5% or more. Our favorites include:
- Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer (Review): 2% cash back for every purchase (1% for purchases, 1% for payments)
- Discover it® Cash Back (Review) and Chase Freedom® (Review): 5% cash back in categories that change every three months
- Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card (Review): Pick your own 3% cash back category, from gas, dining, travel, online shopping, and more
- Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One® (Review): Designed for fair or average credit; 1% cash back on every purchase — upped to 1.25% when you pay on time
- Discover it® Secured (Review): Designed for bad credit; 2% cash back on gas and dining (up to $1,000 spent per quarter) and double cash back in the first year
What’s the Best Travel Credit Card With No Annual Fee?
Travel rewards cards tend to come with annual fees, to help offset their many perks. But some have no fee, such as:
- Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card (Review): 1.25X miles per dollar, with point transfer partners (rare for no annual fee cards)
- Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card (Review): 3X points per dollar at the BofA Travel Center, and 1.5X everywhere else
- Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card (Review): 3X points per dollar for travel, along with dining, gas, and streaming services
- Discover it® Miles (Review): 1.5X miles per dollar, and double miles for the first year
- Hilton Honors American Express Card (Review): For more points and perks at Hilton properties
- Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card: Enjoy better benefits and more rewards at Marriott Bonvoy hotels
Are There No Annual Fee Cards for Fair Credit?
Yes — if you have fair credit, there are some credit cards without annual fees made for you.
- Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One® (Review): Earn 1% cash back, with a little boost to 1.25% for paying on time
- Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card (Review): You’ll get 1.5% cash back on everything, for a $39 annual fee
- Capital One® Platinum Credit Card (Review): A simple card, but it provides a chance to improve your credit scores
- Discover it® Student Cash Back (Review): For students who want to earn some cash back
- Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business (Review): For small business owners who don’t have the best credit
Take a look at other cards designed for fair or average credit here.
Are There No Annual Fee Cards for Bad Credit?
Even if you have bad credit, you may still qualify for some no annual fee cards. Take a look at these:
- Discover it® Secured (Review): 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations (up to $1,000 spent per quarter)
- Capital One® Secured Mastercard® (Review): Deposit up to $1,000 to secure your credit line, with a chance for a credit limit increase
- Citi® Secured Mastercard® (Review): A secured card that doesn’t require a bank account to provide the deposit
- NFCU nRewards® Secured Credit Card: For NFCU members; provides 1X point per dollar for every purchase
See more cards designed for bad credit here, and other secured cards here.
For rates and fees of the American Express Cash Magnet® Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, please click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please click here.
Credit Card Insider receives compensation from advertisers whose products may be mentioned on this page. Advertiser relationships do not affect card evaluations. Advertising partners do not edit or endorse our editorial content. Content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when it's published. Learn more in our Editorial Guidelines.
The information related to Discover it® Cash Back, Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card, Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One®, Discover it® Secured, Discover it® Miles, Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One® Platinum Credit Card, Discover it® Student Cash Back, Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business, Capital One® Secured Mastercard®, Citi® Secured Mastercard®, Capital One® Quicksilver® Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One® SavorOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card, Amex EveryDay® Credit Card, and Citi Simplicity® Card - No Late Fees Ever have been collected by Credit Card Insider and have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer or provider of these products.
Find your next credit cards with the benefits you're looking for
Get Started
