Missy Nolan
9 min
5.2K
Credit cards have gotten increasingly flashy in recent years, with tons of different options for hotel credit cards, business credit cards, travel cards, and more.
Paying an annual fee on a credit card can be worth it if the rewards you earn and cardmember benefits justify it. But you might be surprised to hear that when you choose one of the best no annual fee credit cards available, you can still earn hefty rewards.
If you're the kind of person that does not believe in having to pay to use a credit card, then applying for one without an annual fee is probably a good option.
The best no fee credit cards can also be a good fit for those new to credit card use, or those managing a large amount of debt—thanks to many options within this category offering generous introductory APR rates as well.
If you fit this distinction of a new or debt-ridden credit card user, you might also consider prepaid cards, secured credit cards, credit cards for students, and best credit cards for little to no credit.
Whatever your reason, there's a no annual fee credit card option perfect for you. Check out our list below for our top picks of the best credit cards with no annual fee for cash back, travel rewards, and debt management.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuer. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and may not have been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.
This article was last updated October 11, 2019 but some terms and conditions may have changed or are no longer available. For the most accurate and up to date information please consult the terms and conditions found on the issuer website.
WHY TRUST US: Faveable spends thousands of hours researching, interviewing experts & testing products, to create carefully selected lists trusted by millions of consumers since 2013. Our independently chosen links earn us a commission. Learn more »
Have trusted our product reviews
Application Process: Apply online and get a response within 60 seconds.
Bonus Offers: None.
Rewards: None.
Annual Fee: None.
Details:Citi Simplicity® Card »There's a lot to love about the BankAmericard Travel Rewards credit card. First, there's the introductory APR of 0% for the first 12 months. More generally, the credit card offers a competitive rewards rate and a decent signup bonus. No foreign transaction fees are the cherry on top that makes this a great travel rewards credit card in its own right.
Overall, this is the best flat-rate flexible travel rewards credit card that offers generous bonuses despite having no annual fee. Its perfect for those that do not have an airline preference and love to travel.
If you're carrying a balance, the high APR may be a turnoff once you get past the introductory period. Honestly, if you fly a lot, it's not the best card for you. There are plenty of other travel credit cards that cater to those who fly frequently.
Application Process: Apply online or call their toll-free number if you'd rather go through the process with a human.
Annual Fee: None, none, none!
APR: A nice 0% introductory APR for the first 12 months, then a variable APR of 15.99% to 23.99% after.
Rewards: Points can be redeemed for travel statement credit that can be used on flights, hotels, rentals and other related purchases.
Bonus Offers: Get excited to earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 within the first 3 months of account opening, which is equivalent to $200 of travel credit. If you're an active Bank of America checking or savings customer, get an additional 10% bonus customer points. Preferred Rewards clients can get up to 25-75% bonus points. The Points Guy calls this card a "no-brainer" if you're an existing Bank of America customer.
Details:BankAmericard Travel Rewards Credit Card »Application Process: Apply online, and get a decision within 60 seconds or less.
Rewards: Earn 1.5% cash on all purchases. Also, get a 10% anniversary bonus on all cash rewards earned each year, effectively increasing your rewards rate to 1.65%.
Bonus Offers:None.
Annual Fee: None.
Details:HSBC Cash Rewards Mastercard® Credit Card »Application Process: Apply online, and get a decision within 60 seconds or less.
Rewards: Earn 1% cash back when you make a purchase, then 1% back when you pay it off. You can claim your rewards as a statement credit, gift card, or a check in the mail, with a minimum cash back redemption amount of $25 required.
Annual Fee: None.
Details:Citi® Double Cash Card »Application Process: Apply online and get a response within 60 seconds.
Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate; unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Bonus Offers: Score a $150 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases during your first 3 months as a cardholder. Get $25 more when an authorized user makes their first purchase in the same 3 month period.
Annual fee: None.
Details:Chase Freedom® »Travelers will appreciate that there are no foreign transaction fees associated with this credit card. Everyone will appreciate that you don’t have to be purposeful to collect your rewards, as the Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card offers a flat, unlimited 1.5% cash back rate on all purchases.
If you’re new to the world of credit cards, this card might be your perfect match. But if you’re a little more of an experienced user, you can certainly find higher percent cash back credit cards for a small annual fee that will likely be more than justified. A related example? The Capital One Spark Cash for Business credit card. Additionally, you may be interested in using one of the best Capital One credit cards for balance transfers... until you find out that it comes with a 3% balance transfer fee.
Application Process: Apply online just as you would with the other best Capital One credit cards on this list.
Annual Fee: Absolutely no annual fees! Definitely a perk of this credit card.
Rewards and Redemption Options: It’s very simple: earn an unlimited flat rate of 1.5% cash back, which does not expire. You can redeem this cash back as a statement credit or cheque.
Bonus Offers: Just about anyone using this credit card will earn a $150 bonus after spending $500 on purchases within 3 months of account opening.
Details:Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Card »There's a lot to love about the Chase Freedom Unlimited cash back credit card. It provides a high rewards rate with no nonsense in terms of rotating spending categories - just a flat 1.5% back on every purchase you make with the card. With responsible use, you won't have to pay a penny to use this card, as there's no annual fee.
As far as actually getting the cash back you've earned, there's no minimum required for redemption, and cash back earnings can be redeemed for any amount (unlike the Chase Freedom card, which requires a minimum $20). On top of that, there's a relatively small minimum spend required to earn the lucrative account opening bonus.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited card doesn't offer any specific bonus categories, due to its nature as a flat-rate cash back credit card. So those who know their high-spending categories (like groceries, for example) may want to opt instead for a cash back credit card that caters to their spending habits.
While going through this list, you'll also notice that it's not the highest flat-rate cash back card around. There's also a foreign transaction fee, so if you want a credit card specifically for international travel you should look into opening a credit card that caters specifically to travelers.
Application Process: Online, over the phone, or at a branch. Online is the easiest method, but it's nice to know that you have options!
Annual Fee: No annual fee! How's that for maximizing the money in your pocket? Balance transfer fees are $5 or 5% of the transferred amount (whichever is greater).
APR: 0% for the first 15 months, then a variable APR of 16.24% to 24.99%.
Rewards: You can redeem your rewards as cash back in the form of:
Or, you can also redeem rewards using the Chase Ultimate Rewards points. Ultimate Rewards points are worth 1 cent each and may be claimed through the Ultimate Rewards portal for:
Bonus Offers: Earn a $150 bonus after spending $500, within 3 months after opening a new account. Additionally, you can also earn $25 if you opt to add an authorized user of the card, and that person makes their first purchase within the 3 month period.
Details:Chase Freedom Unlimited® »Maddy Osman creates engaging content with SEO best practices for marketing thought leaders and agencies that have their hands full with clients and projects. Learn more about her process and experience on her website, www.The-Blogsmith.com and read her latest articles on Twitter: @MaddyOsman.
Join the conversation
7 Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards
Thanks for reading my article. I value your feedback and invite you to join the conversation:
- Share your opinion on the list
- Suggest an item for consideration
- Review items you've tried
— Maddy