Best No Fee Credit Cards with Plenty of Perks
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You may think you have to spend a ton of money each year on an annual fee to get a decent credit card. Fortunately, this is no longer the case and we’ve rounded up the best no-fee credit cards to show you how many credit card benefits you can get— all without an annual fee.
Whether you’re looking for a card offering cash back rewards, a sign-up bonus, or fun travel perks, you don’t have to pay a yearly fee to have access to any of these cards.
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Overview of the best no-fee credit cards
Credit card | Best for |
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | Everyday purchases |
Hilton Honors American Express Card | Loyalty to the Hilton brand |
Citi Double Cash® Card | Straightforward reward structure |
Discover it Cash Back | High cashback earnings |
Bank of America Travel Rewards | No blackout dates for travel |
Chase Freedom Flex℠ | Sign up bonus |
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | Cash back on food and entertainment |
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | Unlimited travel rewards potential |
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | Rebuilding your credit |
Raise Your Credit 80 points*
- 5 star service trusted by over 450,000 members
- Have processed over $11,000,000 in bill payments for members
- No deposit, no credit check, no interest
- New member promotions available
*Potential increase based on StellarFi member data. StellarFi numbers observed an average of 80 points VantageScore® 3.0 increase during a member’s lifetime. Score increase based on members with an incoming score range of 300-499 pts, who made regular on-time payments, with regular on-time payments. Results may vary.
Best no-fee credit cards credit cards
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Card Name
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
APR
19.24% - 29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Good, Excellent
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
Earn a $200 statement credit
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
Rewards Rate
3% Cash Back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1%. 3% Cash Back on U.S. online retail purchases, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
Why We Like It
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening.
- Earn cash back at U.S. supermarkets on eligible purchases
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Card Name
Hilton Honors American Express Card
APR
20.99% - 29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
Earn 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Rewards Rate
Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations. Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
Why We Like It
- Generous introductory bonus offer.
- Automatic Hilton Honors Silver status.
- No annual or foreign transaction fees.
Citi Double Cash® Card
Citi Double Cash® Card
Card Name
Citi Double Cash® Card
APR
19.24% - 29.24%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good, Fair
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
Earn $200 cash back
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Rewards Rate
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. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
Terms
Why We Like It
- Unlimited cash back earned on every dollar spent.
- Earn cash back when paying your bills on time.
- Intro 0% on balance transfers for 18 months (after which is an ongoing APR of 19.24% - 29.24%)
Discover it Cash Back
Discover it® Cash Back Card
Card Name
Discover it® Cash Back Card
APR
18.24% - 27.24%
Recommended Credit Score
670 to 850
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer Terms
0% intro APR for 15 months from date of account opening.
Intro Offer
0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers and 3% Intro Balance Transfer Fee until November 10, 2023.
Rewards Rate
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically. Unlimited Cashback Match.
Why We Like It
- No annual fee.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com,4 grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
- Get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically.
Bank of America Travel Rewards
Bank of America® Travel Rewards
Card Name
Bank of America® Travel Rewards
APR
19.24% - 29.24%
Annual Fee
$0
Intro Offer
25,000 Online Bonus Points, a $250 travel or dining statement credit value, after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening
Rewards Rate
Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases everywhere, every time.
Why We Like It
- Unlimited 1.5 points on all purchases
- 25,000 online bonus points
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
Chase Freedom Flex℠
Chase Freedom Flex℠
Card Name
Chase Freedom Flex℠
APR
19.24% - 27.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
Earn a $200 Bonus
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening!
Rewards Rate
5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter! Plus, earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1% on all other purchases.
Terms
Why We Like It
- No minimum to redeem for cash back.
- No annual fee.
- Free access to your credit score and real-time alerts through Chase Credit Journey.
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Card Name
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
APR
19.99% - 29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
$200 Cash Back
Special Offer Terms
after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Rewards Rate
3 % Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®). 5 % Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). 8 % Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. 1 % Cash Back on all other purchases.
Terms
Why We Like It
- Unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- No rotating categories or sign-ups are needed to earn cash rewards.
- No annual fees or foreign transaction fees.
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Card Name
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
APR
19.99% - 29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Excellent, Good
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
20,000 Miles
Special Offer Terms
once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Rewards Rate
1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Terms
Why We Like It
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Miles never expire and there is no limit to miles earned.
- Over 15 travel loyalty programs where you can transfer your miles.
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards for Good Credit
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards for Good Credit
Card Name
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards for Good Credit
APR
29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Good
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back
Special Offer Terms
on every purchase, every day
Rewards Rate
1.5 % Cash Back on every purchase, every day. 5 % Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply).
Terms
Why We Like It
- No annual fees and no foreign transaction fees.
- Up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership.
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards.
- No expiration or limits on cash back.
Raise Your Credit 80 points*
- 5 star service trusted by over 450,000 members
- Have processed over $11,000,000 in bill payments for members
- No deposit, no credit check, no interest
- New member promotions available
*Potential increase based on StellarFi member data. StellarFi numbers observed an average of 80 points VantageScore® 3.0 increase during a member’s lifetime. Score increase based on members with an incoming score range of 300-499 pts, who made regular on-time payments, with regular on-time payments. Results may vary.
Summary of the best no-fee credit cards
Here’s a quick rundown of the cards, the APR, and the credit score needed to obtain credit. Remember, your APR is determined by many factors, including your credit issuer and your credit history, so your exact APR will vary.
Credit Card | APR | FICO credit score needed |
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | 19.24% - 29.99% | 690 and above |
Hilton Honors American Express Card | 20.99% - 29.99% | 690 and above |
Citi Double Cash® Card | 19.24% - 29.24% | 700 to 850 |
Discover it Cash Back | 17.24% to 28.24% | 670 to 850 |
Bank of America Travel Rewards | 18.24% to 28.24% | 670 to 850 |
Chase Freedom Flex℠ | 19.24% - 27.99% | 670 to 850 |
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | 19.99% - 29.99% | 700 to 850 |
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card | 19.99% - 29.99% | 700 to 850 |
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | 19.99% - 29.99% | 580 plus |
FAQs
How do I know which is the best no-fee credit card?
If you’re contemplating adding a new card, first you need to decide what your most important financial goal is for your credit card. Whether it’s cash back, travel rewards, or a low-interest rate for instance. Once you narrow in your top priority, then you’ll know which is the best no-fee credit card for you. Here are a few other questions to ask when reviewing the best credit cards: How much cash back or rewards points potential does the card offer? Ease of redemption – how often do the points or rewards expire and what hoops do you jump through to access your rewards? How competitive are the introductory rates? Is there a balance transfer fee and foreign transaction fees if I need them? Does this card benefit my spending habits?
How can I maximize my no-fee credit card?
Be sure your card offers low transaction fees, such as with balance transfers or foreign transaction fees. If you’re getting hit with extra charges every time you need your card, then it’s not worth it even without an annual fee. It’s vital to compare credit cards side-by-side, so you know the features and see where a card has advantages over another card. And choose a card that fits your financial goals and lifestyle. For instance, if you rarely travel then pick a cash back card or rewards program eligible for gift cards or merchandise.
Who should use a no-fee credit card?
A no-fee credit card is a great option for those who want access to cash back or travel rewards, but don’t want to spend extra each year for an annual fee. Obviously, since you won’t be charged an amount each year, your budget stays intact and you won’t be surprised when an extra annual charge hits your statement. Getting a no-fee credit card is an affordable way to have access to the same benefits most other rewards cards offer. Why spend more money if you don’t have to?
Raise Your Credit 80 points*
- 5 star service trusted by over 450,000 members
- Have processed over $11,000,000 in bill payments for members
- No deposit, no credit check, no interest
- New member promotions available
*Potential increase based on StellarFi member data. StellarFi numbers observed an average of 80 points VantageScore® 3.0 increase during a member’s lifetime. Score increase based on members with an incoming score range of 300-499 pts, who made regular on-time payments, with regular on-time payments. Results may vary.
The bottom line
Looking for the best no-fee credit cards is a smart financial decision. You don’t waste your hard-earned money and can still take advantage of various reward-earning opportunities. Whether you use these cards for everyday purchases or your major travel plans, you won’t have to worry about the pesky annual fee so many other credit cards charge.
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Writer
Sara Coleman is a former corporate gal turned creative entrepreneur. She began writing professionally several years ago and now contributes to multiple websites, blogs, and magazines. She’s also an avid reader and can’t resist a great historical fiction novel. Sara holds a BA in journalism from the University of Georgia and can be found supporting her Bulldogs every chance she has. She resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her wonderfully supportive husband and three children. When she’s not ushering her kids to sports and dance lessons, she can be found creating content for her own website, TheProperPen.com.
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