A well-rounded credit card with no annual fee can be one of the most powerful savings tools in your wallet.
These credit cards often offer rewards, perks and credit-building benefits -- all without the annual fee that comes with flashier premium travel cards. And as long as you pay your balance in full each month and avoid other fees, you can reap those rewards for no cost.
Credit cards without an annual fee make a good first credit card, and can continue to play a key role in your finances, supplementing other credit cards or as an emergency source of financing in case unexpected charges come up. Most credit cards with no annual fee work well for everyday expenses, though others might come with compelling perks like competitive rewards, a fruitful welcome bonus and a reasonably long introductory APR period, to help you temporarily avoid interest on large, planned purchases or balance transfers.
- Intro Offer
-
$200 cash rewards Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% variable APR
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
2% Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card offers an unlimited 2% flat cash rewards structure, making this a simple but powerful card. There’s no worrying about reward limits or bonus categories -- you’ll earn a flat rewards rate on eligible everyday purchases. Plus, if you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first three months of opening your account, you’ll earn a $200 cash rewards welcome bonus. You can also take advantage of the low introductory APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, as this is a well-rounded card.
Check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%; min: $5
The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card offers an unlimited 2% flat cash rewards structure, making this a simple but powerful card. There’s no worrying about reward limits or bonus categories -- you’ll earn a flat rewards rate on eligible everyday purchases. Plus, if you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first three months of opening your account, you’ll earn a $200 cash rewards welcome bonus. You can also take advantage of the low introductory APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, as this is a well-rounded card.
Check out our full review of the Wells Fargo Active Cash Card for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%; min: $5
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- None
- APR
- 15.50% – 27.75% Variable
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
2x – 10x 2X points on every purchase regardless of category; 3X points every time you spend $1,000 in a month; 4X, 5X and even 10X points for every friend who gets a card; Up to 10X points at leading online stores such as Apple, Nike and Sephora when you shop in the X1 App
The X1 Card can net you up to five times the credit limit of other credit cards, because it bases your credit limit off of your income more so than your credit.
It’s a metal card that can earn a flat 3x points per dollar if you spend at least $1,000 in a month (equivalent to 3% back depending on how you redeem), which is very hard to beat. X1 partners with a wide variety of merchants where you can redeem your rewards for 1 cent per point. Values drop slightly if you redeem for statement credits, however.
On top of its strong rewards, you can generate a variety of virtual credit cards to help keep your purchases secure, among other features.
Want to learn more? Read our X1 Card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 15.50% – 27.75% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 2% of the amount of each transfer.
The X1 Card can net you up to five times the credit limit of other credit cards, because it bases your credit limit off of your income more so than your credit.
It’s a metal card that can earn a flat 3x points per dollar if you spend at least $1,000 in a month (equivalent to 3% back depending on how you redeem), which is very hard to beat. X1 partners with a wide variety of merchants where you can redeem your rewards for 1 cent per point. Values drop slightly if you redeem for statement credits, however.
On top of its strong rewards, you can generate a variety of virtual credit cards to help keep your purchases secure, among other features.
Want to learn more? Read our X1 Card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 15.50% – 27.75% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 2% of the amount of each transfer.
- Intro Offer
-
$200 Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 19.49% – 28.24% Variable
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1% – 5% 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!; 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service; Unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
The Chase Freedom Flex* offers a wide range of cash-back rewards and additional perks all with no annual fee. The rewards include popular spending categories, and the quarterly rotating bonus categories often catch other big-budget items. Now through March, you earn 5% cash back on purchases at grocery stores (excluding Walmart), Target and for fitness clubs and gym memberships on up to $1,500 in combined spending, then 1%. You’ll have to activate this benefit through your account to take advantage of it, though.
You can earn a very competitive welcome bonus and take advantage of the introductory APR. The welcome bonus can be redeemed for statement credits against your purchases, and the introductory APR can give you some cushion to pay back big purchases over a longer time period while avoiding interest charges.
For more information, see our full review of the Chase Freedom Flex.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.49% – 28.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Chase Freedom Flex* offers a wide range of cash-back rewards and additional perks all with no annual fee. The rewards include popular spending categories, and the quarterly rotating bonus categories often catch other big-budget items. Now through March, you earn 5% cash back on purchases at grocery stores (excluding Walmart), Target and for fitness clubs and gym memberships on up to $1,500 in combined spending, then 1%. You’ll have to activate this benefit through your account to take advantage of it, though.
You can earn a very competitive welcome bonus and take advantage of the introductory APR. The welcome bonus can be redeemed for statement credits against your purchases, and the introductory APR can give you some cushion to pay back big purchases over a longer time period while avoiding interest charges.
For more information, see our full review of the Chase Freedom Flex.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.49% – 28.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- Intro Offer
-
$200 Earn $200 cash back 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.
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 18.74% – 28.74% (Variable)
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1% – 5% Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter.; Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
The Citi Custom Cash card offers flexibility in your rewards -- but unlike with the Discover it Cash Back and Chase Freedom Flex, the flexible category is dictated by your own spending rather than by the credit card issuer. Without having to manually activate anything, this credit card will apply 5% cash back to your topmost spending category each billing cycle, on up to $500 spending per billing cycle (then 1%). Eligible categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment.
As with the other options on this list, you can also take advantage of the welcome bonus and introductory APR with this card. For more details, see our full review of the Citi Custom Cash Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% for 15 months on balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% for 15 months on purchases
- Regular APR
- 18.74% – 28.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
The Citi Custom Cash card offers flexibility in your rewards -- but unlike with the Discover it Cash Back and Chase Freedom Flex, the flexible category is dictated by your own spending rather than by the credit card issuer. Without having to manually activate anything, this credit card will apply 5% cash back to your topmost spending category each billing cycle, on up to $500 spending per billing cycle (then 1%). Eligible categories include restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel, select transit, select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs and live entertainment.
As with the other options on this list, you can also take advantage of the welcome bonus and introductory APR with this card. For more details, see our full review of the Citi Custom Cash Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% for 15 months on balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% for 15 months on purchases
- Regular APR
- 18.74% – 28.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
- Intro Offer
-
$200 bonus $200 bonus after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1% – 5% 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in eligible net purchases each quarter on the combined two categories you choose.; 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center.; 2% cash back on one everyday category, like Gas Stations/EV Charging Stations, Grocery Stores or Restaurants.; 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
With the U.S. Bank Cash+ card, you can choose the two eligible categories you want to earn the most rewards for. Some of the choices include sporting goods stores, movie theaters, Gyms or fitness centers, furniture stores, ground transportation and select clothing stores. Cardholders can also choose one “everyday” category to earn rewards for. While the rewards rates are competitive, there is a $2,000 spending limit in combined eligible purchases each quarter on the chosen 5% cash back rewards.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR Intro APR on balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles.
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR Intro APR on purchases for the first 15 billing cycles.
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater.
With the U.S. Bank Cash+ card, you can choose the two eligible categories you want to earn the most rewards for. Some of the choices include sporting goods stores, movie theaters, Gyms or fitness centers, furniture stores, ground transportation and select clothing stores. Cardholders can also choose one “everyday” category to earn rewards for. While the rewards rates are competitive, there is a $2,000 spending limit in combined eligible purchases each quarter on the chosen 5% cash back rewards.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR Intro APR on balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles.
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR Intro APR on purchases for the first 15 billing cycles.
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater.
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 18.74% – 28.74% (Variable)
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
2% Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
The Citi Double Cash card is one of the best flat-rate cash-back credit cards around. For no annual fee, cardholders earn 2% cash back for their purchases -- 1% when they buy, and then 1% when they pay it off.
It also features a long 0% introductory APR for balance transfers. Cardholders get 18 months before the standard APR of 18.74% to 28.74% (variable) applies. Balance transfers must be completed within four months of account opening. Just be aware there is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% ($5 minimum) for transfers completed within the first four months of account opening. After that, it’ll be 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum). There really isn’t much to it other than that, use it for your purchases to earn plenty of rewards, or utilize a balance transfer to eliminate some of your existing credit card debt.
Read our Citi Double Cash Card review for more information.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro for 18 months on Balance Transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 18.74% – 28.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
The Citi Double Cash card is one of the best flat-rate cash-back credit cards around. For no annual fee, cardholders earn 2% cash back for their purchases -- 1% when they buy, and then 1% when they pay it off.
It also features a long 0% introductory APR for balance transfers. Cardholders get 18 months before the standard APR of 18.74% to 28.74% (variable) applies. Balance transfers must be completed within four months of account opening. Just be aware there is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% ($5 minimum) for transfers completed within the first four months of account opening. After that, it’ll be 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum). There really isn’t much to it other than that, use it for your purchases to earn plenty of rewards, or utilize a balance transfer to eliminate some of your existing credit card debt.
Read our Citi Double Cash Card review for more information.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro for 18 months on Balance Transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 18.74% – 28.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
- Intro Offer
-
20,000 Points Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s a $200 cash redemption value
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% variable APR
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1x – 3x Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. ; Earn 1X points on other purchases
If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to earn rewards for a multitude of different purchases, consider the Wells Fargo Autograph card.
Its rewards cover an impressive array of different purchases, making it a solid choice for spenders who enjoy traveling and dining. The card also earns rewards for transit, including rideshares, that make it easy to get home safely. It even features a 0% intro APR for purchases for 12 months from account opening (then 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% variable) to help avoid interest charges.
You can learn more about it in our Wells Fargo Autograph card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%; min: $5
If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to earn rewards for a multitude of different purchases, consider the Wells Fargo Autograph card.
Its rewards cover an impressive array of different purchases, making it a solid choice for spenders who enjoy traveling and dining. The card also earns rewards for transit, including rideshares, that make it easy to get home safely. It even features a 0% intro APR for purchases for 12 months from account opening (then 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% variable) to help avoid interest charges.
You can learn more about it in our Wells Fargo Autograph card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%; min: $5
- Intro Offer
-
Earn an Additional 1.5% Cash Back Intro Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) – worth up to $300 cash back!
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 19.49% – 28.24% Variable
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1.5% – 5% Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service; 1.5% on all other purchases
The Chase Freedom Unlimited has the potential to be a very rewarding choice, particularly if you can book your travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards or if you like to dine out a lot.
It’s a strong general rewards card that you could use to bolster the return on your spending. Consider using it in tandem with another card that offers even greater rewards for specific purchases such as gas and groceries. That way your essential purchases will be covered -- dining out, gas, groceries, drug stores, plus an above-average base rate.
Read more about it in our Chase Freedom Unlimited review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.49% – 28.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited has the potential to be a very rewarding choice, particularly if you can book your travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards or if you like to dine out a lot.
It’s a strong general rewards card that you could use to bolster the return on your spending. Consider using it in tandem with another card that offers even greater rewards for specific purchases such as gas and groceries. That way your essential purchases will be covered -- dining out, gas, groceries, drug stores, plus an above-average base rate.
Read more about it in our Chase Freedom Unlimited review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.49% – 28.24% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 17.74% – 29.74% variable APR
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
N/A This card doesn’t offer cash back, miles, or points
The Wells Fargo Reflect can help you pay down credit card debt, but you won’t earn any rewards.
Cardholders get a 0% introductory APR offer for purchases and qualifying balance transfers for up to 21 months from account opening, then 17.74% to 29.74% variable. You’ll get 18 months from account opening for the offer but you can extend it by an additional three months by making your minimum monthly payments on time during the introductory period.
There’s an introductory balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, for 120 days from account opening. After that, up to 5% for each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5. Be sure you make any transfers within that timeframe to avoid a higher-than-average balance transfer fee.
You can read all the details in our Wells Fargo Reflect Card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for up to 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for up to 21 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 17.74% – 29.74% variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%; min: $5
The Wells Fargo Reflect can help you pay down credit card debt, but you won’t earn any rewards.
Cardholders get a 0% introductory APR offer for purchases and qualifying balance transfers for up to 21 months from account opening, then 17.74% to 29.74% variable. You’ll get 18 months from account opening for the offer but you can extend it by an additional three months by making your minimum monthly payments on time during the introductory period.
There’s an introductory balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, for 120 days from account opening. After that, up to 5% for each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5. Be sure you make any transfers within that timeframe to avoid a higher-than-average balance transfer fee.
You can read all the details in our Wells Fargo Reflect Card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for up to 21 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for up to 21 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 17.74% – 29.74% variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%; min: $5
- Intro Offer
-
25,000 points 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 17.49% – 27.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1.5x Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire.
With the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, you earn 1.5 points (equivalent to 1.5 cents) for every dollar spent on any purchase, anywhere. These points can be redeemed for statement credits against travel expenses (like hotels and flights) and restaurants, with no restrictions on airlines, websites or dates. You’ll also enjoy no foreign transaction fees, so anywhere you travel to, you can use this credit card without penalty. The sign-on bonus and introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers make this a well-rounded everyday credit card, as well.
For more details, see our full review of the Bank of America Travel Rewards card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any BTs made in the first 60 days. A 3% fee applies.
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases
- Regular APR
- 17.49% – 27.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% of the amount of each transaction
With the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, you earn 1.5 points (equivalent to 1.5 cents) for every dollar spent on any purchase, anywhere. These points can be redeemed for statement credits against travel expenses (like hotels and flights) and restaurants, with no restrictions on airlines, websites or dates. You’ll also enjoy no foreign transaction fees, so anywhere you travel to, you can use this credit card without penalty. The sign-on bonus and introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers make this a well-rounded everyday credit card, as well.
For more details, see our full review of the Bank of America Travel Rewards card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any BTs made in the first 60 days. A 3% fee applies.
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases
- Regular APR
- 17.49% – 27.49% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% of the amount of each transaction
- Intro Offer
-
$200 Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 18.74%-29.74% Variable
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1% – 3% 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 in purchases, then 1%.; 1% Cash Back on other purchases.
The Blue Cash Everyday Card offers rewards on everyday spending categories. If offers one of the best cash-back rates on U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. online retail purchases. You can also take advantage of its introductory APR offers to avoid interest charges on a large, planned purchase or a transferred balance, or the welcome offer to score some extra cash.
You can read more about it in our Blue Cash Everyday review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 18.74%-29.74% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Blue Cash Everyday Card offers rewards on everyday spending categories. If offers one of the best cash-back rates on U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. online retail purchases. You can also take advantage of its introductory APR offers to avoid interest charges on a large, planned purchase or a transferred balance, or the welcome offer to score some extra cash.
You can read more about it in our Blue Cash Everyday review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 18.74%-29.74% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
- Intro Offer
-
Earn 100,000 Points Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 04/05/2023.
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 20.49%-29.49% Variable
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
3x – 7x Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.; Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.; Earn 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
If you prefer staying at Hilton properties while traveling, the Hilton Honors American Express card could provide a way to turn rewards into hotel stays. However, if you wanted a card for cash-back or statement credits, this won’t be a good pick. Hilton points also might not be worth too much, limiting how rewarding this card can be. But it does offer a number of added amenities for Hilton customers.
You can find out more in our Hilton Honors American Express Card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 20.49%-29.49% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
If you prefer staying at Hilton properties while traveling, the Hilton Honors American Express card could provide a way to turn rewards into hotel stays. However, if you wanted a card for cash-back or statement credits, this won’t be a good pick. Hilton points also might not be worth too much, limiting how rewarding this card can be. But it does offer a number of added amenities for Hilton customers.
You can find out more in our Hilton Honors American Express Card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 20.49%-29.49% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
- Intro Offer
-
$200 Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1% – 10% Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024; Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply; Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®); Earn 1% on all other purchases
The Capital One SavorOne* is a great weekend companion. It rewards you for entertainment purchases like movie tickets or bowling, dining out, and popular streaming services including Netflix, Hulu and Disney+ -- everything that makes for a successful weekend.
If you’re someone who’s often catching live shows and dining out, you could get a lot out of this card. And for those who prefer quiet nights in, you can binge your favorite shows and buy the snacks while still earning rewards.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3%
The Capital One SavorOne* is a great weekend companion. It rewards you for entertainment purchases like movie tickets or bowling, dining out, and popular streaming services including Netflix, Hulu and Disney+ -- everything that makes for a successful weekend.
If you’re someone who’s often catching live shows and dining out, you could get a lot out of this card. And for those who prefer quiet nights in, you can binge your favorite shows and buy the snacks while still earning rewards.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3%
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 29.74% (Variable)
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- No Credit History
- Rewards rate
-
1.5% – 5% Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply; Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, everywhere
The Capital One Quicksilver* earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back.
That makes it a flexible choice for those who spend on a variety of different purchases. Consider pairing it with a rewards card that earns higher rewards for specific purchases to maximize the return on your spending. And considering it earns 5% cash back for hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel with no foreign transactions fees, it could be used as a low-level travel credit card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 29.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at this Transfer APR
The Capital One Quicksilver* earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back.
That makes it a flexible choice for those who spend on a variety of different purchases. Consider pairing it with a rewards card that earns higher rewards for specific purchases to maximize the return on your spending. And considering it earns 5% cash back for hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel with no foreign transactions fees, it could be used as a low-level travel credit card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 29.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at this Transfer APR
- Intro Offer
-
Cashback Match™ Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 16.49% – 27.49% Variable APR
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1% – 5% Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. ; Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
The Discover it® Cash Back* is another good card that costs nothing but a good credit score to open. It offers decent rewards and an introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers, but what makes this card really stand out is the Unlimited Cashback Match welcome bonus. For your first year as a cardholder, all of your cash back earned is essentially doubled by Discover, with no limitations. You can rack up a lot more cash back with this welcome bonus than with most credit cards, but you’ll have to be patient to earn it, as Discover won’t match your cash back until after your full first year as a cardholder is up.
For the quarterly rotating bonus category, you’ll earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined spending for the quarter, then 1%. You have to activate these rewards through your account each quarter to earn them, though. Now through December, you can earn these rewards on Amazon.com and digital wallet purchases.
For more information, see our full review of the Discover it Cash Back.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 16.49% – 27.49% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
The Discover it® Cash Back* is another good card that costs nothing but a good credit score to open. It offers decent rewards and an introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers, but what makes this card really stand out is the Unlimited Cashback Match welcome bonus. For your first year as a cardholder, all of your cash back earned is essentially doubled by Discover, with no limitations. You can rack up a lot more cash back with this welcome bonus than with most credit cards, but you’ll have to be patient to earn it, as Discover won’t match your cash back until after your full first year as a cardholder is up.
For the quarterly rotating bonus category, you’ll earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined spending for the quarter, then 1%. You have to activate these rewards through your account each quarter to earn them, though. Now through December, you can earn these rewards on Amazon.com and digital wallet purchases.
For more information, see our full review of the Discover it Cash Back.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 16.49% – 27.49% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
- Intro Offer
-
10,000 miles Earn 10,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles and receive a $50 statement credit after making $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 20.74% – 29.74% (Variable)
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1x – 2x Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services; Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases; Earn 1 AAdvantage® mile for every $1 spent on other purchases
The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®* is an entry level rewards card for those who fly American Airlines occasionally. You use the rewards you earn to redeem flights.
It offers a 25% savings on in-flight food and drink with a strong welcome bonus of 10,000 AAdvantage miles plus a $50 statement credit after spending $500 within the first three months of account opening. It’s a low spend requirement for a lucrative bonus, which is rare for an airline credit card without an annual fee.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 20.74% – 29.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®* is an entry level rewards card for those who fly American Airlines occasionally. You use the rewards you earn to redeem flights.
It offers a 25% savings on in-flight food and drink with a strong welcome bonus of 10,000 AAdvantage miles plus a $50 statement credit after spending $500 within the first three months of account opening. It’s a low spend requirement for a lucrative bonus, which is rare for an airline credit card without an annual fee.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 20.74% – 29.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
- Intro Offer
-
20,000 points Intro Offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 19.74% – 28.74% (Variable)
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
-
800 – 850
Excellent
- Rewards rate
-
1x – 4x 4X points on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery.; 2X points on streaming services.; 2X points at grocery stores, grocery delivery, gas stations, and EV charging stations; 1X point on all other eligible purchases.
If you eat out often, the U.S. Bank Altitude card would be a rewarding choice. It offers one of the highest rewards rates for a no-annual-fee card, in addition to providing solid card perks.
It comes with a $15 streaming credit for paying 11 consecutive months of a streaming service and its bonus categories offer rewards for a number of popular purchases including streaming services and grocery stores. The only thing holding it back is that its welcome bonus has a high spending requirement with a low payout, but all in all it’s a versatile and inexpensive rewards card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 billing cycles on balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 billing cycles on purchases
- Regular APR
- 19.74% – 28.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater
If you eat out often, the U.S. Bank Altitude card would be a rewarding choice. It offers one of the highest rewards rates for a no-annual-fee card, in addition to providing solid card perks.
It comes with a $15 streaming credit for paying 11 consecutive months of a streaming service and its bonus categories offer rewards for a number of popular purchases including streaming services and grocery stores. The only thing holding it back is that its welcome bonus has a high spending requirement with a low payout, but all in all it’s a versatile and inexpensive rewards card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 billing cycles on balance transfers
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 billing cycles on purchases
- Regular APR
- 19.74% – 28.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either 3% of the amount of each transfer or $5 minimum, whichever is greater
How to choose the best no-annual-fee credit card
You’ll want to consider why you want a credit card. Are you looking for a balance transfer card or a rewards card? Which purchases are you looking to earn rewards for? Compare your goals to card features.
You’ll want to choose a credit card that bolsters how you spend already -- you don’t want to alter your spending habits to fit a credit card. You can start with basics, like credit cards for groceries or credit cards for gas.
Some cards with no annual fee offer introductory APRs, which may be useful if you want to finance a large purchase while avoiding interest or pay down existing debt with a balance transfer. Cardholders who pay off their statement in full every month won’t get much value from this, to the benefit of their credit score.
If you can find a no-annual-fee credit card with a welcome bonus, that’s a great way to earn a higher return on your spending -- though not every card will have one. You’ll want to be sure you can unlock the bonus without spending on unnecessary purchases, otherwise you should exclude it from your evaluation.
Is a credit card without an annual fee right for you?
It comes down to your spending habits and appetite for perks. While rewards credit cards without an annual fee offer a guaranteed return on your spending, you may be able to net more rewards elsewhere. Credit card annual fees typically result in higher rewards rates and better perks. Travel credit cards, for instance, may charge up to hundreds of dollars annually, but they offer a bevy of benefits like airport lounge access and annual statement credits.
How to apply for a no-annual-fee credit card
Follow these steps to apply for a credit card without an annual fee.
- Find the card that matches your budget
- Follow the links above to be taken to a secure application
- Fill out the application with the require financial and personal information
- Use your card responsibly and pay your bill on time
Your credit and your finances will be looking good in no time.
FAQs
Yes, there are credit cards designed for bad credit that have lower requirements to qualify for. Some have annual fees while others don’t.
An annual fee can be worth it if you’re looking for a higher rewards rate or more card perks like annual statement credits. A higher annual fee can also mean the card will have a larger welcome bonus.
They can, but that doesn’t mean they will. It depends on your relationship with your card issuer and the standing of your account. You could contact your credit card issuer and see if they’ll waive an annual fee, but there’s no guarantee.
Many rewards credit cards and travel credit cards have annual fees around $100. These are usually associated with better rewards rates and perks. Some credit cards, like premium travel credit cards, can cost hundreds of dollars or even more. These credit cards often offer a lot of annual statement credits or other niche benefits.
Yes. In fact, most balance transfer credit cards offer no annual fee. You’ll want to keep an eye out for balance transfer fees, though. Most cards charge a 3% balance transfer fee, but some charge as much as 5%. Otherwise, you can find a handful of credit cards with no balance transfer fee.
Our methodology
CNET reviews credit cards by exhaustively comparing them across set criteria developed for each major category, including cash-back, welcome bonus, travel rewards and balance transfer. We take into consideration the typical spending behavior of a range of consumer profiles -- with the understanding that everyone’s financial situation is different -- and the designated function of a card.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here
*All information about the Discover it Cash Back, American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card, Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, Chase Freedom Flex, and Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
