*All information about the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card has been collected independently by CreditCards.com. The issuer did not provide the content, nor is it responsible for its accuracy.
Comparing credit cards with no annual fee
Credit cards without an annual fee offer much-appreciated savings, a hassle-free experience and other benefits, say experts. In fact, the majority of our picks for the best credit cards have no annual fee.
“Yearly fees prevent consumers from buying what they really want,” says Julie Pukas, head of U.S. Bankcard and Merchant Solutions at TD Bank. She notes that millennials spend significantly more with their card than other consumers – TD Bank’s 2020 Retail Experience Index found that millennials are making an average of 1.5 more major purchases annually than other generations.
“Some consumers may save their credit card rewards points so that they can pay off their annual fee,” says Pukas. “By switching to a card with no yearly fee, they can put those rewards to something they really want, like flights, dining out and more.”
The trick is to identify whether one suits your lifestyle. Here, we look at:
Methodology
With the myriad no annual fee cards to explore, deciding which option should earn a slot in your wallet – without a reward-eating price tag – can be a tough call. We examined 2,744 credit cards to narrow down the best 13 to match your spending habits. See our no annual fee credit card rating process for detailed criteria and more detail on our review scores.
No annual fee credit cards analyzed: 2,744
Criteria used: Rates and fees, rewards rates, sign-up bonus, other promotional offers, redemption options and flexibility, regular APR, extra features and benefits, customer service, credit needed, security, ease of application, ability to upgrade
Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Why it’s the best no annual fee credit card for unlimited earning potential
There’s a lot to unpack in the way of rewards with the Freedom Unlimited, but when it comes to unlimited earning, there are some great options. Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase and 3% cash back on dining at restaurants and drugstores.
Pros
Your first year of holding the Freedom Unlimited is particularly rewarding. Also, get an industry-busting $200 after only a $500 spend within the first 3 months.
Cons
While you can get 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months (then it’s 14.99%-23.74% variable), no such luck with balance transfers.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Why it’s the best no annual fee card for U.S. gas station and U.S. supermarket purchases
It’s hard to match the Blue Cash Everyday Card’s 3% cash back rate at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1%) without paying an annual fee. If you max out this bonus category, you’ll earn close to $180 cash back per year. Plus, you get unlimited 2% cash back at U.S. gas stations.
Pros
Not only does this card have tiered ongoing rewards that more than compete with other cash back cards, the regular APR starts out quite low at 13.99%-23.99% variable, which kicks in after a solid intro offer of 0% on purchases for 15 months.
Cons
If you are willing to pay a $95 annual fee (waived for the first year) for the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, it might be a better choice for the larger family or someone with a sizable commute. Also offering great rewards on regular purchases, the Blue Cash Preferred offers 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 annually, then 1%) and 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations.
Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card
Why it’s the best no annual fee card for low APR
This card offers a 0% intro APR on both purchases and balance transfers made in the first 60 days of card membership for 15 billing cycles, then there’s a low regular interest rate of 13.99%-23.99% variable.
Pros
The required spend on the sign-up bonus is quite low: Get a $200 online cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 within the first 90 days of opening your account. Also, the tiered rewards are quite good: Earn 3% cash back on one of 6 categories of your choosing, plus 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 a quarter on combined 3% and 2% categories, then it’s 1%).
Cons
If you want to make purchases and earn rewards without having to worry about which card to pull out, you may want to consider another card. There are flat-rate cash back cards with 1.5%, even 2% cash back on the market.
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Why it’s the best no annual fee card for new cardholders
It doesn’t get much simpler than this: Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, no matter where or when you make them. No need to track spending, enroll in bonus categories or deal with complicated cash back redemption. Redeem in any amount, any time.
Pros
The Quicksilver’s unlimited flat cash back rate makes it a great choice for everyday spending, and earning the card’s sign-up bonus should be no trouble. You’ll score $200 after spending just $500 in the first 3 months.
Cons
The go-to rate after the 15-month 0% intro APR purchase offer ends is crazy high, at 15.49%-25.49% variable, which means this is not a card you want to carry a balance on.
Discover it® Cash Back
Why it’s the best no annual fee credit card for low interest
Whether you need to carry a balance long term, pay down debt or finance a larger purchase, the Discover it Cash Back should help you save on interest: The card not only features a low-end APR that’s much lower than the average credit card APR for cash back cards, but also comes with a solid 0% introductory APR offer – 0% for 14 months on both balance transfers and purchases (then 11.99% – 22.99% Variable).
Pros
This card’s cash back match feature at the end of your first year can easily beat out other cash back cards’ sign-up bonuses. For example, while you would only get $200 back from the Capital One Quicksilver after a $500 spend within the first 3 months of card membership, you could potentially get $600 back the end of your first year with the Discover it Cash Back if you enroll quarterly and max out your 5% rotating category offer ($1,500 max spent each quarter you activate comes to $75 back each quarter, $300 at the end of the year, then matched by Discover for a total of $600). Then earn an unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
Cons
If it’s not your idea of fun to chase rotating categories, this isn’t the best choice for you. Not only do you need to keep track of which categories are active, but you have to sign up each quarter to activate the bonus earnings.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Why it’s the best no annual fee card for earning travel miles
Many travel cards carry an annual fee that starts at $95, but the VentureOne is no such card. Earn travel miles on this card without worrying about making sure you earn enough to surpass an annual fee.
Pros
The sign-up bonus is equal to $200 in travel – earn 20,000 miles after only a $500 spend within the first 3 months of opening your account. And, you can transfer your miles to more than 15+ travel partners.
Cons
The ongoing rewards for this card are super low – earn 1.25X miles on all purchases. However, there are no blackout dates, and you can fly on any airline and stay at any hotel.
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Why it’s the best no annual fee credit card for dining and entertainment
This no annual fee card offers some nice cash back opportunities, notably 3% cash back on dining and entertainment, as well as 2% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®).
Pros
This card has more to offer: There’s a sign-up bonus of $200 after you spend only $500 in the first 3 months of opening your account. That’s more than competitive in the realm of cash back cards’ welcome offers. Plus, it features a 0% intro APR offer on purchases for 15 months (then it’s 15.49%-25.49% variable).
Cons
The ongoing APR after the welcome period is on the high side. Additionally, although it provides solid earning rates, redemption options are limited with a cash back card.
Chase Freedom Flex℠
Why it’s the best no annual fee credit card for variety of rewards categories
Those with varied spending habits will enjoy rewards in a bunch of different categories: 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% cash back at restaurants and eligible delivery services, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and 1% on everything else. Plus, you’ll earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in rotating bonus categories each quarter you activate.
Pros
In your first year you’ll earn $200 after spending $500 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening an account.
Cons
After your first year, the earnings potential takes a dip. To decide whether the long-term value fits your lifestyle, you should assess how much you typically spend on restaurants, travel and drug store purchases, keeping in mind that the 5% cash back on travel only applies to travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. The good news, however, is that there’s no annual fee to worry about offsetting.
ons.
Citi® Double Cash Card
Why it’s the best no annual fee card for cash back
You’ll never be stuck with just 1% cash back because your spending doesn’t fit into a card’s bonus category. The Citi Double Cash Card offers a flat rate of up to 2% cash back on every single purchase (1% when you buy and 1% when you pay off those purchases), which matches the bonus cash back rate of many cards.
Pros
Along with its terrific ongoing cash back rate, the card comes with an APR of 0% intro for 18 months on Balance Transfers, then 13.99% - 23.99% (Variable), which could make all the difference if you need to hit pause on mounting interest charges and pay off debt. Plus, you can transfer your cash back to Citi ThankYou points at a rate of $1 cash back to 100 ThankYou points.
Cons
One of the card’s major flaws is its lack of a sign-up bonus. Many cash back cards offer a sign-up bonus of $150 or more if you meet spending requirements in the first few months. Also, there’s no 0% introductory APR offer on new purchases, so it won’t be of much help if you need to finance a larger purchase.
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
Why it’s the best no annual fee credit card for lengthy introductory purchase window
Not only can you get 0% intro APR for 18 months on purchases with this card (it’s 14.74%-24.74% variable after that), you can get the same 18-month offer and ongoing rates on balance transfers – just be sure you transfer your balance within the first 4 months.
Pros
With Citi’s unique Citi Entertainment® program, you’ll have access to purchase tickets to thousands of events, including presale tickets for concerts, sporting events, dining experiences and more – Citi is even offering virtual entertainment options in 2021.
Cons
It’s a bummer, we know, but this card has no sign-up bonus and no ongoing rewards, making it a tough sell as a card for the long haul. However, if you’re thinking about credit-building, remember that you get free access to your FICO® Score with this card.
Discover it® chrome
Why it’s the best no annual fee credit card for first-year welcome offer
The Discover cards are practically unparalleled in first-year welcome offers, and the Discover it chrome is no exception. Simply put, your well-earned cash back will be matched at the end of your first year.
Pros
Earn 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations on up to $1,000 in combined purchases quarterly (then 1%), then as we said, that cash is matched at the end of your first year. So, earn $80 your first year and that becomes $160 at the end of your first year. Also, there’s no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee.
Cons
Like other Discover cards, the Discover it chrome isn’t widely accepted overseas, so you may want to take another card with you if you want to travel abroad.
Citi Rewards+® Card
Why it’s the best no annual fee credit card for bonus rewards
This card offers a generous bonus rewards system: You’ll earn 15,000 ThankYou points if you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months of account opening. And on top of that, you’ll earn 10% points back on the ThankYou points that you redeem (up to 100,000 points per year). You can redeem these points on Amazon, which is a great perk if you’ve been doing most of your shopping online lately.
Pros
The rewards rate on this card can bring a lot of value to your everyday spending: You’ll get 2 ThankYou points per dollar at supermarkets and gas stations (up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1X points) and 1 ThankYou point per dollar on all other purchases. And thanks to what could be its most impactful feature, every purchase you make is rounded up to the nearest 10 points. So for example: A $2 dollar purchase earns 10 points, or a $13 purchase earns 20 points.
Cons
If you’re considering booking travel in the future with the points you earn, you can only book through the ThankYou travel portal. Also, the redemption value for your points is only high on gift cards and travel purchases, something to keep in mind given our current travel restricti
Compare the Best Credit Cards with No Annual Fee
| Credit Card | Best For | Annual Fee | Our Rating |
|---|
| Chase Freedom Unlimited® | Unlimited earning potential | $0 | 4.7 / 5 |
| Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | U.S. Gas and U.S. Supermarket | $0 | 3.7 / 5 |
| Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card | Low APR | $0 | 4.0 / 5 |
| Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | New cardholders | $0 | 3.4 / 5 |
| Discover it® Cash Back | Low interest | $0 | 4.3 / 5 |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card | Earning travel miles | $0 | 3.0 / 5 |
| Capital One SavorOne Rewards Credit Card | Dining and entertainment | $0 | 3.7 / 5 |
| Chase Freedom Flex℠ | Rewards Variety | $0 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Citi® Double Cash Card | Cash back | $0 | 3.8 / 5 |
| Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card | Lengthy introductory purchase window | $0 | 3.9 / 5 |
| Discover it® chrome | First year welcome offer | $0 | 4.1 / 5 |
| Citi Rewards+® Card | Bonus rewards | $0 | 3.0 / 5 |
What does ‘no annual fee’ credit card mean?
An annual fee on a credit card is a charge made each year. These fees are often tacked onto cards that give access to special benefits, like credit-builder cards, rewards cards or luxury options, for example. With the best no annual fee cards, you can take advantage of many of those specialty benefits without the added yearly cost.
Luckily, there are a plethora of great options – in our November 2020 credit card fees survey we found that 74 of the 100 cards we evaluated never charge annual fees. While paying a little extra can get you better rewards rates, sign-up bonuses and other perks, no annual fee options still provide these valuable add-ons. But it may take a little more searching.
Some annual fee cards will waive the annual fee for your first year as a cardholder. But once these charges start occurring on an annual basis to keep your account active, the fees can be daunting. Some cardholders find ways to make up for it through clever spending and earning of rewards, but some annual fee cards can cost $550 or more each year. With the right fit, no annual fee cardholders can take advantage of surprising rewards without that yearly cost.
Who should get a no annual fee credit card?
New credit card users
If you’ve never held a card before, you might want to jump in with a card that has no annual fee until you better understand the market. That way, you can get in the habit of remembering those monthly payments, keeping track of your expenses and searching for the next upgrade, be it a travel card or a 0% intro APR card.
People who need to consolidate debt
Already hold cards and want to consolidate those balances? Many credit cards offer 0% intro APR on balance transfers, such as the Citi® Diamond Preferred® card, with a 18-month offer for balance transfers (14.74% – 24.74% variable).
People looking to rebuild credit
Similar to new card users, those looking to rebuild their credit can benefit from a no annual fee card. Some options are available to people with bad credit scores and have features to help you re-establish your credit. Plus, avoiding the cost of an annual fee can make budgeting easier, giving you more leeway to improve your credit score through timely monthly payments.
Experienced cardholders looking to diversify
Cardholders carrying a top-tier card may be able to add some value to their wallet with a no annual fee card. Premier credit card rewards are often tied to specialized categories such as travel, so a general-purpose rewards card with no annual fee that you can use for everyday purchases could come in handy.
Occasional credit card users
If you plan to use your card only occasionally, a card with no annual fee is the most economical choice. With a card that charges an annual fee, you would need to spend a certain amount every year to make it worth your while. A no annual fee card is not only cheaper but simpler.
Common benefits of a no annual fee card
Rewards
You don’t have to get a credit card with an annual fee to enjoy rewards. Most cash back cards, such as the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards, don’t have an annual fee, and there are a couple of travel cards with no annual fee for the forward-looking traveler focused on daily-living expenses, such as the Capital One VentureOne Rewards.
Free credit score
Many cards, such as the Discover it Cash Back card, now offer a free credit score monthly or quarterly without you taking a hit to your credit.
Car rental insurance & roadside assistance
Called secondary auto insurance, cards like Chase Freedom Unlimited allow you to use this product as a supplementary item to your primary insurance. Some no annual fee cards also offer roadside assistance for such events as towing, fuel delivery and tire changing.
Concierge service
Some no annual fee cards such as the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, offer comprehensive, personalized assistance in dining, entertainment and travel 24 hours a day.
Building credit
If you get a credit card for credit building that has no annual fee, that’s one less fee to worry about. In addition, you can find credit-builder cards that have minimal fees, such as the Discover it® Secured Credit Card and the Secured Mastercard® from Capital One.
What to do if you’re unhappy with your annual fee card
If you’ve committed to a card with an annual fee and now you’re feeling a bit trapped, there are actually ways to get out of the annual fee without harming your credit.
Option 1: Downgrade the card
If you’re unsatisfied with the card and perks, instead of closing the card, call the card’s issuer and request a product change to downgrade to a card with no annual fee, advises Chelsea Hudson, personal finance expert with TopCashback.com. This will allow you to skip the annual fee without affecting your credit score.
If you want certain benefits of the older card, such as the credit limit, you’ll want to stay within product groups. So, for example you wouldn’t transition as a downgrade from the Chase Sapphire Reserve to a Southwest card, although you might downgrade to a Chase Sapphire Preferred Card*.
When you downgrade, everything transfers to the new card, including account number, credit line, payment history, even length of time you have had the card active. The payment history and length of history are particularly important, because those impact your credit, and by retaining these with a product change, you keep them beyond 10 years on your credit file. Also, by maintaining the credit line, you keep your credit utilization ratio low, provided your balances are low, which is another important part of maintaining a healthy score.
Option 2: Close the card
If your wallet is weighed down with cards, closing a credit card with an annual fee can be an option. You’ll want to pay off any debt (don’t just transfer it to another card) and make sure you don’t have high debt in your combined cards, because that can impact your credit utilization ratio, and therefore, your credit score. Also, think twice before closing an older card, because your oldest card and your average age are factored into your credit.
Option 3: Ask for the annual fee to be waived
There’s another little-known option – simply ask your issuer to waive the annual fee. The answer may surprise you. In fact, we found that 70% of consumers who asked successfully had their annual fees waived or lowered.
Cardholders who asked…
- Received a higher credit limit
- 85%
- Got a late fee waived
- 84%
- Got an annual fee waived or lowered
- 70%
- Got a lower interest rate
- 56%
Source: CreditCards.com study
Is it worth getting a card with an annual fee?
Putting it simply, yes, an annual fee can be worthwhile. To know if a credit card annual fee is worth it, you’ll have to take a close look at a card’s features and decide if the rewards and benefits will justify paying a fee. Doing this can require a little extra work, but there are a few factors you can key in on when considering annual fee cards:
Sign-up bonus
Cards with annual fees often come with lucrative sign-up bonuses that can eclipse the fee in the first year. Consider the affordability and value given with any card’s sign-up bonus to get a gauge on whether it’s a worthwhile option, but you can’t expect to get a huge bonus every year to offset the annual fee – be sure other features make the card a good fit long term.
Ongoing rewards and bonus categories
Cards with annual fees often feature higher ongoing rewards rates or unique bonus categories that can help offset a fee even after year one. If your spending habits align well with a certain card’s bonus categories, it could be the winning ticket. A card giving heightened rewards on your largest expense categories may pay for itself and then some.
0% APR
Does the annual fee card have an enticing 0% APR offer? If so, it’d be a rarity: Of the 100 most popular credit cards studied in our 2020 Balance Transfer Survey, 38 offered 0% balance transfer APR deals and only two were premium cards. Surprisingly enough, annual fee cards also tend to offer shorter 0% APR terms than their no annual fee counterparts, a crucial feature if you’re looking to move debt or make a large purchase.
Ongoing interest
Since some annual fee cards may not offer a 0% APR or even allow you to transfer to the card, it’s important to compare ongoing interest rates. No annual fee cards’ ongoing APRs can often be lower than their premium siblings, like when comparing the Venture and VentureOne cards, but the ultimate goal is to avoid interest charges altogether, so find an affordable option with personally valuable rewards.
Perks & benefits
On top of sign-up bonuses and boosted rewards rates, cards with an annual fee often feature unique, high-end perks for cardholders. Many cards offer benefits like airport lounge access or credits for dining, transportation and expedited security screening. Depending on your lifestyle, these perks alone could help justify the cost of an annual fee.
Which is better: annual fee or no annual fee?
Realistically, there’s no universal answer. In any case, financial circumstances and lifestyle play a huge part in deciding on the best credit card for you. No annual fee credit cards can be a must when looking for affordability or towards the beginning of your credit building journey, but annual fee options are often the better choice for savvy rewards strategists and big spenders. It may take a deeper dive to find the answer for your situation.
Let’s take a closer look at comparable annual fee cards and their no annual fee counterparts. We’ll highlight options from American Express and Capital One as examples:
| Card | Annual fee | Rewards | Benefits |
|---|
| Blue Cash Everyday from American Express | $0 | $200 intro bonus/$1,000 spend in first 3 mths; 3% back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1% after that); 2% back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores. Terms Apply | 15-month 0% intro APR on purchases, then 13.99%-23.99% (Variable) |
| Blue Cash Preferred from American Express | $0 introductory annual fee for one year, then $95. | $300 intro bonus/$3,000 spend in first 6 months; 6% back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 in purchases per year, then 1% after that), select U.S. streaming subscriptions; 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit. Terms Apply | 12-month 0% intro APR on purchases, then 13.99%-23.99% (Variable) |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards | $0 | 20,000-mile sign-up/$500 spend in 3 months; 1.25X miles per dollar on every purchase | 12-month 0% intro APR on purchases, then 15.49%-25.49% (Variable) |
| Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card | $95 | 100,000-mile sign-up/$20,000 spend in the first 12 months (or, still earn 50,000 miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months); 2X miles per dollar on every purchase | No 0% intro APR offer; ongoing
17.24%-24.49% variable APR |
As you can see, the Blue Cash products have the same ongoing interest but vary on the 0% intro APR offer. On the other hand, the VentureOne has a 0% APR offer, while the Venture does not. Additionally, the VentureOne’s variable interest rate is slightly lower. As expected, the rewards are better on the cards with an annual fee, but it’s worthwhile to read the fine print when it comes to ongoing interest.
While cards with annual fees often have superior benefits, you can save money by avoiding an annual fee if you don’t plan to spend too high of an amount. For example, the American Express options below come within a dollar of each other on a $3,200 annual spend at U.S. supermarkets:
Blue Cash Everyday vs. Blue Cash Preferred…
| Card | Cash back | Total minus ongoing annual fee |
|---|
| Blue Cash Everyday from American Express | 3% x $3,200=$96 | $96 |
| Blue Cash Preferred from American Express | 6% x $3,200=$192 | $97 |
As you can see, the two options offer similar value at the $3,200 annual spend mark. But thanks to the Blue Cash Preferred’s strong 6% rewards rate, anyone spending more than $3,200 annually at the grocery store could benefit from paying up the ongoing annual fee.
Read more: our full comparison of the Blue Cash Preferred and the Blue Cash Everyday
Take another example. The Capital One Venture Rewards has a significantly higher rewards rate than the Capital One VentureOne Rewards.
VentureOne Rewards vs. Venture Rewards…
| Card | Cash back | Total minus annual fee |
|---|
| VentureOne Rewards | 1.25 miles x $12,750=$159 | $159 |
| Venture Rewards | 2 miles x $12,750=$255 | $160 |
Glancing at the figures above, it seems that $12,750 in annual spend is roughly the breakeven point for the VentureOne versus the Venture. So, if you know your annual budget is less than $12,750 a year, the no-annual-fee VentureOne Rewards is the better pick.
How to pair no annual fee and annual fee cards
You’ve practiced on your no annual fee card, and you feel you have this rewards thing down. Now it’s time to think more strategically. It’s time to look at pairing cards.
The key is finding rewards that complement your current card’s structure. While a no annual fee card can have great cash back rewards on all spending or even specific categories, it may not have the outsized rewards of a travel card. With a travel card, you can get travel and purchase benefits, travel credits, even credits with Uber – all things you likely won’t get with your cash back card. You can even use those extra Uber credits for food delivery!
But if you play it right, you can use the cash back, no annual fee card for all spending, and use the travel card to get a sizable sign-up bonus with your favorite hotel or airline brand – as well as outstanding ongoing rewards for that brand when you’re planning out your next vacation.
For example, the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® card will earn you 1.5% cash rewards on purchases, while the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card gives you 2X points on travel and dining. Simply use the Sapphire Preferred for those purchases and the Cash Wise for everything else. In addition to the ongoing rewards, the Sapphire Preferred card will earn you 80,000 points after a $4,000 spend within the first 3 months.
What to know when pairing Chase cards
When pairing no annual fee cards and annual fee cards, there is no comparison when looking at the Chase cards.
Through the Chase Ultimate Rewards program, you can get the added travel bonus points of the Sapphire cards. In fact, the Sapphire Reserve delivers a 50% bonus on points when you redeem for travel through Ultimate Rewards.
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