Premium bank cards with the perfect rewards usually include a hefty annual charge. Whereas these charges might be price paying in some circumstances, not everyone seems to be keen to shell out for certainly one of these playing cards. Possibly you wouldn’t use it sufficient to justify the annual charge, or maybe your funds is tight. Regardless of the purpose, many individuals want a bank card that doesn’t cost them a charge yearly.
Happily, there are nonetheless quite a few choices in the event you want a no-annual-fee bank card with nice advantages. Whereas even the perfect playing cards on this group might have decrease rewards charges than annual-fee playing cards, all of them present sizable rewards in a fee-free package deal.
Chase Freedom Limitless®
Credit score rating
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Intro APR
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Steadiness switch intro apr
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Welcome supply
bonus_miles_full
The card_name is a strong flat-rate earnings card with annual_fee_disclaimer annual charge. Though the 1.5% money again doesn’t appear spectacular at first look, it turns into extra helpful when mixed with different rewards playing cards from Chase that may be redeemed for a far better worth.
This card is advisable for on a regular basis use, whether or not for physician copays or huge field retailer purchases. It may be a big earner for cardmembers who wish to get probably the most out of their on a regular basis spending.
Greatest no annual charge bank cards in contrast 2024
Money again on each buy |
Our suggestions for the perfect bank cards with no annual charge
Greatest for versatile money again: card_name
Chase Freedom Flex℠
Credit score rating wanted
Glorious, Good
Common APR
20.49% to 29.24% Variable
After activation, the card_name earns 5% money again in quarterly bonus classes on as much as $1,500 in spending per quarter. Bonus classes usually embrace grocery shops (not together with Walmart and Goal), fuel stations, and choose on-line retailers. It additionally earns 5% on journey booked via Chase Final Rewards, 3% at eating places (together with takeout and supply providers), 3% at drugstores, and 1% on all different purchases. Plus, you possibly can bonus_miles_full.
Greatest for lodge rewards: card_name
Hilton Honors Card from American Specific
Credit score rating wanted
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Common APR
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The card_name is a powerful alternative with its 7x factors on eligible purchases at resorts and resorts within the Hilton portfolio. It additionally earns 5x factors on eating at U.S. eating places, together with takeout and supply. It additionally earns 5x factors on fuel and groceries. As well as, you get complimentary Hilton Honors Silver standing. There are foreign_transaction_fee overseas transaction charges with the card_name. Plus, you get automotive rental loss and harm insurance coverage and assist from the International Help® Hotline in case you have any issues whereas touring.
Greatest for leisure: card_name
Capital One® SavorOne® Money Rewards Credit score Card
Credit score rating wanted
credit_score_needed
Common APR
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The card_name has an unbelievable collection of rewards, particularly for a card with annual_fees annual charge. These embrace 10% money again on Uber and Uber Eats via 11/14/24; 8% money again on purchases made via Capital One Leisure; 5% money again on resorts and rental vehicles booked via Capital One Journey; and three% on eating, groceries, streaming providers, and leisure. There may be additionally a 0% APR on stability transfers and purchases for 15 months.
Greatest for eating: card_name
U.S. Financial institution Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
Credit score rating wanted
Glorious
Common APR
18.24% to 29.24%
The card_name is ideal for eating out, because it earns 4% money again on eating, takeout, and supply. It additionally earns 2% money again on fuel, groceries, and EV charging. You additionally get a $15 annual streaming credit score, which you should use towards widespread streaming providers. You can too bonus_miles_full. Lastly, there’s a 0% intro APR for the primary 12 months on stability transfers and purchases.
Greatest for Enterprise spending: card_name
Ink Enterprise Money® Card
Intro APR
intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration
Common APR
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Welcome supply
bonus_miles_full
The card_name is among the many strongest earners within the rewards bank card market. Its spending bonuses are beneficiant, and its large welcome bonus after assembly minimal spending necessities needs to be purpose sufficient to not less than strive the cardboard out for a 12 months or two.
If in case you have a small enterprise working on a shoestring funds, the card_name may be the right match. It earns 5% again on the primary $25,000 in purchases at workplace provide shops and on web, cable, and telephone providers yearly. It additionally earns 2% again on the primary $25,000 in purchases at fuel stations and eating places yearly. This card additionally has probably the most helpful welcome bonus on this record at $750. (Nevertheless, the bonus has a excessive spending requirement of $6,000 within the first three months of account opening.) Lastly, there’s a intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration from account opening on purchases.
Greatest for credit score builders: card_name
Chime Secured Credit score Builder Visa® Credit score Card
Credit score rating wanted
credit_score_needed
Common APR
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The card_name is right for these simply beginning to construct credit score. For one, it doesn’t require a credit score test. The one requirement is having obtained not less than $200 in direct deposits out of your employer or advantages payer throughout the previous twelve months of your software. No minimal safety deposit is required, although you need to deposit cash to extend your credit score line. Chime additionally stories to all three main credit score reporting bureaus. Lastly, there aren’t any curiosity expenses with this card.
Greatest for honest credit score: card_name
Capital One Platinum Credit score Card
Credit score rating wanted
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Common APR
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The card_name was designed for these with honest credit score. This card will mechanically take into account you for a credit score line enhance in as little as six months. As well as, Capital One will allow you to pre-qualify for this card, which received’t impression your credit score rating. Nevertheless, this card doesn’t supply rewards, and the continued APR is excessive.
Greatest for airline miles: card_name
American Airways AAdvantage® Mile Up® Mastercard®
Common APR
21.24% – 29.99% Variable
Miles bank cards usually carry an annual charge, however the card_name is a notable exception. With this card, you possibly can earn a ten,000-mile bonus, plus a $50 assertion credit score after spending $500 within the first three months of account opening. You can too earn 2x miles for each greenback you spend on groceries and American Airways purchases. Lastly, you will get 25% off in-flight meals and beverage purchases whenever you use your card when flying American Airways.
Greatest for flat price rewards: card_name
Chase Freedom Limitless®
Credit score rating
credit_score_needed
Intro APR
intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration
Steadiness switch intro apr
balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration
Welcome supply
bonus_miles_full
The card_name is a strong flat-rate earnings card with annual_fee_disclaimer annual charge. Though the 1.5% money again doesn’t appear spectacular at first look, it turns into extra helpful when mixed with different rewards playing cards from Chase that may be redeemed for a far better worth.
This card is advisable for on a regular basis use, whether or not for physician copays or huge field retailer purchases. It may be a big earner for cardmembers who wish to get probably the most out of their on a regular basis spending.
The card_name is among the finest bank cards out there, and it doesn’t require an annual charge. Its flagship perk is its limitless 1.5% money again on each buy. Nevertheless, it additionally earns 5% cashback on journey bought via Chase Final Rewards and three% on eating and drugstore purchases. To high it off, you possibly can bonus_miles_full.
Greatest for journey: card_name
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit score Card
Credit score rating wanted
credit_score_needed
Common APR
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In case you’re searching for a general-purpose journey card with no annual charge, the card_name is hard to beat. It earns limitless 1.25 miles per greenback on each buy, plus limitless 5 miles per greenback on journey booked via Capital One Journey. It additionally has a 0% intro APR for 15 months on stability transfers and purchases. Lastly, you possibly can bonus_miles_full.
Greatest for money again on each buy: card_name
Citi Double Money® Credit score Card
Credit score rating wanted
credit_score_needed
Common APR
reg_apr,reg_apr_type
The card_name earns a vast 1% money again whenever you spend and a further 1% money again whenever you make a cost. This makes it a strong alternative for many who don’t wish to have to recollect completely different charges for various classes or choose in to quarterly classes. Usually, bank cards with these reward schemes have lower than 2% money again on non-bonus classes. However with the card_name, you get 2% again on each single buy. You additionally get a balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration from different playing cards.
Our Methodology
Our bank cards crew has spent hours analyzing a whole lot of bank cards. We took a deep dive into the main points of every product and that evaluation, mixed with our years of expertise protecting bank cards, knowledgeable us as we selected the perfect bank cards throughout all kinds of classes. This record culled the highest picks in every class.
How to decide on your $0 annual charge bank card
Selecting your $0 annual charge bank card is determined by how you’ll use the cardboard and what advantages you worth. Listed here are some issues to bear in mind:
- Rewards: Search for a no-annual-fee card with a rewards construction that the majority carefully aligns along with your spending habits. For instance, in the event you spend probably the most on groceries, a card incomes a excessive price on groceries is your finest guess. Or, in the event you often journey, search for a card that prioritizes journey rewards.
- Introductory gives: Some $0 annual charge bank cards have wonderful introductory gives. Whereas their welcome bonuses aren’t as profitable because the bonuses for premium playing cards, some nonetheless supply bonuses price $200 or extra. As well as, some have lengthy durations with 0% APRs on purchases and stability transfers.
- Different advantages: Some $0 annual charge bank cards supply extra advantages equivalent to rental automotive insurance coverage, prolonged warranties, or cellphone insurance coverage. These may be essential to you, relying in your want.
- APR: Generally, the bank cards on this record have a variable APR, so deciding on one with the bottom APR could also be troublesome. However, it is best to take note of the APR for purchases and stability transfers; these can have a big impression in your funds.
- Credit score rating necessities: Every bank card issuer has its personal approval necessities, which can have an effect on your approval odds. Nevertheless, most bank cards on this record usually require not less than good credit score, so you’ll have to contemplate different playing cards in case you have poor or no credit score.
Additionally, keep in mind that making use of for a bank card can quickly decrease your credit score rating. Subsequently, it’s finest to fastidiously take into account every bank card and whether or not it meets your wants earlier than you apply.
Ceaselessly requested questions (FAQs)
Is a no-annual-fee bank card price it?
Deciding if a no-annual-fee bank card is price it is determined by your spending habits and private funds. As an illustration, in the event you often spend loads in areas the place bank cards have excessive bonuses, a no-annual-fee bank card may be price it. Nevertheless, in the event you often carry a stability, the curiosity expenses you’ll accrue could also be greater than the rewards you earn.
Are you able to—and the way do you—get the annual charge waived within the first 12 months for a daily bank card?
You may be capable to get the annual charge waived for the primary 12 months for a bank card by merely asking the cardboard issuer. You’ll be able to decide up the telephone and ask whether or not they can be keen to waive the charge. Nevertheless, you may need extra success in case you have been a loyal buyer for years and have been actively utilizing their bank cards. In fact, that is probably not one thing you possibly can present if this can be a new bank card firm for you.
Happily, a number of nice bank cards mechanically waive the charge within the first 12 months. Listed here are a few of the high selections:
Who ought to get a no-annual-fee bank card?
There are numerous eventualities in which you’ll wish to get a no-annual-fee bank card. For instance:
- Steadiness transfers: You’ve got balances on different playing cards you wish to consolidate and repay with a 0% APR.
- Rewards: You often spend cash in ways in which align with the cardboard’s finest bonuses.
- Welcome bonuses: You’ve got an enormous buy developing that can help you earn the welcome bonus.
- Different advantages: You wish to make the most of different card advantages, equivalent to cellphone safety and roadside help.
These are just some of the commonest eventualities during which getting a no-annual-fee bank card may make sense. Keep in mind that you ideally ought to use a bank card provided that you possibly can repay the fees each month, permitting you to keep away from curiosity expenses.
No annual charge vs. annual charge bank card—what’s the trade-off?
Whereas no-annual-fee bank cards have the plain good thing about not having a charge to pay yearly, that doesn’t essentially imply they’re the only option for everybody. Think about the next comparability:
Typical welcome bonus worth |
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Whereas this reveals a few of the worth of premium bank cards, it isn’t all the time simple to make a direct comparability. Some premium bank cards have welcome bonuses that may offset the annual charge on their very own. Nevertheless, playing cards within the premium class are sometimes designed for vacationers and supply annual journey credit of $200 to $300, additional growing their worth.
Plus, premium bank cards usually have a number of different advantages you don’t get with no-annual-fee playing cards. These embrace airport lounge entry, International Entry/TSA Pre✓® credit, journey insurance coverage, and lodge standing. In case you take full benefit of a premium bank card’s advantages, they will simply offset the annual charge. It’s essential to determine whether or not you’ll use the cardboard sufficient to justify paying for it.
However, in the event you’re not searching for premium rewards however are as a substitute restricted to paying annual charges beneath $100 in your bank card, there are nonetheless loads of choices out there that present helpful perks and rewards.
Chime is a monetary expertise firm, not a financial institution. Banking providers supplied by The Bancorp Financial institution, N.A. or Stride Financial institution, N.A., Members FDIC.
The secured Chime Credit score Builder Visa® Card is issued by Stride Financial institution, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and could also be used in every single place Visa bank cards are accepted.