Best Travel Credit Cards for No Annual Fee in 2024

Name: Best Travel Credit Cards with No Annual Fee in 2024
Item: Best Travel Credit Cards with No Annual Fee in 2024
Author: Rajiv Baniwal

The best travel credit cards with no annual fees come with welcome offers for new cardholders. The top ones let you earn points or miles faster through bonus categories. Several of these cards do away with foreign transaction fees.

ByRajiv Baniwal

Reviewed byLee Huffman

ByRajiv Baniwal

Reviewed byLee Huffman

Updated: March 14, 2024

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The top no-annual-fee travel credit cards we’ve selected include co-branded and non-co-branded ones. Co-branded travel cards come with benefits for frequent users of a particular airline or group of hotels. The best cards from this category give you the means to earn bonus miles/points through spend-based welcome offers.

The miles or points per dollar you stand to earn vary from one travel credit card to the next. For instance, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card offers up to 2x miles per dollar on category-based spending. With the Hilton Honors American Express Card, you can earn up to 7x points per dollar on bonus categories.

Other aspects that require your attention when choosing from the best travel credit cards with no annual fees include APRs, foreign transaction fees and added perks.

OUR REVIEW AT A GLANCE

Our Top 5 Picks
Summarized List of All Winners
Tips for Comparing Credit Cards

This article is part of our larger series on
Best Travel Credit Cards

MoneyGeek’s Take: Top 5 Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee

Quick Summary

Points/miles earn rates depend not just on the card you get but also on applicable bonus categories. While all the cards we've selected come with welcome offers, they're not the same, even with cards from the same issuer. We have accounted for these factors as well as others such as foreign transaction fees, APRs and added benefits in arriving at our list of the best travel credit cards with no annual fees. Scroll further down the page to view other good cards from this category.

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
A great miles rewards card with no annual fees
- up to 2 Miles per $1*Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
We love the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card for more than its no-annual-fee feature. This card lets you earn 2X miles on restaurants worldwide and Delta purchases. All other purchases come with 1X miles.
An welcome offer gives you the ability to earn 10,000 bonus miles. All you need to do is spend at least $1000 on purchases within the first six months.
This card comes with no international transaction fees, which makes it perfect for use when traveling overseas. Other travel benefits include earning 20% as a statement credit when you use your card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases and complimentary car rental loss and damage insurance.
Cardholders also stand to benefit through purchase and fraud protection in different scenarios.
Pros
No annual fee
With welcome offer
Gives perks for Delta purchases
No foreign transaction fees

Cons
Good/excellent credit needed
Limited benefits compared to others
No lounge access perks
Less rewarding for non-Delta spend
Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. No Annual Fee. Earn 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, and 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. Pay with Miles: take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com. Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your Card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets. No Foreign Transaction Fees. Terms Apply.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Hilton Honors American Express Card
A rewarding travel card for people who are casual guests at Hilton hotels and resorts
- 3–7 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
- 20.99% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a traveler's dream come true. With no annual fee and a generous welcome bonus, it's a financial no-brainer for those frequenting Hilton properties or just seeking exceptional value. Whether dining out stateside or shopping abroad, you'll accumulate points seamlessly without those pesky foreign transaction fees. And here's the kicker — this card instantly boosts you to Hilton's Silver status! Want more perks? Just up your spending game, and Gold status awaits. This card truly embraces both the occasional and the dedicated traveler.
Pros
No annual fee
Generous welcome bonus
High earning rates with Hilton
No foreign transaction fees
Automatic Hilton Silver status

Cons
Potentially high APR
High credit requirement
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 4/17/24.
Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
No Annual Fee.
Terms Apply.
Terms, rates and fees apply
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
Solid dining rewards card with no annual fee
- 1–4 Points per $1Rewards Rate
- 18.24% – 29.24% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- 0Recommended Credit
We love that this card offers a terrific rewards rate on dining purchases without the annual fee to match that so many competitors in this category have. You can also earn a sizable bonus after meeting a fairly low spend threshold, which is a great kickstart to your rewards balance.
Pros
Impressive 4X points on dining and restaurants
Intro APR for both purchases and balance transfers
Flexible redemption options
No annual fee
Annual bonus for streaming services
No foreign transaction fees

Cons
No transfer options for points
Fairly short APR period
No special travel perks
Four points per dollar spent on dining (including takeout and delivery)
Two points per dollar spent on grocery, gas and streaming service purchases
One point per dollar on all other spending
Earn 20,000 bonus points if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 billing cycles (18.24%–29.24% variable APR after)
No annual fee
No foreign transaction fee
Get a $15 credit once a year when you use your card to pay for eligible streaming services such as Netflix, Spotify and Amazon Music
Redeem your reward points for online shopping, a statement credit, travel through the Altitude Rewards Center and more

Moneygeek.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
A great travel card with no annual fee for frequent flyers on American Airlines
- 1–2 Miles per $1Rewards Rate
- 21.24% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- ExcellentRecommended Credit
We recommend this American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card to American Airlines frequent flyers who wish to earn rewards without paying an annual fee. New cardholders get 10,000 bonus miles and a $50 statement credit if they spend $500 on purchases within the first three months.
You earn 2x miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases and at grocery stores. All other purchases come with 1x miles. Further, you get to save 25% when you use your card to pay for in-flight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights.
Using this card outside of the U.S. might not be a good idea, given that it comes with a 3% foreign transaction fee.
Pros
Higher rewards on groceries and American Airlines purchases
No annual fees
25% discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases
Easy-to-earn welcome bonus

Cons
3% foreign transaction fee
Limited travel perks
Earn two AAdvantage miles for each dollar spent on groceries and eligible American Airlines purchases
Earn 10,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles and a $50 statement credit if you spend $500 in purchases within the first three months
Redeem your miles for award flights on American Airlines to over 1,000 destinations across the globe
Get access to Citi Concierge 24 hours a day, seven days a week for restaurant bookings, gift shopping and more
Disclaimer: Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.
Terms, rates and fees apply
Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
An excellent balance transfer card with travel rewards
- 0% Intro APR (then variable APR)Balance Transfer Offer
- 15 MonthsBalance Transfer Duration
- 19.99%–29.99% VariableAPR
- 3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other timeBalance Transfer Fee
- Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card offers exceptional value and flexibility for both frequent travelers and everyday spenders. It allows you to earn 5X miles on hotel and rental car bookings made through Capital One Travel and 1.25X miles on all other purchases. The card also provides a generous welcome bonus of 20,000 miles when you spend $500 within the first three months. The enticing welcome bonus and the absence of annual and foreign transaction fees add further value to this card. While there are some considerations, such as a balance transfer fee and potentially higher ongoing APR, this card's overall quality and functionality make it a desirable option for consumers seeking flexibility and rewards.
Pros
Unlimited earning potential
Welcome offer with low spend requirement
Decent intro APR offer on balance transfers and purchases
No annual fee
No foreign transaction fees

Cons
Balance transfer fee of 3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time
Somewhat short intro APR offer period
High ongoing APR
No impressive travel protections
$0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within three months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day.
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn.
Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase — or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs.
Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99%–29.99% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months.
See rates and fees

Moneygeek.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Summary of the Best Travel Cards for No Annual Fee

Take a look at this no-annual-fee travel card comparison table to determine who these cards are best suited for and the credit you need to apply. You may also check how they fare against each other when it comes to rewards rates.

Credit Card
Best For
Avg. Reward Rate
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
A great miles rewards card with no annual fees
up to 2 Miles per $1*
$0
Hilton Honors American Express Card
A rewarding travel card for people who are casual guests at Hilton hotels and resorts
3–7 Points per $1*
$0
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
Solid dining rewards card with no annual fee
1–4 Points per $1
$0
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
A great travel card with no annual fee for frequent flyers on American Airlines
1–2 Miles per $1
$0
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
An excellent balance transfer card with travel rewards
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
Great card for earning points fast for IHG loyalists
2-17 Points per $1
$0
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
Great no-annual-fee card for earning points at Marriot properties
1–3 Points per $1
$0
United Gateway Card
A great no-annual-fee rewards card for people who fly United
1 Mile per $1
$0
Citi Rewards+® Card
An excellent no-annual-fee rewards card with a 0% introductory APR offer
1–2 Points per $1*
$0

MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

No-annual-fee travel credit cards are a great way to earn rewards without paying a fee. While they don't have the same level of benefits as cards with annual fees, you can earn a welcome bonus, receive rewards on your purchases and enjoy other perks. — Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com

How to Compare Travel Credit Cards & Intro Offers

There is no single best no-annual-fee travel credit card because just about every card from this segment comes with its share of pros and cons. As a result, you need to pay attention to your spending patterns and a few other aspects before making a selection.

Co-branded or not

If you favor using any particular group of hotels or airlines, you may benefit by getting a co-branded card that comes with airline/hotel-specific benefits. Some of the top no-annual-fee travel credit cards that fit this bill include the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.

Welcome offer

The best travel cards with no annual fees come with welcome offers, although these vary significantly. For example, the Amex Delta SkyMiles Blue Card comes with a welcome bonus of 10,000 miles that you may earn by spending $500 on purchases in the first three months. The Amex Hilton Honors Card, on the other hand, comes with a welcome offer of 80,000 Hilton Honors bonus points that you may earn by spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months. It offers an additional 50,000 points if you spend a total of $5,000 on purchases in the first six months.

Rewards rate

Whether you earn points or miles depends on the card you get. In addition, several cards from this segment offer higher points/miles rates on category-based spending. For instance, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card offers up to 14x points at Marriott properties and 2x points on all other purchases. The Citi Rewards+® Card, on the other hand, offers 2x points per $1 spent at supermarkets and gas stations on the first $6,000 you spend each year, and all other purchases come with 1x points.

Foreign transaction fees

Pay particular attention to this aspect if you plan to use your card outside of the U.S. The Citi Rewards+® Card and the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card charge a 3% foreign transaction fee on international purchases. The other cards we've selected do away with this fee completely.

APR

Travel rewards cards typically come with higher APRs when compared to cards with no rewards. If you plan to maintain a revolving balance in your account from one billing cycle to the next, you might be better off getting a card with a low APR.

Other benefits

The IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card offers a reward night when you redeem your points for a stay of four or more nights. With the United Gateway Card, you get 25% back on United in-flight purchases. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card lets you transfer your miles to any of over 15 partner loyalty programs. Other card-specific features and benefits may come in the form of purchase protection, extended warranty, airport lounge access and varying levels of travel insurance coverage.