Best Charge Cards & Cards with No Preset Spending Limits

Charge cards tend to come with no preset spending limits and usually require that you pay your balances off in full each month. The MoneyGeek team has made use of its unique ranking algorithm to narrow down on the leaders of this pack so that you may find the best one based on your specific requirements.

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The best charge cards are ones that come with no preset spending limits and give you the ability to increase your buying power significantly. American Express dominates this sphere because not many credit card issuers provide charge cards now.

In addition, most American Express charge cards come with a Pay Over Time feature that lets you carry forward balances of eligible purchases by paying a variable annual percentage rate (APR).

We’ve selected the options that top the list of charge cards after accounting for factors such as the credit needed to apply, annual fees, rewards and added perks. That way, you have a place to start your search without having to go through an extensive array of cards (unless you want to). Scrolling further down the page presents even more possibilities.

What is a Charge Card?

Card Name
Annual Fee
APR
Rewards Rate

1.

American Express® Gold Card

$250

15.99%–22.99%

1–4 Points per $1

2.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

$695

15.99%–22.99%

1–5 Points per $1*

3.

The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

$295

14.24%–22.24%

1–5 Points per $1*

4.

American Express® Business Gold Card

$295

14.24%–22.24%

1–4 Points per $1

5.

The Plum Card® from American Express

$250

Unspecified

1.5% Cash Back

6.

Capital One Spark Cash Plus

$150

0

2% Cash Back

The links in the table above will take you to one of our partner's sites, where you can compare and apply for a selected credit card.

On This Page:

Best Charge/NPSL Cards for Personal Use

The best NPSL cards for personal use are ones that offer rewards. The top ones charge no foreign transaction fees. They also tend to offer statement credits for payments made toward specific merchants.

American Express® Gold Card - Ideal for earning rewards on bonus categories
 The Amex Gold no preset spending limit card lets you earn up to 4x points on category-based spending. Each month, cardholders get $10 in Uber Cash and $10 in dining credits when dining at participating restaurants. This card comes with no foreign transaction fees. It charges a $250 annual fee, which is mostly offset if you take advantage of your $20 in monthly credits.

American Express Platinum Card - Best for frequent travelers who are looking for premium benefits
 You may use this Amex no preset spending limit card to earn up to 5x points on category-based spending. Cardholders get statement credits toward select prepaid hotel bookings via Amex Travel, digital entertainment, Walmart+ membership, Uber Cash and more.

All cardholders get complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status, Hilton Honors Gold Status, airport lounge access and other travel benefits. You pay no foreign transaction fees when you use this card outside of the U.S. It comes with a $695 annual fee.


  • American Express® Gold Card

    Best rewards card for frequent fliers and diners

    • Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
    • $250Annual Fee
    • 1–4 Points per $1Rewards Rate
    • 4xRewards Rate on Groceries
    • 3xRewards Rate on Air Travel
    American Express® Gold Card

    Terms, rates and fees apply

  • The Platinum Card® from American Express

    A great rewards card for air travel with premium benefits

    • Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
    • $695Annual Fee
    • 1–5 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
    • 5xRewards Rate on Air Travel
    • 1xRewards Rate on Gas
    The Platinum Card® from American Express

    Terms, rates and fees apply

Best Charge/NPSL Cards for Businesses

While the best NPSL cards for businesses offer rewards, they come with business-specific benefits as well. For instance, you and your employees pay no foreign transaction fees when using your cards outside of the U.S. Most of these cards also come with expense management tools.

Business Platinum Card® from American Express - Ideal for frequent travelers looking for premium benefits
 This American Express no-limit card for businesses offers 5x points on travel booked via Amex Travel. You earn 1.5x points on business categories and purchases of $5,000 and above (up to $2 million in purchases per year). It comes with statement credit toward U.S. purchases with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, wireless telephone services, airline fees, and CLEAR.

All cardholders get complimentary access to American Express Global Lounge Collection. Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status and Hilton Honors Gold Status are part of the parcel. This card also comes with various expense management tools. It charges an annual fee of $595.

American Express® Business Gold Card - Good for frequent flyers who wish to earn rewards faster
 This American Express charge card for businesses offers up to 4x points on two spending categories of your choice (on up to $150,000 in combined purchases each year). You get 1x points for all other purchases. You get a 25% airline bonus when you book flights through Amex Travel and use the Membership Rewards Pay with Points feature. Employee cards come at no extra cost, and you get access to various expense management tools. Cardholders pay no foreign transaction fees. The card’s annual fee is $295.


  • The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

    A good business card for premium travel benefits

    • Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
    • $295Annual Fee
    • 1–5 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
    • 5xRewards Rate on Air Travel
    • 5xRewards Rate at Hotels
    The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

    Terms, rates and fees apply

  • American Express® Business Gold Card

    A dynamic rewards card for high-spending business owners

    • Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
    • $295Annual Fee
    • 1–4 Points per $1Rewards Rate
    • 1xRewards Rate on TV, Phone, Internet Services
    • 4xRewards Rate on Gas
    American Express® Business Gold Card

    Terms, rates and fees apply

Best Charge/NPSL Cards for Businesses without APR

Charge/NPSL cards for businesses without APRs don’t give cardholders the option to make payments over time. The best of these cards come with rewards/cash back, free employee cards, no foreign transaction fees and expense management tools.

The Plum Card® from American Express - Ideal for business owners who travel overseas
 The Plum Card is a no preset spending limit American Express business charge card. It earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on any portion of the outstanding balance you pay within 10 days of your statement closing date. Employee cards come at no added cost, as do multiple expense management tools.

The Plum Card does not offer the Pay Over Time feature. However, it gives you the option of paying in full every month or carrying your balance for up to 60 days without paying interest as long as you make the minimum payment due. It charges no overseas transaction fees and comes with an annual fee of $250.

Capital One Spark Cash Plus Card - Perfect for earning cash back on all purchases
 This Capital One card is the only other charge card other than Amex cards that’s part of this list. It lets you earn unlimited 2% cash back on all business purchases. If you spend more than $200,000 on purchases each year, you get a $200 annual bonus. Employee cards come at no additional cost.

Year-end summaries and downloadable purchase records help simplify accounting. This card charges no foreign transaction fees. It comes with a $150 annual fee. If you don’t pay off your balance in full every month, you are charged a 2.99% monthly late fee.


  • The Plum Card® from American Express

    Great no preset spending limit card with flexible payback methods

    • Good–ExcellentRecommended Credit
    • $250Annual Fee
    • 1.5% Cash BackRewards Rate
    • 1.5xRewards Rate on Groceries
    • 1.5xRewards Rate on Gas
    The Plum Card® from American Express

    Terms, rates and fees apply

  • Capital One Spark Cash Plus

    Excellent card for earning rewards through employee spending

    • ExcellentRecommended Credit
    • $150Annual Fee
    • 2% Cash BackRewards Rate
    • 2xRewards Rate on Gas
    • 2xRewards Rate on Groceries
    Capital One Spark Cash Plus

    Terms, rates and fees apply

Other Cards to Consider
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Quick Tips for Comparing Charge Card Offers

Charge cards offer various features and benefits, which is why you need to compare your alternatives across different parameters. For instance, not all charge cards come with an APR-based pay-over-time feature.

  • Creditworthiness required: You may qualify for a charge card if you have good to excellent credit. If you don’t, you may want to consider getting a credit card for average credit.
  • Annual fees: Charge cards can come with rather high annual fees. This is why you need to determine if the value you receive through rewards and perks will outweigh the cost of a card’s annual fee in advance.
  • Foreign transaction fees: This aspect requires your attention if you plan to use your charge card outside of the U.S.
  • Payment flexibility: While charge cards typically require that you pay your balances in full each month, you may find cards that offer flexibility in this regard. For instance, most American Express charge cards come with a Pay Over Time feature that lets you carry balances by paying interest.
  • Interest rates: Pay attention to this aspect if the charge card you choose lets you make payments over time. For instance, the American Express® Business Gold Card charges a variable APR of 14.24% to 22.24% for its Pay Over Time feature. In the case of the American Express® Gold Card, the APR for its Pay Over Time feature is 15.99% to 22.99%.
    >>MORE: APR vs. APY
  • Rewards: Compare your options based on whether you might benefit more by getting a charge card that offers high earn rates across specific categories or one that lets you earn a high flat rate on all purchases.
  • Sign-up offers: It is common for charge cards to come with introductory spend-based offers. For example, the American Express® Business Gold Card comes with a welcome offer that lets you earn 70,000 bonus points by spending $10,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months.
  • Added perks: These can come in the form of statement credits, loyalty program status upgrades, complimentary travel insurance, other travel-specific benefits, extended warranty and purchase protection.
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MONEYGEEK QUICK TIP

Charge cards are a good option for people who are concerned about getting into credit card debt. Since charge cards must be paid in full each month, they encourage smart spending habits. — Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com

MoneyGeek’s Quick Guide to Understanding Charge Cards

Traditionally, a charge card requires you to pay off your entire balance every month, which is why you pay no interest. However, charge cards have evolved in recent times, and a number of such cards now give you the ability to make payments over time by paying interest. Typically, you need good to excellent credit to qualify for a charge card.

Charge cards tend to come with no preset spending limits. However, they have maximum limits that are subject to change each month. It is also common for charge cards to offer spending-based rewards.

What Is the Difference Between a Charge Card and a Credit Card?

The charge card vs. credit card comparison presents some similarities as well as differences. For example, both types of cards can come with rewards.

  • Spending limits: Credit cards come with predetermined credit limits, whereas charge cards have no preset spending limits.
  • Annual fees: Finding credit cards with no annual fees is fairly easy, but this is not the case with charge cards.
  • Effect on credit score: The amount of credit you use from a credit card’s total available credit limit affects your credit utilization ratio, and therefore, your credit score. Since charge cards have no preset spending limits, the most recent FICO scoring models don’t include your charge card balances in your credit utilization ratio. However, calculations carried out using older FICO Score and VantageScore models might include charge card balances when calculating credit scores.
  • Risk of building debt: Charge cards come with a lower risk of building debt as compared to credit cards because they typically require that you pay off your balances in full each month.
  • Availability: While the credit card market continues to grow, and new cards enter the picture every so often, the use and availability of charge cards have declined significantly in recent times.
>> More: Charge Cards vs. Credit Cards: What’s the Difference?

How Do Charge/NPSL Cards Work?

Charge cards tend to come with no preset spending limits. However, every such card has a maximum limit, and once you reach this limit, you may expect to have transactions declined. Issuers of charge cards with no preset spending limits may change the limit every month based on factors such as your income, creditworthiness, spending patterns, payment history and net worth.

Charge cards in the past came with no interest because they required cardholders to pay off their balances in full each month. However, several charge cards now come with an interest-based pay-over-time feature, which makes them function much like conventional credit cards.

However, not all purchases you make may qualify for the pay-over-time feature, and you’ll need to pay off balances from any such purchase completely at the end of the billing cycle.

Depending on the charge card you get, you might be able to earn rewards or cash back. Some such cards offer higher earn rates for spending on particular categories. When it comes to redeeming reward points, your options might include using them as a statement credit, using them to pay for travel or transferring them to partner airline/hotel loyalty programs.

Are Charge Cards Worth It?

If you want extra motivation to pay off your balances in full each month, you may want to consider getting a charge card.

A charge card might work well for you if you have variable income or expenses and want a card that keeps up with your changing requirements. Since the top charge cards come with no foreign transaction fees, using one when you’re traveling overseas might also make sense.

Getting a charge card can be worth your while if you’re sure you’ll earn enough rewards and use its perks to offset its annual fee. For example, while the American Express Platinum Card offers multiple statement credits and higher reward rates on category-based spending, it comes with an annual fee of $695.

A charge card with an annual fee is best suited for people who spend enough money, frequent travelers, individuals who wish to keep their expenses in check and businesses that wish to streamline and capitalize on their spending.

How We Rank Charge Cards

Our lists of the best credit cards are based on publicly available data from card issuers and other reputable sources like the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau.

We review each card's fees, interest rates, rewards, benefits and more to assign a rating for each feature. These ratings are stack ranked and weighted for each card category to determine our top selections for each type of user.

Because card details change regularly, we revisit our data each month to update our ratings, recommendations and other card information as needed. Learn more about our data collection and ranking process.

Top Rating Criteria for Charge/NPSL Cards
lowInterestAPR icon
APR
annualFee icon
Annual Fee
rewards icon
Rewards & Bonuses

FAQs About Charge Cards

Understanding the answers to other commonly asked questions about charge cards with no preset spending limits will help you decide if getting this type of card might work well for you.

Now that you have an understanding of how charge cards work, determine if getting one might work well for you. If you decide to move forward, narrow down on the best alternative after paying attention to factors such as annual fees, reward/cash back rates, payment flexibility and added benefits.

Next Steps

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Expert Advice: Understanding Charge Cards

  1. Why should someone use a charge card’s pay-over-time feature instead of using a regular credit card?
  2. How can a charge card affect someone’s credit score without playing a role in the credit utilization ratio?
  3. Is there any way of finding out an NPSL califerd’s maximum limit before making a large purchase?
Sung Ham, Ph.D.
Sung Ham, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Broad College of Business, Michigan State University

About Rajiv Baniwal

Rajiv Baniwal headshot

Rajiv Baniwal is a journalist who has been covering financial topics for over 15 years. Meticulous in his research, he provides accurate and up-to-date information. His expertise includes mortgages, loans, credit cards, insurance and international money transfers.

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*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
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