Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards in 2023

We’ve selected the Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card as the best no-annual-fee card because of the higher-than-usual cash back it offers and its other benefits. The Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard is our pick for the best travel card with no annual fees. The American Express Blue Business Plus Card takes the top spot in the no-annual-fee business cards segment. Other good cards that deserve your attention include the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card and the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card.

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

• Best Overall No Annual Fee Cards
• Best Business and Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee
• How to Compare No Annual Fee Credit Cards
• What is a No-Annual-Fee Credit Card
• Annual Fee vs. No Annual Fee Cards

It’s becoming increasingly common for no annual fee cards to offer rewards or cash back on category-based spending. If you’re looking for a credit card with no annual fees and cash back options, be sure to account for the categories in which you tend to spend the most, as this will have a bearing on the rewards you earn.

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card - Best for earning cash back
Once Chase approves your application for a new Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card, you receive a $100 Amazon Gift Card. Cardholders with eligible Prime membership earn:

• 5% cash back at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market,
• 2% cash back at gas stations, restaurants and drugstores.
• 1% in all other purchases
• 10% or more cash back through limited time offers at Amazon.com.

Breaking your purchases down into equal monthly payments and not having to pay interest is possible. Using this card outside of the U.S. is perfect because it charges no foreign transaction fees. Additional benefits include travel and emergency assistance, travel accident insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, baggage delay insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver, roadside dispatch, purchase protection and extended warranty protection.

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card - Ideal for earning cash back on dining, grocery and entertainment
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card lets you earn a one-time early spend bonus of $200 by spending $500 on purchases in the first three months. You get:

• 3% cash back at grocery stores as well as on dining and popular streaming services
• All other purchases earn 1% cash back.

An intro 0% APR offer applies on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. This card comes with no foreign transaction fees. Additional benefits include extended warranty, travel accident insurance, and access to a complimentary concierge service, 24-hour travel assistance services, Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment.

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express - Great for cash back on gas, online purchases and grocery in the U.S.
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers a welcome bonus of $250 back if you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first six months. You get 3% back on grocery spending of up to $6,000 at U.S. supermarkets each year. The same cash back rate and spending limits apply separately on U.S. online retail purchases and on gas purchases at U.S. gas stations. All other purchases earn 1% cash back.

This card comes with a 0% APR offer on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. It does away with plan fees for Buy Now, Pay Later plans created in the first 15 months. You get $7 back every month if you spend at least $13.99 on an eligible Disney Bundle subscription each month. A $180 annual Home Chef Credit is also there for the taking. Added benefits include complimentary car rental loss and damage insurance, purchase protection and access to American Express Experiences.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card - Perfect for cash back on everyday purchases
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a one-time early spend cash bonus of $200 if you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months. It lets you earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotel and car rental bookings made through Capital One Travel. All other purchases earn 1.5% cash back. This card comes with an intro 0% APR offer on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. Using it outside of the U.S. does not attract any foreign transaction fees. Added perks include extended warranty, travel accident insurance, and access to 24-hour travel assistance services, a complimentary concierge service, Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment.

Chase Freedom Unlimited - Ideal for earning cash back on dining and drugstore purchases
The Chase Freedom Unlimited Card comes with a relatively easy to earn spend-based welcome bonus, and it gives you the option of earning more cash back on gas station purchases during the first year: 5% cash back on up to $6,000 spent on these purchases. This card offers

• 5% cash back on travel purchases made through Chase Ultimate Rewards,
• 3% cash back on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and drugstore purchases, and
• 1% cash back on all other purchases.

An intro 0% APR offer applies on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. Added benefits include purchase protection, extended warranty, trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waiver and access to travel and emergency assistance services.

Citi Custom Cash℠ Card - Good for earning cash back on your top spending category
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card offers $200 cash back to cardholders who spend $750 on purchases in the first three months. You get to earn 5% cash back on up to $500 spent on your top eligible spending category each month, which may include grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants, drugstores, live entertainment, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, select travel, select transit and select streaming services. You get 1% cash back on all other purchases. This card comes with an intro 0% APR offer on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. Choosing your own payment due date is possible. You also get access to Citi Entertainment.

Chase Freedom Flex℠ - Great for earning high cash back through revolving categories and on travel, dining and drugstore purchases
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ Card comes with a spend-based welcome bonus and lets you earn more cash back during the first year. Cardholders earn

• 5% cash back through revolving quarterly bonus categories that they need to activate and on travel purchases made through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Examples of bonus categories include eBay, grocery stores, gas stations, movie theaters and car rental agencies.
• 3% on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and drugstore purchases, and
• 1% on all other purchases come with 1% cash back.

This card has an intro 0% APR offer that applies on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. Added benefits include purchase protection, extended warranty, cell phone protection, auto rental collision damage waiver, trip cancellation/interruption insurance and access to travel and emergency assistance services. Multiple Mastercard World Elite benefits are there for the taking as well.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card - Good for earning rewards on dining, grocery and gas/EV charging
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card lets you earn 20,000 bonus points (valued at $200) by spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.

• Spending on dining, including takeout and restaurant delivery, comes with 4X points per dollar.
• Grocery store, grocery delivery, gas station, EV charging station and streaming service purchases earn 2X points per dollar.
• You get 1X points per dollar on all other purchases.

A 0% APR offer applies on purchases and balance transfers for 12 billing cycles. The ExtendPay Plan lets you pay for your purchases through fixed monthly payments by paying a monthly fee and no interest. This card does not charge foreign transaction fees. Using it to pay for an eligible streaming service subscription may qualify you to earn a $15 annual credit.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card - Ideal for earning rewards through Capital One Travel and on everyday purchases
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card lets you earn a $200 cash reward bonus by spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months. It simplifies the way you earn cash back by offering flat 2% cash back on all purchases. A 0% APR offer applies on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. This card comes with complimentary cell phone protection. It also offers access to a 24/7 concierge service and the Visa Signature Hotel Collection.

Owing to the significant number of no-annual-fee cards in the market and the varied purposes they serve, we have selected the top ones from across different categories. As a result, irrespective of whether you’re looking for a travel, business, hotel or airline credit card, you can find a no-annual-fee card that suits your needs.

Travel Credit Card - Bank of America Norwegian Cruise Line World Mastercard
This card is perfect for people who use Norwegian Cruise Line because all purchases with this company earn 3X WorldPoints points per dollar. Eligible hotel and airline purchases earn 2X points per dollar, and you get 1X points per dollar on all other purchases. If you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days, you earn 20,000 bonus points. You may redeem your points for travel discounts, stateroom upgrades, onboard credits, hotel stays, car rentals and more. Using this card outside of the U.S. is perfect because it comes with no foreign transaction fees.

Business Credit Card - American Express Blue Business Plus Credit Card
This business card from Amex offers a welcome bonus of 15,000 Membership Rewards points if you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months. It lets you earn 2X points per dollar on eligible everyday spending of up to $50,000 per calendar year. You also earn 1X points per dollar on all other eligible purchases on spending of up to $50,000 per calendar year. An intro 0% APR offer applies on purchases for 12 months. Employee cards also earn rewards, and they come with no annual fees. This card offers purchase protection and extended warranty.

Hotel Credit Card - IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card
The IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card comes with a sizable spend-based welcome bonus, and it also lets you earn bonus points each year by meeting a spend-based requirement. You get the ability to earn a total of up to 17X points per dollar at IHG Hotels and Resorts. Dining, gas station, utilities and select streaming service purchases earn 3X points per dollar. You get 2X points per dollar on all other purchases. Silver Elite Status comes with this card, which you may elevate to Gold Elite by spending $20,000 on purchases and making at least one additional purchase every calendar year. When you redeem your points for three free nights, you get a fourth one for free. Additional benefits include no foreign transaction fees, purchase protection, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement and trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance.

Airline Credit Card - United Gateway Card
The United Gateway Card lets you earn a sizable welcome bonus by meeting a relatively simple spend-based requirement, and it comes with an intro low APR offer. You earn 2X miles per dollar on United Airlines purchases and local transit/commuting as well as at gas stations. All other purchases earn 1X miles per dollar. Using this card to pay for food, beverages and Wi-Fi on United-operated flights comes with 25% back. There are no blackout dates when you use your miles to book United-operated flights. Added benefits include no foreign transaction fees, purchase protection, extended warranty protection, auto rental collision damage waiver and trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance.

There is more to selecting a credit card than looking at its annual fee. The card’s APR affects the amount you pay as interest. It’s also important to consider each card’s fees, rewards, sign-up bonuses and added perks.

A no annual fee credit card doesn’t charge the cardholder a yearly fee. They can offer great value through rewards and cash back. Some such cards offer intro bonuses, and you may also find ones that charge no foreign transaction fees. No annual fee cards may work well for people who don’t spend much money, are looking for their first cards or are uninterested in paying a yearly recurring fee.

Getting a credit card with no yearly fees requires an application process where the card issuer examines your existing finances and creditworthiness.

Given the high number of no annual fee credit cards on the market, it’s fair to wonder if it makes sense to pay a yearly fee to use a card. In most cases, credit cards that come with annual fees offer an array of travel benefits, favorable reward structures and large bonuses.

Cards with fees may be worth it to you if the benefits and rewards offset and exceed the annual charge. However, many cards without fees offer similar benefits that could provide you sufficient value based on your situation. Weighing the value of benefits against how you use credit cards can help you choose between a card with fees and without.

If you wish to get a premium card with annual fees, you will likely need to have good or excellent credit.

You may want to consider getting a no annual fee credit card if you meet one or more of these criteria:

• You’re a new credit card user. If you've never used a credit card until now, getting one with no annual fees to learn the ropes might be in your best interest. While you develop responsible spending habits, you’ll also improve your credit.
• You want to rebuild your credit. People with poor or limited credit might benefit from no annual fee cards, provided they start maintaining good financial habits. As long as they continue to make timely repayments, they may expect to improve their credit scores.
• You’re looking to save on interest. If you have outstanding debt on a card with a high APR, you might benefit by getting a no annual fee card that comes with a 0% intro APR offer on balance transfers. Depending on the card you get, the 0% APR may stay in place from 12 to 18 months.
• You don’t use your card much. If you intend to use your credit card occasionally, a no annual fee card might be best for you. Typically, benefiting from annual fee cards requires that you spend a tidy sum throughout the year.
• You want to diversify your benefit options. Some people who have existing cards get no annual fee cards to make the most of what’s on offer. For instance, while a premier card might limit its rewards to spending across specific categories, a cash back card with no annual fees can give you the ability to earn unlimited cash back on all your purchases.
• You don’t have outstanding balances. If you plan to pay off your balances in full each month, you don’t have to worry about a high APR that might come with your no annual fee card.

A no annual fee credit card gives you a cost-effective way to learn how credit cards work and how to be responsible with your finances. You may use your no annual fee card as a stepping stone to build your credit history. This can result in an increased credit limit and open the door to more specialized and premium cards.

Moving forward, you can think about getting an annual fee card with the aim of increasing your reward earning potential. While finding a no annual fee card with rewards is fairly easy, annual fee cards tend to offer better perks.

Start by selecting a no-annual-fee card based on your spending patterns and requirements. For instance, if you wish to earn cash back as an individual, you can get up to 2% cash back on all purchases through the Citi® Double Cash Card. On the other hand, business users may benefit by getting 5% cash back on purchases at office supply stores, as offered by the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card.

Next, look at the credit score required to qualify for any given card, and apply only if you meet this criterion.

Once you’ve found the card you wish to get, apply online, over the phone or via mail. Information you need to provide includes:

• Personal details (complete name, date of birth and Social Security Number)
• Contact details (phone number, residential address and email address)
• Employment and income details

In some cases, credit card issuers inform applicants about their decision in minutes. However, since the approval process might involve looking over your finances and credit history, it can take a week or more. You might have to wait for up to 14 days to receive your approved card through the mail.

MoneyGeek’s best credit cards rankings are determined using public data from card issuers and other reputable sources, such as the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau. Our experts look over each card's fees, rewards, benefits, interest rates and more to rate each feature. These ratings are stack ranked and weighted for each card category to determine our top picks for each user. Each month, we revisit our data to update our ratings, recommendations, and other card information as needed because we know credit card features regularly change. View our methodology page to learn more about how we collect data and rank cards.

Questions surrounding the use of no annual fee cards are plentiful, and we’ve answered the most commonly asked ones below.

Just how well a no annual fee card works for you depends on factors such as how much money you spend, the rewards you want and whether or not you pay off your balances in full each month.