American Express manages to fill this space well, given that it offers no-annual-fee cards for individuals and businesses alike. What’s more, it also provides a couple of co-branded no-annual-fee cards. Depending on the card you get, you might be able to earn cash back, points or miles.
American Express gives you multiple no-annual-fee credit cards from which to choose. While some of the features remain the same no matter which of these cards you get, there are some notable differences as well. For instance, while the Amex Cash Magnet Card is a good alternative for earning flat-rate cash back on all purchases, the Blue Cash Everyday Card offers higher cash back rates on category-based spending.
If you hope to find a no-annual-fee Amex credit card that works well for you, paying attention to your spending patterns and individual requirements is essential. If you’re a frequent traveler, you might benefit by looking at what Amex’s no-annual-fee co-branded cards have to offer.
MoneyGeek’s Take: Top 3 Amex Credit Cards With No Annual Fee
Quick Summary
If you intend to use your card outside of the U.S., take a look at the foreign transaction fee you might need to pay. With many Amex cards that charge this fee, you’ll need to pay 2.7% on each international transaction. We’ve narrowed down on the top no-annual-fee Amex credit cards after accounting for this factor as well as others such as APRs, cash back/reward rates and additional perks. Scrolling further down the page presents even more options.
American Express Cash Magnet Card
A great no-annual-fee card that comes with unlimited 1.5% cash back across categories
ExcellentCredit Needed
$0Annual Fee
1.5% Cash BackRewards Rate
1.5xRewards Rate on Gas
1.5xRewards Rate on Groceries
We strongly recommend the American Express Cash Magnet Card to people who want to earn rewards without paying any annual fees. No matter which category you spend in, you earn 1.5% as cash back. Besides, you earn unlimited cash back rewards that never expire.
A promotional 0% APR offer on purchases for 15 months gives you easy means to save some money on big purchases. If you spend $2,000 on purchases within six months from account opening, you may look forward to receiving $200 as a statement credit.
Fraud protection ensures that you are not held liable for fraudulent charges.
Pros
Pay no annual fee for as long as your account remains active
Stand to earn $200 bonus cash back by meeting a simple spending requirement
Benefit by paying no interest on purchases for the first 15 months - then an APR of 13.99% to 23.99% will apply
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
Get additional cards linked to your primary card to earn more cash back
Benefit through car rental insurance, should the need arise
Get access to American Express Experiences
Set up monthly plans for big purchases and avoid paying interest
Cons
Penalty APR apples if you make a late or returned payment
Cash advance and foreign transaction fees apply
$0 annual fee for the life of the card
Additional cards come with no annual fees
0% APR on purchases for the first 15 months, after which it might vary between 13.99% and 23.99%
Spend $2,000 on purchases in the first six months to earn $200 as statement credit
Use the Plan It option for big purchases and pay no interest, just a fixed monthly fee
Get complimentary car rental loss and damage insurance
All cardholders get access to American Express Experiences, American Express Seating, American Express Presales and a bunch of other Amex-related benefits.
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.
Great no-annual-fee card for earning rewards on business spending
Good-ExcellentCredit Needed
$0Annual Fee
2 Miles per $1*Rewards Rate
1xRewards Rate on TV, Phone, Internet Services
1xRewards Rate on Online Shopping
We like the Blue Business Plus® Credit Card from American Express because it gives businesses the ability to earn rewards without having to pay any annual fees. This card comes with an intro 0% APR offer on purchases for 12 months. In addition, you may also get employee cards for free.
You’ll earn 2 points per $1 on all purchases up to a total of $50,000 per year, after which you’ll earn 1 point per $1. Redeeming your points is easy. You may use them to make purchases through popular online platforms, to book or upgrade travel and to buy gift cards. Points can also be transferred to airline or hotel partners for additional value.
Finally, assigning an account manager and using accounting-related tools provided by American Express can help ease your expense management woes.
Pros
No annual fees
0% intro APR on purchases
Earn 2x reward points on spending of up to $50,000 per year, followed by 1x
Free employee cards
Can assign an account manager
Download interactive year-end summaries
Use Vendor Pay to improve business cash flow
Purchase protection
Cons
Penalty APR applies when you make a late payment
Foreign transaction fees
Balance transfer fees
There’s a minimum required to redeem points
Pay no annual fees for the life of the card.
Earn 2x reward points for the first $50,000 you spend on purchases each year. Earn 1x after your spending exceeds this limit.
Redeem points for travel booked through American Express Travel, purchases via select online merchants or gift cards.
You may also transfer your reward points to different frequent flyer programs.
Save money on interest by using the 0% intro APR offer on purchases for 12 months.
Get free employee cards and set individual spending limits.
Improve cash flow by using your card to pay bills via Vendor Pay.
Safeguard purchases made using the card through extended warranty and purchase protection.
Get protection when you or your employees rent cars through car rental loss and damage insurance.
Get access to American Express Experiences and purchase pre-sale tickets for various events.
Use the American Express Business App and Connect to QuickBooks tools to simplify transferring spending-related data to your existing accounting system.
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.
A simple cash back rewards card that helps you avoid hassles
Good-ExcellentCredit Needed
$0Annual Fee
1–2% Cash Back*Rewards Rate
1xRewards Rate on TV, Phone, Internet Services
1xRewards Rate on Gas
We like the no-annual-fee American Express Blue Business® Cash Card because it lets you earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases up to $50,000 per year and 1% cash back thereafter. Its 0% APR offer on purchases stays in place for the first 12 months.
As part of this card’s welcome offer, you get to earn a $250 statement credit if you spend $5,000 on eligible purchases in the first six months. You may earn an additional $250 statement credit if you spend $10,000 or more in qualifying purchases in the first year.
You also get access to multiple expense management tools, free employee cards and complimentary car rental loss and damage insurance.
Pros
No annual fee
Cash back rate of 2% for eligible purchases up to $50,000, then 1%
Intro 0% APR offer
Welcome offer of a $250 statement credit after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first six months and another $250 after you spend $10,000 in the first year.
Flexible credit limit
Authorized users can be added for no additional fee
Points are redeemed automatically
Cons
Cash back rate has a cap
Foreign transaction fee of 2.7%
Pay no interest for the first 12 months after acquiring the card
Earn 2% cash back for eligible purchases with a cap of $50,000, then 1% after
Enjoy no annual fees for the life of the card
Earn a $250 statement credit for spending $5,000 in the first six months and another $250 after you spend $10,000 in the first year.
Benefit from the Expanded Buying Power feature, which lets you go over the credit limit if you qualify with no penalties or fees
Add up to 99 authorized users, free of charge
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.
Our experts monitor all existing no-annual-fee Amex credit cards closely, and they keep an eye out for any new cards that might enter this category. Once they’ve narrowed down on all the American Express cards that fit the bill, they compare them meticulously across parameters such as APRs, welcome bonuses and reward/cash back rates.
If you feel you might benefit more by looking at what other card providers have to offer, consider checking our selection of all the top no-annual-fee credit cards.
Top Rating Criteria for Amex Cards
APR (Avg Value)
Rewarding Welcome Offer
Cash Back/Rewards Rate
How to Compare Amex Credit Cards & Intro Offers
American Express provides multiple no-annual-fee cards, so it’s important that you consider different factors when narrowing down on one that might work best for you.
1
Welcome Offer
It's common for no-annual-fee Amex credit cards to come with spending- and time-based welcome offers. These might come in the form of cash back that you get as a statement credit or reward points/miles that go toward a hotel/airline loyalty program.
2
Co-branded or not
If you’re a frequent Delta flyer or stay at Hilton properties every so often, you may consider getting the Delta SkyMiles Blue Card or the Hilton Honors Card. If not, there are other options from which to choose.
3
APR
Take a close look at the APRs on offer if you plan to maintain revolving balances on your card. Co-branded no-annual-fee Amex cards tend to come with higher APRs than ones that are not. You might also want to check if any of the cards currently come with a 0% introductory APR on purchases.
4
Foreign transaction fees
If you wish to use your card outside of the country, getting an Amex no-annual-fee card with no foreign transaction fees might be in your best interest. Cards that fit the bill include the Hilton Honors Card and the Delta SkyMiles Blue Card.
5
Cash back/rewards rate
You get the option of choosing from no-annual-fee Amex credit cards that offer cash back, reward points and reward miles. Further, the earn rate depends on the card you get. For example, the Cash Magnet Card offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. The Blue Cash Everyday Card, on the other hand, lets you earn 3% cash back on groceries at U.S. supermarkets on purchases of up to $6,000 per year, 2% cash back on gas at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
6
Additional features
Fraud protection, complimentary car rental loss and damage insurance, and access to Global Assist Hotline are common features with all Amex consumer cards from this category. Some let you get free additional cards. Business cards may also come with purchase and extended warranty protection.
Rajiv Baniwal has been writing about different financial topics for over 15 years. Meticulous in his research, he makes sure he provides accurate and up-to-date information. His areas of expertise include mortgages, personal loans, credit cards, insurance and international money transfers.
*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. Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.
