Best Rewards Credit Cards for No Annual Fee in 2022
The best rewards credit cards with no annual fee give you the ability to earn higher-than-usual rewards without needing to overcome a yearly fee. Several of the top cards come with sizable welcome bonus offers too.
The top no-annual-fee rewards credit cards typically offer high reward rates on spending across specific categories such as travel, dining, groceries and gas. Some also come with higher-than-standard reward rates on all purchases. A number of these cards give you the means to earn spend-based welcome bonuses in the form of cash back, points or miles.
If you favor using a particular airline or group of hotels, you might benefit from getting a co-branded rewards credit card. Examples of cards from this segment that make the cut include the American Express Hilton Honors Card and the Chase IHG Rewards Club Traveler Credit Card.
If you plan to use your no-annual-fee rewards credit card outside of the U.S., look for ones that do not charge foreign transaction fees. Other factors to consider when selecting a card that works well for you include APRs and added benefits.
MoneyGeek’s Take: Top 5 Rewards Credit Cards With No Annual Fee
Quick Summary
Upon going through our list of the best rewards credit cards with no annual fee, you’ll notice that reward rates vary based on the card you get and the bonus categories on offer. We have taken this into account and also have paid attention to APRs, welcome offers and foreign transaction fees to make our selections. To view more options, scroll further down the page.
American Express Hilton Honors Card
A good travel rewards card for people who are casual guests at Hilton hotels and resorts
Good-ExcellentCredit Needed
$0Annual Fee
3–7 Points per $1*Rewards Rate
7xRewards Rate at Hotels
5xRewards Rate on Dining
We love the no-annual-fee American Express Hilton Honors Card because it lets you earn reward points faster when you spend across Hilton properties. It also comes with a sizeable spending-based welcome offer.
Eligible spending at hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio comes with 7x points. You earn 5x points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery, as well as on groceries at U.S. supermarkets and on gas at U.S. gas stations. All other purchases come with 3x points.
This card is ideal for international use, as it charges no overseas transaction fees.
All cardholders get complimentary Hilton Honors Silver Status. This card offers car rental loss and damage insurance and access to Global Assist Hotline.
Pros
No foreign transaction fee
No annual fee
Hilton Honors Silver Status
Welcome bonus
Hilton Honors status upgrade
High points reward rate
Car rental loss and damage insurance
Global Assist Hotline
Fraud protection
Additional cards
Cons
High APR
High credit score requirement
Lower reward rate compared to other Hilton Honors cards
No fee on international transactions
$0 annual fee
Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver Status
Upgrade to Hilton Honors Gold Status for spending $20,000 in a calendar year
Earn 70,000 points and a free night award for spending $1,000 within three months
Earn 7 points per dollar spent at Hilton hotels and resorts
Earn 5 points per dollar spent at U.S. gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants
Earn 3 points per dollar spent on other eligible purchases
24/7 assistance in case of an emergency
Car rental loss and damage insurance
No liability for fraudulent transactions
Additional cards available
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.
An excellent no-annual-fee card that lets you earn unlimited cash back
ExcellentCredit Needed
$0Annual Fee
1.5–5% Cash BackRewards Rate
3xRewards Rate on Dining
5xRewards Rate on Air Travel
We're in love with the Chase Freedom Unlimited card because it comes with no annual fee and gives you the ability to earn unlimited rewards. Depending on your spending habits, you stand to earn up to 5% cash back on your purchases. Another plus is that the cash back rewards you earn don't expire for the life of the card.
An intro 0% APR on purchases for the first 15 months enables you to make big-ticket purchases without having to pay interest — provided you repay the entire amount during the intro period. Cardholders can also eliminate interest on existing debt with a balance transfer. You'll enjoy 15 months with no interest to pay off your transferred balances After the promo period expires, you might benefit by getting a low ongoing rate depending on your credit score.
Complimentary purchase and travel protection might come in handy in various scenarios, such as if you miss your flight or an item is damaged or stolen after you buy it.
If you use Lyft to get around, you stand to benefit even more — by earning 5% cash back until March 2022.
Pros
No annual fees
0% APR on purchases for 15 months from account opening
Intro bonus cash back offer
Earn 5% cash back on travel purchases
Earn 3% cash back on dining-related purchases
Earn 3% cash back on drugstore purchases
Earn 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
You may earn unlimited cash back that never expires
Redeem rewards for cash back, for gift cards, for travel or through Amazon.com
Get complimentary purchase and travel coverage
Cons
Foreign transaction fees
Cash advance and balance transfer fees
Penalty APR may apply in case of late and returned payments
Pay $0 annual fee for the life of your card
Pay no interest on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months
Travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards earn 5% cash back
For the first year, earn 5% cash back at gas stations (on up to $6,000 in purchases)
Spending at restaurants, on takeout and through other eligible delivery services, as well as drugstore purchases, earn 3% cash back
All other purchases earn 1.5% cash back
You get to earn unlimited cash back rewards, and they don't expire as long as your account remains active
Different ways to redeem your cash back include receiving a statement credit, withdrawing it through a direct deposit, using it to get gift cards or using it to pay for travel
Zero liability protection, 24/7 fraud protection, purchase protection and extended warranty protection are in place to provide extra peace of mind
Feel better when traveling by knowing that you have access to travel and emergency assistance services, trip cancellation/interruption insurance and auto rental collision damage coverage.
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 great no-annual-fee card that offers up to 2% cash back
ExcellentCredit Needed
$0Annual Fee
2% Cash Back*Rewards Rate
2xRewards Rate on Gas
2xRewards Rate on Groceries
We think the Citi Double Cash Card is a great no-annual-fee card because it lets you earn an unlimited 2% cash back on purchases across all categories. You'll receive 1% on your purchases and 1% when you pay down your balance. You may redeem your cash back in the form of a statement credit, a direct deposit, a check or even by converting it to points.
You may look forward to savings by using the card's 0% intro APR offer on balance transfers for 18 months if you wish to pay off existing balances from high-interest cards.
Features such as 24-hour fraud protection, identity theft solutions, $0 liability on unauthorized charges and the lost wallet service are in place to safeguard cardholders' interests.
All cardholders get access to Citi Entertainment, through which they may purchase presale tickets.
Pros
Pay no annual fees
Pay 0% APR on balance transfers for the first 18 months
Earn up to 2% cash back on purchases across all categories
No caps on earning cash back
Options to redeem cash back rewards include a statement credit, direct deposit, check or conversion to points
Purchase tickets to scores of events, including presale tickets, through Citi Entertainment
Increased account safety through 24-hour fraud protection and $0 liability on unauthorized charges
Complimentary Lost Wallet service and identity theft solutions
Cons
Cash back rewards expire if you do not earn any cash back from purchases or payments for those purchases in a 12-month period
Foreign transaction fees
Cash advance fees
Balance transfer fees
Penalty APR applies in case of late and returned payments
$0 annual fees
Intro 0% APR offer on balance transfers for the first 18 months
2% unlimited cash back on purchases - 1% on purchases and 1% on payments
Redeem cash back rewards as a statement credit, a check or a direct deposit
Converting cash back rewards to Thank You points may provide even greater value when transferring to airline or hotel partners
Get access to presale tickets via Citi Entertainment
24-hour fraud protection, $0 liability on unauthorized charges and identity theft solutions provide added peace of mind
Get emergency cash through the Lost Wallet service
Foreign transaction fees apply on international transactions
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.
An easy-to-use cash back card with quarterly rotating bonus categories
Good-ExcellentCredit Needed
$0Annual Fee
1–5% Cash Back*Rewards Rate
5xRewards Rate on Air Travel
3xRewards Rate on Dining
We recommended the Chase Freedom Flex Card to people who wish to earn high category-based cash back without paying an annual fee. You get 5% cash back on combined purchases of up to $1,500 in bonus categories you activate every quarter and on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You get 3% cash back on multiple bonus categories. You also get higher-than-usual cash back at gas stations during the first year.
This card comes with an introductory APR applies on purchases and balance transfers. However, if you use this card to transfer a balance, you need to pay a balance transfer fee. This card also comes with foreign transaction fees.
Some of the additional benefits come in the form of purchase protection, extended warranty, cell phone protection, trip cancellation/interruption insurance and auto rental collision damage waiver.
Pros
Generous welcome offer
Rotating cash back bonus categories
No annual fee
Excellent customer-facing features
Grocery store perks
DoorDash and Lyft benefits
Cons
Modest base cash back rate
Your interests might not align with quarterly rotating bonus categories
Foreign transaction fees
5% cash back on quarterly rotating bonus categories
5% cash back on Chase Ultimate Rewards travel purchases
3% cash back on dining, takeout, delivery and drug store purchases
1% cash back on all other purchases
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 card for earning points fast for IHG loyalists
Good-ExcellentCredit Needed
$0Annual Fee
1–2 Points per $1Rewards Rate
15xRewards Rate at Hotels
2xRewards Rate on Gas
We recommend the no annual fee Chase IHG Rewards Club Traveler Card to people who frequently stay at properties that are part of the InterContinental Hotels Group and wish to earn reward points faster. You earn up to 15x points per dollar at IHG Hotels and Resorts. Purchases at restaurants, gas stations and grocery stores come with 2x points, and you get 1x points on all other purchases.
If you spend $10,000 or more on purchases in a calendar year, you get Gold Elite Status that remains valid until the end of the following year. If you redeem your points for stays of four or more nights, you get a free reward night. This card is prefect to use outside of the U.S. as it comes with no foreign transaction fees.
Additional benefits include purchase protection and travel insurance coverage.
Pros
No annual fee
No foreign transaction fees
Points expiration period extension
High reward rate
Numerous hotel redemption options
Cons
Gold Elite status requires high spending
High APR depending on your credit
No luxury benefits or perks
Must pay to transfer points
No annual fee
No foreign transaction fee
Up to 15x points per dollar on category-based spending
Points may expire if you do not have 12 months of consecutive activity on your card and do not spend enough to qualify for Gold Elite status
Benefits and rewards may vary by location
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.
Summary of the Best Rewards Cards for No Annual Fee
Find out how all the top cards from this category fare against each other based on aspects such as APRs, welcome offers and reward rates by going through this no-annual-fee rewards card comparison table.
An excellent no-annual-fee cash back card with 0% intro APR on purchases
1–3% Cash Back*
$0
Good-Excellent
MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP
No-fee does not mean no-frills. Many cards today offer attractive benefits and rewards without having to pay an annual fee to use them. -- Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com.
About Our Rankings
MoneyGeek experts take a close look at all new and existing no-annual-fee rewards credit cards each month. They follow this up by comparing them based on parameters such as reward rates, welcome offers, APRs and added benefits. The result of their labor is this list of the top cards.
If you wish to use a credit card for business purposes, consider taking a look at what the top business rewards cards have to offer.
Top Rating Criteria for Rewards Cards
Welcome Offer
Average Reward Rate
APR
How to Compare Rewards Credit Cards & Intro Offers
Given the significant number of good no-annual-fee rewards credit cards to choose from, paying attention to different factors is important when making a selection.
Depending on the card you get, you might stand to earn higher rewards on category-based spending. For instance, the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card offers 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards. You earn 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, and on drugstore purchases. All other purchases come with 1.5% cash back. The Citi Double Cash Card, on the other hand, lets you earn up to 2% cash back on all purchases — 1% when you make purchases and an additional 1% when you make your payments on time.
3
Welcome offer
Several of the top cards from this category come with welcome offers. For example, the Capital One SavorOne Rewards Card offers a one-time early spend cash bonus of $200 if you spend at least $500 on purchases in the first three months.
4
APR
Not all cards from this segment come with similar APRs. Pay particular attention to this aspect if you plan to maintain revolving balances in your account from one billing cycle to the next. In such a scenario, you might be better off getting a low APR card. Some no-annual-fee rewards cards also come with time-based 0% APR offers.
5
Foreign transaction fees
If you use a credit card with foreign transaction fees outside of the U.S., expect to pay up to 3% extra on each international transaction. Some of the rewards cards with no annual fees that waive foreign transaction fees include the Amex Hilton Honors Card, the Capital One SavorOne Rewards Card and the Citi Costco Anywhere Visa Card.
6
Added perks
Features and perks tend to vary from one no-annual-fee rewards card to the next. Some of the card-specific benefits you may get include free additional cards, $0 fraud liability, purchase protection, extended warranty and basic travel insurance coverage.
*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.
