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Best Travel Credit Cards for No Annual Fee in 2024
Updated: September 30, 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
Each month, MoneyGeek experts go through our extensive database and select all new and existing no-annual-fee travel credit cards. An in-depth comparison follows, where they pay due attention to parameters such as welcome offers, reward rates, APRs and foreign transaction fees. Only then do they publish their revised list of the top cards from this segment.
MoneyGeek’s Take: Top 5 Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee
Quick Summary
- Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card: A great miles rewards card with no annual fees.
- Hilton Honors American Express Card: A good travel rewards card for people who are casual guests at Hilton hotels and resorts.
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card: Solid dining rewards card with no annual fee.
- American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card: A great travel card with no annual fee for frequent flyers on American Airlines.
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Rewards: The best travel rewards card with no annual or foreign transaction fees.
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
Frequent Delta flyers who want to maximize their rewards will benefit from the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Amex Card. It offers a generous sign-up bonus, 2x miles on Delta purchases, free checked bags, priority boarding and more—making it ideal for Delta travelers.
Pros
- High rewards on U.S. dining
- Generous bonus miles offer
- High rewards on Delta flights
- Free first checked bag on Delta flights
- Priority boarding on Delta flights
Cons
- High annual fee after the first year
- Limited value if not flying Delta
- Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first six months.
- Earn 2X miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases,
- Earn 2X miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- Earn 1X miles 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. See rates and fees.
- No annual fee. See rates and fees.
- Terms 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 See Rates and Fees
- Generous welcome bonus
- High earning rates with Hilton
- No foreign transaction fees See Rates and 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. Offer ends 1/8/2025.
- Earn 7X 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 at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations.
- Earn 3X points for all other eligible purchases.
- No annual fee See Rates and Fees
- Hilton Honors Silver status. Spend $20,000 in a calendar year to upgrade to Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
- No foreign transaction fees.See Rates and Fees
- Terms Apply
- See Rates and Fees
- 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
This card offers a terrific rewards rate on dining purchases without a pesky annual fee. The card has a sizable bonus with a fairly low spend threshold, which is a great way to 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
- American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
A great travel card with no annual fee for frequent flyers with American Airlines
- 1–2 Miles per $1Rewards Rate
- 21.24% – 29.99% VariableAPR
- $0Annual Fee
- ExcellentRecommended Credit
The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card is good for travelers who fly infrequently but want to earn miles with American Airlines because it doesn’t have annual fees. It offers 2X miles per dollar on groceries and American Airlines purchases and a meaningful sign-up bonus with a low spending requirement. Compared to other no-annual-fee cards from different airlines, a unique feature is that purchases also count toward earning status. However, the card charges foreign transaction fees and lacks perks you might see on airline cards, such as priority boarding and free checked bags.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Bonus miles on AA and grocery purchases
- Rewarding intro offer with low spend requirement
- Earns toward status
Cons
- Foreign transaction fees
- Lacks travel perks like free checked bags or priority boarding
- Rewards limited to AAdvantage redemptions
- Earn 2X AAdvantage miles per dollar on groceries and eligible American Airlines purchases.
- Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles after spending $500 within the first three months.
- Redeem miles for award flights on American Airlines to over 1,000 global destinations.
- Earn one Loyalty Point, AAdvantage's tracking for earning status, for every eligible mile earned from purchases
- Access Citi Concierge 24/7 for assistance with restaurant bookings, gift shopping and more.
- 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
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on all purchases.
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked using Capital One Travel.
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles (equivalent to $200 if redeemed for travel) after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
- Miles don't expire as long as the account remains active.
- You can use your miles to reimburse travel purchases or book a trip on Capital One Travel. You can also transfer your miles to over 15 travel loyalty programs.
- Enjoy a 0% intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. Afterward, the APR is 19.99%–29.99% variable. There's a balance transfer fee of 3% on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months.
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 CardBest ForAvg. Reward RateAnnual FeeCredit Needed
- Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
A great miles rewards card with no annual feesup 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 resorts3–7 Points per $1*$0 - U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
Solid dining rewards card with no annual fee1–4 Points per $1$0 - American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
A great travel card with no annual fee for frequent flyers with American Airlines1–2 Miles per $1$0 - Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
An excellent balance transfer card with travel rewards
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.
1
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.
2
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.
3
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.
4
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.
5
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.
6
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.
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About Doug Milnes, CFA
Doug Milnes is a CFA charter holder with over 10 years of experience in corporate finance and the Head of Credit Cards at MoneyGeek. Formerly, he performed valuations for Duff and Phelps and financial planning and analysis for various companies. His analysis has been cited by U.S. News and World Report, The Hill, the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and many other outlets.
Milnes holds a master’s degree in data science from Northwestern University. He geeks out on helping people feel on top of their credit card use, from managing debt to optimizing rewards.
*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.
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.
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.
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.