A no-annual-fee credit card is a great starter option if you’re looking to get into the points and miles game. As their name implies, you don’t have to pay a fee to hold these cards, but you can still earn cash back and other reward currencies with them. Plus, some cards offer credits and other benefits like access to exclusive cardholder offers.
At TPG, we’re big fans of various types of cards, including premium travel picks like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. The thing about these products, however, is that they typically feature equally premium annual fees.
While no-annual-fee credit cards generally feature fewer perks, they can still provide lots of value depending on what type of spender you are and your financial priorities and preferences. Either way, having a credit card with no annual fee can be a great way to earn rewards on your current spending without incurring any additional costs.
Let’s review the details of the best no-annual-fee credit cards to determine whether one of our top picks is right for you.
The best no-annual-fee credit cards
Comparing the best no-annual-fee credit cards
Our picks for the best no-annual-fee cards feature options from various issuers and earn a mix of cash back, points and miles:
| Card | Best for | Welcome offer | Earning rates | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card | Freelancers | Earn $750 cash back after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. |
|
$0 |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | Flexible cash rewards | Earn $250 cash back after spending $500 within three months from account opening. |
|
$0 |
| Citi Double Cash Card | Balance transfers |
Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months from account opening. |
|
$0 |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card | Airline transfer partners |
Earn 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. |
|
$0 |
| Ink Business Cash Credit Card | Office supplies | Earn up to $750 cash back — $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months from account opening. |
|
$0 |
| The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express | No-annual-fee Amex card | Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months from account opening. |
|
$0 |
| Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card | Dining and entertainment | Earn $200 cash back after you spend $500 on purchases within three months from account opening. |
|
$0 |
| Bilt Mastercard | Renters | N/A |
|
$0 (see rates and fees) |
| Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | Beginner cash back | Earn $200 cash back after spending $500 on purchases within three months from account opening. |
|
$0 |
| Wells Fargo Autograph Card | Quality perks for no annual fee | Earn 20,000 points when you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. |
|
$0 |
Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card
Welcome offer: Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $0
Why it’s a great no-annual-fee card: The Ink Business Unlimited is a solid no-annual-fee card for freelancers or small-business owners who are just starting out. The card offers a simple earning strategy: unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase.
Daily Newsletter
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
Additionally, you can pair this card with the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to convert your cash back into Chase Ultimate Rewards points and increase the value of your earnings.
For more details, read our full review of the Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card.
Apply here: Ink Business Unlimited
Chase Freedom Unlimited
Welcome offer: Earn $250 cash back after spending $500 in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $0
Why it’s a great no-annual-fee card: The Chase Freedom Unlimited offers elevated cash-back earning rates on select categories, like 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel and 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service. It also earns 1.5% cash back on all other purchases, so if you don’t want to remember which card to use for everyday purchases, the Chase Freedom Unlimited has got you covered.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited really shines when paired with a Chase Sapphire card as cash back can be converted into Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
For more details, read our full review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
Apply here: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Citi Double Cash Card
Welcome offer: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
Annual fee: $0
Why it’s a great no-annual-fee card: One of my favorite no-annual-fee credit cards is the Citi Double Cash. It’s a simple and straightforward way of earning cash back, which makes it a perfect match for those new to rewards credit cards.
The Citi Double Cash earns 2% cash back on every purchase — 1% when you make a purchase and 1% when you make a payment. This encourages and rewards responsible credit card usage. Additionally, it can be combined with select Citi cards to convert cash back into ThankYou Rewards points.
For more details, read our full review of the Citi Double Cash Card.
Apply here: Citi Double Cash
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Welcome offer: Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $0
Why it’s a great no-annual-fee card: Most no-annual-fee cards are cash-back cards, but the Capital One VentureOne Rewards card is a travel rewards credit card. This means you have the ability to earn Capital One miles, a valuable transferable rewards currency, without an annual fee.
Additionally, the card offers a simple earning structure and a decent welcome bonus for a product that doesn’t charge an annual fee.
For more details, read our full review of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.
Learn more: Capital One VentureOne
Ink Business Cash Credit Card
Welcome offer: Earn up to $750 in rewards — $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.
Annual fee: $0
Why it’s a great no-annual-fee card: This small-business card is packed with multiple business-centric bonus categories, a generous welcome bonus and a long introductory annual percentage rate, or APR, period. It does all of this while costing nothing, making it a great option if you’re looking to keep a small-business credit card for the long term.
For more details, read our full review of the Ink Business Cash Credit Card.
Apply here: Ink Business Cash
The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express
Welcome offer: Earn 15,000 points after you spend $3,000 on eligible purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $0
Why it’s a great no-annual-fee card: If you’re looking to earn American Express Membership Rewards points on your everyday business spending and want to do so with a no-annual-fee product, look no further than the Amex Blue Business Plus card.
It earns 2 points per dollar spent on everyday business purchases, such as office supplies or client dinners, on the first $50,000 in purchases per year (then 1 point per dollar). If you max out that threshold, that’s up to 100,000 points — all for no annual fee.
For more details, read our full review of The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express.
Apply here: The Blue Business Plus
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Welcome offer: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $500 on purchases within three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $0
Why it’s a great no-annual-fee card: The Capital One Savor Cash has no annual fee and offers numerous bonus categories, including:
- 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target) and on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
If you’re already spending money in these categories, the Savor Cash can be an especially lucrative cash-back card to add to your wallet.
For more details, read our full review of the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card.
Learn more: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards
Bilt Mastercard
Welcome offer: None.
Annual fee: $0 (see rates and fees)
Why it’s a great no-annual-fee card: The Bilt Mastercard is the only card that earns points on rent with no transaction fees (see rates and fees).
As long as you make five transactions on your Bilt card every statement period, you can earn 1 point per dollar you spend on rent (up to 100,000 points in a calendar year). Additionally, you earn 3 points per dollar spent on dining, 2 points per dollar spent on travel and 1 point per dollar spent on all purchases.
Plus, Bilt points are transferable. This means you can pay for your next trip with the rewards you earn for paying your rent with this card — which is money you would’ve spent anyway — for no annual fee.
For more details, read our full review of the Bilt Mastercard.
Apply here: Bilt Mastercard
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Welcome offer: Earn $200 cash back after you spend $500 on purchases within three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $0
Why it’s a great no-annual-fee card: The Quicksilver Cash Rewards card is a solid cash-back card. It earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase but a decent 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. In addition to no annual fee, this card also doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.
For more details, read our full review of the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card.
Learn more: Capital One Quicksilver
Wells Fargo Autograph Card
Welcome offer: Earn 20,000 points when you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee: $0
Why it’s a great no-annual-fee card: The Wells Fargo Autograph features multiple bonus categories, a decent welcome offer and cellphone protection. If you’re looking for a no-frills credit card with simple earning and redemption options, this is a solid pick.
For more details, read our full review of the Wells Fargo Autograph Card.
Apply here: Wells Fargo Autograph
What to consider when choosing a no-annual-fee card
No-annual-fee credit cards provide an easy way to enter the credit card world. Some important factors to consider are:
Rewards earning
While none of the cards on this list have an annual fee, you should still prioritize choosing the one that best suits your spending preferences and needs. Think about your spending habits and choose a card that offers the best earning rates for you.
Additional benefits
Besides earning rates, consider the additional benefits you want from a card. For example, if you are a foodie who wants a card with cellphone protection, consider the Wells Fargo Autograph. Cardholders enjoy up to $600 in cellphone protection when they pay their monthly bill with the card (subject to a $25 deductible).
Paying off your balance on time
If you’re looking to add a credit card with or without an annual fee to your wallet, you still have to practice responsible credit card usage. It is important to pay off your bill in full every month and not carry a balance to take full advantage of your credit card.
You won’t be able to save money with a no-annual-fee card if you’re stuck paying interest on your balance.
Related: How to use credit cards responsibly
When you should consider a card with an annual fee
Not all cards are created equally. Many premium travel reward cards like the Amex Platinum and the Chase Sapphire Reserve cost hundreds of dollars in annual fees, but they also feature premium perks like airport lounge access and travel credits that can make their fees worth it.
If you’re interested in a card with an annual fee, double-check that you can take advantage of its benefits before submitting your application. For the right person, a card like the Amex Platinum, which features a hefty annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees), can be worth it.
Some notable credits offered by the Amex Platinum include:
- $200 in Uber Cash: Amex Platinum cardholders get $15 in Uber Cash to use on eligible orders with Uber Eats and rides with Uber in the U.S. each month, plus an up-to-$20 bonus in December. Uber Cash will only be deposited into one Uber account when you add the Amex Platinum as a payment method and redeem with any Amex card.*
- $240 digital entertainment credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you use your Amex Platinum for eligible purchases with Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock and The Wall Street Journal when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers.*
- $200 hotel credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Amex Platinum. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.*
- $200 airline fee credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your card or any of the additional users on your Amex Platinum account.*
- $199 Clear Plus credit: Clear Plus helps you get to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify your identity at more than 50 airports nationwide; it’s also available at more than 100 stadiums and entertainment venues throughout the U.S. When you pay for your Clear Plus membership with your Amex Platinum card, you’ll receive an up-to-$199 Clear Plus credit (subject to auto-renewal).*
*Enrollment is required.
If you’re not quite ready for an annual fee or want to simply get a feel for the credit card rewards game, starting with a no-annual-fee card is a great choice.
Related: The best premium credit cards: A side-by-side comparison
Bottom line
A no-annual-fee card can certainly be a good choice for the right person. If you don’t want to worry about an annual fee but still want to earn on your current spending, getting a card with no annual fee is a great way to get started. Additionally, a no-annual-fee card is a great pick for new credit card users as it allows you to join the world of credit cards without the risk of a high annual fee.
With over a dozen cards under my belt, including premium products like the Amex Platinum, I still love my no-annual-fee Citi Double Cash. Its reward structure is easy to understand, and it’s been in my wallet for years since I don’t have to justify paying an annual fee year after year.
Related: What credit score do you need to get the Citi Double Cash Card?
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Business Plus, click here.
For rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.