If you’re looking for a new credit card and don’t want to pay an annual fee, then read on.
We’ve compiled a list of the best no-annual-fee credit cards available, so you can find one that meets your needs.
Whether you’re looking for a card that earns cash back or one with rewards, we got you covered.
Best for Rent: Bilt Mastercard® (review).
Best for General Spending: Chase Freedom Unlimited® (review).
Best for Family Expenses: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card (review).
1. Bilt Mastercard®
Best for Rent
The Bilt Mastercard® (review) lets you earn valuable travel rewards on rent payments without fees while offering bonus points on dining and travel purchases. This no-annual-fee card stands out for its unique rent payment feature and strong travel benefits like rental car coverage and trip protection.
Earning Rewards: 5x points on Lyft; 3x points on dining; 2x points on travel purchases; 1x points on rent payments without any transaction fees up to 100,000 points per year, and 1x points on everything else. (Five transactions are required per billing cycle to earn points.)
Card Benefits: No transaction fees to pay rent and earn 1x points, primary rental car insurance, cell phone protection, trip delay and trip cancellation insurance, purchase protection, and no foreign transaction fees.
2. Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Best for General Spending
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® (review) sets itself apart with 1.5% back on non-bonus purchases, plus higher rewards in select categories including dining and travel. This flexible rewards card becomes even more valuable when paired with a premium Chase card, allowing you to transfer your rewards to travel partners.
Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earning Cash Back: 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3% back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services; 3% back on drugstore purchases; 1.5% back on all other purchases
CaBenefits: Purchase protection, extended warranty, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, secondary rental car insurance, and 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, after that reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR applies;
3. Citi® Double Cash Card
Best for Simplicity
The Citi® Double Cash Card stands out with its straightforward approach to rewards, offering up to 2% back on every purchase – 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay. This no-nonsense card becomes even more powerful when paired with a premium Citi card, allowing you to transform your cash back into valuable transferable ThankYou points.
Welcome Bonus: Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.
Earning Rewards: 2% cash back on all eligible purchases (1% cash back when you buy and 1% when you pay for your purchases).
4. Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best for Family Expenses
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card (review) offers generous rewards with no annual fee, including bonus earnings on dining, entertainment, streaming services, and groceries. You’ll enjoy the flexibility to redeem your rewards as cash back or convert them to travel miles when paired with select Capital One cards, making this an excellent choice for both casual spenders and travel enthusiasts.
Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earn Rewards: 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®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services; 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Card Benefits: Extended warranty, secondary rental car insurance, price protection, no foreign transaction fees, and 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and balance transfers, after that a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR.
5. Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
Best for Flexible Spending Categories
The Citi Custom Cash℠ Card offers a unique rewards structure that automatically earns 5x points in your highest spending category each billing cycle, up to $500 in purchases. You’ll maximize your rewards with this flexible no-annual-fee card that adapts to your spending habits across ten useful bonus categories including restaurants, travel, groceries, and gas stations.
Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earn Rewards: 5% cash back for your top category each billing cycle up to $500 in the following categories: restaurants, gas stations, grocery stores, select travel (airlines, hotels, cruise lines and travel agencies), select transit (car rentals, parking, EV charging, tolls, etc.), select streaming services, drugstores, home improvement stores, fitness clubs, and live entertainment.; 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
Card Benefits: Access to Citi Entertainment, contactless payment, a free check of your FICO credit score, and 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfer, after that, a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR applies.
6. Chase Freedom Flex℠
Best for Drugstore Purchases
The Chase Freedom Flex℠ (review) rewards cardholders with 5x points in rotating quarterly categories and includes solid benefits like cell phone protection and purchase coverage. While the rotating categories require activation each quarter, this card offers significant value for those willing to track and maximize the bonus categories.
Welcome Bonus: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months.
Earn Rewards: 5% back in quarterly bonus categories; 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3% back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services; 3% back on drugstore purchases; 1% back on all other purchases.
Card Benefits: Cell phone protection, purchase protection, extended warranty, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, secondary rental car insurance, and 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, after that a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR applies.
7. U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
Best for Gas Stations & EV Charging
- Earn a $200 Bonus After Spending $1,000 in the First 120 Days.
- 5% Cash Back on the First $2,000 in Spending Each Quarter in Two Categories that You Choose
- 2% Cash Back on one category like Gas Stations and EV Charging Stations, Grocery Stores, or Restaurants
- No Annual Fee
The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card is a no-annual-fee card offering 5% cash back on:
- Your first $2,000 in combined purchases each quarter in two categories that you choose.
- Prepaid air, hotel, and car rental reservations booked directly in Rewards Travel Center.
You have the option to choose two of the following to earn 5% cash back: (1) Fast Food, (2) TV, Internet, and Streaming, (3) Cell Phone Providers, (4) Home Utilities, (5) Department Stores, (6) Electronic Stores, (7) Sporting Good Stores, (8) Movie Theaters, (9) Gyms/Fitness Centers, (10) Furniture Stores, (11) Ground Transportation, and (12) Select Clothing Stores.
You also have the option of choosing to earn 2% cash back for either: (1) grocery stores and grocery delivery, (2) restaurants, or (3) gas stations and EV charging stations.
All other eligible purchases will earn 1% cash back.
8. U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
- bonus_miles_full
- 4X Points on Dining, Takeout, and Food Delivery
- 2X Points at Grocery Stores, Grocery Delivery, Streaming Services, Gas Stations, and EV Charging Stations
- $15 Annual Streaming Credit
- No Annual Fee
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card (review) excels at dining with 4x points on restaurants and delivery, but falls flat with just 1% back on everyday purchases. While it offers decent rewards on groceries, gas, and streaming services, its weak base earning rate makes it better as a specialized dining card than an everyday spending option
Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earning Rewards: 4x points on dining, takeout, and restaurant delivery on the first $2,000 each quarter; 2x points on grocery stores, streaming services, gas stations, and EV charging stations; 1x points everywhere else.
Card Benefits: $15 annual streaming credit, 0% Intro APR offer, and no foreign transaction fees.
9. Hilton Honors American Express Card
- bonus_miles_full
- 7X Points at Hilton Hotels and Resorts
- 5X Points at U.S. Restaurants, U.S. Supermarkets, and U.S. Gas Stations
- Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver Status
- No Annual Fee (Rates and Fees)
The Hilton Honors American Express Card (review) is an entry-level card featuring 7 points per dollar on eligible Hilton purchases and complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, plus 5 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. restaurants.
Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earning Rewards: 7x points on eligible purchases directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio; 5x points at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations; 3x points on all other eligible purchases.
Main Benefits: Hilton Honors Silver Elite Status, secondary rental car insurance, and purchase protection.
10. Discover it® Cash Back
- 5% Cash Back in Rotating Quarterly Categories up to $1,500 Each Quarter When You Activate Offer
- 1% Cash Back On All Other Eligible Purchases
- Cash Back Match for the First Year
- No Annual Fee
The Discover it® Cash Back Credit Card has no annual fees and provides 5% cash back on the first $1,500 in purchases that you make each quarter in certain categories.
The 5% cash back categories rotate each quarter and require enrollment. These categories normally include spending towards Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and PayPal.
You’ll earn 1% cash back on the rotating categories once you’ve hit the spending limit for each quarter, and you will earn 1% back on all other purchases.
11. American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®
The American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® helps you earn both AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points without an annual fee requirement. The card rewards grocery store purchases and American Airlines spending while offering inflight savings, making it suitable for occasional flyers building toward elite status.
Welcome Bonus: bonus_miles_full
Earning Miles: 2 AAdvantage miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases and at grocery stores; 1x miles on all other eligible purchases.
Card Benefits: 25% in-flight savings on food and beverages, and Citi Concierge and Citi Entertainment.
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
- Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- 2X SkyMiles Per Dollar on Delta Air Lines
- 2x SkyMiles Per Dollar at Restaurants worldwide (including takeout & delivery in the U.S.)
- 20% Statement Credit on Delta In-Flight Purchases
- No Annual Fee and No Foreign Transaction Fees (Rates and Fees)
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (review) is Delta’s starter credit card option for those new to the SkyMiles program. The card keeps things simple with basic earning rates and practical perks like inflight discounts, though frequent Delta flyers might want to consider more premium options.
Welcome Bonus: Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
Earning Rewards: 2 SkyMiles per dollar at purchases made directly with Delta Air Lines, and restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.; and 1x miles on all other eligible purchases.
Card Benefits: 20% back on in-flight purchases, extended warranty, purchase prtoection, secondary rental car insurance, no foreign transaction fees, and access to Amex Offers.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, please click here. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.
