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The best cards with no annual fees still offer a variety of benefits. Whether you want a welcome bonus, are focused on earning ongoing rewards or plan to use an introductory interest rate offer, there are cards to match. Here are some of the best options from our partners.
3 Partner Offers
| Our Picks for the Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards | |
|---|---|
 Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | 2% cash rewards on eligible purchases $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening |
 Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card | 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening |
 Capital One Platinum Credit Card | Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months. |
Best for Cash Rewards: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a great flat-rate cash rewards card that doesn't have an annual fee.
Using the card, you can earn an unlimited 2% cash rewards on all your purchases. There are no categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
New cardholders may also qualify for a $200 cash rewards intro bonus after they make $500 in purchases within 3 months of opening their card account. You could also get an introductory 0% annual percentage rate (APR) offer on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. The promotional rate lasts 12 months, after which you'll have a 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR applied once it ends. To qualify for the intro APR, balance transfers must be made within 120 days of account opening. There is a 3% ($5 minimum) intro balance transfer fee within the first 120 days from account opening, then up to a 5% ($5 minimum) fee once the intro period ends.
There is a 3% foreign currency conversion fee on international purchases, which could make this a poor fit for people who frequently travel abroad. Also, while the 2% cash rewards rate is good for a flat-rate card, some people may prefer a rewards card that offers a higher rate on select bonus categories.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
on Wells Fargo's website
Recommended FICO® Score*
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
APR
19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR
Intro APR
Rewards
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
Intro Bonus
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
Card Details
- Select “Apply Now” to take advantage of this specific offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Best for Travel: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card also offers flat-rate rewards. It could be a good option for existing Bank of America customers, particularly if you often travel outside the U.S., as it doesn't have a foreign transaction fee.
It gives you 1.5 points per dollar spent using the card. However, if you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25% to 75% more in bonus rewards based on your combined balance with Bank of America deposit and Merrill investment accounts. You could get up to 2.62 points per mile, and each point is worth 1 cent when you redeem them for statement credits to offset dining and travel purchases.
With the card's intro bonus, you can earn 25,000 points if you make at least $1,000 worth of purchases within 90 days of account opening. However, if you don't qualify for an increased rewards rate through the Preferred Rewards program, you might earn more rewards with a different card.
Best for Fair Credit: Capital One Platinum Credit Card
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is open to people with fair credit or who are new to credit. It could be a good option if you're just starting out or are trying to continue to improve your credit.
While the card doesn't offer rewards, it's an unsecured credit card, so you won't need to tie up your money by paying a security deposit. The Capital One Platinum Credit Card also doesn't have any foreign transaction fees.
You might receive a low credit limit when you open your account; however, Capital One may consider you for a credit limit increase in as little as six months.
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
on Capital One's website
Recommended FICO® Score*
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
APR
29.99% (Variable)
Intro APR
Rewards
None
Annual Fee
$0
Card Details
- No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
- Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
- Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you're all set
- Pay by check, online or at a local branch, all with no fee - and pick the monthly due date that works best for you
How to Choose the Best No Annual Fee Credit Card
Picking the right credit card will depend on how you plan to use the card and which cards you'll likely be able to get. People who have good or excellent credit may have more options than those with poor credit. If you're not sure where your credit stands, you can check your Experian credit report and score for free.
If you want a card that allows you to earn rewards, consider the cards' rewards rates and whether they offer bonus rewards in categories where you tend to spend a lot of money. A large intro bonus can increase a card's value, but make sure you can meet the spending requirement with purchases you would have made anyway.
When you're focused on getting a new card to finance purchases or transfer a balance, the intro 0% APR period's length may be an important consideration. Also, consider card fees and how they'll impact your balance as well as variable interest rates if you may need to carry a balance beyond the promotional period.
How No Annual Fee Credit Cards Compare to Those With Annual Fees
Overall, cards that don't have annual fees tend to offer lower rewards rates and fewer cardholder benefits. But that doesn't necessarily mean they're worse.
Consider a card that doesn't have an annual fee and offers 1.5% cash back to a card with a $95 annual fee and 2% cash back. All else being equal, you'd have to spend $19,000 per year (about $1,583 a month) on the card with the higher rewards rate to break even.
Paying an annual fee can be worth it to some people, especially when there are flashy perks. For example, a travel credit card with an annual fee might give you free access to airport lounges. Or, a hotel card might give you an annual voucher that you can use to stay at a hotel that could normally cost over $1,000 a night.
Get Matched With Credit Cards That Don't Have Annual Fees
While we've listed some of the best credit cards that don't have annual fees from our partners above, you can also browse cards in the Experian CreditMatch™ credit card marketplace. Set your own filters based on how you plan to use the card. You can also log in to your Experian account and get personalized card offers.