Best credit cards with no annual fee in October 2024
Advertiser Disclosure: The listings that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which Bankrate receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Here's an explanation for and how we rate our cards.
- Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Best overall
- Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for dining & entertainment
- Bilt Mastercard®: Best for renters
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Best for occasional travelers
- Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card: Best for commuters
- Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for shopping
- Discover it® Cash Back: Best for rotating bonus categories
- Citi Custom Cash® Card: Best for custom bonus category
- Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for beginners
- Citi Double Cash® Card: Best for balance transfers
- Bank of America Unlimited® Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Bank of America customers
- Capital One Platinum Credit Card: Best for credit builders
Best credit cards with no annual fee in October 2024
Advertiser Disclosure: The listings that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which Bankrate receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Here's an explanation for and how we rate our cards.
- Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card: Best overall
- Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for dining & entertainment
- Bilt Mastercard®: Best for renters
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Best for occasional travelers
- Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card: Best for commuters
- Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for shopping
- Discover it® Cash Back: Best for rotating bonus categories
- Citi Custom Cash® Card: Best for custom bonus category
- Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for beginners
- Citi Double Cash® Card: Best for balance transfers
- Bank of America Unlimited® Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Bank of America customers
- Capital One Platinum Credit Card: Best for credit builders
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Showing 12 results
Intro offer
$200 cash rewards
Rewards rate
2%
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR
Best for dining & entertainment
Intro offer
$200
Rewards rate
1% - 8%
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Why you'll like this: It’s one of the few no-annual-fee cards to offer an excellent rewards rate on both dining and grocery purchases — many cards favor just one category.
Intro offer
N/A
Rewards rate
1X Points - 3X Points
Annual fee
None
Regular APR
See Terms
Best for occasional travelers
Intro offer
20,000 miles
Rewards rate
1.25 Miles - 5 Miles
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Why you'll like this: It offers a solid, unlimited flat rewards rate, making it easy to earn miles even if you don’t actually spend a ton on travel.
Intro offer
20,000 bonus points
Rewards rate
1X - 3X
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
19.74%, 24.74%, or 29.74% Variable APR
Best for shopping
Intro offer
$200
Rewards rate
1% - 3%
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
18.74% - 28.74% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Why you'll like this: It offers a ton of flexibility since you can choose your top bonus category and switch up once per calendar month.
Intro offer
Cashback Match
Rewards rate
1% - 5%
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
17.74% - 27.74% Variable APR
Why you'll like this: Its rotating categories make earning rewards very flexible, as you can earn elevated cash back in various spending categories throughout the year.
Intro offer
$200
Rewards rate
1% - 5%
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
Why you'll like this: It boasts one of the most flexible cash back rewards structures, as you can earn elevated cash back in your top eligible spending category each billing cycle.
Intro offer
$200
Rewards rate
1.5% - 5%
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
Why you'll like this: Its low cost and streamlined rewards program make it a great fit if you want a low-risk, low-maintenance card.
Intro offer
$200 cash back
Rewards rate
1% - 5%
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
Why you'll like this: Its top-tier flat rewards rate and remarkable intro APR offer make it useful as both a balance transfer card and an all-purpose rewards card.
Best for Bank of America customers
Intro offer
$200
Rewards rate
1.5%
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
18.74% - 28.74% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Why you'll like this: It offers unrivaled potential value since the Preferred Rewards program can boost your cash back rate by up to 75 percent.
Intro offer
N/A
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
29.99% (Variable)
Why you'll like this: Capital One does automatic account reviews after six months of responsible card use, and if qualified, you can get a higher credit limit — which in return boosts your credit utilization ratio.
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Compare the best credit cards with no annual fee
Card name | Our pick for | Bankrate review score |
---|---|---|
|
Best overall |
4.3 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Wells Fargo's secure site
|
|
Dining & entertainment |
5.0 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Capital One's secure site
|
|
Renters |
4.0 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Bilt's secure site
|
|
Occasional travelers |
4.1 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Capital One's secure site
|
|
Commuters |
4.0 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Wells Fargo's secure site
|
|
Shopping |
4.3 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Bank of America's secure site
|
|
Rotating bonus categories |
4.4 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Discover's secure site
|
|
Custom bonus category |
4.4 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Citi's secure site
|
|
Beginners |
3.8 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Capital One's secure site
|
|
Balance transfers |
4.1 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Citi's secure site
|
|
Bank of America customers |
3.8 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Bank of America's secure site
|
|
Credit builders |
4.2 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Capital One's secure site
|
Are no-annual-fee credit cards a better deal?
Credit card annual fees can easily be worth it if a card’s benefits outweigh its cost. Many cards with annual fees include perks that offset the annual fee, and the premium benefits and rewards rate might be worth it for frequent travelers or big spenders.
Still, no-annual-fee cards are a better fit for many cardholders — especially if you value simplicity, spend modestly, travel rarely or just want to avoid the stress that comes with trying to offset an annual fee. For example, Bankrate editor Reena Thomas is determined to avoid annual fees, even if that means sacrificing rewards potential. For her, they’re simply not worth the hassle.
According to the latest J.D. Power credit card customer satisfaction study, cardholders are starting to look for cards with lower or no annual fees as credit card debt continues to climb in the U.S. There’s also a growing popularity in redeeming rewards for statement credits versus for travel, which is usually a major focus on cards with annual fees.
If you’re trying to decide whether paying an annual fee is worth it for you, ask yourself whether you’ll take advantage of a card’s perks or spend enough in a given category to make the most of its high rewards rate. If not, a premium card could be a money pit.
Expert advice for no-annual-fee cards
No-annual-fee credit cards tend to be less complex than cards with annual fees, though there are still a few tricks to choosing the best option for you and getting the most out of it.
Here’s how a Bankrate editor chose his no-annual-fee card
Bankrate editor Steve Dashiell chose a no-annual-fee card with rotating reward categories to help him keep an eye on his spending:
“Having crashed and burned on my first attempt at using a credit card, I needed my second attempt to keep things simple. But at the same time, I also wanted some extra depth. My thought was pretty simple: I can set up the card to pay off my balance in full at the end of each statement period so that it effectively runs itself. But once I felt comfortable managing the card, I could lean into some extra card features to take advantage of any perks or rewards.
The Chase Freedom — now the Chase Freedom Flex℠ — came highly recommended by a friend of mine, and it was easy to see why. The card’s rotating reward categories offer an extra incentive to monitor and plan out your spending, something I wasn’t great at doing. And even if I didn’t feel like chasing a quarter’s categories, I could still earn a reliable 1 percent cash back on all other purchases.
During my research, I also learned about the Chase Trifecta, which was just the type of value ‘expansion’ I was hoping for in the event everything went well with my credit card revenge arc. The fact that the card offered so much potential for no annual fee (along with a recommendation from a friend) made choosing the card a no-brainer.”
— Steve Dashiell, Editor, Credit Cards
If you haven’t established a good-to-excellent credit score yet, there are several rewarding secured cards and student cards with no annual fee as well. Several of these may let you eventually upgrade to a full-fledged rewards card with no annual fee.
Still unsure if a no-annual-fee credit card is right for you? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool to get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.
Ask the experts: What are the best perks you should look for in a no-annual-fee credit card?
Thomas Nitzsche
Financial Educator, Debt and Credit
No-annual-fee cards can still have a variety of perks and rewards. The best perks are ones you will actually use, so choose a card with a rewards program that offers a high rewards rate on the types of spending that you do the most. Other perks, like purchase protection and insurance coverages, are also included on many no-annual-fee cards. Take time to review all the details and select the one that makes the most sense for you.
What people say about no annual fee credit cards
With so many no-annual-fee options to choose from, first-hand experience and perspectives will come in handy if you’re searching for a card. We checked Reddit and other popular discussion forums to see what users considered the best no-annual-fee cards and when an annual fee might be worth it.
Frequently asked questions about no-annual-fee credit cards
How we assess the best no-annual-fee cards
When evaluating the best credit cards with no annual fee, we take into account several factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether they offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders, from earning rewards to scoring a large sign-up bonus to saving on interest.
We analyzed over 250 of the most popular credit cards and selected standouts that carry no annual fee. We scored each card based on the factors most relevant to its primary category, including its rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, intro APR period, ongoing APR, perks and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the key factors in our card scoring methodology and details we considered when putting together our list of the best rewards cards.
The vast majority of cards in our ratings database carry no annual fee. As such, simply lacking an annual fee isn’t enough to make a card worthy of inclusion on our “Best of” list. We consider a number of other factors relevant to each card’s primary category and only include those that offer great value overall, in addition to charging no annual fee.
To give you a sense of how selective we are, here's a look at how annual fees are distributed across cards in our rating database, as of July 2024.
-
$0 annual fee 71.00%
-
$1 to $74 fee 5.00%
-
$75 to $99 fee 13.00%
-
$100 to $199 fee 3.00%
-
$200-plus fee 8.00%
Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.