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Best credit cards with no annual fee in October 2024

Updated October 09, 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.

Best credit cards with no annual fee in October 2024

Updated October 09, 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.

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Showing 12 results

Best overall

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Bankrate score

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4.3
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock
on Wells Fargo's secure site
See Rates & Fees

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

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Bankrate score

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5.0
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock
on Capital One's secure site
See Rates & Fees

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.

Best for renters

Bilt Mastercard®

Bankrate score

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4.0
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
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on Bilt's secure site
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Intro offer

N/A

Rewards rate

1X Points - 3X Points

Annual fee

None

Regular APR

See Terms

Best for occasional travelers

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Bankrate score

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4.1
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock
on Capital One's secure site
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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.

Best for commuters

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Bankrate score

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4.0
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock
on Wells Fargo's secure site
See Rates & Fees

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

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Bankrate score

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4.3
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock
on Bank of America's secure site

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.

Best for rotating bonus categories

Discover it® Cash Back

Bankrate score

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4.4
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock
on Discover's secure site
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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.

Best for custom bonus category

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Bankrate score

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star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
4.4
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock
on Citi's secure site
See Rates & Fees

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.

Best for beginners

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Bankrate score

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3.8
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock
on Capital One's secure site
See Rates & Fees

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.

Best for balance transfers

Citi Double Cash® Card

Bankrate score

star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
4.1
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock
on Citi's secure site
See Rates & Fees

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

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card

Bankrate score

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star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
3.8
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(670 - 850)
Apply nowLock
on Bank of America's secure site

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.

Best for credit builders

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Bankrate score

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4.2
Bankrate review
No Credit History
Apply nowLock
on Capital One's secure site
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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.

compare
Compare

Compare the best credit cards with no annual fee

Card name Our pick for Bankrate review score

Best overall

4.3 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Wells Fargo's secure site
Dining & entertainment

5.0 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Capital One's secure site

Renters

4.0 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Bilt's secure site

Occasional travelers

4.1 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Capital One's secure site

Commuters

4.0 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Wells Fargo's secure site
Shopping

4.3 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Bank of America's secure site

Rotating bonus categories

4.4 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Discover's secure site

Custom bonus category

4.4 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Citi's secure site

Beginners

3.8 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Capital One's secure site

Balance transfers

4.1 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Citi's secure site
Bank of America customers

3.8 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Bank of America's secure site

Credit builders

4.2 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
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
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Bankrate Insight

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?


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.

Contributor, Personal Finance

For any card you consider, you’ll want to look for benefits that match your spending style. For cards that have no annual fee, every benefit that you can take advantage of is a gain (since you don't have an annual fee to offset). Start by looking for options that offer a sign-up bonus. If you want to keep your earning simple, look for a card with a high flat rewards rate (like the Citi Double Cash® Card). If you want to max out your earnings and are willing to take the time to track rotating categories, choose a card that offers a high rewards rate in categories that fit your spending habits like the Chase Freedom Flex*. (*Information about the Chase Freedom Flex℠ has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.)

Writer, Credit Cards

No-annual-fee cards don’t usually carry top-tier perks like account annual credits or bonus rewards, so most of their value will come from their sign-up bonuses, intro APR offers and the bonus categories themselves. Keep in mind also whether the no-annual-fee card you’re considering can pool and redeem rewards with other cards from the same issuer. This could help you build a card stack that offers maximum rewards value across all your spending. Otherwise, the best no-annual-fee card perks will likely be features like trip cancellation and interruption insurance and limited-time credits or memberships with partner rideshare, streaming or delivery services.

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

Checkmark Icon
250+
cards rated
Rewards Icon
50+
rewards programs valued
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5000
data points analyzed
Congrats Icon
40+
perks evaluated

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.  

“No annual fee” isn’t good enough
  • $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.