The 6 Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards of 2025

A credit card can be a great tool, helping you build credit or earn rewards. You’ve probably seen that some credit cards charge annual fees, whereas some don’t. Sure, it may be worth it to pay an annual fee for a credit card, especially if you get plenty of perks. However, many of the best no annual fee credit cards are also worthy competitors, even offering similar benefits without forking over a fee.

The Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards

• Chase Freedom Unlimited^®
• Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
• Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express
• Bank of America Travel Rewards
• Discover it® Cash Back
• Ink Business Cash

1. Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Whether you’re booking a trip or just doing your weekly grocery run, Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers cash back on almost everything. Plus, it gives you a solid intro APR and no annual fee, perfect for managing balances while still earning rewards.

Why It’s a Great Pick:

• Supercharged Rewards: Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
• Generous Intro APR: Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.49% - 28.24%.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• High Regular APR: Once the intro period ends, the APR can climb, so aim to pay off your balance during the intro period. ^{_{(See Rates & Fees)}}
• Shorter Intro Period: If you have a large balance, you might need more time to pay it down.

Real-Life Scenario: If you’re looking for a card that offers rewards across a variety of categories while giving you time to manage your debt, Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a smart choice.

2. Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

If you’re looking for a rewards card without an annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a great choice. It offers solid travel rewards and perks, even if you’re not jet-setting constantly.

Why It’s a Great Pick:

• Featured promotion: 20,000 Miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
• Travel Rewards: Earn 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel..
• Generous Intro APR: Get a 0% intro on purchases and 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months; 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that. Balance transfer fee applies.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Lower Everyday Rewards Rate: You’ll earn 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. This is lower compared to some other travel cards.

Real-Life Scenario: If you’re an occasional traveler looking for a card that offers travel rewards without an annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a great pick.

Explore the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

3. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

If you’re looking for a card that can pull double duty—offering both a 0% intro APR and stellar cash back rewards—look no further than the Blue Cash Everyday® Card* from American Express. Whether you’re buying groceries or shopping online, this card helps you earn rewards while giving you breathing room on your balance all without an annual fee.

Why It’s a Great Pick:

• Everyday Cash Back: 3% Cash Back at U.S. gas stations, on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. Terms apply.
• Plan It® Feature: Manage large purchases by breaking them into fixed monthly payments with Amex’s Plan It®.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Shorter Intro Period: The 0% on balance transfers and purchases lasts 15 months (18.24 to 29.24 after intro), which might not be ideal if you need more time to pay off your balance. _{^{(See Rates & Fees)}}
• High Regular APR: Once the intro period ends, the APR can climb, so be sure to pay off your balance within the introductory period.

Real-Life Scenario: If you’re frequently hitting the grocery store or filling up on gas, this card can help you rack up rewards while managing your balance interest-free for 15 months.

Enrollment is required for some benefits. Terms apply. For rates and fees on the Blue Cash Everyday® Card, please see here.

Explore the Blue Cash Everyday® Card

4. Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card

This card offers straightforward rewards with 1.5X points on all purchases, no foreign transaction fees and no annual fee, making it a great budget-friendly option for travelers. 

Why It’s a Great Pick:

• Flat Rewards: Earn 1.5X points on all purchases.
• Sign-Up Bonus: Earn 25,000 online bonus points (equivalent to $250 in travel) after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Lower Rewards Rate: Compared to premium cards, this one has a lower rewards rate.
• 15-month Intro APR: You’ll get a 0% Introductory APR for the first 15 Statement Closing Dates following the opening of your account After that, your APR will be 18.24% to 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness. _{^{(See Rates & Fees)}}

Real-Life Scenario: If you’re an occasional traveler looking for a simple, fee-free way to earn travel rewards, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card fits the bill perfectly.

Explore the Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card

5. Discover it® Cash Back

The Discover it® Cash Back card offers 5% cash back on rotating categories that change each quarter, such as grocery stores, restaurants, or gas stations, making it perfect for those who like variety in their rewards. Plus, there’s a $0 annual fee, making it a budget-friendly option.

Why It’s a Great Pick:

• Rotating 5% Cash Back: Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• Intro APR Offer: Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, 18.24%-27.24% variable APR after that.

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Category Activation Required: You’ll need to activate the 5% bonus category each quarter to maximize your rewards.
• Quarterly Cap: The 5% cash back applies to up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter, after which you’ll earn 1%.

Real-Life Scenario: If you like getting higher rewards in categories that rotate each quarter, the Discover it® Cash Back is a great way to boost your cash back on a variety of everyday purchases.

Explore the Discover it® Cash Back

6. Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card is the perfect fit if your business spends heavily on office supplies or internet services. With high cash back rates in key spending categories and no annual fee, it’s built to help you save on the purchases your business makes most often.

Why It’s a Great Pick:

• Generous Cash Back: Earn 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. Earn 1% cash back on all other card purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.
• Sign-Up Bonus: Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.
• 0% Intro APR: Enjoy 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, giving you breathing room to manage expenses (17.49% – 25.49% Variable APR after the intro period; _{^{See Rates & Fees}}).

Things to Keep in Mind:

• Spending Caps: The 5% and 2% cash back categories are capped at $25,000 each year. After hitting the cap, you’ll earn 1% on all additional purchases.

Real-Life Scenario: If you’re a small business owner who spends heavily on office supplies and tech services, this card’s cash back rates can help you trim those costs without an annual fee cutting into your savings.

Explore the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

What is a No Annual Fee Credit Card?

A no annual fee credit cards are ones where the issuer doesn’t charge cardholders an annual fee. This fee is usually charged by issuers for the privilege of using a certain credit card, which may contain many benefits such as rewards, earning potential, free features, and more. In other words, a no annual fee credit card means you don’t have to pay anything to access the features available, with some exceptions.

No annual fee credit cards tend to be best suited for most cardholders, but may be better suited for new credit card users — you can dip your toes into how a credit card works without too much of a financial commitment, especially if you’re new to the world of earning rewards.

It’s also a good choice for those who are looking to build their credit and don’t want to have to pay extra fees in order to use a credit card. Many credit cards with no annual fees are available to those who have low or fair credit scores.

How Do No Annual Fee Credit Cards Work?

No annual fee credit cards don’t charge you a fee yearly to use their credit card. Some may not charge you a fee at all, while some might waive the annual fee in the first year to entice you to sign up for a higher tier credit card — you’ll most likely be charged in your second year onward.

Depending on the kind of credit card you sign up for, you may be able to access perks such as cash back or earning points towards rewards like hotels and flights. Some may even offer a low introductory rate — in many cases as low as 0% — up to a certain period of time.

Yes, it means you can earn some free stuff or save even more money through rewards without having to pay anything.

Keep in mind that using a no annual fee credit card doesn’t mean you won’t pay anything at all. They work much like credit cards with annual fees in that you’ll be charged interest if you carry a balance, and even a penalty APR if you’re late on your payment after a certain date.

There are also other types of fees to consider such as ones for balance transfers, foreign transaction fees, and cash advance fees. Meaning, it’s a good idea to understand how all these fees work and when issuers charge them before signing up for a credit card.

Pros and Cons of No Annual Fee Credit Cards

These pros and cons about no-annual fee credit cards will help you decide if this kind of credit card is right for you.

Pros

Can build credit more affordably: Those who have low or fair credit may prefer to not have to pay anything to use a credit card to build their credit. A no annual fee credit card is an affordable way to do so.

Low cost way to earn rewards: Those who are dipping their toes into credit card rewards can start to learn how it all works without having to worry about paying an annual fee.

Cons

There are other fees: Even if you don’t have to pay an annual fee, you may need to pay other ones, such as interest for carrying a balance, cash advance fees, and foreign transaction fees.

Rewards may not be as lucrative: Rewards credit cards with annual fees generally tend to offer better rewards compared to no annual fee counterparts, such as higher earnings, and luxury travel perks like free checked bags and airport lounge access.

What to Look For in a No Annual Fee Credit Card

Choosing a no annual fee credit card is generally the default for most cardholders. But that doesn’t mean it’s the best choice.

Before making your decision, figure out if it’s worth it for you to get a credit card with an annual fee. For instance, are the perks and benefits worth it? Will you using the credit card outweigh or offset the costs of paying an annual fee?

Even if you believe it’s worth it, you may be able to access the benefits you want using a combination of several different no annual fee credit cards. Of course, it’s worth noting that it’s important to be responsible with your credit card usage considering the financial consequences involved.

To help you figure out what to look for in a no annual fee credit card, consider what you want to use it for.

Consider questions such as:

• What will I spend the most on? If you tend to use a credit card a lot at gas stations or at restaurants, for instance, some credit cards offer extra rewards for these types of purchases. It’s worth it to search for a credit card based on how you spend your money in order to get the most out of every dollar.
• Do I want to earn rewards? It’s fine if you’re not interested in earning cash back or points, like if your priority is to build credit. If you do, then consider the types of rewards you want and compare credit cards that offer similar ones. Just as important, think about how easy it is to redeem the rewards you do earn.
• What kind of benefits do I want? Aside from rewards, consider other benefits that credit cards offer, such as fraud protection, extended warranties on purchases, and rental car insurance.
• Do I want to spend the time figuring out rewards? Some credit cards give you great changes at maximizing every dollar, but you may need to take some extra steps such as opting into earnings categories each quarter, or learn which spending categories offer better earnings. If that’s too much for you, a credit card with flat-rate rewards may be a better choice.
• Am I planning on carrying a balance? Unless you plan on paying off your balance each month, it may be a wise choice to look for credit cards with a lower APR, or ones that offer a 0% introductory APR. Be sure to understand what the interest rate will be after the introductory period is over.
• Will I qualify for this credit card? It doesn’t matter if you find a credit card you like if you won’t be approved for it. Check your score and look for credit cards that are intended for those that fall within your credit range.

Whatever credit card you end up choosing, we highly recommend reading the fine print to understand your cardholder responsibilities, such as when the due date for payments will be and how to earn rewards if that’s a feature available to you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About No-Annual Fee Credit Cards

There are a lot of questions about no-annual fee credit cards and we’ve gathered the answers to those most commonly asked.

Contributor Sarah Li-Cain is a personal finance writer based in Jacksonville, Florida, specializing in real estate, insurance, banking, loans and credit. She is the host of the Buzzsprout and Beyond the Dollar podcasts.

The Penny Hoarder has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. The Penny Hoarder and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.