Editor’s note: Lantern by SoFi seeks to provide content that is objective, independent and accurate. Writers are separate from our business operation and do not receive direct compensation from advertisers or partners. Read more about our
Editorial Guidelines and
How We Make Money.
For people who want a credit card with valuable rewards and benefits but hate the idea of paying an annual fee, there are many good options to choose among. Deciding which no annual fee credit card is right for you depends on which perks or card features are most important to you. Whether you’re looking for a card specifically meant for students or one designed for small businesses—or even a card that offers cash back or travel rewards, a card without an annual fee that will work for you is out there.How We Chose the Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards
To find the top no annual fee credit cards, we first divided the market into the following seven categories: - Cash back cards with no annual fee
- Travel rewards cards with no annual fee
- Competitive 0% APR financing cards without an annual fee
- Small business no annual fee cards
- No annual fee cards for fair credit
- Secured cards with no annual fee
- No annual fee cards for students
Then we looked at more than a dozen major card issuers and credit unions to find the best cards in each of these subcategories. We included only cards that are offered to all applicants, leaving out products provided by credit unions that not everyone can join.For each category, we looked at the most salient factors in that category. For example, the top 0% financing card needs to have a long promotional financing period with good terms, while the best travel credit card needs to offer the most valuable travel rewards without an annual fee. While credit card terms may change from time to time, the following rankings reflect information that was accurate in May 2022.Best Cash Back Cards Without an Annual Fee
There are many people who don’t want to pay an annual fee for a credit card but still want a card that gives them great rates of cash back. To find the best cash back reward credit card, we looked at no annual fee options that offer a straightforward earning structure. We also gave extra consideration to cards that have large welcome bonuses and valuable cardholder benefits.If You Want a Cash Back Card With No Annual Fee: Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash card is a no annual fee card that offers a good cash back rate on purchases, a strong new account bonus, and some valuable benefits. With this card, new applicants can earn a $200 cash rewards bonus when they spend $1,000 on new purchases within the first three months after opening the account. This card earns a straightforward 2% cash back on purchases with no rewards category limitations or quarterly activations required. Cardholders also get a 0% introductory APR for 15 months from account opening on both new purchases and qualifying balance transfers made within 120 days of account opening. After the introductory period, the variable APR will be 16.49%, 21.49%, or 26.49%, depending on credit worthiness. As an added bonus, the card comes with up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your Wells Fargo Active Cash card. This can be a very valuable benefit since you may be able to avoid paying for expensive mobile phone theft and damage coverage from your carrier. Best Travel Rewards Cards With No Annual Fee
Despite the growing popularity of premium cards with large annual fees, consumers who love to travel but don’t love the idea of paying an annual fee can still choose from some solid options. In selecting the best no fee travel rewards card, we looked at those that still provide great value as travel rewards. We also looked at cardholder benefits such as travel insurance and purchase protection policies. And you definitely don’t want to travel outside the country with a card that imposes unnecessary foreign transaction fees, so that was a dealbreaker. If You Want a Travel Rewards Card With No Annual Fee: Bilt Mastercard®
Bilt is a new startup that allows you to earn rewards when you pay your monthly rent to any landlord, with no additional fees. You earn one point per dollar spent on rent payments, with a maximum of 50,000 points per year. You also earn 2x on travel and 3x on dining. And you earn one point per dollar spent on all purchases. Points transfer to numerous travel partners including American Airlines, United Airlines and the World of Hyatt program. However, you have to make at least five transactions each statement period to earn rewards. Bilt Mastercard® offers benefits that are especially strong for a card with no annual fee including cell phone protection, purchase security, auto rental collision damage waiver, trip cancellation and interruption coverage, and trip delay insurance. There’s no annual fee for this card, and no foreign transaction fees.The regular APR on this card is 20.74%, 23.74%, or 28.74% depending on your creditworthiness (updated as of Feb. 9, 2023).Recommended: Best Travel Credit CardsBest Competitive 0% APR Financing Cards Without an Annual Fee
If you are looking for 0% APR financing, you probably don’t want to pay an annual fee on your credit card. To find the most competitive 0% APR financing card without an annual fee, we knew that the longest duration for interest-free financing on both new purchases and balance transfer offers would be, by far, the most important factor. That said, the vast majority of credit cards with 0% APR promotional financing offers have no annual fee anyway. If You Want a Competitive 0% APR Financing Card Without an Annual Fee: U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers a lengthy 0% promotional financing offer without imposing an annual fee. By law, interest-free promotional financing offers must last for at least six months, but this card offers 18 billing cycles of 0% APR financing on both new purchases and balance transfers. Eighteen billing cycles of 0% APR promotional financing could help buy you time to pay down existing balances while also avoiding accruing additional interest.Just note that the 18 billing cycles of 0% APR on balance transfers only applies to balances transferred within 60 days from account opening. There’s also a 3% balance transfer fee, with a $5 minimum balance transfer. After the introductory APR offer is over, a variable rate of 18.99% to 28.99% will apply, depending on creditworthiness. This card also includes up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your card. Otherwise, this is a very simple card that doesn’t offer a new account bonus or rewards for spending (updated as of Feb. 3, 2023).Best Small Business No Annual Fee Cards
People looking for a consumer credit card are not the only ones who are interested in credit cards without an annual fee. Many of those looking for a small business card also hate the idea of annual fees. No annual fee cards are often best suited to small business owners with relatively modest spending requirements, as they don’t really have the volume to justify paying the annual fee that may be necessary to earn more rewards and to obtain more valuable benefits. And if the business card won’t be used for travel, many of these benefits won’t be utilized anyway. To find the best small business card with no annual fees, we looked at factors that would likely be valuable to those who might want these cards, such as rewards earning structure, new account bonuses, and 0% APR financing offers. If You Want a Small Business Card With No Annual Fee: Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card
The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card from Chase is a great card for small businesses that want a simple but effective way to earn cash back rewards for spending without paying an annual fee. This card earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase. Plus, small businesses can earn a $750 cash bonus after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening the account. Rewards can be redeemed for cash back or travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. And if you also happen to have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® or Chase Sapphire Reserve® card, then you can combine your rewards with that account and transfer your points to airline and hotel rewards. This card includes benefits such as auto rental collision damage waiver coverage, purchase protection, and an extended warranty policy. The card also offers 0% introductory APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening. After that, a variable APR ranging from 17.99% to 23.99% will apply (updated as of Apr. 25, 2023).Best No Annual Fee Cards for Fair Credit
If you have fair credit, then it can be difficult to get approval for many of the top credit cards. However, holding a credit card and managing it responsibly may help you increase your credit score. That’s why finding a no annual fee credit card specifically for applicants with fair credit is so important. To find the best card for fair credit, with no annual fee, we looked for simple products that had few other fees as well. We also looked for a card that offers some reasonable benefits, knowing that even the best cards in this category will not have all of the features you’d find in a card for those with excellent credit.If You Want a No Annual Fee Card for Fair Credit: Capital One Platinum Credit Card
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is specifically marketed to applicants with fair credit. If you have defaulted on a loan in the past five years, have limited credit history, or have had a credit card for less than three years, then you may have fair credit. Once approved, cardholders may be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months from account opening. This card doesn’t offer a new account bonus or rewards for spending.There are no foreign transaction fees with this no annual fee card. Note that this card has a 29.99% APR (updated as of March 30, 2023), which is higher than average, but that’s expected in a card for those with fair credit.Best Secured Cards Without Annual Fees
For the many Americans with poor credit, a secured card can help rebuild credit. Secured credit cards work almost exactly like standard, unsecured cards. The only difference is that you’re required to make a refundable security deposit before you open an account. After that, you can use your card just like any other, and you’re required to make monthly payments as well. After making their payments on time for a year, secured card users may find that their credit has improved enough to qualify them for an unsecured card, allowing them to close their account and get their security deposit back. To find the best secured card without an annual fee, we looked at terms for the deposit and opportunities for an increased credit limit.If You Want a Secured Card Without an Annual Fee: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
With most secured cards, the amount of your deposit always becomes your credit limit. But with the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card, you may have the opportunity to enjoy a $200 credit limit with a refundable deposit of only $49 or $99. Note that cardholders may have to make the full $200 deposit depending on their creditworthiness and can deposit more before account opening to receive a higher credit line. Also, cardholders will automatically be considered for a higher credit limit after six months. This card has a regular APR of 29.99% (updated as of March 30, 2023).Best No Annual Fee Cards for Students
Students may have a limited credit history and different spending habits than other adult consumers, so they can have different needs in a credit card. Also, most students don’t have a lot of money to spare, so they probably won’t want to spend unnecessarily on an annual fee. To find the top no annual fee credit card for students, we looked at factors like simplicity of use and any rewards earned from spending, especially in categories in which students tend to spend the most. If You Want a Student Card With No Annual Fee: Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards for Students
The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards for Students is a top card for students who want to earn some cash back without paying an annual fee. This card offers a $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases within 90 days of account opening. The card earns 3% cash back in a category of your choice, including gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores, or home improvement/furnishing. Categories can be chosen online at a maximum of once a month. Plus, cardholders earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter. For all other purchases, this card offers 1% cash back. The Takeaway
While premium credit cards with pricy annual fees often get most of the attention, there’s still a strong market for cards without an annual fee that nonetheless deliver exceptional value. By choosing one of these top no-fee cards that best meets your needs, you can enjoy the rewards and benefits you need without having to pay to use your credit card. Even if your credit history is poor or just not substantial, you may well qualify for a credit card, even one with no annual fee. Lantern by SoFi may be able to help with the multiple credit card options offered by our network of credit card issuers.
Photo credit: iStock/MixMedia
SOLC0821160
About the Author
Jason Steele
Jason Steele has been writing about credit cards and award travel since 2008. One of the nation's leading experts in this field, he has contributed to dozens of personal finance and travel outlets and has been widely quoted in the mainstream media. 
