Best low-annual-fee credit cards with no foreign transaction fees
If you're planning an international trip, one of the easiest ways to save money is by using a credit card that charges no foreign transaction fees.
Many credit cards add foreign transaction fees of around 3% every time you make a purchase abroad. While that might not sound like much, those charges can add up quickly over the course of a vacation. Spend $3,000 internationally, for example, and you could end up paying about $90 in extra fees.
Fortunately, you don't have to pay a premium annual fee to avoid them.
Here are our favorite low-annual-fee credit cards with no foreign transaction fees.
How we chose these cards
We've selected these cards based on a few key factors:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Annual fees of $100 or less
- Competitive rewards rates and welcome offers
- Strong overall value for travelers or everyday spending
While there are plenty of premium travel cards that charge no foreign transaction fees, we've focused on affordable options that deliver excellent long-term value without paying a high annual fee.
Top cards at a glance
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees): Best overall
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for simplicity
- Wells Fargo Autograph® Card [see termsConditions pid="8599" overridetext="rates and fees"]: Best no-annual-fee option
- Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card (see rates and fees): Best for small business owners
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for dining and entertainment purchases
- Discover it® Student Cash Back Credit Card: Best for students
- Chase Freedom Flex®* (see rates and fees): Best for rotating bonus categories
*No foreign transaction fees on the Chase Freedom Flex begin Sept. 20.
The information for the Discover it Student Cash Back has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Chase Sapphire Preferred
Annual fee: $95
Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Who it's for: The Sapphire Preferred is ideal for travelers seeking a well-rounded rewards card that combines valuable travel perks, such as an up to $100 annual hotel statement credit, with flexible points.
Why we picked it: The Sapphire Preferred continues to set the standard for low-annual-fee travel cards. It earns bonus points on travel and dining, offers valuable travel protections and allows cardholders to transfer points to Chase's airline and hotel partners, such as United Airlines, Southwest and Marriott, for potentially outsize value.
For travelers who want a single card that does almost everything well, it's hard to beat.
To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Apply: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Capital One Venture Rewards
Annual fee: $95
Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Who it's for: The Venture Rewards is best for travelers who prefer earning the same rewards rate on nearly every purchase (instead of tracking bonus categories).
Why we picked it: The card earns at least 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, making it one of the simplest travel rewards cards available. It also allows cardholders to redeem miles toward travel purchases or transfer them to Capital One's airline and hotel partners, including Air Canada Aeroplan, Air France-KLM Flying Blue and Wyndham Rewards, giving users flexibility without adding complexity. Like all Capital One credit cards, the Venture Rewards charges no foreign transaction fees, making it a strong option for international travel.
To learn more, read our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards.
Wells Fargo Autograph
Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Who it's for: The Wells Fargo Autograph is a great fit for travelers who want to avoid both annual fees and foreign transaction fees while still earning bonus rewards.
Why we picked it: It's uncommon to find a no-annual-fee card that also charges no foreign transaction fees. The Autograph stands out by earning bonus rewards across several everyday spending categories — including restaurants, travel, transit, gas stations, streaming services and phone plans — making it one of the strongest no-fee travel cards available.
To learn more, read our full review of the Wells Fargo Autograph Card.
Apply: Wells Fargo Autograph
Ink Business Preferred
Annual fee: $95
Welcome offer: Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Who it's for: The Ink Business Preferred is ideal for small-business owners who regularly travel internationally or make purchases from overseas vendors.
Why we picked it: Despite its relatively modest annual fee, the Ink Business Preferred offers premium-style benefits, including valuable travel protections and the ability to transfer Ultimate Rewards points to Chase's travel partners. It's a solid choice for entrepreneurs who want to separate business expenses while incurring no foreign transaction fees.
To learn more, read our full review of the Ink Business Preferred.
Apply: Ink Business Preferred
Capital One Savor Rewards
Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: Earn a $250 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Who it's for: The Capital One Savor Rewards is a strong pick for food lovers, concertgoers and frequent diners who want to maximize everyday rewards without paying an annual fee.
Why we picked it: The Savor card shines for dining, entertainment and grocery purchases while charging no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. Since dining often represents a significant portion of travel spending, it's also a surprisingly solid companion for international trips.
To learn more, read our full review of the Capital One Savor Rewards.
Discover it Student Cash Back
Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: Earn a $100 statement credit after spending $300 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, Discover will match all the cash back cardholders earn during their first year with the card.
Who it's for: The Discover it Student Cash Back is a top choice for students, those planning to study abroad and first-time credit card users.
Why we picked it: The Discover it Student Cash Back combines beginner-friendly features with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. It also earns 5% cash back (on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter; activation required) in rotating bonus categories, which frequently include popular spending categories like restaurants, grocery stores and entertainment (plus 1% cash back on all other purchases). Students traveling internationally or studying abroad can avoid unnecessary fees while building credit and earning rotating cash-back rewards.
To learn more, read our full review of the Discover it Student Cash Back.
Chase Freedom Flex
Annual fee: $0
Welcome offer: Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Who it's for: The Freedom Flex is best suited for people willing to activate rotating quarterly bonus categories to maximize rewards.
Why we picked it: Starting Sept. 20, the Freedom Flex will no longer charge foreign transaction fees, making it an even more compelling no-annual-fee option. Its rotating 5% bonus categories** can deliver exceptional value throughout the year, with past categories including restaurants, grocery stores and gas stations — all of which can come in handy while traveling. It's an especially strong choice for cardholders who already earn Ultimate Rewards points with another Chase card.
**On up to $1,500 spent each quarter, then 1%; quarterly activation required.
To learn more, read our full review of the Chase Freedom Flex.
Apply: Chase Freedom Flex
How to pick the right card for you
The best no-foreign-transaction-fee card for you depends largely on how you spend.
If you want one card for nearly everything, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is hard to beat thanks to its mix of rewards, travel protections and flexible redemption options.
Travelers who value simplicity may prefer the Capital One Venture Rewards card, while those looking to avoid annual fees altogether should consider the Wells Fargo Autograph or Capital One Savor.
Students and first-time cardholders may find the Discover it Student Cash Back to be the easiest entry point, while business owners should consider the Ink Business Preferred.
Related: How to choose a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card
Bottom line
Foreign transaction fees are an unnecessary expense that can increase the cost of international travel.
Fortunately, you don't need to pay hundreds of dollars each year for a premium travel card to avoid them. Several cards with annual fees under $100 — or no annual fee at all — charge no foreign transaction fees while still offering valuable rewards.
Choosing one of these affordable cards means you can spend confidently abroad, avoid unnecessary fees and continue earning rewards on every purchase.
Related: 9 types of cards you should pack for your next trip abroad
Frequently Asked Questions
Foreign transaction fees are extra charges that some credit card issuers add when you make purchases outside the United States or process a transaction in a foreign currency. They're typically charged as a percentage of each purchase.
Most foreign transaction fees range from 2% to 3% of the purchase amount.
For example, if your card charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, you'd pay an extra $30 on a $1,000 purchase.
Yes. Even if you're earning points or cash back, foreign transaction fees can easily outweigh the value of the rewards you earn on international purchases.
When a transaction qualifies for a foreign transaction fee, the issuer automatically adds the fee to your statement. If your card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, you'll simply pay the converted purchase amount.