16 Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards of November 2026
The best no-annual-fee credit cards offer cash back, travel credits and other perks — and can be a great way to maximize your rewards while minimizing costs. And since there’s no shortage of quality cards to choose from, you might even find that having more than one cash-back card will offer you even more opportunities to earn rewards that you can redeem as you see fit.
TPG editors have curated this list of top picks that feature cards with generous rates of cash back across multiple categories like dining, entertainment, office supplies and more. Here are the best no-annual-fee credit cards from our partners.
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best for flexible cash rewards
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Best for airline transfer partners
- Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card: Best for freelancers
- Wells Fargo Autograph® Card: Best for Quality perks for no annual fee
- Ink Business Cash® Credit Card: Best for office supplies
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best for beginner cash back
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for dining and entertainment
- Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card: Best for existing Bank of America customers
- Bilt Blue Card: Best for earning rewards on rent and mortgage payments with no annual fee
- Discover it® Cash Back: Best for maximizing rotating categories
- Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: Best for customizable rewards structure
- Citi Strata℠ Card: Best for Citi ThankYou points enthusiasts who want flexibility and a no-annual-fee card
- The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express: Best for no annual fee Amex card
- Hilton Honors American Express Card: Best for no annual fee hotel card
- United Gateway℠ Card: Best for no annual fee airline card
- Chase Freedom Flex®: Best for rotating bonus categories
Comparing the best no annual fee credit cards
at Chase's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5% | 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% | 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service. |
| 1.5% | 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. |
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a surprisingly powerful card that earns cash back on every purchase. However, it doubles in potential value if you pair it with a card that earns transferable Ultimate Rewards points. Read our full review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited.
Pros
- Multiple bonus categories
- Incredible value when paired with a premium Chase card
Cons
- Limited card perks and benefits
- Foreign transaction fees
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- 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.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the United States!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.49% - 27.99%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 1.25X miles | Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day |
If you’re looking to dip your toes into the world of travel rewards, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a great way to get started. With no annual fee and a simple earning structure on all your purchases, you won’t have to keep up with multiple bonus categories — just earn rewards on everything you purchase. Read our full review of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Sign-up bonus
- Simple earning structure
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Lack of bonus categories can limit earning potential
- Airline transfer partners do not include any large U.S. airlines
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 18.74% - 28.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- Top rated mobile app
at Chase's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1.5% | Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business |
The Ink Business Unlimited offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on every business purchase. It fills in rewards gaps not covered by the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card. You can maximize this card by pairing it with cards including the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Read our full review of the Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card.
Pros
- No annual fee
- A generous sign-up bonus
Cons
- High spend to receive sign-up bonus
- No conversion to Chase points without holding the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred
- Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase made for your business
- No Annual Fee
- Redeem rewards for cash back, gift cards, travel and more through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Earn rewards faster with employee cards at no additional cost. Set individual spending limits for greater control.
- Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
- With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Earn 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
- Member FDIC
at Wells Fargo's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. |
| 1X | Earn 1X points on other purchases |
The Wells Fargo Autograph card packs a punch for a no-annual-fee product, with an array of bonus categories plus solid perks and straightforward redemption options. Read our full review of the Wells Fargo Autograph here.
Pros
- This card offers 3 points per dollar on various everyday purchases with no annual fee
- Enjoy up to $600 in cellphone protection when you pay your monthly bill with the card (subject to a $25 deductible)
Cons
- Doesn't offer any ways to maximize your redemptions — you're limited to fixed-value rewards like gift cards and statement credits
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value.
- Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up - like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
- $0 annual fee.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 18.74%, 24.74%, or 28.74% variable APR thereafter.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
at Chase's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5% | 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. |
| 2% | Earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases on dining and gas each account anniversary year. |
| 1% | Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases. |
The Chase Ink Business Cash is an excellent no-annual-fee card for small business owners. Cardholders can earn 5% cash back on office supplies and select utilities, as well as 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations. Read our full review of the Chase Ink Business Cash card.
Pros
- High sign-up bonus
- Introductory APR period
- Multiple business-focused bonus categories
Cons
- Low earning rate for non-bonus categories
- Capped bonus earning
- Earn $750 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening
- Earn 5% cash back at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year on the first $25,000 in combined spend
- Earn 2% cash back on dining and gas each account anniversary year on the first $25,000 spent in combined spend.
- Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases with no limit to the amount you can earn.
- Earn 5% total cash back on Lyft rides through 9/30/27.
- As a Chase cardmember, you’ll be automatically checked for a credit line increase at least every 6 months.
- Complimentary three-month lnstacart+ membership.
- No Annual Fee
- 0% introductory APR for 12 months on purchases
- Member FDIC
Comparing the best no annual fee credit cards
Credit card | Best for | Intro offer | Earning rate | Annual fee | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
at Chase's secure site | flexible cash rewards | Earn $200 cash back Open Intro bonus Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening | 1.5 - 5% cash-back Open Rewards rates
| $0 | ||||||
at Capital One's secure site | airline transfer partners | Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles Open Intro bonus Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel | 1.25 - 5X miles Open Rewards rates
| $0 | ||||||
at Chase's secure site | freelancers | Earn $750 bonus cash back Open Intro bonus Earn $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. | 1.5% cash-back Open Rewards rates
| $0 | ||||||
at Wells Fargo's secure site | Quality perks for no annual fee | 20,000 bonus points Open Intro bonus Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months - that's a $200 cash redemption value. | 1 - 3X points Open Rewards rates
| $0 | ||||||
at Chase's secure site | office supplies | Earn $750 bonus cash back Open Intro bonus Earn $750 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening | 1 - 5% cash-back Open Rewards rates
| $0 |
How we rate cards
Are annual fees worth it?
For many credit card users, finding a card with solid rewards is a top priority. According to a TPG newsletter survey, 29% of TPG readers like a card that offers strong rewards, but carries no annual fee. Luckily, there are plenty of cards that are perfect for earning points and miles without the added worry of an annual fee. Whether you’re looking to earn points for your next adventure or secure the best cash-back value, there is a no-annual-fee card that is right for your wallet.
Ask our experts
What's your favorite no annual fee card — and why?
How to choose the best no annual fee credit card
- Choose a no annual fee card that provides the opportunity to earn a sign-up bonus, as these are typically a great way to boost your cash back, points or miles rewards. Another plus? No annual fee cards don’t usually have high spend requirements in order to obtain a sign-up bonus making it even easier to increase your reward amount.1Sign-up bonus
- The beauty of a no annual fee card is that you don’t have to worry about paying to keep it in your wallet. And you still get the added benefits of earning points, miles and cash back like you would with a more premium card, to boot.2Annual fee
- Our picks feature decent earning rates across several bonus categories, ensuring there’s a good fit for those looking to maximize rewards without paying an annual fee on a credit card.3Bonus categories
Pros + cons of no annual fee credit cards
Pros
- Great way to get started in the world of points and miles
- Many no annual fee cards offer rotating bonus categories making it easier to maximize your rewards
- No annual fee cards with flat earning rates on all purchases are great ways to fill in the gaps in your spend/earn strategy
Cons
- These cards typically offer smaller welcome bonuses than more premium cards
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
You’ll see us say this a lot because, frankly, it’s the truth: the best credit cards — whether we’re talking about the best airline, grocery or no annual fee credit cards — are the ones that align with your financial goals and spending habits.
The best no annual fee credit card for you might be one that earns a flat-rate on all purchases if you don’t want to track rotating cash back categories. If you don’t mind tracking and activating rotating categories, then you may want to opt in for a no annual fee card that features higher earning rates you have to track on a monthly or quarterly basis.
The application process for a no annual fee credit card is straightforward. You can click on any of the ‘Apply Now’ links on this page to get started.
No annual fee credit cards are excellent for those who want to get involved in the credit card rewards game as well as those who want to earn cash back or points without the added expense of an annual fee.
There are a couple of great no annual fee cards that offer killer rewards, such as the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees). The Savor offers cardholders 8% cash back on Capital One entertainment purchases, 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, select streaming services and grocery stores (excluding Walmart® and Target®).
If any of the above are categories you frequently spend in, the Savor may be a solid no annual fee credit card to add to your wallet.
It’s possible to downgrade a credit card with a fee to a no-fee card by calling your issuer’s customer service line and requesting this change. The phone number can usually be found on the back of your current card.
It depends. If you’re interested in having an annual fee on a credit card waived, you can call your issuer’s customer service department and ask if they’d be willing to waive the annual fee in order to keep you as a cardholder.
That being said, the decision will be up to the representative you speak with; they may tell you they can waive the fee for a year, or they may say they can’t waive an annual fee, even if that means losing you as a customer.
If you don’t want to worry about annual fees, consider applying for one of the cards on this list. Several options include decent welcome offers, earning categories and even unlimited cash back — all for no annual fee.