One Key Card review: Expedia rewards for no annual fee

One Key Card overview

The One Key™ Card (see rates and fees)is a no-annual-fee offering that comes with decent earnings rates and some unique benefits within Expedia's OneKey travel rewards program. If you use Expedia and its affiliated services frequently, the card could make sense for you. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐

*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG's editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

One Key is a loyalty program from Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo. It's free to join and allows travelers to earn rewards for their purchases across all three travel apps, the first rewards program of its kind.

The One Key Card is a pared-down version of the $99-annual-fee One Key+™ Card (see rates and fees). However, given its earnings rates, it could still be a fit for some potential cardholders.

It has no annual fee, and we recommend a credit score of 670 to increase your chances of approval. Here's what else you need to know.

One Key Card pros and cons

One Key Card welcome offer

With the One Key Card, new cardholders can earn $250 in OneKeyCash™ after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

It's important to note that OneKeyCash is not, in fact, redeemable for cash, and can only be used with Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo. Still, this welcome offer provides decent value for those who use these platforms often and it's relatively easy to earn for many travelers.

Related: The best credit card welcome offers

One Key Card benefits

The One Key Card is relatively short on benefits, but you will get automatic Silver tier status in the One Key rewards program, which includes savings of 15% or more on over 10,000 hotels worldwide. You'll unlock Gold status after spending $15,000 or more per calendar year.

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For frequent travelers, the card offers a few travel protections, including trip cancellation and interruption protection, an auto rental collision damage waiver and travel accident insurance.

The card also provides cellular telephone protection when you pay your monthly bill with the One Key Card. Cardholders get up to $1,000 in protection against damage or theft, subject to a $25 deductible (limit of two paid claims per 12-month period).

Just like most other travel credit cards, the One Key Card has no foreign transaction fees.

Again, the One Key+ Card will win out on the benefits front for most users, but this card can make sense if you want to avoid paying an annual fee.

Related: How you can save on all aspects of your trip with One Key — Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo's loyalty program

Earning rewards with the One Key Card

With the One Key Card, you'll get:

• 3% back in OneKeyCash on Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo
• 3% in OneKeyCash at gas stations, grocery stores, dining and food delivery
• 1.5% in OneKeyCash on other purchases

Those are solid earnings rates with some nice bonus categories, but it's worth noting that you won't be able to use your rewards outside of Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo redemptions.

Related: Best travel cards of 2025

Redeeming rewards with the One Key Card

Once again, OneKeyCash is not, in fact, redeemable for cash, and can only be used at Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.

If you often book travel through one of those sites, this card can make sense for you. Otherwise, though, you'll get more value from a different travel rewards credit card.

Which cards compete with the One Key Card?

If you want additional travel perks or more flexible rewards, you may want to choose one of these cards instead.

• If you want more perks: The One Key+ Card comes with a $99 annual fee but has higher earnings rates and additional benefits that more than make up for the difference in annual fees. To learn more, check out our full review of the One Key+.
• If you want more Marriott Bonvoy benefits: The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (see rates and fees) comes with perks like automatic Bonvoy Silver Elite status and five elite night credits per year, plus an earning rate of 3 points per dollar spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels — all for no annual fee. To learn more, check out our full review of the Marriott Bonvoy Bold.
• If you stay at Hilton properties more often: The Hilton Honors American Express Card has no annual fee (see rates and fees) and allows cardholders to earn Hilton Honors points and enjoy automatic Hilton Honors Silver status. To learn more, check out our full review of the Hilton Honors Amex.

For additional options, see our list of the best hotel credit cards.

Related: Marriott Bonvoy Bold vs. Marriott Bonvoy Boundless

Is the One Key Card worth it?

Most travelers will want more flexible rewards than OneKeyCash, which can only be redeemed with Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo. But if you don't mind that aspect of the One Key Card, it's a solid no-annual-fee offering that will rack up rewards relatively easily.

Bottom line

If you want a card that earns rewards with Expedia, Hotels.com and or Vrbo and has an easy-to-earn welcome offer to boot, you just found it.

It's not the most valuable travel card out there, but the One Key Card will make sense for consumers who want to make use of those platforms without having to worry about paying an annual fee.

Apply here: One Key Card

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Amex, click here.