15 best no annual fee credit cards of January 2026

 The VentureOne is a great fit for travelers who want to start the points and miles journey but aren’t quite ready for a more premium credit card with a heftier annual fee. This simple earning structure also provides a great introduction for flyers looking into rewards traveling.

For a no-annual-fee card, the VentureOne offers solid earning rates. Capital One also has several airline and hotel partners with which you can transfer your earned miles including Avianca LifeMiles, British Airways Avios, Etihad Guest and Turkish Airlines Miles & Smiles.

If you’re ready to dive into the rewards game and don’t mind paying an annual fee, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card earns more than the VentureOne card (2 miles per dollar spent vs. 1.25 miles per dollar spent, respectively). If you want to unlock higher reward rates, several TPG editors are fans of the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card although it’s worth noting that this card has a $395 annual fee (see rates and fees).

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards credit card is a great starter card for the travel enthusiast who wants to get a feel for using a rewards credit card when booking travel. If you plan to graduate to a higher tier Capital One card — like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, for example — the Quicksilver serves as a great introductory card until you’re ready to upgrade.

The Quicksilver also earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every other purchase, making for uncapped earning possibilities. This card has no minimum redemption amount which means you can utilize your rewards as you see fit, whether it’s to help pay off your balance in the form of a statement credit or using your earnings to help offset the cost of travel bookings.

If you’re looking for a travel card that features similar earning rates to the Quicksilver Cash Rewards card, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a solid option. The VentureOne earns 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day. This means you earn miles every time you tap your VentureOne card, regardless of what you’re purchasing.

If you’re looking for solid earning potential in addition to travel and shopping protections — all for no annual fee — the Wells Fargo Autograph credit card is a good option. Plus, if you’re an existing Wells Fargo customer, the Autograph card is likely to be a good fit in your credit card rewards rotation.

In addition to a decent earning structure, the Wells Fargo Autograph credit card features pretty solid protections, to boot. This includes cell phone protection (up to $600, subject to a $25 deductible) against damage or theft, an auto collision damage waiver and travel and emergency services assistance.

Those who want a card that easily fits their spend and earn strategy and also frequently make purchases in the entertainment category will enjoy the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card. The Savor earns a generous 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, eligible streaming services and grocery stores (excluding Walmart® and Target®). This is all on top of the base 1% cash back cardholders earn on all other purchases without the added cost of an annual fee (see rates and fees).

The Chase Freedom Flex is an excellent card for those who have another Chase card that earns transferable Ultimate Rewards points. This allows you to combine the rewards from both cards and then utilize your earnings for travel purchases with Chase’s airline and hotel partners.

“I love when a cash-back card is more than a cash-back card, and that's definitely the case with the Chase Freedom Flex. I can effectively convert the cash-back rewards on this card into fully transferable Ultimate Rewards points since I also have the Chase Sapphire Reserve® — opening up fantastic redemptions like luxury World of Hyatt properties and top-notch premium cabins.” — Nick Ewen, Director of Content

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is another solid option for earning cash back in popular spend categories. The Freedom Unlimited earns the same as the Freedom Flex in travel, dining and drugstore purchases but earns 1.5% cash back on all other purchases making it an excellent choice if you want a flat-rate cash back credit card that also has no annual fee.

The Ink Business Cash credit card is a solid choice for any small business that frequently spends in the office supply store and internet, cable and phone categories. This card is also great for those who want to earn cash back every time they tap their card since it earns a flat-rate 1% cash back in all other categories outside of those mentioned above, gas stations and restaurants.

“I have the Chase Ink Business trilogy — the Ink Business Cash, Ink Preferred and Ink Unlimited cards. The first two cards maximize my points-earning on things like office supplies, internet and phone purchases, whilst the Ink Unlimited covers everything else, with a flat 1.5% earn rate. The fact that I have the Ink Preferred means I can convert my cash-back from the Ink Unlimited into more valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points. This no-annual-fee card will stay in my wallet for years to come.” — Matt Moffitt, senior credit cards editor

If you’re seeking more than what the Ink Business Cash has to offer, consider the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card, which also features no annual fee and a healthy welcome offer. One of the biggest perks of the Ink Business Unlimited is its flexible redemption options that include gift cards, travel and more via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal.

Budget-conscious foodies, entertainment enthusiasts and Capital One Venture Rewards cardholders will find lots of value in the Savor Cash Rewards card. You’ll enjoy a generous 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 3% cash back on dining, eligible streaming services and grocery stores (excluding Walmart® and Target®).

If you frequently spend on entertainment, the 8% cash-back rate on the Savor is hard to beat. This card is also a solid earner if you frequently spend on dining and groceries with an unlimited 3% cash back in both categories. If you’re interested in getting started with a no-annual-fee rewards credit card, the Savor could be a great fit, depending on where you spend the most.

If you want a card that earns miles instead of cash back and also has no annual fee, you may be interested in the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees). The VentureOne earns 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked via the Capital One Travel portal and 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day.

This card is ideal for small business owners looking for a flat-rate, cash-back business card. With no annual fee and a great intro APR on purchases, cardholders take advantage of making business purchases without worrying about accruing interest (although at TPG we always recommend paying off credit card balances in full whenever possible).

"I have the Chase Ink Business trilogy — the Ink Business Cash, Ink Preferred and Ink Unlimited cards. The first two cards maximize my points-earning on things like office supply, internet and phone purchases, whilst the Ink Unlimited covers everything else, with a flat 1.5% earn rate. The fact that I have the Ink Preferred means I can convert my cash-back from the Ink Unlimited into more valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points. This no-annual-fee card will stay in my wallet for years to come." — Matt Moffitt, senior credit cards editor

If you anticipate larger business expenses, you may want to consider the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card that earns points across several bonus categories including travel and advertising. The 100,000-point welcome bonus on the Ink Business Preferred is generous although it does require that you spend $8,000 in the first three months from account opening to earn it.

This card is an excellent choice for Citi ThankYou points enthusiasts who want to earn rewards across every purchase without incurring an annual fee.

If you frequently spend money at supermarkets, on transit, gas and EV charging stations and want to earn Citi ThankYou points without having to pay an annual fee, the Citi Strata should be in your wallet. It earns solid reward rates in popular bonus categories and a flat rate of 1 point per dollar spent in non-bonus categories, so you’re earning rewards every time you tap to pay.

If you don’t mind paying an annual fee and still want to stay in Citi’s ecosystem, consider the new Citi Strata Elite℠ Card. It features a hefty annual fee of $595 but offers decent value for travelers, like an up to $300 annual hotel benefit, Priority Pass Select membership and four Admirals Club lounge passes every calendar year. The Strata Elite also earns at least 1.5 points per dollar spent in nonbonus categories, making every purchase rewarding.

This card is best for two groups of people: those who want to keep rewards lucrative but simple, earning 1% cash back as you buy things and 1% cash back as you pay them off, and those who want to ramp up rewards-earning by converting these rewards to Citi ThankYou points, which TPG values at 1.8 cents each.

"I wasn’t the biggest fan of this card previously, thinking it was just average, but I am a big fan now that it earns Citi ThankYou points. Paired with my other Citi cards, it unlocks huge earning potential on everyday spending. The fact it has no annual fee means it’s a long-term keeper for me.” — Ryan Smith, credit cards writer

If you want an even simpler rewards-earning structure, also with no annual fee, check out the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, which earns 2% back in cash rewards on purchases.

Current Bank of America customers curious about getting into the credit card rewards game should consider applying for the Customized Cash Rewards card. Those interested in redeeming their earned cash back as statement credits can do so with this card in addition to depositing cash back into an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account.

“This card is a great multipurpose tool in my wallet because it lets me pick a cashback earning category each month. If I know I have some purchases coming up that don’t line up with a card where I get a solid earning rate, I’ll swap my category and use this card to maximize my rewards. I also appreciate the clear information in the Bank of America app that shows me exactly what types of merchants line up into each spending category, so it’s easy to make my category choice.” — Gabe Travers, vice president of engineering

Those who are new to credit card rewards and cash back earning programs but don’t want to keep track of monthly rotating cash-back categories may be more interested in the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Creit Card, which earns 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase you make. If cash back is more your speed, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on every dollar spent.

The Amex Blue Business Plus is a great credit card for small business owners who don't have to contend with massive overhead costs. If your business spending is somewhere around $50,000 annually, you can take advantage of maxing out the 2 points per dollar earnings.

"There are very few no-annual-fee cards that award fully transferable points, but the Amex Blue Business Plus is one of them. Not only that, you'll earn 2 Membership Rewards points for every dollar you spend (on up to $50,000 each year). That's a fantastic return of 4% back based on TPG's valuation, making this a great option for your small business needs." — Nick Ewen, director of content

If you're looking for something different than what the Amex Blue Business Plus offers, consider Chase's Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card. It's also free of an annual fee and earns a decent 1.5% cash back on all purchases you make with it.

Those new to travel rewards will appreciate the ease of use that comes with the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card. Earning and redeeming earned points is simple making this a great starter travel card. If you’re looking for a no-fuss rewards card, the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card might be a great fit for you.

Although you won’t get access to luxury perks that other travel credit cards offer, the Bank of America Travel Rewards card does offer certain travel protections that include auto rental insurance, zero fraud liability and roadside assistance.

If you’re seeking more travel protections and a more rewarding earning program, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is an excellent choice that’s beloved by several TPG editors. The caveat is that it does feature a $95 annual fee; the Sapphire Preferred more than pays for itself, though, if you take advantage of the credits the card offers, earning categories and use transfer partners or book trips through the Chase travel portal.

The Discover It® Cash Back* is great for people with varied but modest spending habits who would benefit from a rotating category bonus that features a lower spend cap.

“I love the Discover It® Cash Back* because the card’s rotating categories fill in the earning gaps for my other credit cards, making it a great booster for any wallet.” - Christina Ly, credit cards writer

If you want to earn elevated cash back but don’t want to deal with quarterly activation and earning caps, consider the Citi Double Cash® Card. The card earns unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase — 1% when you make a purchase and 1% when you pay the bill.

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® is a solid pick for people who are interested in a no-annual-fee card with competitive earning rates.

If you’re interested in a no-annual fee with solid perks and benefits that earns elevated rates on dining, takeout and delivery purchases, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® could be a good fit for your wallet.

If you’re looking for a similar no-annual-fee card that earns comparable rewards, consider the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (see rates and fees). The Blue Cash Everyday card earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retail purchases,  and U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 per year in purchases, then 1% thereafter on other purchases.