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Credit cards with no annual fees are popular for good reason: You can get great bonuses and maximize rewards without a yearly expense. Whether you’re looking for a no annual fee card that earns generous cash back on groceries, gas, dining or entertainment, you have a host of options that maximize your spending and deliver great perks with no annual fee.
We’ve rounded up the best no annual fee credit cards for every type of borrower. Read on for our recommendations and advice on how to choose the best one for you. Money’s data team evaluated and ranked the the best no annual fee cards by looking at APRs, rewards, welcome offers and additional benefits. See our full methodology here.
Our Top Picks for the Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards of 2026
All rates and data are current as of Feb. 24, 2026.
Best No Annual Fee Credit Card Reviews
Why we chose it: In addition to not charging an annual fee, the Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express offers an introductory APR of 0% for 15 months for new purchases and balance transfers.
The card offers a sign-up bonus of $200 after new customers spend $2,000 in the first six months after opening an account. Cash back features include 3% on groceries (up to $6,000 per year), online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year) and gas (up to $6,000 per year), with 1% cash back on all other purchases. APRs for the Blue Cash Everyday Card range from 19.49% to 28.49%.
The card’s foreign transaction fee is 2.70%, and there is a $5 or 3% balance transfer fee (whichever is higher). But the Blue Cash Everyday Card offers attractive perks, including car rental coverage, emergency travel assistance and an $84 annual credit for DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites.
Terms apply. Please click here for applicable rates and fees.
Why we chose this card: The Autograph Card by Wells Fargo has the best rewards among no annual fee cards, with unlimited 3x points for every $1 spent at restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans, and 1x points per $1 everywhere else.
The Autograph Card has an attractive sign-up bonus and “teaser” rate: New cardholders can earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first three months, and there is an introductory 0% APR on purchases for the first 12 months. Regular APRs are 18.49%, 24.49% or 28.49% (all variable). There is a balance transfer fee of $5 or 3% (whichever is greater).
Other Autograph Card perks include cell phone insurance, car rental coverage, emergency travel assistance and no foreign transaction fees.
Terms apply. Please click here for applicable rates and fees.
Why we chose this card: The Chase Freedom Flex Credit Card has the best rotating 5% cash back categories along with no annual fee, plus accelerated rewards on everyday categories.
This card offers a 15-month 0% APR promotion on purchases and balance transfers, after which cardholders pay a variable APR of 18.24% to 27.74%. For the first 60 days, balance transfer fees are the greater of $5 or 3%, rising to $5 or 5% after that.
New Freedom Flex customers can earn $200 in bonus cash back after spending $500 within the first three months of opening the account. Cardholders can earn 5% cash back up to a combined $1,500 on rotating quarterly categories. Cash back rates are 5% for Chase Travel (although the card has a 3% foreign transaction fee), 3% on dining and drugstore purchases and 1% everywhere else. Other perks include cell phone protection and extended warranty coverage.
Terms apply. Please click here for applicable rates and fees.
Why we chose it: Discover it Cash Back features 5% cash back that rotates quarterly (eligible categories include grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and big box stores, among others) and 1% on all other purchases.
The card also offers new customers a 15-month introductory 0% APR period. After that, the card’s APRs range from 17.49% to 26.49%. The Discover it Cash Back does not have an annual fee or a foreign transaction fee.
Discover it Cash Back also features a $1-to-$1 match from the day a new account is approved through the first 12 consecutive billing cycles or 365 days — whichever is longer.
Terms apply. Please click here for applicable rates and fees.
Why we chose it: The Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature is the best no annual fee card for buying ETFs and funding savings accounts, offering unlimited 2% cash back with no category restrictions.
Redeem rewards points via deposit into a Fidelity brokerage account, IRA, 529 Plan, HSA or other eligible account, then use those funds to buy ETFs with no commission fees on Fidelity’s platform. Cardholders get a variable APR of 16.49% to 26.49% (the Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature doesn’t currently have a 0% introductory APR promo).
There is no annual fee, and travelers will appreciate that there’s also no foreign transaction fee. The card offers a $100 credit against the application fee for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
Terms apply. Please click here for applicable rates and fees.
Why we chose it: The TD Cash Credit Card is the best no annual-fee credit card for dining and groceries with 3% cash back for dining, 2% for groceries and 1% on all other purchases.
The TD Cash Card offers a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles after opening the account; regular APRs are 18.49%, 23.49% or 28.49% (all variable). Spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days after opening the account and get 20,000 bonus points worth $200.
If your spending habits change, you have the option to pick two different categories for accelerated rewards, including entertainment, gas and travel along with dining and groceries. There’s a 3% balance transfer fee (minimum $5) good through the introductory period, after which it rises to 5% or $5. The TD Cash Card also charges a 3% foreign transaction fee.
Terms apply. Please click here for applicable rates and fees.
Best No Annual Fee Credit Card FAQs
What is the best credit card with no annual fee?
According to Money.com’s methodology, the best credit card with no annual fee is the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. This is a top credit card for various reasons, including its rewards program. The best no-annual-fee credit card depends on your spending habits and financial goals. For instance, the Citi® Double Cash Card provides 2% cash back — 1% when you buy and an additional 1% as you pay off those purchases, also with no annual fee, which might be more valuable if your spending varies.
Can credit card companies waive annual fees?
Yes, some credit card companies waive annual fees under certain circumstances. If you have a strong payment history and spend a significant amount on your card, you can call the issuer and request a waiver. Some premium credit cards also offer annual fee waivers as a promotional perk for new customers. Additionally, banks sometimes provide retention offers — such as statement credits or bonus rewards — to keep customers from canceling cards with annual fees.
Are credit cards with no annual fee better?
No-annual-fee credit cards are great for earning rewards without the cost of a yearly fee. These cards typically offer competitive cash back or points on everyday purchases while keeping costs low. However, premium cards with annual fees often provide more lucrative rewards, travel perks and higher sign-up bonuses.
Whether a no-annual-fee card is better depends on your spending habits and financial goals — if you prefer simplicity and savings, a no-annual-fee card is a great choice, but if you seek enhanced benefits, a card with an annual fee may be more rewarding.
How We Chose the Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards
The best no annual fee credit cards offer consumers options without requiring annual fees, and, sometimes, foreign transaction fees or other card fees. We rate these cards first on having no annual fee and whether there are no other common fees.
| No Annual Fees | Sign-Up Bonus | Rewards | Other Perks |
| 35% | 30% | 25% | 10% |
- Fees: Cards with $0 annual fees, foreign transaction fees or others.
- Sign-Up Bonus: The value of any new bonuses offered to cardholders including 0% intro offers.
- Rewards: Cash back or points that still provide competitive value despite no annual fee.
- Other Perks: Besides being no-fee, these cards might offer other perks.
Read our full methodology here.
Summary of Money’s Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards of 2026
To see rates and fees for the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please visit this link.
* Insurance disclosures for American Express Cards on this page:
Trip Delay Insurance: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Global Assist Hotline: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Card Members are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.
Extended Warranty, Purchase Protection, Baggage Insurance Plan: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance: Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
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