Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards - Don't Pay A Dime To Get Another Credit Card

Many of us prefer credit cards with no annual fee, since it can often be substantial and greatly diminish the rewards offered by credit cards. I can personally attest to saying that it can be annoying to watch your hard-earned rewards get dramatically reduced by high annual fees.

If you’re not extra cautious, the annual fee can easily exceed the rewards you earn during the year with your credit card. This represents a net loss, and it’s not acceptable to an average customer. With annual fees, there is pressure on you to spend a lot of cash.

Thus, many consumers are interested in no-fee credit cards.

These are the best no annual fee credit cards of 2019:

With the Chase Freedom Unlimited® you get the perks of having no annual fee which is huge if you’re interested in getting another credit card without paying any outright cost. Plus you’ll actually earn some stellar straightforward rewards.

The sign-up bonus is a perky extra 1.5% on all purchases (up to $20,000 spent in the first year). But the cash back keeps on coming. You’ll earn 5% cash back on all travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3% on dining and drugstores, and 1.5% on all other purchases you make.

If you’re looking for another credit card without annual fees to add to your basket, note that you’re going to need a higher credit score to qualify for the card; the recommended minimum credit score is 690.

Apply now or read our full Chase Freedom Unlimited® review

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card also has no annual fee as well as a few other perks we love including being awesome for balance transfers. With an intro APR of 0% for 12 months on Purchases and 0% for 21 months on Balance Transfers after date of first transfer (the ongoing rate of 17.49% - 28.24% (Variable) applies after). The Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card has one of the longest promotions out there right now.

These benefits along with no annual fee definitely make this an attractive choice for cards – especially for someone who is looking to finance a large purchase or pay down existing debt. A promotional offer like this is definitely one that is hard to not stop and consider carefully.

Read our full Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card review.

Discover it® Cash Back

As far as no annual fee cards go, the Discover it® Cash Back credit card is hands down one of our favorites. Because of the cash incentives, the match Discover gives, and the rotating bonus categories to earn up to 5% ($1,500 max spend per quarter, activation required), this is a no annual fee card that goes unmatched when it comes to cash back rewards.

Note also their great introductory offer is 0% for 15 months. Also, the fact that the Discover it® Cash Back credit card does not charge foreign transaction fees makes it a card you’ll want to take while traveling abroad. Couple all of this with Discover’s awesome service, and it’s one you should definitely have in your wallet.

In terms of intro APR and overall rewards, the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card offers everything but the kitchen sink. To start, you’ll get no annual fee, a 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers (the ongoing rate of 18.49% - 28.49% (Variable) applies after) for a whopping 15 months, plus a generous $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.

The card’s most compelling and clever feature, however, is its unique approach to 5% rewards. Rather than shoehorn you into rotating categories you may or may be spending in, the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card simply gives you 5% cash back in whichever category you spent the most in last billing cycle. But the buck doesn’t stop there. You’ll also get $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.

If you’re seeking a card that helps you eliminate and avoid credit card debt while also heavily rewarding you for everyday purchases, the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card is a top choice. Note that you’ll need a credit score of at least 670 for a solid chance of approval.

Read our full Citi Custom Cash℠ Card review

⁺Credit Score requirements are based on Money Under 30’s own research of approval rates; meeting the minimum score will give you the best chance to be approved for the credit card of your choice. If you don’t know your credit score, use our free credit score estimator tool to get a better idea of which cards you’ll qualify for.

In addition to having no annual fee, we like the Capital One Platinum Credit Card for starters or those with average credit because it doesn’t require a stellar credit history to get and it still reports to all three major credit reporting agencies. Having no annual fee makes it a great way to build your credit on the cheap without getting a secured card. Plus, after six months of timely payments, you might be eligible for a credit line increase.

You won’t find promotional rates or rewards with this card, but it’s not a secured card (meaning, you don’t need a deposit to open it) and it’s designed for those who are building or rebuilding their credit. Plus, it has no foreign transaction fees, travel accident coverage, 24-hour travel assistance, and auto rental collision insurance; lots of incentives here. 

Learn more or read our full Capital One Platinum Credit Card review

Discover it® Student Cash Back

The Discover it® Student Cash Back is our favorite no annual fee card for students. Aside from not having an annual fee, there are no foreign transaction fees, which makes it a perfect card to study abroad with.

And Discover will reward you for getting good grades, too. You’ll receive a $20 statement credit each school year that your GPA is 3.0 or higher, for up to the next five years. It’s not a lot, but when you’re in school every dollar counts. Plus there are great cash rewards and if you are a new card member, Discover matches all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year with the card. That’s definitely attractive in our book.

Finally, Discover has an excellent reputation on the customer satisfaction end of things. So in our mind, there are lots of benefits here.

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is a great card if you’re self-employed or a small business owner, as you’ll be hard-pressed to find a business card that has no annual fee AND a robust rewards structure like this one does.

To start, you’ll earn a hefty $750 bonus cash back after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after account opening. That’s a lot of value for a $0 annual fee, making this card a no-brainer if you have a variety of business expenses. 

The Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card also earns an impressive 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no spending categories or earning limits – for cardholders that don’t like the headache of keeping track of rotating categories, the straightforward cash back is a huge plus. 

Other business-friendly features include a 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 Months, additional cards for employees at no extra cost, fraud protection, and purchase protection. 

Apply now.

Best no annual fee credit cards summary

⁺Credit Score requirements are based on Money Under 30’s own research of approval rates; meeting the minimum score will give you the best chance to be approved for the credit card of your choice. If you don’t know your credit score, use our free credit score estimator tool to get a better idea of which cards you’ll qualify for.

How we came up with this list

Typically, you get the best rewards credit cards when you pay an annual fee. This is so the issuing company doesn’t lose money when you pay your balance in full (i.e., you’re not paying any interest) and you rake in the rewards for using it.

Therefore, cards without an annual fee tend to have lower rewards. We selected this list based on cost-to-value, and in this case, no cost. As we scoured the offers out there, we came up with the above list as the best cards you can get – from a rewards and benefits perspective – without having to pay an annual fee.

Please note that we have compiled recommendations for other credit cards if you are able to pay an annual fee.

Important things to know about no annual fee credit cards

The single most important feature of a no annual fee credit card is having no fee whatsoever. But since this entire list doesn’t, the next most important thing is rewards. As I said above, many cards without an annual fee offer little to no rewards – making them somewhat useless to a person who pays their balance in full.

Here are some other things we think are important with no annual fee cards:

• Signup bonus. If they don’t have rewards, they almost never have a worthwhile signup bonus. Look for balance transfer offers, bonus points, or cash back.
• No foreign transaction fee. One of the best uses I can see for a no annual fee credit card with not-so-great rewards is to use it when traveling. Look for cards without a foreign transaction fee.
• Non-monetary perks. Aside from rewards, look for cards that have additional travel insurance, return protection, or warranty extension bonuses. Some cards will throw you Visa gift cards, too. Anything outside of what a standard credit card would offer is always great to have.

Who are no annual fee credit cards good for?

Credit cards with no annual fees are definitely a good option for all users of credit cards. Paying an annual fee doesn’t mean you get a better card. As you can see above, we outlined no annual fee cards for just about every situation you can have, so I’m confident that these types of cards are great for anyone. 

The only thing to be aware of, and that you probably give up by not paying an annual fee, is that the rewards program is usually lesser. 

My advice is to still go for the no annual fee card first, use it and see how you spend, then call your card company to see if you can upgrade later if you so choose.

FAQs on no annual fee cards

Can I get a no annual fee card with bad credit?

Yes, but your options will be more limited. One of the ways card issuers mitigate risk is by charging a fee to those with poor credit. If you can’t find anything without an annual fee that you like, look into a secured card.

Do most no annual fee cards have a signup bonus?

No, that’s why if you find a no annual fee card with good rewards AND a signup bonus, you should probably take it.

Is there anything specific I should look for with a no annual fee travel card?

Any extra insurance for traveling and no foreign transaction fees are the first features I would look for. I would even forego points in some cases if the card was stellar for travel otherwise. If you’re willing to shell out a little extra money though, you can find an awesome travel card here.

Summary

So here’s what’s pretty clear about no annual fee credit cards: you can get some pretty awesome credit cards without having to pay even a penny to get the card. And most of these cards offer some type of major perks such as rewards, an intro offer, or something else that is likely to entice you.

Yes, you’ll tend to earn higher rewards with cards that have fees, but for those of you who are more casual spenders, any of these cards will work well for you.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Read more:

• Best Travel Rewards Credit Cards of 2019: Snag Up to $750 in Travel
• Best Credit Cards For College Students of 2019: Money Under 30’s Top Picks