Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Cards

Why pay for the privilege of earning rewards? The best no-annual-fee cards give you solid cash back or points without charging you a dime to carry them. Every dollar of rewards goes straight to your bottom line, with no fee to offset before you are actually ahead. We ranked the top no-fee cards by their flat rewards rate so you can find the highest-earning card that costs you nothing to own.

Rankings are estimates based on published card terms. Actual rewards depend on your spending, redemption, and category qualification. How we rank.

Quick Answer

Our #1 Pick

Hilton Honors American Express Card

3% on all purchases No annual fee

Also Consider

Apple Card

2% on all purchases No annual fee

Which card wins depends on your spending. Try the calculator to see your personalized ranking.

The Top Contenders

Hilton Honors American Express Card

Earns a flat 3% on all purchases, with no categories to track. Points are worth ~0.5¢ each, making the cash-equivalent rate ~1.5%. 7x at Hilton hotels, 5x at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations.

Annual fee: None Points value: ~0.5¢ each Sign-up bonus: 70,000 points after $2,000 spend in 6 months

Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.

Apply Now

Apple Card

Earns a flat 2% on all purchases, with no categories to track. 3% at Apple and select merchants, 2% with Apple Pay, 1% with physical card.

Annual fee: None

Perfect if: You want solid rewards without paying an annual fee.

Apply Now

Citi Double Cash Card

Earns a flat 2% on all purchases, with no categories to track. Unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases.

Annual fee: None Sign-up bonus: $200 after $1,500 spend in 6 months

Perfect if: You're comfortable booking through the issuer's own site for the best rate.

Apply Now

The Rest of the Field

U.S. Bank Smartly Visa Signature Card (#4): 2% on all purchases, no annual fee. Unlimited 2% cash back on every purchase (up to 4% with large U.S. Bank deposit balances).

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card (#5): 2% on all purchases, no annual fee. Unlimited 2% cash rewards on all purchases with no categories to track.

Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards (#6): 1.5% on all purchases, no annual fee. 2% first year, then 1.5% unlimited, up to 2.62% with Preferred Rewards.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card (#7): 1.5% on all purchases, no annual fee. Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, 5% on Capital One Travel bookings.

How We Rank

Cards are ranked by the rate they earn in this category without conditions. A rate you only get by booking on the issuer’s own site, staying with one hotel chain, or shopping at one store does not count toward the ranking. It is listed underneath the card instead, so a card with a narrow high rate cannot outrank one that simply earns more everywhere. This ranking still does not account for the cash value of points (which varies by card and redemption method), spending caps, or annual fees. All of these are shown per card so you can factor them in.

For a personalized comparison that weighs your actual spending, accounts for caps, subtracts annual fees, and estimates real dollar value, use our calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best no-annual-fee credit card?

The Bilt Mastercard offers the highest base rate among no-fee cards, but its primary value is for rent payments. For general spending, the Citi Double Cash, Wells Fargo Active Cash, and Apple Card all earn 2% on everything with no annual fee.

Are no-annual-fee cards worth it compared to cards with fees?

It depends on how much you spend. A $95-fee card earning 6% on groceries can easily offset its fee if you spend $300+/month on groceries. But if your spending is moderate, a no-fee card earning 2% on everything may net you more. Use our calculator to compare.

Do no-annual-fee cards have lower rewards rates?

Generally yes. No-fee cards typically earn 1-2% on all purchases, while fee-based cards offer 3-6% in bonus categories. However, some no-fee cards offer competitive category bonuses (e.g., Chase Freedom Flex 5% rotating categories).

Can I have multiple no-annual-fee credit cards?

Yes, and many people do. Since there is no cost to keep them open, you can pair a flat-rate no-fee card with category-specific no-fee cards to maximize rewards across all spending.

Your Spending Is Unique

These rankings are based on stated rates. The card that actually earns you the most depends on how much you spend in each category, annual fees, and spending caps. Enter your numbers to see your personalized ranking.

See Your Best Card

Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Cards