At Experian, one of our priorities is consumer credit and finance education. This post may contain links and references to one or more of our partners, but we provide an objective view to help you make the best decisions. For more information, see our Editorial Policy.
The best cards with no annual fees still offer a variety of benefits. Whether you want a welcome bonus, are focused on earning ongoing rewards or plan to use an introductory interest rate offer, there are cards to match. Here are some of the best options from our partners.
2 Partner Offers
| Our Picks for the Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards | |
|---|---|
 Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | 2% cash rewards on eligible purchases $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening |
 Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card | 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening |
Best for Cash Rewards: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a great flat-rate cash rewards card that doesn't have an annual fee.
Using the card, you can earn an unlimited 2% cash rewards on all your purchases. There are no categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
New cardholders may also qualify for a $200 cash rewards intro bonus after they make $500 in purchases within 3 months of opening their card account. You could also get an introductory 0% annual percentage rate (APR) offer on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. The promotional rate lasts 15 months, after which you'll have a 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR applied once it ends. To qualify for the intro APR, balance transfers must be made within 120 days of account opening. There is a 3% ($5 minimum) intro balance transfer fee within the first 120 days from account opening, then up to a 5% ($5 minimum) fee once the intro period ends.
There is a 3% foreign currency conversion fee on international purchases, which could make this a poor fit for people who frequently travel abroad. Also, while the 2% cash rewards rate is good for a flat-rate card, some people may prefer a rewards card that offers a higher rate on select bonus categories.
Read full reviewWells Fargo Active Cash® Card
on Wells Fargo's website
Recommended FICO® Score*
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
APR
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR
Intro APR
Rewards
Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Intro Bonus
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual Fee
$0
Card Details
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
- 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5
- $0 annual fee
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open
- Enjoy a premium collection of benefits at a selection of the world's most intriguing and prestigious hotel properties with Visa Signature Concierge
- Get up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your eligible Wells Fargo card (subject to a $25 deductible)
- Select “Apply Now” to learn more about the product features, terms and conditions
- Matched For You are statements made by Experian and may not reflect Wells Fargo’s underwriting standards
Best for Travel: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card also offers flat-rate rewards. It could be a good option for existing Bank of America customers, particularly if you often travel outside the U.S., as it doesn't have a foreign transaction fee.
It gives you 1.5 points per dollar spent using the card. However, if you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25% to 75% more in bonus rewards based on your combined balance with Bank of America deposit and Merrill investment accounts. You could get up to 2.62 points per mile, and each point is worth 1 cent when you redeem them for statement credits to offset dining and travel purchases.
With the card's intro bonus, you can earn 25,000 points if you make at least $1,000 worth of purchases within 90 days of account opening. However, if you don't qualify for an increased rewards rate through the Preferred Rewards program, you might earn more rewards with a different card.
How to Choose the Best No Annual Fee Credit Card
Picking the right credit card will depend on how you plan to use the card and which cards you'll likely be able to get. People who have good or excellent credit may have more options than those with poor credit. If you're not sure where your credit stands, you can check your Experian credit report and score for free.
If you want a card that allows you to earn rewards, consider the cards' rewards rates and whether they offer bonus rewards in categories where you tend to spend a lot of money. A large intro bonus can increase a card's value, but make sure you can meet the spending requirement with purchases you would have made anyway.
When you're focused on getting a new card to finance purchases or transfer a balance, the intro 0% APR period's length may be an important consideration. Also, consider card fees and how they'll impact your balance as well as variable interest rates if you may need to carry a balance beyond the promotional period.
How No Annual Fee Credit Cards Compare to Those With Annual Fees
Overall, cards that don't have annual fees tend to offer lower rewards rates and fewer cardholder benefits. But that doesn't necessarily mean they're worse.
Consider a card that doesn't have an annual fee and offers 1.5% cash back to a card with a $95 annual fee and 2% cash back. All else being equal, you'd have to spend $19,000 per year (about $1,583 a month) on the card with the higher rewards rate to break even.
Paying an annual fee can be worth it to some people, especially when there are flashy perks. For example, a travel credit card with an annual fee might give you free access to airport lounges. Or, a hotel card might give you an annual voucher that you can use to stay at a hotel that could normally cost over $1,000 a night.
Get Matched With Credit Cards That Don't Have Annual Fees
While we've listed some of the best credit cards that don't have annual fees from our partners above, you can also browse cards in the Experian CreditMatch™ credit card marketplace. Set your own filters based on how you plan to use the card. You can also log in to your Experian account and get personalized card offers.