Our pick for an Amex card with no annual fee: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Up to 3%
Cash back
- 3% back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 each year, then 1%
- Enjoy cash back on gas and at select department stores
- No annual fee
Finder is committed to editorial independence. While we receive compensation when you click links to partners, they do not influence our opinions or reviews. Learn how we make money.
Top American Express credit cards with no annual fee
Choose between flat cash back on every purchase, accelerated rewards on groceries and travel perks.
Credit Card Guides
Managing Money In A Crisis
Weekly tips sent straight to your inbox
American Express offers a variety of credit cards with no annual fee, and all let you earn rewards. With some cards, you can even earn a generous welcome offer or benefit from a long intro APR period. And each card includes hallmark Amex perks like a global assist hotline, car rental insurance and extended warranties.
Finder Rating: 4.3 / 5
Credit recommended (680-850)
Apply now
on American Express's secure site
Rates & fees
Finder Rating: 4.2 / 5
Credit recommended (670-850)
Apply now
on American Express's secure site
Rates & fees
Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5
Credit recommended (670-850)
Apply now
on American Express's secure site
Rates & fees
Compare American Express credit cards with no annual fee
{"niche":"USCCF"}
Best American Express credit cards with no annual fee
Quick look at cards with no annual fee
- American Express Cash Magnet® Card: Best for unlimited cash back
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best for rewards on groceries and gas
- Hilton Honors American Express Card: Best for hotels
Best for unlimited cash back
American Express Cash Magnet® Card
★★★★★
680
Min. credit score
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Annual fee
Up to
1.5%
Cash back
Cash back
$150
Welcome offer
Welcome offer
The American Express Cash Magnet® Card is a simple credit card with unlimited cash back on everything you buy. The long intro APR period on purchases can sweeten the deal if you're looking to save money on interest. Included with the card are standard Amex perks, including global assistance, car rental insurance and more.
- Flat 1.5% cash back. Earn 1.5% cash back in reward dollars on all of your purchases. Reward dollars can be redeemed for statement credit, gift cards and merchandise.
- Welcome offer. Spend $1,000 on purchases during the first 3 months from your account opening and earn $150 in statement credit.
- Intro APR period. Enjoy a 0% intro APR period on purchases for 15 months following your account opening. After the intro period passes, your rate reverts to a variable APR of 13.99% to 23.99%.
| Annual Fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable) |
| Balance transfer APR | N/A |
| Welcome offer | $150 after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months |
| Rewards | 1.5% cash back on all purchases |
Best for rewards on groceries and gas
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
★★★★★
670
Min. credit score
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Annual fee
Up to
3%
Cash back
Cash back
$150
Welcome offer
Welcome offer
Families that spend heavily on groceries and gas could find the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express a worthwhile addition to their wallets. It lets you earn accelerated cash back on these categories, and it has a decent welcome offer. Also, if you're looking to consolidate your debt, the long intro APR period could help.
- Up to 3% cash back. Earn 3% cash back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases annually, after which the rate drops to 1%. Earn 2% back at eligible US gas stations and select US department stores. On all other purchases, earn 1% back.
- $150 welcome offer. Spend $1,000 on purchases during your first 3 months of account opening and get a $150 bonus as statement credit.
- Intro APR period. Get a 15 months period following your account opening of interest-free purchases. After that, a variable APR from 13.99% to 23.99% applies.
| Annual Fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 0% intro for the first 15 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable) |
| Balance transfer APR | N/A |
| Welcome offer | $150 after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months |
| Rewards | 2% at US gas stations and select US department stores, 3% at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year, then 1% after that and on all other purchases |
Best for hotels
Hilton Honors American Express Card
★★★★★
670
Min. credit score
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Annual fee
Up to
7x
Points
Points
75,000
Points welcome offer
Points welcome offer
For Hilton regulars and occasional guests, the Hilton Honors American Express Card could be worth considering. It's the only American Express hotel card with no annual fee, but that doesn't mean it's lacking. On the contrary, you earn a high number of Hilton Bonus Points on Hilton purchases — plus you'll earn accelerated Hilton Bonus Points at restaurants, gas stations and supermarkets in the US.In addition, you get a generous welcome offer and a complimentary Silver status, which lets you earn more points on your Hilton stays.
- Hilton Honors Bonus Points. Earn 7x points on purchases at hotels and resorts from the Hilton portfolio, 5x points at US restaurants, US gas stations and US supermarkets, and 3x points on all other purchases.
- 75,000-point welcome offer. Earn 75,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points once you spend $1,000 on purchases within 3 months of your account opening. With a single point worth about 0.5 cents, that's around $375 in value.
- Complimentary Silver status. With the Silver status, you earn 20% more points on Hilton stays, plus you get the fifth reward night free. If you spend $20,000 annually with this card, you'll upgrade to Gold status through the end of the next year.
- No foreign transaction fees. You can take this card along on your travels without worrying about paying extra when buying abroad. This is a standard feature among travel cards.
- Up to 5x miles. Earn 5x miles on purchases at restaurants and purchases made with Delta. For everything else you buy, earn 3x miles. Redeem miles for flights, gift cards, excursions, shopping and more.
- 75,000-mile welcome offer. Spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening and get 75,000 bonus miles. Depending on what you redeem your miles for, your welcome offers could be worth between $35 and $200.
- In-flight savings. Save 20% in the form of statement credit on all of your on-board Delta purchases of food, beverages and headsets.
| Annual Fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 15.74% to 24.74% variable |
| Balance transfer APR | N/A |
| Welcome offer | 75,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months |
| Rewards | 7x points on Hilton Honors purchases, 5x at US restaurants, US supermarkets and US gas stations, 3x on all other purchases |
American Express credit cards with no foreign transaction fee
How to compare American Express credit cards with no annual fee
American Express has one of the largest selections of credit cards without an annual fee. To choose the right one, consider:
- If you want unlimited cash back on everything you buy. The American Express Cash Magnet® Card could be a great choice if you don’t spend a lot on any particular category of purchases. That way, you earn a flat, unlimited amount of cash back on everything you buy.
- If you spend a lot on groceries. Get accelerated cash back at US supermarkets, US gas stations and select US department stores with the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express. Also, get a decent welcome offer and one of the longest intro APR periods on purchases.
- If you often stay at Hilton hotels. With the Hilton Honors American Express Card, you get to earn high points on Hilton purchases and at US restaurants, US gas stations and US supermarkets. Plus, you get a generous welcome offer and a complimentary Silver status.
- If you fly Delta. If you’re a frequent or an occasional Delta flyer, you could benefit from the double miles earned at restaurants with the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card.
How we selected our top cards
We looked at a few factors to rate no-annual-fee American Express cards. Comparisons were based on factors such as available intro APRs, reward points or cash back earned per dollar spent, redemption categories and point values, travel perks and any other added benefits. The cards we chose performed exceptionally well in a particular area, warranting a spot on our list.
What’s changed in 2020
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card earned a spot on our list this year. As the only Delta card without an annual fee and strong rewards opportunities, this versatile card is great for frequent and occasional Delta flyers alike.
Both the American Express Cash Magnet® Card and Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express lost their intro APRs on balance transfers. Also, at the time of this writing, neither card offers balance transfers at all to new applicants. These are clear downgrades, though they may not matter much if you never planned on making transfers anyway.
Bottom line
Due to the variety of American Express credit cards with no annual fee, finding the right card is relatively easy. You can choose between flat cash back on all purchases, accelerated cash back on groceries and gas, rewards and benefits at Hilton hotels or rewards and benefits on Delta flights.
But if you think that none of these cards are quite what you’re looking for, consider comparing other no-annual-fee credit card options.
Frequently asked questions
Ask an Expert