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American Express credit cards with no annual fee

Choose between flat cash back on every purchase, accelerated rewards on groceries and travel perks.

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Kliment Dukovski
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Compare American Express credit using our table. Select up to four cards to see how they stack up side-by-side. You can also click "Show filters" to narrow your search to browse products that fit your credit score range and have features that will serve your financial needs best.

Name Product Annual fee Balance transfer APR Purchase APR Filter values
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
$0
N/A
0% intro for the first 15 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
Earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 in the first 6 months. This is a higher-than-average welcome offer for a card with no annual fee. Terms apply, see rates & fees
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Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
$0
N/A
15.74% to 24.74% variable
Earn 2x miles on Delta purchases and dining with this simple, entry-level Delta card, and pay no annual fee. Terms apply, see rates & fees
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American Express Cash Magnet® Card
American Express Cash Magnet® Card
$0
N/A
0% intro for the first 15 months (then 13.99% to 23.99% variable)
With 1.5% cashback as statement credit on everything and a 15 months intro APR on purchases, this no-annual-fee rewards card makes it simple to earn more rewards. All information about this card has been collected independently by Finder.
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Of the entire American Express consumer lineup, six cards do not have annual fees. Despite not having an annual fee, these cards may still let you earn rewards, a generous welcome offer or let you benefit from a long intro APR period.

American Express no annual fee cards

  • American Express Cash Magnet® Card
  • Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
  • Hilton Honors American Express Card
  • Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
  • Blue from American Express® Card
  • Amex EveryDay® Credit Card

    • Notable American Express annual fee cards

    Given just six cards in the Amex consumer lineup lack an annual fee, it’s no surprise that some heavy hitters do feature annual fees.

    CardAnnual feeCard type
    The Platinum Card® from American Express$695Luxury travel
    American Express® Gold Card$250Everyday and travel rewards
    Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express$0 intro then $95Dining, everyday rewards
    Amex Platinum Card, Amex Gold Card and Blue Cash Preferred are among Amex’s most popular cards despite their annual fees. This is because each card offers tremendous value or features for the price. The Amex Platinum Card, for example, is the undisputed champion of luxury travel features, offering perks worth far more than the $695 annual fee of the card. The Amex Gold Card is similarly feature-rich with a focus on everyday rewards, and the Blue Cash Preferred is the top earner on the market when it comes to grocery rewards.

    What is the average annual fee for American Express cards?

    Of the Amex cards that feature annual fees, a majority of them lay in the $200 range. Though like most credit cards, the price you pay on a credit card’s annual fee typically correlates to the number of perks and benefits you can expect to come with the card. 

    Should I choose an American Express for a no annual fee card?
    For many consumers, no. American Express has a decent variety of credit cards without an annual fee, though they’re all quite specialized from one another. That means there aren’t many strong options that can work for just about anyone. 
    Pros
    • A few solid cash back options. The American Express Cash Magnet® Card could be a great choice if you don’t spend a lot on any particular category of purchases. The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is also a solid card for earning on everyday purchases.
    • Intro APR option available. An intro APR on purchases is handy if you have some big upcoming purchases on the way and you want to avoid interest. The Amex EveryDay Credit Card is your go-to in this case.
    Cons
    • Limited variety overall. Amex lacks the variety of card options you’ll find with some competitors. For example, there are just two travel options available and both are cobranded cards.
    • Earning power lacking. Much of Amex’s value and earning power is found in their cards featuring annual fees. Their no annual fee offerings are lacking in comparison.
    How to compare American Express no annual fee cards
    Since only a few Amex cards come without some form of annual fee, you’ll primarily want to look at the card’s larger type and overall features to determine which is best for you.
  • Rewards. Take a careful look at the reward rate, and more importantly, what categories the card earns rewards on. 
  • Travel features. The two major travel options you have for an Amex no annual fee card are cobranded: Hilton for hotels and Delta for flights, respectively. If you prefer a general travel option, you might want to look at another provider’s options.
  • Welcome offer. Despite each card’s lack of annual fee, many of them feature some form of a welcome offer. 
    • Is the annual fee on an American Express card worth it?
    Generally, yes. Nearly all Amex credit cards with an annual fee come with enough perks or earning potential to more than make up for the cost of the annual fee. Here’s a quick comparison of two Amex cards’ annual fees and available features. 
    Annual feeCardPerks
    $95 (see Terms apply, see rates & fees)Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
    • Complimentary ShopRunner membership after enrollment
    • 6% back at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 in purchases each year, and 1% after that. 6% back on select streaming services. 3% back at gas stations and transit purchases.
    • 1% back on all other purchases.
    $695 (see Terms apply, see rates & fees)The Platinum Card® from American Express
    • 100,000 point welcome offer after you spend $6,000 in purchases in your first 6 months.
    • $200 annual airline fee credit after enrollment. $200 in annual Uber Cash. $100 annual Saks Fifth Avenue credit after enrollment. $100 Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit every four years.
    • Complimentary access to Centurion Lounge
    • Gold status in Marriott Bonvoy and Hilton Honors loyalty programs after enrollment
    • Concierge service
    • And more
    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 none of these cards are quite what you’re looking for, consider comparing other no-annual-fee credit card options.
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