Our pick for a no-annual-fee card: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Up to 20%
Cash back
- Two welcome offers worth up to $300 combined
- Everyday cash back on groceries, gas and at select department stores
- No annual fee
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Our pick for a no-annual-fee card: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Up to 20%
Cash back
You'll find many great no-annual-fee credit card options in a variety of categories.
We update our data regularly, but information can change between updates. Confirm details with the provider you're interested in before making a decision.
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Choosing a credit card without an annual fee can help you save money. But it can also come with lower rewards — and you can still be on the hook for late fees, interest and other costs. Use our table to compare your options and find the best card for you.
American Express |
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Bank of America |
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Barclaycard |
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Chase |
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Capital One |
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Citi |
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Discover |
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PenFed |
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TD Bank |
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US Bank |
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Wells Fargo |
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An annual fee is a yearly cost to keep a credit card. If your card has one, the annual fee is charged automatically each year, typically during the month you opened your account.
With a no annual fee card, you won’t have to pay this cost, which helps you minimize the expense of owning a credit card.
Annual fees typically range from as low as $30 or as high as $550. Some providers waive the annual fee in the first year, giving cardholders 12 months to enjoy their cards at no cost. That said, a card with an annual fee typically comes with more perks and benefits that can offset the fee.
An annual fee can be worth paying if it leads to higher rewards or special benefits you want. Sometimes, you can get so much value from an annual-fee card that the price is easy to justify. But ultimately, this depends on what you need and whether you can take advantage of a card’s features.
It’s always good to get a full picture of a card type before you submit an application. Here are a few things to consider before getting a no annual fee card.
There are many no annual fee cards out there, and the choices can sometimes feel overwhelming. To help you narrow down your options, here’s what to consider:
Many no-annual-fee cards come with a rewards program. You can either get a card with accelerated rewards on select categories like travel, dining, groceries or gas, or you can get a card with flat-rate rewards on all purchases.
Many no annual fee cards have intro APRs. This means you could get 0% APR on purchases or balance transfers for a period of time. Think about whether a promotional interest rate is important to you — and if so, how long you want it to be.
A signup bonus can give you a burst of rewards soon after you’re approved for a card. Many no annual fee cards have similar bonuses, but you’ll find the occasional offer that stands out.
With a no-annual-fee card, expect to earn a bonus worth anywhere from $50 up to $250.
Your credit score has a big effect on which cards you’ll be approved for. For rewards cards and products with intro APRs, you’ll usually want to apply with a good to excellent credit score of 670 or higher. If your score is lower than that, consider a no annual fee secured credit card to build your credit.
A no annual fee card can help you keep costs down. It can also offer great rewards and benefits you didn’t expect.
If you want more options, there are plenty of credit cards to compare. Check out our guide to the best credit cards of 2021.
Steven Dashiell is a credit cards writer at Finder. He's worked on 250 Finder articles and counting, helping readers embrace and maximize credit cards. Backed by nearly a decade of research and reporting experience, Steve's work can be seen on Debt.com, CreditCards.com and Lifehacker.
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