Approval for any credit card will depend on your status. The APR shown represents the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances the APR you're offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit at all. Fees and rates are subject to change without notice. It's always wise to check the terms of any deal before you borrow.
Compare no annual fee credit cards
Pay on plastic and save on card costs with a no annual fee credit card.
Updated

No fee credit cards let you enjoy a range of benefits without paying a yearly or monthly account fee. Depending on the type of card you choose, you can enjoy no fees for the life of the card or zero fees for a promotional period (such as the first year you have the card). Use this guide to learn how no annual fee credit cards work and compare the features, benefits and drawbacks to find the right no annual fee credit card for you.
Comparison of cards with no annual fee
What's in this guide?
What is a no annual fee credit card?
A no annual/monthly fee credit card doesn’t charge you for account maintenance, which is ideal if you want to keep your costs low or if you don’t use your card regularly and can’t justify paying high fees.
Credit cards that involve an annual or monthly fee typically come with more rewards than no-fee cards, so consider how you use your card. It may be the case that added benefits such as travel insurance or cashback on purchases outweigh the expense of the fees involved.

What is the best no annual fee credit card?
There isn’t one best no annual fee credit card. Comparing your options, the conditions of the no annual fee offer and the features of the card will help you to find the right one for you.
Promotional offers and perks available on no annual fee credit cards
If you want more benefits than just savings on your credit card’s annual/monthly fee, compare credit cards that couple zero fees with anything from a 0% balance transfer offer to a rewards programme.
No annual fee credit cards with a 0% balance transfer offer
Balance transfer credit cards let you move debt from an existing credit card to a new card with a low or 0% promotional interest rate. With no annual/monthly fee and a low or 0% balance transfer offer, you could have a cost-free way to consolidate your debts.
Interest-free credit card spending hack
Most credit cards offer a number of interest-free days on purchases when you pay your account balance in full by the due date on your statement. This gives you a way to make interest-free purchases on an ongoing basis.What should I consider before applying for a card?
If you’re interested in getting a no annual/monthly fee credit card now, ask yourself these questions to help compare your options:
- How often do you use your credit card? If you rarely use a credit card but still want one for unplanned expenses or emergencies, a no annual/monthly fee option will give you the features that you need without burning a hole in your pocket while you’re not using it.
- Do you carry a balance? No annual/monthly fee credit cards sometimes have higher interest rates than others, which can mean it takes longer – and is more expensive – to clear a balance. If that’s the case, you might want to consider a low interest credit card instead.
- Do you have existing debt? If you have existing debt, getting a no annual/monthly fee credit card could tempt you to spend more money than you can afford. Aim to pay off your current debts, or consider a balance transfer credit card to save money on interest charges.
- What credit card benefits do you want? No annual/monthly fee credit cards sometimes have fewer perks than other options. If you’re interested in features such as rewards programmes and complimentary insurance, make sure you look at a range of cards and consider these factors as well as the annual or monthly fee so that you can find an option that suits all of your needs.
- Will you use the credit card after the zero annual/monthly fee promotion ends? If the card comes with no annual fee for a promotional period, consider whether you want to use the card once the introductory period ends. If the card doesn’t have a competitive interest rate or extra features to outweigh the annual/monthly fee cost, you might want to consider switching cards to a zero fee option before the annual fee applies.
What is APR?
Credit card promotions have to include an Annual Percentage Rate (APR), which all card issuers must calculate in the same way.Credit card fee structures can get fiddly, so the APR’s designed to benchmark the yearly cost to borrow, with a view to helping consumers compare cards against each other. It takes into consideration the default interest rate plus any mandatory, regular account fees.
If you’re comparing credit cards with no annual fee, the APR will accurately reflect how much carrying a balance on the card is going to cost.
There’s a big catch though: the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) states that this rate must be what 51% (or more) of people accepted for a card receive. That means that up to 49% of those accepted for a credit card may end up paying a higher rate. This is why it’s often called “Typical” or “Representative” APR.
Benefits and drawbacks of zero annual/monthly fee credit cards
Benefits
- Save money on your credit card. The most obvious perk of these cards is that you won’t pay an annual or monthly fee. This could save you a significant amount over the life of the card.
- Practical. Without the extra perks and additional benefits, no annual/monthly fee credit cards can be ideal for emergencies and when extra credit is required.
- Promotional offers and deals. Some no annual/monthly fee credit cards come with promotional offers, frequent flyer programmes and other perks that you’d regularly have to pay a yearly fee to access.
Drawbacks
- Higher interest rates. Credit card companies may charge higher ongoing interest rates on no annual/monthly fee credit cards. This could add to your costs if you regularly carry a balance from month to month.
- Fewer extra features. While some no annual/monthly fee cards do come with frequent flyer programmes and other benefits, they usually have fewer features than cards that charge annual or monthly fees.
- Temporary £0 annual fee. Unfortunately, not all of these cards offer no annual/monthly fee for the life of the card. If your card only offers zero fees for a promotional period, make sure you know when the standard annual fee will apply and how much it is to avoid any surprise costs.
As there are many types of zero annual/monthly fee cards on the market, it’s important to consider your financial situation and how you intend to use the card. Make sure to consider not only the conditions of the fee, but also the other features, benefits and costs of the card before you apply.
Answers to the most popular questions
We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you.
More guides on Finder
-
Where to find a virtual debit card
Compare different types of virtual debit cards and how to use each.
-
Compare 10-year loans
Find out how to apply for a 10-year personal loan, and how to get the best rates.
-
Santander balance transfer
Find out to transfer a balance using a Santander credit card, and compare 0% balance transfer offers.See how to transg
-
Compare international money transfers
Learn how to compare international money transfer services so you can get the best exchange rates and lowest fees.
-
Capital on Tap Business Credit Card review
Earn Avios or cashback on all your business spending with this business Visa from challenger Capital on Tap.
-
Compare prepaid business cards in the UK 2021
Learn more about how prepaid business cards can be used to spend money with any retailer that accepts debit or credit cards.
-
Compare international money transfers
Learn how to compare international money transfer services so you can get the best exchange rates and lowest fees.
-
Allstar Plus ‘All-in-one’ Business Credit and Fuel Card review 2021
The Allstar Plus credit card is a combined business and fuel card that promises to reduce your business admin and improve cash flow.
-
Compare joint business bank accounts
Discover how a joint business bank account works and why you might want to open one.
-
Compare free basic bank accounts (Fee-free)
Discover what a basic bank account is and how they compare to other types of bank accounts.
Ask an Expert
I am looking for a credit card with no monthly/yearly fee. I don’t intend to use it, it is purely to enhance my credit score. Is this a good idea?
Hi D.G,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder. I hope all is well for you. :)
It is worth noting that every time you open a new credit card account, it could cost a few credit score points. Thus, the mere action of opening one can affect your score.
If you don’t intend to use it and you consistently have a zero balance, there’s a chance that your issuer will stop reporting to the credit bureau or worse, close the account. So, in this case, it won’t improve your score and worse, it might even decrease it.
To improve your credit score, you may do the following:
– Order a copy of your credit report. Request a free credit report from the major bureaus to stay on top of making sure that lenders see only the most accurate picture of your financial health. Confirm that your personal information, employment data, open accounts and balances and other financial details are current and accurate. If you discover any errors, dispute them with the three credit bureaus and the provider that reported them.
– Pay down your credit card accounts. Your overall credit score is determined by many variables, including your credit utilization rate. To indicate to lenders that you’re a responsible borrower, only carry a balance with a utilization of 30% or less. For example, if your credit limit is $1,000, keep your balance below $300, which is 30% of your limit.
– Don’t attempt to open new accounts until your score improves. Every time you apply for credit, it’s listed on your credit report and pulls down your score. By waiting, you can take advantage of better interest rates.
– Avoid hastily closing unused accounts. While this sounds like a good strategy in theory, having only newer accounts will result in a lower score. Lenders want to see a long history of credit in your report.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
Hello, I would like to get a credit card with the lowest costs. I need it just for the UK, purchasing in supermarkets, coffees etc..
Hi Kai-uwe,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder.
I would like to share with you three pages from our website to help you make a better decision. One option is by looking for no annual fee credit cards. You will find your options on this page.
Next, explore our low interest rate credit cards. On that page, you should be able to get more familiar with credit cards with low interest.
Finally, please go to this page to compare 0% Purchase Credit Card offers.
All the pages I mentioned above will help you find the credit card with the lowest cost.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach us out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua