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Going for a travel credit card with no annual fee is always a bonus and a genius move to stash more cash in your wallet! You might not grab all the flashy perks with these lavish travel cards. However, you still have amazing options that’ll help you earn exceptional rewards that contribute to unticking your next bucket list destination.
Ensure that you choose your best no-annual-fee travel credit card based on your requirements and travel habits. So, browse the boiled list of travel cards that offer popular alternatives to cut back on expenses and save the most.
See how to choose the best cards from this section that offer beneficial perks and travel protections whenever you’re on your next adventure!
Ready Steady & Go!
9 Best Travel Credit Cards with No Annual Fee
Here are some Best Travel Credit Card with no annual fees for you:
1. Wells Fargo Autograph Card
Best Known for Occasional Travelers
Rewards rate
1X points on other purchases
Intro APR:
0% intro APR for 12 months from the date of account opening on purchases and no intro APR on balance transfers.
Annual Fee:
$0
Regular APR:
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR
Credit Score Required: FICO score of 670 or higher
Why Choose It: The Wells Fargo Autograph rewards credit card is a popular option to earn rewards on everyday purchases, especially when it comes to everyday travel. With this card, you don’t need to worry about annual fees or rotating categories. But it may not be the best fit if you’re a frequent traveler looking for maximum point values, luxury benefits, and flexibility.
- Earn 3X points for many ways to keep life in motion.
- Unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, streaming services, and phone plans.
- 1X points on other purchases.
- Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on up to $20,000 spent in the first year.
- Includes emergency cash disbursement and card replacement, roadside dispatch, complimentary Visa Signature Concierge service, and access to personalized deals from My Wells Fargo Deals.
Welcome Bonus: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases within the first three months. Also, a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 within three months of opening your account.
Pros
- Solid welcome bonus
- You’ll earn bonus points across everyday spending categories compared to other competing cards.
- Visa Signature status offers additional benefits than other no-annual-fee cards.
Cons
- Late payment charges up to $40
- You don’t redeem many points for travel as the card doesn’t offer transfer partners and doesn’t have much incentive.
- Though the card favors travelers, it lacks more important travel perks than other rival travel rewards cards.
- You’ll find lengthier intro APR offers on both balance transfers and purchases on other no annual fee credit cards.
Annual Fee: $0
Balance Transfer Fee: A balance transfer fee of either 3% or $5 on each transfer you make, whichever is greater, for the first 120 days from the date of opening your account. After 120 days, the balance fee is a minimum of $5 and can go up to 5%.
Recommended Credit Score: A FICO score of 670 or higher.
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Intro APR: 0% intro APR for 12 months from the date of account opening on purchases and no intro APR on balance transfers.
Regular APR: 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR.
Travel Benefits: Includes auto rental collision damage waiver emergency and travel assistance services.
Mobile Protection: Up to $600 of money is protected against damage, theft, stolen cases, and unintended separation as you pay your monthly phone bill with the card.
Smartphone Protection: You can go up to $600 per claim against cell phone damage or theft when paying your monthly phone bill with this card (can go up to two claims per year, minus a $25 deductible).
- It also covers auto rental collision damage waiver coverage.
- There are different Visa Signature perks, including Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection privileges and Concierge services.
- Compare Autograph credit cards
2. Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Best Travel Credit Card With No Foreign Transaction Fee
Rewards rate
Earn unlimited 1.25X miles every day on all purchases
Intro APR:
0% intro on purchases for 15 months
Annual Fee:
$0
Regular APR:
19.99% – 29.99% (Variables)
Credit Score Required: 660-850 (Good/Excellent)
Why Choose It: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is the best travel credit card due to the rewards and sign-up bonus it offers to its cardholders. The card offers you a chance to save a maximum on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel.
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles every day on all purchases.
- Earn 5X miles on rental cars & hotels booked via Capital One Travel, where you’ll get the best prices with Capital One on thousands of trip alternatives.
- You can use your miles to get the reimbursement for any travel purchase—or you can redeem your miles by booking your next trip through Capital One Travel.
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15-plus travel loyalty programs.
- Skip the airport’s long queue and receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
- Using Capital One Entertainment, you can use cardholder-only VIP packages plus thousands of tickets to events happening in dining, theater, sports, music, and more. Also, you can redeem your rewards for tickets and packages.
Welcome Bonus: Earn a welcome bonus of 20,000 miles after spending $500 on purchases within 3 months of your account opening, which is equal to $200 in travel.
Pros
- Easy transfer of your earned miles to Capital One’s 15-plus partner loyalty programs.
- You get a large sign-up bonus
- Easy rewards structure that makes your travel much easier.
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Balance transfer fee is there
- Lower rewards earning rate than other travel credit cards
- No bonus categories except Capital One Travel purchases.
Annual Fee: $0
Balance Transfer Fee: 3% balance transfer fee for the first 15 months, & 4% at a promotional APR.
Recommended Credit Score: 660-850 (Good/Excellent)
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Intro Purchase APR: 0% intro on purchases for 15 months.
Regular Purchase APR: 19.99% – 29.99% (Variables)
Your miles won’t expire for the entire life of your account, and there’s no limit to how many miles you can earn.
3. Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card
Perfect for Loyal but Less Frequent Flyers
Rewards rate
1X miles on other purchases
Intro APR:
No intro APR
Annual Fee:
$0
Regular APR:
A variable annual percentage rate of 20.99% to 29.99% for cash advances, purchases, and penalties.
Credit Score Required: FICO score of at least 670 is recommended
Why Choose It: Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card is another top travel credit card with no annual fee. Loyalty to Delta pays off if you’re one of those who don’t travel regularly, then the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card could be a good fit.
- You earn 20% cash back on in-flight purchases.
- Receive 20% savings in the statement credit form after using your card on in-flight purchases of beverages and food from Delta.
- Earn 2X miles on dining at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 2X miles Delta Purchases that are made directly with Delta.
- 1X miles on other purchases.
Welcome Bonus: Earn 10,000 Bonus Miles after spending $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first six months of Card Membership.
Pros
- No Annual Fee
Cons:
- Require good/excellent credit score
- No free checked bags
Annual Fee: $0
Balance Transfer Fee: Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card has no balance transfer fee. However, American Express Card usually charges a one-time establishment fee (it’s a one-time fee that lenders may charge whenever a borrower applies for a loan) of 3% for balance transfers on eligible purchases.
*Learn More About Establishment Fee: An establishment fee is also known as an application or upfront Fee. This Fee encompasses application processing costs, including administrative costs, credit assessment, document preparation, and loan set-up.
Recommended Credit Score: A FICO score of at least 670 is recommended.
Foreign Transaction Fee: You can enjoy international travel without any extra charges from American Express on purchases made outside the USA.
Intro APR: No intro APR
Regular APR: A variable annual percentage rate of 20.99% to 29.99% for cash advances, purchases, and penalties.
Pay with Miles: You can have $50 off on your flight cost for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles whenever making bookings on delta.com.
4. Discover it Chrome
Best for Cash Back at Gas Stations & Restaurants
Rewards rate
1X points on other purchases
Intro APR:
0% intro APR for 12 months from the date of account opening on purchases and no intro APR on balance transfers.
Annual Fee:
$0
Regular APR:
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR
Credit Score Required: FICO score of 670 or higher
Why Choose It: The Discover it Chrome is a good option for road trips as you may get bonus cash back at gas stations and restaurants.
- You automatically earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter.
- Anytime you can redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- Receive gift cards starting at only $5.
- Earn an extra bonus on every card!
- You can use rewards at Amazon.com or PayPal to shop for your next destination via road trip.
- Discover Chrome could help you reduce the vulnerability of your digital personal information by removing it from select people-search sites that could market/sell your sensitive data. It’s free and activated with the mobile app.
- Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Welcome Bonus: Discover automatically matches all the cash back you have earned as a card member at the end of the first year without any maximum rewards gap or minimum spending requirements.
Pros
- Cash back match means double the rewards at the end of your first year
- Flexible cash back redemption options
- No foreign transaction fee
Cons:
- High balance transfer fee
- High cash advance fee
- The 2% cash back category limited to $1,000 in quarterly spending
- 1% base rate on other purchases
Annual Fee: $0
Balance Transfer Fee:
- 3% intro balance transfer fee
- Up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (Terms & Conditions apply*)
Recommended Credit Score: Excellent, Good 670-850
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Intro Purchase APR: 0% intro for 15 months from the date of opening your account (rates and Fee of Discover Chrome). Either 5% or $10 of the amount of every cash advance, whichever is greater.
Regular Purchase APR: 18.24% – 28.24% Standard Variable APR applies, which is based on creditworthiness.
You can redeem rewards for cash in any amount at any time, redeem rewards for gift cards, or use rewards at Amazon.com or PayPal with $0 fraud liability.
5. Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
Best Known for Offering Great Cashback
Rewards rate
Earn Up to 3% Reward Rate
Intro APR:
There’s 0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for fifteen months after your account opens.
Annual Fee:
$0
Regular APR:
19.24% to 29.99% variable APR
Credit Score Required: Good/Excellent (670 – 850)
Why Choose It: Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express comes under the belt of the best travel credit card with no annual fee that offers you good cash back rates on gas, groceries, and online purchases. In all, these rewards make this card a perfect contender for enthusiast travelers who love taking road trips and earning cash back along the way!
- Earn Up to 3% Reward Rate
- Earn 3% cash back on up to $6,000/year spent at U.S. supermarkets/groceries.
- 1% & 3% cash back on up to $6,000/year at U.S. gas stations.
- 1% & 3% cash back on up to $6,000/year on online retail purchases
- 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
*Important Note: You receive cash back in the form of Reward Dollars which you can redeem as a statement credit or when shopping at Amazon.com during checkout.
Welcome Bonus: You earn $200 cash back after you spend $2,000 on purchases with your new card within the first six months of your card membership. Further, you’ll receive the $200 cashback in the form of a statement credit.
Pros
- No annual fee
- 0% APR on eligible purchases for 15 months
- Exciting rewards at U.S. gas stations, grocery stores, & online shopping.
Cons:
- 2.7% foreign transaction fee
- Rewards cap on spending at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and online retail purchases.
- Low rewards rate if you go beyond bonus categories
- You’ll find a rewards cap when spending at U.S. gas stations, U.S. supermarkets, and online retail purchases.
Annual Fee: $0
Balance Transfer Fee: Either 3% or $5 of the amount on every transfer you make, whichever is greater.
Recommended Credit Score: Good/Excellent (670 – 850)
Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.7% of every transaction after you convert it to US dollars.
Intro APR: There’s 0% intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for fifteen months after your account opens.
Regular APR: 19.24% to 29.99% variable APR.
Receive $84 Disney Bundle Credit: You’ll get a $7 monthly statement credit after you use your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday Card to spend at least $9.99 every month on your subscription to the Disney Bundle.
*Important Note: The offer is valid only in the U.S. at:
- DisneyPlus.com
- Hulu.com.
- Plus.espn.com/ESPN+
*Note: The offer is subject to auto-renewal
- $180 Home Chef Credit: You can receive up to $15 in statement credits monthly whenever you purchase an auto-renewing subscription for home chef meal kits with the help of your enrolled card.
- Send & Split: From concert tickets to group dinners, you can easily split your American Express purchases with any other PayPal or Venmo user directly from the American Express App. With this card, you can split up the amount, send out money requests, and keep track of who has paid you and who hasn’t. Also, you can get paid back to your card directly as a statement credit.
- Pay It: Pay It gives you access to make payments equal to the billed purchase amount which is less than $100 via the American Express App. When you make payments with Pay It they’re not applied to that billed purchase but enforced to your balance in regards to the section mentioning- “How we apply payments and credits” of your Cardmember Agreement.
- Plan It: Plan It refers to a payment option that gives you the freedom to split up purchases of $100 or more and divide them into monthly installments with a fixed fee. An upfront monthly fee is shown that gives you an idea of how much you need to pay. Moreover, as you plan your purchases, it will still contribute to making you earn rewards.
- Global Assist Hotline: Global Assist Hotline is available in case you’ve lost your wallet or need a medical referral. This Hotline will help you with assistance services and coordination when you’re traveling over 100 miles from your home. The Hotline can even help you plan for your trip with customs information (customs information is data and information entry, exit, export, import, and transit activities, entities involved in this process, and other information related to customs activities) and more. It’s important to note that card members are responsible for the Fee charged by third-party service providers.
- Car Rental Loss & Damage Insurance: You can use your eligible card to pay for a collision damage waiver (CDW) and the entire rental loss at any Rental Company counter, the advantage is you can be covered for Damage to or Theft of a Rental Vehicle.
*Note: Please carefully read important exclusions and restrictions mentioned in car rental loss and damage insurance. Not every vehicle type or rental is covered by this insurance. This coverage is especially not available for vehicles rented in Australia, Italy, and New Zealand. This product offers secondary coverage and does not offer you liability coverage.
6. Bilt World Elite Mastercard Credit Card
Best Known for Earning Extra Rewards for Travel Purchases
Rewards rate
Earn 2X points on travel
Intro APR:
0% introductory APR for 15 months on qualifying balance transfers and purchases from the date of opening your account
Annual Fee:
$0
Regular APR:
21.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49%
Credit Score Required: Above 700
Why Choose It: Bilt World Elite Mastercard Credit Card is a travel credit card with no annual fee and falls under the umbrella of making you earn great and extra rewards for dining and travel purchases.
- The primary advantage to having this card is that Bilt members can earn 2,500 points for referring new cardholders, with an extra 10,000 points awarded for every fifth successful referral.
- 1X points on rent payments without transaction fees and up to 100,000 points annually.
- Earn 2X points on travel.
- Get 3X points on dining at your favorite restaurant, bar, or ordering. Also, with World Elite Mastercard Concierge, you can make instant dinner reservations and order last-minute gifts for your loved ones. Learn More
- Earn 1X on other purchases.
- *Ensure that you use the card 5 times during each statement period to earn points.
- Bilt World Elite Mastercard Credit Card helps you earn two points per dollar on travel purchases, such as airlines, hotels, cruise lines, motels, car rental agencies, and resorts.
- With this card, you earn three points per dollar on dining purchases.
- Cardholders can earn one point per dollar when making rental payments through the Bilt app, with 250 minimum points earned for each payment (even if the payment is under $250).
- Redeem Bilt Points for Travel: You can redeem reward points via the Bilt Travel Portal for activities, flights, hotels, and rental cars at a fixed rate of 1.25 cents per point.
- You can get Bilt rewards points for making a down payment for your home.
Welcome Bonus: You don’t get any welcome bonus.
However, you can still transfer Bilt points to airline and hotel partners, including Alaska Airlines, Hyatt, Marriott, and United Airlines, and Bilt offers time-to-time bonuses that make transfers to select programs worthy and more rewarding.
- You earn bonus points on dining, Lyft rides, and travel.
- Cardholders can earn up to 5 points per dollar on Lyft rides after they link their Bilt and Lyft accounts.
Pros
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Easy to pay rent and earn points with no transaction fee.
- Easily earn bonus points on dining and traveling.
- Get double points one day a month (up to 10,000 bonus points)
- You can transfer points 1:1 to various partners, such as Hyatt and United Airlines.
Cons:
- No welcome or sign-up bonus
- At least five transactions per month to earn points is a must
- Light rewards and perks on travel protections
Annual Fee: $0
Balance Transfer Fee: Up to 5% for each balance transfer, with a minimum of $5. Also, balance transfers made within 120 days of opening your account are eligible for the intro rate with a 3% applicable fee, with a minimum of $5.
Cash Advances: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each advance, whichever is greater.
Recommended Credit Score: Above 700
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Intro APR: 0% introductory APR for 15 months on qualifying balance transfers and purchases from the date of opening your account.
Regular APR: 21.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49%
- The points you earn with the Bilt Mastercard will count towards your Bilt Rewards status and you can use these points for all your favorite Bilt Rewards redemptions.
- You can pay your monthly phone bill with your Bilt Mastercard and can get up to $800 of mobile phone protection (subject to a $25 deductible) against damage or theft.
- You can purchase with Bilt Mastercard, which can cover phone loss or damage within 90 days of the date of purchase, and hence, on every claim, you’ll get $10,000.
- Collaborating with America’s top group fitness classes, Bilt Help can help you redeem your points for some of the most popular classes – which start at just 1,600 points a class. Amazing, isn’t it?
With the exclusive Bilt Collection, you’ll get unique access to Bilt’s hand-curated catalog of art, apparel, and decor inspired by that particular season’s featured artist. Learn More
The card offers you the opportunity to pay your rent and earn rewards on a credit card with no additional charges.
Earn 2x points on cruises, flights, hotels, and rental cars booked directly with airlines, hotels, and car rental agencies.
Travel Insurance Benefits: The Bilt World Elite Mastercard Credit Card comes with the following TRAVEL BENEFITS & FEATURES :
- Auto rental collision damage waiver
- Lyft Credits
- Trip cancellation & interruption
- Trip delay reimbursement
- No foreign currency conversion fee
7. Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card
Best Known as a Starter Travel Rewards Card
Rewards rate
25%-75% more points on every purchase
Intro APR:
0 percent intro annual percentage rate (APR) for 15 months on both balance transfers and purchases for your first 15 billing cycles made within the first 60 days of opening your account.
Annual Fee:
$0
Regular APR:
After the end of the introductory period, the ongoing variable APR of 19.24 percent to 29.24 percent takes over.
Credit Score Required: FICO score of 690-850
Why Choose It: Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card is a rare travel-oriented credit card with a great intro APR offer for balance transfers. It comes into the picture when most people like you probably don’t want to start with a premium travel credit card. Isn’t it? Well, if that’s the case, then your vote goes with the one that comes with zero or steep annual fees and rewards systems. And this is where the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card might crash in.
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every dollar you spend on other purchases made anywhere anytime.
- No restrictions and blackout dates
- Points do not expire as long as your account remains open.
How to Redeem Rewards:
- With the help of your Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card, you can book the whereabouts of your trip, including how and where you want to stay. Thus, you’re not bound to specific websites with any blackout date or restriction.
- You get complete flexibility to redeem points for a statement credit paying for dining and travel purchases, encompassing flight bookings, baggage fees, hotel stays, vacation rentals, and dining at favorite restaurants that even include takeouts.
Rewards:
- Earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase if you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member. It implies you could earn 1.87 to 2.62 points for every $1 you spend any time, anywhere.
*More Information on Preferred Rewards
Welcome Bonus: Earn 25,000 online bonus points offer (a $250 value). Or, you make at least $1,000 in purchases within 90 days of your account opening – which you can redeem for a $250 statement credit on dining and travel purchases.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Intro APR period
- Welcome bonus for new cardholders
- No foreign transaction fees
- Flexible rewards redemption
Cons:
- No bonus category
- Certain customers are entitled to the best rewards
- Require good/excellent credit
Annual Fee: $0
Balance Transfer Fee: A 3 percent balance transfer fee that must be made within 60 days of account opening. After the end of the intro balance transfer fee offer, the Fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
Recommended Credit Score: A FICO score of 690-850
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Intro APR: 0 percent intro annual percentage rate (APR) for 15 months on both balance transfers and purchases for your first 15 billing cycles made within the first 60 days of opening your account.
Regular APR: After the end of the introductory period, the ongoing variable APR of 19.24 percent to 29.24 percent takes over.
$0 Liability Guarantee: You get a $0 liability guarantee for fraudulent transactions.
With Contactless Chip Technology, you can tap to pay whenever you see the Contactless Symbol and can make easy, quick, and secure transactions at millions of locations.
Balance Connect for Overdraft Protection: It helps prevent returned or bounced checks, declined purchases, or other overdrafts after linking your eligible Bank of America checking account to your credit card with no transfer fees. However, other fees may apply.
Paperless Statement Option: Opt for digital or paperless credit card statements that’ll increase your account security while also reducing paper consumption and benefiting the environment.
Digital Wallet Technology: Find multiple alternatives to pay by adding your Bank of America credit card to your mobile device and then shop in-store or go in-app using Apple Pay, Venmo, Google Pay™ or Samsung Pay.
Online & Mobile Banking: You can anytime and from any location can check available credit, online pay your credit card bill, transfer funds, and a lot more.
Account Alerts: You can stay ahead of your balances and due dates by choosing the alert options from different types of text alerts, and customer email, and let your smartphone tell you when your monthly and annual payments are due and when they should be paid.
FICO Score: You can access your FICO Score which is updated monthly for free and can do it with your Mobile Banking app or in Online Banking.
8. Capital One Spark Cash Select Business Card (Excellent Credit)
Offers Best Flat-Rate Cashback on all Purchases
Rewards rate
Earn unlimited 1.5X rewards on all business spending
Intro APR:
N/A
Annual Fee:
$0
Regular APR:
For Excellent Credit, Purchase Rate – 18.49% – 24.49% variable
Credit Score Required: 670
Why Choose It: Capital One Spark Miles Cash Select for Excellent Credit makes sense for small-business owners who:
- Looking to get a flat cash-back rate to manage bonus categories.
- Enjoy no-annual fee card.
- Buy inventory from international merchants.
It’s one of the best cashback credit cards with no annual fee, no bonus categories, or foreign transaction fees.
*Note: Businesses may find it challenging to qualify for this card if they don’t have excellent credit. The card allows diverse spending, allowing them to earn more rewards on all purchases. It’s also ideal for businesses who aren’t connected to any specific travel loyalty program, as you earn flexible rewards.
Earn unlimited 1.5X rewards on all business spending
Get 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel.
Free employee cards also earn unlimited 1.5X miles from their purchases.
No limits or category restrictions
Miles or rewards won’t expire for the entire account life.
Earn unlimited 1.5X miles per dollar on every purchase, anywhere anytime.
You can redeem your cash back rewards for any amount you want.
There are free employee cards, which can also earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
There’s $0 Fraud Liability for illegitimate or unauthorized charges
How to Redeem?
- You can instantly redeem your miles for any travel-related purchases, right from booking flights to hotels, and to ride-sharing services.
- You can use your miles to book first-class or business tickets on flights (Air France-KLM Flying Blue, Wyndham Rewards & Virgin Red), cruises, hotels, vacation packages, etc., to cover eligible travel purchases to any 15-plus travel partners.
- You can use your miles to make travel bookings at one cent each via the Capital One Travel portal and can get the opportunity to redeem miles at checkout.
- You can book anywhere you want, and afterward, you can redeem miles as a statement credit.
- Are any upcoming travel plans on the bucket list? If yes, do you want to use Capital One miles to offset expenses? Then, don’t worry, as you can redeem these miles for cash at half a cent each. The options to redeem these miles include statement credits or a check in your mail.
- The least valuable method to redeem Capital One miles is for Amazon & PayPal checkout, gift cards, merchandise, and event tickets. These alternatives will get you around 0.8 to 1 cents per mile.
Welcome Bonus: Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business Card with Excellent Credit: Get a $750 cash bonus after spending $6,000 in the first three months. Also, earn unlimited 1.5% cash back for your business on every purchase from anywhere you want without any limits or category restrictions and no annual fee.
Pros
- No annual fee
- High rewards rate
- No reward caps
Cons:
- Requires excellent credit
Annual Fee: $0
Balance Transfer Fee: None
Recommended Credit Score: 670
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Intro APR: N/A
Regular APR:
For Excellent Credit, Purchase Rate – 18.49% – 24.49% variable
Enjoy itemized year-end spending reports.
You get an option to download purchase records quickly and safely to accounting software, such as Excel, Quicken, and QuickBooks.
Free Employee Cards: You can issue your employees some extra cards so that they can earn rewards on business spending without paying an extra fee. You can easily customize your spending limits on employee cards and keep a record of your transactions.
No Foreign Transaction Fees: A few credit cards charge a 3% foreign transaction fee on purchases made outside the U.S. However, the Spark Miles Select card forgoes this Fee.
Rental Collision Coverage: You receive primary coverage for any damage and theft of your rental vehicles.
You get roadside assistance as this business card offers services that help you during auto-related emergencies, including tire changing, jump-starting, and towing.
Set AutoPay to make automatic payments as you don’t need to worry about signing into your account every month and paying monthly bills or annual subscriptions.
With $0 Fraud Liability, you can get a cash advancement and an emergency replacement if your card is lost or stolen.
9. United Gateway Card
Best for People Who Want to Earn United Miles
Rewards rate
1X points on other purchases
Intro APR:
0% intro APR for 12 months from the date of account opening on purchases and no intro APR on balance transfers.
Annual Fee:
$0
Regular APR:
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR
Credit Score Required: FICO score of 670 or higher
Why Choose It: United Gateway Card is another unique travel credit card that’s designed for frequent flyers of United Airlines. This travel credit card offers bonus miles when you fly on United Airlines.
- Earn 7x total miles on United flights.
- Being a MileagePlus member, you get 5x miles on the fare from United Gateway.
- Earn 2x miles on the entire United purchase with the United Gateway Card. Moreover, Premier members earn even more rewards and benefits.
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on other United purchases.
- You’ll earn 2 miles per $1 spent on other purchases from United, including the following:
- Economy Plus, inflight beverages, food, baggage fee, Wi-Fi, and other United purchases.
- You’ll earn 2 miles per $1 spent from Chase purchases on United Card Events. Visit UnitedCardEvents.com for more information.
- Earn three total miles on hotel stays booked via United Hotels.
- Get 2 miles per dollar spent from a United Gateway card as a MileagePlus member.
- Earn 1x miles with the United Gateway Card.
- Get 2 miles per dollar spent at gas stations
- Earn 2 miles per dollar spent on local transit and commuting, such as mass tickets, tolls, train tickets, rideshare services, and taxicabs, train tickets, tolls.
- Earn 25% cash back on United Inflight and Club premium drink purchases.
- Earn 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases.
Welcome Bonus:
- Earn 30,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from the date of opening your account.
- By adding an authorized user – you get 5,000 bonus miles to your account in the first three months your account is open.
Pros
- Solid welcome bonus
- You’ll earn bonus points across everyday spending categories compared to other competing cards.
- Visa Signature status offers additional benefits than other no-annual-fee cards.
Cons
- Late payment charges up to $40
- You don’t redeem many points for travel as the card doesn’t offer transfer partners and doesn’t have much incentive.
- Though the card favors travelers, it lacks more important travel perks than other rival travel rewards cards.
- You’ll find lengthier intro APR offers on both balance transfers and purchases on other no annual fee credit cards.
Annual Fee: $0
Balance Transfer Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Recommended Credit Score: 670-850
Foreign Transaction Fee: None
Intro APR: 0% intro APR for the first twelve months from the date of your account opening on purchases.
Regular APR: A variable APR of 21.99% – 28.99%
- Get a one-year complimentary DashPass, which is a membership for both Caviar and DoorDash, offering unlimited deliveries with $0 delivery fees and lower service fees on eligible orders. After this, you’re enrolled automatically in DashPass at the current monthly rate. The offer is valid – 12/31/24.*
- You can purchase or use miles for unique experiences provided by United Card Events from Chase and United MileagePlus Exclusives.
To book any United-operated flight, MileagePlus members can use miles without no restrictions or blackout dates whenever they want. For more information, please visit united.com/AirAwards.
Get travel built-in benefits, such as:
Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance
Purchase Protection, etc.
You can use MileagePlus miles to reward you with unique experiences, getaways, dining at favorite restaurants, and so much more.
Use these miles for flights on United and other airline partners, car rentals, hotel stays, eGift cards, merchandise, and more. Visit united.com/UseMiles for more details on using miles.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Travel Cards With No Annual Fee?
If you’re considering a no-annual-fee travel card, it’s important to weigh both the advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a quick overview to help you make an informed decision:
Pros of Travel Cards With No Annual Fee
- No Extra Cost – The biggest benefit is that you don’t have to pay an annual fee. This makes it easier to use the card without worrying about extra charges, especially if you’re not using the card every day.
- Earn Rewards on Travel – Many no-annual-fee cards still offer rewards for travel-related purchases, like flights, hotels, or dining out. This can add up over time, helping you save on future trips.
- Low Risk for New Cardholders – If you’re new to credit cards or building your credit score, a no-fee card is a good way to get started without worrying about an annual fee. It’s less risky while you learn how to manage your spending.
- Access to Perks – While these cards may not offer as many high-end perks as premium cards, you can still get benefits like travel insurance, purchase protection, and discounts on select services.
- Good for Casual Travelers – If you don’t travel all the time but still want to earn some rewards when you do, a no-annual-fee travel card can be a simple way to get some benefits without paying for features you don’t need.
Cons of Travel Cards With No Annual Fee
- Lower Rewards Rates – No-annual-fee travel cards generally offer lower rewards rates compared to cards that charge an annual fee. If you want to earn higher points or miles on your travel spending, you may need to pay a fee for a premium card.
- Limited Travel Perks – While you may get some basic travel benefits, you won’t have access to luxury perks like airport lounge access, higher-level travel insurance, or concierge services that come with cards that charge an annual fee.
- Higher Interest Rates – Some no-annual-fee cards can come with higher interest rates. If you carry a balance month-to-month, this could mean paying more in interest charges, which could outweigh any rewards you earn.
- Potential Hidden Fees – While there’s no annual fee, there could still be other fees, like foreign transaction fees, late payment fees, or cash advance fees. Make sure to check all terms before applying.
- Fewer Reward Options – Some no-fee cards limit the types of rewards or the flexibility of redeeming them. For example, you may only be able to use your points on specific airlines or travel partners, which could reduce the card’s value for certain travelers.
Do you want to earn rewards? If you don’t have a rewards credit card then we have articles for you to find the best rewards credit card for you.
The Final Cut
A handful of top rewards credit cards are also travel credit cards. However, it doesn’t imply that a travel credit card is the best alternative for every situation. Travel cards are rewarding for travel-related purchases and can provide outsized value when you use the rewards to book your next vacation. However, travel can be a small part of the typical consumer’s budget, and other credit cards can be more rewarding for everyday spending or have simpler rewards programs.
Want to plan your next destination with a travel credit card with no annual fee? Head towards our newsletter, which offers you the best financial advice on how to choose your best travel credit card!
