Do you love to travel? Do you want to earn free flights and hotel stays? If so, a credit card could be an excellent way to help you save money on travel. Credit cards can also be a great way to earn points that can be used toward future travel expenses.
In this article, we review the Best Air Miles Credit Card With No Annual Fee, best no annual fee credit cards, best credit card for international travel no annual fee, and best credit card for international travel no annual fee.
Air Miles are a rewards program offered by Canadian Airlines. You can earn Air Miles by purchasing products and services from participating companies. You can also earn Air Miles when you make purchases with your Air Miles Credit Card.
When you redeem your Air Miles for flights or other products or services from participating companies, you will receive a discount off the price you would pay if you were paying cash instead of using your Air Miles Credit Card.
The Best Air Miles Credit Card With No Annual Fee is the Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card, which provides customers with a 2% rebate on all eligible purchases made with their card during every billing cycle until December 31st 2020. The Scotia Momentum Visa Infinite Card also provides customers with an annual fee rebate of up to $99 per year (up to $1,498 total value), which means that after the first year of owning this card there will be no annual fees associated with owning it at all!
Best Air Miles Credit Card With No Annual Fee
We understand that finding a credit card that gives travel rewards without an annual fee and fits your lifestyle while also providing the correct kinds of redemption choices can be challenging. For our recommendations in these categories, continue reading.
This is why: For anyone who wishes to accrue miles steadily regardless of what they are buying, the Discover it® Miles travel rewards credit card may be the best option.
You will always receive 1.5 miles for every $1 spent when using the Discover it® Miles travel rewards credit card. To provide an example, many no annual charge travel credit cards would provide higher rates on one or two categories, such as three points on gas, without providing a corresponding multiplier for other types of transactions.
Additionally, Discover will match all the miles you accrued throughout your first year of card membership.
With the Discover it® Miles card, you won’t need to monitor your reward earning activities or, even worse, think about altering your purchasing patterns in order to increase your earning potential.
Best for flexible redemption options: U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card
Here’s why: If you want the ability to redeem rewards for either travel or cash back, this card will give you that flexibility with the benefit of several bonus categories.
You can also earn a sign-up bonus of 20,000 points (equivalent to $200 in redemptions) when you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days after you open your account.
Points can be redeemed for travel, cash back, merchandise, gift cards and more.
For more info, read reviews of the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card.
From cardholders in the last year
Here’s why: The Hilton Honors American Express Card offers a lot to frequent Hilton guests looking to earn rewards without paying an annual fee.
The rewards multipliers for eligible purchases on this card are eye-popping, at least at first glance. The Hilton Honors American Express Card offers …
You can also earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months after your account opens.
But it’s worth noting that the value of Hilton Honors points can be quite low, according to Credit Karma’s estimated point valuations. When assessing the welcome bonus, consider that potential value and not just the number of points you’ll earn.
Still, the Hilton Honors American Express Card brings meaningful perks to Hilton guests. The card includes complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status — good for late checkouts, the opportunity to earn a fifth night free on rewards bookings, and other benefits. It also offers the opportunity to achieve Gold status if you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases within a calendar year.
In addition, there are no foreign transaction fees, which could be especially helpful if you use the card to pay for hotels outside of the United States.
Here’s why: The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a nice option for those who want to make their upcoming travel plans go further with a solid sign-up bonus.
Travel cards with no annual fee typically don’t offer the huge sign-up bonuses of pricier rewards cards, but there is still value to be had in this area.
With the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, you earn 25,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 on purchases within your first 90 days from account opening. That’s both a meaningful boost — a potential $250 value — and an attainable bonus in terms of the required spending level.
The card also earns a flat rate of 1.5 points per $1 spent on purchases, so the sign-up bonus is equivalent to $16,667 worth of purchases at the standard earning rate. And like other cards on our list — its foreign transaction fee? None.
From cardholders in the last year
Best for straightforward rewards: Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card
Here’s why: If you’re looking for a card with a no fuss, easy-to-understand rewards program, look no further than the Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card. With this card, you’ll earn a flat, unlimited 1.25 miles on every $1 you spend. Then once you’ve earned your miles, Capital One makes it easy to redeem them for travel (though there are other redemption options as well).
Here’s how it works: When you make a travel purchase with the Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card, you simply redeem your miles as a statement credit. That credit goes toward the cost of the travel purchase, and voilà — all or part of your travel purchase is covered.
Travel purchases include flights, hotels and more. Capital One also offers the chance to transfer your miles to one of its travel loyalty programs.
The Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. And what’s more, your rewards won’t expire as long as your card is open. Just make sure you redeem for a statement credit within 90 days of the travel purchase posting to your account.
How to make the most of a travel rewards credit card with no annual fee
Before settling on a travel credit card with no annual fee, it’s important to consider if you’re willing to sacrifice some rewards-earning power just to avoid paying an annual fee.
While the cards mentioned in this article can help you get value for your purchases, most of our favorite travel credit cards charge an annual fee. If you want the most lucrative sign-up bonuses or best perks, you’re likely going to have to pay an annual fee. Otherwise, you might want to consider a cash back card over a travel card.
If you’re set on a travel card, though, then there are several issues to consider to find the right one of you. First, you should figure out how you’ll usually use it and how often. It’s important to break down the benefits each card offers and decide which travel features are most important to you.
For instance, a hotel credit card that offers benefits for a single brand won’t make a lot of sense for you if you’re not particularly loyal to that company. At the same time, an airline-branded card might be the right option if you only fly with that airline.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that your travel card’s benefits should suit your regular habits. If you find yourself changing your spending habits or travel plans to fit the card’s offers, then it’s probably best to reassess your options.
How we picked these travel rewards credit cards
Naturally, we started our selection process by pinpointing the travel rewards credit cards with no annual fee. Once we established that list, we focused on the qualities of each card that matter to consumers interested in earning rewards without paying an annual fee.
best no annual fee credit cards
You don’t need to pay an annual fee to get the most out of your credit card. In fact, there are plenty of no-annual-fee cards that offer better rewards than their high-fee counterparts. While it’s true these cards won’t earn rewards as quickly as their annual-fee counterparts, the longer timeline can work in your favor if you’re planning a big purchase like an apartment or car—or just want some extra cash back on daily purchases like groceries or gas. Here’s a quick look at some of our favorite no annual fee credit cards:
BankAmericard® Travel Rewards Credit Card
The BankAmericard Travel Rewards® Credit Card was among the most rewarding cards for travel rewards, but it’s not just for people who take a lot of trips. It also offers a good deal of flexibility and potential savings if you have a large balance on your credit card.
The BankAmericard Travel Rewards® Credit Card has no annual fee. That makes it an affordable option even if you don’t plan to use it very often, or if you only want to use the card once in awhile when you’re traveling abroad.
And while the BankAmericard Travel Rewards® Credit Card doesn’t offer any foreign transaction fees, there are some other features that make this card better suited for international travel than others:
Capital One® Venture® Rewards Credit Card
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great option if you want to earn rewards on every purchase. There are no foreign transaction fees, so you can use your card anywhere in the world—and there’s no annual fee to worry about.
The rewards program is simple: Earn 2X miles for every dollar spent on all purchases, every day. Miles don’t expire as long as your account remains open, active and in good standing.* Plus, you can earn a sign-up bonus of 50k miles once you spend $3,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening – that’s worth $500 in travel!
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
If you’re looking for a card with no annual fee and a cash back rate that’s as good or better than most of its competitors, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card is a great choice. You’ll earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make, without any spending caps or rotating categories to keep track of—just one flat rate and unlimited rewards every time you use your card.
The Freedom Unlimited® also offers 15 months of 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, making it an excellent option for consolidating other high-interest debt into one low monthly payment. With no annual fee and generous ongoing rewards, this card is an easy way to save money when making everyday purchases—and at the same time, it serves as an effective way to pay down existing balances from other cards more quickly (if applicable).
Citi Simplicity® Card
Card Details
If you’re a big spender, this card is not for you. The Citi Simplicity® Card offers a $0 annual fee and an introductory APR of 0% on Balance Transfers for 18 months, and then the ongoing APR of 14.99%-25.99% Variable APR. That’s the same as most cards in its class—but where it stands out is foreign transaction fees: None! That’s huge when traveling abroad—and it means there’s no excuse to leave your other cards at home if they have a high rate or foreign transaction fee (which many do). You can use this card anywhere Visa cards are accepted around the world without worrying about getting hit with any additional charges on top of what you’re paying off every month in interest.
With other cards available today, though, you might want more than just no annual fee and 0% intro APR on balances transferred to earn their spot in your wallet for everyday purchases; if so, keep reading for some alternatives we recommend instead!
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is one of the best credit cards around. It has a $0 annual fee and offers 1.5% cash back on purchases at U.S. supermarkets, up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). The card also provides 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and select U.S. department stores, and 1 percent cash back on all other purchases (with no limit).
Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® card
This card offers no annual fee and a solid rewards program. You’ll get 3% cash back on gas and 2% cash back on grocery store purchases, while you’ll earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Additionally, the Wells Fargo Cash Wise Visa® card comes with up to $300 protection against damage or theft of your cell phone (subject to an $25 deductible).
Discover it® Cash Back
The Discover it® Cash Back is a great card for those who are looking for no annual fee, but still want to earn cash back rewards. It offers 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 14 months, then a variable APR of 13.74% – 24.74%. There is no foreign transaction fee, which makes this a good option if you travel often or just have family abroad.
The Discover it® Cash Back earns 5% cash back in rotating categories up to the quarterly maximum each time you activate, plus an unlimited 1% on all other purchases—all with no annual fee! You can also get up to $30 back via statement credit after your first purchase (up to $1,500 per year). Plus enjoy free Social Security number alerts and fraud monitoring services.
QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card
- No annual fee.
- 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no limit to how much you can earn.
- $150 bonus cash rewards if you spend $500 in the first 3 months of account opening.
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months (after that, 15.24% – 24.24% Variable APR applies).
best credit card for international travel no annual fee
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
One-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
One of a handful of cash back credit cards that skip foreign transaction fees, this popular Capital One card combines consumer-friendly terms with a decent rewards program. We particularly like it for first-time rewards credit cardholders. Read our full Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card review.
One of a handful of cash back credit cards that skip foreign transaction fees, this popular Capital One card combines consumer-friendly terms with a decent rewards program. We particularly like it for first-time rewards credit cardholders.
Best for no annual fee
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
With no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees and a generous rewards program, the Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card is a safe bet for low cost of ownership and high levels of travel rewards, particularly if you’re a Bank of America customer. Read our full Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card review.
Best for redemption flexibility
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
This popular travel credit card operates on all cylinders, touting an excellent rewards rate on travel and dining, a lucrative sign-up bonus, robust ancillary perks (like trip cancellation insurance), and, yes, no foreign transaction fees. Read our full Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review.
Best for foreign travel beginners
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
Truly a travel card for the fee-averse, this alternative to Capital One’s flagship Venture Rewards Credit Card offers lower rewards in exchange for a $0 annual fee. It maintains other consumer-friendly features, including no foreign transaction fees and flexible redemption options. Read our full Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card review.
Best for travel rewards
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
New Venture cardholders can earn 75,000 miles once they spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
No foreign transaction fees are one standout feature of this overall stellar travel credit card, which also features a generous 2X miles on purchases, a lucrative welcome offer and an up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee. Read our full Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review.
Best for customer service
Discover it® Cash Back
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
This classic card from Discover pairs forgiving terms (like no penalty APR for missed payments) with a generous rotating category cash back rewards program, making it a rare cash back credit card that skips foreign transaction fees. Its first-year Cashback Match™ sweetens the deal. Read our full Discover it Cash Back card review.
Best student cash back card
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
A top choice for students (particularly if you’re studying abroad, given the lack of foreign transaction fees), the Discover it Student Cash Back touts an uber-generous rewards program and consumer-friendly terms, including no annual fee. Consider applying if you don’t mind managing rotating cash back bonus categories. Read our full Discover it Student Cash Back review.
Best for luxury card perks
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,200 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.
This popular luxury travel credit card from Chase comes fully loaded, featuring generous base rewards, a sweet sign-up bonus, ancillary perks (including airport lounge access and certain travel protections) and a high-value travel credit that’ll go a long way toward recouping the steep $550 annual fee. Read our full Chase Sapphire Reserve review.
chase travel card no annual fee
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When picking from the best travel credit cards, many people go for the cards with the benefits. Those rewards credit cards can be great, but not everyone has the budget to spend $500 or more on the annual fees these benefits-rich cards tend to carry.
The good news is you don’t have to pay a fee to benefit from a rewards credit card. There are many credit cards with no annual fee that are available, and there are even travel credit cards that offer great rewards and benefits without you paying extra money to the bank.
That’s why we’re focusing this article on the best travel credit card with no annual fee. Here’s what you need to know to pick the right travel credit card for you.
Methodology
To pick the best travel credit card with no annual fee, we looked for cards that offered a balance of the valuable rewards and benefits travelers love. The credit cards on this list have some combination of travel protection, rental car insurance, and/or automatic elite status. They are also all credit cards with no foreign transaction fees.
None of these cards will have every benefit you might want, so keep in mind that it sometimes makes sense to have multiple travel credit cards to ensure you receive all the perks you desire.
The best travel credit cards with no annual fee
We’ve selected six of the best travel credit cards with no annual fee for you. This chart compares their welcome bonus, rewards earning rate, and travel benefits. As you review the chart, think about how you would use the card to earn rewards and what benefits are most important to you. This will help you decide which of these no-fee rewards credit cards works best for the way you spend and travel.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Many travelers are familiar with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. However, many don’t know that Capital One also offers a $0-annual-fee version of this card with similar rewards and benefits.
Thie Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card earns unlimited 1.25X miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. In addition, travel purchases made through the Capital One travel portal earn 5X miles per dollar. Both airfare and hotel reservations are eligible for 5X rewards. This card also offers a welcome bonus of 20,000 miles when you spend at least $500 on purchases within the first 3 months after account opening.
Miles can be used to book travel or erase travel purchases. You can also redeem them for cash, gift cards, and more. You can transfer your miles to a number of different hotels and airlines that are Capital One transfer partners for potentially even greater value.
This card is good to bring on trips because there are no foreign transaction fees. Cardholders also receive an auto rental collision damage waiver to protect them in case of damage or theft. You’re also covered with travel accident insurance when you use this card to purchase your airfare.
If you need extra time to pay off your big travel purchases, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 months (then 17.99% – 27.99% (Variable) APR).
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card offers cardholders automatic Silver Elite status in the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. Silver Elite members receive 10% more points on stays, priority late checkout, and free Wi-Fi. As a cardholder, you’ll also receive 15 Elite Nights credits, which makes it easier to move further up the elite status tiers.
When spending with this card, you’ll earn 14X Bonvoy points at over 7,000 hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy (when coupled with your complimentary Marriott Bonvoy membership and Silver Elite status); 2X Bonvoy points on eligible travel purchases; and 1X points per $1 on everything else. Your Marriott Bonvoy points will not expire as long as you make purchases on your credit card every 24 months.
After you’re approved for the card, you’ll have the opportunity to earn 30,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months. You can redeem points for stays starting at just 5,000 points per night. This means that your sign-up bonus could be good for up to 10 free hotel nights.
There are no foreign transaction fees, so you can keep this card in your wallet when traveling internationally. The card also includes baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, and trip delay reimbursement.
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Travelers who want to earn Delta SkyMiles without paying an annual fee should look into the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card. It earns 2X miles on eligible purchases made directly with Delta and at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and 1X miles on all other eligible purchases. You can also earn 10,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in the first 6 months.
Delta SkyMiles can be used to book Delta award flights or redeemed like cash using Pay with Miles. For every 5,000 miles you redeem, you’ll save $50 off the cost of your flight. We consider the potential value of Delta SkyMiles to be higher than this, so we wouldn’t recommend this redemption if you can avoid it.
There are no foreign transaction fees when using the Amex Delta SkyMiles Blue Card. Your rental car is covered in case of theft or damage with car rental loss and damage insurance. Plus, you’ll receive 20% back on in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets.
Hilton Honors American Express Card
The Hilton Honors American Express Card offers complimentary Silver elite status in Hilton Honors even if you’ve never stayed at a Hilton before. This mid-tier status level entitles you to attractive benefits such as 20% extra points on Hilton purchases, two free bottles of water in your room, and your fifth night free on award stays.
There’s also an opportunity to earn Hilton Honors Gold status when you spend at least $20,000 in a calendar year. Moving up a tier of elite status earns you possible room upgrades, complimentary breakfast at all Hilton hotels, 80% bonus points on Hilton purchases, and more.
When spending with this card, you’ll earn 7X points at participating hotels and resorts in the Hilton portfolio; 5X points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations; and 3X points on all other eligible purchases. Plus, there are no foreign transaction fees on your purchases.
New cardholders have the opportunity to earn 80,000 Hilton Honors points after spending at least $1,000 in purchases during thefirst 3 months after account opening. Hilton award nights start at 5,000 points each, so this welcome bonus is potentially worth up to 15 nights.
Rental car reservations also receive protection from damage or theft when paying with this card.
American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card
The American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp Card doesn’t offer perks like priority boarding and free checked bags and is best suited for when you want to earn miles but aren’t planning to travel right away.
The AAdvantage MileUp Card earns 2X AAdvantage miles per dollar spent at grocery stores and on American Airlines purchases, plus 1X on everything else. There are no limits to the number of miles you can earn, and you can add an authorized user at no charge so their purchases earn you miles as well.
New cardholders have the opportunity to earn a welcome bonus of 10,000 American Airlines AAdvantage miles after spending $500 within the first 3 months. You’ll also earn a $50 statement credit when you meet that minimum spending requirement. This is one of the lowest spending requirements you’ll find from a rewards credit card.
With the American Airlines web specials, you can find flights for less than 10,000 miles. This means that the sign-up bonus is enough for you to fly for (nearly) free. And if you fly on American, you’ll receive a 25% discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases in the form of a statement credit.
Although the annual fee is $0, this card does have a 3% foreign transaction fee so it’s best used for everyday spending or during domestic travel.