The benefits (and drawbacks) of a no annual fee credit card are not immediately obvious. The downside is that you sometimes sacrifice a higher rewards rate when you choose a card with no annual fee, particularly if the card comes in a no-fee version and a high-rewards version. In that case, you'll need to crunch the numbers (or get us to do it for you) to determine whether you're better off paying the fee and recouping it with rewards, or steering clear of the fee. Many people reject cards with an annual fee out of hand, but we suggest doing some calculations before writing them off completely. But if you're looking to avoid hassles, you can't beat no-fee - and be sure to check out our cash back credit cards page to find the easiest rewards to redeem. But there is a major advantage to having a card without an annual fee: in order to maintain a good credit score, it's advisable to leave your credit card accounts open even if you're not actively using them. This is, of course, harder to accomplish when the card sitting in your desk drawer is bleeding annual fees. Having a no annual fee credit card, especially for your first card, can save you money both in recouped annual fees and in lower interest rates down the line because of your good credit score.
| Credit Card | Annual Fee | *Rewards Rate | Sign Up Bonus | Interest Rates |
![]() Citi Simplicity® Card |
$0 | 0.00% | None | Ongoing 12.99%-21.99% Variable Intro 0% for 18 months* on purchases & transfers Apply Now |
![]() Chase Freedom® Visa - $100 Bonus Cash Back |
$0 | 1.00%* | $100 Cash Bonus after spending $500 - in first 3 months | Ongoing 13.99%-22.99% Variable Intro 0% for 15 mos on purchases & transfers Apply Now |
![]() Blue Cash Everyday® from American Express |
$0 | 1.00%* | $100 Cash Bonus after spending $1,000 - in the first 3 months | Ongoing 12.99%-21.99% Variable Intro 0% for 12 months on purchases Apply Now |
![]() Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card |
$0 | 0.00% | None | Ongoing 11.99%-21.99% Variable Intro 0% for 18 months* on purchases & transfers Apply Now |
![]() Capital One® Cash Rewards for Newcomers |
$0 | 1.00% | None | Ongoing 24.9%(V) Variable Intro None Apply Now |
![]() Capital One® VentureOne℠ Rewards Credit Card |
$0 | 1.25%* | Earn 10,000 bonus miles, equal to $100 in travel, when you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first 3 months | Ongoing 11.9%(V)-19.9%(V) Variable Intro 0% until June 2014 on purchases Apply Now |
![]() Slate® from Chase |
$0 | 0.00% | None | Ongoing 11.99%-21.99% Variable Intro 0% for up to 15 months* on purchases & transfers Apply Now |
![]() Chase Sapphire® Card |
$0 | 1.00%* | 10,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards Bonus after spending $500 - in first 3 months. | Ongoing 15.24% Variable Intro None Apply Now |
![]() Citi® Hilton HHonors™ Visa Signature® Card |
None | 1.00%* | Earn 40,000 Hilton HHonors Bonus Points after spending $1,000 within 4 months of account opening* | Ongoing 14.24%-16.24% Variable Intro N/A on purchases N/A on transfers Apply Now |
![]() Blue Sky from American Express® |
No annual fee | 1.33%* | 7,500 Blue Sky Points Bonus after spending $1,000 - within 3 months - redeemable for a $100 statement credit. | Ongoing 17.24%-22.24% Variable Intro 0% for 12 months on purchases Apply Now |