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Sometimes it pays to pay an annual fee. Cards that charge yearly fees typically come with rewards and benefits that can offset the cost.
But there are many worthwhile cards that you won’t pay anything to carry, and that come with benefits and perks, as well. Plus, because you don't have to pay an annual fee, it can be easier to justify the value in holding onto such cards for longer — which can positively impact your length of credit history and, ultimately, your credit scores.
Here are top American Express cards with no annual fees.
Top American Express cards that don’t charge annual fees
Rewards cards
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Welcome offer: You may be eligible for as high as $200 cash back after spending $2,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Cash back is received as Reward Dollars, redeemable for statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout. Terms Apply.
Rewards:
- 3% back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 spent per year, then 1%.*
- 3% back at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 spent per year, then 1%.
- 3% back on U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%.
- 1% back on all other purchases.
- Terms apply (see rates and fees).
If groceries and gas are two important spending categories for you, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express can help you rack up rewards in those categories without having to cough up a hefty fee. The card earns elevated rates on spending at both U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations, and comes with a decent welcome offer in addition to featuring a 0% intro APR offer: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 19.49%-28.49% Variable APR. For an American Express card with no annual fee, that’s a lot of rewards to rack up, especially in the first year of cardholding.
The card’s premium sibling, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, offers more competitive rewards rates in those same categories: Holders earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 a year in spending, then 1%. They get 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% back at U.S. gas stations and on transit, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.* Terms apply (see rates and fees). But these rewards come with a price. The card charges a fee, currently: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.
» COMPARE: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express vs. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Blue from American Express®
Welcome offer: None.
Rewards:
- 1 Membership Rewards point per $1 spent.
- Terms apply.
The Blue from American Express® credit card earns valuable Membership Rewards points that can be redeemed for a number of things, including travel, cash back and gift cards. Membership Rewards points can also be transferred to airline and hotel partners. Holders of Blue from American Express® can earn 1 point for every $1 they spend, which is less than the industry standard of 1.5% cash back. Terms apply. There are of course no-annual-fee cards that earn higher rewards rates, but this card can be a decent option if you value a simple way to earn base rewards without having to worry about additional costs — especially when paired with a tiered or rotating bonus rewards card.
🤓 Nerdy Tip
The Rakuten American Express Card is another $0-annual-fee card that gives holders the option of earning valuable Membership Rewards points. While the card is not issued by American Express, it runs on the AmEx payment network, which means that AmEx processes transactions when you use the card. Holders of the Rakuten American Express Card who also have a separate Membership Rewards-earning AmEx card can choose to earn their rewards as Membership Rewards points, instead of as cash back. The card is issued by First Electronic Bank. Co-branded travel cards
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Welcome offer: Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. Terms Apply.
Rewards:
- 2 miles per $1 spent on eligible purchases made directly with Delta.
- 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants in the U.S.
- 1 mile per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Terms apply (see rates and fees).
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card doesn’t offer the major travel perks that other co-branded Delta cards from the issuer do, but holders of this card will get to skip out on the hefty fees associated with those premier cards. The $0-annual-fee card works best for those who are loyal to Delta and don’t travel often, but who still value elevated rewards when they do. In addition to earning double miles for Delta purchases, cardholders get double miles for restaurant spending worldwide. Plus, cardholders are rewarded for Delta in-flight spending: They receive 20% in savings in the form of a statement credit when they use the card on eligible in-flight purchases, including food and beverages. Terms apply.
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Welcome offer: Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points and a $100 Statement Credit after you spend $2,000 on eligible purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 7/29/26. Terms Apply.
Rewards:
- 7 Hilton Honors bonus points per $1 spent on eligible purchases with a hotel or resort within the Hilton portfolio.
- 5 points per $1 spent on purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations.
- 3 points per $1 spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Terms apply (see rates and fees.)
For an annual fee of $0, the Hilton Honors American Express Card offers lucrative rewards for those who value Hilton perks. The co-branded card earns bonus rates on eligible Hilton purchases as well as at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations. While the card lacks some of the benefits that other cards in the hotel brand’s family of cards offer, the Hilton Honors American Express Card is the only Hilton-branded credit card from American Express that charges no annual fee.
Cardholders will also get automatic Hilton Honors™ Silver status, which comes with a slew of perks including a 20% boost on all Hilton Honors base points earned on Hilton stays. Terms apply.
Business cards
American Express also offers a number of business credit cards that don’t charge annual fees and that can provide business owners with rewards and benefits for their spending. Here are some top options.
- The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card: The $0-annual-fee card earns 2% cash back on eligible purchases (on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%). Cash back earned with the card is automatically added as statement credit on your account. This can be a convenience for business owners who prefer a streamlined way to redeem rewards. Plus, cardholders get a 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months, and then the ongoing APR of 16.74%-28.49% Variable APR.
- The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express: This card is pretty much the same as The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card except that it earns Membership Rewards points rather than cash back. This means that holders have more options for redeeming their rewards. Points can be used on travel purchases and gift cards, or they can be transferred to airline and hotel partners. Terms apply (see rates and fees).
- Amazon Business American Express Card: Business owners who frequent Amazon can benefit from the retailer’s American Express branded card. Cardholders have the option of earning 3% back on U.S purchases at Amazon.com, Amazon Business, Amazon Web Services and Whole Foods Market (on the first $120,000 spent each calendar year, and then 1% after that), or a 60-day term of no interest. The card earns 2% back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations and eligible wireless phone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers. All other purchases earn 1% back. Redemption options are valuable for Amazon loyalists: Rewards are earned in the form of Amazon rewards points that can be redeemed for a statement credit or for purchases at Amazon.com and through Amazon Business. Terms apply (see rates and fees).
- Amazon Business Prime American Express Card: This co-branded business card is the higher-end version of the Amazon Business American Express Card. Cardholders get superior rewards rates and benefits: 5% back on U.S. purchases at Amazon Business, Amazon Web Services, Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market (on the first $120,000 spent each calendar year, and then 1% after that), or a 90-day term of no interest; 2% back at U.S. restaurants, U.S. gas stations and eligible wireless phone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers; 1% back on all other spending. Unlike its more basic sibling, this card requires an Amazon Prime or Business Prime membership. Amazon Prime memberships start at $119 per year, and Business Prime memberships start at $69 per year. Terms apply (see rates and fees).
To view rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Amazon Business American Express Card, see this page. To view rates and fees of the Amazon Business Prime American Express Card, see this page.
*Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
All information about the Blue from American Express® Card has been collected independently by NerdWallet. The Blue from American Express® Card is no longer available through NerdWallet.
