Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards of January 2025

The bonus offer is among the best you'll find on any no-annual-fee travel card: Earn a bonus of 40,000 miles once you spend $1,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $400 in travel. This card earns 1.25 miles per dollar spent on most purchases, and 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel. Miles can be redeemed for statement credit against travel purchases, used to book travel through Capital One, or transferred to partner loyalty programs.

Some competing no-annual fee cards have a higher ongoing rewards rate, which can mean they'll earn more over the longer term.

The bonus categories have historically included popular everyday spending areas like supermarkets, gas stations and restaurants. It comes with a good 0% intro APR period as well as Discover's unique bonus for new cardholders: INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – 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.

You have to remember to activate the bonus categories each quarter. If your spending doesn't match the bonus categories or you tend to spend significantly above the $1,500 quarterly cap, you might fare better with another card.

This card earns 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase; 3% cash back at restaurants and drugstores; and 1.5% on other purchases. There's a strong intro APR offer, and new cardholders who apply through NerdWallet get this bonus offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!

While you can earn big rewards on travel bookings with this card, it also charges a 3% foreign transaction fee, so it's not a good companion abroad.

You'll earn 2% cash back on all purchases, among the best rates on the market for products in its class. But the card also features a generous sign-up bonus: Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months. On top of that, it also offers a 0% intro APR on Purchases for 12 months and 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable APR.

You can find higher cash-back rates in specific, popular spending categories, if you're OK with keeping track of tiered or rotating reward structures. And like many cash-back cards, this one's not ideal for traveling abroad, thanks to its foreign transaction fee.

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card offers 3% back on dining out, grocery stores and entertainment, including streaming services; 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 5% back on hotels and rental cards booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply); and 1% on other spending.

Although it clearly has it charms in the rewards department, the benefits of the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card are sweet mostly if you frequently spend in the card's bonus categories.

The Citi Double Cash® Card earns 1% back on every dollar you spend and another 1% back when you pay off those purchases. That adds up to a best-in-class 2% rate.

There's no 0% APR period on purchases, nor is there a chance to earn higher rewards in different categories, which you might find on some other cards. It charges a foreign transaction fee, so it's not ideal for using internationally.

The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card offers a long interest-free period on both purchases and balance transfers. When that offer ends, the annual fee of $0 lets you keep it open. Plus, it comes with cell phone insurance.

There's a balance-transfer fee: 3% intro fee on balance transfers made within 60 days, then 5% after that (minimum $5).* That's at the low end of the industry's typical range, but you still can find cards with a fee of $0. There are also no rewards on this card, giving you little incentive to keep using it after the 0% period.

The card earns 7 bonus points per dollar spent on eligible Hilton purchases; 5 points per dollar at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations; and 3 points per dollar elsewhere. There's a super bonus offer and automatic Hilton Honors™ Silver status. Terms apply.

Although you earn a lot of points per dollar spent, the per-point value is relatively low. There's no annual free night like you'd find on many cards with annual fees (a perk which can essentially offset the fee).

Bonus rewards of 5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year at office supply stores and on cable, internet and phone service. Also, earn 2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases each account anniversary year at gas stations and restaurants, and 1% cash back on all other spending. There's also a sweet sign-up offer: Earn $350 when you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months and an additional $400 when you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first six months after account opening.

If you aren't spending much in the bonus categories, the Ink Business Cash® Credit Card isn't a good fit. And if your business spends well above that $25,000 bonus category cap, you'll fare better with a different card, potentially one that offers unlimited flat-rate rewards.

This card offers a 0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, and then the ongoing APR of 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable APR. It also offers cell phone insurance.

The card doesn't earn ongoing rewards on everyday spending. (It's possible to earn rewards through the issuer's "My Wells Fargo Deals" feature, but those are one-off deals that require activation.) There's also a balance transfer fee.

The card earns unlimited 3 points per dollar spent on travel, dining, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Other spending earns 1 point per dollar. The bonus offer is outstanding for a $0-annual-fee card, and you even get a introductory APR period.

The card doesn't have the perks of a dedicated airline or hotel card. You can transfer points to airline and hotel programs, but the options are limited.