No Annual Fee Credit Cards
Hate paying an annual fee to use your credit card? Check out our expert reviews of no annual fee credit cards below.
Many of these no annual fee credit cards even offer introductory APRs as low as 0%, meaning you can enjoy an "interest-free" loan with your free credit card for an introductory period. If you hate paying an annual fee on your credit card, consider one of the recommended credit cards with no annual fee below
Earn credit card rewards such as miles, cash back, merchandise discounts, hotel stays, and more with your "free credit card". Some of these no annual fee credit cards even offer bonus rewards for new customers, bringing you closer to earning free flights, free hotel stays, free cash and more. The credit card offers presented below are from Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover.
No annual fee credit cards are pretty straightforward - they essentially don't cost a thing to carry in your wallet. While many credit cards with no annual fees have been (unfairly) regarded in the past as having limited cash back programs or high APR’s, these days that’s simply not the case!
Below are our expert picks for the absolute best no annual fee credit cards. No filler, just the facts for you to compare below.
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| Year One | Year Two | Year Three | Total | |
Interest Savings on Balance Transfers  |
$900.00 | $489.52 | $405.45 | $1,794.97 |
| * For Interest Savings on Balance Transfers calculations, we use the amount you input in your "My Credit Card Profile". For calculation purposes, please note that as of February 2010, the CARD Act requires credit card companies to use customer credit card payments to pay off the highest APR portion of their balance first, which is more favorable for the customer. | ||||
| Interest Savings on Balance for New Purchases |
$1,200.00 | $650.50 | $540.60 | $2,391.10 |
| * For Interest Savings on Balance Carried on New Purchases calculations, we use the amount you input in your "My Credit Card Profile". Please note that as of February 2010, the CARD Act requires credit card companies to use customer credit card payments to pay off the highest APR portion of their balance first, which is more favorable for the customer. | ||||
| Reward Points |
$86.40 | $86.40 | $86.40 | $259.20 |
| This card offers 5% cash back ($.05) on up to $1,500 spent in rotating categories that change each quarter. Creditnet assumes cardholders spend 35% of their total purchase balance on these 5% cash back options. Creditnet then assumes that consumers earn 1% cash back on the remaining 65% of their monthly purchase balance. | ||||
| Balance Transfer Cost |
-$135.00 | -$0.00 | -$0.00 | -$135.00 |
| * For Balance Transfer Cost calculations, we take the specific balance transfer fee associated with a card to determine the cost. Once this balance transfer cost is calculated, we deduct this value from the total savings amount. Please note that we only factor in this cost if a user intends to transfer a balance, as determined by selecting "Yes" under "I want to carry a balance" in your "My Credit Card Profile". | ||||
| Annual Fee |
-$0.00 | -$0.00 | -$0.00 | -$0.00 |
| * Annual fee costs are only deducted from your total savings when a card includes an annual fee. Credit cards that waive the annual fee for the first year have also been accounted for in our calculations. | ||||
| Totals | $2,051.40 | $1,226.42 | $1,032.45 | $4,310.27 |
Citi Simplicity® Card
| Year One | Year Two | Year Three | Total | |
| Interest Savings on Balance Transfers |
$900.00 | $607.73 | $315.45 | $1,823.18 |
| * For Interest Savings on Balance Transfers calculations, we use the amount you input in your "My Credit Card Profile". For calculation purposes, please note that as of February 2010, the CARD Act requires credit card companies to use customer credit card payments to pay off the highest APR portion of their balance first, which is more favorable for the customer. | ||||
| Interest Savings on Balance for New Purchases |
$1,200.00 | $810.30 | $420.60 | $2,430.90 |
| * For Interest Savings on Balance Carried on New Purchases calculations, we use the amount you input in your "My Credit Card Profile". Please note that as of February 2010, the CARD Act requires credit card companies to use customer credit card payments to pay off the highest APR portion of their balance first, which is more favorable for the customer. | ||||
| Balance Transfer Cost |
-$135.00 | -$0.00 | -$0.00 | -$135.00 |
| * For Balance Transfer Cost calculations, we take the specific balance transfer fee associated with a card to determine the cost. Once this balance transfer cost is calculated, we deduct this value from the total savings amount. Please note that we only factor in this cost if a user intends to transfer a balance, as determined by selecting "Yes" under "I want to carry a balance" in your "My Credit Card Profile". | ||||
| Annual Fee |
-$0.00 | -$0.00 | -$0.00 | -$0.00 |
| * Annual fee costs are only deducted from your total savings when a card includes an annual fee. Credit cards that waive the annual fee for the first year have also been accounted for in our calculations. | ||||
| Totals | $1,965.00 | $1,418.03 | $736.05 | $4,119.08 |
Capital One® Cash Rewards - $100 Cash Back Bonus
| Year One | Year Two | Year Three | Total | |
| Interest Savings on Balance Transfers |
$900.00 | $319.50 | $319.50 | $1,539.00 |
| * For Interest Savings on Balance Transfers calculations, we use the amount you input in your "My Credit Card Profile". For calculation purposes, please note that as of February 2010, the CARD Act requires credit card companies to use customer credit card payments to pay off the highest APR portion of their balance first, which is more favorable for the customer. | ||||
| Interest Savings on Balance for New Purchases |
$1,200.00 | $426.00 | $426.00 | $2,052.00 |
| * For Interest Savings on Balance Carried on New Purchases calculations, we use the amount you input in your "My Credit Card Profile". Please note that as of February 2010, the CARD Act requires credit card companies to use customer credit card payments to pay off the highest APR portion of their balance first, which is more favorable for the customer. | ||||
| Reward Points |
$35.10 | $35.10 | $35.10 | $105.30 |
| This card offers 1% cash back on all purchases, plus a 50% cash back bonus on the cash back you earn every year, equating a total of 1.5% cash back on all purchases made throughout the year ($.015). | ||||
| One Time Bonus |
$100.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $100.00 |
| Cardholders whose monthly purchases within the first three months of account opening total $500 or more will receive a $100 cash back bonus. This one-time bonus will only display in your savings calculations if the monthly purchases entered into your "My Credit Card Profile" meet this qualification. | ||||
| Balance Transfer Cost |
-$135.00 | -$0.00 | -$0.00 | -$135.00 |
| * For Balance Transfer Cost calculations, we take the specific balance transfer fee associated with a card to determine the cost. Once this balance transfer cost is calculated, we deduct this value from the total savings amount. Please note that we only factor in this cost if a user intends to transfer a balance, as determined by selecting "Yes" under "I want to carry a balance" in your "My Credit Card Profile". | ||||
| Annual Fee |
-$0.00 | -$0.00 | -$0.00 | -$0.00 |
| * Annual fee costs are only deducted from your total savings when a card includes an annual fee. Credit cards that waive the annual fee for the first year have also been accounted for in our calculations. | ||||
| Totals | $2,100.10 | $780.60 | $780.60 | $3,661.30 |
Citi ThankYou® Preferred Rewards Card - 15,000 points - $150 gift cards
| Year One | Year Two | Year Three | Total | |
| Interest Savings on Balance Transfers |
$900.00 | $315.45 | $315.45 | $1,530.90 |
| * For Interest Savings on Balance Transfers calculations, we use the amount you input in your "My Credit Card Profile". For calculation purposes, please note that as of February 2010, the CARD Act requires credit card companies to use customer credit card payments to pay off the highest APR portion of their balance first, which is more favorable for the customer. | ||||
| Interest Savings on Balance for New Purchases |
$1,200.00 | $420.60 | $420.60 | $2,041.20 |
| * For Interest Savings on Balance Carried on New Purchases calculations, we use the amount you input in your "My Credit Card Profile". Please note that as of February 2010, the CARD Act requires credit card companies to use customer credit card payments to pay off the highest APR portion of their balance first, which is more favorable for the customer. | ||||
| Reward Points |
$23.40 | $23.40 | $23.40 | $70.20 |
| This card offers 1 ThankYou point (estimated at $.01) for every dollar spent. This conversion has been applied to your rewards points savings. | ||||
| One Time Bonus |
$0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Cardholders that make $1,000 in purchases within 3 months of account opening earn 15,000 bonus miles, which can be redeemed for a $150 gift card. This one-time bonus will only display in your savings calculations if the monthly purchases entered into your "My Credit Card Profile" meet this qualification. | ||||
| Balance Transfer Cost |
-$135.00 | -$0.00 | -$0.00 | -$135.00 |
| * For Balance Transfer Cost calculations, we take the specific balance transfer fee associated with a card to determine the cost. Once this balance transfer cost is calculated, we deduct this value from the total savings amount. Please note that we only factor in this cost if a user intends to transfer a balance, as determined by selecting "Yes" under "I want to carry a balance" in your "My Credit Card Profile". | ||||
| Annual Fee |
-$0.00 | -$0.00 | -$0.00 | -$0.00 |
| * Annual fee costs are only deducted from your total savings when a card includes an annual fee. Credit cards that waive the annual fee for the first year have also been accounted for in our calculations. | ||||
| Totals | $1,988.40 | $759.45 | $759.45 | $3,507.30 |
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
| Year One | Year Two | Year Three | Total | |
| Interest Savings on Balance Transfers |
$315.45 | $315.45 | $315.45 | $946.35 |
| * For Interest Savings on Balance Transfers calculations, we use the amount you input in your "My Credit Card Profile". For calculation purposes, please note that as of February 2010, the CARD Act requires credit card companies to use customer credit card payments to pay off the highest APR portion of their balance first, which is more favorable for the customer. | ||||
| Interest Savings on Balance for New Purchases |
$1,200.00 | $420.60 | $420.60 | $2,041.20 |
| * For Interest Savings on Balance Carried on New Purchases calculations, we use the amount you input in your "My Credit Card Profile". Please note that as of February 2010, the CARD Act requires credit card companies to use customer credit card payments to pay off the highest APR portion of their balance first, which is more favorable for the customer. | ||||
| Reward Points |
$54.90 | $54.90 | $54.90 | $164.70 |
| This card offers 3% cash back at U.S. stand-alone supermarkets and 2% cash back on gasoline at stand-alone gas stations. Creditnet took the average of these two premium purchase categories (2.5%, or $.025), and assumes that 35% of the total purchases made on this card are on the advertised premium purchases. Creditnet then assumes that the remaining 65% of purchases receive the standard 1% cash back ($.01). | ||||
| One Time Bonus |
$0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| Cardholders earn 100 Reward Dollars after they make $1,000 in purchases in the first three months of Cardmembership. This one-time bonus will only display in your savings calculations if the monthly purchases entered into your "My Credit Card Profile" meet this qualification. | ||||
| Balance Transfer Cost |
-$135.00 | -$0.00 | -$0.00 | -$135.00 |
| * For Balance Transfer Cost calculations, we take the specific balance transfer fee associated with a card to determine the cost. Once this balance transfer cost is calculated, we deduct this value from the total savings amount. Please note that we only factor in this cost if a user intends to transfer a balance, as determined by selecting "Yes" under "I want to carry a balance" in your "My Credit Card Profile". | ||||
| Annual Fee |
-$0.00 | -$0.00 | -$0.00 | -$0.00 |
| * Annual fee costs are only deducted from your total savings when a card includes an annual fee. Credit cards that waive the annual fee for the first year have also been accounted for in our calculations. | ||||
| Totals | $1,435.35 | $790.95 | $790.95 | $3,017.25 |
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Our Favorite No Annual Fee Credit Cards
Our favorite credit cards with no annual fees on Creditnet.com have extended intro periods with 0% APR, which means that you’ll pay NOTHING in extra fees until your intro period expires. And even then, if you’re paying your balance back in full and on time each month, you’ll continue to pay zero additional fees. Not too shabby, right?
Plus, cash back rewards programs on no annual fee credit cards are no joke. Our recommended no annual fee credit card is the Discover it card because it combines no annual fee savings with one of the best cash back rewards programs on the market today. Finally, there’s a 14-month intro period with 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers. So not only is the card itself free, but it’s also interest free for your first 6 months as a cardholder.
So, how much can you save on no annual fee cards? Let’s compare some annual fees ...
First, let’s remember that the term “annual fee” doesn’t have to be a dirty word; many credit cards with annual fees offer some lucrative cash back rewards programs and great cardholder benefits in return for the annual fee that you pay. So, while an annual fee credit card isn’t necessarily such a bad thing, we can understand why consumers like to avoid them when there are other cards available.
In general, annual fees on credit cards range anywhere from $19 to $400+ depending on the card. However, the average annual fee is usually under $100. (More specifically, anywhere from $79.99- $95.00.) So when you choose a no annual fee credit card over one that does have an annual charge, right off the back you’re saving money. (And in some cases, quite a bit.)
Like we mentioned previously, annual fees can sometimes be a necessary evil when it comes to enrolling in some really good cash back and rewards programs. However, with so many great no annual fee credit cards available, you should know as a consumer that there are comparable cash back cards on the market that forego annual fees.
Browse through our recommended picks for the best no annual fee credit cards above, and join the Credinet.com discussion for consumer information on all things related to credit.
