No annual fee credit cards
We think you'll love these cards from our partners.
CK Editors’ Tips††: No annual fee credit cards offer valuable features and rewards without an upfront cost. No matter your needs, these cards won’t charge you every year just to keep them open.Read more
What to consider when choosing a no annual fee credit card
When looking for a credit card, it’s often tough to know when it might make more sense to pay an annual fee. Thankfully, that’s not a huge consideration for low-interest cards and credit-building cards, where it’s usually a plus not to pay an annual fee. But cash back cards can offer higher rewards rates when you pay an annual fee, and the best travel cards almost always charge a fee. When shopping for a card, take stock of your spending habits and consider when you’ll be able to offset an annual fee with rewards and when you might be better off without one.
When looking for a credit card, it’s often tough to know when it might make more sense to pay an annual fee. Thankfully, that’s not a huge consideration for low-interest cards and credit-building cards, where it’s usually a plus not to pay an annual fee. But cash back cards can offer higher rewards rates when you pay an annual fee, and the best travel cards almost always charge a fee. When shopping for a card, take stock of your spending habits and consider when you’ll be able to offset an annual fee with rewards and when you might be better off without one.
How we picked the best no annual fee credit cards
Our best no annual fee credit cards include several types of credit cards, including low-interest cards and credit-building cards. For the most part, though, we focused on choosing rewards cards. We picked cash back cards that suit various needs, from flat-rate cash back to bonus rewards, and selected travel cards that provide quality rewards at no upfront cost. But take note that the best travel cards tend to charge an annual fee. Read more about our methodology for picking the best credit cards.
Jump to editors’ picksOur best no annual fee credit cards include several types of credit cards, including low-interest cards and credit-building cards. For the most part, though, we focused on choosing rewards cards. We picked cash back cards that suit various needs, from flat-rate cash back to bonus rewards, and selected travel cards that provide quality rewards at no upfront cost. But take note that the best travel cards tend to charge an annual fee. Read more about our methodology for picking the best credit cards.
Citi® Secured Mastercard®
- Intro purchase APRN/A
- Regular purchase APR23.24% Variable
- Annual fee$0
Intro purchase APR
N/A
Regular purchase APR
23.24% Variable
Annual fee
$0
- The Citi® Secured Mastercard® is a no annual fee credit card that helps you build your credit when used responsibly.
- Unlike a debit card, it helps build your credit history with monthly reporting to all 3 major credit bureaus. Once available, you will also have free access to your FICO score online.
Great for students building credit††
Great for students building credit††
Deserve® EDU Mastercard
- Intro purchase APRN/A
- Regular purchase APR19.49%*Variable
- Annual fee$0
Intro purchase APR
N/A
Regular purchase APR
19.49%* Variable
Annual fee
$0
- Receive one year of Amazon Prime Student on Deserve after spending $500 in the first three billing cycles with your EDU card (Lifetime Value of $59).
- Earn 1% Cash Back on all purchases with your Deserve EDU Mastercard. Once approved, you'll automatically start earning cash back on all purchases.
Great for building your credit history††
Great for building your credit history††
Fingerhut Fetti Credit Account issued by WebBank
- Intro purchase APRN/A
- Regular purchase APR29.99%*
- Annual fee$0*
Intro purchase APR
N/A
Regular purchase APR
29.99%*
Annual fee
$0*
- Easy application! Get a credit decision in seconds.
- Build your credit history - Fingerhut reports to all 3 major credit bureaus
Great for smaller purchases††
Great for smaller purchases††
Citi Rewards+® Card
- Intro purchase APR0%for 15 Months
- Regular purchase APR14.24% - 24.24% Variable
- Annual fee$0
Intro purchase APR
0% for 15 Months
Regular purchase APR
14.24% - 24.24% Variable
Annual fee
$0
- Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com
- For a limited time, earn 5 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on air travel and hotels up to $6,000 in the first 12 months and then 1 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent thereafter.
Great for balance transfers††
Great for balance transfers††
Citi Simplicity® Card
- Intro purchase APR0%for 12 Months
- Regular purchase APR15.49% - 25.49% Variable
- Annual fee$0
Intro purchase APR
0% for 12 Months
Regular purchase APR
15.49% - 25.49% Variable
Annual fee
$0
- No Late Fees, No Penalty Rate, and No Annual Fee... Ever
- 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 15.49% - 25.49%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
Great for high flat-rate cash back††
Great for high flat-rate cash back††
Citi® Double Cash Card
- Intro purchase APRN/A
- Regular purchase APR14.74% - 24.74% Variable
- Annual fee$0
Intro purchase APR
N/A
Regular purchase APR
14.74% - 24.74% Variable
Annual fee
$0
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases.
- To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time.
Great for travel rewards on a budget††
Great for travel rewards on a budget††
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
- Intro purchase APR0%for 15 Billing Cycles
- Regular purchase APR14.24% - 24.24%*Variable
- Annual fee$0
Intro purchase APR
0% for 15 Billing Cycles
Regular purchase APR
14.24% - 24.24%* Variable
Annual fee
$0
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire.
- 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.
Great for flexible cash back††
Great for flexible cash back††
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
- Intro purchase APR0%for 15 Billing Cycles
- Regular purchase APR14.24% - 24.24%*Variable
- Annual fee$0
Intro purchase APR
0% for 15 Billing Cycles
Regular purchase APR
14.24% - 24.24%* Variable
Annual fee
$0
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
Great for balance transfers††
Great for balance transfers††
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
- Intro purchase APR0%for 12 Months
- Regular purchase APR14.49% - 24.49% Variable
- Annual fee$0
Intro purchase APR
0% for 12 Months
Regular purchase APR
14.49% - 24.49% Variable
Annual fee
$0
- 0% Intro APR for 21 months on balance transfers from date of first transfer and 0% Intro APR for 12 months on purchases from date of account opening. After that the variable APR will be 14.49% - 24.49%, based on your creditworthiness. Balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening.
- There is a balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
- Intro purchase APRN/A
- Regular purchase APR26.99% (Variable)
- Annual fee$0
Intro purchase APR
N/A
Regular purchase APR
26.99% (Variable)
Annual fee
$0
- No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
- Building your credit? Using the Capital One Platinum Secured card responsibly could help
More cards by category
Shop all cardsMore ways to browse cards
†† The opinions you read here come from our editorial team. Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors' opinions. Our marketing partners don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge when it’s posted.