Can you get a no-annual-fee credit card with bad credit?

Yes, there are no-annual-fee cards available for people with low credit scores. One option is to get a secured credit card that doesn't charge an annual fee — but you'll have to put down a refundable security deposit, instead. If you have bad credit, focus on building credit quickly to make more options available to you.

Can I get the annual fee waived on a credit card?

There's a chance your card issuer will waive an annual fee if you contact customer service and say you can't afford to pay it. But a safer option is to ask about downgrading the card to a no-annual-fee version. There's usually no hit to your credit, and it's a longer-term solution if you don't want to or can't pay an annual fee. Issuers also occasionally offer to waive an annual fee for the first year for new cardholders as part of their welcome bonus.

What is the best no-annual-fee card for pairing?

Pairing a no-annual-fee card with a travel or flat-rate card can help you maximize your rewards value on a wider range of purchases. The best card for you to pair is one that rewards you for a category you spend the most in, like groceries or gas. You can reap 5 percent in that category, for example, while using the other card for everything else. Some issuers like Chase let you combine rewards between cards with the same issuer. And by turning cash back into points or miles, you may increase their redemption value.

Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards for June 2025

Compare the best credit cards with no annual fee

	Our picks for	Rewards highlights	Learn more
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees	Drugstore purchases	1.5% - 5% Hover to learn more	Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees	Dining & entertainment	1% - 8% Hover to learn more	Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
Discover it® Cash Back Apply now on Discover's secure site See Rates & Fees	Rotating bonus categories	1% - 5% Hover to learn more	Apply now on Discover's secure site See Rates & Fees
Citi Double Cash® Card Apply now on Citi's secure site See Rates & Fees	Balance transfers	2% - 5% Hover to learn more	Apply now on Citi's secure site See Rates & Fees
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card Apply now on Wells Fargo's secure site See Rates & Fees	Flat-rate cash rewards	2% Hover to learn more	Apply now on Wells Fargo's secure site See Rates & Fees

All information about the Chase Freedom Flex and Citi Custom Cash® Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.

On This Page

Is a no-annual-fee card right for you?

If the thought of paying money to spend money makes you cringe, you're in the right place. With a no-annual-fee card, as long as you pay your balance on time and in full, you can avoid interest and earn rewards for free.

Here are three scenarios in which it makes sense to say no to an annual fee.

You won’t spend enough to justify the fee. Big spenders can often earn enough value via rewards to offset an annual fee and then some. But if your cash back or points value won't add up to the annual fee, it's probably not worth paying for. And while annual-fee cards typically offer more perks — like statement credits or airport lounge access — those still may not offset the fee in the long run. Learn why I downgraded my premium cash back card to the no-annual-fee version.
The fee isn't worth it after the first year. Most of the no-annual-fee cards above offer welcome bonuses in the $200 range, while an annual-fee card's welcome bonus can be worth upwards of $1,000, often in the form of points or miles. These bonuses can easily offset the annual fee on most cards for the first year. But paying an annual fee after the first year might not be worth it, depending on how you use the card.
Paying a fee doesn't align with your values. Bankrate editor Reena Thomas, Ph.D., was taught by her immigrant parents to save money and cut costs — and that paying an annual fee is unnecessary. You may not see the value of a fee or follow the “spend more to earn more" mentality. Or maybe you just don't want to add tracking the annual fee to your plate of worries.

The good news: Regardless of your reason for avoiding annual fees, you've got credit options.

Ask Bankrate Staff

What perks should you look for in a no-annual-fee credit card?

Steve Dashiell

Editor, Credit cards

Having crashed and burned on my first attempt at using a credit card, I wanted to keep things simple with my second try. I decided to set up automatic payments on my card to pay off my balance in full each statement period so that it would effectively run itself. But once I felt comfortable managing the card, I wanted to to take advantage of any perks or rewards.

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ came highly recommended by a friend, and it was easy to see why. The card’s rotating rewards categories offer an extra incentive to monitor and plan out your spending, something I wasn’t great at doing. And even if I didn’t feel like chasing a quarter’s categories, I could still earn a reliable 1 percent cash back on all other purchases.

During my research, I also learned about the Chase Trifecta, which was just the type of value ‘expansion’ I was hoping for if everything went well with my credit card revenge arc. The fact that the card offered so much potential (along with my friend's recommendation) made choosing it a no-brainer.

Garrett Yarbrough

Writer, Credit cards

No-annual-fee cards don’t usually carry top-tier perks, so most of their value will come from their sign-up bonuses, intro APR offers and rewards.

Consider whether the card you’re eyeing can pool rewards with other cards from the same issuer. This could help you build a card stack that offers maximum rewards value across all your spending.

Otherwise, the best no-annual-fee card perks will likely be features like travel insurance and limited-time credits with rideshare, streaming or delivery services.

Annual fee or no annual fee: Crunching the numbers

If you're eyeing a specific no-annual-fee card, it's worth comparing its potential value to that of an annual-fee card in the same family. You might find you'll save more money by paying an annual fee. Yes, really!

It all depends on how much you spend in rewards categories and whether you use the extra perks.

The no-annual-fee Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers 3 percent cash back for U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retail purchases and U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 per year in each category, then 1 percent. You'll also earn 1 percent back on all other purchases. There's a $200 welcome bonus after you spend $2,000 in the first six months.

In comparison, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express charges a $0 intro annual fee in the first year, but ups it to $95 after that. You'll earn 6 percent cash back for U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year, then 1 percent) and 6 percent back on select U.S. streaming services, 3 percent back at U.S. gas stations and on transit and 1 percent back on all other purchases. There's also a $250 welcome bonus after spending $3,000 in the first six months.

The annual fee is likely worth it if

You spend around $3,170 per year on groceries.

To run a simple test for when the Blue Cash Preferred card's annual fee may be worth it, let's look at the Amex Blue cards' key rewards category — groceries. If you spend less than around $3,170 a year at U.S. supermarkets, you won't earn enough at the Blue Cash Preferred card's 6 percent rate to justify the annual fee. The no-annual-fee version makes more sense for you.

For example, a $3,000 spend in this category would earn $90 back with the Blue Cash Everyday. The same spend would earn $180 with the Blue Cash Preferred, but that doesn't factor in the fee. When you subtract $95 from that total, you only net $85 in value with the Blue Cash Preferred, making the Blue Cash Everyday the better option.

But if you spend around $3,170 at U.S. supermarkets with the Blue Cash Preferred, you'll not only offset the $95 fee, but also earn more on each subsequent dollar spent than you would with the Blue Cash Everyday. For example, a $3,200 spend would earn $96 with the Blue Cash Everyday and, after subtracting the annual fee, $97 with the Blue Cash Preferred.

Learn more: Amex Blue Cash Preferred vs. Blue Cash Everyday

The Capital One VentureOne card gets you 5 miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1.25 miles on everything else, along with a 20,000-mile welcome bonus after spending $500 in the first three months.

The middle-tier Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card charges a $95 annual fee (See Rates & Fees) and offers the same rate on Capital One Travel hotel and rental car bookings and 2 miles on everything else. You'll earn 75,000 welcome bonus points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. Plus, you get statement credits of up to $120 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and $50 for every Lifestyle Collection hotel stay.

And the top-tier Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card costs a whopping $395 (See Rates & Fees) and gets you 10 miles on Capital One Travel hotels and rental cars, 5 miles on Capital One Travel flights and vacation rentals and 2 miles on everything else. It also offers a $300 annual travel credit and 10,000 anniversary bonus miles, worth $100. You get the statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck. And as a luxury cardholder, you'll have airport lounge access.

The annual fee is likely worth it if

You spend around $12,700 per year on all purchases with the Venture.

You book $400 worth of travel via Capital One Travel with the Venture X.

The VentureOne and Venture offer the same rewards rate on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One, so it makes more sense to look at their rates on general purchases.

Based on these rates, you'd need to spend around $12,700 per year with the Venture to make it a better overall value than the VentureOne, ignoring the value of perks like TSA Precheck. This spending would earn $158 in value with the VentureOne based on a 1-cent-per-mile redemption value, versus $159 in value with the Venture after subtracting the fee.

Although the Venture X has a high price tag, it can easily offer better value overall than the VentureOne, as long as you use the $300 in travel credits and 10,000 miles (worth $100 in Capital One Travel at a 1-cent-per-mile valuation). Taken together, they'd not only offset the $395 fee, but also leave you with a net gain of $5. That's not to mention the value of perks like expedited airport security and lounge access.

Learn more: Capital One Venture vs. Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

How to choose a no-annual-fee card that fits your goals

Anyone can put a no-annual-fee card to good use, but here are a few circumstances to consider when choosing the right one for you.

If you’re a frequent traveler

Cardholders who pay for flights, hotels or rental cars fairly often but don't want an annual fee cutting into rewards value can find a no-annual-fee travel card useful.

Among the top 10 most popular no-annual-fee cards among Bankrate users, these contenders offer miles or points on travel purchases to use for future bookings:

Wells Fargo Autograph Card

Bankrate popularity rank: 4th
19 percent of people who viewed this card clicked on it to learn more

Bilt Mastercard

Bankrate popularity rank: 7th
18.8 percent of people who viewed this card clicked on it to learn more

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Bankrate popularity rank: 8th
18.7 percent of people who viewed this card clicked on it to learn more

“I wanted to start traveling more but I need to keep travel costs down," says one cardholder in their review of the Capital One VentureOne card. “I never pay for airline tickets because I use the points,” says another.

It's worth noting that the best rates and travel benefits, like expedited airport security and lounge access, tend to come with an annual fee. But as one VentureOne cardholder puts it, "I don't use cards with an annual fee. I would pay for my purchases with cash before I would pay an annual fee."
If you prefer cash back

If you love cash back, you're in good company — half of rewards cardholders (50 percent) say it's their favorite feature, according to Bankrate's 2024 Credit Card Rewards Survey. Fortunately, most cash back cards don't charge an annual fee.

These two flat-rate cash back cards rank among Bankrate users' preferred no-annual-fee cards:

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Bankrate popularity rank: 3rd
19 percent of people who viewed this card clicked on it to learn more

Wells Fargo Active Cash Card

Bankrate popularity rank: 12th
17.6 percent of people who viewed this card clicked on it to learn more

“The cash back is great,” a cardholder says in their review of the Capital One Quicksilver card. “Have collected hundreds of dollars over the years.”
If you spend a lot in a certain category

Big spenders on groceries, dining, gas or other everyday categories can benefit from a rotating or customizable category card. For no annual fee, you could earn up to 5 percent cash back on quarterly boosted categories that you manually activate or select. Just keep an eye on any spending cap, which is common for this type of card.

Here are top picks among Bankrate users, ranked out of ten:

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Bankrate popularity rank: 2nd
19 percent of people who viewed this card clicked on it to learn more

Citi Custom Cash Card

Bankrate popularity rank: 6th
18.9 percent of people who viewed this card clicked on it to learn more

Discover it Cash Back

Bankrate popularity rank: 9th
18.5 percent of people who viewed this card clicked on it to learn more

One cardholder says in a review of the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card: "I only care about getting cash back, whether that is in the form of a statement credit, wire transfer, or worst case retailer gift card as long as I have options for retailers that I frequent.

[This card] allows me to choose which category of spending I get extra points on, which is nice, and it is easy to redeem."
If you're building credit

Most credit-building cards don't charge an annual fee. They might be secured — where you have to put down a security deposit — or easier to qualify for. The Capital One Platinum card is the most popular choice among Bankrate users looking for a no-annual-fee card. It's easy to use, offers automatic credit increase reviews and may let you upgrade to a better card once you've built up your credit.

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Bankrate popularity rank: 1st
19.1 percent of people who viewed this card clicked on it to learn more

“I would definitely recommend this card," a cardholder says in a review of the Capital One Platinum card. "The app is easy to use, make payments, see available credit and even keeps track of credit score.”

Frequently asked questions about no-annual-fee credit cards

Yes, there are no-annual-fee cards available for people with low credit scores. One option is to get a secured credit card that doesn't charge an annual fee — but you'll have to put down a refundable security deposit, instead. If you have bad credit, focus on building credit quickly to make more options available to you.

Learn more: Credit cards for a 500 credit score (or less)
There's a chance your card issuer will waive an annual fee if you contact customer service and say you can't afford to pay it. But a safer option is to ask about downgrading the card to a no-annual-fee version. There's usually no hit to your credit, and it's a longer-term solution if you don't want to or can't pay an annual fee.

Issuers also occasionally offer to waive an annual fee for the first year for new cardholders as part of their welcome bonus.
Pairing a no-annual-fee card with a travel or flat-rate card can help you maximize your rewards value on a wider range of purchases. The best card for you to pair is one that rewards you for a category you spend the most in, like groceries or gas. You can reap 5 percent in that category, for example, while using the other card for everything else. Some issuers like Chase let you combine rewards between cards with the same issuer. And by turning cash back into points or miles, you may increase their redemption value.

How we choose the best cards with no annual fee

We select cards for “Best” credit cards pages based primarily on how cards score in our proprietary card rating system, our editors’ subjective assessment of card quality, card approval odds and credit requirements and unique card features.

Cards typically must score a minimum of 3.0 stars to be included on a “Best” list. However, we may include cards with scores below 3.0 if they have low credit requirements or unique features — despite their scores, these cards may still be among the “best” in certain categories. Card ratings are not influenced by advertisers or issuer relationships in any way.

Card selection and ordering may vary based on business considerations, including Bankrate visitor interest, site interactions and card application volume. Affiliate commissions (see how we make money), limited-time offers and a card’s general popularity in the product landscape may also influence which cards we feature on our pages and the order in which they appear. Bankrate’s editorial and business teams also strive to feature a variety of card types from various issuers.

Here’s a quick look at how our rating methodology breaks down for no-annual-fee cards:

With so many no-annual-fee cards on the market, only a few come out on top

The vast majority of cards in our ratings database carry no annual fee. So a card with no annual fee doesn't automatically make it on our “Best of” list. We consider a number of other factors — listed below — and only include the cards that offer great value overall.

To give you a sense of how selective we are, here's a look at the annual fees across cards in our rating database, as of July 2024.

$0 annual fee 71.00%
$1 to $74 fee 5.00%
$75 to $99 fee 13.00%
$100 to $199 fee 3.00%
$200-plus fee 8.00%

Since many cardholders looking for a card with no annual fee are eager to earn rewards, a key criteria for a card’s inclusion in our list is whether it offers impressive rewards value. This includes a card’s average rewards rate, estimated annual rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value and reward redemption value.

To estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings, we calculate its average rewards rate based on how much it earns in different bonus categories, as well as how closely those categories match the average person’s spending habits. In other words: Does the card earn rewards at a high rate in the most popular spending categories?

We use consumer spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to get a reliable third-party measure of people’s spending habits. The most recent BLS data estimates average total spending in 2023 was $77,280 per consumer. We then narrow our focus to which purchases are likely to be put on a credit card and earn rewards, subtracting expenditures like housing, vehicle purchases and education. This gives us a total “chargeable” annual spend of around $22,500.

Some of the major spending categories that contribute towards the annual spend include:
- Groceries: $6,000
- Dining out: $3,900
- Entertainment: $2,500
- Gas: $2,400
- Apparel and services: $2,000
Using this data, we assign a weighting to each of a card’s bonus categories. For example, a card’s grocery rewards rate receives a 26 percent weighting based on how much of the average person’s budget is spent on groceries. We also estimate the redemption value of points or miles from various issuer, airline and hotel rewards programs.

This weighting and rewards valuation allows us to estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings — how many points or miles you’d earn with a given card if your spending was about average and you used the card for all of your purchases — as well as what those points are worth. We also use point valuations to determine a card’s sign-up bonus value.

With these calculations complete, we assign each card a score based on how its average rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value, rewards rate and redemption value stack up against other cards in its primary category.

The better these values, the higher its score will be, making it more worthy of inclusion in our list and increasing its potential ranking.

Here’s a deeper look at the factors considered as part of a rewards card’s “Value” rating:
5
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Overall Score
- Ongoing rewards value 30%
- Sign-up bonus value 25%
- Annual fee & average APR 20%
- Rewards rate 15%
- Annual bonus value 10%
To start, all cards on this list charge no annual fee.

We also rate all cards based on how their ongoing average APR compares to the average APR you’ll find other cards in their primary category. However, the impact of an especially high or low APR on a card’s overall score depends on its primary category.

For rewards-earning cards, this factor has only a minor influence on the card’s score and whether the card is included in our list, since rewards card users generally try to avoid carrying a balance. That said, rewards-earning cards may get a solid boost in score and be more worthy of inclusion in our list if they also offer an intro APR on balance transfers or new purchases, since such offers aren’t always present on these cards.

Interest rates and intro APR offers play a much larger role in a card’s score and whether it’s included in our list when the card is designed specifically for users looking to save on interest charges, such as dedicated balance transfer or low-interest cards.

Other fees considered include cash advance and late payment fees, along with penalty APRs.
Along with rewards value and cost, we consider other factors that could give cards great long-term value, like flexible rewards redemption and especially unique and valuable perks.

We rate rewards-earning cards based on the restrictions they impose on earning and redeeming rewards and consider this when deciding on a card’s inclusion in our list.

These restrictions could include only allowing users to earn a high rewards rate on a small amount of spending or requiring users to meet a certain earning threshold before they can redeem rewards. We also examine whether points are worth less when you opt for some redemption options over others and whether a card gives you the flexibility to transfer rewards to airline and hotel partners.

We also evaluate each card’s perks based on their value, usefulness and uniqueness. Cards that offer top-tier benefits like airport lounge access or travel credits are likely to stand out, but we also aim to highlight cards that offer valuable under-the-radar perks, like cellphone protection or one-off credits for everyday expenses like dining and streaming services.

*Information about the Redstone Federal Credit Union’s Visa Signature Card has been collected independently by Bankrate and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Best credit cards with no annual fee in June 2025

+ Show Summary

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Discover it® Cash Back

Citi Double Cash® Card

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Prime Visa

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Bilt Mastercard®

Wells Fargo Autograph® Card

Chase Freedom Flex®

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Compare the best credit cards with no annual fee

Is a no-annual-fee card right for you?

What perks should you look for in a no-annual-fee credit card?

Annual fee or no annual fee: Crunching the numbers

How to choose a no-annual-fee card that fits your goals

If you’re a frequent traveler

If you prefer cash back

If you spend a lot in a certain category

If you're building credit

Frequently asked questions about no-annual-fee credit cards

Can you get a no-annual-fee credit card with bad credit?

Can I get the annual fee waived on a credit card?

What is the best no-annual-fee card for pairing?

How we choose the best cards with no annual fee

Solid rewards value

Reasonable fees and APR

Flexibility and perks