Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Cards in 2019

INSIDER SECRET: Opening no-annual-fee credit cards can potentially help your credit score in the long run. They’re free to keep, so you never have to cancel them. That’s an effortless way to build your credit history.

Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Cards

Below are our picks for the best no-annual-fee credit cards. The best card for your wallet depends on your finances and travel goals.

Opening a no-annual-fee rewards credit card can be a terrific first step to getting your feet wet in the miles-and-points hobby. I’ve learned a lot since opening my first no-annual-fee card and now rack up lots of miles and points with other top travel credit cards to use for incredible vacations.

Most miles-and-points enthusiasts keep no-annual-fee cards in their wallets because you can keep them open forever without paying a dime. This can increase the length of your credit history, which can potentially boost your credit score.

Plus, certain no-annual-fee cards have phenomenal welcome bonuses. For example, you can earn $500 cash back when you apply for the Ink Business Cash Credit Card and meet minimum spending requirements. This is an excellent deal for a card with no annual fee.

You can earn valuable travel rewards, like cash back or miles and points, through the best no-annual-fee credit cards. (Photo courtesy of Dean Drobot/Shutterstock)

Chase Freedom

Read our review of the Chase Freedom

Chase Freedom is one of the top no-annual-fee cards because you can earn 5% cash back (5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points per $1) on up to $1,500 in spending in rotating categories each quarter when you activate the bonus. If you spend the maximum each quarter, you can earn $300 in bonus cash back during the year.

On their own, you can only redeem the points you earn with the Freedom card for 1 cent each for cash back or toward travel. However, Chase Ultimate Rewards points are much more valuable if you have cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred CardChase Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Business Preferred Credit Card.

When you have one of these cards, you can combine your Chase Ultimate Rewards points and transfer them to lots of great airline and hotel partners.

When you apply for the Chase Freedom, you’ll earn $150 cash back (15,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points) after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

Chase Freedom Unlimited

Read our review of the Chase Freedom Unlimited

If you don’t want to bother with rotating bonus categories, the Chase Freedom Unlimited card is a great way to earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points.

With this card, you earn 3% cash back for the first year, up to $20,000; then 1.5% cash back (1.5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points per $1) on all purchases with no limit.

This is one of the top five cards I’m currently using. I usually take this card out to pay if another card in my wallet doesn’t earn me a bonus for the purchase.

You also can combine points with other eligible Chase cards, which helps you save lots of money on travel.

Note: The Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card is the small-business equivalent of this card. It has no annual fee and earns 1.5% back everywhere (1.5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points). Plus, you’ll receive $500 bonus cash back after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months.

Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card

Read our review of the new Marriott Bonvoy Bold Card

When you open the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card, you’ll receive 50,000 Marriott points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Those 50,000 points are enough for a free night at any Category 6 Marriott hotel (they’re nice), including the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Autograph Collection by Marriott. Or you can stretch them out for multiple nights in less extravagant hotels.

You’ll also get:

  • 3 Marriott points per dollar spent at participating Marriott hotels
  • 2 Marriott points per dollar spent on travel
  • 1 Marriott points per dollar spent on all other purchases
  • 15 elite night credits each calendar year

This no-annual-fee card even comes with travel benefits like trip-delay reimbursement, baggage-delay insurance, and lost-luggage reimbursement.

The card is, however, affected by the Chase 5/24 rule, so if you’ve opened five or more cards from any bank (except certain business cards) in the past 24 months, you won’t be approved for the card. There are some other rules you should know about before applying, so check out this post on the new Marriott Bonvoy Bold card to learn more.

You can use the points you earn from this Marriott card for free hotel nights in Hawaii. (Photo by CrackerClips Stock Media/Shutterstock)

Ink Business Cash Credit Card

Read our review of the Ink Business Cash Credit Card

With the highest-ever Ink Business Cash welcome bonus, you’ll earn $500 cash back (50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points) after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Earning $500 in cash from a card with no annual fee is an unbelievable deal.

It also comes with:

  • 5% cash back (5x Chase Ultimate Rewards points) on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office-supply stores and on phone, internet, and cable TV services each account anniversary year
  • 2% cash back (2x Chase Ultimate Rewards points) on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year
  • 1% cash back (1x Chase Ultimate Rewards point) on all other purchases
  • Primary car rental insurance when renting for business purposes. It covers damage from collision or theft to your rental car when you pay with your Chase Ink Business Cash card, or secondary coverage when renting for personal reasons

If you have other annual fee Chase Ultimate Rewards point-earning credit cards, you can combine points to use for amazing travel experiences.

Million Mile Secrets team member Scott has kept his Ink Business Cash card for many years because he earns 5% cash back on his monthly internet bill, and 2% cash back at restaurants. Those are fantastic benefits for a no-annual-fee card.

American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card 

Read our review of the Citi American Airlines MileUp

The American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card is a new no-annual-fee card that comes with a 10,000 American Airlines-mile bonus and a $50 statement credit after you spend $500 in purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Current Citi American Airlines cardholders should know the MileUp card is exempt from the welcome-bonus restrictions on other Citi American Airlines credit cards. This means you are more likely to be eligible for this offer. Applying for the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card can give your frequent flyer account a nice boost without having to add another annual-fee card to your wallet.

The American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp card also offers bonuses for everyday purchases. You’ll earn:

  • 2 American Airlines miles per $1 on eligible American Airlines purchases
  • 2 American Airlines miles per $1 at grocery stores, including eligible grocery delivery services
  • 1 American Airlines mile per $1 for all other purchases

And cardholders save 25% on inflight purchases of drinks or snacks when you use your card on American Airlines flights.

Comparing Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Cards

  Card Name   Bonus
Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Card for Rotating 5% Cash Back Categories Chase Freedom

$150 cash back (15,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Card for Everyday Purchases Chase Freedom Unlimited

3% cash back on all purchases for the first year, up to $20,000 spent; then 1.5% cash back

Best No-Annual-Fee Card for Free Hotel Stays Marriott Bonvoy Bold™ Credit Card 50,000 Marriott points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Best No-Annual-Fee Small Business Credit Card Ink Business Cash Credit Card $500 cash back (50,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points) after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
Best No Annual Fee Card for American Airlines Miles American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card 10,000 American Airlines miles and a $50 statement credit after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.

Some of the best credit cards with no annual fees are for folks with small businesses and you might qualify for a small business card without realizing it.

You don’t need to have employees, millions of dollars in revenue or even an office to be eligible for a small-business credit cardSide hustles like selling products online through eBay or Etsy can do the trick. You can apply for a small-business credit card with your Social Security number instead of an employer identification number.

Here’s a closer look at the top 10 no-annual-fee credit cards. All of these cards offer an introductory bonus worth at least $150 in cash back or travel rewards. We generally suggest skipping offers that don’t have a bonus because welcome bonuses are the quickest way to earn rewards.

How We Chose the Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Cards

The Bonus Offer: Some bonuses are very generous, some are not. That’s especially true when it comes to no-annual-fee cards because many don’t offer a welcome bonus at all.

Minimum Spending Requirement: To earn a card’s welcome bonus you have to spend a certain amount on your new card within a certain time frame. Not surprisingly, some cards’ minimum-spending requirements are easier to meet than others.

Ongoing Bonus Opportunities: Everyone likes credit cards that keep rewarding you, even after you earn the initial big intro bonus.

Benefits: These can make a difference, as it’s incredibly important to match a card’s benefits to your needs and spending habits.

Bottom Line

If you want to earn valuable rewards without having to pay an annual fee, these are the best cards to consider:

The Chase Ink Business Cash card has an unbelievable welcome bonus for a no-annual-fee card. You can earn $500 cash back after meeting minimum-spending requirements.

You really can’t go wrong with any of the cards on the list. The best card for your wallet depends on your spending habits and travel goals.

If you’re just starting out in the miles-and-points hobby, a no-annual-fee card can help you learn the ropes. Plus, these cards can help increase the length of your credit history, which can potentially boost your credit score.

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