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Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Cards of April 2024

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Best Travel Cards With No Annual Fee of April 2024

• United Gateway℠ Card : Best feature: United Airlines rewards.
• Discover it® Miles : Best feature: Travel rewards.
• Chase Freedom Unlimited® : Best feature: Flexible cash back rewards.
• Discover it® Chrome : Best feature: Gas cash back.
• Hilton Honors American Express Card : Best feature: Hilton hotel rewards.

If you’re a budget-minded traveler, you’re in the right place. Many travel rewards credit cards have high annual fees, which takes away from the amount you get to spend on your trip. But with a no-annual-fee travel rewards card, you can earn and redeem rewards that will help you save money on your next travel adventure. Terms apply.

U.S. News Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Cards of April 2024

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• Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Cards

Methodology

Our team of experts uses a methodology to identify the credit cards most likely to fit your needs. We examine annual percentage rates, annual fees, issuer satisfaction ratings and other factors to determine what cards come out ahead. Learn more»

How Do No-Annual-Fee Travel Cards Work?

Travel rewards credit cards with annual fees come with more generous rewards than their no-fee counterparts. Annual fees on elite travel rewards cards can be hundreds of dollars. The annual fee basically covers the cost of using that credit card. For frequent travelers, the annual fee is often worth the added rewards and benefits.

But less frequent travelers often find the type of rewards they want without paying an extra fee.

Travel rewards cards without annual fees are also a good choice if you’re trying to save money. If your goal is frugal travel, a no-annual-fee credit card is a good fit for your needs.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Travel Cards With No Annual Fee?

Be sure to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of using a travel card with no annual fee.

• You save money upfront. Not paying an annual fee saves you money right from the beginning.
• You earn rewards. No-annual-fee travel cards still offer high rewards for common spending.
• Get additional perks. You'll probably enjoy extended warranty, credit monitoring tools and other benefits with your no-annual-fee travel card.
• No top-tier perks. Although no-annual-fee travel cards come with good benefits, you might only see the top-of-the-line perks with a card that charges a fee.
• You might get more for your money. If you travel extensively, there's a chance you might earn more than enough rewards to cover the cost of an annual fee on an upgraded card.

Who Is Eligible for Travel Cards With No Annual Fee?

Every credit card issuer has its own eligibility requirements for no-annual-fee credit cards. But in general, you need the following:

• A good to excellent FICO score, which is at least 670.
• An excellent payment history.
• No recent bankruptcies or other negative items on your credit report.

How to Compare the Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Cards

It might feel overwhelming to find the best travel credit card with no annual fee, but follow these guidelines to make the process a little less stressful.

1. Calculate what you can earn.  You will earn rewards at different rates depending on the type of no-annual-fee travel card you choose, so consider your spending habits and look for a card that rewards where you spend the most.

2. Consider other factors. If you need a card to use outside the U.S., be sure to get one that charges no foreign transaction fees. Also compare sign-up bonuses, which can greatly increase the overall amount you can earn with a card.

3. Consider other perks.  Most credit cards offer benefits beyond their standard rewards, such as free credit score access, extended warranty coverage, concierge service, travel accident insurance and more. Decide what will benefit you most and look for a card with those additional perks.

4. Check out additional options. While you may think you can save money with a no-annual-fee travel card, make certain to rule out the alternative. Who knows? You just might spend enough to offset that fee and earn more rewards.

Is It Worth Getting a No-Annual-Fee Travel Card?

If you can answer yes to most of the following questions, then a no-annual-fee credit card is a good match for you:

• You enjoy travel but only take trips occasionally.
• You need to travel on a budget.
• You’re not a big spender, so the rewards you'd earn don't justify paying an annual fee.

If you answer yes to most of the following questions, then you're probably better off with a travel rewards card that has an annual fee:

• You travel frequently and will benefit from a generous rewards program.
• You like to save money, but you aren’t concerned about paying an annual fee.
• You’re a big spender, so the rewards you’ll earn outweigh the cost of the annual fee.

What Benefits Do No-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Cards Offer, Beyond the Fee Exclusion?

Benefits vary not only among credit card issuers but also with specific credit cards. This is why it’s essential that you read the fine print. When you understand your rewards program and the benefits, you can use the card to your advantage. The credit cards with annual fees offer more rewards and benefits, of course. But travel rewards credit cards that don’t charge an annual fee still have some positive features.

• You’ll still get a solid rewards program.
• Most issuers offer fraud protection.
• These cards have fairly lucrative sign-up bonuses.
• Annual percentage rates can be lower since the rewards program is less robust.
• They have flexible redemption options.

Comparative assessments and other editorial opinions are those of U.S. News and have not been previously reviewed, approved or endorsed by any other entities, such as banks, credit card issuers or travel companies. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired.

Beverly Harzog , Credit Card Expert

Beverly Harzog  is a nationally recognized personal finance and credit card expert for U.S. News & World Report. She’s the bestselling and award-winning author of five personal finance books. Harzog puts her expertise to practice in her personal life by saving thousands every year on travel and everyday expenses by using a combination of credit cards in various categories. Read more

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Many popular travel credit cards come with flashy perks like airport lounge access and annual travel credits. The downside of these luxury perks is that they usually only come at the expense of a high annual fee. And with that, you’ll have the constant stress of making sure you’re using the perks enough to justify the fee .

Luckily, there are plenty of no-annual-fee travel credit cards. The benefits may not be as robust as you’ll find with premium cards, but you can get some travel-related perks without forking over an annual fee for the privilege. The best no-annual-fee travel credit card for you depends on your spending style, how you want to redeem your rewards and the travel benefits you are hoping to get. This guide highlights the best travel credit cards with no annual fee and everything you should consider before you choose one.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Best for beginners

Why we picked it: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a great way to ease yourself into travel rewards. You’ll earn 1.25X miles on all of your spending, along with 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. You can also earn a welcome bonus of 20,000 miles after spending $500 within the first three months. You can redeem your miles for travel, cash back, gift cards and more, but you’ll get the best value when you redeem for travel or transfers to travel partners (an uncommon feature with no-annual-fee travel cards).

• Generous rewards rate on select travel purchases
• Earn a bonus offer with a low minimum spending requirement
• No foreign transaction fees
• Ability to transfer rewards to Capital One travel partners
• Lower rewards rate than other no-annual-fee travel credit cards
• No major travel perks included

Who should apply: Consider this card if you want some flexibility when it comes to redeeming your rewards. A lot of travel cards require you to book through their sites, but the VentureOne gives you the option of booking with a third-party airline, hotel or travel service and later redeeming your miles for a statement credit to cover the cost.

Who should skip:   Capital One’s travel partners are good, but not great. If you’re looking for a credit card issuer with a fantastic list of airline and hotel transfer partners, you might be better off with a credit card from Chase or American Express, but note that you may have to pay an annual fee .

Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card: Best for Delta Air Lines

Why we picked it:  With the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card , you’ll earn 2X miles at restaurants worldwide and 2X miles on Delta purchases, plus 1X miles on everything else. The welcome offer is easily obtainable, too — you can earn 10,000 miles by spending $1,000 within the first six months of card membership.

• Earn bonus miles on dining and Delta purchases
• Get a 20 percent discount on eligible in-flight purchases
• Frequent flyer perks are minimal (no free checked bags or priority boarding)
• The welcome offer may not be enough for a one-way flight

Who should apply:  Consider the Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card if you want the chance to rack up miles in the Delta SkyMiles program but you don’t spend enough to justify paying an annual fee.

Who should skip:  If you travel with Delta frequently, you’ll benefit more from a Delta card that offers free checked bags , priority boarding , a better welcome offer and more miles for each dollar you spend.

American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®: Best for American Airlines

Why we picked it: While you won’t get major frequent flyer benefits like a free checked bag or priority boarding with the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card *, you will get the chance to rack up miles through credit card spending: You’ll earn 2X AAdvantage miles on groceries, 2X miles on American Airlines purchases and 1X miles on all other purchases. Additionally, you’ll get a 25 percent discount on eligible in-flight purchases, such as food and beverages.

• Earn 2X miles on groceries and American Airlines purchases
• 25 percent discount on eligible in-flight purchases
• Charges a 3 percent foreign transaction fee

Who should apply: Consider the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp if you prefer to fly with American Airlines but fly infrequently and don’t want to pay an annual fee.

Who should skip: If you fly with American or its Oneworld partners frequently, you may be better off with a co-branded credit card that offers frequent flyer perks like a free checked bag or priority boarding. For example, you may want to consider the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® *, which waives its $99 annual fee for the first 12 months. Also, consider a different card if you travel internationally and want to avoid foreign transaction fees.

Hilton Honors American Express Card: Best for frequent Hilton stays

Why we picked it: Travelers who frequent Hilton hotel locations will find the Hilton Honors American Express Card to be a solid no-annual-fee option. This card offers a generous welcome bonus of 80,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $2,000 in the first six months of card membership. You’ll also earn high rewards rates in numerous categories: 7X points on eligible Hilton purchases; 5X points at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. restaurants; and 3X points on all other purchases.

• Comes with complimentary Hilton Silver status
• Earns a generous rewards rate on Hilton stays
• Minimal elite hotel benefits (for example, no room upgrades or complimentary breakfast)
• Hilton points are worth 0.6 cents apiece on average , so take the high rewards rates with a grain of salt

Who should apply:  Anyone who stays at Hilton properties regularly and isn’t interested in premium perks will get a fair amount of value out of this card.

Who should skip:  Hilton travelers interested in better perks like annual resort credits and free weekend nights should consider other Hilton credit cards, including options that come with a higher tier of elite status, annual travel credits and other premium perks.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card: Best for Bank of America customers

Why we picked it: The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a good choice for earning travel rewards on each purchase, but it’s even better if you already do your banking with Bank of America. The card earns 1.5X points on every dollar spent, but you can bump up your rewards by 25 percent to 75 percent if you qualify for membership in Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program .

• Earns a flat 1.5X points per dollar on all purchases
• Bank of America Preferred Rewards members can earn 25 to 75 percent more rewards
• Flexible redemption options
• No major travel perks

Who should apply: This is a solid card for those who want to earn a flat rate of flexible travel points on each dollar spent. Bank of America customers with a considerable amount of savings will especially benefit due to the boosted rewards rates for Preferred Rewards customers.

Who should skip:  Skip this card if you want travel-related perks like free checked bags or elite status.

Chase Freedom Unlimited: Best for pairing with a premium travel card

Why we picked it: The Chase Freedom Unlimited® isn’t a travel rewards card, but it is a no-annual-fee card that you can pair with Chase’s premium travel cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve ® , to boost your points value by 25 percent to 50 percent when booking travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards. Essentially, you can combine the points you earn with your Chase Freedom Unlimited with the points you earn with your Sapphire card. Then, with your Sapphire card, you can redeem your rewards for higher-value redemptions like transfers to Chase travel partners or travel through Chase.

• 5 percent cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 5 percent cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 2025); 3 percent cash back on dining and drugstore purchases; 1.5 percent cash back on all other purchases
• Additional 1.5 percent cash back on top of all purchases’ original cash back rate (on up to $20,000) for the first year (exclusive offer through Bankrate)
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• 3 percent foreign transaction fee
• Can’t transfer points to Chase’s travel partners without a premium card

Who should apply: Consider this cash back credit card if you already have a Sapphire card and want to earn better-than-average rewards on drugstore purchases and non-category purchases.

Who should skip:  Skip this card if you need an option that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, or if you want travel perks that are specific to a frequent flyer or hotel loyalty program.

Discover it Miles: Best for flexible redemptions

Why we picked it: The Discover it® Miles is a flat-rate card that earns an unlimited 1.5X miles on all purchases. Like all other Discover cards, the rewards you earn within your first 12 months will be doubled at the end of that year.

• A generous flat rate of 1.5X miles on all purchases
• Discover matches your first-year earnings
• No foreign transaction fees (this is true for all Discover credit cards)
• Redeem rewards for flexible travel options
• You have to wait a full year for the welcome bonus
• No travel perks

Who should apply: Consider the Discover it Miles if you want to earn flexible rewards that you can redeem for any type of travel.

Who should skip: Skip this card if you want travel-related benefits or if you want to earn a generous sign-up bonus within the first few months of account opening.

Compare the best travel credit cards with no annual fee

Benefits of no-annual-fee travel credit cards.

In general, no-annual-fee travel cards come with many perks:

• They’re great for beginners who are new to the travel card space.
• You won’t have to worry about recouping a high annual fee through spending or earning credits.
• With a co-branded card , you can earn rewards in a hotel or airline loyalty program through credit card spending.
• You may receive a 0 percent intro APR on purchases or balance transfers for a limited time.
• You’ll typically receive more travel-related perks than other no-annual-fee rewards cards, such as rewards on travel purchases or travel-related redemption options.

How to choose a travel credit card with no annual fee

As you review the best travel credit cards with no annual fee, there are a number of important factors to keep in mind. Here’s everything you need to think about as you choose your next card .

• Consider your spending style and habits. Ideally, you’ll find a no-annual-fee travel card that’s suited to your budget. Look for a card that gives boosted rewards on the types of purchases you spend the most on each month. If your spending is pretty scattered, a flat-rate card may be best.
• Compare welcome offers. Earning rates are important, but you should also consider welcome offers. Many travel credit cards with no annual fee make it easy to earn $200 or more in rewards right off the bat (as long as you meet the terms ).
• Pay attention to cardholder perks.  Airline cards and hotel cards with no annual fee tend to offer in-flight discounts or automatic elite status, while some general travel credit cards in this niche offer travel insurance benefits .
• Look closely at redemption options. Be sure to select a travel credit card that lets you redeem your rewards for the type of rewards you want. If you’re unsure, look for a flexible travel credit card that lets you redeem for statement credits to cover numerous types of travel purchases.

The bottom line

Many of the best travel credit cards charge annual fees, but there are plenty of good no-annual-fee options, too. Find a card that works with your spending habits and your future travel plans to maximize your earnings , then work to pay your balances off each month so you don’t take on added costs in the form of interest payments.

*The information about the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® and Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

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Best Travel Credit Cards for No Annual Fee in 2024

The best travel credit cards with no annual fees come with welcome offers for new cardholders. The top ones let you earn points or miles faster through bonus categories. Several of these cards do away with foreign transaction fees.

Updated: March 14, 2024

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The top no-annual-fee travel credit cards we’ve selected include co-branded and non-co-branded ones. Co-branded travel cards come with benefits for frequent users of a particular airline or group of hotels. The best cards from this category give you the means to earn bonus miles /points through spend-based welcome offers.

The miles or points per dollar you stand to earn vary from one travel credit card to the next. For instance, the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card offers up to 2x miles per dollar on category-based spending. With the Hilton Honors American Express Card, you can earn up to 7x points per dollar on bonus categories.

Other aspects that require your attention when choosing from the best travel credit cards with no annual fees include APRs, foreign transaction fees and added perks.

• Our Top 5 Picks
• Summarized List of All Winners
• Tips for Comparing Credit Cards

Methodology

Each month, MoneyGeek experts go through our extensive database and select all new and existing no-annual-fee travel credit cards. An in-depth comparison follows, where they pay due attention to parameters such as welcome offers, reward rates, APRs and foreign transaction fees. Only then do they publish their revised list of the top cards from this segment.

This article is part of our larger series on Best Travel Credit Cards

MoneyGeek’s Take: Top 5 Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee

Quick Summary

Points/miles earn rates depend not just on the card you get but also on applicable bonus categories. While all the cards we've selected come with welcome offers, they're not the same, even with cards from the same issuer. We have accounted for these factors as well as others such as foreign transaction fees, APRs and added benefits in arriving at our list of the best travel credit cards with no annual fees. Scroll further down the page to view other good cards from this category.

A great miles rewards card with no annual fees

• up to 2 Miles per $1* Rewards Rate
• 20.99% – 29.99% Variable APR
• $0 Annual Fee
• Good–Excellent Recommended Credit

WHY WE GEEK OUT

We love the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card for more than its no-annual-fee feature. This card lets you earn 2X miles on restaurants worldwide and Delta purchases. All other purchases come with 1X miles.

An welcome offer gives you the ability to earn 10,000 bonus miles. All you need to do is spend at least $1000 on purchases within the first six months.

This card comes with no international transaction fees, which makes it perfect for use when traveling overseas. Other travel benefits include earning 20% as a statement credit when you use your card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases and complimentary car rental loss and damage insurance.

Cardholders also stand to benefit through purchase and fraud protection in different scenarios.

PROS & CONS

• No annual fee
• With welcome offer
• Gives perks for Delta purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• Good/excellent credit needed
• Limited benefits compared to others
• No lounge access perks
• Less rewarding for non-Delta spend

CARD DETAILS

Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. No Annual Fee. Earn 2X Miles per dollar at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases, and 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. Pay with Miles: take up to $50 off the cost of your flight for every 5,000 miles you redeem with Pay with Miles when you book on delta.com. Receive a 20% savings in the form of a statement credit after you use your Card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food, beverages, and audio headsets. No Foreign Transaction Fees. Terms Apply.

Terms, rates and fees apply

A rewarding travel card for people who are casual guests at Hilton hotels and resorts

• 3–7 Points per $1* Rewards Rate

The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a traveler's dream come true. With no annual fee and a generous welcome bonus, it's a financial no-brainer for those frequenting Hilton properties or just seeking exceptional value. Whether dining out stateside or shopping abroad, you'll accumulate points seamlessly without those pesky foreign transaction fees. And here's the kicker — this card instantly boosts you to Hilton's Silver status! Want more perks? Just up your spending game, and Gold status awaits. This card truly embraces both the occasional and the dedicated traveler.

• Generous welcome bonus
• High earning rates with Hilton
• Automatic Hilton Silver status
• Potentially high APR
• High credit requirement
• Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 4/17/24.
• Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
• Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
• Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
• No Annual Fee.
• Terms Apply.

Solid dining rewards card with no annual fee

• 1–4 Points per $1 Rewards Rate
• 18.24% – 29.24% Variable APR
• 0 Recommended Credit

We love that this card offers a terrific rewards rate on dining purchases without the annual fee to match that so many competitors in this category have. You can also earn a sizable bonus after meeting a fairly low spend threshold, which is a great kickstart to your rewards balance.

• Impressive 4X points on dining and restaurants
• Intro APR for both purchases and balance transfers
• Flexible redemption options
• Annual bonus for streaming services
• No transfer options for points
• Fairly short APR period
• No special travel perks
• Four points per dollar spent on dining (including takeout and delivery)
• Two points per dollar spent on grocery, gas and streaming service purchases
• One point per dollar on all other spending
• Earn 20,000 bonus points if you spend $1,000 in the first 90 days
• 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 billing cycles (18.24%–29.24% variable APR after)
• No foreign transaction fee
• Get a $15 credit once a year when you use your card to pay for eligible streaming services such as Netflix, Spotify and Amazon Music
• Redeem your reward points for online shopping, a statement credit, travel through the Altitude Rewards Center and more

A great travel card with no annual fee for frequent flyers on American Airlines

• 1–2 Miles per $1 Rewards Rate
• 21.24% – 29.99% Variable APR
• Excellent Recommended Credit

We recommend this American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card to American Airlines frequent flyers who wish to earn rewards without paying an annual fee. New cardholders get 10,000 bonus miles and a $50 statement credit if they spend $500 on purchases within the first three months.

You earn 2x miles per dollar on eligible American Airlines purchases and at grocery stores. All other purchases come with 1x miles. Further, you get to save 25% when you use your card to pay for in-flight food and beverage purchases on American Airlines flights.

Using this card outside of the U.S. might not be a good idea, given that it comes with a 3% foreign transaction fee.

• Higher rewards on groceries and American Airlines purchases
• No annual fees
• 25% discount on in-flight food and beverage purchases
• Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
• 3% foreign transaction fee
• Limited travel perks
• Earn two AAdvantage miles for each dollar spent on groceries and eligible American Airlines purchases
• Earn 10,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles and a $50 statement credit if you spend $500 in purchases within the first three months
• Redeem your miles for award flights on American Airlines to over 1,000 destinations across the globe
• Get access to Citi Concierge 24 hours a day, seven days a week for restaurant bookings, gift shopping and more

Disclaimer : Credit card offers are constantly changing. We work hard to stay updated with the latest information, but the offers listed on our site may no longer be available.

Compare this credit card with other top-rated cards from our partners.

An excellent balance transfer card with travel rewards

• 0% Intro APR (then variable APR) Balance Transfer Offer
• 15 Months Balance Transfer Duration
• 19.99%–29.99% Variable APR
• 3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time Balance Transfer Fee

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card offers exceptional value and flexibility for both frequent travelers and everyday spenders. It allows you to earn 5X miles on hotel and rental car bookings made through Capital One Travel and 1.25X miles on all other purchases. The card also provides a generous welcome bonus of 20,000 miles when you spend $500 within the first three months. The enticing welcome bonus and the absence of annual and foreign transaction fees add further value to this card. While there are some considerations, such as a balance transfer fee and potentially higher ongoing APR, this card's overall quality and functionality make it a desirable option for consumers seeking flexibility and rewards.

• Unlimited earning potential
• Welcome offer with low spend requirement
• Decent intro APR offer on balance transfers and purchases
• Balance transfer fee of 3% for the first 15 months; 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time
• Somewhat short intro APR offer period
• High ongoing APR
• No impressive travel protections
• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.
• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within three months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day.
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn.
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options.
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase — or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs.
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99%–29.99% variable APR after that; 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months.

Summary of the Best Travel Cards for No Annual Fee

Take a look at this no-annual-fee travel card comparison table to determine who these cards are best suited for and the credit you need to apply. You may also check how they fare against each other when it comes to rewards rates.

• Credit Card Best For Avg. Reward Rate Annual Fee Credit Needed

No-annual-fee travel credit cards are a great way to earn rewards without paying a fee. While they don't have the same level of benefits as cards with annual fees, you can earn a welcome bonus, receive rewards on your purchases and enjoy other perks. — Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com

How to Compare Travel Credit Cards & Intro Offers

There is no single best no-annual-fee travel credit card because just about every card from this segment comes with its share of pros and cons. As a result, you need to pay attention to your spending patterns and a few other aspects before making a selection.

Co-branded or not

If you favor using any particular group of hotels or airlines, you may benefit by getting a co-branded card that comes with airline/hotel-specific benefits. Some of the top no-annual-fee travel credit cards that fit this bill include the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card , the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card and the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card.

Welcome offer

The best travel cards with no annual fees come with welcome offers, although these vary significantly. For example, the Amex Delta SkyMiles Blue Card comes with a welcome bonus of 10,000 miles that you may earn by spending $500 on purchases in the first three months. The Amex Hilton Honors Card , on the other hand, comes with a welcome offer of 80,000 Hilton Honors bonus points that you may earn by spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months. It offers an additional 50,000 points if you spend a total of $5,000 on purchases in the first six months.

Rewards rate

Whether you earn points or miles depends on the card you get. In addition, several cards from this segment offer higher points/miles rates on category-based spending. For instance, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card offers up to 14x points at Marriott properties and 2x points on all other purchases. The Citi Rewards+® Card, on the other hand, offers 2x points per $1 spent at supermarkets and gas stations on the first $6,000 you spend each year, and all other purchases come with 1x points.

Foreign transaction fees

Pay particular attention to this aspect if you plan to use your card outside of the U.S. The Citi Rewards+® Card and the American Airlines AAdvantage MileUp℠ Card charge a 3% foreign transaction fee on international purchases. The other cards we've selected do away with this fee completely.

Travel rewards cards typically come with higher APRs when compared to cards with no rewards. If you plan to maintain a revolving balance in your account from one billing cycle to the next, you might be better off getting a card with a low APR.

Other benefits

The IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card offers a reward night when you redeem your points for a stay of four or more nights. With the United Gateway Card , you get 25% back on United in-flight purchases. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card lets you transfer your miles to any of over 15 partner loyalty programs. Other card-specific features and benefits may come in the form of purchase protection, extended warranty, airport lounge access and varying levels of travel insurance coverage.

Further Reading

Best Business Credit Cards

Business vs. Corporate Credit Cards

About Rajiv Baniwal

Rajiv Baniwal is a journalist who has been covering financial topics for over 15 years. Meticulous in his research, he provides accurate and up-to-date information. His expertise includes mortgages, loans, credit cards, insurance and international money transfers.

RyanJLane/Getty Images

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Best no-annual-fee travel credit cards of 2023

Choose the best credit card for travel and start reaping rewards today

Published: April 26, 2023

Author: Aja McClanahan

Editor: Kaitlyn Tang

How we Choose

A good travel card doesn’t have to come with an exorbitant annual fee. There are plenty of great no-annual fee travel cards you can explore to help you earn and redeem rewards for travel.

The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired. Please review our list of best credit cards , or use our CardMatch™ tool to find cards matched to your needs.

If you aren’t quite ready to splurge for a premium card for travel — which typically has an annual fee in exchange for premium features — your next best option would be a travel card with no annual fee . But with so many options to choose from, how do you know which card is right for you?

Here we’ll review some of our top-rated travel card options that don’t charge a pesky annual fee. Use this guide to help choose the best credit card that works for your spending habits and specific travel lifestyle.

Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card: Best for flexible spending

Why we picked it : The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is ideal for anyone who wants simple, hassle-free cash back options in a travel rewards card . There’s no need to activate spending categories or watch for special bonus categories every quarter. The rewards simply accrue to your account at the same flat rate of 1.5X points on every purchase.

Another plus is that if you are a Bank of America or Merrill account holder, you can boost your rewards rate 25 percent to 75 percent with Preferred Rewards . You’ll also get 25,000 online bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days.

• You can earn unlimited points.
• Your points won’t expire if your account remains open.
• You don’t have to worry about blackout dates.
• You don’t have to pay foreign transaction fees .
• The rewards rate is relatively low.

Who should apply : The Bank of America Travel Rewards card could be a good fit if you’re looking for a no-annual-fee card with a good sign-up bonus . If you tend to spend across a wide array of categories — online shopping, dining, streaming sites and gas — the card’s flat rate will earn you reliable rewards.

Who should skip : This card might not be a good match for those who are looking to maximize their spending. Cardholders who don’t mind paying an annual fee should also keep shopping.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: Best for simplicity

Why we picked it : This entry-level travel card is so simple to use that any beginner in travel rewards could use it. Though Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card rewards rate isn’t especially high, it’s slightly higher than cards that offer unlimited cash back at the industry-standard 1 percent. The flat 1.25X miles rate applies to all spending, no matter the time or category.

Redeeming points is pretty straightforward, too. You can redeem miles for a travel statement credit that allows you to book travel yourself or through a travel agent. On top of that, the Capital One VentureOne will give you a 20,000-mile bonus (equal to $200 in travel) once you spend $500 on purchases within three months.

• You won’t have to deal with any blackout dates.
• There is no mileage minimum to redeem for travel.
• You can transfer miles to more than 15 of Capital One’s transfer partners .
• You can earn unlimited rewards.
• Large U.S. airlines are excluded from the list of airline partners.

Who should apply : This could be a good match for frequent fliers who spend $396 or more each month, and you can earn a pretty decent bonus with a relatively low spending requirement within the first three months from account opening. The card can also be beneficial if you’re looking for a 0 percent introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (then 19.99 percent to 29.99 percent variable APR).

Who should skip : This might not be a good fit for infrequent flyers who don’t spend a lot each month.

Chase Freedom Unlimited: Best for pairing with a premium travel card

Why we picked it : The Chase Freedom Unlimited* is a great card because it offers one of the highest cash back rates. The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns 5 percent cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3 percent cash back on dining and drugstore purchases, and 1.5 percent cash back on everything else.

The Freedom Unlimited’s cash back is also fulfilled as Ultimate Rewards points. This makes it a great card to pair with another Ultimate Rewards card such as the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card to multiply the rewards you earn across different categories and redeem your points at 25 percent boosted value for Chase travel, thanks to the Sapphire Preferred’s card perk.

• The card offers flexibility for redeeming rewards.
• The card provides a sign-up bonus of an additional 1.5 percent cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
• You can earn 5 percent cash back on Lyft rides through March 2025.
• Points won’t expire if your account remains open.
• There is a foreign transaction fee of 3 percent.

Who should apply : Frequent travelers looking for flexibility should consider this card. Also, frequent Lyft riders can earn a solid cash back when they use the card for every ride.

Who should skip : Cardholders who want to transfer miles to a frequent-flier program of an American airline should probably skip this one.

Discover it Miles: Best first-year bonus

Why we picked it : The Discover it® Miles card has a great first-year offer that has the potential to boost your miles’ earnings substantially. The Discover it Miles matches all the miles you earn at the end of your first year as an account holder — essentially turning your 1.5 miles per dollar into 3 miles per dollar — with no annual fee.

You can choose to redeem miles for cash, travel purchases, Amazon.com purchases, gift cards and more.

• You can earn unlimited 1.5 miles on every dollar you spend.
• You can redeem any number of miles.
• There are no blackout dates or expiration on miles earned.
• Discover matches all miles earned after your first year.
• You can’t transfer your miles to airline frequent-flier programs.
• Partners and perks have limited international acceptance.

Who should apply : Occasional travelers looking for fewer restrictions can take advantage of the Discover it Miles. This flat-rate card enables customers to choose cash back or redeem miles to pay your bill.

Who should skip : Since 1.5 miles per dollar is not the best reward rate for a frequent flier, you might want to consider another option.

Hilton Honors American Express Card: Best for frequent Hilton stays

Why we picked it : The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a good choice for those who stay at Hilton properties frequently. You’ll earn 70,000 points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $1,000 in purchases on the card in the first three months of card membership. You can also get 7X points at Hilton hotel properties. Eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations will get you 5X points, and everything else gets you 3X points. Plus, there are no blackout dates or expiration dates on points.

The Hilton Honors American Express Card also provides complimentary Hilton Honors silver status, which includes an annual fifth-night free reward (when you book at least four consecutive nights with points) and a 20 percent bonus on each Hilton Honors base point you earn.

• You can earn an unlimited number of points.
• You can transfer points to over 20 travel partners.
• There are no foreign transaction fees.
• Points are redeemable for hotel stays, airfare, car rentals, cruises, shopping, dining or charitable giving.
• You can redeem points only for travel booked through Amex Travel .
• You can use the free night’s stay certificate only if a standard room is available.

Who should apply : Travelers who frequent Hilton stays will get the most out of this card because they can earn points on their everyday purchases, then redeem them for stays.

Who should skip : Although this card offers some of the best hotel benefits, it might not be a great fit for travelers looking for high-value points (according to Bankrate , Hilton Honors points are worth an average of 0.6 cents per point). It could take a while to accumulate the points to redeem for your next stay.

Delta SkyMiles Blue American Express Card: Best card for Delta Air Lines passengers

Why we picked it : If you live near a Delta hub, taking advantage of their co-branded Amex card could be a great choice. With the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card , you can earn 2X miles at restaurants worldwide and on eligible Delta purchases. Other purchases get you 1X point.

As a co-branded American Express card, the Delta SkyMiles Blue Card provides card benefits other Amex cardholders receive, such as car rental insurance, event presales, lowest hotel rate guarantee, purchase protection and extended warranty coverage. New cardholders will be rewarded 10,000 miles if they spend $1,000 within six months.

• Your Delta miles won’t expire.
• You can book trips without blackout dates.
• You can earn unlimited miles.
• Miles are redeemable for flights, flight upgrades, car rentals, merchandise and more.
• Stopovers are not allowed.
• You’ll likely pay fuel surcharges on some partners and on Delta one-way flights from Europe.

Who should apply : This card is suitable for casual travelers who are loyal to Delta Air Lines but don’t require the luxury of free checked bags or priority seating.

Who should skip : Frequent fliers looking for free checked bags or priority boarding should consider another credit card. People who fly a variety of airlines, not just Delta, have no need to tie themselves to a co-branded Delta card, and they could opt for a flexible rewards card instead.

Compare the best no-annual-fee travel cards

How to choose a no-annual-fee travel credit card.

When narrowing down the choices among the best travel credit cards with no annual fee, you should keep in mind what features you want. Because these cards don’t have an annual fee, like elite or luxury travel cards, it might be difficult to find all the best features in just one card. Try to focus on the card benefits that matter most to you, such as extended warranty coverage, to help you eliminate the cards that don’t have them and decide on the ones that do.

Here are a few features to look for in a no-annual-fee travel card:

• You may earn a welcome bonus.
• The card offers an intro APR period for balance transfers or purchases (or both).
• There is a high earning potential for travel-related spending.
• You may combine rewards with other cards to boost rewards value.
• The rewards program has minimal restrictions like blackout dates or expiration on rewards.
• The redemption options are flexible, offering redemptions, such as cash, gift cards, statement credits, Amazon.com purchases or travel booked through the issuer’s portal.
• The card benefits include trip protection, luggage insurance, hotel discounts, airline discounts, roadside assistance and more.

Bottom line

If you match your spending and travel habits to the available options, finding the best travel credit card with no annual fee shouldn’t be difficult. The best card will ultimately be the one that enables you to earn decent rewards on everyday expenses. Then you can use those rewards to cover your travel expenses.

*Information about the Chase Freedom Unlimited has been collected independently by CreditCards.com. The issuer did not provide the details, nor is it responsible for their accuracy.

Editorial Disclaimer

The editorial content on this page is based solely on the objective assessment of our writers and is not driven by advertising dollars. It has not been provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners.

Aja McClanahan is a CreditCards.com personal finance contributor.

On this page

• Best for flexible spending
• Best for simplicity
• Best for a travel card combo
• Best first-year bonus
• Best for Hilton stays
• Best for Delta Air Lines
• Comparing cards
• How to choose a card

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The Best Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee

November 27, 2023

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A travel credit card allows you to swipe your way to discounted travel and vacations.

Travel credit cards enable you to earn points and miles on everyday spending, which you can then redeem for discounted airfares, hotel stays, rental cars and much more.

Many cards charge annual fees to hold them, ranging anywhere from $50 to $695 per year. While not cheap, some of these premium travel credit cards offer perks that are easily double the value of their annual fee.

However, not everyone wants to pay a fee. If you’re an infrequent traveler, a points and miles beginner, or simply want to maximize rewards while minimizing costs, a travel credit card with no annual fee could be what you’re looking for.

Let’s take a look at the best credit cards with no annual fee. We’ll also consider the benefits of the best no-annual-fee credit cards, the best rewards, as well as a strategy for maximizing your points with a no-annual-fee travel card.

Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Cards for 2024

Here’s an overview of the best no-annual-fee travel credit cards.

Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card earns a competitive 1.5X points on all purchases. This makes it a great card for those taking their first steps into the world of points and miles or those who want a card that can earn them points on spend categories that aren’t covered by other cards.

It’s also has no foreign transaction fees, allowing you to spend abroad with freedom and earn points doing so.

If you’re a Preferred Rewards member, you’ll be able to earn between 25% to 75% more points on your purchases.

To become a Preferred Rewards member, you need to open a Bank of America checking account and maintain a three-month average combined balance of at least $20,000 across your Bank of America checking and/or Merrill investment accounts. The higher your combined average balance, the higher your point earning rate will be. This could allow you to earn anywhere from 1.87X points to 2.62X points on all purchases.

The main drawbacks of this card are its lack of travel and purchase protections, limited range of bonus spend categories and its limited options for point redemption.

• Earn 1.5X points on all purchases.
• Preferred Rewards members will earn 25% to 75% more points on every purchase.
• No foreign transaction fees
• No purchase protections or travel insurances are included
• No bonus category earning rates
• No cardholder perks
• Limited point redemption options: either gift cards or statement credits

Bilt Mastercard® is best for earning points from rental payments

BiltMastercard®

The Bilt Mastercard® is one of its kind among both annual fee and no-annual-fee cards.

Its unique feature is that it enables you to pay your rent via the Bilt app and earn 1X Bilt Point per dollar in rewards up to 100,000 points per calendar year (see rewards and benefits). And if you turn on BiltProtect, the rental payment funds will be pulled directly from a linked bank account, preventing your credit utilization ratio from increasing.

Typically, landlords either charge a large transaction fee on credit card payments or don’t accept them in the first place. Bilt enables you to pay your landlord, regardless of whether or not they accept credit cards, by offering alternative payment methods, such as checks, as well as by absorbing any transaction fees.

This not only enables you to earn up to 100,000 points on rent per calendar year, it also allows your rental payments to be reported to the major credit bureaus if your rental property is part of the Bilt Alliance property network.

In addition to these features, you’ll earn double the normal bonus category earning rates on the day you pay your rent, meaning you can earn 6X points on dining, 4X points on travel and 2X points on other purchases.

Points earned with Bilt can be redeemed for partner redemptions with 12 airlines and two hotels, as well as through the Bilt travel portal.

The only downside to this card is that you need to use it a minimum of five times within each statement period, otherwise you’ll lose your accumulated points.

• 3X points on eligible dining purchases
• 2X points on eligible travel purchases
• 1X point on rental payments paid through the Bilt app (up to a maximum of 100,000 points per calendar year)
• Point earning is doubled on the day you pay your rent with 6X points on dining, 4X points on travel and 2X points on other purchases (excluding rent).
• Trip Cancellation and Interruption Protection
• Trip Delay Reimbursement
• Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver
• No foreign currency conversion fee
• Your card must be used a minimum of five times during a billing cycle, otherwise, you’ll lose your points.
• No welcome bonus

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is best for point redemptions with partner airlines and hotels, as well as strong point earning on travel purchases.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards card offers a flat rate of 1.25X miles on every purchase. On top of this, you’ll earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars when you book them via Capital One Travel.

The combination of this high base earning rate on all purchases plus the bonus category rate for travel purchases makes this card highly competitive for a no-annual-fee card. Additionally, it doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees and it includes rental car and travel insurance.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Bonus Miles

after you spend $500 in the first 3 months

This makes it a lucrative card for the traveler, infrequent or occasional, rewarding everyday expenditure as well as Capital One travel purchases, all while charging nothing in foreign transaction fees.

Capital One also has up to 18 airline and hotel transfer partners, with strong point transfer ratios.

The only downside of this card is its lack of variety when it comes to bonus spend categories.

• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn 1.25X miles on all purchases
• Rental car and travel insurances included
• Limited range of bonus spend categories

Chase Freedom Flex is good for rotating quarterly bonus categories.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

The Chase Freedom Flex card offers 5% cash back on quarterly rotating purchase categories up to $1,500 in combined quarterly purchases, activation required. It also offers 5% back on travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards, as well as 3% on drugstore purchases and dining.

For a $0 annual fee, these bonus category rates are highly competitive. They also enable you to earn on non-typical spend categories, such as drugstore purchases, making this an excellent card to have in your wallet to maximize your point-earning capability.

after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening

Being a Chase card, the Freedom Flex earns Ultimate Rewards, which are one of the most valuable point currencies you can hold.

Chase Freedom Flex card also includes partner discounts on DashPass and Instacart+ memberships, as well as a range of travel insurances.

The main downside to this card is the 3% foreign transaction fee.

• 5% on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards
• 5% cash back on combined purchases totaling up to $1,500 in bonus categories each quarter you activate the bonus
• 3% on dining, inclusive of takeout and eligible delivery services, as well as dining at restaurants
• 3% on drugstore purchases
• 1% on all other purchases
• Receive a three-months complimentary DashPass membership, giving you unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee as well as a discounted service fee on eligible orders with DoorDash and Caviar. Thereafter, receive 50% off DashPass for the following nine months (must activate by Dec. 31, 2024).
• Receive three complimentary months of Instacart+ membership, giving you unlimited deliveries with a $0 delivery fee and a discounted service fee on eligible orders. Thereafter, earn $10 in monthly statement credits toward membership (enrollment required by Jul. 31, 2024).
• Range of travel insurances included, such as trip cancellation/delay insurance
• Foreign transaction fee of 3%
• Limited cardholder perks

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is best for frequent flyers with Delta.

Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card

If you’re looking for one of the best no-annual-fee airline credit cards, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better one than the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card .

This card earns 2X miles at restaurants worldwide and is free of foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees ), allowing you to earn maximum points when abroad.

after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new card in your first 6 months.

Terms Apply. | Rates & Fees.

You’ll also earn 2X miles on direct purchases made with Delta, as well as receive a $50 discount on flights for every 5,000 miles you redeem through Pay with Miles when you book through delta.com. You’ll save 20% when using your card on eligible inflight purchases of food and beverages on Delta flights, issued as a statement credit.

The only feature missing from this card is Delta-related flight perks, such as priority boarding or a “first checked bag flies free” policy, as offered by other cards.

• Earn 2X miles at restaurants worldwide, as well as on takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• Earn 2X miles on direct purchases with Delta.
• Earn 1X mile on all other purchases.
• Receive a $50 discount on flights for every 5,000 miles you redeem through Pay with Miles when booking via delta.com.
• Save 20% when using your card on eligible Delta in-flight purchases of food and beverages, issued as a statement credit.
• Limited range of Delta flight-related perks (no priority boarding, free first checked bag, etc.)

Entrance to Boca Raton Resort & Club, A Waldorf Astoria (Hilton).

Hilton Honors American Express Card

If you stay at Hilton when you travel and are looking for credit cards with no annual fee, the Hilton Honors American Express Card (see rates and fees ) could be a great match for you.

Hilton Honors Bonus Points

after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 4/17/24.

It earns 7X points at hotels and resorts belonging to the Hilton portfolio, as well as 5X points on a range of everyday purchases. It also includes complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, giving you the following perks:

• 20% Elite Status Bonus
• Two free bottles of water at check-in (at participating hotels)
• 15% off at the spa during an all-inclusive stay
• Fifth night free during reward stays
• Elite rollover nights

The card is also has no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees ), enabling you to spend and earn abroad.

The drawback of this card is that Gold status requires you to spend a minimum of $20,000 within a calendar year. Likewise, point transfers to airline partners have a poor transfer ratio.

• Earn 7X points for eligible purchases at hotels and resorts belonging to the Hilton portfolio.
• Earn 5X points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery.
• Earn 5X points on groceries at U.S. supermarkets.
• Earn 5X points on gas at U.S. gas stations.
• Earn 3X points on all other purchases.
• Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status included
• Point transfers to airline partners have poor transfer rates.
• No free night promotions
• Hilton Honors Gold status is only available after you charge $20,000 to your card within a calendar year.

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card is best for loyal guests of IHG hotels and resorts.

IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card

If stays at IHG hotels and resorts feature in your travel plans, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card could suit you.

You’ll earn 17X points on purchases at IHG hotels and resorts, as well as 3X points on dining, utilities, select streaming services and at gas stations.

The card comes with complimentary Silver Elite status, no foreign transaction fees and a fourth night free when you book a consecutive three-night hotel stay with points at IHG properties.

Bonus Points

after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

Just as with the Hilton Honors card, the IHG One Rewards Traveler card requires you to spend a minimum of $20,000 with your card within a calendar year to reach Gold Elite status. Similarly, point transfer ratios to airline partners are also poor.

• Earn 17X points at IHG hotels and resorts.
• Earn 3X points on dining, utilities, select streaming services and at gas stations.
• Earn 2X points on all other purchases.
• Complimentary Silver Elite status.
• Receive the fourth night for free when booking a consecutive three-night hotel stay with points at IHG properties.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Trip cancellation/interruption insurance included
• Gold Elite status requires you to spend $20,000 with your card within a calendar year.
• Poor rates for airline transfer partners

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card is best for offsetting the cost of business purchases through unlimited cash back.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

If you’re looking for a $0 annual fee business card, the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card could be a great card match for you.

It offers a flat rate of 1.5% unlimited cash back on every business purchase. This enables you to offset the cost of your business expenditure on every purchase.

Chase Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

bonus cash back

after you spend $6,000 in 3 months

You can issue employee cards for free and earn cash back on their expenditures.

The main drawback of this card is the limited range of perks and bonus spend categories, plus the foreign transaction fee of 3%.

• 1.5% unlimited cash back on every business purchase
• Fraud protection
• Free additional employee cards
• Earn 5% cash back on Lyft rides until March 2025.
• Limited perks for the cardholder

United Gateway℠ Card is best for frequent flyers with United Airlines.

United Gateway℠ Card

The United Gateway℠ Card earns 2X miles on purchases with United, including qualifying inflight purchases, as well as 2X miles on a range of everyday spend categories. This makes it ideal for both the frequent or infrequent traveler, giving you flexibility as to how you earn points.

When you’re abroad, you won’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees when using the United Gateway card.

You’ll also enjoy exclusive benefits at The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, such as early check-in, late check-out and daily breakfast for two (subject to availability).

The disadvantage of this card is the lack of airline-specific perks such as priority boarding or a “first checked bag flies free” policy.

• Earn 2x miles on United purchases.
• Earn 2x miles at gas stations.
• Earn 2x miles on commuter purchases such as train tickets, rideshare services, taxicabs, tolls and mass transit.
• Receive 25% back on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi onboard United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks, issued as a statement credit.
• Enjoy exclusive benefits at The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection, such as daily breakfast for two, a special benefit unique to each property, complimentary Wi-Fi, a room upgrade and early check-in and late checkout (all subject to availability). Receive a complimentary DashPass membership for one year (thereafter, membership will be charged at the standard rates; enrollment required).
• Limited range of airline-specific perks such as priority boarding or free checked bags

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card is best for earning points on dining purchases to redeem for travel.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card offers one of the highest bonus category rates on dining purchases, coming in at 4X points per dollar spent. It also offers bonus category rates on a variety of everyday purchases.

Points can be redeemed directly through U.S. Bank for discounted hotel stays, air travel and more. This card is also free of foreign transaction fees, allowing you to continue spending and earning points while abroad.

after you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

The only drawback to this card is that U.S. Bank has zero transfer partners, meaning points can only be redeemed via their portal.

• Earn 4X points on dining, takeout and restaurant delivery.
• Earn 2X points at grocery stores, gas stations, EV charging stations and on grocery deliveries and streaming services.
• Earn 1X point on all other purchases.
• Receive a $15 credit for streaming purchases such as Netflix, Apple TV+, Spotify and other providers.
• No transfer partners

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card earns a competitive 2% cash back on all purchases.

This high base-earning rate across all purchases makes it one of the most competitive $0 annual fee cashback cards and a useful one to keep in your wallet.

You’ll also gain access to certain benefits at hotels belonging to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection.

The downsides of this card are the foreign transaction fee of 3% as well as the lack of transfer partners for redemption opportunities.

• Earn 2% cash back on all purchases.
• Access to benefits at hotels belonging to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection
• No transfer partners for redemption opportunities

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

The Wells Fargo Autograph Card enables you to earn 3X points on a wide range of everyday purchases including dining, travel, streaming services, phone plans, transit and gas.

This card is free of foreign transaction fees and also grants you exclusive benefits at hotels belonging to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection.

The downside to this card is that you can only redeem points for travel, statement credits or gift cards through Wells Fargo, rather than being able to transfer them to hotel and airline partners.

• Earn 3X points on dining, travel, gas, transit, streaming services and cell phone plans.
• Enjoy benefits at hotels belonging to the Visa Signature Luxury Hotel Collection.
• Rental car insurance and travel insurance included
• You can’t transfer points to hotel or airline partners.

Orange Tree Resort (Photo Courtesy of Wyndham Hotels).

Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card

The Wyndham Rewards Earner® Card is great if you’re a regular guest at Wyndham hotels.

With this card, you have the potential to earn a welcome bonus, which can cover you for up to four free nights at certain Wyndham properties.

You’ll earn 5X points on purchases at Wyndham hotels and receive a 7,500-point bonus every anniversary if you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases. That 7,500-point bonus could cover another free night at certain Wyndham properties.

Wyndham Rewards Earner® Plus Card

bonus points, enough for up to 13 free nights

after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days.

Annual Fee: $75

This card comes with complimentary Gold status, offering perks such as free WiFi, preferred room selection and late checkout. It’s also free of foreign transaction fees.

As with most $0 annual fee hotel credit cards, you can expect less than optimum point transfer ratios when transferring Wyndham Rewards to airline transfer partners.

• Earn 5X points on Wyndham hotels.
• Earn 5X points on gas purchases.
• Earn 2X points of dining and grocery purchases.
• Earn a 7,500-point bonus every anniversary when you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases (enough to cover one free night at certain properties).
• Redeem 10% fewer Wyndham Rewards points for go free® awards.
• Receive complimentary Gold status, with perks such as free WiFi, preferred room selection and late checkout.
• Poor transfer rates to airline partners

How Do Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee Work?

Travel credit cards earn you a specific rewards currency every time you make a purchase. The rewards currency is either in the form of points or miles. For example, American Express uses Membership Rewards points while Chase uses Ultimate Rewards points.

These rewards points can then be redeemed through the card issuer’s online portal for a variety of travel-related purchases, from discounted vacation bookings to flights and hotel stays.

There are different types of travel credit cards to choose from.

Airline travel credit cards typically earn you miles for direct purchases with the airline, as well as on partner and alliance member-operated flights (depending on the card). These miles will go toward the airline loyalty program, allowing for discounted travel and award seat booking. Some airline cards also come with premium benefits, from priority boarding to airline lounge access.

Hotel travel credit cards function much the same as airline cards, but instead earn you points toward the specific hotel’s loyalty program. Premium benefits can include elite status perks, free upgrades upon arrival, luxury experience credits and much more.

General travel credit cards can include a mix of bonus earning rates on certain spend categories, as well as premium benefits with partners.

Some travel credit cards charge an annual fee while others are free to hold.

Typically, the higher the welcome bonus, category spending rates and monetary value of the combined perks are, the higher the annual fee is. However, some credit cards designed for those with lower credit scores also charge an annual fee to mitigate against the (theoretically) increased risk.

The annual fee is typically charged on the anniversary of the account opening. You may also have to pay a fee to add authorized users on some premium travel credit cards.

What Are the Benefits of No-Annual-Fee Credit Cards?

No-annual-fee cards could be of benefit to you, depending on your lifestyle and spending habits.

The main advantage of a no-annual-fee credit card is that there’s no cost involved in holding the card. This means that any points earned on your spending or any cardholder perks you utilize represent an immediate return on holding the card. In contrast, on an annual fee-incurring card, points earned and perks utilized will first have to offset the annual fee before they truly represent return value.

This makes no-annual-fee cards well suited to infrequent travelers who won’t use lifestyle perks, such as airport lounge access, enough to offset the annual fee. No-annual-fee cards are ideal for budget-conscious individuals looking to earn a return on their spending, while maximizing cost savings.

Features To Consider When Choosing a Travel Credit Card

People getting into the world of points and miles often overlook annual fee-incurring cards. It’s understandable. After all, no one likes to pay fees.

However, when selecting travel cards it’s important to see beyond the isolated cost of the annual fee and instead consider the degree to which the perks and earning rates offered by the card can offset its annual fee.

Here are some key features to consider when trying to select the best rewards cards for beginners .

Foreign transaction fees

If you’re considering a travel credit card, chances are that you’re planning to go abroad at some point in the future. Using your card while abroad is a great way to continue to rack up points on purchases. However, if your card charges a foreign transaction fee, then you’ll lose a significant amount of funds every time you charge a purchase to your card abroad.

For example, if you spend $3,000 on a card with a foreign transaction fee of 3% during your vacation in Europe, you’ll pay $90 in fees. This reduces your return value in points and miles significantly.

Typically, cards with annual fees opt to waive foreign transaction fees, which can be worthwhile if you’re planning on using your card abroad.

Travel insurance

Annual fee cards often offer travel insurance. This can be anything from trip delay/cancellation insurance to baggage delay/lost baggage insurance.

Usually, the higher the annual fee, the wider the range of coverage and the higher the insurance limits are on travel credit cards.

In some instances, the insurance offered by your travel credit card may be sufficient for your trip, meaning you won’t have to pay for an additional insurance policy. If that’s the case, you need to factor this benefit into your consideration of the card’s annual fee.

The best travel credit cards with no annual fee also offer travel insurance.

Airport lounge access

Airports lounges are no longer exclusive to those traveling first class or those with frequent flyer status with certain airlines. Many premium travel credit cards, as well as airline cards , offer complimentary access to specific lounge networks.

For example, a range of premium cards offers complimentary unlimited access to the Priority PassTM network. This perk has an equivalent monetary value of at least $469, which goes a long way in offsetting annual fees on most premium cards.

No-annual-fee cards don’t tend to come with complimentary airport lounge access, so factor the monetary value of this perk into your valuation of a card’s annual fee.

Welcome bonus

Welcome bonuses are one of the most lucrative aspects of travel credit cards when it comes to earning a high return on your spending and amassing thousands of points within a short time period.

Normally, the higher the annual fee, the higher the welcome bonus point boost will be. That said, the minimum spend requirement to earn the welcome bonus is often far higher on annual fee-incurring cards compared to their no-annual-fee equivalents.

When selecting a card, you want to go for the highest welcome bonus you can earn realistically while spending organically.

Bonus category earning rates

Just like with welcome bonuses, the higher the annual fee, the higher bonus category earning rates tend to be.

These bonus category rates are the way you’re going to earn points and miles on everyday purchases as well as travel-related purchases.

In some cases, it can be well worth paying a higher annual fee to unlock a greater return on your everyday spending.

Lifestyle and travel perks

Travel credit cards come with a variety of additional perks.

A popular benefit is a statement credit toward eligible travel purchases. On some premium cards, this statement credit can be well over $300, enabling you to offset the annual fee by a significant amount.

Similarly, many cards offer a statement credit that reimburses you for the nonrefundable application fees for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry. This will give you expedited security screening and shorter wait times at immigration, effectively for free.

Other perks can include elite status with hotel chains, car rental company privileges and free night awards, among many others.

How To Make the Most of Your No-Annual-Fee Travel Credit Card

The strategy for making the most out of your no-annual-fee travel credit card is no different from that of any type of credit card.

It begins with responsible credit card usage. This means

• paying your balance in full and never accumulating interest, and
• not overspending to reach minimum spending requirements (in other words, treating your card like a debit card).

The best strategy includes maximizing your point earnings.

This starts with ensuring you open the card during a time frame in which your expenditure can naturally allow you to earn the card’s welcome bonus.

With the welcome bonus behind you, the next step is ensuring you select a card with bonus category rates that suit your spending habits. Using your card for everyday and frequent purchases ensures that you’ll earn points continually. This puts you closer to being able to use your points for travel redemptions.

Keeping your eyes and ears open for promotional offers is another key way to accumulate points.

Additionally, you should choose a card that will help you fund your specific travel goals. For example, if you always use a specific hotel chain, opening a co-branded credit card offered by that hotel would get you a lot further than opening a card with an airline you hardly ever fly with. It may sound obvious, but the closer the rewards and cardholder perks are to your lifestyle habits and travel goals, the easier it will be to earn a greater return on your spending.

In every case, familiarize yourself with your card’s terms and conditions to prevent surprises down the line.

Navigating Fee-Free Travel Rewards

If you’re a budget-conscious consumer, points and miles beginner or infrequent traveler, a no-annual-fee credit card may be your best bet.

But there is no single “best no-annual-fee credit card.” Rather, finding the best no-annual-fee travel card is a matter of selecting a card that matches your spending habits and travel goals. By doing so, you will earn points faster and be able to redeem those points for travel purchases that align with your goals.

Whether it’s an airline card like the United Gateway Card, a hotel card such as the Wyndham Rewards Earner, or an all-round travel credit card like the Capital One VentureOne Rewards card, you need to reflect on the best one for your lifestyle and goals.

And once you’ve found the best no-annual-fee travel card for you, follow 10xTravel for further tips and advice on how to maximize your point earnings and make discounted travel a reality in no time!

New to the world of points and miles? The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best card to start with.

With a bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. , 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal and 3x points on restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), this card truly cannot be beat for getting started!

Editors Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

bonus points

after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Chase Ultimate Rewards® Points

after you spend $4,000 in 3 months

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Venture Miles

after you spend $4,000 in purchases in the first 3 months.

American Express® Gold Card

Membership Rewards® Points

after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months. Terms apply.

Alexander Yu

21 Minute Read

Anya Kartashova

19 Minute Read

7 Minute Read

The 8 best credit cards with annual fees under $100

Editor's Note

Annual fees are generally worth it when you can maximize a credit card's benefits and earning structure. But it's understandable if you're hesitant to add many premium travel rewards cards with high annual fees to your wallet.

Luckily, with competition fierce among card issuers for new customers, many of the best credit cards have annual fees of under $100. Here are our top picks.

Best credit cards with annual fees under $100

• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card : Best for earning Chase Ultimate Rewards points on travel and dining.
• Ink Business Preferred Credit Card : Best for business spending.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best for everyday non-bonus spending.
• Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express : Best for earning cash back at U.S. supermarkets and on select U.S. streaming subscriptions.
• Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card : Best for dining and entertainment.
• Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees ): Best for earning Citi ThankYou Rewards points.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card : Best for Marriott stays.
• The Amex EveryDay® Preferred Credit Card from American Express : Best for earning Amex Membership Rewards points.

The information for the Capital One Savor and Amex EveryDay Preferred cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Comparison of the best credit cards with annual fees under $100

Now that you have a snapshot of how these cards stack up against one another, here are the details on each.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Annual fee: $95.

Current welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Why it's worth it: You could argue that this card ignited the sub-$100 market segment when it started offering 3 points per dollar on dining and 2 per dollar on travel (plus several other categories). The Chase Sapphire Preferred consistently makes any list of best travel credit cards , which is no surprise because you can get great value from Chase Ultimate Rewards points by transferring to Chase's airline and hotel partners .

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card also gives you 1.25 cents per point in value when you redeem for travel in the Ultimate Rewards portal . There are no foreign transaction fees.

For more information, see the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review . And, before applying, check out what credit score is needed to get the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card and why the Chase Sapphire Preferred still has a top spot in my wallet .

Official application link: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

Current welcome offer: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.

Why it's worth it: The Chase Ink Business Preferred Credit Card is one of the best small-business cards on the market. It offers you 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on up to $150,000 spent each account anniversary year in combined purchases on travel; shipping purchases; internet, cable and phone services; and on advertising purchases made with social media sites and search engines. You earn 1 point per dollar spent elsewhere.

Like the Chase Sapphire Preferred, you can transfer points to airline and hotel programs and receive 1.25 cents per point when redeeming your points for travel in the Ultimate Rewards portal . This card comes with plenty of travel insurance and purchase protections, including a cellphone protection plan . There are no foreign transaction fees.

For more information, check out the full Ink Business Preferred Credit Card review and take a look at five reasons to get the Ink Business Preferred credit card .

Official application link: Ink Business Preferred Credit Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

WYATT SMITH/THE POINTS GUY

Current welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Why it's worth it: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is excellent for casual travelers and those looking for a card that will earn consistently on everyday purchases. After all, you'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase.

There are plenty of ways to use your Capital One miles for maximum value . While you can redeem your miles by transferring to airline and hotel partners , you can also redeem at a fixed value for eligible purchases — including some travel expenses that generally wouldn't be covered by rewards, such as Blade helicopter rides .

Moreover, the card offers a statement credit of up to $100 for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee, which means you can certainly get more value from it in the first year, at least, than it costs to carry.

For more information, see the full Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review . And before you apply, check out five ways Capital One Venture is winning the credit card game , plus these five reasons to apply for the Capital One Venture Card right now and seven types of purchases you should make with your Capital One Venture card .

Official application link: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express

Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for first year, then $95 (see rates and fees ).

Current welcome offer: Earn a $250 statement credit after you spend $3,000 in purchases on your new card within the first six months.

Why it's worth it: The Blue Cash Preferred is one of the best cash-back cards out there. You'll earn 6% on select U.S. streaming services and on the first $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets per calendar year (then 1%). You'll also earn 3% on U.S. gas stations and transit and 1% on everything else.

A 6% return is great for a card with a low annual fee.

To learn more, check out the full Blue Cash Preferred Card review . And, before applying, read nine lesser-known benefits of the Amex Blue Cash Preferred Card and who should (and who shouldn't) get the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card .

Official application link: Blue Cash Preferred Card

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Current welcome offer: Earn a one-time $300 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within three months from account opening.

Why it's worth it: The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is a cash-back credit card. Specifically, you'll earn 3% cash back on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, 3% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases.

However, if you also have the Capital One Venture Rewards card , you can convert your cash-back earnings to miles . So, you could earn 4 miles per dollar on dining and entertainment and 2 miles per dollar at grocery stores if you have both the Capital One Savor and the Capital One Venture Rewards.

To learn more, see the full Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card review , and check out our card comparisons for Capital One Venture versus Capital One Savor and Capital One Savor versus Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card .

Related: Best ways to use the cash back from your credit card

Citi Premier Card

Annual fee: $95 (see rates and fees ).

Current welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 with the card within the first three months of account opening.

Why it's worth it: The Citi Premier Card accrues 3 points per dollar spent on air travel, hotels, gas stations, supermarkets and restaurants . Cardholders also receive a once-per-calendar-year perk: a $100 credit on any single hotel stay costing $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, when booked through the Citi ThankYou travel portal.

There are various ways to redeem Citi ThankYou Points for maximum value , but the best option is to transfer your Citi ThankYou Rewards points to its transfer partners . There are no foreign transaction fees.

To learn more, read the full Citi Premier Card review . You can also check out four reasons the Citi Premier Card should be on your shortlist and one reader's argument that Citi ThankYou Rewards is the most underappreciated and misunderstood program .

Official application link: Citi Premier Card

Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card

Current welcome offer: Earn three Free Night Awards (each night valued up to 50,000 points) after spending $3,000 in the first three months of account opening. Certain hotels have resort fees.

Why it's worth it: The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card comes with automatic Silver Elite status , 15 elite-qualifying nights each year and a free night certificate on each account anniversary that's valid at any Marriott property costing 35,000 points or less .

You'll earn up to 17 Bonvoy points per dollar spent at over 7,000 participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels, 3 points per dollar on the first $6,000 spent in combined purchases each year on gas stations, grocery stores and dining, 2 points per dollar spent everywhere else.

Marriott Bonvoy points are easy to redeem for both hotel awards and transfers to airline partners .

To learn more, see the full Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card review . You can also read about why you need both a personal and business Marriott Bonvoy credit card and what credit score you need to get the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless credit card .

Official application link: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card

Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card

Current welcome offer: Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards points after you spend $1,000 in your first three months.

Why it's worth it: The Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card from American Express earns 3 Membership Rewards points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 spent annually, then 1 point per dollar); 2 points per dollar at U.S. gas stations and 1 point per dollar on everything else. Those bonus categories are already respectable, but if you make at least 30 transactions during your monthly billing cycle, you get a 50% points bonus, which allows you to earn 4.5, 3 and 1.5 points per dollar, respectively.

There are several ways to redeem American Express Membership Rewards points for maximum value , but the best use of Amex Membership Rewards points is usually to transfer to select airline programs and hotel programs. The card has a $95 annual fee and Amex imposes a 2.7% foreign transaction fee.

For more information, see the full Amex EveryDay Preferred Credit Card review , and check out Amex EveryDay Preferred versus Amex Blue Cash Preferred and Chase Sapphire Preferred versus Amex EveryDay Preferred .

Related: The best ways to earn a 50% point bonus on the Amex EveryDay Preferred card

Are credit card annual fees worth it?

Without a doubt, it is essential to evaluate whether a credit card with an annual fee makes sense. Many credit cards — including those on this list — have an annual fee, but the money-saving perks and associated value often offsets what you have to pay each year. After all, each of these cards has a welcome offer or sign-up bonus that helps offset the cost. And all of these cards earn points or cash back .

For instance, although the Chase Sapphire Preferred has a $95 annual fee, you'll earn 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after spending $4,000 in the first three months. Those 60,000 points can be redeemed for travel directly with Chase for a value of $750. Or you can transfer them to one of Chase's travel partners , like United Airlines or Hyatt.

Then, let's say you spend $6,000 on the card throughout the rest of the year — $2,000 each on dining, online groceries and travel. Based on the card's bonus categories, you'd end up with 16,000 bonus points, worth $240 when redeemed on the Chase travel portal, which is more than double the cost of the card's annual fee. These assumptions don't even include the potential value of transferring points to Chase's airline and hotel travel partners, which TPG pegs at 2 cents per point, which makes the card even more worthwhile.

If you use your card to spend in its bonus categories and redeem worthwhile awards, you can reap much more value than its annual fee.

Related: Why you'll want to pay the $95 annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Preferred

Bottom line

Although this isn't a comprehensive list of all the credit cards with low annual fees, these are our favorites and some of the best on the market. By picking up one of these cards and maximizing its respective bonus categories (and welcome offer), you'll be well on your way toward your next travel adventure. Sometimes, it pays to have a card with a small annual fee, whether moving up from a no-annual-fee card or pairing it with a premium travel rewards card .

For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred, please click here .

Additional reporting by Ryan Wilcox, Katie Genter and Eric Rosen.

Airline credit cards vs. travel credit cards: Which are best?

C redit cards aimed at travelers come in various forms, the two most popular being airline credit cards and travel credit cards . While both types of cards can help you pay for travel, several differences may affect your choice.

Choosing a card that best suits your travel needs can be challenging considering how competitive the landscape has become regarding welcome offers, card rewards and other benefits. We review the ins and outs of airline and travel credit cards to help you determine which type of card is right for you.

What is an airline credit card?

Airline credit cards are cobranded cards offered by the issuer and a partner airline that provide benefits for flying with that specific airline. Airline credit cards earn miles associated with the airline's frequent flyer program , which you can redeem for flights on that carrier or its partner airlines.

The annual fee for airline credit cards can range from no annual fee to upward of $500. Usually, an airline credit card with a higher annual fee includes impressive benefits such as increased earning rates, free checked bags and statement credits, among other perks.

For example, the United Quest℠ Card has an annual fee of $250 and offers 8 miles per dollar spent on United Airlines purchases, up to $125 annual statement credit for United purchases, priority boarding and other impressive benefits.

Related: Are airline credit cards worth it anymore?

Pros and cons of airline credit cards

When comparing airline and travel credit cards, there are several reasons why you might prefer an airline credit card. Although not an exhaustive list, the following table highlights the pros and cons of airline credit cards.

When does an airline credit card make sense?

Several factors may play a role in dictating whether an airline credit card makes sense. As a cardholder, if you live near an airport with a hub for a specific airline, having a card for that airline makes sense to maximize your benefits.

For example, residents who live near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD), a United hub, should consider a United credit card , such as the United Club℠ Infinite Card or the United℠ Explorer Card , to take advantage of lounges, free checked bags, priority boarding and redemption options for award flights.

If you don't live near an airline hub and aren't committed to a particular carrier, an airline credit card might not be your best option.

Related: The best credit cards to reach elite status

What is a travel credit card?

A travel credit card earns rewards on all purchases, including bonus-earning categories. You can use your rewards to book flights, hotels, rental cars and more. A travel credit card earns rewards within the issuer's own ecosystem rather than through a specific airline frequent flyer program.

Examples of credit card programs include American Express Membership Rewards , Chase Ultimate Rewards , and Capital One Miles .

Annual fees for travel credit cards can range from nothing to $700, corresponding to the card's perks and benefits. Typically, the higher the annual fee, the more valuable the benefits, whereas the lower the annual fee, the opposite is true.

For example, The Platinum Card® from American Express has an annual fee of $695 (see rates and fees ) but offers perks and benefits that can easily top $1,000. Benefits include an annual up to $200 hotel credit, an annual up to $200 airline credit, up to $100 Saks Fifth Avenue statement credit (up to $50 in statement credits from January through June and up to $50 in statement credits from July through December; enrollment required), a TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fee credit and an entertainment credit for select streaming services.

Travel credit cards can offer other travel-related perks, such as complimentary travel insurance, including emergency travel medical, trip delay or cancellation**, and baggage insurance***.

*Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. If approved and coordinated by Premium Global Assist Hotline, emergency medical transportation assistance may be provided at no cost. In any other circumstance, cardmembers are responsible for the costs charged by third-party service providers.

**Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.

***Eligibility and benefit level varies by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.

Related: The best time to apply for these 10 popular travel credit cards, based on offer history

Pros and cons of travel credit cards

Based on your personal preferences, travel credit cards may be more appealing than airline cards. Although not an exhaustive list, consider the following travel credit card pros and cons before you apply.

Travel credit cards maximize flexibility for cardholders thanks to their ability to earn transferable currency points . In addition to not being limited to one airline, you can often redeem your points toward hotels, car rentals, cruises, vacation packages and more.

As cards become more premium, so do their benefits, which translates to high annual fees. For example, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® comes with a $300 annual credit and Priority Pass lounge access but has an annual fee of $550.

When does a travel credit card make sense?

If you are flexible about the airline carriers you choose to fly with, a travel credit card makes sense. You'll benefit from bonus points for travel-related purchases, such as airfare, hotels, rental cars and sometimes parking meters and tolls.

When contemplating between travel and airline credit cards, remember that travel credit cards won't help you earn elite status, unlike some airline cards like the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® . The biggest benefit of a travel credit card is the flexibility you get when redeeming your points or miles.

Unlike an airline credit card, travel credit cards have a variety of transfer partners you can use to book your next adventure.

Related: How many credit cards should I have?

Should you get both?

Both airline credit cards and travel credit cards have pros and cons. For example, it pays to have an airline credit card if you regularly check bags for domestic flights, especially considering the increase in checked bag fees across numerous carriers . Meanwhile, travel credit cards offer various travel insurance coverages that can provide peace of mind while traveling.

My very first travel-orientated card was the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® because I found value in American Airlines' award chart and had several American flights lined up for the year in which I needed checked bags.

The information for the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Soon afterward, I opened a Chase Sapphire Reserve for its lounge access, transfer partners and annual travel credit. Nowadays, I use both cards. However, since I have elite status with American, the Citi card's free checked bag is less important. That said, I still hold onto the card to earn American Airlines AAdvantage miles.

Bottom line

Both airline credit cards and travel credit cards offer benefits. They can offset travel costs and provide perks such as priority boarding, free checked bags, lounge access and various statement credits. We recommend choosing a card based on your travel needs and circumstances. You may even benefit from holding both types of cards, as long as you're maximizing the perks.

For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum, click here .

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the credit card offers that appear on this site are from credit card companies from which we receive financial compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). However, the credit card information that we publish has been written and evaluated by experts who know these products inside out. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse. This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers that are on the market. See our advertising policy here where we list advertisers that we work with, and how we make money. You can also review our credit card rating methodology .

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The 11 Best Credit Cards With Annual Fees [2024]

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Why Should You Get a Credit Card With an Annual Fee?

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In a world with thousands of different credit card products, most consumers have struggled to figure out the best personal finance solution that fits their specific needs.

Unfortunately, this confusion ultimately leads many consumers to settle for less-than-optimal rewards with no annual fee as a “safe” approach.

But as specialists in credit card rewards and travel, we believe that in many cases, annual fees are necessary to unlock a fruitful ecosystem of rewards.

After all, who wouldn’t pay a few hundred dollars to get back thousands of dollars per year?

So in this guide, we’ll show you our favorite credit cards  with annual fees! Look past the annual fee and you’ll see turbocharged rewards, travel benefits, and lifestyle perks that cards with no annual fee can’t even dream of offering.

Being deterred by an annual fee when looking for a new credit card can be a shortsighted mindset to have. Credit cards with no annual fee usually offer a fraction of the rewards that cards with an annual fee do.

And when you zoom out on how much you’re spending every year on a credit card, even getting a return on spending of 1% more than the status quo can make it worth it to pay for an annual fee.

Therefore, for most people, certain credit cards with annual fees pay for themselves many times over.

Usually, credit cards with annual fees offer better benefits like better travel insurance, lounge access, or enhanced customer service.

Lastly, credit cards with annual fees usually have fabulous welcome offers to immediately accelerate your accrual of rewards.

With all that being said, if you know the best credit cards with annual fees, why wouldn’t you get one?

Let’s take a look at our favorite personal cards with annual fees!

The 6 Best Personal Credit Cards With Annual Fees

The Platinum Card ® from American Express

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card ® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card  is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access , hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
• Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment ( airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit )
• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
• Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
• Access to Amex International Airline Program
• No foreign transaction fees ( rates and fees )
• $695 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card ® , Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts ® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card ® . The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card ® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card ® . Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card ® .
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card ® . Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
• $189 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card ® . Learn more.
• $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck ® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card ® . Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card ® . That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card ® . An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card ® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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• Amex Platinum vs Delta Platinum
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• Capital One Venture X vs Amex Platinum
• Amex Platinum vs Delta Reserve

Hot Tip:  Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

Without a doubt, our favorite personal card with an annual fee is the Amex Platinum card . It’s almost impossible to find a similar card that offers even a fraction of the travel benefits that this one offers.

Let’s start with earnings:

• Earn 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on flights booked directly with airlines or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year)
• Earn 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
• Earn 1x Membership Rewards points per $1 spent on all other purchases

If you’re a frequent traveler, earning 5x points could be huge. But the real selling point of this card is the long list of travel perks (and many are exclusive to this card):

• The ability to book stays using Fine Hotels & Resorts and The Hotel Collection
• The ability to get the best airport lounge access with the American Express Global Lounge Collection
• Complimentary hotel elite status with Hilton Honors (Gold) and Marriott Bonvoy (Gold Elite) upon enrollment
• Complimentary rental car elite status and/or benefits with Avis, Hertz, and National
• An abundance of travel and lifestyle credits, including up to $200 in airline fee credits , up to $200 in prepaid hotel credits on eligible stays, $189 in CLEAR Plus credit , Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credits, up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits , up to $240 in digital entertainment credits , $12.95 in monthly Walmart+ credits , and $300 in Equinox credits (note that enrollment is required for select benefits)

The list goes on and on, but other important perks include zero fraud liability, and no foreign transaction fees (see rates & fees ).

Bottom Line: There’s no card like the Amex Platinum card. Even though the annual fee is hefty, the benefits, rewards, and prestige you get from holding this card make it oh-so-worth-it.

Chase Sapphire Preferred ® Card

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide
• $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel portal
• 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
• Excellent travel and car rental insurance
• 10% annual bonus points
• No foreign transaction fees
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC
• APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable

Chase Ultimate Rewards

• The Chase Sapphire Preferred 80k or 100k Bonus Offer
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Our next-favorite credit card with an annual fee is the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. This credit card is one of the best products you can find in the premium market, making it a high-value way to earn lots of rewards at a lower price tag . That’s why we describe this card as the best beginner rewards credit card in the world.

It earns up to 5x Ultimate Rewards points:

• 5x points per $1 spent on all travel booked through the Chase travel portal
• 5x points Lyft (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 (through March 31, 2025)
• 3x points per $1 spent on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries
• 2x points per $1 spent on travel
• 1x points per $1 on all other purchases

This credit card comes with a neat 10% anniversary rewards bonus every year, allowing you to earn even more points every year!

There’s a $50 annual credit towards hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel portal, but what we love is the quality of the travel insurance from a credit card with a low annual fee. You’ll get primary car rental insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, and so much more. Shop with ease with purchase protection, extended warranty, and of course, zero fraud liability. There are no foreign transaction fees or authorized user fees.

Hot Tip: For more affordable rewards cards, read our detailed guide to the best credit cards with annual fees under $100 . We even have a guide to the best no-annual-fee credit cards to maximize your rewards .

American Express ® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

The American Express ® Gold Card  is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
• Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com , Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
• Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash : get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees )
• Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
• Access to American Express transfer partners
• $250 annual fee (see rates and fees )
• No lounge access
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards ® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express ® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.
• Find the Amex Gold 75k or 90k Welcome Bonus Offer
• Benefits of the Amex Gold
• Upgrade Amex Gold to Amex Platinum
• Amex Gold Benefits for Military
• Amex Gold vs Blue Cash Preferred
• Amex Platinum vs Amex Gold
• Amex Gold vs Delta Gold

Hot Tip:  Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 90,000 points with the Amex Gold card. The current public offer is 60,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

The Amex Gold card is our favorite card for everyday spending because of its enormous rewards categories and fantastic welcome offer.

To be specific, you will earn:

• 4x Membership Rewards points per $1 spent at restaurants, including takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 4x Membership Rewards points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 in purchases every calendar year (1x points thereafter)
• 3x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights purchased directly with the airline or at AmexTravel.com
• 1x Membership Rewards points per $1 on all other purchases

You’ll also get up to $240 in statement credits every year:

• Up to $120 in Uber Cash for rides or Uber Eats orders in the U.S. ($10 per month)
• Up to $120 in dining credits at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com , Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required. ($10 per month)

If you use the statement credits, that’ll almost pay for the annual fee every year! On top of this, earning 4x points is equal to a return on spending of around 8.8% , which is phenomenal.

This card also allows you to get access to The Hotel Collection , Amex Offers , and more. There are no foreign transaction fees or authorized user fees (see rates & fees ).

Bottom Line: If you love food, whether it’s eating out, cooking at home, or ordering delivery, you need to have the Amex Gold card in your wallet.

Chase Sapphire Reserve ®

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ®  is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access , with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
• 5x points on airfare booked through Chase Travel SM
• 3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit
• Priority Pass airport lounge access
• TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
• Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
• Rental car elite status with National and Avis
• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck ®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
• APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable
• Chase Sapphire Reserve 100k Bonus Offer
• Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits
• Chase Sapphire Reserve Airport Lounge Access
• Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Insurance Benefits
• Chase Sapphire Reserve Military Benefits
• Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Reserve

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card is Chase’s ultra-premium rewards credit card , and this product earns up to 10x Ultimate Rewards points (in addition to a solid welcome offer):

• 10x points on car rentals, hotels, and dining booked via the Chase travel portal
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on airfare booked via the Chase travel portal
• 3x points on dining and travel purchases
• 1x points on all other purchases

Although the most notable perks are the ability to redeem points for 50% more value through the Chase travel portal at 1.5 cents per point and $300 travel credit every cardmember year, you’ll want to pay close attention to some other unique perks :

• The ability to use Pay Yourself Back to make your points worth up to 50% more in select rotating categories
• Complimentary Priority Pass Select membership
• Access to  Chase Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection
• Amazing travel insurance coverage
• Global Entry, TSA PreCheck, or NEXUS application fee credit
• No foreign transaction fees

Citi Premier ® Card

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.

The Citi Premier ® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!

• 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
• Access to Citi transfer partners
• Annual hotel credit
• $95 annual fee
• Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou ® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou ® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
• 60,000 ThankYou ® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
• APR: 21.24% - 29.24% Variable

Citi ThankYou Rewards

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The Citi Premier card is, surprisingly, one of the best credit cards, thanks to the abundance of useful bonus categories for everyday spending.

First, the welcome offer is substantial, and you can earn according to this bulleted list of bonus categories:

• 3x ThankYou Points on air travel, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, and gas stations
• 1x ThankYou Points on all other purchases

Even though this credit card doesn’t offer lounge access or a bunch of other perks offered by more premium credit cards , you will get:

• $100 in annual hotel savings when you book a single hotel stay of $50 or more, excluding taxes and fees, via thankyou.com or 800-THANKYOU (once per calendar year)
• Purchase protection
• Extended warranty
• Zero fraud liability
• Access to Citi Entertainment and Citi Concierge

This card is great for everyday spending, but it’s pretty weak in travel insurance, so just keep that in mind.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit on bookings made through Capital One Travel
• Unlimited complimentary access for cardholder and 2 guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• 10,000 bonus miles awarded on your account anniversary each year
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck credit
• Add authorized users for no additional annual fee ( rates & fees )
• No foreign transaction fees ( rates & fees )
• $395 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status
• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®
• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Capital One Miles

• Benefits of the Capital One Venture X Card
• Best Ways to Use Venture X Points
• Capital One Venture X Credit Score and Approval Odds
• Capital One Venture X Lounge Access
• Capital One Venture X Travel Insurance Benefits
• Capital One Venture vs Venture X
• Capital One Venture X vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Best Credit Cards with Priority Access
• Best Credit Cards for Airport Lounge Access
• Best Capital One Credit Cards
• Best Luxury and Premium Credit Cards
• Best Metal Credit Cards
• Best High Limit Credit Cards
• Choice Privileges Loyalty Program Review

The last personal credit card we’ll discuss is Capital One’s ultra-premium product.

The Capital One Venture X card packs an enormous list of rewards and benefits into a streamlined product.

To start, there’s a huge welcome offer that complements the earning structure very well:

Best of all, these miles are transferable to airline and hotel partners for maximum value!

There’s an $300 annual travel credi t for bookings made through Capital One Travel, a 10,000-mile bonus every account anniversary year, access to airport lounges including Capital One Lounges , Plaza Premium Lounges , and Priority Pass lounges , a Global Entry or a TSA PreCheck application fee credit, and complimentary Hertz President’s Circle status.

Plus, this card has superb cell phone insurance , car rental insurance , travel insurance , the ability to add up to 4 authorized users for no additional annual fee ( rates & fees ), and no foreign transaction fees ( rates & fees ).

Hot Tip: Check out our complete guide to break-even spending for credit card annual fees !

The 5 Best Business Credit Cards With Annual Fees

Now that we’ve gone over the personal options in detail, let’s look at our favorite business cards with annual fees.

American Express ® Business Gold Card

Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).

The American Express ® Business Gold Card is excellent at racking up rewards for your business spend.

The card earns a whopping 4x points per $1 in the 2 categories (from a list of 6) that your business spends the most money on each month. With no need to opt-in or preselect your categories, so you can focus on what matters most — running your business.

• NEW! Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
• NEW!  U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
• NEW!  Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
• U.S. purchases at gas stations
• U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
• Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, plus TV and radio)
• 3x points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card
• Purchase protection and extended warranty protection
• Trip delay insurance
• Car rental insurance
• Cell phone insurance
• $375 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access or elite status
• Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards ® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points on the 2 categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.
• Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.
• Get $12.95 back in statement credits each month when you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. $12.95 plus applicable taxes.
• Your Card – Your Choice. Choose from Gold or Rose Gold.
• *Terms Apply
• APR: 19.49% - 27.49% Variable
• Best Business Credit Cards
• Amex Business Gold 110k Welcome Bonus Offer
• Benefits of the Amex Business Gold
• Amex Business Rose Gold Card
• Amex Business Gold Walmart+ Credit
• Amex Business Gold vs. Amex Plum
• Amex Business Gold vs. Amex Gold

Hot Tip:  Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 110,000 points with the Amex Business Gold card! The current public offer is 70,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

The Amex Business Gold card is our favorite business card with an annual fee because of its extensive bonus categories .

This card earns  4x Membership Rewards points on the top 2 categories in which your business spends the most every month  (up to $150,000 in combined purchases every calendar year):

• Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio)

But if you max this cap out, you’ll get a whopping 600,000 points every calendar year, worth more than $13,000 by our valuations . You’ll also earn 3x points on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com and 1x points on all other eligible purchases.

Beyond that, you can enjoy no preset spending limit, no foreign transaction fees, and up to 99 total employee cards with no annual fee after the first employee card with a $50 annual fee (see rates & fees ).

Ink Business Preferred ® Credit Card

The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.

The Ink Business Preferred ® Credit Card is a powerhouse for earning lots of points from your business purchases , especially for business owners that spend regularly on ads.

Plus the card offers flexible redemption options, including access to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners where you can achieve outsized value.

Business owners will also love the protections the card provides like excellent cell phone insurance , rental car insurance, purchase protection, and more.

• 3x Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services, shipping expenses, travel, and ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
• Cell phone protection
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• Rental car insurance
• Extended warranty coverage
• No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access
• Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
• Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
• Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
• With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
• Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
• Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
• APR: 21.24%-26.24% Variable
• The Chase Ink Business Preferred 100k Bonus Offer
• Benefits of the Ink Business Preferred
• Chase Ink Business Preferred Cell Phone Protection
• Chase Ink Business Preferred vs Amex Business Gold
• Ink Business Cash vs Ink Business Preferred
• Amex Business Platinum vs. Chase Ink Business Preferred
• Ink Business Preferred vs Ink Business Unlimited
• Best Chase Business Credit Cards
• Best Business Credit Card for Advertising
• High Limit Business Credit Cards
• Best Credit Cards with Travel Insurance
• Best Credit Cards for Car Rental Insurance

Known as the king of small business credit cards , the Ink Business Preferred card has a huge welcome offer, great spending categories for businesses, and awesome travel insurance.

The welcome offer alone is worth a couple of thousand dollars to begin with, and you’ll earn 3x Ultimate Rewards points per dollar on up to $150,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year on these categories:

• Ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
• Internet, cable, and phone services
• Shipping expenses

Everything else earns 1x points, and you can maximize the travel insurance (including primary rental car insurance), cell phone insurance , purchase protection, extended warranty, and zero liability fraud protection. Pay no foreign transaction fees or employee card fees.

The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges , along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Hot Tip:  Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 170,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum. The current public offer is 120,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

• 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
• Up to $200 annual airline fee credit on your selected qualifying airline
• Statement credits on select purchases with your card
• 35% airline bonus when using Pay With Points (up to 1,000,000 bonus points per calendar year)
• Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (cap applies)
• Access to Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts program
• High annual fee of $695 ( rates and fees )
• Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags
• Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards ® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 5X Membership Rewards ® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
• Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
• Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Card.
• $189 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR ® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Business Platinum Card ® .
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection ® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
• $695 Annual Fee.
• Find The Amex Business Platinum 150k Welcome Bonus Offer
• Find The Amex Business Platinum 170k Welcome Bonus Offer
• Benefits of the Amex Business Platinum
• Authorized Users Benefits of the Amex Business Platinum
• 35% Points Rebate with the Amex Business Platinum
• Amex Business Platinum vs Amex Platinum

Hot Tip:  Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 170,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum. The current public offer is 120,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

The Amex Business Platinum card is one of the most popular business cards in the U.S., and for good reason! This is one of the few rewards cards that businesses can use to facilitate large purchasing budgets.

Here are how the rewards are broken down:

• 5x Membership Rewards points on flights and prepaid hotels with AmexTravel.com
• 1.5x Membership Rewards points eligible purchases at U.S. construction material & hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year
• 1x Membership Rewards points on all other purchases

You’ll get all kinds of perks with this card, including top-notch lounge access with the American Express Global Lounge Collection, access to Fine Hotels & Resorts, hotel and car rental elite status, and a 35% Pay with Points rebate (up to 1,000,000 points back per calendar year).

This card has statement credits galore, valued at over $1,000 per year, including up to $200 in airline fee credits, up to $189 in CLEAR Plus credits, up to $400 in statement credits for U.S. purchases with Dell , up to $360 in Indeed credits , up to $150 in Adobe credits , and up to $120 in wireless credits.

This card has no preset spending limit, access to Amex Offers, and more!

The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card

An excellent option for business owners and business travelers who stay at Hilton properties often and want perks like Hilton Honors elite status.

For frequent business travelers who regularly stay in Hilton hotels, The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card is a great option.

Not only will the card help you earn more points on all of your Hilton stays, but you’ll also receive automatic elite status and travel protections.

Here’s a detailed look at all the benefits this card offers so that you can determine if it’s a good fit for you.

• 12x points per $1 on eligible Hilton purchases
• Enhanced: 5x points on other purchases made for the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3X points thereafter.
• Automatic Hilton Honors Gold status, and the ability to spend your way to Diamond status
• New: Enjoy up to $240 back each year for eligible purchases made directly with Hilton.
• New: Enjoy complimentary National Car Rental ® Emerald Club Executive ® status. Enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club ® program is required.
• $195 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• Limited Time Offer: Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $8,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors Business Card within the first six months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 6/5.
• Earn 12X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on eligible Hilton purchases.
• ENHANCED: Earn 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points on other purchases made using the Hilton Honors Business Card on the first $100,000 in purchases each calendar year, 3X points thereafter.
• NEW: Enjoy up to $240 back each year for eligible purchases made directly with Hilton.
• Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Gold Status with your Hilton Honors Business Card. With Hilton Honors Gold status, you can enjoy benefits at hotels and resorts within the Hilton Portfolio. As a Gold member, earn an 80% Bonus on all Base Points you earn on every stay getting you to free nights faster.
• You may receive an upgrade to Hilton Honors Diamond status if the total eligible purchases on your Card Account during a calendar year reach $40,000 or more.
• NEW: Enjoy complimentary National Car Rental ® Emerald Club Executive ® status. Enrollment in the complimentary Emerald Club ® program is required. Terms apply.
• Terms apply.
• APR: 20.99% - 29.99% Variable
• Hotel Credit Cards

Hilton Honors loyalty program

• Comparing American Express Hilton Credit Cards
• Best Business Credit Cards for Gas
• The 18 Best Business Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees [2024]

The Hilton Business Amex card offers excellent hotel benefits with an affordable price point, making it an awesome annual fee business credit card.

There’s often a 6-figure welcome offer, and you can earn up to 12x Hilton Honors points:

• 12x points per $1 on Hilton purchases
• 5x points on other purchases made for the first $100,000 each calendar year, then 3x points thereafter.

Plus, there’s automatic Hilton Honors Gold status , the ability to spend your way to top-tier Diamond status, get up to $240 back each year for eligible purchases made directly with Hilton, and no foreign transaction fees.

Marriott Bonvoy Business ® American Express ® Card

A great option for business owners who stay in Marriott hotels and want automatic elite status.

Business travelers who opt for Marriott as their hotel chain of choice will definitely want to consider the Marriott Bonvoy Business ® American Express ® Card . The card offers great benefits to cardholders like a complimentary hotel night once a year, complimentary Gold Elite status, and multiple point redemption options.

• 6x Marriott Bonvoy points on each dollar of eligible purchases at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy ® program.
• 4x points for purchases made at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers and on U.S. purchases for shipping.
• 2x points per $1 on all other purchases
• 15 Elite Night Credits
• 1 Free Night Award each cardmember anniversary (up to 35,000 points)
• Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status
• Receive a 7% discount on eligible bookings as a benefit of being both a Marriott Bonvoy ® member & a Marriott Bonvoy Business ® American Express ® Card Member when you book directly with Marriott through an eligible channel for a participating property under the Amex Business Card Rate.
• Moderate annual fee of $125 ( rates and fees )
• No premium perks like airport lounge access
• WELCOME OFFER: Earn 3 Free Night Awards after you use your new Card to make $6,000 in eligible purchases within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Each Free Night Award has a redemption level up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy ® points, for a total potential value of up to 150,000 points, at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® . Certain hotels have resort fees. Terms apply.
• 2x points on all other eligible purchases.
• Receive 1 Free Night Award every year after your Card renewal month. Plus, earn an additional Free Night Award after you spend $60K in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Award can be used for one night (redemption level at or under 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy ® points) at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy ® . Certain hotels have resort fees.
• Enjoy Complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite Status with your Marriott Bonvoy Business ® American Express ® Card.

Marriott Bonvoy

• Marriott Transfer Partners
• Best Credit Cards for Marriott Loyalists
• Best Marriott Credit Cards

The last business card we’ll discuss is the Marriott Bonvoy Business card, and it’s a fantastic fit for business owners that frequently stay at Marriott properties.

Note that you can earn up to 6x Marriott Bonvoy points as shown below:

• 6x points per $1 spent at hotels participating in the Marriott Bonvoy program
• 4x points per $1 at restaurants worldwide, at U.S. gas stations, on wireless telephone services purchased directly from U.S. service providers, and on U.S. purchases for shipping

This card also gets you closer to Marriott Bonvoy elite status , thanks to the 15 Elite Night Credits you get every year. Get a free night award after each cardmember anniversary, valued at up to 35,000 points!

Lastly, enjoy complimentary Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, no foreign transaction fees, and no-additional-fee employee cards ( rates & fees ).

When it comes to credit cards with annual fees, American Express, Chase, Capital One, and Citi are the industry leaders.

American Express typically offers the best travel benefits. Both Amex and Chase compete for the best bonus categories. Capital One leads the pack in simple rewards with its unlimited 2x miles offerings. Citi also delivers value, too.

If you can look past the annual fee on a credit card, you’ll realize that you’ll receive so much more value than what you paid in annual fees with the right products for your situation.

Start leveraging credit cards with annual fees today!

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

Enrollment required through Capital One website or mobile app. Upon enrollment, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024.  Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier.  Additional terms apply.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click  here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Business Gold Card, click here . For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of The Hilton Honors American Express Business Card, click  here . For rates and fees of the Marriott Bonvoy Business ® American Express ® Card, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a credit card annual fee.

A credit card annual fee is a yearly price that credit card issuers charge for you to be a holder of the credit card. This pays for benefits, rewards, and more.

Do you pay an annual fee to use a credit card?

Some credit cards are subject to an annual fee, while others are not.

Can you get rid of an annual fee on a credit card?

You can get rid of an annual fee by:

• Asking the bank to waive it as a one-time courtesy to continue your card membership
• Downgrading your card
• Closing your card
• Redeeming points to offset the annual fee on the card

How do I know my credit card annual fee?

The credit card’s annual fee is usually stated in the cardmember agreement and the rates and fees sheet.

Do you have to pay annual fee on credit card if you don't use it?

You must still pay an annual fee on a credit card, even if you don’t use it.

Is annual fee monthly or yearly?

Annual fees are typically charged yearly on the first billing statement of your cardmember year.

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Personal Finance

Best credit cards for fair credit 2024.

Our evaluations and opinions are not influenced by our advertising relationships, but we may earn a commission from our partners’ links. This content is created independently from TIME’s editorial staff. Learn more about it.

People with fair credit are often faced with difficult decisions when they need credit. If you fit this description and are looking to apply for a credit card, you may have a lot of questions. For example, you might be asking:

• How can I build credit with a credit card ?
• What if I have no credit at all?
• What if I’m a student?
• Can I get a credit card without a credit check?
• How much of an annual fee is acceptable?
• Is the annual percentage rate (APR) really going to be that high?
• Is it possible to earn rewards on a credit card?
• Can I qualify for a card without a hard inquiry on my credit report?

We’re here to answer all your questions and recommend the best credit cards with fair credit. At a glance, here are our top picks.

Best credit cards for fair credit: Summary

Best for prequalification: mission lane cash back visa® credit card, best for rewards: citi custom cash® card, best for travel: card_name, best for no annual fee: card_name, best for students: card_name, best for no credit check: card_name.

• Best for no penalty APR: card_name

Best for cash back: Citi Double Cash® Card

Best for low interest: navy federal credit union platinum card, why we recommend these fair credit credit cards.

With fair credit, there are fewer options for credit cards. Be prepared to see higher fees, higher APRs, and fewer rewards. With that in mind, don’t settle for a rotten credit card. You still have options if you have a fair credit score.

Mission Lane Cash Back Visa® Credit Card

Welcome offer : bonus_miles_full

Rewards rate : Unlimited 1% or 1.5% cash back, depending on your credit card’s terms.

Our take : When you have a lower credit score, the last thing you want is for it to dip because of too many hard inquiries . The Mission Lane Cash Back Visa® Credit Card offers a pre-qualification inquiry that doesn’t impact your credit score. You’ll be able to see what terms you qualify for, including APR, annual fee, rewards rate, and credit limit. If you accept the terms, you’ll submit a full application for a hard credit check .

Read our full review here .

Citi Custom Cash® Card

(Rates & Fees)

Rewards rate : The Citi Custom Cash® Card has the ability to earn up to 5% cash back up to $500 each billing cycle in your top categories.

Our take : You don’t have to activate the cash-back rewards, as the card automatically adjusts to your top category based on what you spend. Cash back is earned in the form of ThankYou Points, which is a competitive rewards program. New cardholders will bonus_miles_full .

Learn more from our full review .

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Rewards rate : The card_name earns 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1.5% cash back on everything else.

Our take : The card_name earns a good cash back rate for travellers and everyday spend. However, it has a annual_fees annual fee and a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR, so be sure to pay off your balance each month to avoid high interest charges.

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Rewards rate : None.

Our take : The card_name doesn’t come with many frills, but it doesn’t charge an annual fee and can help you build your credit. Cardholders are automatically considered for a higher credit limit in six months and have access to Capital One’s credit monitoring program, CreditWise.

Read our full review to learn more.

Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Rewards rate : Students can earn 3% cash back on categories where they may spend the most: dining, entertainment, groceries (except at retailers chains like Walmart or Target), and certain streaming services.

Our take : The cash back rate and annual_fees annual fee are ideal for students who are just starting to build their credit. Borrowers with a limited credit history may be able to qualify for this card.

Chime Secured Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card

Our take : The card_name has a number of benefits for borrowers looking to build their credit, including no credit check, annual fee, interest charged, and no minimum security deposit. It’s a secured card , which means borrowers need to deposit an amount of money that Chime uses as the credit limit. Chime reports on-time payments, but doesn’t report the credit utilization , so you can keep your credit score high.

Best for no penalty APR: Avant Credit Card

Avant credit card.

Our take: There’s no penalty APR with the card_name . Checking to see if you qualify does not affect your credit score, before officially applying for the card. The card does have a annual_fees annual fee and a reg_apr,reg_apr_type APR, which are both fairly high.

Citi Double Cash® Card

Rewards rate : 2% cash back on all purchases.

Our take : The Citi Double Cash® Card earns 2% cash back on all purchases, making it one of the best credit cards for cash-back earnings for borrowers with fair credit. Cardholders can earn 1% cash back when making a purchase and 1% when paying it off. There is a balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration for balance_transfer_duration_months (followed by intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration ) for borrowers who qualify. Just keep in mind balance transfers don’t earn cash back.

Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum Card

Welcome offer : N/A.

Our take : If you’re looking for a credit card with a low APR, you’ll want to take a look at the Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum Card . The APR ranges from 8.24% to 18% (variable)* , which is about as low as it gets for a credit card that accepts some borrowers with fair credit. You do need to be a member of the Navy Federal Credit Union. You can join online if you meet the requirements.

Best credit cards for fair credit comparison chart

Our methodology.

We chose the best credit cards for fair credit from more than 40 cards. To be considered, credit issuers must have stated consideration of fair credit borrowers. However, it’s not a guarantee that borrowers will be approved for a card. APRs, rewards, annual fees, and other card features that help fair credit borrowers were also taken into account.

How to pick the best credit card for fair credit

Consumers with fair credit need to decide what their priorities are in picking the best credit card that works for their circumstances.

Decide what you value

Are you looking to earn cash back or other rewards while you build your credit score? Are you looking for a $0 annual fee card , low interest rates, or are you simply looking for a credit card that will approve you so you can begin building your credit?

Nailing down what you want can help you select a card that’s geared toward your particular circumstances.

Compare credit card offers

When you look at credit card offers side by side, it’s clear that some may offer what you’re looking for more than others. Check out the APR, annual fees, rewards structure, sign-up bonus, and other features that help fair credit borrowers.

See what you qualify for

With some cards, it’s possible to see if you qualify for a card before a hard credit check . It’s called either a “ soft check ” or “prequalification” and can be very useful in helping you make a decision about a card without impacting your credit score.

What to know before applying for a credit card

Credit card debt will drag down your finances further than you can imagine, even if you have experience managing debt and even if you consider yourself a responsible borrower. Before you get a credit card, make sure you have a plan in place for how you’re going to use it. That plan should consider how your credit card usage is going to build, rather than hurt, your credit score.

How applying for a credit card affects your credit score

You’ve probably heard that applying for a credit card can negatively affect your credit score. There is some truth to this, but the credit application is a small part of your credit score. Using credit responsibly—meaning, you keep your credit utilization low and pay on time every month—has a greater impact on your credit score than a single credit card application.

High credit card interest

With fair credit, you may only be approved for a small credit limit. It may not meet your needs, but this is your time to prove that you’re capable of handling credit responsibly. Be sure you’re paying off the charges you make on the card every month. Paying credit card interest around 30% will sink your finances.

Set up autopay to build your credit score

At some point, you’ll want to move on from your credit card to one with better rewards and better terms. To get your credit score looking pretty, do yourself a favor and set up autopay. This will help your credit history become squeaky clean and boost your credit score.

What to avoid with credit cards for fair credit

Not all cards are created equal, and this is especially true of credit cards geared towards those with fair credit. Here’s what to avoid:

High fees and APRs

Some fees may be necessary, but there are cards that charge excessive fees without offering much in return. You can find cards that offer either a competitive APR or a minimal annual fee.

Rewards cards that don’t have good redemptions

You may see card offers that claim to have a travel rewards program, but when you look at the fine print and the details, the redemptions are limited.

Carrying a balance

Pay off the card in full each month. This is worth saying multiple times because it is so important. Carrying credit card debt is expensive and prevents you from reaching your financial goals. Don’t buy it if you can’t pay off your statement in full.

Applying for any card

Be purposeful in choosing the card(s) you apply for. Too many credit applications might pull down your credit score far enough that your odds of approval will decrease further. Read up on what cards are best for your credit score and work within that framework.

Alternatives to credit cards for fair credit

If you’re looking for financing, a credit card isn’t the only vehicle to get you there.

• Personal loans : A personal loan is an installment loan issued through a lender. They will conduct a credit check, and approve or deny the amount you request. Some lenders offer soft credit checks that don’t affect your score.
• Payday loans: A payday loan is short-term financing that advances money to you that you promise to repay when your next paycheck comes in. Due to their very high APRs, payday loans should only be used as a last resort, and are often considered predatory lending .
• Home equity loan : If you own a home and have a significant amount of equity in it, you may be able to get the funds you need from a home equity loan or home equity line of credit (HELOC). Rates are much lower than those of a credit card because you are putting up your home as collateral.
• Title loans: If you own your vehicle outright, it may be possible to get a loan against the value of it. These loans are also very high cost .
• Private lending: It’s not just the bank of mom and dad you can turn to for money. There are also private lenders you may be able to find.

TIME Stamp: Fair credit shouldn’t hold you back

Fair credit consumers may not find a credit card they love straight out of the gate. It might take time to build up your credit before you can apply for premium cards that offer the best rewards or the best interest rates. But you also don’t have to settle for a truly awful card that doesn’t help you. There are credit cards designed for people with fair credit to meet their needs, set up autopay so your payments are reported on time, and start building credit for a better tomorrow.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What's the easiest credit card to get with fair credit.

Secured cards may be the easiest to qualify for because they allow you to put down a deposit that acts like your credit limit. Some cards to consider include the OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card and the Secured Chime Credit Builder Visa Credit Card.

Which credit cards can I get with fair credit?

Fair credit borrowers can apply for a variety of credit cards. We recommend the cards featured above.

Which credit card is best for a 620 credit score?

The credit card that works with your spending habits and helps build your credit is the best credit card when you have a 620 score.

What credit cards can I get with a 600 credit score?

If you’re looking for credit cards with a 600 credit score, you may want to look into secured cards, credit-building cards, or student cards. Check with online lenders and credit unions to see if these types of cards are a fit for your needs.

Best Credit Cards Best Cash Back Credit Cards Best Rewards Credit Cards Best Travel Credit Cards Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards Best Small-Business Credit Cards Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit

The information presented here is created independently from the TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About page.

What you need to know about the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey Visa Card

• How other travel cards compare to the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card
• 4 important details about the Autograph Journey 

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Could Lose Its Crown to This Wells Fargo Travel Card

The newest Wells Fargo card comes up short in a few areas, but that could change soon.

Holly Johnson

Contributor

Holly Johnson is a credit card expert and writer who covers rewards and loyalty programs, budgeting, and all things personal finance. In addition to writing for publications like Bankrate, CreditCards.com, Forbes Advisor and Investopedia, Johnson owns Club Thrifty and is the co-author of "Zero Down Your Debt: Reclaim Your Income and Build a Life You'll Love."

Tiffany Connors

Tiffany Wendeln Connors is a senior editor for CNET Money with a focus on credit cards. Previously, she covered personal finance topics as a writer and editor at The Penny Hoarder. She is passionate about helping people make the best money decisions for themselves and their families. She graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and has been a writer and editor for publications including the New York Post, Women's Running magazine and Soap Opera Digest. When she isn't working, you can find her enjoying life in St. Petersburg, Florida, with her husband, daughter and a very needy dog.

The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.

The Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card* -- Wells Fargo’s latest and best travel card -- recently launched with an impressive set of features. Its competitive rewards, welcome bonus and redemption options take aim at incumbent travel credit cards from Chase, American Express and Capital One.

What gives Wells Fargo’s first foray into the point-transfer space an edge is that you don’t have to book travel in a portal to earn the highest rewards rates. 

Here’s why we think the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey could go toe-to-toe with some of the best travel credit cards, plus four insider tips to help you decide if you should add it to your credit card lineup.

Before we dive into the hidden features and benefits, here’s an overview of what you can expect with the Autograph Journey:

• Earn 60,000 welcome bonus rewards points after spending $4,000 in purchases within three months of account opening.
• Earn unlimited 5x points on hotels, 4x points on airlines, 3x points on other travel and dining and 1x on other purchases.
• Receive an annual statement credit with a $50 minimum airline purchase.
• No foreign transaction fees.
• Other benefits include trip cancellation and interruption insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, roadside dispatch and cell phone insurance.
• $95 annual fee.

How other travel cards compare to the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey℠ Visa® Card

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

4 important details about the autograph journey .

Here’s a rundown of four facts we discovered about the Autograph Journey that you should know when deciding whether to apply.

1. You can transfer points with Wells Fargo point-based cards

The launch of the Autograph Journey also marks the first transferable points program from Wells Fargo, which joins other card issuers like Chase and Capital One, which have their own pooling programs .

Autograph Journey will be able to do a points transfer with the no-annual-fee Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card . This is especially notable since the Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers bonus rewards in different categories than the Autograph Journey. 

For example, the Autograph card earns unlimited 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans, plus 1x points on other purchases. So you can maximize your point earning across different categories, then transfer your points to your Autograph Journey account to access premium travel redemptions.

2. It offers more options for earning bonus miles on travel than some competitors

The Autograph Journey will offer more flexibility than many travel rewards cards when it comes to earning more points on travel purchases. For example, cardholders earn unlimited 5x points on hotels booked directly with hotel brands and 4x points on airfare booked with airlines. 

This helps the card stand out from other popular travel credit cards that offer the most bonus points only if you book travel through their portals. For example, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card * and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card * only offer the highest bonus rewards on travel booked through Capital One Travel. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also offers its highest rate of 5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, whereas other travel purchases earn 2x points.

Autograph Journey cardholders also earn a minimum of 3x points on other travel purchases, which could include rental cars, cruises and travel booked through online travel agencies like Expedia and Priceline.

3. The card may grow in value as more transfer partners join

The Autograph Journey Card will earn flexible travel rewards points that transfer to a selection of airline and hotel partners, similar to Amex Membership Rewards points or Chase Ultimate Rewards . While the list of transfer partners is limited, Wells Fargo stated in its initial press release that “more partners will continue to be added throughout the year.”

Points transfers could dramatically change the value proposition of the Autograph Journey, especially if new partners include domestic airlines and popular hotel loyalty programs. 

Wells Fargo point transfers will be available to new cardholders starting on April 4. For now, Wells Fargo transfer partners include the following:

4. You may need to wait to apply

If you’ve applied for another Wells Fargo card in the last six months, you’ll likely have to wait a little longer before applying for the Autograph Journey.

Wells Fargo states in its terms and conditions, “If you opened a Wells Fargo Credit Card account within the last six months, then you may not qualify to open an additional Wells Fargo Credit Card account. We may also limit how many open Wells Fargo Credit Card accounts you have.”

So if you want the new Autograph Journey, you should steer clear of applying for other cards from Wells Fargo for now. If you’re approved and use the card responsibly for six months or longer, you can consider adding additional Wells Fargo credit cards to your portfolio.

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After writing about hundreds of credit cards, these two are still my favorite, 6 reasons the chase sapphire preferred should be your next credit card, 3 steps to take when your flight is canceled or delayed, 8 best credit card strategies to maximize earnings in 2024, as a foodie who enjoys a night out on the town, this credit card gives me plenty to savor.

* All information about the Wells Fargo Autograph Journey, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card have been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

CNET editors independently choose every product and service we cover. Though we can’t review every available financial company or offer, we strive to make comprehensive, rigorous comparisons in order to highlight the best of them. For many of these products and services, we earn a commission. The compensation we receive may impact how products and links appear on our site.

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15 Best Travel Credit Cards of April 2024

ALSO CONSIDER: Best credit cards of 2024 || Best rewards credit cards || Best airline credit cards || Best hotel credit cards

A travel rewards credit card brings your next trip a little closer every time you use it. Each purchase earns points or miles that you can redeem for travel expenses. If you're loyal to a specific airline or hotel chain, consider getting one of that company's branded credit cards. Otherwise, check out the general-purpose travel cards on this page, which give you flexible rewards that you can use without the restrictions and blackout dates of branded cards.

Some of our selections for the best travel credit cards can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you'll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.

250+ credit cards reviewed and rated by our team of experts

80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance

100+ categories of best credit card selections ( See our top picks )

Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics ( Methodology )

NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity .

Show summary

NerdWallet's Best Travel Credit Cards of April 2024

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : Best for Flexibility + point transfers + big sign-up bonus

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Best for Flat-rate travel rewards

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card : Best for Travel portal benefits

Chase Freedom Unlimited® : Best for Cash back for travel bookings

Chase Freedom Flex℠ : Best for Cash back for travel bookings

American Express® Gold Card : Best for Big rewards on everyday spending

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card : Best for Bonus rewards + no annual fee

The Platinum Card® from American Express : Best for Luxury travel perks

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card : Best for Business travelers — bonus rewards + big sign-up offer

Citi Premier® Card : Best for Triple points on multiple categories

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card : Best for Flat-rate rewards + no annual fee, and for balance transfers

Chase Sapphire Reserve® : Best for Bonus travel rewards + high-end perks

World of Hyatt Credit Card : Best for Hotel credit card

Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card : Best for Travel rewards for rent payments + no annual fee

United℠ Explorer Card : Best for Airline card

Best Travel Credit Cards From Our Partners

Find the right credit card for you..

Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.

Flexibility + point transfers + big sign-up bonus

Flat-rate travel rewards, travel portal benefits, cash back for travel bookings, big rewards on everyday spending, bonus rewards + no annual fee, luxury travel perks, business travelers — bonus rewards + big sign-up offer, triple points on multiple categories, flat-rate rewards + no annual fee, and for balance transfers, bonus travel rewards + high-end perks, hotel credit card, travel rewards for rent payments + no annual fee, airline card, full list of editorial picks: best travel credit cards.

Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Flat-rate rewards

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is probably the best-known general-purpose travel credit card, thanks to its ubiquitous advertising. You earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent apiece for any travel purchase, without the blackout dates and other restrictions of branded hotel and airline cards. The card offers a great sign-up bonus and other worthwhile perks ( see rates and fees ). Read our review.

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Our pick for: Flat-rate rewards + no annual fee, and for balance transfers

One of the best no-annual-fee travel cards available, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card gives you a solid rewards rate on every purchase, with points that can be redeemed for any travel purchase, without the restrictions of branded airline and hotel cards. Bank of America® has an expansive definition of "travel," too, giving you additional flexibility in how you use your rewards. Read our review.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Our pick for: Bonus travel rewards + high-end perks

The high annual fee on the Chase Sapphire Reserve® gives many potential applicants pause, but frequent travelers should be able to wring enough value out of this card to more than make up for the cost. Cardholders get bonus rewards (up to 10X) on dining and travel, a fat bonus offer, annual travel credits, airport lounge access, and a 50% boost in point value when redeeming points for travel booked through Chase. Points can also be transferred to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Read our review. 

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Our pick for: Flexibility + point transfers + big sign-up bonus

For a reasonable annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns bonus rewards (up to 5X) on travel, dining, select streaming services, and select online grocery purchases. Points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. The sign-up bonus is stellar, too. Read our review. 

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Our pick for: Bonus rewards + no annual fee

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers so much value, it's hard to believe there's no annual fee. Start with a great bonus offer, then earn extra rewards in a host of common spending categories — restaurants, gas stations, transit, travel, streaming and more. Read our review.

Citi Premier® Card

Our pick for: Triple points in multiple categories

The Citi Premier® Card earns bonus points on airfare, hotels, supermarkets, dining and gas stations. There's a solid sign-up bonus as well.  Read our review.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

Our pick for: Road trips

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card is one of the most generous cards on the market if you're taking to the skies or the road, thanks to the quadruple points it earns on travel and purchases at gas stations and EV charging stations. It's also a solid card for everyday expenses like groceries, dining and streaming, and it comes with ongoing credits that can offset its annual fee:  $0 intro for the first year, then $95 .  Read our review .

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Travel portal benefits

Capital One's premium travel credit card can deliver terrific benefits — provided you're willing to do your travel spending through the issuer's online booking portal. That's where you'll earn the highest rewards rates plus credits that can make back the bulk of your annual fee ( see rates and fees ). Read our review.

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Our pick for: Cash back for travel bookings

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® was already a fine card when it offered 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Now it's even better, with bonus rewards on travel booked through Chase, as well as at restaurants and drugstores. On top of all that, new cardholders get a 0% introductory APR period and the opportunity to earn a sweet bonus. Read our review.

Chase Freedom Flex℠

The Chase Freedom Flex℠ offers bonus cash back in quarterly categories that you activate, as well as on travel booked through Chase, at restaurants and at drugstores. Category activation can be a hassle, but if your spending matches the categories — and for a lot of people, it will — you can rack up hundreds of dollars a year. There's a fantastic bonus offer for new cardholders and an intro APR offer, too. Read our review.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Our pick for: Luxury travel perks

The Platinum Card® from American Express comes with a hefty annual fee, but travelers who like to go in style (and aren't afraid to pay for comfort) can more than get their money's worth. Enjoy extensive airport lounge access, hundreds of dollars a year in travel and shopping credits, hotel benefits and more. That's not even getting into the high rewards rate on eligible travel purchases and the rich welcome offer for new cardholders. Read our review.

American Express® Gold Card

Our pick for: Big rewards on everyday spending

The American Express® Gold Card can earn you a pile of points from everyday spending, with generous rewards at U.S. supermarkets, at restaurants and on certain flights booked through amextravel.com. Other benefits include hundreds of dollars a year in available dining and travel credits and a solid welcome offer for new cardholders. There's an annual fee, though, and a pretty substantial one, so it's not for smaller spenders. Read our review.

Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card

Our pick for: Rewards on rent payments

The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card stands out by offering credit card rewards on rent payments without incurring an additional transaction fee. The ability to earn rewards on what for many people is their single biggest monthly expense makes this card worth a look for any renter. You also get bonus points on dining and travel when you make at least five transactions on the card each statement period, and redemption options include point transfers to partner hotel and loyalty programs. Read our review.

PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card

Our pick for: Credit union rewards

With premium perks for a $95 annual fee (which can be waived in some cases), jet-setters will get a lot of value from the PenFed Pathfinder® Rewards Visa Signature® Card . It also offers a generous rewards rate on travel purchases and a decent flat rate on everything else. Plus, you’ll get travel credits and a Priority Pass membership that offers airport lounge access for $32 per visit. Read our review.

United℠ Explorer Card

Our pick for: United Airlines + best domestic airline card

The United℠ Explorer Card earns bonus rewards not only on spending with United Airlines but also at restaurants and on eligible hotel stays. And the perks are outstanding for a basic airline card — a free checked bag, priority boarding, lounge passes and more. Read our review.

» Not a United frequent flyer? See our best airline cards for other options

World of Hyatt Credit Card

Our pick for: Hotel credit card

Hyatt isn't as big as its competitors, but World of Hyatt Credit Card is worth a look for anyone who spends a lot of time on the road. You can earn a lot of points even on non-Hyatt spending, and those points have a high value compared with rival programs. There's a great sign-up bonus, free nights, automatic elite status and more. Read our review.

» Not a Hyatt customer? See our best hotel cards for other options.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Our pick for: Small business — bonus categories + big sign-up offer

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card starts you off with one of the biggest sign-up bonuses of any credit card anywhere: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠. You also get bonus rewards on travel expenses and common business spending categories, like advertising, shipping and internet, cable and phone service. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Learn more and apply .

Are you in Canada?

See NerdWallet's best travel cards for Canada.

OTHER RESOURCES

How travel rewards work.

Modern-day adventurers and once-a-year vacationers alike love the idea of earning rewards toward their next big trip. According to a NerdWallet study , 68% of American adults say they have a credit card that earns travel rewards.

With a travel rewards credit card, you earn points or miles every time you use the card, but you can often earn more points per dollar in select categories. Some top travel credit cards, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , offer bonus points on any travel spending, while the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card grants bonus points when you use the card at Marriott hotels, grocery stores, restaurants or gas stations.

Not all points and miles earned on travel rewards credit cards are the same:

General-purpose travel credit cards — including the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , the American Express® Gold Card and the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card — give you rewards that can be used like cash to pay for travel or that can be exchanged for points in airline or hotel loyalty programs. With their flexible rewards, general-purpose options are usually the best travel credit cards for those who don't stick to a single airline or hotel chain.

Airline- and hotel-specific cards — such as the United℠ Explorer Card and the Hilton Honors American Express Card — give points and miles that can be used only with the brand on the card. (Although it's possible in some cases to transfer hotel points to airlines, we recommend against it because you get a poor value.) These so-called co-branded cards are usually the best travel credit cards for those who always fly one particular airline or stay with one hotel group.

How do we value points and miles? With the rewards earned on general travel cards, it's simple: They have a fixed value, usually between 1 and 1.5 cents per point, and you can spend them like cash. With airline miles and hotel points, finding the true value is more difficult. How much value you get depends on how you redeem them.

To better understand what miles are worth, NerdWallet researched the cash prices and reward-redemption values for hundreds of flights. Our results:

Keep in mind that the airline values are based on main cabin economy tickets and exclude premium cabin redemptions. See our valuations page for business class valuations and details about our methodology.

Our valuations are different from many others you may find. That’s because we looked at the average value of a point based on reasonable price searches that anyone can perform, not a maximized value that only travel rewards experts can expect to reach.

You should therefore use these values as a baseline for your own redemptions. If you can redeem your points for the values listed on our valuations page, you are doing well. Of course, if you are able to get higher value out of your miles, that’s even better.

HOW TO CHOOSE A TRAVEL CREDIT CARD

There are scores of travel rewards cards to choose from. The best travel credit card for you has as much to do with you as with the card. How often you travel, how much flexibility you want, how much you value airline or hotel perks — these are all things to take into account when deciding on a travel card. Our article on how to choose a travel credit card recommends that you prioritize:

Rewards you will actually use (points and miles are only as good as your ability to redeem them for travel).

A high earning rate (how much value you get in rewards for every dollar spent on the card).

A sign-up bonus (a windfall of points for meeting a spending requirement in your first few months).

Even with these goals in mind, there are all kinds of considerations that will influence your decision on a travel rewards credit card.

Travel cards are for travelers

Travel cards vs. cash-back cards.

The very first question to ask yourself when choosing a travel credit card is: Should I get a travel card at all? Travel credit cards are best for frequent travelers, who are more likely to get enough value from rewards and perks to make up for the annual fees that the best travel credit cards charge. (Some travel cards charge no annual fee, but they tend to offer lesser rewards than full-fee cards.) A NerdWallet study found that those who travel only occasionally — say, once a year — will probably get greater overall rewards from cash-back credit cards , most of which charge no annual fee, than from a travel card.

Flexibility and perks: A trade-off

Co-branded cards vs. general travel cards.

Travel credit cards fall into two basic categories: co-branded cards and general travel cards.

Co-branded cards carry the name of an airline or hotel group, such as the United℠ Explorer Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card . The rewards you earn are redeemable only with that particular brand, which can limit your flexibility, sometimes sharply. For example, if your credit card's co-branded airline partner doesn't have any award seats available on the flight you want on the day you want, you're out of luck. On the other hand, co-branded cards commonly offer airline- or hotel-specific perks that general travel cards can't match.

General travel cards aren't tied to a specific airline or hotel, so they offer much greater flexibility. Well-known general travel cards include the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card . Rewards on general travel cards come as points (sometimes called "miles" but they're really points) that you can redeem for any travel expense. You're not locked into using a single airline or hotel, but you also won't enjoy the perks of a co-branded card.

Evaluating general travel credit cards

What you get with a general travel card.

The credit cards featured at the top of this page are general travel cards. They're issued by a bank (such as Chase or Capital One), carry only that bank's name, and aren't tied to any single airline or hotel group. With these cards, you earn points on every purchase — usually 1 to 2 points per dollar spent, sometimes with additional points in certain categories.

Issuers of general travel cards typically entice new applicants with big sign-up bonuses (also known as "welcome offers") — tens of thousands of miles that you can earn by spending a certain amount of money on the card in your first few months.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best credit card sign-up offers

What do you do with those points? Depending on the card, you may have several ways to redeem them:

Booking travel. With this option, your points pay for travel booked through the issuer's website, using a utility similar to Orbitz or Expedia. For example, if points were worth 1 cent apiece when redeemed this way, you could book a $400 flight on the issuer's portal and pay for it with 40,000 points

Statement credit. This lets you essentially erase travel purchases by using your points for credit on your statement. You make travel arrangements however you want (directly with an airline or hotel, through a travel agency, etc.) and charge it to your card. Once the charge shows up on your account, you apply the necessary points and eliminate the cost.

Transferring to partners. The card issuer may allow you to transfer your points to loyalty programs for airlines or hotel chains, turning your general card into something like a co-branded card (although you don't get the perks of a co-brand).

Cash back, gift cards or merchandise. If you don't plan to travel, you can burn off your rewards with these options, although you'll often get a lower value per point.

Airline and hotel cards sharply limit your choice, but they make up for it with perks that only they can offer, like free checked bags or room upgrades. General travel cards, on the other hand, offer maximum flexibility but can't provide the same kinds of perks, because the banks that issue them don't operate the airlines or hotels. Still, there are some noteworthy perks on general travel cards, including:

Travel credit. This is automatic reimbursement for travel-related spending. Some top travel credit cards offer hundreds of dollars a year in travel credit.

Trusted traveler reimbursement. More and more travel credit cards are covering the application fee for TSA Precheck and Global Entry, programs that allow you to move through airport security and customs more quickly.

Airport lounge access. Hundreds of lounges worldwide operate separately from airlines under such networks as Priority Pass and Airspace, and several general travel cards offer access to these lounges.

Points programs

Every major card issuer has at least one travel card with a points program. American Express calls its program Membership Rewards, while Chase has Ultimate Rewards® and Citi pays in ThankYou points. Wells Fargo has Wells Fargo Rewards, and U.S. Bank has FlexPerks. Bank of America® travel cards offer points without a fancy name. Travel cards from Capital One, Barclays and Discover all call their points "miles."

These programs differ in how much their points are worth and how you can use them. Some offer the full range of redemption options, including transfers to loyalty programs. Others let you use them only to book travel or get statement credit.

» MORE: Travel loyalty program reviews

Evaluating airline credit cards

What you get with an airline credit card.

Airline credit cards earn "miles" with each purchase. You typically get 1 mile per dollar spent, with a higher rate (2 or more miles per dollar) on purchases with the airline itself. (Some airline cards have also begun offering extra miles for purchases in additional categories, such as restaurants or car rental agencies.) These miles go into the same frequent-flyer account as the ones you earn by flying the airline, and you can redeem them for free flights with the airline or its alliance partners.

Co-branded airline cards typically offer sign-up bonuses (or welcome offers). But what really sets them apart are the perks they give you. With some cards, for example, the checked-bag benefit alone can make up for the annual fee after a single roundtrip by a couple. Common perks of airline cards include:

Free checked bags. This commonly applies to the first checked bag for you and at least one companion on your reservation. Some cards extend this perk to more people, and higher-end cards (with higher annual fees) may even let you check two bags apiece for free.

Priority boarding. Holders of co-branded airline credit cards often get to board the plane early — after the airline's elite-status frequent flyers but before the general population. This gives you time to settle in and gives you a leg up on claiming that coveted overhead bin space.

In-flight discounts or freebies. You might get, say, 25% off the cost of food and beverages during the flight, or free Wi-Fi.

Airport lounge access. High-end cards often include a membership to the airline's airport lounges, where you can get away from the frenzy in the terminal and enjoy a complimentary snack. Some less-expensive airline cards give you only limited or discounted lounge access; others give you none at all.

Companion fares. This perk lets you bring someone with you for a lower cost when you buy a ticket at full price.

A boost toward elite status. Miles earned with a credit card, as opposed to those earned from actually flying on the airline, usually do not count toward earning elite status in an airline's frequent-flyer program. However, carrying an airline's high-end card might automatically qualify you for a higher tier within the program.

The biggest U.S. airlines — American, United and Delta — offer an array of credit cards. Each airline has a no-annual-fee card that earns miles on purchases but provides little in the way of perks (no free bags or priority boarding). Each has a high-end card with an annual fee in the neighborhood of $450 that offers lounge access and sumptuous perks. And each has a "middle-class" card with a fee of around $100 and solid ongoing perks. Southwest offers three credit cards with varying fees; smaller carriers may just have a single card.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best airline credit cards

Choosing an airline

Which airline card you get depends in large part on what airline you fly, and that's heavily influenced by where you live. Alaska Airlines, for example, has an outstanding credit card, but the airline's routes are concentrated primarily on the West Coast. So it's not a great option for those who live in, say, Buffalo, New York, or Montgomery, Alabama.

If your local airport is dominated by a single airline, then you're probably flying that carrier most (or all) of the time by default. Delta, for example, is the 800-pound gorilla at Minneapolis-St. Paul and Salt Lake City. United has the bulk of the traffic at Newark and Washington Dulles. American calls the shots at Charlotte and Dallas-Fort Worth. That airline's credit card may be your only realistic option. If you're in a large or midsize market with frequent service from multiple airlines, you have more choice.

» MORE: How to choose an airline credit card

Evaluating hotel credit cards

What you get with a hotel card.

Hotel credit cards earn points with each purchase. As with airline cards, you typically get more points per dollar for purchases from the co-brand partner, and some cards also give bonus points in additional categories. (Hotel cards tend to give you a greater number of points overall than airline cards, but each individual point is generally worth less than a typical airline mile.) Similar to the airline model, the points you earn with the card go into the same loyalty account as the points you earn from actually staying at a hotel. You redeem your points for free stays.

Hotel cards usually offer a sign-up bonus, but like airline cards, they really make their bones with the ongoing perks. Common perks on hotel cards include:

Free nights. Several cards offer this perk, which can make up for the card's annual fee. You may get a free night automatically every year, or you may unlock it by spending a certain amount within a year. In the latter case, it comes on top of the points you earn for your spending.

Upgrades and freebies. Cardholders may qualify for automatic room upgrades when available, or free or discounted amenities such as meals or spa packages.

Early check-in/late check-out. No one likes having to cool their heels in the hotel lobby waiting for 3 o'clock to check in. And no one likes have to vacate their room by 11 a.m. when their flight doesn't leave till evening.

Accelerated elite status. Some hotel cards automatically bump you up a level in their loyalty program just for being a cardholder.

» MORE: NerdWallet's best hotel credit cards

Choosing a hotel group

If you decide to go the hotel-card route, you'll need to decide which hotel group gets your business. Hotels aren't as market-concentrated as airlines, so if your travels take you mostly to metropolitan areas, you'll have a decent amount of choice. Keep in mind that even though there are dozens of nationally recognizable hotel brands, ranging from budget inns to luxury resorts, many of them are just units in a larger hotel company, and that company's card can unlock benefits across the group.

Marriott, for example, includes not only its namesake properties but nearly 30 other brands, including Courtyard, Fairfield, Renaissance, Residence Inn, Ritz-Carlton, Sheraton and Westin. The Hilton family includes DoubleTree, Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn and Waldorf-Astoria. InterContinental includes Holiday Inn, Candlewood, Staybridge and Crowne Plaza. Wyndham and Choice have more than 15 mid-tier and budget-oriented brands between them.

HOW TO COMPARE TRAVEL CREDIT CARDS

No travel rewards credit card is going to have everything you want. You're going to be disappointed if you expect to find a high rewards rate, a generous sign-up bonus, top-notch perks and no annual fee. Each card delivers value through a different combination of features; it's up to you to compare cards based on the following features and choose the best travel credit card for your needs and preferences.

Most of the best travel cards charge an annual fee. Fees in the range of $90 to $100 are standard for travel cards. Premium cards with extensive perks will have fees of $450 or more. Weigh the value of the rewards and perks you'll get to make sure they'll make up for the fee.

Can you find good cards without an annual fee? Absolutely! There are no-fee options on our list of the best travel credit cards, and we've rounded up more here . Just be aware that if you go with a no-fee travel card, you'll earn rewards at a lower rate, your sign-up bonus will be smaller, and you won't get as many (if any) perks.

Rewards rate

Rewards can be thought of in terms of "earn rate" and "burn rate".

The earn rate is how many points or miles you receive per dollar spent. Some general travel cards offer flat-rate rewards, meaning you get the same rate on all purchases, all the time — 2 miles per dollar, for example, or 1.5 points per dollar. Others, including most co-branded cards, offer a base rate of maybe 1 point per dollar and then pay a higher rate in certain categories, such as airline tickets, hotel stays, general travel expenses or restaurant meals.

The burn rate is the value you get for those points or miles when you redeem them. The industry average is about 1 cent per point or mile. Some cards, particularly hotel cards, have lower value per point on the "burn" side but give you more points per dollar on the earning side.

When comparing rewards rates, don't just look at the numbers. Look at the categories to which those numbers apply, and find a card that matches your spending patterns. Getting 5 points per dollar seems great — but if those 5X points come only on purchases at, say, office supply stores, and you don't spend money on office supplies, then you're getting lousy value.

Sign-up bonus

Travel cards tend to have the biggest sign-up bonuses — tens of thousands of points that you earn by hitting a certain amount of spending. But there's more to consider when comparing sign-up bonuses than just how many points or miles you earn. You must also take into account how much you have to spend to earn the bonus. While cash-back credit cards often require just $500 to $1,000 in spending over three months to unlock a bonus, travel cards commonly have thresholds of $3,000 to $5,000.

Never spend money you don't have just to earn a sign-up bonus. Carrying $3,000 in debt for a year in order to earn a $500 bonus doesn't make economic sense — the interest you'll pay could easily wipe out the value of the bonus.

Finally, keep in mind that the biggest bonuses will come on cards with annual fees.

Foreign transaction fees

A good travel card will not charge a foreign transaction fee. These fees are surcharges on purchases made outside the U.S. The industry standard is about 3%, which is enough to wipe out most if not all of the rewards you earn on a purchase. If you never leave the U.S., then this isn't much of a concern, but anyone who travels abroad should bring a no-foreign-transaction-fee card with them.

Some issuers don't charge foreign transaction fees on any of their cards. Others charge them on some cards but not all.

International acceptance

Not all travel credit cards are great companions for international travel. While Visa and Mastercard are good pretty much worldwide, you may encounter limited acceptance for American Express and, especially, Discover, depending on the destination. This doesn't mean world travelers should dismiss AmEx and Discover. Just know that if you take one of these cards with you overseas, you'd be smart to bring along a backup in case you run into acceptance problems. (Having a backup card is good advice within the U.S., too, really.)

Travel protections

Consider which travel protections — car rental insurance , trip cancellation coverage , lost baggage protection — are important to you.

"Rewards" are what you get for using a credit card — the points earned with each transaction and the bonuses you unlock with your spending. "Perks" are goodies that you get just for carrying the card. There's a very close correlation between the annual fee on a card and the perks you get for carrying it. Cards with no annual fee are all about rewards and go very light on perks. Premium cards with annual fees of $450 or more are laden with perks (although sometimes their rewards aren't too special). Midtier cards (in the $100 range) tend to have solid rewards and a handful of high-value perks.

Assuming you take advantage of them, the perks often make up for the annual fee on a card quite easily. This is especially true with co-branded cards. Free checked bags can pay for an airline card several times over, and a free night is usually worth more than the fee on a hotel card. When comparing the perks of various cards, be realistic about which ones you will and won't use. Sure, that card may entitle you to a free spa package the next time you're at a five-star hotel, but how often do you stay at five-star hotels?

SHOULD YOU GET A TRAVEL CARD? PROS AND CONS

Pros: why it's worth getting a travel card.

The sign-up bonus gives you a big head-start on travel. Bonuses on the best travel credit cards typically run $500 or more — enough for a roundtrip ticket in many instances.

Perks make travel less expensive and more relaxing. You won't have to worry about cramming a week's worth of clothes into a carry-on if your travel credit card gives you a free checked bag (or automatically reimburses you for the bag fee). Hate the crush of travelers in the terminal? Escape to the airport lounge. Renting a car? Use a travel card that provides primary rental car insurance.

Rewards get you closer to your next trip with every purchase. Spending money on the mundane activities of daily life has a silver lining when you know that every $1,000 you spend will knock $10 or $20 off the cost of that future beach vacation or trip home to see Mom and Dad.

No foreign transaction fee can mean big savings. Take just any old credit card with you on vacation outside the U.S., and $1,000 worth of purchases can cost you $30 off the top due to the foreign transaction surcharge. Good travel cards don't charge this fee.

"Double dipping" gives you more points on travel purchases. Buy a plane ticket or book a hotel room, and you'll earn loyalty points or miles regardless of how you pay. Use the right credit card, though, and you'll earn even more points and miles on top of those.

Strategic redemption can multiply your value. With cash-back credit cards, 1 cent is worth 1 cent, and that's just how it goes. The points and miles on many travel credit cards have variable value based on how you redeem them — booking travel with them vs. transferring them to a partner, booking domestic vs. international flights and economy vs. business class, staying at budget hotels vs. high-end resorts, and so on.

Cons: Why a travel card might not be for you

The best cards charge annual fees. In many cases, the value you get from a credit card more than makes up for the annual fee. But some people are dead set against paying a fee under any circumstances. If that's you, your options in travel cards will be sharply limited, and you won't get the perks that provide a big portion of the value on many cards.

Sign-up bonus spending requirements can be steep. A bonus worth $500, $600 or $700 is attractive, but only if you can afford to earn it with spending you were going to do anyway. If you have to amass thousands of dollars in debt and then pay interest on it, it's not worth it.

Travel cards aren't ideal for infrequent travelers. In the first year with a travel card, you're probably going to come out ahead: You can earn a big sign-up bonus, and several popular cards waive the first year's annual fee, too. In subsequent years, though, you'll break even on that fee only if you use the card enough to make up for it (with the rewards you earn and redeem and the perks you use). Infrequent travelers are more likely to get more total rewards from a cash-back card with no annual fee.

Cash back is simpler and more flexible. Some travel cards allow you to redeem your rewards only for travel. Others give you poor value unless you redeem for travel. Still others have complicated redemption options, making it hard to get the most out of your rewards. With cash-back credit cards, you can use your rewards on anything, you know exactly how much your rewards are worth, and redemption is usually simple.

Rewards cards tend to charge higher interest rates. If you regularly carry a balance from month to month, a travel credit card — or any rewards credit card — probably isn't your best choice. The interest you pay is eating up the value of your rewards. You're better off with a low-interest card that reduces the cost of carrying debt.

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR TRAVEL CARD

Maximize your rewards with the following tips:

Plan your credit card application around a big purchase to earn the sign-up bonus.

Seize every opportunity to pick up the tab, especially if your travel credit card pays bonus rewards on dining; your friends can pay you back while you collect rewards.

Redeem rewards for travel instead of gift cards, merchandise or (in most cases) cash back to get the best value.

Join the loyalty program associated with a co-branded card — a frequent-flyer or frequent-guest program.

Shop for essentials in your card’s online bonus mall or through its exclusive offers, if available, to get extra rewards.

OTHER CARDS TO CONSIDER

It’s worth considering whether a travel credit card is even right for you in the first place. A NerdWallet study found that cash-back credit cards often earn more money — even for many travelers.

If you carry a balance from month to month, the higher interest rates typically charged by rewards cards can cancel out any rewards earned. If you have a good credit score, you're better off with a low-interest credit card that can save you money on interest.

A good travel credit card shouldn't charge foreign transaction fees, but there are good non-travel cards that also don't charge them. See our best cards with no foreign transaction fee .

If you value transparency and flexibility in your rewards, you can't go wrong with a cash-back card — and you can still use the rewards for travel, if you want.

Finally, if you're still not sure what's right for you, take a look at our best rewards credit cards for options beyond travel and cash back.

NerdWallet's Sam Kemmis contributed to this article.

To view rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card , see this page . To view rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express , see this page .

Last updated on April 8 , 2024

Methodology

NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best travel rewards credit cards based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of travelers. Factors in our evaluation include each card's annual fee, foreign transaction fees, rewards earnings rates, ease of use, redemption options, domestic and international acceptance, promotional APR period, bonus offers, and cardholder perks such as automatic statement credits and airport lounge access. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

Frequently asked questions

Travel credit cards earn points (sometimes called miles) each time you buy something. The standard earning rate is 1 to 2 points per dollar spent, and many cards give you extra points for certain purchases, particularly travel expenses. The value of a point depends on the card that earned it and how you redeem it, but a good rule of thumb is to assume each point is worth an average of about 1 cent.

Your points accumulate in a rewards account, where you can use them to pay for travel. Most cards let you book travel directly using a portal similar to those at online travel agencies or on airline and hotel websites, but instead of paying cash, you pay with your points. Depending on the card, you may also have the option of booking travel any way you want, paying for it with the card and then cashing in your points for a credit against those expenses.

Points and miles are just different names for the same thing: the currency used in a travel rewards program. Some travel credit cards call them points, some call them miles.

Airline frequent flyer programs have long used the term “miles” to refer to the rewards you earn for flying. That’s because at one time, you really did earn rewards according to how many miles you flew — the longer the flight, the more miles you earned. Nowadays, most domestic airlines give out “miles” based on how much you spend, not how far you fly, so they’re really just points. (There are a few exceptions, though, notably Alaska Airlines.)

Especially when it comes to redeeming your rewards, there’s no difference between points and miles. The number of points or miles you need is based mostly on the cost of what you’re redeeming them for. It takes more than 500 miles (value about: $5) to get a free 500-mile flight!

The value of a point or mile depends on the card you earned it with and how you redeem it. A common rule of thumb is to assume that each point or mile is worth an average of 1 cent, although you can certainly get a much higher (or lower) redemption value. See our travel loyalty roundup page for NerdWallet’s current valuations for airline miles and hotel points.

Travel credit cards fall into two main categories: co-branded and general-purpose.

• Co-branded travel cards carry the name of an airline or hotel chain. The rewards you earn on the card can typically be redeemed only with that brand (or maybe its partners). Co-branded cards limit your flexibility, but because they are issued in partnership with an airline or hotel, they can give you special perks, like free checked bags or room upgrades.

• General-purpose travel cards are issued by a credit card company and are not directly tied to any particular airline or hotel. They earn points in the issuer's own program, such as American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards® or Citi ThankYou. These points are a lot more flexible, as you can use them to pay for a range of travel expenses, including flights on any airline or stays at any hotel. However, they don’t offer the airline- or hotel-specific perks of co-branded cards.

Travel cards — like rewards cards in general — typically require good to excellent credit for approval. Good credit is generally defined as a credit score of 690 or better. However, credit scores alone do not guarantee approval. Every issuer has its own criteria for evaluating applications.

About the author

Sara Rathner

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Find the best credit card for you

Robinhood gold card announced — earn 3% cash back everywhere, this card isn't open to applications yet, but you can get on the waitlist..

The investing app Robinhood is making headlines with the announcement of the Robinhood Gold Card . This credit card features a minimum of 3% cash back on all purchases and there's even a limited-edition 10-karat gold version. When compared to other cards, that rewards rate is typically capped after a certain amount of spending or to a specific category of purchases (i.e. gas or dining), but with this card you'll be able to earn 3% cash back on all purchases — with no limit on the amount you can earn.

It's not open for applications yet, but you can add yourself to the waitlist . While it's technically a no-annual-fee card , it's only open to Robinhood Gold members, which costs $5/mo or $50 a year.

Below, CNBC Select has the details on what you need to know about the card's features and benefits.

Robinhood Gold Card

5% cash back on travel purchased through the Robin travel portal; 3% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Requires a Gold membership which costs $5 a month or $50 a year

Regular APR

20.24% - 29.99% variable

Balance transfer fee

Foreign transaction fees.

Terms apply.

• High cash-back rate on everyday purchases
• No foreign transaction fees
• Robinhood Gold subscription required

Robinhood Gold Card benefits

On top of the 3% cash back everywhere, cardholders also receive 5% cash back on travel purchases made through the Robinhood travel portal. Other benefits include:

• Trip interruption protection
• Travel and emergency assistance
• Roadside Dispatch
• Visa Signature Concierge
• Rental car collision damage waiver
• Purchase security
• Return protection
• Extended warranty protection

If you're on the Robinhood Gold Card waitlist and refer 10 people to both sign up for a Robinhood Gold subscription and join the Gold Card's waitlist too, you are eligible to receive a 10-karat gold version of this card. Learn more at Robinhood .

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Robinhood gold membership benefits.

Robinhood offers a 1.5% APY on uninvested cash sitting in your brokerage account , but once you upgrade to a paid Gold membership you'll receive a 5% APY on those balances. Gold members also receive a 3% match on eligible contributions to a Robinhood IRA . If you can take advantage of these perks, the Gold subscription fee may be worth it, and the benefits you receive from a Robinhood Gold Card are icing on the cake.

Robinhood Retirement

Minimum deposit and balance.

There is a $20 minimum to invest in the portfolio Robinhood recommends to you

Robinhood doesn't charge any management fees or commission fees for the IRA account. However, an IRA Match Early Withdrawal Fee may apply in some circumstances

The Robinhood IRA offers a 1% match on eligible contributions up to IRA contribution limits. Limitations apply.*

Investment vehicles

Traditional IRA and Roth IRA

Investment options

Stocks and ETFs (users can invest in Robinhood's selection of 5–8 recommended ETFs, pick their own, or do a combination of both). According to the website, eligible users will soon be able to trade options in their IRA

Educational resources

Robinhood offers education materials on their website

Terms apply. Does not apply to crypto asset portfolios.

*The IRA Match is automatically added after eligible contributions from an external bank account. Keep the contributions in your IRA for at least 5 years from the date you contribute.  IRA Match FAQ . Other fees may apply. See Fee Schedule  for more details.

This membership tier also comes with a handful of other features such as larger instant deposits and access to Morningstar research and NASDAQ Level II market data.

Alternate cards to consider

If you don't want to wait for the Robinhood Gold Card to open for applications or you aren't interested in joining Robinhood Gold, these alternate cards can help you start earning rewards right now.

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card earns an unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases and new card members can earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after meeting the card's spending requirement (spend $500 in purchases in the first 3 months). This card earns 1% less than the Robinhood Gold Card on non-bonus spending, but it has no annual fee and you have to pay at least $50 a year for a Robinhood Gold membership. To earn $50 in rewards at 1%, you have to spend $5,000, so you'll get a head start on earning cash rewards back with the Active Cash Card , especially when you factor in the welcome bonus.

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate

20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

3% intro for 120 days from account opening then BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5

Foreign transaction fee

Credit needed.

Excellent/Good

See rates and fees , terms apply.

The Discover it® Cash Back earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in rotating quarterly categories (when you activate), then 1% cash back (which you also earn on all purchases outside of the quarterly categories). The welcome offer makes this card even more enticing because it matches the cash back new cardmembers earn for the first year. With this offer, you're effectively earning 10% cash back from spending that qualifies for the rotating bonus categories for the first year, and then 2% cash back on all purchases for the remainder of that year.

Discover it® Cash Back

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases-automatically.

Discover will match all the cash back earned for all new cardmembers at the end of your first year.

0% for 15 months on purchases

17.24% to 28.24% Variable

3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*

Good / Excellent

* See rates and fees , terms apply.

Read our Discover it® Cash Back review.

Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox.  Sign up here .

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Bottom line.

Robinhood has announced a new cash-back credit card that will be available for its Gold members. The Robinhood Gold Card will earn at least 3% cash back on all purchases, which is an exceptional return for everyday purchases. A Robinhood Gold membership is relatively affordable compared to most credit card annual fees, which will make this card one of the best cash-back credit cards once it opens for applications.

Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every personal finance article is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of financial products .  While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of  credit cards ,  banking  and  money , and follow us on  TikTok ,  Facebook ,  Instagram  and  Twitter  to stay up to date.

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Cash Back, click here .

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