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The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is one of the best $0-annual-fee travel cards, thanks to its high flat rewards rate, flexible points and no foreign transaction fees.
A travel credit card doesn’t always mean you have to pay an annual fee. Our list of no-annual-fee travel credit cards allow you to earn rewards for hotels, airlines or other travel without charging you extra.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. Citi is an advertising partner.
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Travel Rewards: 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases.
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is the best travel credit card with $0 annual fee because it earns an 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases. . And, if you qualify for the Preferred Rewards program, you’ll earn up to 75% more points, bringing your potential rewards up to 2.62 points per dollar on every purchase, which is a higher flat rate than any other rewards card. Rewards never expire, and you can redeem them for statement credits to cover your travel and dining purchases without worrying about blackout dates or other restrictions.
Travel tip
Redeeming points for statement credit is easy with the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card. With the card’s flexible definition of travel expenses, you can redeem statement credit for baggage fees, dining and vacation rentals, in addition to hotels and flights.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Travel Rewards: 1x-2x miles
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is our top pick for the best $0-annual-fee airlines card because of the relatively high value of Delta SkyMiles and the size of Delta Air Lines’ network. This card is ideal for travelers who fly Delta only a few times per year and want to earn SkyMiles on their daily purchases. Although the welcome offer tends to be lower than other Delta co-branded cards, it’s a good opportunity for a card with $0 annual fee.
Travel tip
To maximize the value of your card, use your Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card when eating out at restaurants.
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Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Travel Rewards: 1.5%-5% cash back
Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
Offering travel insurance and reimbursement up to $6,000 per trip, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is one of the few $0-annual-fee travel cards that offer trip protection. enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases Rewards never expire, and they can be used to book travel, get cash back, buy gift cards or shop at Amazon.
Travel tip
The best way to get the most value out of your Chase Ultimate Reward points is to transfer them to Chase transfer partners. With 13-plus airline and hotel partners, your points transfer at a 1:1 ratio, which means you can travel the world and fly or stay for free.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Travel Rewards: 3x-7x points
The Hilton Honors American Express Card is a great $0-annual-fee hotel card due to its high earning rate and better-than-usual hotel benefits. Cardholders receive automatic Hilton Honors Silver status, which grants bonus points and your fifth night free on award stays (enrollment required). And, if you spend at least $20,000 per year, your elite status is upgraded to Gold, which provides additional benefits, like complimentary upgrades and a daily food and beverage credit (enrollment required).
Travel tip
With the Hilton Honors American Express Card, you can redeem your points for free hotel stays at Hilton properties. Point redemption amounts are dynamic, varying by location and time of year, so monitor prices to make sure you’re getting the most value you can.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Travel Rewards: 2x-14x points
The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card is a popular choice as Marriott is the world’s largest hotel brand. Earn up to 14X total points for every $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® and 2X points for every $1 spent at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, and cable and phone services. Plus, earn 1X point for every $1 you spend on all other purchases. It’s worth noting that each Marriott Bonvoy point is worth only 0.9 cents each, but points don’t expire as long as you make purchases on your credit every 24 months.
Every year, you’ll receive 15 elite night credits — this automatically qualifies you for Silver Elite status, which allows you to enjoy perks such as 10% more points on stays and priority late check-out. You can continue to be eligible for higher tiers of elite status the more you stay with Marriott.
Travel tip
No-annual-fee hotel credit cards, like the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, are great to pair with Chase Ultimate Rewards® or American Express Membership Rewards. The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card becomes your primary way to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and then if you need additional points to reserve a room, you can transfer your Amex or Chase points into Bonvoy points to make up the difference.
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Travel Rewards: 1-2 miles
The United Gateway℠ Card is a solid option for frequent United flyers who want to avoid a card with an annual fee. Cardholders can earn bonus miles when booking flights with United or paying for transportation expenses, like gas, rideshare, taxis, and tolls. It offers a generous welcome bonus with a relatively small minimum spend requirement, and there are $0 foreign transaction fees when making international purchases.
Travel tip
United is part of the Star Alliance, the largest airline alliance in the world. With 26 partners, this allows you to use your United MileagePlus miles on luxurious airlines that predominantly fly to other parts of the world.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Travel Rewards: 1-2 miles
Occasional flyers on American Airlines should consider the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card because it earns bonus miles on American flights without paying an annual fee. Plus, you’ll earn extra miles at supermarkets so your grocery purchases will get you closer to a free flight. It also has one of the lowest minimum spend requirements to earn the welcome bonus of any $0-annual-fee card, making it ideal for travelers with low monthly expenses.
Travel tip
Use your American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card when buying groceries, and you’ll earn 2x miles. With no limit to the amount of miles you can earn each year, this is a way to rack up miles for everyday expenses.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Travel Rewards: 1-3 points
The JetBlue Card is a top-notch pick for JetBlue flyers with a considerable rewards rate: Earn 3x points on eligible JetBlue purchases, 2x points at restaurants and grocery stores and 1x points on all other purchases. Plus, there are 0% foreign transaction fees, and you’ll get 50% off in-flight purchases while flying JetBlue.
Travel tip
If you want to extend your points further and travel with others, consider JetBlue’s Points Pooling program. With Points Pooling, you can earn faster by combining your TrueBlue points with a group of friends or loved ones and then redeem them on travel together.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Travel Rewards: 1%-8% cash back
3% Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®); 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply); 8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 1% Cash Back on all other purchases.
The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card offers unlimited 3% Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®); 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply); 8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 1% Cash Back on all other purchases. And when you travel internationally, there are no foreign transaction fees, which can save you up to 3% compared to other credit cards.
Travel tip
With high earning rates on dining and groceries, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great card to use while eating out when traveling.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here. Apply Now
Travel Rewards: 1.25-5 miles
1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
With the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, you’ll earn an unlimited 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Your miles can be used to book travel, erase travel purchases or transfer to Capital One’s 15+ airline and hotel partners for possibly even higher value. And when you book through Capital One Travel, you receive a price match guarantee to help you get the best price, even after booking your trip.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Travel Rewards: 1.5x miles
Earn 1.5 Miles per dollar on all purchases.
If you don’t want to keep up with multiple rewards categories, the Discover it® Miles is one of the easiest ways to rack up tons of miles in no time. It earns unlimited 1.5 Miles per dollar on all purchases. Plus, all of the rewards earned in the first year are doubled in place of receiving an upfront welcome bonus. For frequent card users, you could earn a substantially higher bonus this way.
Travel tip
Although they are called miles, the miles earned with the Discover it® Miles card function more like points. You can redeem them for statement credit for travel purchases or to pay all or part of your bill.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | Foreign Exchange Fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Apply Now
on Bank Of America's secure site |
Winner
|
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases | 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases. | None |
Apply Now
on Bank Of America's secure site |
|
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
|
Airline
|
Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months. | Earn 2X Miles per dollar spent on Delta purchases and at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases. | None | |
|
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Travel insurance
|
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases | 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
|
Hilton Honors American Express Card
|
Hotel
|
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 1/8/2025. | Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio, 5X Hilton Honors Bonus Points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations AND 3X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card. | None | |
|
Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card*
|
Marriott
|
Earn 60,000 Bonus Points and a Free Night Award (valued up to 50,000 points) after you spend $2,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. | Earn up to 14X total points for every $1 spent at thousands of hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® and 2X points for every $1 spent at grocery stores, rideshare, select food delivery, select streaming, and internet, and cable and phone services. Plus, earn 1X point for every $1 you spend on all other purchases. | $0 | |
|
United Gateway℠ Card
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
United airlines
|
Earn 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. | 2 miles per $1 spent on United® purchases, at gas stations and on local transit and commuting. 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. | $0 |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
|
American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® Card
Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
American airlines
|
Earn 15,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after making $1000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. | Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for each $1 spent at grocery stores, including grocery delivery services. Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles for every $1 spent on eligible American Airlines purchases. | 3% |
Apply Now
on Citibank's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
JetBlue Card*
|
JetBlue airlines
|
Earn 10,000 bonus points after making $1,000 in purchases within 90 days of account opening. | Earn 3x points on eligible JetBlue purchases, 2x points at restaurants and grocery stores and 1x points on all other purchases. | 0% | |
|
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card*
|
Dining and travel
|
Earn $200 Cash Back after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening | 3% Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®); 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply); 8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 1% Cash Back on all other purchases | None | |
|
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
Honorable mention
|
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel | 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | None |
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Discover it® Miles*
|
Honorable mention
|
Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers—only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. You could turn 35,000 Miles to 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match. | 1.5 Miles per dollar on all purchases. | None |
When picking a no-annual-fee travel credit card, here’s some key features to keep in mind:
Are you a frequent user of an airline or a devoted loyalist to a hotel chain? If you are, it makes sense to pick a co-branded card that rewards your loyalty. Even if you’re looking for a more flexible point currency, like Chase Ultimate Rewards®, you’ll want to pay attention to who the transfer partners are in order to maximize value.
While a welcome bonus is a one-time value to the card, some can be worth over $1,000. Taking advantage of a lucrative welcome bonus could be a way to rack up points for that dream trip you’re planning.
The card’s earning rate is one of the most important features. Long after you’ve earned your sign-up bonus, it is the card’s earning rate that is going to help you accrue more points. To decide what earning rate matters most to you, take a look at your spending over the past few months. Are you eating out a lot? Then a card that rewards restaurant spending might be a good fit for you. Or maybe you’re driving a lot more? Consider a card that rewards gas purchases.
In the world of travel credit cards, not all points currencies are created equal. Transferable point currencies — like Chase Ultimate Rewards or American Express Membership Rewards — are usually worth more than hotel points or airline miles, but often require an annual fee card to earn. Check out how ValuePenguin calculates what points are worth.
If you are planning on traveling internationally, a credit card that offers no foreign transaction fees will help save you from being charged an additional percentage on each purchase. With multiple purchases, this fee can add up quickly.
Some cards offer travel insurance, rental car insurance or elite status. These extra perks can make your stay more comfortable, allow you to get a discount on an airline food purchase, score a room upgrade or even get a free night’s stay.
First-time credit cardholders
If you’re a student or just starting out, a no-annual-fee credit card is a great card to consider when you don’t have much credit history. Without having to pay an annual fee, you have access to a credit line that, as long as you pay your bill in full each month, helps you to build your credit. And because no fee credit cards offer fewer perks than premium travel cards, approval odds may be more lenient.
Those rebuilding credit
If you have poor credit, no-annual-fee credit cards could be an accessible way to help rebuild your credit. Since APR is often based on creditworthiness, you’ll likely have a higher APR than some borrowers, but by consistently paying on time each month, your credit score will improve in the long term.
Those wanting to consolidate balances
Several of the credit cards on this list offer an introductory 0% APR for a predetermined set of billing cycles. If you are someone who’s carrying a credit card balance with a high APR, transferring to a card offering a low- or zero-balance introductory APR can help save you thousands in additional interest and help you to pay off debt faster.
Those diversifying points
Even if you’re a veteran in the points and miles game, no-annual-fee cards can play an important role in your card portfolio. Some cards, like the Chase Freedom Unlimited® pair well with the premium Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® cards, allowing you to earn more bonus points in additional categories. Others, like the Marriott Bonvoy card, would help you earn Marriott Bonvoy points, thus allowing you to transfer fewer of your valuable American Express Membership Rewards or Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Marriott.
When it comes to travel cards with annual fees, you’ll find that the benefits end up outweighing the ongoing cost — if used correctly. Some travel credit cards offer perks such as free Global Entry or TSA PreCheck or waived checked baggage fees. Whether you travel with one airline or hotel brand — or just travel often — you’ll enjoy significantly better perks at a $95 annual fee mark.
For our recommendations, check out our roundup of the top travel rewards cards.One of our favorite cashback, $0-annual-fee credit cards that doubles as a travel credit card is the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. You’ll enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases. If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, your cash back can be converted into Chase Ultimate Rewards points.
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card is one of the best $0-annual-fee airline cards if you fly on Delta. We found that SkyMiles have a higher value than other airline mile currencies, and with Delta as a part of the SkyTeam Alliance, you can use your SkyMiles to fly on partner airlines like AirFrance KLM.
It’s difficult to find a travel credit card that offers no balance transfer fee. If you’re working to manage credit card debt, it’s generally not advisable to also try to earn credit card rewards.
Some no-annual-fee travel credit cards that have no foreign transaction fees include: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card, Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, Hilton Honors American Express Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, United Gateway℠ Card, JetBlue Card, Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card and Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.
In a world where the eye-popping sign-up bonuses are usually reserved for premium travel credit cards, the Hilton Honors American Express Card stands out for offering one of the highest welcome offers for a $0-annual-fee card. With the card, you can 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 1/8/2025. Another attractive option is the Discover it® Miles card. While it’s not a traditional welcome bonus, the Discover it® Miles will offer an unlimited match on all the miles you earn within the first year of opening the card. That means if you earned 50,000 miles through your own spending, that becomes 100,000 miles.
It depends on the card issuer. Often the lowest APR is reserved for borrowers with good to excellent credit scores, but that doesn’t mean you’re left out if you have poor credit. Check out our picks of best credit cards for bad credit.
To make choosing the best credit card easier, LendingTree looked at over two dozen travel credit cards. After eliminating any that charge annual fees, our recommendations are based on sign-up bonus offered, flexibility and value of points or miles, airline or hotel loyalty perks included and any additional fees charged such as foreign transaction fees or balance transfer fees. Our choices are not influenced by advertisers.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
The information related to the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, JetBlue Card, Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card and Discover it® Miles has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
