Best cash back cards with no annual fee

The best cash back credit cards with no annual fee include ones that offer high cash back rates on category-based spending as well as ones that offer higher-than-usual flat rates on all purchases. Depending on the card you get, you may benefit through a spend-based bonus cash back offer for new cardholders.

Some of the top no-annual-fee cash back credit cards come without foreign transaction fees, which makes them ideal for use outside of the U.S. Examples include the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Card and the Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi.

Other aspects that need your attention when making a selection include intro APR offers, regular APRs and additional perks.

MoneyGeek's Take: Top 5 Cash Back Credit Cards With No Annual Fee

Quick Summary

You’ll notice that not all no-annual-fee cash back cards offer the same cash back rates, and some come with higher earn rates on specific categories. We have accounted for this as well as other factors such as APRs, welcome offers and foreign transaction fees to arrive at the top five. For more options, scroll further down the page.


  • An excellent no-annual-fee card that lets you earn unlimited cash back

    • ExcellentCredit Needed
    • $0Annual Fee
    • 1.5–5% Cash BackRewards Rate
    • 3xRewards Rate on Dining
    • 5xRewards Rate on Air Travel

  • An easy-to-use cash back card with quarterly rotating bonus categories

    • Good-ExcellentCredit Needed
    • $0Annual Fee
    • 1–5% Cash Back*Rewards Rate
    • 5xRewards Rate on Air Travel
    • 3xRewards Rate on Dining

  • Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

    A great no-annual-fee card that comes with rewards

    • Good-ExcellentCredit Needed
    • $0Annual Fee
    • 3% Cash Back*Rewards Rate
    • 3xRewards Rate on Entertainment
    • 2xRewards Rate on Groceries

  • Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

    One of the best cards available for Costco members who spend a lot on gas

    • ExcellentCredit Needed
    • $0Annual Fee
    • 1–4% Cash Back*Rewards Rate
    • 3xRewards Rate on Dining
    • 3xRewards Rate on Air Travel

  • Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

    A simple cash back card that’s best for everyday purchases.

    • Good-ExcellentCredit Needed
    • $0Annual Fee
    • 1–3% Cash Back*Rewards Rate
    • 2xRewards Rate on Gas
    • 1xRewards Rate on Groceries

Summary of the Best Cash Back Cards for No Annual Fee

Take a look at how all the top options fare against each other across parameters such as APRs, welcome offers and cash back rates by using this no-annual-fee cash back card comparison table.

  • Credit Card

    Best For

    Avg. Reward Rate

    Annual Fee

    Credit Needed

  • An excellent no-annual-fee card that lets you earn unlimited cash back

    1.5–5% Cash Back

    $0

    Excellent

  • An easy-to-use cash back card with quarterly rotating bonus categories

    1–5% Cash Back*

    $0

    Good-Excellent

  • A great no-annual-fee card that comes with rewards

    3% Cash Back*

    $0

    Good-Excellent

  • One of the best cards available for Costco members who spend a lot on gas

    1–4% Cash Back*

    $0

    Excellent

  • A simple cash back card that’s best for everyday purchases.

    1–3% Cash Back*

    $0

    Good-Excellent

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MONEYGEEK PRO TIP

Adding a no-annual-fee cash back credit card to your wallet offers the ability to earn attractive rewards on everyday purchases. While miles and points are appealing, the flexibility of cash is better for many consumers. -- Lee Huffman, credit card expert at BaldThoughts.com.

How to Compare Cash Back Credit Cards & Intro Offers

There is no single best cash back card with no annual fee because just about every card comes with its distinct features or benefits. This requires comparing your options based on different factors.

1

Cash back rate

Determine if you might benefit by earning a standard high cash back rate on all purchases or through even higher earn rates on category-based spending. For instance, the Citi® Double Cash Card lets you earn 1% cash back when you make purchases and 1% when you make your payments on time. On the other hand, the Chase Freedom Unlimited Card offers 5% cash back on travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards; 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, as well as on drugstore purchases; and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.

2

Welcome offers

Some of the top no-annual-fee cash back credit cards come with spend-based welcome offers. For example, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Card offers a one-time $200 early spend bonus if you spend at least $500 on purchases in the first three months. Similarly, the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has a welcome offer through which you may earn $200 back as a statement credit if you spend $2,000 on purchases within the first six months.

3

APRs

Bear in mind that the top cards from this segment come with varied APRs. Pay particular attention to your card's interest rate if you plan to maintain revolving balances on your card from one billing cycle to the next. Some of these cards come with time-based 0% APR offers on purchases and/or balance transfers as well.

5

Added benefits

Despite the fact that these cash back cards come with no annual fees, you can still expect basic card-specific benefits such as $0 fraud liability, purchase protection, extended warranty and basic travel insurance coverage.

Expert Advice For Finding the Right Card

Financial experts from across the U.S. have vetted our no-annual-fee cash back credit card reviews and provided answers to a few important questions with the aim of further simplifying your decision-making process.

  1. What are the common bonus categories that come with cash back cards?
  2. How does the expiration of cash back work with different cards?

Dr. Stephen Brincks

Dr. Stephen Brincks

Professor of Finance at San Diego State University

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*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.

Which credit card is best without annual fee?

Listed below are the best credit cards without annual fee offered by top banks in India..

Do any credit cards give 3% back?

There is no credit card currently on the market that gives 3% cash back on all purchases. The best flat-rate cash back credit cards typically give 2% cash back on all purchases.

Which bank is best for cash back?

Citi® Double Cash Card: Best for up to 2% cash back. Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for 1.5% cash back. Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card: Best for customizable 3% category. Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best for sign-up bonus.

Are cash back cards a good idea?

If you pay your credit card bill off in full every month, then cashback credit cards can be a great idea. This is because you're getting rewarded for spending money you would have spent anyway. If you don't always pay off your credit card bill in full, then cashback credit cards are not a good choice.