While I truly believe that credit card annual fees are often worth it, I know many people are looking for cards without them. Here are my top recommendations for cards with no annual fee.

Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

This card is marketed as a cash-back card but it actually earns my favorite points – Ultimate Rewards®. You can make these points flexible (aka – able to transfer to travel partners) by combining them with a Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, a Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Sapphire Reserve for Business℠ Card, or an Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card.

This is one of my favorite cards because it earns 1.5% on all purchases, and since it’s a business card, it doesn’t count against your 5/24 number.

FYI, you don’t need a registered business to qualify for business cards. Any small side hustle counts. Learn more about getting business cards in this article.

Related: Big changes to the Sapphire Preferred

<All information about the Ink Business Unlimited and Preferred Card, and Chase Sapphire Preferred and Reserve has been collected independently by The Traveling Hansens. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.>

Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Like the Ink Unlimited, this card is marketed as a cash-back card, but actually earns Ultimate Rewards®. To make them flexible, you can combine them with one of the cards I mentioned above.

This card earns 5% on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable and phone services each account anniversary year. It also earns 2% on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year. It also will not count against 5/24.

Related: All About Chase Ink Business Cards

<All information about the Ink Business Cash® Card has been collected independently by The Traveling Hansens. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.>

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

This card earns 1.5% back on all purchases.

It’s a great catch-all card if you’re looking for a no-annual-fee card with a solid return on your spending. Like the previous two cards, it’s advertised as cash-back, but it actually earns Ultimate Rewards®. Similarly, you will need one of the three cards I mentioned at the beginning to make the points flexible.

<All information about the Chase Freedom Unlimited® has been collected independently by The Traveling Hansens. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.>

Chase Freedom Flex®

Like the other cards, the bonus is given as Ultimate Rewards® and needs an additional card to make them flexible.

Here are the earning categories:

• Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories, which rotate each quarter. These categories have to be activated each quarter. Past categories have included gas stations, supermarkets, Amazon, PayPal, and more.
• Earn 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• Earn 3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services) and drugstore purchases
• Earn 1% back on all other purchases

<All information about the Chase Freedom Flex® has been collected independently by The Traveling Hansens. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.>

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

This card is the no-fee version of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. The VentureOne earns 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase and 5 miles per dollar on hotel and rental car bookings through Capital One Travel.

Related: All About Capital One Miles

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

This card earns cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and on U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year in each category, then 1%). Since these are some of the most common spending categories, this card can be a great fee-free option to keep in your wallet.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

The card has an introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year, then it’s $95 per year (rates and fees). Amex tends to have higher annual fees than other banks, so this is a great option for no fee/a low fee.

This card is a very popular choice for spending on groceries and gas because it earns 6% back (up to $6,000) at U.S. supermarkets and 3% back at U.S. gas stations. Other spending categories include:

• 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
• 3% back on transit including taxis/rideshare, parking, tolls, trains, buses and more
• 1% back on everything else

Related: All About American Express Membership Rewards®

---

If you’re ready to grab a card with an annual fee, or none of these look like a good fit for you, be sure to check out my top recommended cards page!