Best No Annual Fee Travel Credit Cards of October 2025
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Written by
David McMillin
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Edited by
Emily Gadd
Many of the best travel credit cards charge hefty annual fees in exchange for big rewards and fancy perks. However, there are plenty of travel credit cards with no annual fee to consider, too. The rewards won’t be as lucrative as some of the premium cards that charge hundreds of dollars each year, but as long as you’re paying your balance in full each month, it’s all upside.
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Read on to learn about how the best no annual fee travel credit cards work and which options make the most sense based on your lifestyle.
Quick Overview: Best No Annual Fee Travel Credit Cards
| Our Choice For | Credit Range | Annual Fee | Highlights | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Travel |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
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$0 |
Unlimited 1.5 Points per $1 on all purchases, generous intro APR, 25,000 bonus points opportunity worth $250 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
Apply Now
More Details
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| $0 Annual Fee Travel Card |
Excellent, Good
670 – 850*
|
$0 |
Earn a welcome bonus and 1.25X – 5X rewards Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day.
Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Apply Now
More Details
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| Travel |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
|
$0 |
Earn a first year bonus plus Earn Unlimited 1.5x Miles Per Dollar On All Purchases
Apply Now
More Details
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|
Travel |
Good – Excellent
670 – 850*
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$0 |
Earn a welcome bonus and 1X – 5X rewards 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center
4X on travel 4X at gas stations and EV charging stations on your first $1,000 each quarter (excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs) 2X on dining, streaming services and at grocery stores (excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs) 1X point on all other eligible purchases
Full Review
More Details
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| 3x Points On Top Categories |
Excellent/Good
670 – 850*
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$0 |
Earn a welcome bonus and 1X – 3X rewards Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. Plus earn 1X points on other purchases.
Apply Now
More Details
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Rewards on Rent |
Excellent/Good
670-850*
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$0 |
Charge your rent with no transaction fee
Full Review
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Detailed Overview: Best Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee
Top Feature
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
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends a 17.99% – 27.99% Variable APR will apply.
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.
If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25% – 75% more points on every purchase.
Card Details From Issuer
- 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.
- Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
- Earn 3 points per $1 spent on travel purchases booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.
- Use your card to book your trip how and where you want – you’re not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
- Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 17.99% – 27.99% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%. Balance transfers may not be used to pay any account provided by Bank of America.
- If you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases. You could earn 3.75-5.25 points for every $1 you spend on travel purchases made through the Bank of America Travel Center.
- Contactless Cards – The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
Top Feature
For a limited time, earn $300 in travel bonuses. Enjoy $100 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $300 in travel
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
0% intro on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then 18.99% – 28.99% (Variable)
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Card Details From Issuer
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn $300 in travel bonuses. Enjoy $100 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 20,000 bonus miles once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening – that’s equal to $300 in travel
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- 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, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- 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; 18.99% – 28.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
Top Feature
Discover will match all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
0% Intro APR on purchases and on balance transfers for 15 months, then 17.99% – 26.99% Variable APR
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- UNLIMITED BONUS: 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. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match. You could turn 35,000 Miles into 70,000 Miles.
- Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
- No annual fee.
- Turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants, and more.
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.99% – 26.99% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Top Feature
Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
0% Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 billing cycles. After that, a variable APR applies, currently 17.99%-27.99%.
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
4X on travel
4X at gas stations and EV charging stations on your first $1,000 each quarter (excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs)
2X on dining, streaming services and at grocery stores (excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs)
1X point on all other eligible purchases
Card Details From Issuer
- Intro Offer: Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening. That’s a $200 value redeemable towards travel.
- 5X points on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked directly in the Altitude Rewards Center.
- 4X on travel.
- 4X at gas stations and EV charging stations on your first $1,000 each quarter (excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs).
- 2X on dining, streaming services and at grocery stores (excludes discount stores/supercenters and wholesale clubs).
- 1X point on all other eligible purchases.
- Up to $100 in statement credits for TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry® toward your application fee once every four years.
- Redeem points right away or save them for later. Points do not expire as long as the account remains active
- Protection and assistance when traveling with Trip Cancellation/Interruption, Trip Delay Reimbursement and SmartDelay.
- Complimentary Priority Pass™ Select membership gives you 4 free visits to over 1,600 airport VIP lounges and experiences worldwide.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Top Feature
Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s a $200 cash redemption value.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases, followed by a 18.99%, 24.99%, or 28.99% Variable APR. A 18.99%, 24.99%, or 28.99% Variable APR will apply for balance transfers.
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Card Details From Issuer
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn 20,000 bonus points when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s a $200 cash redemption value.
- Earn unlimited 3X points on the things that really add up – like restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans. Plus, earn 1X points on other purchases.
- $0 annual fee.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. 18.99%, 24.99%, or 28.99% variable APR thereafter.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
- Redeem your rewards points for travel, gift cards, or statement credits. Or shop at millions of online stores and redeem your rewards when you check out with PayPal.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
** Information for the following card was not reviewed by Wells Fargo or provided by Wells Fargo
Top Feature
N/A
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
See Terms
CardCritics™ Opinion
Recommended Credit Score
Annual Fee
Rewards
Earn 1x points on rent without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points in a calendar year. When you use the card 5 times each statement period using your Bilt Mastercard, you’ll earn points on rent and qualifying net purchases.
Card Details From Issuer
- $0 Annual Fee
- Earn 1x points on rent payments without the transaction fee, up to 100,000 points each calendar year
- Earns 3x points on dining
- Earn 2x points on travel
- Earn 1x points on other purchases
- Earn double points on the first of each month (excluding rent, up to 1,000 bonus points)
- Use the card 5 times each statement period to earn points
- Earn up to 5x Bilt points on Lyft rides when you link your Bilt account and pay with your Bilt card
- Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent payments, statement credits, toward a down payment on a home, etc.
- Select “Apply Now” to learn more about the product features, terms, and conditions
- See Rates & Fees
How Do No Annual Fee Travel Cards Work?
No annual fee travel credit cards all have one key selling point in common: You don’t have to pay a yearly fee just to have one in your wallet. Additionally, the cards on our list don’t charge foreign transaction fees, which means that you won’t have to pay extra just for using them outside the U.S.
Each travel card works a bit differently, however, depending on the card’s rewards structure and currency. For example, with hotel or airline credit cards, your purchases will help you rack up points or miles with that specific brand. With flexible rewards credit cards, you have more versatility to redeem your points for travel, statement credits, gift cards and more.
The bad news: No annual fee cards typically don’t offer other appealing perks of higher-end travel credit cards. The adage of “you get what you pay for” rings true here: In most cases, you aren’t going to be able to flash one of these cards to enter a VIP lounge, and nice-to-have travel protections like car rental insurance and baggage delay coverage may be absent, too.
How To Choose the Best No Annual Fee Travel Card for You
The bold “no annual fee” headline might catch your eye when you’re choosing a travel credit card, but it’s essential to dig deeper into the details before applying. Travel credit cards are not all created equal, so ask yourself these questions as you’re combing through the fine print.
What’s the Welcome Bonus Really Worth?
Credit card issuers are hungry for new customers, and they’ll dangle attractive-sounding welcome bonuses in front of you to get you dreaming of your next vacation. However, it’s important to do the math to determine what you’ll be able to do with 30,000 miles or 40,000 points.
In some cases, the value is straightforward, such as with the Wells Fargo Autograph Card, which offers 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening, worth $200 when you redeem for cash.
In other cases, you may need to research to estimate how your bonus will translate to actual travel. For example, if you’re hoping to cover some of the costs of an upcoming vacation with a welcome bonus from a co-branded airline or hotel credit card, check out award prices and availability. Are you actually going to be able to get to Hawaii? Or will you need to make three connections with your new point balance?
Are You Absolutely in Love With a Travel Brand?
Maybe you live near an airport where one carrier is the go-to option, like Delta Air Lines in Atlanta (ATL). Or perhaps you continually find yourself booking hotel rooms that fall under the same loyalty program umbrella, like Marriott Bonvoy, which owns more than 30 brands.
In these scenarios, it can be wise to look at cards linked to these loyalty programs that can offer extra perks. The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, for example, offers automatic Silver elite status. If your loyalty is up for grabs, however, you’re better off with a more flexible card that offers elevated rewards on travel, no matter where you’re going or how you’re getting there.
What Else Can You Do With the Rewards?
If you aren’t fully committed to flying on one airline or staying in one type of hotel, the ability to transfer rewards to other travel partners can make a major difference in your next trip. You might be able to find low-priced award nights, or you can occasionally manage to find deals on business-class seats for a much more comfortable trip.
Transfer powers aren’t as widely available without paying an annual fee, but the Capital One VentureOne Card is a notable exception: Cardholders can transfer Capital One miles to more than 15 airline and hotel partners.
How Much Are You Going To Earn for Your Spending?
If you’re focused on avoiding an annual fee, you’re probably not a road warrior who spends hundreds of days away from home. With that in mind, you need to consider whether you’ll be able to maximize credit card rewards on your everyday purchases, too. For example, the Wells Fargo One Key Card offers 3% back in OneKeyCash on gas stations, dining and grocery stores.
And with the Hilton Honors American Express Card, the base reward rate, which applies to every purchase outside of the bonus categories, is still 3 points per dollar, which means that big spenders can really see the points start to add up quickly.
How Accessible and Valuable Are the Card’s Benefits?
In addition to standard reward structures that apply to your purchases, some no annual fee travel credit cards offer some incentives for bigger spenders. For example, the IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card offers 10,000 bonus points if you spend at least $10,000 each year. That’s a decent extra pile of points, but it’s also a fairly large spending threshold.
The New United Gateway℠ Card, meanwhile, will give you two free checked bags — but only after you spend $10,000 in a calendar year. That’s not exactly a huge return. If you’re thinking about spending that much each year, too, you may want to consider dealing with an annual fee. The New United℠ Explorer Card’s $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $150 may be a turn-off, but it comes with a free checked bag for you and a companion on United flights when you charge the fare to your card.
What Is Travel?
Wait, you might say, isn’t that a pretty simple question to answer? For you and me, yes. However, what is considered travel can vary by issuer, with some excluding trains and buses from the category, for instance. Others will offer elevated travel rewards on more niche services like boat rentals and parking garages.
You’ll also want to consider how you like to book your trips. If you’re willing to make adjustments to that practice, you may be able to score the best rewards rates possible. Cards like the Capital One VentureOne Card pay the highest rewards rate for making hotel and car rental reservations through the bank’s travel portal.
Pros and Cons of a Travel Credit Card With No Annual Fee
The lack of an annual fee is worth celebrating, but you’ll want to weigh the full slate of advantages and drawbacks of no annual fee travel credit cards before applying.
Pros
- No upfront annual costs to worry about
- Relatively easy-to-attain welcome bonus rewards with spending thresholds as low as $500
- Easy to find options with no foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Fewer benefits and lower rewards rates than you’ll get in exchange for paying an annual fee
- Extra incentives typically require large annual spending power in the tens of thousands of dollars per year
- More limited protections and peace of mind — it’s rare to find perks like trip cancellation/interruption insurance and auto rental coverage with no annual fee cards
Alternatives To Consider
Even if you love to get away from home, you don’t necessarily need a travel-specific credit card. Depending on your lifestyle, you may be just as well off with one of these no annual fee cards, none of which add foreign transaction fees.
- Prime Visa: Amazon Prime members can earn an impressive 5% back on purchases made with Amazon, Whole Foods and Chase Travel℠, plus 2% back at restaurants, gas stations and on transit. Benefits include auto rental coverage, delayed baggage insurance and lost luggage reimbursement, in addition to purchase protection and extended warranty.
- Discover it® Cash Back: This card earns 5% back in categories that rotate quarterly, on up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter (then 1%) after activation. While light on other benefits, it’s a good pick for those who prefer rotating category credit cards.
- Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card: If you’re a foodie, this card deserves a place in your wallet. You’ll earn 3% cash back on dining and grocery stores, and on entertainment and select streaming services, too. And when you do want to hit the road, you can earn 5% back on hotels, vacation rentals, and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel.
If you’re loyal to a specific hotel chain or airline, consider these co-branded no annual fee credit cards as well (none charge foreign transaction fees):
- Hotel cards: Marriott Bonvoy Bold, IHG Traveler Card, Hilton Honors, Choice Privileges® Mastercard®
- Airline cards: United Gateway Card, Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, JetBlue Card
The information related to Bilt Mastercard®**, The New United℠ Explorer Card, The New United Gateway℠ Card, Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card, IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card, U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card, Choice Privileges® Mastercard®, Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card, Hilton Honors American Express Card, Prime Visa, and JetBlue Card was collected by CardCritics™ and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this product/card. Product details may vary. Please see issuer website for current information. CardCritics™ does not receive a commission for these products.
Frequently Asked Questions About No Annual Fee Travel Credit Cards
Will the insurance on my travel credit card cover my trip?
It depends on the card, although most of the best travel insurance credit cards charge annual fees. Some no annual fee travel credit cards offer protections for cancelling or interrupting a trip and for lost baggage. However, the coverage is typically capped at a relatively low amount. If your trip is more expensive, you may want to look into purchasing additional travel insurance.
Why do travel credit cards charge annual fees?
Not all do. However, the travel credit cards that have a yearly cost typically offer valuable perks such as credits for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry application fees, access to airport lounges, free checked baggage and more.
Do no annual fee travel credit cards have car rental insurance?
Some travel cards with no annual fee include rental car coverage, but it’s almost always secondary insurance, which only kicks in after your personal policy (if you have one) pays out. One notable exception is the Bilt Mastercard, which offers up to $50,000 in auto rental coverage for damage and theft on a primary basis (except for New York residents).
How Do Our Critics Evaluate the Cards?
All of the credit cards featured on CardCritics™ are assessed using the same criteria. Our critics evaluate fees, interest rates, balance transfer options, introductory bonuses, rewards, additional benefits and the average credit score required for approval.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics™ references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.