U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card
With no rewards program or signup bonus, this card offers one of the longest 0% intro APR periods for both purchases and balance transfers on a credit card. For no annual fee, you’ll also get a more uncommon, but handy benefit: Up to $600 in Cell Phone Protection. View More >
Discover it® Cash Back
As far as no annual fee cash back cards go, the Discover it® Cash Back ranks among the best. You’ll get 5% cash back in quarterly rotating categories, up to $1,500 spent per quarter (then 1%; activation required). And Discover will double that for your first year! There’s also a solid 0% introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers. View More >
Chase Freedom®
This popular no annual fee Chase Visa card offers 5% cash back in categories that rotate every three months. If you don’t like being tied down to just a few bonus categories, the Freedom gives you opportunities to earn on different purchases throughout the year. View More >Related Suggestions
No Annual Fee Credit Cards For Bad Credit
Secured cards are designed for people with bad, limited, or no credit, so they usually come with pretty unfavorable terms. But the Discover it Secured is different, and even provides a decent rewards program. Not only that, your cash back is doubled for the first year! That’s even better than some reward credit cards.
Food (Restaurants and Groceries)
The Bank of America® Cash Rewards Credit Card (Review) is one of the most flexible cash back cards around, with a 3% bonus category you can change every month. Dining is one of your choices, along with quite a few other useful options, and you’ll always get grocery stores for one of your smaller categories.
Travel Rewards with No Annual Fee
The Capital One® VentureOne® Rewards Credit Card (Review) is the top no fee travel card because it offers a decent reward rate for every purchase you make, with the ability to transfer your miles to a variety of airline partners. It can help you travel for free without putting an extra strain on your wallet, as long as you avoid interest and other fees.
Signup Bonus Credit Card
The signup bonus — one of the most valuable and coveted credit card features, with the potential to put a huge dent in your spending or help you score free flights and hotel stays. Many rewards cards come with signup bonuses, also known as introductory bonuses or welcome bonuses. These bonus offers can provide a surprising amount of value, with returns on spending ranging from around 20% on average to more than 50% in some cases.
Rotating Bonus Categories
A typical rotating bonus category earns 5%, while other cards are limited to earning 2% or 3% cash back, says Daniel Gillaspia, travel and rewards expert and founder of the travel rewards blog UponArriving. Category choices are gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drugstores, or home improvement/furnishings.
