Maria Adams, Credit Cards Moderator
@m_adams
The most elite credit cards with no annual fee are the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card and the Chase Freedom Unlimited® card. Both have excellent rewards, offer introductory APRs on purchases and balance transfers, and don’t charge annual fees.
Most Elite Credit Cards with No Annual Fee
Minimum Credit Limit: $1,000
Initial Bonus: $200 cash rewards after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months
Ongoing Rewards: 2% cash rewards on purchases
Foreign Transaction Fee: 3%
Annual Fee: $0
Credit Score: Good
Minimum Credit Limit: Not disclosed
Initial Bonus: $250 statement credit for spending $3,000 on eligible purchases in the first 6 months
Ongoing Rewards: 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 spent per year), 6% back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% back at eligible U.S. gas stations and on transit, and 1% back on other eligible purchases, received as rewards dollars (which can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout)
Foreign Transaction Fee: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars
Annual Fee: $0 intro 1st yr, $95 after
Credit Score: Good
Minimum Credit Limit: N/A
Initial Bonus: 10,000 points after spending $500 or 20,000 points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days
Ongoing Rewards: 3 points per $1 spent on dining and entertainment purchases, 2 points per $1 spent on gas and grocery store purchases, and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%
Annual Fee: $0
Credit Score: Good
Minimum Credit Limit: N/A
Initial Bonus: N/A
Ongoing Rewards: 4% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center
Foreign Transaction Fee: 3%
Annual Fee: $0
Credit Score: Good
Minimum Credit Limit: N/A
Initial Bonus: N/A
Ongoing Rewards: 1% cash back on all eligible purchases, up to 1.25% back after 6 months of on-time payments, and 1.5% cash back after 12 consecutive months of paying on time
Foreign Transaction Fee: 0%
Annual Fee: $0
Credit Score: Limited History
Minimum Credit Limit: N/A
Initial Bonus: 30,000 points after spending $3,000 within the first 90 days
Ongoing Rewards: 2 points per $1 spent on all purchases
Foreign Transaction Fee: 3%
Annual Fee: $0
Credit Score: Good
At the end of the day, elite and no annual fee are not always synonymous when it comes to credit cards. Cards with annual fees tend to offer more rewards and benefits. Generally, the higher the annual fee, the more rewards you would get. Some of the best elite credit cards with fees include the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card.
Popular No Annual Fee Credit Cards
-
Cash Back
-
Bonus Cash Rewards
-
Travel
-
0% Intro APR
Jonathan Reed, Member
@jon_reed_code
Here’s my ranking:
- Chase Freedom Unlimited - 1.5% to 5% back
- Wells Fargo Active Cash - 2% cash on everything plus extra perks
- Citi Double Cash - Basically 2% back if you pay on time
- Capital One Quicksilver - 1.5% flat + no foreign fees
Madison Bell, Member
@maddie_bell
Definitely one of these cash back cards. Travel rewards cards without annual fees aren’t that elite, in my experience.
Andrew Young, Member
@a_young_1984
Check out the Alliant Visa Signature Card. Not a lot of people have it, and it has great rewards and no annual fee. You need excellent credit though.
Lily CC, Member
@lily_camp
In my opinion, the real no-annual-fee MVPs are:
- Wells Fargo Active Cash - 2% flat, no games
- Chase Freedom Unlimited - 3% dining/drugs, 1.5% baseline (If you ever plan to travel, pool those points with a Sapphire card, and suddenly your 1.5% becomes ~2% in value.)
- Citi Double Cash - 2% but less flexible than Active Cash
People also ask
What is the best cash back credit card with no annual fee?
The best cash back credit card with no annual fee is the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card because it gives 2% cash rewards on purchases and has a $0 annual fee. New Wells Fargo Active Cash cardholders also earn $200 cash rewards after spending $500 on purchases in the first 3 months. You will need good credit or better to be eligible for this card.
Best Cash Back Credit Cards with No...
read full answer by Lisa Cahill, Credit Cards ModeratorWhat is the World Elite Mastercard annual fee?
The World Elite Mastercard annual fees range from $99 to $1,199, depending on the card. Although most World Elite Mastercard credit cards do charge a fee, Mastercard does not determine annual fees because it does not issue its own cards. Instead, the banks and credit unions that issue credit cards on the Mastercard network decide the fees. The purpose of an annual fee is to reduce the cost of the card’s rewards and benefits for the issuer.
...
read full answer by Adam McCann, Financial WriterWhat is the best luxury credit card?
One of the best luxury cards is the American Express Platinum Card® because it offers great rewards, provides complimentary airport lounge access, and gives you the chance to earn valuable statement credits each year. But luxury comes at a cost, and this prestigious metal card charges a $895 annual fee.
Best Luxury Cards of October 2025
- Rates & Fees Terms ApplyBest Overall:
- Rates & Fees Terms ApplyBest Overall:
- Best Overall:
- Black Card:
- Black Card:
- Black Card:
- Rates & Fees Best for Chase Travel:
- Rates & Fees Best for Chase Travel:
- Best for Chase Travel:
- Details, Rates & Fees Best for Lounge Access:
- Details, Rates & Fees Best for Lounge Access:
- Best for Lounge Access:
- Rates & Fees Terms ApplyBest Hotel Rewards:
- Rates & Fees Terms ApplyBest Hotel Rewards:
- Best Hotel Rewards:
- Rates & Fees Terms ApplyBest Airline Rewards:
- Rates & Fees Best Airline Rewards:
- Best Airline Rewards:
- Rates & Fees Terms ApplyBest for Business:
- Rates & Fees Best for Business:
- Best for Business:
- Best Overall:
- Black Card:
- Best for Chase Travel:
- Best for Lounge Access:
- Best Hotel Rewards:
- Best Airline Rewards:
- Best for Business:
What Is a Luxury Card?
A luxury card is a premium card designed for high-income individuals who...
read full answer by John S Kiernan, Managing EditorDid we answer your question?
Important Disclosures
Ad Disclosure: Certain offers that appear on this site originate from paying advertisers. For full transparency, here is a list of our current advertisers.
Advertising impacts how and where offers appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear and their prevalence). At WalletHub we try to present a wide array of offers, but our offers do not represent all financial services companies or products.
Advertising enables WalletHub to provide you proprietary tools, services, and content at no charge. Advertising does not impact WalletHub's editorial content including our best picks, reviews, ratings and opinions. Those are completely independent and not provided, commissioned, or endorsed by any company, as our editors follow a strict editorial policy.