It is no secret that credit cards can be a great way to earn rewards on everyday purchases. But with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to figure out which card is best for you.
Moreover, if you are an avid foodie and travelers like us, chances are flights, hotels, and dining out account for a reasonably large portion of your spending. You also probably care about having a few solid $0 foreign transaction fee cards for your international travel.
In this blog post, I will talk about our favorite credit cards we use during our travels and for our everyday purchases, which get us good rewards and have zero annual fees. I will also share details about how you can score 5% or higher on dining and 3% or higher on travel and snag some fantastic offers, all for absolutely zero annual fees.
Most of these cards also have a signup bonus of $200 or higher! I have added my referral links in each card section, and I will be grateful if you use them. It helps me earn referral rewards that I can use to create more useful content 😍. Moreover, if you’r looking for more travel tips, head to the Tips & Recommendations page on the blog.
3 Reasons why we prefer No Annual Fee Credit Cards
There are plenty of credit card guides out there. You can even find an entire course dedicated to traveling the world using credit card points. So why yet another credit card post?
It is because this is perfect for those who like No Annual Fee Cards as much as we do. Although cards with annual fees have their time and place, Meenakshi and I really prefer using no AF cards for three reasons.
- Simplicity – Earn cash back and redeem it to your account balance or convert rewards into miles by simply linking to an airline.
- Flexibility: Not being tied to a particular travel or hotel partner.
- Cost savings: No annual fees mean more money in your pockets for traveling.
7 Best No Annual Fee Credit Cards We Recommend
Discover It
Discover It was our first-ever credit card in the US, and it still holds a special place in our wallets. This is a great starter card for people with no credit history that is easy to get approved for. And the best part? Every year, from January to March, it offers a whopping 5% cash back on all restaurant expenses. Plus, it has $0 foreign transaction fees, making it one of the top choices for international travelers.
Cash back: 5% on all Restaurants
Foreign transaction fee: $0
Chase Freedom Flex
Similar to the Discover card, the Chase Freedom Flex offers a special cash back rate on restaurant expenses every year, from April to June. At 7% cash back, this is the highest rate we have seen for dining out (even better than most credit cards with an annual fee).
Cash back: 7% on all Restaurants
Foreign transaction fee: 3%
Wells Fargo Autograph Card
This card is another one of our favorites. It offers 3% cash back on a wide variety of travel expenses, including flights, hotels, cruises, ride shares, rental cars, parking, and tolls. Plus, it offers the same cash back rate on restaurant expenses, making it a versatile option for both travel and dining.
Cash back: 7% on all Restaurants
Foreign transaction fee: $0
Capital One Quicksilver
If you are a regular reader of this blog, you will know how much we love using public transit. That means using rideshares for last-mile connectivity to reach the nearest bus stop or train station.
The Capital One Quicksilver card offers a complimentary Uber One membership, which we use frequently. It helps us get cabs quicker and at the lowest possible price.
The membership also offers 5% Uber credits on rides and free food delivery on Uber Eats. However, free food delivery is not very useful for us because of the several mandatory fees that come along with it. We usually use Uber Eats just for pickup, especially when there are attractive promotions run on the app. But, for those solely relying on food and grocery delivery, this is a generous offer. This card also has $0 foreign transaction fees.
Cash back: 5% on Uber
Foreign transaction fee: $0
Citi Custom Cash
This card is the most flexible of all our options. It offers 5% cash back on your top spending category each month, up to a max spend limit of $500 per statement. Thus, Citi Custom Cash is one of the most versatile cards and makes an excellent choice for your diverse spending habits.
We basically designate this card as our dining card for the remaining year after Q1 and Q2 (the dining cards are already covered above in #1 and #2).
Cash back: 5% on top spending category each month with a $500 capping per statement
Foreign transaction fee: 3%
Amex Cash Magnet Card
When it comes to special offers, Amex Cash Magnet Card is our go-to card. It has consistently offered excellent cash back deals on a variety of airlines, making it a great option for frequent flyers. We just snagged a $50 cash back on our recent flight booking on Delta Airlines. Plus, this card also offers incredible deals on various streaming platforms.
This year, we also purchased the Frontier Discount Den Membership Program to save on flight tickets. We have had a good experience so far, and have gotten value-for-money tickets for various destinations.
Cash back: Great for airlines (% or $ varies based on carrier)
Foreign transaction fee: 2.7%
Bilt Mastercard
Did you ever think paying rent would help you earn points? Which you can then convert into miles. You heard that right! This card was a game-changer for us. One of our friends recommended this card, and we’ve been earning a good % of rewards by simply paying our monthly rent. You can set up your rent payments on this card and earn miles on your favorite airlines. This card also has $0 foreign transaction fees.
Cash back: Earn miles for airlines
Foreign transaction fee: $0
So there you have it! Our top picks for no-annual-fee credit cards we use for our travel, which help us save a generous amount of money. Remember, the best card for you depends on your spending habits and lifestyle. Whether you’re a frequent traveler, a foodie, or a renter, there are several no-annual fee cards out there for you.
Happy cash back-ing!
Cover photo credits: Clay Banks on Unsplash
