Cards without annual fees are great for helping you to build your credit because you don’t need to worry about paying annual fees. Scroll down to learn of the top five no annual fee credit cards:
When you choose a card that doesn’t have an annual fee, you can build your credit by simply paying it off each month and can keep it open without worrying about being charged annual fees. This can help you to improve your credit because it can be affected by the length of your credit accounts. Many of these cards also offer rewards and other benefits about which you might be unaware.
If you are wanting to get a new credit card, choosing a card without an annual fee does not mean that you will have to forgo rewards. Each of these cards is great choices, depending on the types of rewards and benefits for which you are searching.
Citi Simplicity Card
The Citi Simplicity Card charges no annual fee and has an excellent zero percent interest introductory period of 18 months for both purchases and balance transfers. After that, the interest rate will be variable and range from 15.49 to 25.49 percent APR. To be approved for this card, you are recommended to have a credit score from 690 to 850. The card also does not charge any late fees.
Pros of the Citi Simplicity Card
- No annual fee
- No interest introductory period of 18 months for balance transfers and purchases
- No late fees
Cons of the Citi Simplicity Card
- Does not offer any rewards
- High-interest rate after the introductory period ends
Bank of America Travel Rewards Card
The Bank of America Travel Rewards Card is the best choice for travel rewards. With this card, you can earn an unlimited 1.5 points for every dollar that you spend. If you spend $1,000 on your card during the first 90 days, you will be given 20,000 bonus points that can be used for a credit against your travel purchases of $200. You are also able to book your travel however you want and will not be limited to specific dates or sites.
The card has an introductory rate of zero percent for 12 billing cycles before reverting to a variable interest rate of 16.49 percent to 24.49 percent APR. To get this card, the recommended credit score is between 690 and 850.
Pros of the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card
- Bonus of 10 percent of your points if you have a Bank of America Checking Account and 25 to 75 percent if you are a Preferred Rewards customer
- Decent rewards rate
- Generous sign-up bonus of 20,000 points if you make $1,000 in purchases during the first 90 days
Cons of the Bank of America Travel Rewards Card
- Ongoing rate is high after the zero percent introductory period ends
Discover it Cashback Match Card
To get the Discover it Cashback Match card, you will need to have a credit score that ranges from 690 to 850. This card is an excellent choice if you want to earn cash back from a revolving range of bonus categories. The bonus categories change each quarter and allow you to earn five percent cash back on your purchases that are made at such places as gas stations, Amazon.com, grocery stores, and restaurants. For all other purchases, you will automatically earn one percent cash back.
It has an introductory rate of zero percent interest for 14 months on both purchases and balance transfers. When it ends, the rate will be variable and range from 13.49 percent to 24.49 percent APR.
Pros of the Discover it Cashback Match
- No annual fee
- Good cash back rewards program
- Rewards never expire and can be redeemed at any time
Cons of the Discover it Cashback Match
- High-interest rate after the introductory period expires
- You have to remember to activate your rotating bonus rewards to get them
Citi Double Cash Card
The Citi Double Cash Card has no annual fee and offers one of the best flat cash back rewards programs. To get this card, you will need to have a credit score ranging from 690 to 850.
You earn one percent cash back for all your purchases and an additional one percent cash back when you pay your purchases off. It has an introductory APR of zero percent for 18 months before reverting to a variable APR of 14.99 percent to 24.99 percent.
Pros of the Citi Double Cash Card
- Long introductory zero percent APR period
- Good cash back rewards that do not rotate
- No spending caps for rewards
Cons of the Citi Double Cash Card
- Does not offer a sign-up bonus
- High APR once the introductory period passes
Discover it Secured Card
The Discover it Secured Card is an excellent option for you if you have bad or limited credit. In order to be approved for this card, you will need to make a deposit that will serve as your credit limit. The minimum deposit is $200.
This is one of the few secured credit cards that do not charge high annual fees. You also earn cash back with every purchase that you make. You can earn two percent cash back for gas station and restaurant purchases up to a total of $1,000 per year. You will also earn one percent cash back on all other purchases that you make.
This card has a balance transfer APR of 10.99 percent for the first six months. The purchase APR and the ongoing APR for balance transfers is 24.49 percent.
Pros of the Discover it Secured Card
- Free Social Security number alerts from Discover for high-risk websites
- No-annual-fee secured card
- Accepts people who have bad or limited credit
Cons of the Discover it Secured Card
- No introductory period for purchases
- High ongoing APR, so you will want to make certain to not carry a balance on your card