Some Chase cards are currently not available on CNBC Select, but you can check out our marketplace to compare offers from other issuers, including American Express and Citi.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
Cash-back credit cards are a great way to save on everyday spending. If you don't want to be charged to reap rewards, there are options without an annual fee.
Below, we've made our top picks for cash-back credit cards with no annual fee, calling out the best option for dining out, groceries, rotating categories and more.
Best no annual fee cash-back credit cards
- Best for intro APR: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
- Best for flexible bonus categories: Chase Freedom Flex®
- Best for everyday spending: Citi Double Cash® Card
- Best for welcome bonus: Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees)
- Best for groceries: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
- Best for dining: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Best credit union: PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
- Best for students: Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Best for digital wallet payments: Samsung Galaxy Card
Best for intro APR: Wells Fargo Active Cash
Who's this for? The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is ideal for those who want to earn cash rewards, but might need more time to pay off their credit card balance. You can take advantage of a generous intro APR for purchases and qualifying balance transfers.
Standout benefits: This card earns 2% cash rewards on purchases, plus, if you pay your monthly cell phone bill with this card, you can qualify for cell phone protection. This coverage has a $25 deductible and covers up to $600 per claim, with a maximum of two claims per year.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is great if you want simplicity thanks to its flat-rate 2% unlimited cash rewards on purchases and $0 annual fee.
- High, unlimited flat-rate return on purchases
- Intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- Lower introductory balance transfer fee
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft (subject to a $25 deductible)
- Charges a 3% foreign transaction fee
- Balance transfer fee increases to 5% of each transfer (minimum $5) after 120 days
- Limited redemption options unless you pair it with a Wells Fargo card that allows point transfers
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign Transaction Fee
3%
Best for flexible bonus categories: Chase Freedom Flex
Who's this for? The Chase Freedom Flex® is ideal if your spending habits change from month to month but you still want to maximize your rewards. You'll earn 5% cash back after activation on up to the first $1,500 spent in combined purchases each quarter, and the categories rotate every three months.
Standout benefits: As long as you activate the quarterly categories by the 14th day of the third month of each quarter, you'll earn heightened rewards on those purchases.
The Chase Freedom Flex® is an excellent cash-back card with generous rotating quarterly categories. In additional the rewards, you also can take advantage of the intro APRs for purchases and balance transfer for more than a year.
- Long intro APR for purchases and balance transfers
- Rewarding quarterly bonus categories
- No annual fee
- Bonus categories are capped each quarter
- Has a foreign transaction fee
Rewards
- 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate (then 1%)
- 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠
- 3% on drugstore purchases and on dining (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, on transfers made within 60 days of account opening. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Best for everyday spending: Citi Double Cash
Who's this for? Those who want to earn cash back without fuss should consider the Citi Double Cash® Card. You can earn 2% cash back on all purchases: 1% when you make a purchase and an additional 1% when you pay your credit card bill.
Standout benefits: While the earnings rate may be lower than other cards' bonus categories, it's consistent, and you don't have to worry about what category you're spending in. You can redeem the cash back for statement credits or a check, and since you earn the cash back as Citi ThankYou® points, you can also transfer your rewards to all of Citi's travel partners.
What makes the Citi Double Cash® Card special is that it sits near the top of its class in several categories. It is an excellent option if you want flat-rate rewards, a balance transfer intro-APR or no annual fee.
- Balance transfers get a long intro APR
- Generous flat-rate cash-back rewards structure
- Earns transferable rewards
- No annual fee
- It has a foreign transaction fee
- Intro APR only applies to balance transfer
- Points transfer ratios are reduced compared to premium cards
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.49% - 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Balance transfer fee
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Best for welcome bonus: Chase Freedom Unlimited
Who's this for? Consumers who want a robust rewards card with no annual fee should consider the Chase Freedom Unlimited®. You'll earn a $200 cash-back bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first three months from account opening.
Standout benefits: In addition to earning 1.5% cash back on all your purchases, you'll also earn an elevated 3% back at drugstores and 3% back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services. The card earns Ultimate Rewards points, which can be paired with a premium Chase card down the line for even better redemption options.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee card that earns generous cash-back on everyday purchases and a lucrative welcome bonus. Plus, if you pair it with a premium Chase credit card that allows point transfers, you can convert your cash back into flexible travel rewards.
- Users get a high rewards rate and strong welcome bonus
- Purchases and balance transfers receive an intro APR
- No annual fee
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- Few rewarding ongoing benefits
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the United States!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 27.74%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, in the first 60 days. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Best for groceries: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Who's this for? The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a competitive no-annual-fee card for grocery shoppers (see rates and fees). Earn 3% cash back* at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 per year in eligible purchases, then 1%).
Standout benefits: You can also earn 3% cash back* at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 in eligible purchases per year, then 1%), 3% cash back* at on U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 in eligible purchases per year, then 1%) and the card comes with an $84 Disney Streaming Credit, split into $7 monthly statement credits (subject to auto-renewal; enrollment required) valid only at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com or Stream.ESPN.com in the U.S.).
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has no annual fee and bonus rewards on a wide range of common expenditures. On top of that, you also have access to an intro-APR offer for purchases and balance transfers. So this card can help you save in a variety of ways.
- Up to $264 in streaming service and meal kit credits every year (subject to auto renewal)
- High cash-back rates in popular spending categories
- No annual fee
- The best bonus cash-back categories are capped
- Has a foreign transaction fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $200 cash back* after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $2,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- No Annual Fee.
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.49%-28.49%.
- Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on eligible purchases for each category on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $7 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars
Best for dining: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards
Who's this for? Foodies and entertainment junkies can maximize rewards with the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, which provides one of the highest cash-back rates on dining and entertainment purchases at 3%.
Standout benefits: Plus, earn a limited-time $250 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. The Savor Cash Rewards Card also offers a slew of other perks, such as access to exclusive entertainment events (concerts, food experiences, sporting events) and no foreign transaction fees.
The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the most rewarding options for earning cash back in categories such as entertainment and dining without paying an annual fee. Plus, you can combine its rewards with Capital One's travel cards to convert them into transferable miles.
- One of the most rewarding cash back cards for entertainment and streaming services
- No annual fee
- Easy-to-earn welcome bonus
- High APR
- Requires a good to excellent credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- For a limited time, earn a one-time $250 cash bonus once you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months; 18.74% - 28.74% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
Introductory fee of 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account during the first 12 months that your account is open. After that, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that we may offer you at any other time.
Best from a credit union: PenFed Power Cash Rewards
Who's this for? The PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card is a solid card for someone interested in being a part of a credit union. Cardholders get 1.5% cash back on all purchases, but that increases to 2% cash back on every purchase if you're a PenFed Honors Advantage member (which requires a qualifying checking account or military affiliation).
Standout benefits: Anyone can join the PenFed Credit Union by applying, opening a savings account with a $5 deposit and maintaining a $5 account balance. With this card, you can earn a $100 bonus after you spend $1,500 in the first 90 days from account opening.
PenFed Power Cash Rewards Visa Signature® Card
Rewards
1.5% cash back on all purchases, 2% cash back on all purchases for PenFed Honors Advantage members
Welcome bonus
$100 statement credit when you spend $1,500 in the first 90 days of account opening
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% introductory APR for 12 months on balance transfers made in the first 60 days after account opening.*
Regular APR
17.99% variable on purchases; 17.99% non-variable on balance transfers
Balance transfer fee
3%
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Good/Excellent
Terms apply.
Pros
- 2% cash back on all purchases for PenFed Honors Advantage members
- Welcome bonus, which is hard to find among flat-rate cash-back cards with no annual fee
- No bonus category activations or limits to the amount of cash back you can earn
Cons
- 3% balance transfer fee
- Credit union membership is required
* 0% introductory APR for 12 months on balance transfers made in the first 60 days after account opening. After that, the APR for the unpaid balance and any new balance transfers will be a non-variable rate of 17.99%. 3% balance transfer fee per transaction. Subject to credit approval. If you take advantage of this balance transfer, you will immediately be charged interest on all purchases made with your credit card unless you pay the entire account balance, including balance transfers, in full each month by the payment due date.
Best for students: Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards
Who's this for? The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a student credit card that also earns rewards. You'll earn 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores.
Standout benefits: That rate of return compares favorably with the top credit cards for those categories, and is a low-cost card to keep because it has no annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a card designed for students with rewards rates that match many of the top cash-back credit cards.
- High cash-back rates for common student expenses, such as groceries, dining and entertainment
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- High APR
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Early Spend Bonus: For a limited-time, earn $100 when you spend $300 in the first three months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card
- Earn 8% cash back on entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal
- Build your credit with responsible card use
- Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Best for digital wallet payments: Samsung Galaxy Card
Who's this for? The Samsung Galaxy Card is a valuable option if you have a Samsung device and frequently use Samsung Wallet to make purchases, as it earns an unlimited 3% cash back on these transactions.
Standout benefits: In addition to a welcome bonus of $200 in cash rewards after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first 90 days, you'll also earn cash back on everyday purchases. On top of the 3% back for Samsung Wallet purchases, direct purchases from Samsung earn 5% in cash rewards and eligible streaming services earn 2% in cash rewards. All other spending earns 1% in cash rewards.
Samsung Galaxy Card
Rewards
5% cash rewards on eligible direct Samsung purchases; 3% cash rewards on Samsung Wallet purchases; 2% cash reward on eligible streaming services; 2% cash rewards on everything else
Welcome bonus
Earn $200 in cash rewards after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
23.49% to 32.24% variable
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
N/A
Terms apply.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Great return for Samsung Wallet purchases
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Samsung Pay isn’t accepted everywhere
- Purchases with the physical card only earn 1% cash back
FAQs
What does no annual fee mean?
No annual fee means that you will not be charged a fee every year you renew a credit card account. Many high-end rewards credit cards charge annual fees, which you'll pay every year you keep the account open.
When is a credit card annual fee worth it?
An annual fee is worth it when you're able to extract more value from the card than you pay for the annual fee. For example, if you earn $500 per year in cash back from a card with a $95 annual fee, then it'll be worth it to pay the annual fee since you're coming out $405 ahead.
Why do some credit cards have an annual fee?
Credit cards with annual fees typically earn more rewards and have better benefits, like travel credits and airport lounge access, than those with no annual fee. This fee is charged so credit card issuers can offset the cost of the rewards issued.
Can you get a no-annual-fee credit card with bad credit?
Yes, there are many credit cards available for those with subpar credit that have no annual fee.
Are no-fee credit cards worth it?
It depends; just because a credit card has no annual fee doesn't mean it's not worth it. Certain no-fee credit cards can offer great value. It comes down to how you intend to use it.
What are the disadvantages of cash-back credit cards?
While cash-back credit cards are easy to use and earn rewards, they also come with disadvantages, such as high APR rates, which can be risky if you don't pay off your balance in full every month.
Does using cash back hurt your credit score?
No, using a cash-back card does not hurt your credit score as long as you pay your bill on time and in full every month. The main factors that impact your score are payment history, length of credit history, the type of credit you use, amounts owed and new credit you apply for. However, payment history and the amount of debt you have are weighted more heavily, so it's important to avoid debt and late payments if you want to build or maintain a high credit score.
Find the best credit card for you by reviewing offers in our credit card marketplace or get personalized offers via CardMatch™.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best cash-back credit cards with no annual fee.
Money matters — so make the most of it. Get expert tips, strategies, news and everything else you need to maximize your money, right to your inbox. Sign up here.
Our methodology
To determine which no-annual-fee cash-back cards offer the best value, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.
We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards, annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points.
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
For the cards that offered a rewards program, we considered consumer spending data forecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers.
Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X to stay up to date.
Read more
*Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please click here.
