The no-fee lineup
| Card | Best for | Rewards | Foreign fee | Regular APR (as of October 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Citi Double Cash | Simple 2% | 2% on everything | 3% | 18.49%–28.74% variable |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash | 2% plus intro APR | 2% on purchases | 3% | 18.74%, 24.74% or 28.74% variable |
| Capital One Quicksilver | Flat rate abroad | 1.5% on everything | None | 18.74%–28.74% variable |
| Capital One Savor | Dining, groceries, entertainment | 3% in those categories, 1% other | None | Variable; check issuer |
| Amex Blue Cash Everyday | Groceries, gas, online | 3% each (up to $6,000/yr per category) | 2.7% | 19.74%–28.74% variable |
| Chase Freedom Unlimited | Dining and drugstores | 3% dining and drugstores, 1.5% other | 3% | 18.24%–27.74% variable |
| Chase Freedom Flex | Rotating 5% | 5% rotating, 3% dining and drugstores, 1% other | None | Variable; check issuer |
| Discover it Cash Back | Rotating 5% plus first-year match | 5% rotating, 1% other | None | 18.49%–28.49% variable |
| U.S. Bank Cash+ | Picking your own 5% | 5% in two categories, 2% in one, 1% other | 3% | 17.99%–28.24% variable |
| BofA Customized Cash | Picking your own 3% | 3% choice, 2% grocery and wholesale clubs | Not confirmed | 17.49%–27.49% variable |
Best no-fee flat-rate cards
The Citi Double Cash pays 2% (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay) with no cap. Its 0% intro APR applies to balance transfers only, for 18 months. The Wells Fargo Active Cash matches the 2% and adds 0% for 12 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. It also includes cell phone protection up to $600 with a $25 deductible. Wells Fargo currently offers a $100 bonus after $500 in spending in the first 3 months (offer changes often).
The Capital One Quicksilver pays less (1.5%) but has no foreign transaction fee, no redemption minimum, and rewards that don't expire.
Best no-fee category cards
The Capital One Savor pays unlimited 3% on dining, entertainment, popular streaming and grocery stores (superstores like Walmart and Target excluded). There's no cap, so it suits a household that eats out and cooks a lot.
The Blue Cash Everyday pays 3% at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. online retail and U.S. gas stations, each up to $6,000 a year, then 1%. It also offers up to $7 a month in Disney streaming credits ($84 a year) and 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited mixes both styles: 3% on dining and drugstores and 1.5% on everything else. That base is higher than most category cards. Its points can also move to a Chase Sapphire card later (see cash back vs. points).
Best no-fee cards for chasing 5%
Chase Freedom Flex and Discover it Cash Back both pay 5% on up to $1,500 in quarterly category purchases after you activate. Flex dropped its foreign transaction fee in September 2026, and Discover never had one. Discover matches all cash back earned in a new cardmember's first year. U.S. Bank Cash+ lets you pick your 5% categories, and BofA Customized Cash lets you pick a 3% category. BofA is currently offering 6% in that choice category in the first year, under the same $2,500 quarterly cap. Details are in our rotating category guide.
The cheapest card is the one whose fees you never pay
A no-annual-fee card can still cost money. These are the fees to check:
- Foreign transaction fees: 3% on the Double Cash, Active Cash, Freedom Unlimited and Cash+, and 2.7% on the Blue Cash Everyday. A 3% fee wipes out the 2% you earn. Use Quicksilver, Savor, Discover it or Freedom Flex abroad, or see no foreign fee cards.
- Balance transfer fees: These usually run 3% during an intro window, then 5%. Our balance transfer fee guide explains the math.
- Interest: At APRs near 18% to 28%, carrying a balance costs far more than 2% earns. Pay in full or use the intro period on purpose.
A simple two-card setup
Many people get most of the value with two no-fee cards: a 2% flat card for everything, plus one category card for their biggest expense. Some examples:
- Double Cash plus Savor, for households that dine out
- Active Cash plus Blue Cash Everyday, for heavy grocery and gas spending
- Freedom Unlimited plus Freedom Flex, for Chase points
Not sure which structure fits? Start with how to choose a cash back card, or compare all options on our best cash back cards page. Card terms change often, so check the issuer's site before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. A no-fee card like the Savor pays 3% on groceries with no cap, while the $95 Blue Cash Preferred pays 6% at U.S. supermarkets but only on the first $6,000 a year. The fee card wins only if you spend enough in its bonus categories to cover the fee.
Capital One Quicksilver, Capital One Savor, Discover it Cash Back and Chase Freedom Flex all have no foreign transaction fee. The Double Cash and Active Cash charge 3%, which cancels out their 2% rewards.
Yes. The Wells Fargo Active Cash offers 0% for 12 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, plus unlimited 2% cash rewards. After the intro period, the APR is 18.74%, 24.74% or 28.74% variable as of October 2026.
We merged it into this page. No-annual-fee cards are the cheapest to own, and the fee section above covers the other costs that decide what a card really costs you.
No. Chase removed the Freedom Flex foreign transaction fee in September 2026, effective immediately according to its September 21 announcement. The Freedom Unlimited still charges 3%, so Flex is the better Chase Freedom card to take abroad.
Citi Double Cash Card — Citi
Citi Double Cash review — NerdWallet
Wells Fargo Active Cash Card — Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo Active Cash review — NerdWallet
Capital One Quicksilver — Capital One
Capital One Quicksilver review — NerdWallet
Capital One Savor — Capital One
Blue Cash Everyday Card — American Express
Amex Blue Cash Everyday review — NerdWallet
Chase Freedom Unlimited — Chase
Chase Freedom Unlimited review — NerdWallet
Chase Freedom Flex adds more travel value — Chase Media Center
Discover it Cash Back — Discover
U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Signature Card — U.S. Bank
Bank of America cash back credit cards — Bank of America
Card terms, rates and fees change often and APRs are variable. Information was checked in October 2026; confirm current terms on the issuer's website before applying. MoneyVerge may be compensated by some card issuers; this does not affect our assessments.