- Best $0 travel cards at a glance
- Wells Fargo Autograph: best for everyday travel spending
- Capital One VentureOne: a doorway to transfer partners
- Bank of America Travel Rewards: simplest flat earner
- Bilt Blue: for renters and homeowners
- Discover it Miles: now run by Capital One
- "No fee the first year" isn't the same thing
- Which $0 card should you get?
- When a $95 card beats a $0 card
- Frequently Asked Questions
Best $0 travel cards at a glance
| Card | Earning | Intro APR | Foreign fee | Transfer partners |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wells Fargo Autograph | 3x restaurants, travel, gas, transit, streaming, phone plans; 1x else | 0% on purchases for 12 months | None | Yes |
| Capital One VentureOne | 1.25x everything; 5x hotels, vacation rentals, cars via Capital One Travel | 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months | None | Yes |
| Bank of America Travel Rewards | 1.5 points/$ everything; 3 points/$ via BofA Travel Center | 0% for 15 billing cycles on purchases and qualifying balance transfers | None | No |
| Bilt Blue | Up to 4x partner restaurants; 3x hotels via Bilt Travel; 3x Lyft; up to 1.25x rent/mortgage | 10% intro APR for 12 billing cycles | None | Yes |
| Discover it Miles | 1.5x everything; first-year Miles Match | 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers | Not confirmed | No |
| Hilton Honors Amex | 7x Hilton; 5x U.S. dining, groceries, gas; 3x else | — | None | Hilton only |
| AAdvantage MileUp | 2x grocery and AA; 1x else | — | 3% | AA only |
Wells Fargo Autograph: best for everyday travel spending
The Autograph's 3x categories cover a lot of ground for a $0 card: restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, streaming and phone plans. It also includes cell phone protection up to $600 with a $25 deductible, which matters on a trip where phones get dropped and lost.
Its points transfer to Wells Fargo Rewards partners such as Air France-KLM Flying Blue, British Airways and Virgin Red. The regular APR is 18.74%, 24.74% or 28.74% variable, as of October 2026, depending on your credit.
Capital One VentureOne: a doorway to transfer partners
The VentureOne earns only 1.25x on general spending, which is low. Its value is access to the same Capital One transfer partners as the Venture and Venture X, plus 5x on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. A 15-month 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers is a bonus if you have a large purchase coming.
Capital One's page lists the credit needed as "Excellent." The regular APR is 18.49%–28.49% variable, as of October 2026.
Bank of America Travel Rewards: simplest flat earner
You get 1.5 points per dollar on every purchase and 3 points per dollar on travel booked through the Bank of America Travel Center. Points have a fixed value and can't be transferred, which keeps things simple. If you hold Preferred Rewards status with Bank of America, your earning gets a percentage boost.
Bilt Blue: for renters and homeowners
Bilt Blue is the $0 entry point to Bilt 2.0. It earns up to 1.25x on rent and mortgage payments, with the rate tied to how much you spend on everyday purchases compared with your housing costs. Bilt points transfer to partners including Hyatt, United, Air Canada and American. Note the APR: after a 10% intro rate for 12 billing cycles, it's 26.74%–34.74% variable, as of October 2026, higher than most cards here.
Discover it Miles: now run by Capital One
Capital One bought Discover in May 2025, and Discover accounts moved to Capital One's site and app on July 27, 2026. The card kept the Discover name, still runs on the Discover network and is still open to new applicants. It earns 1.5x on everything, and Discover matches all the miles you earn in year one, with no cap.
Discover has historically charged no foreign transaction fee, but we couldn't confirm that on the current card page. Check it before you rely on this card abroad.
"No fee the first year" isn't the same thing
Several airline and hotel cards waive the fee only in year one: the United Explorer and Delta SkyMiles Gold ($150 after), the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select ($99 after) and the Hilton Honors Surpass ($150 after). Those can be good cards, but budget for the fee from year two. Compare them in our airline card guide and hotel card guide.
Which $0 card should you get?
- You eat out, commute and pay for streaming: Wells Fargo Autograph, for 3x across all of those.
- You want to try transfer partners without a fee: Capital One VentureOne.
- You bank with Bank of America: Travel Rewards, since Preferred Rewards members earn a bonus on top of 1.5 points per dollar.
- Rent is your biggest bill: Bilt Blue, for points on rent and mortgage payments.
- You want a first-year boost: Discover it Miles, whose Miles Match doubles what you earn in year one.
- You stay at Hilton: the Hilton Honors Amex, with 7x at Hilton and Silver status.
Whichever you choose, make sure it has no foreign transaction fee before you use it abroad — our no foreign fee guide lists the options.
When a $95 card beats a $0 card
If you spend heavily on travel and dining, a $95 card can earn back its fee quickly. The Chase Sapphire Preferred, for example, now comes with an annual Chase Travel hotel credit of up to $100, which can cover the fee by itself if you book one hotel through Chase. Compare options in our best travel cards roundup. If you mostly want cash, a no-fee cash back card may serve you better. Card terms change often, so check the issuer's site before you apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Wells Fargo Autograph, Capital One VentureOne, Bank of America Travel Rewards, Bilt Blue and Hilton Honors Amex all charge no foreign transaction fee. The AAdvantage MileUp charges 3%, so leave it at home when you travel abroad.
Yes. The Wells Fargo Autograph, Capital One VentureOne and Bilt Blue all give access to airline and hotel transfer partners. Bank of America Travel Rewards and Discover it Miles use fixed-value points instead.
Yes. As of October 2026 it is open to new applicants and keeps the Discover brand and network, though accounts are now managed through Capital One's website and app.
No. Lounge access comes with annual fees of $395 and up. See our lounge access guide for the cheapest ways in.
Wells Fargo Autograph Card Review — CNBC Select
Capital One VentureOne Review — CNBC Select
Compare Credit Cards — Capital One
Bank of America Travel Rewards Review — Forbes Advisor
Bilt Cards — Bilt
Discover Travel Credit Cards — Discover
Hilton Honors Card — American Express
AAdvantage Credit Cards — American Airlines
What Is a Foreign Transaction Fee? — Experian
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.