The Top 5 No-Fee Credit Cards For Travel

Credit Card Roundups /

Travel experienced a big downturn in 2020, but it’s picking up again. A 2021 CNBC article said the average American household spends $2,244 per year traveling. To maximize cash back rewards without annual fees, this list has the best general options. Keep in mind that airline-specific or hotel-specific credit cards may have more benefits. Cards with annual fees can be good too. It depends on your region, spending habits, and preferences. This list applies broadly to “any” travel expense; we’re trying to cover all the bases at once.

If you come across a credit card which should be on this list, feel free to let us know so we can make updates.

Options are a little limited in this category. It’s also best to have a Visa card when possible, since that’s accepted in far more places than American Express or Mastercard. Having multiple cards from different networks is helpful (to have backup options). Though most of the good travel cards have annual fees (and a few don’t cover certain travel categories like parking or tolls). No-fee cards rarely touch the travel category in any serious way, partly because premium cards are usually superior.

Without further ado, let’s explore the options.

 

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The Top 5 No-Fee Credit Cards For Restaurants

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“Restaurants” includes dining in, eating out, takeout, food delivery, and more. A 2021 CNBC article said the average American household spends $3,675 per year with restaurants. To maximize cash back rewards without annual fees, these are the best options. Note that cards with annual fees may have greater rewards. But if you don’t want to deal with fees, these are the top 5 credit cards to consider.

As always, to see which credit card is best for you, you’ll need to understand your spending habits. Everyone has different preferences and lifestyles, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. If you do find something that should be on this list, feel free to contact us for updates.

 

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The Top 5 No-Fee Credit Cards For Groceries

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Only a few credit cards are worth considering if you want maximum cash back on groceries without annual fees. A 2021 CNBC article said the average American household spends $5,174 per year on groceries. To optimize cash back rewards without annual fees, this page showcases the best options. Anything not on this page is likely worse.

As always, do your research to see which credit card is best for you. Everyone has different habits and lifestyles, so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. If you do find something that should be on this list, feel free to contact us for updates.

Note: cash back for the “grocery” category typically excludes large wholesale clubs (Costco, Sam’s Club, Target, Wal-Mart). Some smaller shops also don’t count as grocery stores, although it’s pretty hit-or-miss.

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Review: Discover It Miles

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The Discover It Miles is a simple no-fee card which earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases. It doesn’t have any especially interesting features or benefits, but may work for certain people in the short term. The card does earn 3% cash back on all purchases for the first year, without category restrictions, which is nice.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 1.5x points on everything

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The Top 5 No-Fee Credit Cards For Gas

Credit Card Roundups /

Gas is a spending category which applies to most people. A 2021 CNBC article said the average American household spends $2,218 per year on gas. To maximize cash back rewards without annual fees, we’ll show you the best options here. Even cards with annual fees are rarely as good as these top credit cards.

If you happen to know about a credit card which should be here, feel free to let us know so we can update this list.

Note that gas-station-specific cards are rarely worthwhile, especially when gas prices are high. Sunoco for example gives a perpetual discount of $0.05 per gallon, but if gas is $3 per gallon, 5% cash back cards give triple the value (at $0.15 per gallon). Rewards programs (like through T-Mobile Tuesdays) may give additional discounts.

 

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Review: Navy Federal Credit Union More Rewards American Express

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The Navy Federal Credit Union (NFCU) More Rewards credit card is an uncomplicated card which earns 3% cash back in popular categories. It’s a solid low-maintenance card which most people will find good for everyday spending. it may not have perfect earn rates, but More Rewards has multiple earning categories and great benefits.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 3x points on groceries
  • 3x points on gas
  • 3x points on transit
  • 3x points on dining
  • 1x points on everything else

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Review: Mastercard Black

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The Mastercard Black Card positions itself as a high-end luxury card for travelers. It’s issued by Barclays Bank Delaware and is sometimes called the Barclaycard Black. It’s not a commonly-discussed travel card, likely because other options are far more popular. The Black card is typically worse than competing options like the Capital One Venture X.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • $495 annual fee
  • Zero foreign transaction fees
  • 1x points on everything (up to 2% cash back)
  • $100 annual airline credit (per calendar year)
  • $100 credit towards Global Entry or TSA PreCheck (every 5 years)
  • Metal card

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Review: Discover It Cash Back

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The Discover It Cash Back is a no-fee card which earns at least 5% cash back on certain categories. These categories change every 3 months. Discover used to show each year’s cashback calendar in advance so there aren’t any surprises, but now they announce one month before. It’s fairly easy to plan ahead. Not to be confused with Discover It Miles, this card also earns unlimited 1% cash back on non-category purchases.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • No annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 5% cash back on rotating categories ($1,500 quarterly spending limit)
  • 1% cash back on everything else

Click here for 2024 categories.
Click here for 2023 categories.

Categories typically look like:

  • Q1 Jan-March: Grocery stores plus 1-2 other categories
  • Q2 April-June: Gas stations or restaurants, plus another category
  • Q3 July-Sept: Restaurants or gas stations, and maybe Paypal or digital wallets
  • Q4 Oct-Dec: Amazon.com plus Walmart.com and/or Target.com

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Review: American Express Gold (2021-2022)

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Note: This review is from 2021, and significant details have changed. Check out our updated 2024 review!

The American Express Gold Charge Card is a mid-to-high tier card for food and travel. It earns a decent amount of points at restaurants and grocery stores, and has benefits to offset the high annual fee. It’s one of the more flexible cards from American Express, and it wouldn’t hurt for most people to take a look.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • $250 annual fee
  • Zero foreign transaction fees
  • 4x points on dining (restaurants, takeout, delivery)
  • 4x points on groceries (up to $25,000 spent at U.S. grocery stores)
  • 3x points on flights
  • 1x points on everything else
  • Metal card
  • AMEX Offers

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Review: American Express Green

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The American Express Green Charge Card is a mid-tier card for food and travel. Its annual fee is higher than its closest competitors, but the Green card could be worth considering for certain travelers. Most people are better off with no-fee cards which out-earn the Green.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

  • $150 annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 3x points on dining (restaurants, takeout, delivery)
  • 3x points on travel (including public transit, airfare, hotels, car rentals, and more)
  • 1x points on everything else
  • AMEX Offers

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