Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Cards: High-Value Rewards Without the Price Tag

For U.S. travelers who want rewards without paying upfront, several $0-annual-fee travel cards now offer solid earning rates, simple 1¢ redemptions, and no foreign transaction fees. As of December 2025 (per publicly available issuer terms), the top picks include Bank of America Travel Rewards, Wells Fargo Autograph, Discover it Miles, Capital One VentureOne, and Bilt Mastercard. These cards work especially well for travelers who prefer predictable rewards, rent-based earnings, or beginner-friendly programs before upgrading to premium cards.

• Bank of America Travel Rewards: Simple 1.5x earning and 3x via the Travel Center; no FTFs; strong value boost for Preferred Rewards members.
• Wells Fargo Autograph: Broad 3x categories (travel, dining, gas, transit, streaming, phone plans) plus Visa Signature travel protections.
• Discover it Miles: Flat 1.5x earning with first-year Miles Match; 1¢ cash-or-travel value; no FTFs (acceptance varies internationally).
• Capital One VentureOne: 1.25x everywhere and 5x via Capital One Travel; access to airline/hotel transfer partners without a fee.
• Bilt Mastercard: Earn points on rent with no landlord fee; 1.25¢ portal value; 1:1 transfer partners; requires 5+ transactions per cycle.

For many U.S. travelers, the biggest friction point with travel credit cards isn’t calculating points, it’s paying a steep annual fee before taking a single trip. The good news is that in 2025, several no-annual-fee travel cards still offer solid rewards, flexible redemption options, and useful perks without the upfront cost.

This guide focuses on U.S. travel cards with a $0 annual fee and highlights the features that matter most: earning rates, point values, welcome offers, foreign-transaction fees, and practical benefits such as statement credits or basic insurance protections. All details reflect publicly available issuer information as of December 2025 and may change, so applicants should confirm current terms before applying.

What Makes a “No-Annual-Fee Travel Card” Worth Using?

A no-annual-fee travel card won’t compete with $500+ premium cards on lounge access or luxury credits, but several $0-fee options now deliver meaningful value for everyday travelers. The strongest cards offer:

• Solid earning rates on travel, dining, and common daily categories

• Straightforward redemption systems at or near 1 cent per point

• No foreign transaction fees, which can save roughly 1–3% on overseas purchases

• Practical extras such as cell-phone protection, travel insurance, or rent-based rewards

For many U.S. travelers, these cards function either as a low-maintenance primary travel card or as a starter product that later pairs well with a premium card.

Below is a fact-checked comparison of leading no-annual-fee travel cards frequently recommended by major U.S. comparison sites in 2025. Terms and offers can change, so applicants should verify details with issuers before applying.

Card	Annual Fee	Welcome Bonus (Typical)	Earning Rates	Foreign Transaction Fees	Redemption Value	Notable Perks
Bank of America Travel Rewards	$0	25,000 points after $1,000 spend in first 90 days (usually framed as $250 in travel/dining credits)	1.5 points per $1 on all purchases; 3 points per $1 on travel booked via Bank of America Travel Center	$0	Points generally worth about 1¢ each as travel/dining statement credits	Preferred Rewards can boost earn rate; simple statement-credit redemptions
Wells Fargo Autograph Card	$0	20,000 points after $1,000 spend in first 3 months (commonly valued around $200)	3x on travel, dining, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services & phone plans; 1x on other purchases	$0	Points generally worth about 1¢ each through Wells Fargo Rewards	Broad 3x everyday categories; Visa Signature travel protections; no FTFs
Discover it Miles	$0	All miles earned in the first year are matched at year-end for new cardholders	1.5 miles per $1 on all purchases	$0	Miles typically worth about 1¢ each for travel credits or cash back	First-year Miles Match effectively doubles rewards; simple flat-rate earning
Capital One VentureOne Rewards	$0	Common offer: 20,000 miles after $500 spend in first 3 months (often described as $200 in travel)	1.25 miles per $1 on everyday purchases; 5 miles per $1 on hotels & rental cars booked via Capital One Travel	$0	Miles typically worth about 1¢ each for travel credits; potentially more via transfer partners	Access to airline & hotel transfer partners with no annual fee; no FTFs
Bilt World Elite Mastercard	$0	No traditional welcome bonus; value comes from ongoing rent & category earnings	1x on rent (up to 100,000 points/year); 2x on travel; 3x on dining; 1x on other purchases (earn requires 5+ transactions per statement)	$0	Points typically worth 1.25¢ each via Bilt Travel Portal; potentially more via 1:1 transfer partners	Earn points on rent with no extra landlord fee; strong transfer partners; no FTFs

Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card: Simple 1.5x Earnings, Strong for General Spend

The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card charges a $0 annual fee and earns 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases, along with 3 points per dollar on eligible travel booked through the Bank of America Travel Center.

New cardholders typically receive 25,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 90 days, which Bank of America values at $250 when redeemed as a statement credit toward travel or dining purchases. Points generally hold a 1 cent per point redemption value, making the program easy to understand and use.

The card also has no foreign transaction fees, an important benefit for travelers who want to avoid extra charges on international purchases.

For existing banking clients, rewards can climb even higher. Members of Bank of America Preferred Rewards receive a 25%–75% bonus on all points earned, significantly boosting the card’s effective earning rate.

Where It May Fit

• Travelers who want a simple, flat-rate travel card with $0 annual fee

• Bank of America customers who can unlock higher earnings through Preferred Rewards

• Users who prefer straightforward statement-credit redemptions rather than transfer partners or complex loyalty systems

Wells Fargo Autograph Card: Broad 3x Categories and Flexible Rewards

The Wells Fargo Autograph Card is a strong no-annual-fee travel option thanks to its $0 annual fee and unusually broad everyday bonus categories.

Cardholders typically earn:

• 3x points on travel, dining, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans

• 1x point on all other purchases

New applicants generally receive a 20,000-point welcome bonus after spending $1,000 in the first three months, which Wells Fargo promotes as $200 in redemption value. Most redemptions, including travel bookings and statement credits, value Wells Fargo Rewards points at about 1 cent per point.

The card also charges no foreign transaction fees, allowing international purchases without the typical 1–3% surcharge. Although it doesn’t provide premium perks like lounge access, the Autograph includes several Visa Signature travel protections, such as an auto rental collision damage waiver and certain trip-related benefits, adding practical value for drivers and frequent travelers.

Where It May Fit

• Travelers who spend heavily on gas, transit, dining, streaming, and phone services

• Users who want no foreign transaction fees and broad 3x earning categories

• Cardholders who may later combine rewards across multiple Wells Fargo Rewards-earning products

Discover it Miles: Flat-Rate Travel (or Cash) for Beginners

The Discover it Miles card is often described as a hybrid travel-and-cash-rewards card. It functions like a simple flat-rate travel card but also supports cash-equivalent redemptions. The card features a $0 annual fee and, like all Discover cards, no foreign transaction fees.

The earning structure is straightforward:

• 1.5 miles per dollar on every purchase, with no rotating categories

• Discover Match: at the end of the first year, Discover matches all miles earned, effectively doubling rewards for year one

Each mile is typically worth 1 cent, whether redeemed for travel statement credits or converted directly into cash, meaning 10,000 miles ≈ $100 in value. This keeps redemption simple for beginners who want predictable rewards.

Because all Discover cards waive foreign transaction fees, the Discover it Miles can be used internationally without added surcharges. However, travelers should still verify Discover acceptance in their destination, as availability varies by region.

Where It May Fit

• Beginners who want a single, flat-rate travel card with no categories to track

• Users who prefer travel “miles” that behave like cash-equivalent rewards

• People who want a travel rewards card with no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and no complex transfer partners

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card: No Fee, Access to Transfer Partners

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card occupies a unique niche among no-annual-fee cards: it combines a $0 annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and access to airline and hotel transfer partners typically found on higher-tier travel cards.

Capital One states that cardholders earn:

• 1.25 miles per dollar on everyday purchases

• 5 miles per dollar on hotels, rental cars, and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel

Miles are generally valued at 1 cent each when redeemed through Capital One Travel or when applied as statement credits toward eligible travel purchases. However, the ability to transfer miles to airline and hotel partners means travelers can sometimes achieve higher redemption value when using programs that price rewards dynamically.

Capital One typically markets a 20,000-mile welcome bonus after at least $500 in spending during the first three months, which they frame as $200 in travel value at the standard 1-cent redemption rate.

Where It May Fit

• Travelers who want no annual fee but still want to explore miles-to-partner transfers

• People who frequently book hotels or rental cars through Capital One Travel and can benefit from the 5x earn rate

• Those who may later upgrade to a Venture or Venture X card but want a low-cost starting point

Bilt World Elite Mastercard: Unique Rent Rewards Plus Solid Travel Value

The Bilt World Elite Mastercard is notable in the no-annual-fee travel space because it lets cardholders earn points on rent with no landlord transaction fees. It earns 1x points on rent (up to 100,000 points per year), 2x on travel booked directly or through the Bilt Travel Portal, 3x on dining, and 1x on other purchases, as long as at least five transactions are made each statement period. The card also has $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.

For redemptions, Bilt points are typically worth 1.25 cents each through the Bilt Travel Portal, and the program also supports 1:1 transfers to a range of airline and hotel partners. The main limitation is that the card does not consistently offer a welcome bonus, and the five-purchase rule applies to earn points.

Where it may fit

• Renters who want to turn rent into travel points with no added payment fee

• Travelers who like the idea of 1.25¢ fixed portal value or airline/hotel transfers without paying an annual fee

• Cardholders willing to manage the “five purchases per cycle” requirement to unlock earnings

How to Choose Among the Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Cards

Choosing among the best no-annual-fee travel cards mainly depends on your spending habits and how you like to redeem rewards. If most of your budget goes toward gas, transit, streaming, or phone bills, the Wells Fargo Autograph can offer strong 3x value.

For broad, uncapped everyday spending, simple flat-rate options like Bank of America Travel Rewards or Discover it Miles may fit better. Renters who want to earn points on their largest monthly bill without added fees may find the Bilt Mastercard especially useful.

Your travel style also matters. If you prefer cash-like, predictable redemptions, Discover it Miles and Bank of America Travel Rewards keep things straightforward. If you’re interested in trying airline or hotel transfer partners without paying an annual fee, cards like VentureOne or Bilt offer an easy entry point.

All of these cards avoid foreign-transaction fees, making them suitable for international travel, though Discover’s acceptance can vary by region, so pairing it with a Visa or Mastercard is often the safer choice abroad.

Final Thoughts: When No-Annual-Fee Travel Cards Are Enough

For many U.S. travelers, especially those who take only a few trips a year or are just beginning to explore rewards, starting with a no-annual-fee travel card can be the most practical approach. Options like Bank of America Travel Rewards, Wells Fargo Autograph, Discover it Miles, Capital One VentureOne, and the Bilt Mastercard provide competitive earning rates, straightforward redemption values, and the benefit of no foreign transaction fees in most situations.

These cards offer a strong foundation for earning travel rewards without long-term commitments or annual costs. As card terms and features change, travelers should always check the latest details directly with the issuer, but in 2025 these no-fee products remain a smart entry point before moving into more complex or premium travel card ecosystems.