8 Best Cash Back Credit Cards With No Annual Fee [2025]

Finding the right credit card can feel like a full-time job. You want a card with all the features, but who wants to pay an annual fee?

Fortunately, many cash back credit cards have no annual fees. The highest-earning cash back credit card for you will depend on your spending habits, but with no-annual-fee cards, there's less to worry about, and you can just focus on earning as much as possible.

We've identified some of the best cash back credit cards with no annual fees by researching top options from popular card issuers. The Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card(Rates and fees) stands out as one of the best choices we've found for earning cash rewards on purchases at a flat, high rate. For rotating bonus categories, we recommend the Chase Freedom Flex^® and Discover it^® Cash Back. But to earn different rates on different spending categories, such as groceries or travel, we like the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, Chase Freedom Unlimited^®(Rates and fees), and Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express.

Learn why we picked each of these cards and the others on this list.

Compare cash back credit cards with no annual fee

Credit card	Great for someone who...	Rewards type
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card(Rates and fees) 5.0 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Wants to earn a high flat cash back rate	Flat-rate
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card 4.4 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Has predictable monthly spending	Choose your bonus categories
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card 4.9 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Enjoys spending on dining and entertainment	Tiered categories
Chase Freedom Flex® 4.7 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Has varied spending throughout the year and can maximize the quarterly spending categories	Rotating bonus categories
Chase Freedom Unlimited®(Rates and fees) 4.7 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Wants a powerful rate for everyday spending, plus bonus categories for travel and dining	Tiered categories
Citi Double Cash® Card(Rates and fees) 5.0 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Wants to be rewarded for paying off their card each month	Flat-rate
Discover it® Cash Back(Rates and fees) 4.7 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Has lower annual spending and wants to maximize their earning	Rotating bonus categories
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express(See rates and fees) 4.9 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Wants to earn a high cash back rate on common in-person and online spending	Tiered categories

Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card

The flat rate the Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card offers is a nice break from tracking categories and worrying about which credit card to use. In addition, it comes with a 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers (then 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% Variable), so if you have balances to transfer, you can get them paid off without interest.

Despite not having an annual fee, you can still enjoy many benefits including:

• Cell phone protection up to $600 against theft or damage (subject to a $25 deductible)
• Auto rental collision damage waiver
• Travel emergency assistance services
• Roadside dispatch

However, keep in mind that this card doesn't offer any bonus categories with higher rewards rates. This can be a major downside for someone who travels frequently, as the travel benefits are also limited.

Apply now or find more details in our Wells Fargo Active Cash Card review.

Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

The Bank of America^® Customized Cash Rewards credit card is a great choice for someone with spending that's predictable from month to month because you can change your bonus category monthly or leave it the same if it's your highest spend category. I like the flexibility of being able to earn more on purchases you know you'll make.

The card offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 15 billing cycles (then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable). You also get a 0% intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable).

The downside is there's a cap on how much you can earn in the top two bonus categories. Once you spend $2,500 in a quarter, your rewards default to 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Apply Now or get more details in our Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards credit card review.

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

If a majority of your spending is on dining or entertainment, you can earn a decent amount of cash back with the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card, including 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. The best news is that the cashback is unlimited, so you don't have to worry about hitting spending limits on your favorite categories.

I also like this card for its travel benefits without categorizing itself as a "travel credit card." Earning 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply) is a great perk.

While these are great perks, since this is a Mastercard, the basic benefits are limited and don't include things like auto rental collision damage waivers, roadside assistance, or luxury hotel benefits.

Learn more in our Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards review.

Chase Freedom Flex^®

If you are a flexible spender, you may enjoy the Chase Freedom Flex^® with its rotating categories quarterly. You can check out the cashback calendar on its website so you can plan your purchases.

It's important to know that you must activate the rewards to get them, and the cap is $1,500 on combined purchases quarterly, so I'd use this card only for the bonus categories to get the extra cash, but then use another card when you max out the reward.

Since the card pays a healthy bonus on travel purchases, it makes sense that they offer trip cancellation/interruption insurance, auto rental collision damage waivers, and travel and emergency assistance services.

Check out more details in our Chase Freedom Flex review.

Chase Freedom Unlimited^®

While earning 1.5% cash back isn't anything to write home about, there's no cap on your spending, so you can earn unlimited rewards. I also like that there are bonus categories allowing you to earn 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service and 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.

The card also has intro APR periods:

• 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (then 18.99% - 28.49% Variable)
• 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (then 18.99% - 28.49% Variable)

This gives you time to pay off large purchases or those pesky credit card balances. While the card doesn't include many travel benefits, you can earn 2% total cash back on Lyft rides through September 2027. You also get a complimentary 6-month DoorDash DashPass when you activate by December 31, 2027. After, you'll be auto-enrolled at the currently monthly rate.

Apply now or learn more in our Chase Freedom Unlimited review.

Citi Double Cash^® Card

The Citi Double Cash^® Card is a popular cash back card for its consistent reward rate on all purchases. It's a good option if you frequently make purchases that don't fall into typical cashback categories, such as groceries, gas, or restaurants.

The Citi Double Cash card is simple — 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel. I like it for the motivation to pay the balance off since you get cash back after paying the amount charged. This makes you more likely to pay your bill off faster so you can earn rewards.

The card also offers a healthy introductory offer of 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months, then 18.24% - 28.24% (Variable). This gives you a little more time to pay off those high credit card balances.

Apply now or get more information in our Citi Double Cash^® Card(Rates and fees) review.

Discover it^® Cash Back

The Discover it^® Cash Back requires plenty of tracking as its bonus categories change quarterly, but it might be worth it since you can earn a healthy 5% cash back on those categories when you activate. The downside is the limit is $1,500 combined in all bonus categories per quarter.

The Discover it Cash Back card also offers intro APR offers:

• 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases (then 18.24% - 27.24% Variable)
• 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers (then 18.24% - 27.24% Variable)

There is a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*, so keep that in mind.

There is a $0 annual fee. Plus, Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. This card could be very helpful, especially if you focus on the bonus categories. However, I wouldn't use it for large purchases or travel because it doesn't include travel or extended warranty benefits like the other cards on the list.

Apply now or get more info in our Discover it^® Cash Back(Rates and fees) review.

Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express

If you need a $0 annual-fee cash back card for when you're out grocery shopping or buying stuff online, the Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express is far and away one of the best options. It's like a light version of the Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express, which earns 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (for first $6,000 per year, after that 1%) and on select U.S. streaming services, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on eligible transit, and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases with a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, $95 per year thereafter annual fee. The Blue Cash Everyday is a powerhouse for the average American's spending habits, earning 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year on purchases in each category, then 1%); and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases.

We especially love that better rate on U.S. online retail purchases since many credit cards don't include this spending category in elevated earnings.

However, you've got to keep that annual spending limit of $6,000 each category in mind if you go with this card. You'll earn a lower base rate on everything after you meet that maximum, so it could be smart to pair this with a flat-rate card like the Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card.

Learn more or read our full Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express Review

What to consider before you choose a cash back card

When considering a cash back card, there are many factors to consider:

• What type of cash back will benefit you the most? Do you prefer a flat rate so you don't have to think about it or do you like bonus offers and rotating categories? Look at your previous expenses to see if the rotating categories would benefit you.
• Will you use the rewards? Most cards offer a cash redemption option, but they may offer more value for other options. Consider if you'll use those options or if you strictly want cash back to find the highest redemption options.
• What features do you need? Some of the no-annual-fee cash back credit cards have limited benefits outside of earning cash back, but others are chock full of benefits. Think about what you need and/or would use when finding the right credit card.

Cash back cards that didn't make our list

This list of the best cash back credit cards with no annual fee is not exhaustive. There are a few cards that didn't make the list, but deserve an honorable mention:

• Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card: Make no mistake — this is a fantastic cash back credit card, and it's a juggernaut in the category of no-annual-free credit cards. However, for the purposes of this list, we didn't include it as one of the very best. We feel that the Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card and Chase Freedom Unlimited just do flat-rate cash back a bit better, given that the Active Cash earns a higher base rate and the Chase Freedom Unlimited offers elevated earnings on more categories. However, that doesn't mean the Quicksilver Cash Rewards isn't worth getting. We'd strongly recommend it over the others we've picked if you want to avoid foreign transaction fees.

• Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card: This is a good option if you want a high cashback rate at U.S. supermarkets, but it is capped. You can earn 5X points on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠; 3X points on dining, select streaming services, and online groceries; 2X points on all other travel purchases, and 1X points on all other purchases. It also does come with an annual fee of $95.

Bottom line

Earning cash back on a credit card is great, but make sure you'll use the rest of the card's features and that it has no annual fee, or at least an affordable one. The best credit card is the one that fits your spending habits and goals the best. The suggestions provided should help you start your journey in finding the perfect cash back card.

FAQs

Lucrative, Flat-Rate Cash Rewards

Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card

5.0

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Wells Fargo Active Cash^® Card

Apply Now

Rates and fees

Current Offer

$200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Low spend threshold for its welcome offer — $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
• Cell phone protection benefit (subject to a $25 deductible)
• Can redeem rewards at an ATM for literal cash

Drawbacks

• Foreign transaction fee of 3%
• No bonus categories

Card Details

• 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. 19.24%, 24.24%, or 29.24% 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.