No Annual Fee guides

A no annual fee credit card costs nothing to keep open each year, and it is for you if you want a card you can hold long term, are building credit, or do not spend enough to earn back a yearly fee. Many no-fee cards still earn cash back or points, and keeping an old no-fee card open can help your credit by preserving the age of your accounts and your available credit.

No annual fee does not mean no fees. Compare the regular APR, foreign transaction fees, balance transfer and cash advance fees, and late fees. Then compare rewards: a fee-free card that pays a flat rate on everything may beat a card with higher category rates you rarely use. If your spending is high, check whether a fee card would earn enough extra to cover its cost.

See the best no annual fee credit cards for the US and the best no annual fee cards in Canada. Annual fee vs no annual fee shows when paying a fee wins. The Capital One Quicksilver is one flat-rate example.