A $0 annual fee card is never a loss to keep open, which helps your credit history. The trade-off is fewer perks: usually no lounges and lighter travel insurance.
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The picks
Wells Fargo Autograph® Card
Annual fee$0Foreign transaction fee$0 (none)
Earns 3X in several everyday categories including travel and transit, and has no foreign transaction fee.
Earning
- Unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations and EV charging, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans
- 1X on other purchases
Worth knowing
- Transfer points to select travel loyalty programs
- Cell phone protection up to $600 when you pay your phone bill with the card ($25 deductible)
- Visa Signature Concierge and Luxury Hotel Collection access
Welcome offers vary by where you apply and change often, so we don't list amounts. Details checked on the official Wells Fargo page on October 22, 2026. Terms apply.
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
Annual fee$0Foreign transaction fee$0 (none)
Flat earning on everything and no foreign transaction fee; miles redeem toward travel purchases.
Earning
- Unlimited 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase
- 5 miles per dollar on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
Worth knowing
- Redeem miles toward travel purchases or book through Capital One Travel
- Miles don't expire for the life of the account
Welcome offers vary by where you apply and change often, so we don't list amounts. Details checked on the official Capital One page on October 22, 2026. Terms apply.
Bilt Blue Card
Annual fee$0Foreign transaction fee$0 (none)
If you rent or pay a mortgage, Bilt lets you earn on housing payments with no transaction fee, and its points transfer 1:1 to airline and hotel partners.
Earning
- Up to 1.25X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee (rate depends on your everyday spend)
- 3X on hotels and 2X on flights booked on the Bilt Travel Portal; 1X on other purchases
Worth knowing
- Bilt Points transfer 1:1 to Bilt's 28 airline and hotel partners
- No transaction fee on housing payments made through Bilt
Welcome offers vary by where you apply and change often, so we don't list amounts. Details checked on the official Bilt page on October 22, 2026. Terms apply.
Discover it® Miles
Annual fee$0Foreign transaction feeNot confirmed: check issuer terms
Simple 1.5x miles on everything, and Discover matches all miles new cardmembers earn in their first year.
Earning
- Unlimited 1.5x miles on every purchase
- Discover matches all miles new cardmembers earn in the first year (Discover Match)
Worth knowing
- Redeem miles as a statement credit for travel purchases or as cash, 100 miles = $1
- Miles don't expire for the life of the account
Welcome offers vary by where you apply and change often, so we don't list amounts. Details checked on the official Discover (Capital One) page on October 22, 2026. Terms apply.
When a fee card beats a free one
A card with a fee can come out ahead if you'd use its credits and protections anyway. Add up only the perks you'd really use, subtract the fee, and compare.
Questions people ask
Do no-annual-fee travel cards charge foreign transaction fees?
Some do. Of our picks, Wells Fargo Autograph, Capital One VentureOne and Bilt Blue show no foreign transaction fee on the issuer's page. For Discover it Miles we couldn't confirm it on the page we checked, so read Discover's rates and fees.
Is it bad to keep a card I don't use?
Usually not if it has no annual fee, though an issuer may close long-unused accounts. Use it occasionally and pay it off.
More card guides
Not financial advice. Fareroo is a travel-deals site, not a financial adviser, bank or lender. This page is general information to help you compare options; it doesn't consider your finances. A credit card only pays off if you pay the balance in full every month: interest and fees can quickly cost more than any rewards. Approval and terms are decided by the issuer. Never open a card just to chase a bonus you can't earn with normal spending.