When you're exploring new card offers, you'll find that many credit cards come with an annual fee at least after the first year, especially if you want the best perks or need a secured credit card for bad credit. However, you can discover plenty of no annual fee credit cards with attractive promotions at account opening along with ongoing rewards programs. Such cards usually are unsecured and require a good credit score. Check out four top options from American Express, Bank of America, Citi and Capital One.
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1. American Express Blue Cash Everyday
The American Express Blue Cash Everyday stands out as one of the cashback credit cards that target customers who spend a lot at grocery stores and want a high purchase limit when receiving the top rewards rate.
This American Express card offers 3 percent back at U.S. supermarkets (first $6,000 in purchases), 2 percent back at gas stations and certain department stores and 1 percent back for other everyday purchases in other spending categories. You also get car rental insurance, global travel help and exclusive entertainment experiences.
AMEX offers new cardholders a sign-up bonus and promotional financing. First, you can spend $2,000 and get a $250 statement credit in the first six months as a card member. Then, you can finance purchases with a 0 percent intro APR or set up a payment plan without interest or fees for 15 billing cycles. The variable APR is otherwise 13.99 to 23.99 percent. You can view more info about qualifying and apply now here.
2. Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards
The Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards card lets you choose a preferred rewards category and receive cashback rewards that target your spending habits.
This card issuer lets you decide on three percent back for either home improvement, gas station, travel, online shopping, restaurants or drugstore purchases. You'll get two percent back for purchases at wholesale clubs and grocery stores and a one percent rewards rate elsewhere. A $2,500 purchase limit applies for the two and three percent rates. If you are a Preferred Rewards member, you could get bonus points of up to 75 percent higher.
New cardholders get an introductory APR of 0 percent for 15 billing cycles both for balance transfers (plus 3 percent balance transfer fee) and purchases and then pay 13.99 to 23.99 percent. If you spend $1,000 on the new card within 90 days, you can get a $200 welcome bonus. See more card details and apply here.
Consider also: 4 Best 0 APR Credit Cards
3. Citi Custom Cash Mastercard
Similar to the Bank of America option, the Citi Custom Cash Mastercard gives you control over which purchases qualify for higher rewards. However, it does have a much lower purchase limit for the top category.
Your first $500 spent in one chosen category will qualify for five percent cashback. Some example categories include streaming services, gyms, travel purchases, U.S. gas stations, restaurants and transit fees. Otherwise, you get one percent back on purchases beyond that $500 limit and the same rewards rate on other eligible purchases. Other Citi perks for cardholders include an entertainment program and FICO score monitoring.
There's an intro balance transfer and purchases interest rate of 0 percent for 15 billing cycles, though a five percent fee for balance transfers applies. The variable APR then adjusts to 13.99 to 23.99 percent. The credit card issuer has a $200 welcome bonus for spending $750 the first 90 days of having the card. You can view more terms and apply now here.
4. Capital One Venture One Visa
The Capital One Venture One Visa Signature card works best as a travel rewards credit card and particularly requires a great credit history.
The issuer has a special travel portal where you can reserve rental cars and hotels and receive five percent back in miles. Everything else has a flat-rate cashback rate of 1.25 miles for every dollar. Capital One's redemption options include everything from using the miles toward Amazon purchases to applying them toward past and future travel. Other benefits include no foreign transaction fee, an extended warranty, car rental coverage and travel accident insurance.
The 0 percent intro APR offer lasts for 15 months and applies for balance transfers (three percent fee) and purchases. The variable APR increases to 14.99 to 24.99 percent after that. Within 90 days of account opening, you can spend $500 and get 20,000 bonus miles. You can check here to see which terms apply to this card.
Consider also: 4 Best Reward Credit Cards With Cash Back