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Home Credit Cards No Annual Fee Credit Cards

Best Credit Cards With No Annual Fee as of May 2025

Hand holding a credit card with no annual fee

At a glance

There’s no need to pay annual fees to get a top notch credit card; the credit card market offers great no-annual-fee cards.

Written by Jessica Norris

Reviewed by Kari Dearie and Robert Jellison

May 6, 2022

Fresh advice you can trust

We promise to always deliver the best financial advice that we can. Our writers and editors follow strict editorial standards and operate independently from our advertisers and affiliates. Learn more about how we make money.

No-Annual-Fee Credit Cards

Credit Card Best For Credit Score Annual Fee Welcome Bonus Apply Now
Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card Apply
Overall 670–850 $0 $200 cash back
5% back on groceries
Apply
Capital One Platinum Mastercard
Capital One Platinum Mastercard® Apply
Fair Credit 580–739 $0 Apply
Discover It secured credit card
Discover it® Secured Credit Card Apply
Bad Credit 300–669 $0 Cashback Match Apply
Petal 2 cash back no fees visa credit card
Petal 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Apply
No Credit 300–669 $0 Apply
wells fargo active cash card
Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card Apply
Rewards 670–850 $0 $200 cash back Apply
us bank platinum visa card
U.S. Bank Platinum Visa® Card Apply
Low Interest 740–850 $0 Apply
Bank of America student credit card
Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card Apply
Travel 670–850 $0 25,000 points Apply
Chase Ink Business Cash credit card
Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Apply
Business 670–850 $0 $900 cash back Apply

Table of Contents

  1. Best credit cards with no annual fee
  2. What “no annual fee” means for credit cards
  3. Who should get a no-annual-fee credit card
  4. How to choose a no-annual-fee credit card
  5. FAQs About Credit Card Annual Fees

If you’re wondering whether you should pay an annual fee just for the privilege of having a credit card in your wallet, the answer is no. Although there are a lot of credit cards that charge annual fees—some worth it and some not—there are also many that don’t.

Some credit cards charge annual fees to offset the cost of their generous rewards programs. Others charge annual fees because they’re available to people with lower credit scores or limited credit histories.

However, there are credit cards without annual fees that offer rewards or are available to bad-credit and no-credit borrowers. Explore the best no-annual-fee cards to see if one of them is right for you.

Best credit cards with no annual fee

Here are the best credit cards with no annual fee for every type of borrower.

Best Overall No-Annual-Fee Credit Card

Overall

Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card

Chase Freedom Unlimited credit card Apply Now

on Chase's secure website

Rates & Fees
4.9
Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score

670–850

Purchase APR

18.74%–27.49% (variable)

0% APR Period

15 Months

Rewards

  • Welcome Bonus

    $200 cash back after you spend $500 in 3 months

  • Welcome Bonus

    5% back on groceries on up to $12,000 in spending your first year (category excludes Target and Walmart)

  • Chase Ultimate Rewards

    5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards

  • Dining

    3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services

  • Drugstores

    3% cash back on drugstore purchases

  • Everything Else

    1.5% cash back on all other eligible purchases

Why It's Great

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® credit card is perfect for people with good or excellent credit. Its Chase Ultimate Rewards program offers:

  • 5% back for travel purchases
  • 3% on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
  • 3% on drugstore purchases
  • 1.5% on all other purchases

In the first year, you’ll also get 5% cash back on up to $6,000 of gas station purchases plus a $200 cashback bonus when you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months.

As far as benefits, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers travel insurance and purchase protection. Plus, you can use the My Chase Plan® to finance your purchases. This fixed-payment plan lets you pay for purchases over $100 in fixed installments (with a fixed monthly fee for this service rather than normal interest charges, which are more unpredictable).

With its high unlimited earnings rate and flexible options for earning and spending rewards—which never expire and are redeemable as gift cards, statement credits, cash, and more—the Chase Freedom Unlimited® credit card is a rewarding, user-friendly card with plenty to recommend it.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • $0 annual fee
  • 1.5%–5% rewards rate
  • Generous welcome cashback bonuses
  • 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers

Cons

  • Foreign transaction fees
  • No rotating cashback bonus categories
  • Good or excellent credit needed

Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Card for Fair Credit

Fair Credit

Capital One Platinum Mastercard®

Capital One Platinum Mastercard Apply Now

on Capital One's secure website

Rates & Fees
4.0
Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score

580–739

Purchase APR

28.49% (variable)

Why It's Great

The Capital One Platinum Mastercard® is a good no-annual-fee credit card for people who have fair credit or limited credit histories. It doesn’t give you the same kinds of rewards, intro offers, or welcome bonuses that you get with many credit cards for good or excellent credit, but that’s to be expected.

What’s nice about this annual-fee-free card is that you don’t have to pay a security deposit or, notably, foreign transaction fees. Additionally, Mastercard® benefits give you various types of travel assistance and insurance, making this an all around great card for travelers.

Bear in mind that you might start out with a low credit limit when you first open your account. However, Capital One will automatically consider you for additional credit in as little as six months. They’ll check your account and let you know if you’re approved for more credit.

As such, if you’re looking for a stepping stone to build your credit and work your way up to better cards with better terms, the Capital One Platinum Mastercard® is a good place to start.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • $0 annual fee
  • Credit limit increases possible in as little as 6 months
  • Limited or fair credit needed
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • No penalty APR
  • No security deposit

Cons

  • No cashback rewards
  • Low starting credit limit
  • Relatively high APR
  • No introductory APR

Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Card for Bad Credit

Bad Credit

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Discover It secured credit card Apply Now

on Discover's secure site

Rates & Fees
4.8
Rating Breakdown
Fees
4.9

No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees score this card a high rating in the fees department.

APR
2.7

Carrying a balance could get costly on this card, given the high purchase APR.

Rewards
4.4

Considering it’s a secured card, the Discover it® Secured offers impressive rewards and even a cashback welcome bonus.

Credit Reporting
5.0

Discover reports to the major credit bureaus, which can help you build your credit.

Security Deposit
4.0

The minimum and maximum security deposit allow a good range of flexibility for you to determine your credit limit.

Other

We adjusted for factors like free credit scores and a fully refundable security deposit.

Our FinanceJar Star Rating represents an objective and unbiased evaluation of this card, without influence from advertisers and affiliates. Our scores are generated by a rubric and our reviews adhere to a strict editorial process. Learn more about how we rate credit cards.

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score

300–669

Deposit

$200–$2,500

Purchase APR

25.99% (variable)

Rewards

  • Welcome Bonus

    Cashback Match earns you a dollar-for-dollar match on your first-year rewards

  • Gas & Restaurants

    2% cash back up to $1,000 in combined spending each quarter

  • Everything Else

    1% cash back on all eligible purchases

Why It's Great

Annual fees are common among credit cards for bad credit. Fortunately, there’s a card available to borrowers with poor credit that doesn’t charge an annual fee.

If you have a bad credit score or a limited credit history, you can easily apply for a Discover it® Secured credit card with a minimum deposit of $200—granting you a credit limit equal to the amount you put down. What’s more, you can even get an upgrade to an unsecured credit card after 7 months.

The Discover it® Secured credit card gives you 2% cash back on qualified gas station and restaurant purchases for up to $1,000 in combined spending per quarter (i.e., $20 back every 3 months or $80 back per year). There’s also 1% cash back on all other transactions, with no limit on how much you can earn.

On top of that, to welcome all new cardholders, Discover will match all cashback rewards for the first year. This means that they’ll double what you earn in cash back during your first year.

With these excellent rewards and perks, the Discover it® Secured card goes well above and beyond what’s offered by most other credit cards for bad credit.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • $0 annual fee
  • 1%–2% cashback rewards
  • Dollar-for-dollar cashback match after 12 months
  • Reduced intro APR for balance transfers
  • No penalty APR
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Free monthly access to FICO score
  • Available to bad credit holders

Cons

  • Security deposit required
  • Maximum deposit of $2,500
  • Rewards rates cap out at $1,000 per quarter
  • No intro APR for purchases

Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Card for No Credit

No Credit

Petal 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa®

Petal 2 cash back no fees visa credit card Apply Now

on Petal's secure site

Rates & Fees
4.4
Rating Breakdown
Fees
4.7

Because the Petal 2 Visa® stays true to its “no fees” name, it scores very highly in this category.

APR
2.2

The Petal 2 Visa® has a wide range of interest rates, and less creditworthy borrowers could be hit with high APR.

Rewards
2.5

This card has a fairly complicated rewards program, although it’s still one that’s worth having.

Credit Reporting
5.0

Petal cards report to all three of the major credit bureaus, so the Petal 2 Visa® ticks all the boxes for building credit.

Credit Limit
5.0

The Petal 2 Visa® gives you a credit line of up to $10,000, which is very generous.

Other

We gave the Petal 2 Visa® extra credit for its accessibility, since it accepts applicants with no credit score and applicants without a Social Security number.

Our FinanceJar Star Rating represents an objective and unbiased evaluation of this card, without influence from advertisers and affiliates. Our scores are generated by a rubric and our reviews adhere to a strict editorial process. Learn more about how we rate credit cards.

Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score

300–669

Purchase APR

15.99%–29.99% (variable)

Rewards

  • All Purchases

    1%–1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases (your rate increases to 1.25% after 6 on-time payments, 1.5% after 12 on-time payments)

Why It's Great

The Peta®l 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® credit card is an innovative starter credit card that’s available to borrowers with no credit score or limited borrowing histories. It not only ticks the “no annual fees” box, but also comes with no foreign transaction fees and, even more remarkably, no fees for late or returned payments.

Along with no fees, the card boasts a potentially high initial credit limit of $300–$10,000, good potential for credit building, and cashback rewards at a rate of 1%–1.5% for most purchases (and up to 10% with selected merchants).

Note that, when you apply for a Petal® 2 Visa® credit card, Petal will assess either your finances or, if you have a credit history, both your finances and credit history. If you don’t qualify for the Petal® 2 Visa® credit card, you may still qualify for the Petal® 1 Visa® credit card, which is similar but has slightly less favorable terms (e.g., there are late payment fees).

Although the Petal® 2 Visa® credit card has a few drawbacks—such as complicated rewards, a lack of introductory offers, and no balance transfers or cash advances—it’s still a great card for building credit, earning rewards, and general everyday use.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • $0 annual fee
  • Cashback rewards
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • No late payment fees
  • No penalty APR
  • No deposit required
  • Available to people with no credit score

Cons

  • Complicated rewards
  • No introductory APR
  • No balance transfers or cash advances available

Best No-Annual-Fee Rewards Credit Card

Rewards

Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card

wells fargo active cash card Apply Now

on Wells Fargo's secure site

Rates & Fees
4.8
Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score

670–850

Purchase APR

18.74%–28.74% (variable)

0% APR Period

15 Months

Rewards

  • Welcome Bonus

    $200 cash back when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months

  • All Purchases

    2% cash back on all eligible purchases

Why It's Great

Of the no-annual-fee credit cards on the market, the Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card is one of the most rewarding.

You may be able to find cards with longer 0% APR offers, higher rewards in certain categories, lower fees, or better benefits, but if you’re looking for one card that ticks as many boxes as possible, the Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card is hard to beat.

The impressive rewards and perks of the Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card include:

  • Unlimited cash rewards at a flat rate of 2%.
  • A welcome bonus of $200 in cash rewards if you spend $1,000 on purchases during the first 3 months of getting your card.
  • Cellphone insurance for up to $600 when you use your card to pay your monthly cellphone bill (subject to a $25 deductible).
  • A 15-month 0% introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers.
  • Standard benefits like emergency cash disbursement and card replacement, travel and emergency assistance, and roadside emergency assistance.

Overall, the Wells Fargo Active Cash℠ Card is a great credit card with few downsides. Foreign transaction fees do apply, though, so frequent travelers should use a different card for going abroad.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • $0 annual fee
  • 2% cashback rewards
  • $200 cash rewards bonus
  • Cellphone insurance
  • 0% APR for 15 months for purchases and balance transfers

Cons

  • You may need good credit to qualify
  • Foreign transaction fees

Best Low-Interest Credit Card With No Annual Fee

Low Interest

U.S. Bank Platinum Visa® Card

us bank platinum visa card Apply Now

on U.S. Bank's secure site

Rates & Fees
3.8
Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score

740–850

Purchase APR

18.24%–28.24% (variable)

0% APR Period

18 Months

Why It's Great

The U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card comes with no annual fee and a pretty remarkable offer. It gives 0% APR for a whopping 24 months (both for balance transfers and general purchases).

The biggest downsides of the card are that you don’t get cashback rewards, and the benefits are just so-so. On the other hand, you do get:

  • Cellphone insurance (for up to $600 minus a $25 deductible) when you use your card to pay your monthly cell phone bill.
  • Free access to your TransUnion VantageScore credit score.
  • Zero fraud liability.
  • Flexible due dates for payments.
  • ExtendPay, which lets you pay for purchases in fixed installments over 3–24 months (only available to some cardholders).

If you’re repaying a debt or financing a major purchase and want to spread out your payments as much as possible, the U.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card’s lengthy 24-month 0% APR period means that it’s currently the best low-interest no-annual-fee credit card on offer.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • $0 annual fee
  • Cellphone insurance
  • Free credit scores
  • 0% intro APR for 24 months for purchases and balance transfers
  • ExtendPay (a payment plan that lets you repay credit card purchases in fixed installments)

Cons

  • Foreign transaction fees
  • No rewards
  • No welcome bonus
  • You may need good credit to qualify

Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Card for Travel

Travel

Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card

Bank of America student credit card Apply Now

on Bank of America's secure website

Rates & Fees
4.3
Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score

670–850

Purchase APR

16.99%–26.99% (variable)

0% APR Period

18 Months

Rewards

  • Welcome Bonus

    25,000 points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days after account opening

  • All Purchases

    1.5x points on all eligible purchases

Why It's Great

For frequent flyers and anyone who wants flexible travel rewards, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is an excellent choice, with no annual fees and no fees for foreign transactions.

Unlike similar travel rewards programs, it doesn’t restrict you to any particular airlines or hotel chains, and there are no blackout dates (i.e., dates when you can’t use rewards, such as major holidays or other peak travel seasons) or other common caveats.

The cashback rewards rate is 1.5 points per dollar you spend (and points don’t expire while your account is open). You can redeem points for cash, but doing so will give you a fairly low cashback rate of 0.9%. To get a better cashback rate of 1.5%, you can redeem points as statement credits to pay for travel or dining purchases, including:

  • Airfares
  • Hotels
  • Cruises
  • Vacation packages
  • Car rentals and taxi fares
  • Tickets for tourist attractions and exhibits (e.g., museums, circuses, aquariums)
  • Eating out and takeaway orders
  • Spending in bars and nightclubs

To get even better cashback rates, use your rewards for travel purchases—including flight, hotel, and rental car bookings—with the Bank of America® Travel Center (which will yield a cashback rate of 3%), or join the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program to get cashback rewards bonuses of 25%–75%.

Note that, to qualify for Preferred Rewards, you’ll need a Bank of America account with a minimum amount of cash in it (equivalent to an average daily balance of more than $20,0000 over 3 months).

If you’re looking for a travel-friendly no-annual-fee credit card with easy rewards redemption and no foreign transaction fees—plus a few travel perks thrown in for good measure—the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is hard to beat.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • $0 annual fee
  • Up to 3% unlimited cashback rewards
  • Get cashback bonuses of 25%–75% with the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • 0% intro APR for 15 months
  • Welcome bonus of 25,000 points (redeemable as a $250 statement credit for travel or dining)

Cons

  • No intro APR for balance transfers
  • You may need good credit to qualify

Best Business Credit Card with No Annual Fee

Business

Chase Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Chase Ink Business Cash credit card Apply Now

on Chase's secure website

Rates & Fees
4.6
Annual Fee

$0

Credit Score

670–850

Purchase APR

16.99%–22.99% (variable)

0% APR Period

12 Months

Rewards

  • Welcome Bonus

    $900 cash back when you spend $6,000 on purchases within the first 3 months after account opening

  • Office Expenses

    5% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at office supply stores and on internet, cable, and phone services each account anniversary year

  • Gas & Dining

    2% cash back on the first $25,000 spent in combined purchases at gas stations and restaurants each account anniversary year

  • Everything Else

    1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

Why It's Great

The Chase Ink Business Cash® card is a business credit card with no annual fee and a number of rewards and benefits, including:

  • An introductory offer of 0% APR for 12 months on purchases.
  • The usual basic benefits like rental car insurance, roadside emergency services, travel and emergency assistance services, and purchase protection.
  • $750 in cash rewards as a welcome bonus if you spend $7,500 within 3 months of account opening.
  • A generous cashback rewards program with rates of 1%–5%.

The Chase Ink Business Cash® card doesn’t have too many shortcomings. However, there are caps on the rewards you can earn in specific categories. For office supplies and connectivity, your annual cashback rewards max out at $1,250 and, for gas and dining, at $500.

There’s also no 0% APR offer on balance transfers, so look for another business credit card if you need balance transfers. However, otherwise, the Chase Ink Business Cash® card’s cashback rewards, interest-free intro offer, and introductory bonuses make it a great tool for all kinds of business spending and office expenses.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • $0 annual fee
  • 1%–5% cashback rewards rate
  • $750 welcome bonus
  • 12-month 0% APR intro offer on purchases

Cons

  • Caps on 2%–5% rewards rates
  • Foreign transaction fee
  • No 0% APR intro offer on balance transfers
  • You may need good credit to qualify

What “no annual fee” means for credit cards

An annual fee is a charge that many credit card issuers levy each year to let you continue using a credit card. It’s typically payable when you first get your card and then again every 12 months after that (although some issuers will waive the fee in the first year).

However, many credit cards charge no annual fees. Sometimes these no-annual-fee cards have comparatively few extra benefits or rewards—but not always.

Beware that no annual fee doesn’t mean no fees whatsoever. You might still end up paying:

  • Interest
  • Late payment fees
  • Returned payment fees (if your credit card payment bounces)
  • Foreign transaction fees
  • Balance transfer fees
  • Cash advance fees (if you use your credit card to withdraw cash from an ATM)
  • Over-limit fees (a penalty you pay for going over your credit limit)
  • Account-opening fees

Who should get a no-annual-fee credit card

You should get a no annual fee card if you don’t use credit often, in large amounts, or don’t care to game credit card points. Credit cards with annual fees are only worth it if you use enough credit to earn more rewards than the annual fee amount.

No-annual-fee credit cards are particularly good if:

  • You’re using your credit card mainly to build credit rather than to get rewards or benefits
  • You’re a student (or anyone else) on a budget
  • You use your credit card fairly infrequently
  • You want a low-maintenance credit card
  • You’re using your card mainly for a balance transfer

Hidden benefits of no-fee cards

Credit cards with no annual fee also have a side benefit that not everyone is aware of: if you stop using your card (e.g., because you got a better one), you can keep your first card open without wasting money. Keeping cards open is generally better for your credit than closing them, so this will help you maintain a good credit score.

How to choose a no-annual-fee credit card

Here are some things to bear in mind when you’re choosing a no-annual-fee credit card:

  • Do you need the card for a balance transfer? If you’re opening a credit card for a balance transfer, check that the credit card you’re considering offers this capability (not all cards do). To select a credit card for balance transfers, you’ll want to prioritize avoiding annual fees and finding 0% APR offers, rather than cashback rewards or other benefits.
  • Do you need the card for something else? As well as balance transfer credit cards, there are credit cards designed for various other purposes—such as the financing of large purchases (e.g., cards that give you 0% APR on purchases for 6+ months), credit building (e.g., secured credit cards), earning rewards, or even simply getting discounts (e.g., some store cards). Check that the credit cards you’re considering fit your needs, bearing in mind that some cards don’t include certain features like cash advances, cashback rewards, or reporting to credit bureaus.
  • Are there any other fees? As mentioned, no-annual-fee credit cards often still have other fees (e.g., foreign transaction fees or late fees). Don’t forget to take these other fees into account.
  • What is the APR? Before you get a no-annual-fee credit card, check the various APRs that apply. There will probably be different APRs for different purposes (e.g., purchase APRs, balance transfer APRs, or promotional APRs). You’ll want to know how much interest you’ll rack up if you end up carrying a balance at the end of the month.
  • What are your spending habits? If you’re planning to use your credit card to earn points, get a rough idea of how much you spend per month on various types of purchases (e.g., groceries, gas, or dining out). Some credit cards have different rewards rates for different categories; if you have an idea of the categories where you spend the most, you’ll be able to work out where you might have chances to earn cashback rewards.
  • What benefits are on offer? Credit cards often come with extra benefits and perks like cellphone insurance, travel insurance, exclusive discounts, free FICO scores, and more. Decide how valuable these are to you, compare the offerings from various different card issuers, and then factor any benefits into your decision about which credit card to get.
  • Are there any welcome offers? Not all no-fee credit cards have welcome offers, but some do, and they can be very lucrative in the short term. For example, some credit cards offer bonus cashback rewards worth hundreds of dollars in the first few months. These kinds of offers aren’t the most important consideration when you’re getting a credit card, but they could be a tiebreaker if you’re torn between multiple similar cards.

If you improve your credit score, you’ll qualify for cards with better benefits

Before you apply for credit cards, check out ways to improve your credit score to make sure that your score is as healthy as possible. It’s especially important to do this if you have bad credit; better credit will make you eligible for credit cards with better terms and offers.

FAQs About Credit Card Annual Fees

Are credit cards with annual fees worth it?

Yes, credit cards with annual fees can be worth it.

It may be worth paying an annual fee if, for example, your card gives you a lot of perks and benefits that outweigh the annual fee.

Can I get my credit card’s annual fees waived?

Sometimes a credit card will waive your annual fee automatically for the first year of borrowing.

Other times, you’ll have to call your card issuer and make a special request for them to waive your fees. It certainly doesn’t hurt to ask your card issuer about this—and it may occasionally work in special circumstances—but they won’t necessarily agree.

Any fee waivers will be at the credit card issuer’s discretion and decided on a case-by-case basis, so even if you know someone else that managed to get their annual fee waived, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be able to.

Can I get a no-annual-fee credit card if I have bad credit or no credit?

Yes, even borrowers with bad credit or no credit can find a credit card with no annual fee.

Of course, there may be other caveats or restrictions for bad credit holders or people with no credit scores.

For example, you may need to provide a security deposit, the APR may be high, or there may be limitations on how you can use your credit card (e.g., store cards are often available to people with fair credit but work only at specific businesses).

You’ll get a hard inquiry on your credit report when you apply for a credit card

When a lender looks into your credit history, it triggers a type of credit check called a hard inquiry. Hard inquiries, also called hard pulls, knock several points off your credit score, but the effect usually only lasts for a few months before your score fully recovers.

How can I apply for a credit card with no annual fee?

Once you’ve found a no-annual-fee credit card that you like, visit the card issuer’s website to find out ways to apply. Frequently, the easiest option is to apply online, although you may also be able to do it in person (e.g., at a bank) or over the phone.

If you already have an account with a card issuer (e.g., because you have one of their other credit cards), you may be able to apply for new credit cards through their app.

When you apply for a new credit card, you’ll usually need to provide personal details like your name, date of birth, Social Security or ITIN number, residential address, monthly income, information about your employment, and other relevant information.

The card issuer will then review your information and usually (although not always) run a credit check on you before giving you a response. The process can take as little as a few seconds or as long as a couple of weeks.

How we rate our credit cards

Getting a new credit card is a big decision. That's why we heavily weighted the following factors when determining the best credit cards without annual fees:

  • Fees
  • Interest rates
  • Introductory offers
  • Benefits
  • Rewards and bonuses
  • Borrowing terms

These factors, among many others, are part of our 5-star credit card rating methodology for all card categories. Our star ratings are unbiased and independent of our affiliates and advertisers.

Jessica Norris

Credit Cards Editor

View Author

Jessica Ginter-Norris writes for FinanceJar. She has previously worked in academic editing, web content editing, and math e-learning content writing. She continues to be involved in various writing and editing projects as well as doing editorial training with the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading.

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