Cards without annual fee They are not known for their high-level advantages. They are generally aimed at those looking transfer balances either build your credit.
However, some no-annual-fee options may offer more than a basic set of benefits. Several cards from major issuers offer cardholders the option to transfer their rewards to airline and hotel partners.
If you’ve been reading TPG for any amount of time, you know that transfer your rewards to partners You will usually get the most value. Doing that without paying an annual fee can be attractive to points and miles newcomers or anyone exploring a new rewards ecosystem.
Let’s explore some of the best no-annual-fee cards that earn transferable rewards.
The best for tenants
pay the rent Using a credit card can help you rack up rewards faster than many other expenses. I have used my rental to help me earn welcome bonuses with high spending requirements.
The downside to this: Generally, paying rent with a credit card will incur a fee. That’s where the Bilt Mastercard®*comes into play. With this card, you’ll earn extra Bilt points for your rental (up to 100,000 points per year) without incurring annoying fees.
Bilt Mastercard information has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
*TPG’s Brian Kelly is an advisor and investor at Bilt.
Just keep in mind that you’ll need to make at least five transactions each billing cycle to earn bonus points. That means you can’t just charge the rent to this card and forget about it.
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Bilt points can be transferred to some high-value members. For example, it is the only reward currency that can be transferred to Atmos Rewardsso Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines fans will especially want to consider the Bilt Mastercard.
For more information, see our full Bilt Mastercard review.
Best for American Airlines AAdvantage fans
For a long time, American Airlines Advantage It was not associated with any issuer’s loyalty program. That changed when Citi and AAdvantage decided deepen your partnershipwhich resulted in the airline’s program being added to Citi’s long list of transfer partners.
If you want to transfer Citi Thank You Rewards points to AAdvantage with no annual fee, the Citi Strata℠ Card (see rates and fees) is a great choice.
Please note that Strata cardholders can transfer points to AAdvantage at a ratio of 1:0.7. To get a better 1:1 transfer ratio, you will need I need a card like him Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees).
Despite that limitation, the Strata Card still offers some solid advantages. Cardholders can choose a self-selected category each quarter to earn 3 points per dollar spent. I am considering this card in the future once my status 5/24 He is in a better place. I like the ability to tailor a bonus category to my spending habits, and this card also has an easily attainable welcome bonus.
For more information, see our Complete Citi Strata Card Review.
Apply here: Citi Strata Card
Best for Chase Customers
If you already have a Pursue ultimate rewards-get a card or are interested in applying for one, consider the Chase Unlimited Freedom® (see rates and fees) or the Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees).
The main strength of these cards is in their win categories. Freedom Unlimited earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases, while Freedom Flex earns 5% cash back in rotating quarterly categories (on the first $1,500 spent each quarter; activation required).
If you have a Card to earn ultimate rewardslike him Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees), you can combine the rewards you earn on your Freedom cards with your account. Then, you can transfer them to Chase’s. 13 partners.
For more information, check out our full reviews of the Freedom Flex and the Unlimited freedom.
Apply here: Flexible Freedom Pursuit
Apply here: Pursue unlimited freedom
Best for small businesses
Before you skip this one because you don’t have a traditional business, wait. You don’t need a big brand or physical store to obtain approval for a small business card. A basic side job, like freelancing, dog walking, or Uber driving, can count.
If you need a good business card that allows you to earn transferable rewards with no annual fee, consider The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (see rates and fees).
This card differs from the others I have recommended so far in that it does not have any bonus category.
Instead, cardholders will earn 2 points per dollar spent (up to $50,000 in spending each calendar year, then 1 point per dollar). While that won’t get you as many points as using a card with bonus categories, it’s a great option for those who don’t want to bother tracking their spending.
American Express Membership Rewards Points are transferred to 20 members, almost as many as are available with Bilt Rewards and Citi ThankYou rewards. I’ve been in the Membership Rewards ecosystem for a couple of years, so I’m a fan of the flexibility and versatility of the program.
For more information, see our full review of the Amex Blue Business Plus.
Apply here: The Blue Business Plus Credit Card from American Express
The best for simplicity
The Blue Business Plus might be the top business card on this list, but the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card It is an excellent alternative for those who want a consumer card.
You earn a flat rate on all purchases instead of splitting rewards into bonus categories. Cardholders earn 1.25 miles per dollar spent on all purchases, and earning bonuses is not restricted by a spending limit.
Capital One has More than 15 transfer partnersplacing it in the middle of the package. I’m not in the Capital One ecosystem, but many TPGers enjoy winning Capital One miles and transfer them to partners such as Air Canada airplane and Avianca VidaMiles.
For more information, see our Full VentureOne Rewards Review.
More information: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
In a nutshell
All of these cards are available with no annual fee and you can transfer your rewards to loyal partners. Which card best fits your wallet will depend on your spending habits and whether you’re willing to have more than one card. Some of these cards work best when combined with cards that have annual fees, while others reach their full potential on their own.
Whether you’re new to the world of points and miles or just looking for a way to boost your wallet, consider one of these no-annual-fee cards. You don’t need to pay hundreds of dollars out of pocket each year to enjoy the benefits of transferable rewards.
Related: Earn rewards without spending a lot of money with these no-annual-fee credit card strategies
For Amex Blue Business Plus rates and fees, click here.
