The Best No-Annual-Fee Credit Cards: Travel, Cash-Back, Secured, 0% APR

Best travel rewards card with no annual fee

PenFed Pathfinder Rewards American Express® Card

Ideal for cardholders who want good travel rewards without having to fork over half a monthly mortgage payment to get ’em. No other no-annual-fee card offers an equally good package of a spending bonus, ongoing earnings, and credits.

What we love

With the Pathfinder, you get credits and a rewards rate you'd definitely pay an annual fee for with most other travel cards.

• $0 annual fee—rare among travel cards
• Up to 4x points on travel purchases
• 1.5x points on all other purchases
• $100 annual air travel credit

What we don’t love

Unless you’re in the military or a veteran, you need a PenFed checking account to earn the highest reward rate on your travel spending.

• Point redemption can be tricky
• The best reward rates are reserved for military members, veterans, or people with a PenFed checking account

See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.

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Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

12.99% - 17.99% variable

Intro Bonus

25,000 points

Recommended Credit

Good to excellent

The PenFed Pathfinder Rewards American Express Card is the El Dorado of no-annual-fee travel credit cards. You get tons of perks that you might expect from a pricey travel card. Want a shorter line at airports? Use the $100 Global Entry/TSA Pre✓ credit. Hate checked-bag fees? Take advantage of the $100 annual air-travel credit (good for checked bags, lounge access, and in-flight food).

You earn 3x points per dollar spent on travel purchases (4x points if you’re a PenFed Honors Advantage Member, which includes having an open PenFed checking account or military service) and 1.5x points on all other purchases.

But getting this card can be as tough as finding the Lost City of Gold. PenFed membership is required, though anyone can join. All members must open and maintain a PenFed share account (similar to a savings account) with at least $5 in it. Unless you’re a veteran or current military member, you need a checking account with PenFed to get the highest earn rate.

Best travel rewards card for average credit

Discover it® Miles

Though it lacks true bells and whistles to tout, cardholders can embrace a no-annual-fee card with solid reward earnings that doesn’t require a degree in calculus to understand.

What we love

You know where you stand: Each dollar spent—whether on airfare or donuts— earns the same rewards (1.5 miles is worth 1.5¢ when redeemed).

• No annual or foreign-transaction fees
• First-year spending rewards doubled

What we don’t love

Although the rewards are dependable, they’re not as generous as our top pick’s.

• No annual travel credits
• Discover isn’t as widely accepted abroad as Visa or Mastercard

See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.

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Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

14.24% - 25.24% variable

Intro Bonus

Cashback Match™

Recommended Credit

Good to excellent

Whether you spend money on travel or just on everyday expenses, the Discover it Miles can earn you 1.5 miles (worth 1.5¢) per dollar spent, redeemable for cash in the form of a direct deposit.

Sure, you can do better with other no-annual-fee rewards cards. Some of our best no-annual-fee cash-back credit cards offer you as much as 2% back, but those cards can be tough to get approved for. If you have average credit, this Discover card may be just the ticket.

It’s particularly lucrative if you have a big expense (like a vacation) coming in the same year you apply for the card. Discover doesn’t offer a traditional intro bonus but does let you earn double rewards in your first year, so you essentially earn 3% on your first year of purchases.

The best overall dining credit card

Uber Visa Card

4% is the highest dining rewards rate on any $0-annual-fee dining card we found.

What we love

This card offers generous rewards not just on dining but also on other categories like travel.

• A relatively easy-to-attain $100 bonus after you spend $500 in purchases in your first three months
• 3% back on travel and no foreign-transaction fees make this a decent $0-annual-fee travel card
• If you spend $5,000 annually on the card, you get a $50 credit toward some online subscriptions, a rare perk especially given the $0 annual fee

What we don’t love

You need to apply for the card through the Uber app, yet you don’t actually earn significant rewards on Uber rides.

• With just 2% back on Uber rides, don’t expect to generate significant rewards there, despite the Uber branding
• You must apply through the Uber app—a rather unconventional sign-up process
• Uber’s tarnished reputation has earned it a spot on 24/7 Wall Street’s “20 Most Hated Companies” list

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Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

17.99% - 28.74% variable

Intro Bonus

$100

Recommended Credit

Good to excellent

Constant travelers often find themselves dining out, as well. Enter the Uber Visa Card, which offers the best rate on dining of any no-annual-fee card we found.

You earn 4% for purchases at restaurants (including fast-food establishments, bars, and Uber Eats), and 3% back on flights, hotels, and vacation-home rentals (such as Airbnb). The card’s biggest downfall: Uber’s definition of travel expenses for this card is a bit more limited than that of competitors such as PenFed and its Pathfinder card. PenFed’s broader definition encompasses more travel-related expenses, such as Uber rides, buses, highway tolls, and car rentals, whereas you earn just 1% on those purchases via the Uber card (aside from Uber rides, on which you earn 2%).

Our pick for 2% cash back

Citi® Double Cash Card

The Double Cash is a convenient day-to-day companion you’ll reach for regularly: It has a high cash-back rate, earning and redeeming your cash is easy, and you get big-bank conveniences. Plus, you enjoy a long 0% APR period on balance transfers.

What we love

No other card offers the combination of excellent cash-back rewards and 18 months of 0% APR (then 15.99% - 25.99%, variable) on balance transfers made within four months of opening your account.

• High 2% cash-back rate (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay it off)
• Quickly deposit your cash back directly into your bank account
• $0 annual fee

What we don’t love

While 2% cash back on everything you buy is one of the best ongoing rates available, other cards deliver better rewards on specific categories, such as groceries and dining.

• 3% balance-transfer fee
• No 0% APR period on purchases
• 3% foreign-transaction fee

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Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

15.99% - 25.99% variable

Intro Bonus

N/A

Recommended Credit

Good to excellent

The Citi Double Cash is our favorite all-around credit card for people who don’t want to worry about juggling multiple cards and managing complex rewards structures. You earn 2% back on everything you buy (1% when you make the purchase and 1% when you pay it off).

Although you could get a better rate by combining multiple other cards in this guide (one card for dining, one for gas, one for groceries, and so on), this one card keeps things simple—and there’s value in that. But you shouldn’t use this card abroad, as it’ll hit you with a 3% foreign-transaction fee; if you travel internationally, consider using a travel rewards credit card.

Our pick for a 0% APR card with staying power

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® comes with a 15-month period of 0% interest, and a rewards rate that gives this card value long after the 0% period is over.

What we love

It looks like a fairly average cash-back card on the surface, but its rewards can be highly valuable when paired with the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Preferred.

• 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases (then a variable APR of 17.24% - 25.99%)
• 1.5% cash back on all purchases

What we don’t love

1.5% cash back is good but not great, so the card is less valuable if you aren't using the intro APR offer or pairing your rewards with another complementary Chase card.

• 3% foreign-transaction fees

See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.

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Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

17.24% - 25.99% variable

Intro Bonus

Additional 1.5% cash back

Recommended Credit

Good to excellent

The Chase Freedom Unlimited earns an unlimited 1.5x points on all purchases. Although that’s not as high as the Citi Double Cash’s 2% offer, it’s still respectable.

If the only Chase card in your wallet is the Freedom Unlimited, a point is worth 1¢. But pair this with one of Chase’s Sapphire credit cards (either the Chase Sapphire Preferred, the Chase Sapphire Reserve, or the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card), and you can then transfer your points to Chase’s airline and hotel transfer partners, which can make the points even more valuable. (Those cards come with annual fees, though.)

And there’s one more bonus: In your first year you earn 3x points on all purchases up to $20,000 spent (unlimited 1.5% cash back after that). This card also has a long 0% APR offer period, making it one of our two top picks for the best 0% APR credit cards.

Our pick for a 0% APR card with staying power

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® comes with a 15-month period of 0% interest, and a rewards rate that gives this card value long after the 0% period is over.

What we love

It looks like a fairly average cash-back card on the surface, but its rewards can be highly valuable when paired with the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Preferred.

• 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases (then a variable APR of 17.24% - 25.99%)
• 1.5% cash back on all purchases

What we don’t love

1.5% cash back is good but not great, so the card is less valuable if you aren't using the intro APR offer or pairing your rewards with another complementary Chase card.

• 3% foreign-transaction fees

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Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

17.24% - 25.99% variable

Intro Bonus

Additional 1.5% cash back

Recommended Credit

Good to excellent

The Chase Freedom Unlimited packs a big punch for no annual fee. In addition to enjoying a 15-month 0% APR offer on purchases and balance transfers, you earn 3x points on all purchases up to $20,000 spent (1.5x after that) in your first year, and 1.5x points in subsequent years.

Another reason we like it: Some other cards will revoke your promo offer if you miss a payment, but that’s not the case with the Freedom Unlimited (though a late payment can hurt your credit and you’ll still be on the hook for paying a late fee).

Best if you want at least 18 months to pay off your debt

BankAmericard® Credit Card

This is an attractive balance-transfer option if you want a long runway to pay off your credit card debt without incurring interest. If you’re interested in a long 0% APR offer for your next big item, you may also find joy here.

What we love

If you want to maximize the time you have to repay your debt, this card has one of the longest 0% interest promo periods we found. Plus, we view this card’s lack of spending rewards as a positive since you’ll be less tempted to use it while retiring your IOU.

• No annual fee
• A long introductory 18 billing cycles to pay down balance transfers made within 60 days of opening your account
• A long introductory 18 billing cycles of 0% interest on purchases (then the APR on non-promo balances jumps to a variable 15.24%–25.24%)

What we don’t love

We’d like a stronger balance-transfer offer (either a longer no-interest grace period or fewer fees) since the card hangs its hat on financing debt.

• A 3% balance-transfer fee (you must pay at least $10)

See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.

Apply Now

Apply now for this Partner Offer on Bank of America’s secure website.

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

15.24% - 25.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Intro Bonus

N/A

Recommended Credit

Excellent/Good

The BankAmericard Credit Card offers one of the longest 0% APR promo periods of any card we reviewed—you get 18 billing cycles to pay down your debt interest-free. You have to pay a 3% balance-transfer fee (or $10, whichever is higher), and you don’t earn any rewards for your spending, but the trade-off of getting a long 0% APR period could be worth those sacrifices.

Our pick if you're new to credit cards

Discover it® Secured

The Discover it® Secured delivers what a secured card should: No annual fee and the ability to upgrade and get your security deposit back (if you’re in good credit standing, of course).

What we love

Discover has measures in place to help you graduate from a secured card to a traditional, unsecured card (which is ideally what you should have).

• No annual fee or foreign-transaction fees
• $200 minimum security deposit (some cards ask for $500 or more)
• Automatic reviews after eight months to see if you’re eligible to get your security deposit back

What we don’t love

As with all secured cards, you have to part with money up front for your security deposit.

• Not great for folks with poor credit
• Your security deposit won’t earn interest

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Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

25.24% variable

Intro Bonus

Cashback Match™

Recommended Credit

Fair

The Discover it® Secured is designed for people with a short credit history or none at all. It’s a secured card, meaning you put down a deposit (minimum $200) as collateral, which will be equivalent to your credit limit. After eight months, Discover automatically reviews your account to see if you’ve demonstrated good credit habits (such as on-time payments) and if you qualify for an upgrade to an unsecured card (and a refund of your deposit).

Our pick if you need to rebuild your credit

SDFCU Savings Secured Visa Platinum Card

It can be challenging to get a secured card if you have bad credit. SDFCU makes qualifying a bit easier by eschewing income and credit checks to determine your eligibility, while providing you a reasonable path to upgrade to an unsecured card.

What we love

If your credit score is too low for you to get approved for an unsecured card, this may be the best way to get a credit card without paying an annual fee.

• No annual fee or foreign-transaction fees
• No income or credit checks to determine if you’re eligible for the card
• Automatic reviews after one year to see if you can upgrade to an unsecured card

What we don’t love

Although SDFCU doesn’t run a credit check as part of your credit card application, it still runs one when you apply for credit union membership.

• Some fees, including up to $20 to replace a lost card
• You have to jump through some hoops to become a SDFCU member

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Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

14.24% variable

Intro Bonus

N/A

Recommended Credit

No credit to fair credit

The State Department Federal Credit Union (SDFCU) doesn’t run income or credit checks to determine your card eligibility, though it does conduct a credit check as a means of identification when you apply for credit union membership (which you need in order to apply for this card). As a result, this card may be worth considering if you’ve had trouble getting approved for other cards due to a low credit score.

You have to put down a minimum $250 deposit, and after a year SDFCU reassesses your account to determine if you’re eligible to upgrade to an unsecured card.

Our pick for 2% cash back

Citi® Double Cash Card

The Double Cash is a convenient day-to-day companion you’ll reach for regularly: It has a high cash-back rate, earning and redeeming your cash is easy, and you get big-bank conveniences. Plus, you enjoy a long 0% APR period on balance transfers.

What we love

No other card offers the combination of excellent cash-back rewards and 18 months of 0% APR (then 15.99% - 25.99%, variable) on balance transfers made within four months of opening your account.

• High 2% cash-back rate (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay it off)
• Quickly deposit your cash back directly into your bank account
• $0 annual fee

What we don’t love

While 2% cash back on everything you buy is one of the best ongoing rates available, other cards deliver better rewards on specific categories, such as groceries and dining.

• 3% balance-transfer fee
• No 0% APR period on purchases
• 3% foreign-transaction fee

See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.

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Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

15.99% - 25.99% variable

Intro Bonus

N/A

Recommended Credit

Good to excellent

Being first doesn’t always make you the best, and that couldn’t be more true when it comes to cards for grocery shopping. Although other credit cards would rank higher if you were to make a list of the highest grocery store cash-back rates, we still think the Citi Double Cash is better for most people.

Some great grocery cards limit where you can shop (for instance, 5% only at Whole Foods, or 6% only at US supermarkets). This card gives you a flat 2% back (1% when you buy, 1% when you pay it off) on all your purchases, so you know you’re getting a great rate on all your groceries, whether you purchase them at a traditional grocery store, a boutique cheese shop, or a farmers market.

It’s rare to find a no-annual-fee credit card that offers such a high-cash-back rate. Only a handful of other cards do, including the Fidelity Rewards Visa Signature Card and the SDFCU Premium Cash Back+ Card, but both of those cards require you to open accounts with their respective institutions, which adds an extra layer of complication that you don’t have to worry about with the Citi Double Cash.

Our pick if you shop at Whole Foods or Amazon

Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card

Earn cash back on groceries from Amazon and Whole Foods, and on almost everything you buy on Amazon.

What we love

With no spending caps and a tremendous array of items for purchase beyond groceries, you have the potential to rack up tons of cash back.

• No spending cap means huge potential to rack up cash-back rewards if you mostly shop at Amazon
• Receive a $80 Amazon.com gift card instantly upon approval

What we don’t love

You have to be a Prime member and primarily shop at Whole Foods or Amazon to make this card worth it.

• 5% cash-back rate applies only to Amazon and Whole Foods, so don’t expect to use this at other supermarkets
• 5% rate also excludes purchases made through international Amazon sites like Amazon.co.uk and some Amazon-owned sites such as Audible
• You need Amazon Prime membership to apply (which can cost $119 annually)

See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.

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Annual Fee

$0 with Prime Membership

Regular APR

16.49% - 24.49% variable

Intro Bonus

$80

Recommended Credit

Good to excellent

The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card can help take the “Whole Paycheck” out of Whole Foods, offering 5% back on all eligible purchases at both Whole Foods and Amazon.com. For what it’s worth, Whole Foods prices are 15% higher than those at a typical grocery store, according to an analyst note from Morgan Stanley. (The link is to The New York Times, Wirecutter’s parent company.)

And although the card has no annual fee, you do need to have an Amazon Prime account, which typically costs $119 a year.

Our pick if you shop at Target

Target REDcard™ Credit Card

Earn cash back on groceries from Target (and nearly everything else you buy there).

What we love

Instant 5% off at the cash register makes it easy to earn discounts on not just groceries but also anything else you buy at Target.

• There's no spending cap on how much rewards you can earn
• Cardholders get free shipping and an extra 30 days to make returns

What we don’t love

You can’t use this card anywhere beyond Target. Plus, the high interest rate on purchases means any interest charged on an unpaid balance could quickly negate the value of rewards.

• Card works only at Target
• High APR on purchases

See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.

Apply Now

Apply now for this Partner Offer on Target’s secure website.

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

25.15% variable

Intro Bonus

N/A

Recommended Credit

Good to excellent

The Target REDcard Credit Card offers an instant 5% off at checkout when you shop at Target. The card works only to pay for purchases at Target, so don’t whip this out at T.J.Maxx.

But if 5% off a Frappuccino sounds nice, here’s a little goodie: The discount also applies to Starbucks locations in Target stores. The card also has no annual fee, no points portal to navigate, no membership requirement, and no caps. If you shop at Target, adding this card to your wallet is also worthwhile thanks to other perks such as free two-day shipping on most items sold at Target, and an extra 30 days to make returns beyond Target’s standard 90-day return policy.

Target also has a debit card version that’s mostly similar to the REDcard Credit Card in that you get the 5% off, free shipping, and more. But since it’s a debit card, you can’t buy things on credit with it, and it doesn’t do anything to build your credit score.

The best overall dining credit card

Uber Visa Card

4% is the highest dining rewards rate on any $0-annual-fee dining card we found.

What we love

This card offers generous rewards not just on dining but also on other categories like travel.

• A relatively easy-to-attain $100 bonus after you spend $500 in purchases in your first three months
• 3% back on travel and no foreign-transaction fees make this a decent $0-annual-fee travel card
• If you spend $5,000 annually on the card, you get a $50 credit toward some online subscriptions, a rare perk especially given the $0 annual fee

What we don’t love

You need to apply for the card through the Uber app, yet you don’t actually earn significant rewards on Uber rides.

• With just 2% back on Uber rides, don’t expect to generate significant rewards there, despite the Uber branding
• You must apply through the Uber app—a rather unconventional sign-up process
• Uber’s tarnished reputation has earned it a spot on 24/7 Wall Street’s “20 Most Hated Companies” list

See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.

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Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

17.99% - 28.74% variable

Intro Bonus

$100

Recommended Credit

Good to excellent

The Uber Visa Card earns you 4% back on your dining purchases, which is not only the highest rate on any $0-annual-fee card we found but also a highly competitive rate among top-tier dining rewards credit cards in general.

It doubles as a great travel card, earning 3% back on flights, hotels, and vacation-home rentals (such as Airbnb) with no foreign-transaction fee.

A no-annual-fee alternative

SavorOne℠ Rewards

With bonus categories for entertainment and food, this card rewards you for spending on experiences rather than things.

What we love

You get 3% not just on dining but also on other entertainment expenses including bowling alleys, theme parks, movies, and concerts.

• With a $0 annual fee, there’s no pressure to justify continued spending with this card if your budget changes
• Redemption is straightforward: no minimum to redeem, and you can claim rewards as a statement credit or apply them toward purchases
• No foreign-transaction fees makes this a card you can use abroad

What we don’t love

Although 3% on restaurants is pretty good, you can do better with other cards.

• If your top priority is the highest cash-back rate on dining, other no-annual-fee cards offer higher rates than 3%
• Since this card offers just 1% back on non-bonus-category purchases, it probably won’t last as the only card in your wallet

See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.

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Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

16.24% - 26.24% variable

Intro Bonus

$150

Recommended Credit

Good to excellent

If your ideal date night is dinner and a movie, you could benefit from the Capital One SavorOne Rewards, which offers 3% back on dining and entertainment—a sweeping category that includes tickets to movies, concerts, sporting events, theme parks, zoos, and bowling alleys.

Best if you’re a Costco member

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

3% cash back on restaurants is above-average, though not the best rate. But this card also functions as a great gas rewards card and a $0-annual-fee travel card.

What we love

This card is good for dining, but we also love it for travel and gas.

• Cardholders also get 3% back on eligible travel and 4% back on eligible gas
• No foreign-transaction fees makes this a good card to bring internationally if you don’t have a dedicated travel rewards card

What we don’t love

Rewards are easiest to redeem on Costco purchases, yet the rewards rate on Costco purchases isn’t that impressive.

• The 2% cash-back rate on Costco purchases is disappointing, considering 2% is the standard for good cash-back cards anyway
• Rewards aren’t instant; you receive them as an annual certificate redeemable only at US Costco warehouses

See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.

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Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

17.24% variable

Intro Bonus

N/A

Recommended Credit

Good to excellent

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi is great for dining, travel, and gas. You earn 3% cash back at restaurants including cafés, bars, lounges, and fast-food spots, plus 3% on travel. It’s one of our top gas rewards cards, earning you 4% cash back on gas for your first $7,000 in purchases each year (then 1% after that). Although the card has no annual fee, you have to be a Costco member to apply (which typically costs $60 annually).

If you already (or want to) invest with Bank of America

Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card

This card has the potential to be the highest-earning gas rewards credit card we reviewed (and you can earn high cash back in some other worthy categories too). But it’s best for existing Bank of America customers with some serious savings.

What we love

There just aren’t many credit cards that offer respectable goodies at the pump.

• BofA’s Preferred Rewards program can accelerate your cash-back earnings (the highest you can earn is 5.25%) if you have sufficient savings in an eligible account; tiers range from $20,000 to $100,000
• Pick the category you want to earn 3% back (gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, home improvement/furnishings)
• $200 bonus after you spend $1,000 on purchases in your first 90 days

What we don’t love

The 5.25% rate is great—but it’s exclusive. You need to park a whopping $100,000, which most people don’t have, with Bank of America.

• You earn just 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and only 1% on all else
• You receive 3% and 2% bonus rewards only on the first $2,500 in combined purchases every quarter, then earn 1%

See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.

Apply Now

Apply now for this Partner Offer on Bank of America’s secure website.

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

16.24% - 26.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers

Intro Bonus

$200

Recommended Credit

Excellent/Good

If your account balance is high enough, you could earn as much as 5.25% cash back on gas, the highest rate we’ve found on any card.

Here’s how it works: You earn 3% cash back on purchases in one eligible spending category of your choice (gas is the default option), plus 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs on the first $2,500 in combined purchases each quarter, and unlimited 1% cash back on everything else.

But the card is also part of Bank of America’s Preferred Rewards program, which gives customers a point bonus of 25% to 75% depending on the size of your Bank of America®/Merrill Lynch®/Merrill Edge® account balance. If your average three-month combined balance exceeds $100,000, you qualify for the highest tier, which means a 75% bonus on any points you earn (that’s 5.25% if you select gas as your bonus category).

Best if you’re a Costco member

Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi

3% cash back on restaurants is above-average, though not the best rate. But this card also functions as a great gas rewards card and a $0-annual-fee travel card.

What we love

This card is good for dining, but we also love it for travel and gas.

• Cardholders also get 3% back on eligible travel and 4% back on eligible gas
• No foreign-transaction fees makes this a good card to bring internationally if you don’t have a dedicated travel rewards card

What we don’t love

Rewards are easiest to redeem on Costco purchases, yet the rewards rate on Costco purchases isn’t that impressive.

• The 2% cash-back rate on Costco purchases is disappointing, considering 2% is the standard for good cash-back cards anyway
• Rewards aren’t instant; you receive them as an annual certificate redeemable only at US Costco warehouses

See Rates & Fees. Terms Apply.

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Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

17.24% variable

Intro Bonus

N/A

Recommended Credit

Good to excellent

The Costco Anywhere Visa Card by Citi earns you 4% cash back on gas for your first $7,000 per year in purchases.

Although you can get the bonus rewards no matter what gas station you buy from (except at other warehouse clubs, namely Costco’s competitors), you have an additional incentive to buy gas from Costco stations. Costco sells the cheapest gas you can buy among large chains, beating out other low-cost rivals such as Arco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s. In 2018, Costco’s gas prices were 22.62¢ per gallon lower than the nationwide average (Sam’s Club prices were just 13.2¢ lower), according to data provided to Wirecutter by OPIS, a company that collects and analyzes gasoline price data.

It’s true: We love (and occasionally gleefully recommend) some credit cards that come with high fees. If the benefits can outweigh the costs and you’re willing to put in the effort to ensure that you use most of the perks, high-fee cards can earn big spenders far more in spending rewards than some of the no-fee cards mentioned here. Plus, perks such as statement credits, airline seat or hotel room upgrades, elite status, and lounge access on high-fee cards may be worth the expense for some people.

For example, we love the $450 Chase Sapphire Reserve for its $300 annual travel statement credit, airline lounge access, high rewards rate on restaurants and travel, and TSA Pre✓ application reimbursement. We’ve even gone so far as to recommend a pair of credit cards in your wallet that cost a combined $1,000 in annual fees.

But these high-fee cards can also be a curse. They may tempt you to spend more than you can afford, just to take advantage of perks that you may not otherwise have even considered. They could spawn unnecessary stress over having to spend enough to justify the card’s fee. They’re likely to force you to be hyper-organized, which you might not have the time and energy for.

And if you decide that such a card ultimately isn’t worth the annual fee you’re paying, you have to put in the effort to close the card, which could impact your credit score. If any of those things has you nodding your head in agreement, you’re probably a prime candidate for a no-annual-fee credit card.

Editorial note: Opinions expressed here are Wirecutter’s alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any third party.