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Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards of April 2024

ALSO CONSIDER: Best credit cards of 2024 || Best travel credit cards || Best rewards credit cards || Best cash back credit cards

Most credit cards tack an extra charge onto purchases made outside the United States. If you're planning to travel abroad, you'll want to look out for these foreign transaction fees (sometimes called international transaction fees). They are assessed by your credit card issuer and are usually 1% to 3% of the purchase amount, with 3% being common. That might not seem like a big deal, but if you spent, say, $3,000 at a hotel, you could be looking at an additional $90 charge.

The best way to avoid foreign transaction fees is to use a travel credit card that doesn't charge them. Any travel credit card worth its salt — including airline cards — will not charge foreign transaction fees, so you have plenty of options. Some major issuers — most notably Capital One and Discover — don't charge these fees on any of their cards.

Some of our selections for the best no foreign transaction fee credit cards can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you'll find application links for the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet, followed by the full list of our picks.

250+ credit cards reviewed and rated by our team of experts

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NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity .

Show summary

NerdWallet's Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards of April 2024

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card : Best for Bonus category cash back

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card : Best for Bonus rewards + no annual fee

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : Best for Bonus travel rewards

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card : Best for Simple travel rewards + no annual fee

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Best for Flat-rate travel rewards

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card : Best for Flat-rate cash back

Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card : Best for Students

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card : Best for Average credit

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card : Best for Business travel

Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards From Our Partners

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Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.

Bonus category cash back

Bonus rewards + no annual fee, bonus travel rewards, simple travel rewards + no annual fee, flat-rate travel rewards, flat-rate cash back, average credit, business travel, full list of editorial picks: best no foreign transaction fee credit cards.

Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Flat-rate travel rewards

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is probably the best-known general-purpose travel credit card, thanks to its ubiquitous advertising. You earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel and 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Miles can be redeemed at a value of 1 cent apiece for any travel purchase, without the blackout dates and other restrictions of branded hotel and airline cards. The card offers a great sign-up bonus and other worthwhile perks ( see rates and fees ). Read our review.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Our pick for: Bonus travel rewards

For a reasonable annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns bonus rewards (up to 5X) on travel, dining, select streaming services, and select online grocery purchases. Points are worth 25% more when you redeem them for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. The sign-up bonus is stellar, too. Read our review. 

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

Our pick for: Simple travel rewards + no annual fee

One of the best no-annual-fee travel cards available, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card gives you a solid rewards rate on every purchase, with points that can be redeemed for any travel purchase, without the restrictions of branded airline and hotel cards. Bank of America® has an expansive definition of "travel," too, giving you additional flexibility in how you use your rewards. Read our review.

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Our pick for: Bonus rewards + no annual fee

The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card offers so much value, it's hard to believe there's no annual fee. Start with a great bonus offer, then earn extra rewards in a host of common spending categories — restaurants, gas stations, transit, travel, streaming and more. Read our review.

Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Our pick for: Business travel

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card starts you off with one of the biggest sign-up bonuses of any credit card anywhere: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠. You also get bonus rewards on travel expenses and common business spending categories, like advertising, shipping and internet, cable and phone service. Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel booked through Chase, or you can transfer them to about a dozen airline and hotel partners. Learn more and apply .

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Flat-rate cash back

The original 1.5% flat-rate cash-back card still holds its own in a now-crowded field. The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a compelling combination of a good rewards rate, redemption flexibility, sign-up bonus and introductory 0% APR period ( see rates and fees ). Read our review.

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Bonus category cash back

Love the night life but dead-set against paying an annual fee? Consider the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card . It pays a lower cash-back rate on dining and entertainment than the regular Savor card, but the rewards are nevertheless quite good ( see rates and fees ). The sign-up bonus is smaller than on the annual-fee version, too, but it's still solid ( see rates and fees ). Read our review.

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Average credit

This card for people with fair or "average" credit pays the same cash-back rate as the regular Quicksilver card, which targets people with excellent credit. The key difference is that this version charges an annual fee while the regular one does not ( see rates and fees ). Read our review.

Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Students

The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card gets high marks for cards in its class, thanks to its $0 annual fee and its no-fuss rewards rate: 1.5% cash back on all purchases ( see rates and fees ). That's as good a combo as you'd find on even a lot of non -student cards. Read our review .

OTHER RESOURCES

What is a foreign transaction fee.

A credit card foreign transaction fee is a surcharge that a credit card issuer places on purchases made outside the United States. The typical foreign transaction fee is about 3%. So if you went to London with a card that had a 3% fee and used it to buy something that cost $140, you'd be charged a foreign transaction fee of $4.20. This fee typically shows up as a separate line item on your credit card statement.

Be aware that you can get hit with a foreign transaction fee even if you never leave the country. Foreign transaction fees are based on where a purchase is processed rather than your physical location when you make that purchase. Say that instead of going into a store in London and making a purchase, you ordered something from that store online while at home in the U.S. The transaction might be processed the same as the merchant's in-store sales, and you'll wind up paying a foreign transaction fee.

Some issuers, including Capital One, Discover and USAA, do not charge foreign transaction fees on any of their cards, and many issuers do not charge them on specific cards. Credit cards marketed to frequent travelers usually do not charge foreign transaction fees, even if the issuer has them on other cards.

Top credit card issuers’ foreign transaction fees

Here’s a look at the standard foreign transaction fees charged by major U.S. credit card issuers. It’s important to note that many of these issuers waive the foreign transaction fee (also called an international transaction fee) on certain cards. Further, some major issuers don’t charge foreign transaction fees on any of their cards.

The standard foreign transaction fee for American Express is 2.7%. However, Amex does not charge a foreign transaction fee for cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Gold Card .

The standard foreign transaction fee for Bank of America® is 3%. That said, if you have a Bank of America® credit card such as the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card or the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card do not charge foreign transaction fees.

The standard foreign transaction fee for Barclaycard is 3%.

The standard foreign transaction fee for all Capital One cards is 0%. So whether you have a travel credit card or secured credit card, you won’t pay any international transaction fees.

The standard foreign transaction fee for Chase is 3%. So, for the Chase Freedom card, for instance, the foreign transaction fee is 3%. However, if you have certain Chase credit cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve® , you won’t pay any international transaction fees.

The standard foreign transaction fee for Citi is 3%. If you’re looking for a Citi card that doesn’t charge these fees, however, there are some exceptions. For example, the Citi Premier® Card and the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® do not charge foreign transaction fees.

The standard foreign transaction fee on all Discover cards is 0%. So, whether you have the Discover it® Cash Back , the Discover it® Miles or a completely different Discover card, you will not be charged an international transaction fee.

The standard foreign transaction fee for U.S. Bank is 3%. But some U.S. Bank cards do not charge foreign transaction fees.

The standard foreign transaction fee for Wells Fargo is 3%. The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card , though, carries no foreign transaction fee.

» What about debit card foreign transaction fees?

Using credit cards internationally

Which credit cards work worldwide.

Whether you're in the U.S. or a foreign country, your ability to use a credit card at a merchant depends on whether the merchant accepts that card's payment network. The four major U.S. networks — Visa, Mastercard, American Express or Discover — all have an international presence, although to varying degrees.

In the U.S., Visa and Mastercard are ubiquitous. If a merchant accepts credit cards, it almost always accepts Visa and Mastercard, although there are a few exceptions, such as Visa-only Costco. Discover is a close third, just a hair behind the leaders. American Express is widely accepted, just not as widely as the other three. Smaller merchants, in particular, are less likely to take AmEx. Even so, when traveling in the U.S., you should be able to get by with a card on any of the four networks.

Outside the U.S., Visa and Mastercard are also dominant worldwide networks. And while American Express has a strong presence overseas — it has more cardholders outside the U.S. than in — it doesn't match the extent of Visa and Mastercard. Discover is a smaller player outside the U.S. If you're planning to travel internationally and your primary card is American Express or Discover, it's best to bring along a Visa or Mastercard as a backup.

Should I use dynamic currency conversion?

When you buy something with a credit card in a foreign country, your receipt will show the cost in the local currency. When you get your statement, however, you'll see that the charge has been converted to dollars. Your payment network takes care of the conversion, and you can usually be confident that you're getting a fair exchange rate. (A 2016 NerdWallet study found that Visa and Mastercard tended to convert currency at near-market rates, which is about the best you can get.)

Sometimes when you're shopping overseas, merchants will ask if you want your purchases to be denominated in dollars rather than the local currency. This is known as "dynamic currency conversion." It seems attractive, as it allows you to see how much you're spending in terms you understand — say, $50 rather than 5,000 Japanese yen or 45 euros. But dynamic conversion is usually a bad deal. That's because the exchange rates are considerably worse than what you'd get if you made your purchase in the local currency and then let your credit card network handle the conversion.

One other thing about dynamic conversion: It won't get you out of paying foreign transaction fees. If your card charges a fee on overseas purchases, it doesn't matter if those purchases are in dollars, yen, euros, rubles or whatever. You'll still pay the fee.

» MORE: Foreign transaction vs. currency conversion fees

Do I need a chip-and-PIN card?

Most credit cards issued in the U.S. are chip-and-signature cards. When you make a purchase at a store, the chip embedded in the card passes information to the merchant's computer system. Further, the chip protects that information with a one-time code so that if the data is stolen, it can't be used to make a counterfeit card. It's all very high-tech. But then you complete the transaction by verifying your identity in a decidedly low-tech way: You sign your name — and you might not even do that .

Cards issued in other countries have "chip-and-PIN" technology. You use the card the same way, but instead of signing your name to complete the transaction, you have to enter a four-digit code, or PIN. This adds a layer of security by making it harder for someone to use a stolen card.

When traveling abroad, you'll usually be able to use a U.S.-issued chip-and-signature card for in-person transactions. Among the places where you can't use one is at self-service kiosks and vending machines. These typically require chip-and-PIN.

Among major issuers in the U.S., Barclays offers chip-and-PIN on its cards. Some credit unions oriented toward military servicemembers who may be deployed overseas also offer chip-and-PIN functionality. If you don't have a chip-and-PIN card, it's not a crisis situation. You'll just have to plan ahead and keep in mind that if you need to buy something like train tickets, you'll have to go up to the window and buy from a live person rather than from a ticket machine.

Finally, be aware that simply having a PIN for your credit card does not make it a chip-and-PIN card. Many cards allow you to get cash advances for an ATM using a PIN. A PIN for accessing cash advances is not the same as one for verifying transactions though chip-and-PIN technology. If in doubt, ask your issuer.

Credit cards or travelers checks?

Travelers checks have been mostly replaced in travelers' wallets by credit and debit cards, which also solve many of the security problems that travelers checks were created to address. So while you can still get travelers checks, most travelers would find them more trouble than they're worth.

Back before credit cards were as widely used and accepted as they are today, people who didn't want to risk carrying a lot of cash on a trip would rely on travelers checks. A traveler might go to a bank or travel agency in their hometown and buy, say, six $100 checks, which they would sign at the bank. At their destination, they'd use the checks at stores or restaurants that accepted them, or exchange them for cash at a hotel or bank. When they redeemed the check, they'd sign it again, and the recipient would compare the signatures to verify the check.

Among the advantage of travelers checks:

If they were lost or stolen, the issuer would replace them, so you didn't lose money. Nowadays, credit card issuers can cancel a lost or stolen card and expedite a replacement just as quickly.

You could exchange them for cash far from home. The wide acceptance of credit cards makes cash less critical to carry, and credit cards can provide cash in a pinch. And, of course, debit cards can get you cash, too.

You could use them in places that didn't accept out-of-town personal checks. Today, credit cards are accepted at millions more locations than travelers checks ever were.

Travelers checks still have their uses. But when you combine the dwindling number of places that accept travelers checks with the fees you have to pay to get them, most leisure travelers will be better off with the cards they already carry.

NerdWallet's Erica Corbin contributed to this article.

Last updated on April 17 , 2024

Methodology

NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fee based on overall consumer value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as their suitability for specific kinds of consumers. Factors in our evaluation include annual fees, rewards rates and redemption options, introductory and ongoing interest rates, bonus offers for new cardholders, international acceptance of the card's payment network, and other noteworthy features such as travel perks. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

Frequently asked questions

The typical foreign transaction fee is 3% of the purchase price. Charge a $1,000 hotel stay on a card that imposes such a fee, for example, and you'll pay an extra $30. However:

• Some issuers charge a lower rate. American Express has long charged 2.7%, for example.

• Some issuers have no foreign transaction fees on any of their cards. They include Capital One, Discover and USAA.

• Most credit cards specifically designed for frequent travelers do not charge foreign transaction fees, even when the issuing bank charges such fees on its other cards.

When a foreign transaction fee applies to a purchase, you won't see it until you receive your credit card statement. That's because the fee is charged by the credit card company, not by the merchant. If you charge a $1,000 hotel stay in another country, your receipt from the hotel will just say $1,000 (or the equivalent amount in the foreign currency); when your statement arrives, the charge for the purchase will total $1,030.

When you buy something in a foreign country, the merchant may give you the option of having the purchase converted to U.S. dollars so you can see how much it costs in a way you're more likely to understand. (See the question about dynamic currency conversion below.) But for the purpose of the foreign transaction fee, it usually doesn't matter whether a purchase is submitted to your credit card company in U.S. dollars or in the local currency. The fee applies based on where the transaction takes place, not how it is denominated.

The one exception among major issuers is U.S. Bank, which charges a 3% foreign transaction fee but knocks that down to 2% if the purchase is denominated in U.S. dollars.

Foreign transaction fees are independent of exchange rates. Currency exchange rates tell you how much a unit of foreign currency is worth in dollars. If you buy something in France for 100 euros, for example, the cost in dollars might be $105 or $110 or $112.37 or something else, based on the current exchange rate. Your credit card's payment network — Visa, Mastercard, Discover or American Express — converts foreign purchases to dollar amounts according to the current exchange rate. The foreign transaction fee is then applied to the converted dollar amount.

Dynamic currency conversion is a service offered by some merchants overseas, in which they convert your purchase to dollars so that you can better get a sense of what it costs. It might be easier for you to understand a price of, say, $35 compared with 500 South African rand. Using dynamic currency conversion will not affect your foreign transaction fee in most cases. (An exception is U.S. Bank, which reduces the fee to 2% when purchases are processed in U.S. dollars.)

In general, dynamic currency conversion is a costly convenience for U.S. travelers. A NerdWallet study of credit card currency conversion rates found that when you let your credit card company convert your purchase to dollars, it usually does so at the current market rate. But when you choose dynamic currency conversion, it typically costs you an extra 1% to 3% because the merchant uses a less favorable exchange rate and pockets the difference. In other words, rather than save you money, dynamic currency conversion could as much as double the surcharge on a foreign transaction.

About the author

Sara Rathner

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Best no-foreign-transaction-fee credit cards of April 2024

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Foreign transaction fees are only one of many unnecessary charges travelers and online shoppers are likely to encounter. This surcharge can be up to 3 percent of the cost when making international purchases or withdrawing funds from a foreign ATM. Here’s what you need to know about the best credit cards without foreign transaction fees from our partners as well as some tips on how to avoid other unnecessary fees when shopping internationally.

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Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards

• Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card : Best overall
• Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card : Best for expanded travel rewards categories
• Discover it® Cash Back : Best for bonus category variety
• Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card : Best for flat-rate cash back
• Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card : Best travel card for beginners
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Best for flat-rate travel rewards
• Discover it® Student Cash Back : Best for students
• The Platinum Card® from American Express : Best for lounge access
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card : Best for budget luxury travel
• Discover it® Miles : Best for first-year value
• American Express® Gold Card : Best for travel rewards on dining
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® : Best for luxury perks

Additional Options:

• American Express® Green Card:  Best for everyday travel
• What to know about foreign transaction fees
• Pros and cons of no-foreign-transaction-fee cards
• Expert advice for no-foreign-transaction-fee cards

How we assess the best cards with no foreign transaction fee

• Frequently asked questions
• Ask the Experts

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A FICO score/credit score is used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.

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How do we choose the best overall card?

In determining which cards were worthy of “Best Overall” distinction on marketplace pages, our editorial team reviewed the cards currently available on each page and narrowed the list of candidates to only those cards that either:

• A) had received a minimum 4.0-star overall rating in their primary scoring category based on our proprietary card rating methodology , or 
• B) were currently the highest-rated card on the page. 

We then surveyed an internal panel of expert credit card writers and editors as to which card from the candidate list was most deserving of a “Best Overall” distinction. The winner was selected based on popular vote.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.

Intro offer

• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel

Offer valuation

We calculate this number by multiplying the card's intro offer by Bankrate's valuation of this issuer's rewards program , showing you how much your points or miles are worth in dollars.

1.25 Miles - 5 Miles

Rewards rate

5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

Regular APR

• 5 Miles 5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 1.25 Miles 1.25 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

Why it’s the best overall: "I got this card because I was going to be temporarily living abroad. It was also my first card so I needed something easy to use. This was the perfect choice thanks to its low fees, intro APR offer and flat-rate rewards, which helped me to get used to having a credit card without sacrificing value." — India Davis , Editor, Credit Cards  What we love: This card is great for low-hassle travel rewards with its flat earning rate and easy redemption of miles for any recent, travel-related purchases, including flights with any airline. Learn more: Is the Capital One VentureOne worth it? Alternatives: While this card is great for someone who doesn’t want to worry about offsetting the cost of an annual fee, travel rewards maximizers who travel often are likely better off with a more premium card, such as the Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card .

• Occasional travelers can earn miles on everyday purchases.
• You could potentially increase the value of your miles by transferring them to Capital One’s travel partners.
• Many travel cards with annual fees come with more valuable benefits.
• Capital One’s transfer partners currently don’t include any major U.S. airlines.
• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

• 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
• Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
• 1.5X Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.

What we love: What makes this card stand out is that you can redeem for more than just flights, hotels or rental cars. The Bank of America Travel Rewards card lets you redeem points for statement credits for purchases at campgrounds, zoos, art galleries, aquariums and more. Learn more: Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card benefits guide Alternatives: The Citi Premier® Card is a solid alternative if you don’t mind a modest annual fee in exchange for competitive rewards rates on everyday purchases. 

• Qualifying for the Bank of America Preferred Rewards® program makes this card one of the most lucrative flat-rate travel cards available.
• You could benefit from a temporary break on interest charges thanks to this card’s intro APR offer.
• You won’t get some of the most coveted travel benefits like trip cancellation insurance or complimentary lounge access.
• The minimum amount of points you need to redeem is high compared to other cards.
• Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
• Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% - 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
• If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
• Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
• This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

Discover it® Cash Back

• Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.

• 5% Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
• 1% Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.

What we love: This classic card from Discover pairs forgiving terms (like no penalty APR for missed payments) with a generous rotating category cash back rewards program, making it a rare cash back credit card that skips foreign transaction fees. Its end-of-first-year Cashback Match also sweetens the deal. Learn more: Is the Discover it® Cash Back Credit Card worth it? Alternatives: Discover’s rotating rewards program requires quarterly activation and tracking categories, so the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card may be a better match if you’re looking for a more low-maintenance rewards strategy.

• The card is cost-effective since there’s no annual fee and Discover will waive your first late payment fee (up to $41 after that).
• Rotating bonus categories tend to include popular everyday categories.
• The card’s value decreases after the first year when the Cashback Match is no longer on the table.
• Maximizing rewards takes some legwork; you have to enroll and spend in bonus categories each quarter to earn the best cash back rates.
• Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
• Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
• Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
• Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
• No annual fee.
• Terms and conditions apply.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

• Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day

• 5% Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
• 1.5% Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day

What we love: This cash-back card combines consumer-friendly terms with a decent rewards program. We particularly like it for first-time rewards credit cardholders. Learn more: Why I love the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards card Alternatives: If you want to maximize cash back earnings in multiple categories or have a higher rewards rate, we suggest the Discover it® Cash Back credit card .  

• You won’t need a minimum amount of rewards to redeem cash back.
• The welcome offer is fairly attainable compared to other cash back cards.
• You could earn more rewards with other flat-rate or bonus category cash back cards.
• The ongoing variable APR is higher compared to competing cards.
• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
• Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
• Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
• No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
• 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries. 2x on all other travel purchases. 1x on all other purchases.

• 5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠.
• 3x 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries.
• 2x 2x on all other travel purchases.
• 1x 1x on all other purchases.

What we love: This popular travel credit card operates on all cylinders, touting an excellent rewards rate on travel and dining and a lucrative sign-up bonus. You can also enjoy 25 percent more value when you redeem points for travel through Chase Travel℠. Learn more: Chase Sapphire Preferred card benefits guide Alternatives: Travelers looking for luxury perks such as airport lounge access or free checked bags may prefer the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card or the Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card .  

• The easy value boost by simply redeeming rewards for travel through the Chase Travel℠ portal is a stellar feature.
• You’ll get travel perks like trip cancellation/interruption insurance and baggage delay insurance.
• No intro APR offers means you won’t save on interest if you have to carry a balance.
• There’s a steep spending requirement to earn the card’s sign-up bonus.
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

New Venture cardholders can earn 75,000 miles once they spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

2 Miles - 5 Miles

5 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

• 2 Miles 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

What we love: A primary draw for this travel card is a generous 2X miles on all purchases, allowing you to earn toward travel without making a lot of travel purchases. Learn more: Why I love the Capital One Venture Rewards card Alternatives: If you exclusively fly one airline or stay at one hotel chain, you’re probably better off with a co-branded card — and you can also consider this card’s low-cost alternative, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card .

• It comes with many flexible redemption options, not limited to travel.
• You could potentially increase the value of your miles by transferring them to select Capital One travel partners.
• There’s a steep spending requirement to achieve this card’s current sign-up bonus.
• Miles are worth 1 cent or less unless you use select airline transfer programs, which can limit your overall earning potential.
• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more

Discover it® Student Cash Back

• Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.

What we love: A top choice for students, the Discover it® Student Cash Back credit card touts a generous rewards program and consumer-friendly terms, including no annual fee. Consider applying if you don’t mind managing rotating cash back bonus categories. Learn more: Is the Discover it® Student Cash Back credit card worth it? Alternatives: If you don't want to activate the card's rotating bonus categories each quarter, the Discover it® Student Chrome has a more simplified rewards program.  

• It's a lucrative rewards credit card available to students.
• This card doesn’t charge an annual fee, perfect for first-time cardholders.
• Rotating cash back categories might be confusing or tedious to credit card newbies.
• While it has an intro offer on new purchases, it’s much shorter than what you’d find on plenty of other cards.
• No credit score required to apply.
• No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
• 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 18.24% - 27.24% applies.

The Platinum Card® from American Express

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

• 5X Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
• 5X Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.

What we love: This card’s lounge access privileges make it a perfect fit for frequent flyers who want to travel in maximum comfort. The card also comes with plenty of perks, including statement credits for expedited security screening, airline incidentals, hotels and Uber.  Learn more: The Platinum Card from American Express benefits guide Alternatives: While this card’s benefits are nice, they’re also expensive and you may only use a handful of its benefits. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a great alternative thanks to its lower annual fee and solid travel perks.  

• This card offers a long list of airline and hotel transfer partners, so you should have little trouble using your points for travel worldwide.
• Includes access to Priority Pass Select lounges, Centurion lounges, Delta Sky Clubs (if you’re traveling on Delta) and more.
• It’s not a great fit if you want to earn travel rewards on everyday spending, due to its low rewards rates on non-travel purchases.
• Several of the card’s perks are unrelated to travel and may only appeal to a small audience, making the annual fee harder to justify.
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
• $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel

2 Miles - 10 Miles

10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel 5 Miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day

• 10 Miles 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 5 Miles 5 Miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel

What we love: If you’re looking for some middle ground in the realm of luxury travel cards, this one has a lot to offer. With about half of the annual fees on other luxury travel cards, you still get some of the best travel protections, lounge access opportunities and annual credits. Bonus: the credits you earn will put a nice dent in the annual fee. Learn more: Capital One Venture X benefits guide Alternatives: If you want a card that rewards your personal travel habits, such as booking with your favorite airlines or hotels, cards with brand-specific perks could be a better alternative. Co-branded credit cards, such as the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card , help you earn rewards with the hotels and airlines you prefer. 

• You’ll get $300 in annual credits for Capital One Travel bookings.
• Enjoy complimentary Priority Pass Select membership to over 1,300 lounges worldwide.
• While it has a lower annual fee than other premier travel cards, it could still be steep for some.
• You must book through the Capital One Travel portal to earn the highest rewards rates.
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more

Discover it® Miles

• Unlimited Bonus: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers - only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.

Offer valuation is not available for this credit card.

Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase.

• 1.5X Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase.

What we love: This budget-friendly travel credit card combines a decent return on purchases, a generous first-year welcome offer and consumer-friendly terms. Occasional travelers should consider applying. Learn more: Why I love the Discover it® Miles Credit Card Alternatives: If you’re looking for travel perks or the ability to transfer miles to airline or hotel loyalty programs, cards like the Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card or the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card may be better suited for your needs.

• Miles don’t lose value when you redeem for cash back.
• Discover forgives your first late payment (up to $41 late fee after that; missed payments can hurt your credit score).
• The card has no ancillary travel benefits or perks.
• The card’s value drops significantly after the first year’s miles match welcome bonus.
• Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
• No annual fee
• Turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.
• 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% - 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
• Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.

American Express® Gold Card

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X). Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.

• 4X Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 4X Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• 3X Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.

What we love: International travelers who always remember to pack their appetites will find the American Express Gold Card a rich source of travel rewards, without foreign transaction fees. The generous rewards and annual credits should go a long way toward offsetting the card's $250 annual fee. Learn more: Is the Amex Gold worth the annual fee? Alternatives: For travelers who want premium travel perks like airport lounge access, you’d be better off with the Chase Sapphire Reserve , as it comes with some of the highest rewards for travel and dining compared to other luxury travel cards.  

• This card offers best-in-class base rewards on food purchases.
• Features travel and shopping protections, including trip delay insurance, baggage insurance and extended warranty coverage.
• Earning the full value of some of this card’s credits requires careful attention to the terms and conditions.
• The steep annual fee will price this card out of many non-frequent flyers’ budgets.
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠. Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Travel℠. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining. Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

• 10x Earn 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠.
• 5x Earn 5x total points on flights through Chase Travel℠.
• 3x Earn 3x points on other travel and dining.
• 1x Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

What we love: This popular luxury travel credit card from Chase comes fully loaded, featuring generous base rewards, a sweet sign-up bonus, ancillary perks (including airport lounge access and certain travel protections) and a high-value travel credit that’ll go a long way toward offsetting the steep $550 annual fee. Learn more: Chase Sapphire Reserve benefits guide Alternatives: If you only travel occasionally, aren’t comfortable with a hefty annual fee or you’re not sure you’d get $550 of value out of this card each year, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is a better choice.  

• The annual travel credit is one of the easiest credits on the market to redeem.
• You’ll get a 50 percent boost when you redeem points for travel through Chase Travel℠.
• The card’s ongoing APR is high and the card has no intro APR offers to shield you from interest charges.
• The card’s lounge access pales a bit in comparison to comparable luxury credit cards.
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more

American Express® Green Card

*The information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Earn 40,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on your American Express® Green Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.

Rewards Rate

Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on travel including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals. Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways. Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.

• 3X Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on travel including airfare, hotels, cruises, tours, car rentals, campgrounds, and vacation rentals.
• 3X Earn 3X Membership Rewards® Points on transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways.
• 3X Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on eligible purchases at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the US.

What we love: This travel card comes with solid perks at a relatively low cost, allowing you to get a taste of luxury travel even if you only take a few flights per year. It also offers one of the most generous rewards rates out there on transit, making it a great pick for commuters. Learn more: Why the American Express Green card is great for flexible spending Alternatives: Though the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card carries a higher annual fee, it offers more than enough value to make it worth the cost. It may be a better value than the Amex Green overall thanks to its wider-reaching lounge access privileges, annual travel credit and ongoing anniversary bonus.   

• City dwellers and people who frequently use public transit can get plenty of rewards with this card.
• You’ll get an annual statement credit for CLEAR membership.
• Unless you use the Pay Over Time feature, you'll be required to pay your balance in full each month.
• It has lackluster lounge access compared to other premier travel cards.

Compare Bankrate’s top no-foreign-transaction-fee credit cards

All information about the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com and has not been reviewed or approved by the issuer.

What is a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card?

A no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card is exactly that — a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees on purchases you make outside the U.S. Naturally, no-foreign-transaction-fee cards are often travel rewards cards . However, some issuers may also offer cash back, balance transfer, credit-building, student and business cards that don’t charge foreign transaction fees.

What you should know about foreign transaction fees

When you use a credit card overseas to buy something in the local currency, your credit card issuer has to convert the money you’ve spent into U.S. dollars. It may seem like any other transaction, but the credit card issuer covers various costs associated with international purchases like transferring money through a foreign bank. Many issuers offset these costs by charging a  foreign transaction fee for overseas purchases. However, Capital One and Discover don’t charge foreign transaction fees on any of their credit cards.

Depending on the issuer and card, a foreign transaction fee typically ranges from 1 percent to 3 percent, but it can go as high as 5 percent. Here's a quick look at how the fee structure breaks down among several major credit card issuers:

Unless you pay with a credit card that waives this fee, you’ll likely pay a foreign transaction fee for:

Hotel bookings

While it largely depends on the location of the hotel and the specific travel provider, your issuer may charge a foreign transaction fee when you book a stay in another country.

Online purchases

If you purchase something from a seller based outside the U.S. and your transaction is processed abroad, your issuer could charge a foreign transaction fee — even if you’re shopping from the comfort of home.

Debit, charge or gift card purchases

Unfortunately, you can't escape foreign transaction fees just by using a different type of card. Credit cards, debit cards, charge cards and even prepaid gift cards commonly charge foreign transaction fees.

Foreign transaction fees typically show up on your credit card statement at the end of your billing cycle and you pay them when you pay your credit card balance.

Bankrate Insight

When traveling overseas or shopping with international vendors, beware of other travel-related credit card fees that can decrease your purchasing power, including cash advance fees, ATM fees and conversion fees.

Pros and cons of no-foreign-transaction-fee credit cards

If you travel overseas or make purchases in foreign currencies, it's worth understanding why a card with no foreign transaction fee might benefit you.

Save on purchases abroad. The average foreign transaction fee rate is a costly 3 percent, which can also eat into — or entirely outweigh — some cards’ rewards rates.

Better exchange rates. A credit card can help you save on converting currency at a local ATM, bank or airport. For example, Visa and Mastercard typically charge 1 percent to convert currency to U.S. dollars, saving you the added costs of a merchant’s dynamic currency conversion rate (DCC).

More secure than cash or debit cards. Lost or stolen cash is gone without any recourse, and there’s a chance that you’ll be liable for unauthorized charges with a stolen debit card. Credit cards can be replaced overnight and have more protections against fraud and identity theft.

Expense tracking. You won't have to keep track of different payment methods or currency exchange fees if you charge everything to your credit card without foreign transaction fees.

Most options are travel cards. No-foreign-transaction-fee cards are less likely to carry cash back bonus categories tailored to everyday spending than travel rewards and perks.

Some card networks aren’t widely accepted abroad. Cards from American Express or Discover might not be as accepted widely by merchants overseas as Mastercard and Visa cards.

More likely to charge an annual fee. Since cards with no foreign transaction fees tend to be travel cards, annual fees are more common, and can run high depending on the rates, categories and redemption options you’re interested in.

Expensive if you need cash. Although these cards save you money on foreign transactions and other travel-related fees, the cash advance fees and APR are likely far more expensive than debit cards’ ATM fees if you’re in a pinch and need foreign cash.

Expert advice for no-foreign-transaction-fee card

As you search for a card to use for your upcoming international trip, it’s important to fully understand foreign transaction fees, what to weigh when considering a no-foreign-transaction fee card and how you can best use this type of card.

How to choose a card with no foreign transaction fees

Pick a card that fits your needs.

For some people, a card with no foreign transaction fees can offer hundreds of dollars in savings. People who travel overseas frequently, students studying abroad and some online shoppers may benefit most from picking a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. If you’re hoping to earn rewards on these purchases, avoiding a foreign transaction fee is even more important since the common 3 percent rate could more than outweigh any rewards you’d earn from your purchases.

Look for a rewards card that offers cash back, points, or miles in categories that match your spending habits.

Look for perks that serve your travel interests

While choosing a travel credit card , compare the full suite of benefits each one offers. Along with rewards and no foreign transaction fees, top-tier travel credit cards usually carry benefits like annual travel credits , trip cancellation insurance, expedited airport security screening and airport lounge access. You may need to pay a higher annual fee to get all the perks you want, so pick the card that offers the best cost-to-benefit balance for you.

Compare rates and fees

Common credit card fees include annual fees, late fees, balance transfer fees, cash advance fees and returned payment fees. An annual fee is the hardest to avoid since you can dodge most other costs with responsible card use. 

Annual fees are most common among mid-tier and premium travel credit cards, even if these cards skip foreign transaction fees. Weigh whether you can offset an annual fee with reward earnings and added benefits, as you may find some cards with annual fees are worth it when they offer rewards.

Consider the card network

Although you shouldn’t have much of a problem with credit card acceptance, Visa and Mastercard credit cards are accepted more widely internationally than cards on the American Express and Discover networks .

Still unsure if a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card is right for you? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool to get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.

Tips for maximizing a no-foreign-transaction fee card

When using your credit card internationally, follow these tips to ensure you’re making the most of your no-foreign-transaction-fee card and not racking up unnecessary fees .

Have a mix of credit cards

Every credit card may not work in every country depending on the card network, so it may be handy to have at least two no-foreign-transaction-fee credit cards from different networks — especially if one is an American Express or Discover card. Carrying multiple credit cards could also help you earn rewards on a wider variety of purchases and make it easier to adapt your travel plans for different hotel or airline brands if need be

Take advantage of your rewards and perks

Having no foreign transaction fees is a valuable card feature, but making the most of your cards’ rewards and perks can help you save even more on your travel. Rideshare partner perks, travel insurance , waived airline baggage fees and travel statement credits are all popular benefits that are worthwhile as well.

Avoid cash advances

Withdrawing cash from an ATM with your credit card could cost you up to 5 percent of the amount withdrawn and tack on sky-high interest charges. Try to avoid having to take out a cash advance by keeping some cash or a debit card on hand for emergencies.

Have a chip-and-PIN credit card

Go for a credit card that has both a chip and a PIN : a small metallic computer chip and a four-digit identification number to verify your card once it’s inserted. This card security method is more common internationally than the typical “chip and signature” method in the U.S., and it can save you from the hefty fees of a foreign ATM cash withdrawal.

How this Bankrate expert chose their no-foreign-transaction fee card

Here’s how Bankrate writer and credit card reviewer Seychelle Thomas chose her card with no foreign transaction fees:

“Initially, I chose the Capital One Quicksilver* for its flat-rate rewards and how gracious it was towards my credit score at the time (which wasn't the best). No foreign transaction fees was more of a hidden benefit for me that became useful after building my credit and starting to travel. My Quicksilver card proved useful on a trip to Iceland in 2017 because it didn't charge foreign transaction fees and automatically converted prices from Icelandic Króna to USD for me. It's also come in handy on a trip to the Dominican Republic a few years later. Having account notifications set gave me some peace of mind in making sure my card stayed safe — and that I stayed on budget. After realizing travel rewards became more valuable to me than cash back, I swapped over to the Capital One VentureOne*. It also meant I could keep enjoying benefits I had with my Quicksilver card, like no foreign transaction fees and elevated rewards on Capital One Travel hotel and rental car bookings. I've already earned about 11,000 miles and tested out the card on a trip to El Salvador last year. I plan to use the card again during an upcoming trip to Mexico so I can keep earning travel rewards without paying an annual fee or foreign transaction fees.” — Seychelle Thomas Writer, Credit Cards

*( See Rates & Fees for the Capital One Quicksilver); ( See Rates & Fees for the Capital One VentureOne)

When evaluating the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fee, we take into account several factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether they offer features that fit the priorities of a diverse group of cardholders, from earning rewards to scoring a large sign-up bonus to saving on interest.

We analyzed over 250 of the most popular credit cards and selected standouts that carry no foreign transaction fee. We scored each card based on the factors most relevant to its primary category, including its rewards rate, estimated annual earnings, intro APR period, ongoing APR, perks and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup.

Here are some of the key factors that we considered:

Solid rewards value

Since many cardholders looking for a card with no foreign transaction fee are eager to earn rewards, a key criteria for a card’s inclusion in our list is whether it offers impressive rewards value. This includes a card’s average rewards rate, estimated annual rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value and reward redemption value.

To estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings, we calculate its average rewards rate based on how much it earns in different bonus categories, as well as how closely those categories match the average person’s spending habits. In other words: Does the card earn rewards at a high rate in the most popular spending categories?

We use consumer spending data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to get a reliable third-party measure of people’s spending habits. The most recent BLS data estimates average total spending in 2022 was $72,967 per consumer. We then narrow our focus to which purchases are likely to be put on a credit card and earn rewards, subtracting expenditures like housing, vehicle purchases and education. This gives us a total “chargeable” annual spend of around $22,500.  

Some of the major spending categories that contribute towards the annual spend include:

• Groceries: $5,700
• Dining out: $3,600
• Entertainment: $2,400
• Gas: $3,100
• Apparel and services: $1,900

Using this data, we assign a weighting to each of a card’s bonus categories. For example, a card’s grocery rewards rate receives a 22 percent weighting based on how much of the average person’s budget is spent on groceries. We also estimate the redemption value of points or miles from various issuer, airline and hotel rewards programs.

This weighting and rewards valuation allows us to estimate a card’s average annual rewards earnings — how many points or miles you’d earn with a given card if your spending was about average and you used the card for all of your purchases — as well as what those points are worth. We also use point valuations to determine a card’s sign-up bonus value

With these calculations complete, we assign each card a score based on how its average rewards earnings, sign-up bonus value, rewards rate and redemption value stack up against other cards in its primary category.

The better these values, the higher its score will be, making it more worthy of inclusion in our list and increasing its potential ranking.

Reasonable fees and APR

Naturally, all of the cards on this list do not charge foreign transaction fees.

We also rate all cards based on how their ongoing average APR compares to the average APR you’ll find other cards in their primary category. However, the impact of an especially high or low APR on a card’s overall score depends on its primary category.

For rewards-earning cards, this factor has only a minor influence on the card’s score and whether the card is included in our list, since rewards card users generally try to avoid carrying a balance. That said, rewards-earning cards may get a solid boost in score and be more worthy of inclusion in our list if they also offer an intro APR on balance transfers or new purchases, since such offers aren’t always present on these cards.

More important to these cards’ scores and their inclusion in our list is how their annual fees influence their overall value. We consider a card’s annual fee in two ways — how it ranks relative to the fees you’ll find on other cards in the category and how it impacts a card’s overall rewards value. 

Cards with an annual fee will always be at a slight disadvantage in our scoring system since annual fees inherently cut into your rewards value. However, if a card offers terrific value via its ongoing rewards and perks, it can earn a high score and a spot in our list even if it carries a high annual fee. After all, the highest rewards rates and most valuable perks are often found on cards with annual fees.

Interest rates and intro APR offers play a much larger role in a card’s score and whether it’s included in our list when the card is designed specifically for users looking to save on interest charges, such as dedicated balance transfer or low-interest cards.

Other fees considered include cash advance and late payment fees, along with penalty APRs.

Flexibility and perks

Along with rewards value and cost, we consider other factors that could give cards great long-term value, like flexible rewards redemption and especially unique and valuable perks.

We rate rewards-earning cards based on the restrictions they impose on earning and redeeming rewards and consider this when deciding on a card’s inclusion in our list.

These restrictions could include only allowing users to earn a high rewards rate on a small amount of spending or requiring users to meet a certain earning threshold before they can redeem rewards. We also examine whether points are worth less when you opt for some redemption options over others and whether a card gives you the flexibility to transfer rewards to airline and hotel partners.

We also evaluate each card’s perks based on their value, usefulness and uniqueness. Cards that offer top-tier benefits like airport lounge access or travel credits are likely to stand out, but we also aim to highlight cards that offer valuable under-the-radar perks, like cellphone protection or one-off credits for everyday expenses like dining and streaming services.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Frequently asked questions about no foreign transaction fee credit cards

Which banks charge no foreign transaction fees.

• Capital One 360
• Charles Schwab Bank

Which travel rewards card is best for international transactions?

The best overall card for international transactions will vary depending on your specific overseas travel needs, but Bankrate has rated cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve card, Platinum card from American Express and the Capital One VentureOne Rewards card as some of the best travel rewards cards with no foreign transaction fee.

How do you determine if your existing credit card charges a foreign transaction fee?

How do i calculate a foreign transaction fee.

If you’re curious to know how much you’ll pay for a foreign transaction fee, multiply the purchase price by the fee percentage. Then add the result to the purchase price. For example, let’s say your nephew’s favorite soccer team is Manchester United F.C., so you buy him a jersey from an online retailer based in England using a credit card that charges a 3 percent foreign transaction fee. If this purchase costs $100, the fee would be $3, bringing your total cost to $103 ($100 x 3 percent = $3, $100 + $3 = $103).

How do I calculate currency conversion?

To understand what you're being charged overseas versus what you'd be paying in your home currency, just divide the base amount (base currency) by the finishing amount (foreign currency) to determine the exchange rate. 

You may be able to see exactly what the currency conversion and its cost would be if your card network has an online currency converter, such as Visa’s exchange calculator and Mastercard’s currency converter calculator .

Can you avoid foreign transaction fees without using a credit card?

If you're looking for an alternative to credit cards with no foreign transaction fees, here are some great options:

Using a prepaid debit card

These cards let you load money onto them at home, then use them to make purchases wherever you go — no matter where in the world you are. You can even use these cards online or over the phone, just as if they were a traditional credit card.

Exchanging currency before you travel

It’s a good idea to have some local currency on hand in case you're somewhere that doesn’t accept credit cards. Before you travel, stop by your local bank and ask to exchange your dollars for your destination’s currency. Your bank will likely charge lower exchange fees than you’ll find at the airport (or none at all).

Using a traveler's check

When obtained through an eligible bank, you can use a traveler’s check almost anywhere in the world to make purchases. The paper document is cashed in exchange for local currency once you’re abroad. They are also safer than carrying cash, since you can replace them if they are stolen or lost.

Whether you should get traveler’s checks or a credit card with no foreign transaction fee depends on your preferences, but keep in mind that getting traveler's checks may be more difficult than using a credit card. Some banks no longer offer traveler's checks, so you may have to jump through more hoops to get them. 

However, with a credit card you can enjoy the same protections and benefits as you would with a traveler's check, such as:

• Replacement protection: Like with credit cards, traveler’s checks can be replaced if they’re lost or stolen.
• Broad acceptance: Traveler's checks may be accepted at places that don't take personal checks. However, you wouldn't have to worry about acceptance with a Visa or Mastercard credit card. 
• Cash alternative:   While an added benefit of a traveler's check is that you could exchange it for cash, using a credit card with adequate security features makes using cash internationally unnecessary.

Ask the experts: Is it worth it to get a credit card with no foreign transaction fee for a one-time overseas trip?

Erica Sandberg

Thomas Nitzsche

Stephanie Zito

Contributor, Credit Cards

Absolutely! Foreign transaction fees can be expensive. Unless you have a credit card that does not charge them, be prepared to be charged an extra 3 percent on your transactions. For example, if you take a trip to France and spend $5,000 on your card, an additional $150 may be added to that amount. Your money could have gone to a lovely meal at a special café instead. The good news is that there are many credit cards available that do not charge foreign transaction fees. If you know that you will be traveling internationally, apply for one before you go.

Financial Educator, Debt and Credit

Depending on how much you plan to spend on your trip, and assuming you don’t already have a card with no foreign transaction fees, it may be worth it to shop for a card that will help you avoid the 3 percent typical fee. Be aware that most recommended cards will require good to excellent credit in order to be approved. You may want to consider zero-fee cards which also have other perks or rewards you will use in the future.

Contributor, Personal Finance

There are so many card options out there these days that there is absolutely no reason to use any of your vacation money to pay foreign transaction fees on your credit card. Even if you only take a big international trip just once a year, you’ll always be better off using a card with no foreign transaction fees. If you don’t already have one in your wallet, I’d recommend a Visa over American Express or MasterCard for ease of international acceptance. You can even find one like the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card that has no foreign transaction fees and no annual fee.

Article sources

We use primary sources to support our work. Bankrate’s authors, reporters and editors are subject-matter experts who thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate, timely and relevant.

“ What is Dynamic Currency Conversion? ” Visa. Accessed on March 21, 2024.

Lowry, C. “ Everything you need to know about traveler's checks ” Western Union. Accessed on March 21, 2024.

“ Consumer Expenditures 2022 ,” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Accessed on March 21, 2024.

* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.

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What is a foreign transaction fee?

Pros and cons of credit cards with no foreign transaction fees, how to choose the right credit card with no foreign transaction fees , tips for using a credit card when traveling internationally, foreign transaction fees by issuer, alternative to credit cards with no foreign transaction fees, how to apply for a credit card without a foreign transaction fee, other credit cards we researched, the bottom line, our methodology.

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Best Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees for April 2024

Foreign transaction fees limit some of the convenience of using a credit card while traveling overseas, so consider one without these fees.

Dashia Milden

Dashia is a staff editor for CNET Money who covers all angles of personal finance, including credit cards and banking. From reviews to news coverage, she aims to help readers make more informed decisions about their money. Dashia was previously a staff writer at NextAdvisor, where she covered credit cards, taxes, banking B2B payments. She has also written about safety, home automation, technology and fintech.

Liliana Hall

Associate Writer

Liliana Hall is a writer for CNET Money covering banking, credit cards and mortgages. Previously, she wrote about personal credit for Bankrate and CreditCards.com. She is passionate about providing accessible content to enhance financial literacy. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a bachelor's degree in journalism, and has worked in the newsrooms of KUT and the Austin Chronicle. When not working, she is probably paddle boarding, hopping on a flight or reading for her book club.

Courtney Johnston

Senior Editor

Courtney Johnston is a senior editor leading the CNET Money team. Passionate about financial literacy and inclusion, she has a decade of experience as a freelance journalist covering policy, financial news, real estate and investing. A New Jersey native, she graduated with an M.A. in English Literature and Professional Writing from the University of Indianapolis, where she also worked as a graduate writing instructor.

Julia Menez

Credit card expert and host of the Geobreeze Travel Podcast

Julia Menez is a points strategy coach, speaker, and host of the Geobreeze Travel Podcast. Through her podcast and social media channels, she distills the strategies from top award travelers around the world and creates step-by-step tutorials for how you can make the most out of your points and miles.

Many credit cards charge foreign transaction fees, but most competitive rewards and travel cards don’t. However, just because a credit card doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee doesn’t mean it’s the best fit for your wallet. Some cards may have other fees that are more costly and occasionally recurring. Look at the card as a whole and review other factors, like rewards rates, annual fees, introductory offers, welcome bonuses and other perks before deciding if a card is right for you.

Choosing a credit card to use on an international trip can be complicated – especially if you want to maximize your rewards while avoiding foreign transaction fees. But you can avoid these fees using a credit card that doesn’t charge them and instead focus on other factors, such as base rewards, travel-related perks and annual fees.

International travel is expensive enough without getting foreign transaction fees into the mix. These fees -- usually 2% to 5% of any transaction made in a foreign currency -- might not seem like much, but depending on the length of your trip, they could start to add up.

Luckily, many of the best travel credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees. Plus, credit cards offer beneficial rewards and perks like fraud and purchase protections. They also make converting money to the local currency more convenient. Here are some of the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees to help you save the next time you travel outside the US.

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has one of the best value propositions of travel credit cards. It starts with no foreign transaction fees, but the rewards program and welcome bonus are also best in its class. Points are worth 1 cent each if you redeem them for a statement credit, but they’ll be worth 25% more if you redeem your rewards for travel booked through Chase Travel℠. The Sapphire Preferred also includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, an auto rental collision damage waiver and lost luggage insurance. While many travel credit cards offer some of this coverage, they rarely offer the full spread.

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred review .

Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

While most travel credit cards focus on flight and hotel purchases, the Wells Fargo Autograph Card also provides rewards on taxis, subways, tolls, restaurants, phone plans and gas stations. You earn the standard 3x rewards rate on all of those categories plus popular streaming services. Plus, you can earn 1x points on other purchases.

The welcome bonus is also on par with what you’ll get from most credit cards with no foreign transaction fees or annual fee. You can earn 20,000 bonus points -- worth a $200 cash redemption value -- when you spend $1,000 in purchases in the first three months.

For more information about this card’s offer, see our  Wells Fargo Autograph Card review .

American Express® Gold Card

The American Express Gold Card’s* $250 annual fee may be higher than most cards on this list, but its rewards structure is solid for frequent travelers (and you won’t pay foreign transaction fees; see rates and fees ). You’ll earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, and 3x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with the airline or on amextravel.com. Points are worth 1 cent each when you redeem them for flights through American Express Travel. Transferring your points to an airline partner also can yield a one-to-one transfer value.

Check out our full American Express Gold Card review .

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card* offers flat-rate rewards on purchases, making it a good everyday credit card that you can also use on trips abroad. You’ll earn 1.5% on all purchases -- and 5% on car rentals or hotels booked via the Capital One Travel portal. The sole travel benefit is no foreign transaction fees. But you can still take advantage of the competitive introductory APR and welcome bonus.

For more information, see our  Capital One Quicksilver review .

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One loads the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card* with plenty of travel perks to offset the $95 annual fee. Travel anywhere without any foreign transaction fees and earn 2x unlimited miles on all purchases. In addition, Capital One awards you up to a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck to help you speed through the airport lines. Venture Miles earned can be redeemed on flights and hotels or used to pay for Amazon.com and PayPal purchases. You can also transfer miles to more than 15 hotel and airline programs.

Check out our full review of the  Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card .

Citi Premier® Card

The Citi Premier Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card have the same $95 annual fee. The Citi Premier Card offers higher reward rates on everyday spending categories as well as general travel purchases, however. You’ll earn 3x points on air travel, hotels, restaurants, gas stations and supermarkets. If you redeem your points as a statement credit via Citi’s thankyou.com website -- instead of directly through your online account, which will result in a lower redemption rate -- your points will be worth 1 cent each.

And the welcome bonus is among the best available, though the spending threshold is on the higher side: 60,000 bonus points -- redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com -- when you spend $4,000 in the first three months. And, of course, there are no foreign transaction fees.

For more information, refer to our  Citi Premier Card review .

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

For a credit card with no annual fee or foreign transaction fees, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card* delivers competitive rewards. You’ll earn 3% cash back on a handful of major categories: dining, entertainment, grocery stores (excluding superstores like Target and Walmart) and popular streaming services. And you can earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, 5% back on hotel and rental car bookings made through Capital One Travel and 1% on all other purchases. You also get 10% cash back on purchases with Uber and Uber Eats, plus a complimentary Uber One membership through Nov. 14, 2024.

For more details about the rewards, welcome bonus and introductory APR, see our  Capital One SavorOne review .

Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card* doesn’t come with foreign transaction fees or an annual fee. You’ll earn 1.5 points for every dollar you spend, with no limit or restrictions. This card offers 0% introductory APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and on any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (18.24% to 28.24% variable APR thereafter), providing some wiggle room to help finance a trip or pay down a large balance.

See our full review of the  Bank of America Travel Rewards card  for more information.

Discover it® Miles

The Discover it® Miles* card offers an excellent welcome bonus after your first year as a cardholder. All Discover cards have no foreign transaction fees, but this one ensures all your international spending is optimized for rewards -- you earn 1.5 miles per dollar on all your purchases. While you don’t have to meet any minimum spending thresholds to unlock this welcome bonus like with most other credit cards, you do have to be patient to earn it. Discover will match all of the miles you earn over the course of the first year at the end of your first year.

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Most cards with low fees and perks are reserved for individuals with stellar credit. The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card* fills an important gap by giving people with limited or fair credit a chance to get started or build with responsible use. Use this card wisely -- you’ll automatically get considered for a credit limit increase as soon as six months from approval, potentially boosting your credit score. Spend wisely, enjoy the cash back, make your payments on time and take advantage of unlimited access to your credit report through CreditWise. You’ll start to see over time how good financial decisions can improve your credit.

A foreign transaction fee is a fee charged by a credit card issuer or bank for purchases made outside the US. Foreign transaction fees generally cost between 2% and 5% of each transaction, but 3% is standard. Depending on which currency you make a purchase in, this fee may increase or decrease. And these fees can add up quickly during a getaway.

For example, if you use a credit card that charges foreign transaction fees to pay for a $40 dinner abroad, you’ll pay between 80 cents and $2 more, depending on your card’s foreign transaction fee rate.

Before you apply for a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, you should consider the benefits and potential pitfalls with this kind of card.

Avoid paying fees for transactions made in a foreign currency. 

Credit cards offer fraud and purchase protections.

Convenient payment option that converts foreign currency automatically.

Credit cards with no foreign transaction fees may charge annual fees.

Credit cards may not be accepted at certain merchants or in some countries.

Travel credit cards may not offer as many benefits beyond the travel rewards. 

Many travel credit cards do not charge foreign transaction fees, but the list of potential fees won’t stop there. Before opening a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, compare all of your options and watch for other fees -- like annual fees or merchant fees -- you might incur. Some factors to consider include:

• Annual fees: Credit cards that offer more premium perks generally have an annual fee , but often forgo foreign transaction fees. These cards usually come with statement credits, welcome bonuses , discounts and complimentary memberships to offset the charge. Annual fees can range from $0 to hundreds of dollars, so it’s important to weigh whether a card’s rewards and benefits provide enough value to justify its cost . For example, if a hotel card charges $95 per year but comes with an annual free hotel night, so long as you use it for a hotel that would normally cost more than $95, the benefits would outweigh the card’s cost.
• Rewards: If you’re using your credit card abroad, you may benefit from earning in your rewards categories -- such as dining, gas and entertainment. Make sure you choose a rewards credit card that complements your spending habits, so you don’t have to adjust or juggle multiple cards on your trip. The rewards you earn while traveling may be helpful toward your next trip. For example, points earned with issuers like Chase, American Express and Capital One can be used with a variety of airline and hotel partners.
• Traveling perks: With the right travel credit card, you’ll not only benefit from its standard base rewards structure, but some top-tier rewards cards offer other benefits, like trip insurance, boosted travel rewards, TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credits, airport lounge access and more. For example, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card * includes an annual $300 travel credit to use through the Capital One portal, plus you will receive automatic top-tier Hertz President’s Circle** status and access to both Capital One and Priority Pass airport lounges.

International travel can be complicated if you don’t take a few extra steps to minimize the cost of spending money while abroad. In addition to using a card with no foreign transaction fees to eliminate unnecessary fees, there are some other ways you should prepare for a trip out of the country. 

“Before taking off for a trip, make sure that you have a debit card to access cash at an ATM, which is the easiest and least expensive way to access your money abroad,” said Jason Steele, a credit card industry expert. 

And if you’re going to use a credit card -- even one with no foreign transaction fees -- you’ll want to let your card issuer know you’ll be out of the US. Although card issuers no longer require you to inform them when you’re traveling abroad, many experts recommend taking this step as a precaution. This ensures your card company knows your transactions are authorized and not fraudulent. “Make sure to let the card issuers know the dates you will be traveling and the countries you’ll be visiting to prevent any false alarm over suspected fraud,” Steele said.

 Here are some other steps you should take before hopping on a plane:

• Take at least two credit cards and keep them in separate places, in case your wallet is lost or stolen.
• Sign up for email or text alerts about charges to monitor your card purchases.
• If your card has no transaction fees and you’re prompted to choose the payment currency, choose to pay in local rates instead of dollars -- you’ll get your bank’s wholesale exchange rate, which would be more favorable than the merchant’s.
• Get familiar with the exchange rate for the country you’re visiting so you know how much you’re actually spending.

If you don’t travel outside the US often, a credit card with no foreign transaction fees may not offer the maximum benefits for you. To find a card with the benefits and perks that best fit your budget and spending style, pick one of the best credit cards . For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the most popular starter travel cards for people looking to earn more points and miles. Along with other travel benefits, the Chase Sapphire Preferred doesn’t have any foreign transaction fees.

If you do travel internationally, a credit card still may not be the best option if you travel to countries whose businesses still conduct most of their transactions in cash. Even in countries where credit cards are widely accepted, some restaurants and small businesses require a minimum purchase -- usually the equivalent of $10 or more -- to accept a credit card. That’s why it’s a good idea to carry a debit card.

By using your debit card to withdraw cash at an ATM in a foreign country, you’ll get the bank’s wholesale rate, as long as you decline any currency conversions the ATM offers to make for you. But remember to ask your bank about any international ATM fees before you travel.

Follow these steps to apply for a credit card.

• Choose a card that fits into your budget and travel goals
• Follow the appropriate link above to be taken to the credit card issuer’s secure site
• Fill out the appropriate financial and personal information including your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, income, and monthly rent or mortgage payment
• Use the card responsibly and always pay on time
• Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card *
• Discover it® Cash Back *
• Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• The Platinum Card® from American Express

It’s not unusual for credit card issuers to charge foreign transaction fees, but it’s easy enough to avoid with the right credit card. If you travel abroad frequently, a credit card with no foreign transaction fees can save you money each time you use it. Some of the best travel and rewards credit cards not only void foreign transaction fees, but some even let you earn boosted travel rewards and benefits.

Our top choice is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. It charges no foreign transaction fees and provides access to a flexible, lucrative rewards program and useful card perks.

Card issuers or banks charge foreign transaction fees to cover the cost of exchanging a purchase from the foreign currency to US dollars. If you make a purchase in foreign currency, it’s likely you will be charged for the conversion unless you have a no-transaction-fee credit card.

One way to avoid having to pay a foreign transaction fee when you’re traveling abroad is to choose to pay in US dollars. Many store credit card terminals will recognize your foreign card and prompt you to choose whether you’d like to pay in the local currency or US dollars. If you choose local currency, you may have to pay your bank or card issuer the transaction fee to exchange it. However, if you choose to pay in US dollars, there’s no conversion to be performed.

Keep in mind that if you choose to pay in US dollars, you may save on the transaction fee, but the foreign merchant bank may still tack on a commission for the exchange. The best way to avoid unnecessary fees is to pay with a credit card with no transaction fees.

Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Discover are the four major credit card processors . Visa and Mastercard are the two most widely accepted credit cards around the world and are your best bet if you intend to travel overseas and pay for goods with a credit card.

American Express may be popular in the US, but it’s not as widely accepted abroad -- and Discover is even less accepted outside the US. It’s a good idea to carry a Mastercard or Visa as a backup if your primary card is American Express or Discover.

If your credit card does charge foreign transaction fees, you should select to pay in the local currency instead of in US dollars when using your card abroad. This way your credit card network will handle the conversion. Otherwise, the merchant selects the exchange rate (known as dynamic currency conversion) to convert the cost of the item, which may result in a higher cost.

CNET reviews credit cards  by exhaustively comparing them across set criteria developed for each major category, including cash back, welcome bonus, travel rewards and balance transfer. We take into consideration the typical spending behavior of a range of consumer profiles -- with the understanding that everyone’s financial situation is different -- and the designated function of a card. 

For cash-back credit cards, for example, key factors include the annual fee, the “welcome bonus” and the cash-back rate (or rates, if they differ by spending category). For rewards and miles cards, we calculate and weigh the net monetary value of a card’s respective perks. And with balance transfer credit cards, we analyze specs such as the duration of the introductory 0% APR period and the balance transfer fee, while acknowledging secondary factors such as the standard APR and the length of time you have to make a balance transfer after you open the account.

For rates and fees of the American Express Gold Card, click here .

*All information about the American Express Gold Card, Discover it Miles, Discover it Cash Back, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card, Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card and Discover it® Cash Back has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

**Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply .

This article includes some material that was previously published on NextAdvisor, a CNET Money sister site that was also owned by Red Ventures and which has merged with CNET Money. It has been edited and updated by CNET Money editors.

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The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.

• Best Credit Cards
• Balance Transfer
• No Annual Fee

On this page

• Our top picks
• Card details
• What is a foreign transaction fee
• Pros and cons
• How to choose a card
• How to make the most of your card
• Foreign transaction fees by issuer
• Our methodology
• Frequently asked questions

No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards

March 28, 2024

How we Choose

A foreign transaction fee is a common charge that your credit card issuer adds to your bill for purchases made outside of the U.S. Usually around 3% of the purchase price, foreign transaction fees can apply to travel purchases when you are physically outside of the United States, as well as online purchases with foreign merchants.

The good news is that there are plenty of credit cards that waive foreign transaction fees. Some credit card issuers, like Capital One and Discover, have no foreign transaction fees on any of their cards.

Keep reading to learn more about how foreign transaction fees work and how to avoid them. Below you’ll find the top offers from our partners, followed by a full list of editor picks.

Best Credit Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fees for April 2024

• Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card : Best for no annual fee ( See Rates and Fees )
• Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card : Best for flexible travel
• Discover it® Cash Back : Best for rotating bonus categories
• Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card : Best for streamlined rewards
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card:  Best for sign-up bonus
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card : Best for flat-rate rewards
• The Platinum Card® from American Express : Best for lounge access
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card : Best for annual credits
• Discover it® Miles : Best for travel beginners
• American Express® Gold Card : Best for restaurants worldwide
• Chase Sapphire Reserve® : Best for point value
• Citi Premier® Card : Best for hotel rewards

Additional Options :

• American Express® Green Card: Best for starter travel perks

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Rewards rate

At a glance, overall rating, why we like this card.

One advantage of a flat-rate travel rewards card is earning minus the strategizing. The 1.25X Miles you’ll earn on all eligible purchases means that even casual travelers have the opportunity to rack up rewards without having to focus on particular spending categories.

In terms of overall value, this card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees or an annual fee. You won’t have to worry about currency conversion costs on international purchases or seeing the annual fee show up on your statement every year.

• If your list of travel worries includes blackout dates and minimum redemption requirements, you can remove both of them.
• The travel benefits, including upgrades, are particularly generous for a no-annual-fee card.
• The value of your Miles can vary significantly when you transfer them to Capital One travel partners, which could make the process confusing.
• If you're a frequent traveler, you'll probably get a lot more value out of a card with higher rewards rates.

Bottom Line

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card offers an easy way to earn travel rewards, even if you’re not a mile-devouring jet-setter.

• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Rates & Fees

Bank of america® travel rewards credit card.

Nobody likes to feel rushed when they travel, so why feel rushed when you’re using rewards to pay for travel? The window for redeeming points as statement credits for travel purchases made with this card is 12 months, as opposed to 90 days with other issuers.

You earn 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all purchases, and purchases made through the Bank of America Travel Center earn 3 points per $1. Bank of America Preferred Rewards® members could see the value of their points increase by 25%-75%, depending on their membership tier.

• You can redeem points as statement credits for any travel purchase made within the last 12 months, which is a long window compared with many other cards.
• No foreign transaction fee means that you don't have to worry about the cost of currency conversion when you use it overseas, and no annual fee means low cost of ownership.
• If you have a favorite airline or hotel chain, you can earn much higher rewards rates with a co-branded airline or hotel card.
• If you're looking for airport lounge access, concierge service and so on, look elsewhere. This card's travel-specific perks are pretty pedestrian.

The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is a strong choice for people who like minimum hassle. Preferred Rewards members will get the most value.

• Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don't expire as long as your account remains open.
• 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening - that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
• Use your card to book your trip how and where you want - you're not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
• Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
• 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 18.24% - 28.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
• If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
• Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
• This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
• Discover it® Cash Back

For those who don’t mind doing some card and budget maintenance, this card can pay off handsomely. You’ll earn 5% cash back in rotating bonus categories (on up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter, followed by 1%) when you activate the bonus categories each quarter.

If the bonus categories line up, you could even pair it with a travel card when you venture overseas. The lack of foreign transaction fees makes it useful for international purchases.

• By making full use of the bonus categories up to the quarterly limit, you could earn $300 cash back per year in those categories alone.
• Thanks to Cashback Match™, Discover will automatically match the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year owning the card.
• Tracking the bonus categories, activating each quarter and adjusting your spending accordingly does require some effort on your part.
• Discover's international payment network is smaller than those of some competitors, which means that cards using the Visa, Mastercard and American Express are accepted in more locations.

If you maximize the bonus categories, the Discover it® Cash Back has considerable potential to help you get the most out of your spending.

• Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
• Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
• Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
• Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
• Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
• No annual fee.
• Terms and conditions apply.

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Although it’s not a travel card, its lack of foreign transaction fees makes the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card handy for purchases made from businesses outside the United States, including online merchants. You earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases, which means steady earnings with no ceiling.

There’s more good news when you’re ready to redeem the cash back you’ve earned. You can redeem in any amount (some cards have minimum redemptions and set increments) and rewards don’t expire as long as the account is in good standing.

• The flat-rate cash back program means you don't have to track special categories, worry about earning limits or adjust your spending based on calendars.
• Easy and flexible redemption options include the Capital One App, which lets you redeem cash back as statement credits applied to purchases made within the previous 90 days.
• Flat-rate cash back has its appeal, but the question of scale still applies. Using a card with bonus rate categories, you can earn comparable cash back without spending nearly as much.
• The sign-up bonus ($200 when you spend $500 in the first three months) is easy to obtain but many competitors have richer welcome offers.

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card isn’t the flashiest card on the market, but it’s a potentially lucrative source of no-hassle cash back.

• Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
• Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
• Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
• No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
• 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred offers a generous sign-up bonus of 60,000 points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months. This card also earns kudos on many other levels, including travel rewards, perks and value-added redemption options.

The rewards can add up quickly, especially for those who enjoy food as well as travel. You’ll earn 5X points on travel purchased through the Chase portal, 3X points on dining and 2X points on all other travel purchases. The lack of foreign transaction fees can help you get the most value out of the card.

• It pays to use the portal. When you redeem points for travel through Chase Travel℠ their value increases by 25%.
• Generous sign-up bonus and rewards rate
• There's a $95 annual fee with no first-year waiver. You'll have to factor in that cost as you maximize the rewards and benefits.
• You can transfer points to travel partners, but the list is a little short on major U.S. airlines and hotel chains.

If the sign-up bonus is the appetizer, brace yourself for the main course. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great source of rewards and value.

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

What traveler doesn’t enjoy a warm welcome? With this card, you’ll earn an outstanding sign-up bonus after meeting the spending requirement within the first three months of opening your account.

Even better, the Capital One Venture card has more in store beyond the sign-up bonus and no foreign transaction fees.

• Miles don’t expire and there are no blackout dates.
• International travelers should find a lot to like about air travel partners such as Turkish Airlines and Avianca.
• The list of travel partners does not include most major domestic airlines.
• While not unreasonable for a card of this caliber, the $95 annual fee means you'll need a strategy to maximize the value of the rewards and benefits.

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card isn’t quite in the heavyweight class, but it’s still a viable contender among the top travel credit cards.

• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more

The Platinum Card® from American Express

See if you’re pre-approved for this card using our CardMatch tool .

Travel inevitably involves waiting, but there’s nothing that says you can’t wait in style. This card can help you do it by offering access to the Global Lounge Collection, a suite of well over 1,300 airport lounges across the United States and the globe.

It also offers outstanding rewards rates on eligible airfare and prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. If you’re shopping overseas or making an online purchase from an international vendor, you won’t have to worry about foreign transaction fees.

• Similar to the Amex Gold Card, you'll get opportunities to maximize the value of Uber. In this case, the benefits are Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber cash on rides or food orders in the U.S. every year (benefit renews annually).
• You'll get twice as much time as the industry standard to earn the welcome offer: 80,000 Membership Rewards Points after spending $8,000 with your new card in your first six months of card membership.
• The $695 annual fee, steep even for a premium travel card, might seem like the elephant in the room. Instead of ignoring it, though, you can focus on how to counteract it with the rewards and the long list of perks and benefits.
• Speaking of perks and benefits, Amex typically has very specific conditions and enrollment requirements that can make them seem overcomplicated.
• Terms apply

The $695 annual fee looms large, but so do the rewards and perks. The Platinum Card® from American Express is a top choice for frequent, food-oriented travelers.

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
• $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
• $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

If you are a frequent traveler and love sign-up bonuses, Capital One’s Venture X has an impressive offer for you. New cardmembers will earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending 4,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening. Those miles are worth $750 in travel redemptions.

• No spending limits. Earn unlimited miles in all purchase categories (with no expiration or blackout dates).
• Cardmembers get 10,000 bonus miles every year (worth $100 toward travel), starting on their first anniversary, as well as an annual travel credit of $300 for travel booked through Capital One Travel.
• To get the most value out of the card, you’ll need to book your travel through Capital One Travel.
• The annual fee of $395 will take a large bite out of all the rewards you can earn with this card.

Capital One’s entry into the premier travel rewards credit card space is an instant winner, thanks to the generous sign-up bonus and unlimited rewards you can earn on all purchases.

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Elevate every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collections with a suite of cardholder benefits, like an experience credit, room upgrades, and more

Discover it® Miles

Not everyone is a travel expert. With this card, you don’t have to be. You can enjoy the simplicity of earning a steady flat rate on all eligible purchases and redeeming your Miles for statement credits you can apply to past travel expenses.

You can also look forward to some delayed (but lucrative) gratification. Discover will match all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year as a cardholder, effectively doubling your first-year earnings.

• By earning 1.5X Miles on all eligible purchases, travel-related or not, you can earn a considerable amount of rewards without being a globetrotter.
• One of Discover's trademarks is its aversion to fees. This card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees or annual fees, among others.
• You might not have to search as far as you think for a comparable travel card that offers more travel benefits while also going easy on the fees.
• If you feel that convenience and versatility have a value all their own, a card that offers a travel booking portal and transfer partners might be a better choice.

The Discover it® Miles has a lot to offer casual travelers who would rather enjoy the journey than strategize their rewards game.

• Unlimited Bonus: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers - only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
• Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
• No annual fee
• Turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.
• 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% - 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR will apply.
• Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.

American Express® Gold Card

It boasts not only a terrific rewards rate at restaurants worldwide, but also valuable credits foodies will love, including annual dining credits and Uber Cash. Plus, Amex points are among the most valuable rewards out there and can be transferred to a long list of airline and hotel partners.

• Also earns rewards at a high rate at U.S. supermarkets, making it a terrific option for frequent travelers, restaurant-lovers and home cooks alike.
• Since it earns rewards at a high rate in everyday categories — not just travel — it should be easy to rack up points toward your next trip even if you don’t spend a ton on travel.
• You’ll only get good value for your rewards if you redeem for travel or transfer to airline or hotel partners, so cash back fans will want to look elsewhere.
• Other cards earn a high (if not quite as high) rewards rate on dining, groceries and in other everyday categories without charging an annual fee.

If you’re a foodie looking for an easy way to earn travel rewards on everyday spending, this card will likely be a great fit.

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

No foreign transaction fees are just the beginning. This premium travel card excels in just about every area we can think of, including rewards, benefits and perks, redemption options and more.

Rather than resting on their laurels, Chase seems determined to up their game. Recent upgrades include the addition of the Pay Yourself Back℠ program, which provides more value when you redeem points for statement credits against eligible purchases.

• Redeeming your points for travel through Chase Travel℠ increases their point value by 50%, which is how you can turn 60,000 points into $900 for travel instead of $600.
• Loyalty can be more than its own reward. Every year on your account anniversary, you qualify for an up to $300 travel credit to reimburse you for travel purchases.
• For some, the $550 annual fee could induce sticker shock. You'll need to travel frequently and take advantage of the many benefits and perks to offset that annual expense.
• The list of Chase travel partners isn't as extensive as those of some competitors and tilts more toward airlines than hotels.

Pay attention, serious travelers: The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is a world-class travel credit card, annual fee and all, and keeps getting better.

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more

Citi Premier® Card

The rewards rate at hotels (3X points per $1 spent) is notable, especially for travelers who aren’t loyal to one particular hotel chain. The same rate applies to air travel (as with hotels, you’re not tied to a single airline) as well as restaurants, gas stations and supermarkets. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10X points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel portal through June 30, 2024.

The combination of rewards rate and purchase categories makes this card useful both out of town and at home. With no foreign transaction fees, you don’t have to worry about currency conversion charges undercutting its overall value.

• The variety of rewards categories makes it easy to earn points without having to concentrate your spending in a single area.
• The $95 annual fee is comparable to that of similar cards and reasonable in terms of travel cards as a whole.
• You won't find the same versatility with booking travel as you do with earning points. You have to use the Citi ThankYou portal to book travel.
• Flyers who rarely venture overseas might be disappointed with the list of Citi's airline transfer partners. The majority are based outside the United States.

The Citi Premier® Card offers proof that you don’t necessarily need an elite-level travel card to earn generous rewards rates in a wide range of categories.

• Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
• 60,000 ThankYou® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Haven’t found the right card yet?

Check out these other card categories — we think they’re just what you’re looking for:

…or see more cards with no foreign transaction fees

All information about the American Express® Green Card, the Wells Fargo Propel American Express® card, the Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card and the Chase Freedom Flex has been collected independently by CreditCards.com and has not been reviewed by the issuer.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Comparing the best no foreign transaction fee credit cards

Editor’s picks: no foreign transaction fee credit card details, best for no annual fee: capital one ventureone rewards credit card.

• Best features : The VentureOne offers travelers a 1.25X miles rate on all purchases, plus no annual fee ( See Rates and Fees ) . Miles don’t expire for the life of the account, and there’s no limit to how much you can earn with this card. To welcome new cardholders, Capital One awards 20,000 bonus miles after spending $500 in the first three months (a $200 value towards travel).
• Biggest drawbacks : Travelers may feel a tad underwhelmed by the list of airline partners, which so far excludes any major domestic carriers.
• Alternative : The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card is also a no-annual-fee credit card that won’t charge foreign transaction fees. But it edges out the VentureOne Rewards with its unlimited 1.5 points per dollar spent on all purchases.
• Bottom line : Anyone with good or excellent credit (a score of 670 or higher) who is on the hunt for a rewards card with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fee ( See Rates and Fees ) will want to take a look at the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

Read our Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for flexible travel: Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card

• Best features : The Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card makes travel rewards even more accessible by allowing you to redeem your points as a statement credit for any travel or dining purchase made on the card within the last 12 months. Plus, you can earn 25,000 welcome bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of card membership. On top of all that, there’s no foreign transaction fee.
• Biggest drawbacks : The rate for cash redemptions is disappointingly low at 0.6 cents per point.
• Alternative : If you like to travel, you could get more value by upgrading to a card with a modest annual fee. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has a more robust rewards program and a bigger sign-up bonus. It costs $95 ( See Rates and Fees ), but that fee is easily offset through strategic spending. (Read more about how you can easily offset this annual fee in our review.)
• Bottom line : With an easily attainable welcome bonus and flexible flat-rate rewards program, this is a great card for travelers who can’t be bothered to keep track of spend categories. Bank of America customers can earn even more through the Bank of America Travel Center .

Read our Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for rotating bonus categories: Discover it® Cash Back

• Best features : One of a select few offering its level of rewards, the Discover it Cash Back offers 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined spend each quarter on rotating categories such as restaurants, wholesale clubs and even online retailers (activation required). After hitting the $1,500 threshold in a quarter, the rewards rate drops to 1% (the same as all other purchases).
• Biggest drawbacks : Due to limited international availability, travelers should research whether Discover is accepted where they’re traveling.
• Alternative : The Chase Freedom Flex℠ also has 5% cash back in rotating categories. But it also has fixed rewards rates in numerous bonus categories, including 5% cash back on travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards and 3% on dining and on drugstore purchases. Unfortunately, you’ll have to pay a 3% foreign transaction fee if you plan to use it for overseas spending.
• Bottom line : The Discover it® Cash Back is a versatile cash back card that is a good match for travelers willing to be strategic in their spending. But if you think you’ll have difficulty keeping up with rotating categories, you might be better served by a flat-rate credit card .

Read our Discover it® Cash Back review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for streamlined rewards: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Best features : The Quicksilver is an easy-to-understand rewards card: It gets unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases and has a sign-up bonus of $200 for spending $500 in the first three months. As an added welcome, this flat-rate card offers a 0% intro APR offer on purchases for 15 months (19.99% to 29.99% variable rate thereafter) ( See Rates and Fees )– a perfect window to purchase a trip to be paid off in increments while temporarily avoiding interest. In addition, this card charges no annual fee.

• Biggest drawbacks : Its flexible rewards and intro offer make this an easy-to-use card, but there are more valuable rewards out there for experienced cardholders.
• Alternative : Thanks to a flat cash rewards rate of 2%, you might get more value on your everyday expenses with the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card . But you’ll miss out on paying no foreign transaction fees as the Active Cash card comes with a 3% fee for foreign currency conversion.
• Bottom line : Travelers with good or excellent credit (a score of 670 or higher) who prefer an uncomplicated rewards program will be pleased with the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, which charges no foreign transaction fee.

Read our Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for sign-up bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

• Best features : This top Chase credit card has everything you need in a travel rewards credit card. Cardmembers get a generous base rewards program of 5X points on travel purchased through the Chase Travel℠ portal, 3X points on dining and 2X points on other travel purchases (1X points on general purchases). There’s also a lucrative sign-up bonus (60,000 points if you spend $4,000 in the first three months), and, of course, no foreign transaction fees.
• Biggest drawbacks : The spend required to earn the bonus may be out of reach for someone on a tight budget. Plus, you’ll need to redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠  to get the best value.
• Alternative : The Sapphire Preferred offers the biggest bang for your buck when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠, but the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card will be the better option for travelers who like flexibility and want to keep things simple when it comes to earning and redeeming rewards.
• Bottom line : If you’re on the hunt for one of the best travel credit cards and you don’t mind paying a modest annual fee, the Chase Sapphire Preferred allows you to accrue Ultimate Rewards points quickly.

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for flat-rate rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

• Best features : The Venture Rewards’ sign-up bonus is straightforward and plentiful: Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. It does come with a $95 annual fee ( See Rates and Fees ), but this card also offers high rewards in bonus travel categories and 2X miles on all other purchases, plus convenient features like a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck credit and easily transferable miles.
• Biggest drawbacks : The Venture’s list of airline partners in the U.S. is limited.
• Alternative : The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has a rewards program that isn’t as simple or flexible, but it will likely provide more value if you are willing to book your travel through Chase Travel.
• Bottom line : Big spenders who regularly go abroad will find a lot to love about the versatile Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card beyond the sign-up bonus.

Read our Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for lounge access: The Platinum Card® from American Express

• Best features : With the Platinum Card in your wallet, you’ll enjoy access to the Global Lounge Collection , which Amex states has over 1,300 airport lounges in 140 countries. The high-end card also offers flexibility while traveling, with 5X points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (earn 5X points on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year) and 5X points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. This option also features unlimited points that won’t expire, a welcome offer of 80,000 points after a $8,000 spend within the first six months and no credit card foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees ).
• Biggest drawbacks : The Platinum Card does not come cheap – bringing along a $695 annual fee. If your spending habits align with the impressive list of credits and perks that are worth over $1,000, you’ll have no trouble making up that fee. But that immense value starts to drop if you aren’t interested in things like memberships at Walmart or Equinox gyms.
• Alternative : If you want luxury but don’t want to pay such a steep price, you’ll want to consider the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card . It has a smaller annual fee of $395 ( See Rates and Fees ) and is a solid pick if you like lounge access and only need a limited amount of luxury perks. Learn more about the Capital One Venture X vs. Amex Platinum Card .
• Bottom line : Those willing to shell out the $695 annual fee will certainly get their money’s worth in top-notch travel perks including lounge access, Hilton Honors gold status and a number of handy travel related statement credits. If you’re constantly on the go, these benefits can be enormously useful.

Read our review of The Platinum Card® from American Express or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for annual credits: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

• Best features : Compared to other premier travel rewards credit cards, the Venture X’s modest annual fee and unlimited miles on all purchases, along with all the other bonuses and perks, make it an instant challenger for the best credit card of its class.
• Biggest drawbacks : The $395 annual fee ( See Rates and Fees ) and $4,000 spend requirement within three months of account opening to earn the 75,000 bonus miles should be considered carefully before applying for the Venture X.
• Alternative : With an annual fee of $695, The Platinum Card® from American Express isn’t cheap, but some travelers looking for luxury may prefer the convenience of Amex’s Membership Rewards program, as well as the opportunity to earn the Platinum Card’s welcome offer.
• Bottom line : The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a great option for anyone who travels often, uses their credit card regularly, and will take advantage of as many of the Venture X’s perks as possible. This includes the yearly bonus and travel credit, cellphone protection, and free lounge access.

Read our Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for travel beginners: Discover it® Miles

• Best features : The lack of annual fees, foreign transaction fees and miles limits, plus the flexible redemption options make for a powerhouse travel card for beginners.
• Biggest drawbacks : While this may not be a total dealbreaker for budget travelers and new cardholders, miles can’t be transferred to airline loyalty programs
• Alternative : If you spend a lot on travel and dining, consider upgrading to a travel card with a modest annual fee ($95). The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card costs $95 a year, but compared to a basic travel card, it can help you to maximize the amount of rewards you earn while also providing enhanced benefits like an annual hotel credit, trip cancellation and trip-interruption insurance and a complimentary DashPass subscription.
• Bottom line : If you’re looking for a travel credit card but don’t want to get locked into confusing points offers or an annual fee, the Discover it Miles may just have what you’re looking for.

Read our Discover it® Miles review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for restaurants worldwide: American Express® Gold Card

• Best features : If you’re a foodie, this card’s generous rewards rates at both restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets should make it easy to earn travel rewards on the purchases you make every day. Add in the value of its annual dining credits and Uber Cash and you can easily justify this card’s $250 annual fee.
• Biggest drawbacks : The annual fee likely won’t be worth it unless you take advantage of its dining credits and redeem points for travel. If you’re looking for a lower-maintenance card, a no-annual-fee rewards card is probably a better option.
• Alternatives : The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great no-annual-fee option ( See Rates and Fees ) for foodies and cash back fans. You’ll earn rewards on dining, grocery stores, entertainment and more and can redeem for cash back or travel without worrying about point values.
• Bottom line : This card is a great value if you want to earn travel rewards and benefit travelers who spend a good bit at restaurants and U.S. supermarkets and prefer to redeem rewards on travel versus cash back.

Related : Who should get the Amex Gold?

Read our American Express® Gold Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for point value: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

• Best features : Unlike most, this card features an annual travel credit of $300 for cardholders to spend anywhere in the world. And when purchased through the Chase Travel℠ portal, you can earn 10X points on hotels and car rentals as well as 5X points on air travel. You can even earn 3X points on other travel and dining purchases and 1X points elsewhere. (The 10X, 5X and 3X travel rewards rate only applies after you earn your $300 travel credit.) And here’s the kicker: Points are unlimited, don’t expire and receive a 50% boost on travel rewards when redeeming through the Chase Travel℠ portal .
• Biggest drawbacks : This is a well-rounded card, but it comes with a high annual fee of $550. And despite the versatile redemption options (including travel, cash, and gift cards), there is a lower rewards value when you redeem for cash, gift cards or merchandise than when you redeem for travel booked through Chase.
• Alternative : Depending on your spending habits and the level of premium features you’re looking for, the  Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card  could be a better fit. It has a smaller annual fee and still packs a punch when it comes to luxury perks like lounge access and annual travel credits. Learn more about the  Capital One Venture X vs. Chase Sapphire Reserve .
• Bottom line : The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is for jetsetters who spend enough on dining and travel to justify the high annual fee.

Read our  Chase Sapphire Reserve® review  or jump back to this  card’s offer details .

Best for hotel rewards: Citi Premier® Card

• Best features : You’ll not only earn 3X points per dollar spent on air travel and at hotels, but this versatile card offers the same rewards rate for purchases at restaurants, supermarkets and gas stations. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10X points per dollar spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel portal through June 30, 2024. Also, once per calendar year, get $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more, excluding taxes and fees, when you book through thankyou.com or 1-800-THANKYOU.
• Biggest drawbacks : Anyone hoping to rake in the rewards on everyday purchases may be less than thrilled with the 1X per dollar rate.
• Alternative : The  Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a midtier travel card with similar features to the Citi Premier. It has the same $95 annual fee and a similar rewards rate for some categories. But it also comes with a higher sign up bonus value, the chance to earn higher rewards in select travel categories, and rewards have a greater value when you book travel through Chase Travel℠.
• Bottom line : The Citi Premier® Card offers a lot of value for globetrotters who regularly dine out, order take out, gas up the car or book hotels and flights. It’s even better if you’re an existing Citi client and are already familiar with its  ThankYou Points program .

Read our  Citi Premier® Card review or jump back to this card’s offer details .

Best for starter travel perks: American Express® Green Card

• Best features : It comes with credits for Loungebuddy lounge access and Clear Plus — two practical benefits that offer a ton of value, even if you only travel occasionally. It also carries one of the most generous rewards rates out there on transit purchases.
• Biggest drawbacks : Amex cards are less likely to be accepted abroad, so it could be risky to rely on this as your only card for international travel. Its perks will also fall short if you’re looking for unlimited lounge access worldwide — Loungebuddy isn’t available at all airports and the credits included with the card will only cover a few lounge visits.
• Alternative : Believe it or not, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card could be an even better deal, despite its high annual fee of $395 ( See Rates and Fees ). That’s because the Venture X comes with unlimited Priority Pass and Capital One lounge access for cardholders, an annual travel credit and anniversary bonus miles — enough value to easily offset the fee.
• Bottom line : Thanks to its practical, high-value perks, this card should be worth it even if you only take a few flights per year.

Read our Amex Green card review .

What is a foreign transaction fee?

Foreign transaction fees are charges that credit card issuers and payment networks place on purchases made in a foreign currency or on purchases that involve a foreign bank. A foreign transaction can be a purchase processed through a foreign bank (such as when you buy something from a non-U.S. retailer website) or when you travel overseas, including when you use an ATM. Note that there can actually be multiple fees at a foreign ATM, including a flat-rate international ATM surcharge as well as an ATM access fee.

Usually, a credit card foreign transaction fee is around 3% of the purchase price. Of that 3%, your card issuer typically charges 2% for processing the transaction and the remaining 1% is for converting the transaction from one currency to another. To put this in perspective, a $100 purchase would cost you an additional $3 in foreign transaction fees.

Which credit cards work internationally?

You won’t have trouble using your credit card at home. In the U. S., the four major credit card networks – Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover – have an acceptance rate of 99% or higher among merchants who accept credit cards. But it’s a different story overseas.

According to their respective websites, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover are accepted in over 200 countries and territories around the world. But Visa and Mastercard are more widely accepted at over 70 million merchant locations compared to Discover’s network of over 50 million merchants. And while American Express has made great strides to increase its international presence beyond 160 countries, it still doesn’t match the power of Visa or Mastercard.

But that doesn’t mean your Discover or American Express card won’t provide tremendous value when traveling abroad or making purchases with a foreign bank. It’s just a good idea to have a backup plan, which should include carrying a Visa or Mastercard, as well as your debit card for cash withdrawals and that rare occasion when a merchant doesn’t accept any credit card.

How to avoid foreign transaction fees

The easiest way to avoid foreign transaction fees is to use a credit card that doesn’t charge for overseas purchases. Why? Typically, in terms of convenience and security, credit cards are the best payment method .

When you use a credit card with no foreign transaction fee, you don’t just avoid an unnecessary fee that eats into your budget. You’ll have an easier time disputing credit card charges than you will debit card purchases or items paid for with cash. Your credit card may also come with built-in protections like extended warranty and purchase protection.

In addition to being safer to use, credit cards are also accessible, meaning anyone can avoid foreign transaction fees. There are credit cards that charge no foreign transaction fee for every credit score range. Take a look at the following cards that charge no foreign transaction fee, no annual fee, and offer a number of valuable consumer protections:

Best no foreign transaction fee credit cards for limited or no credit

• Discover it® Student Cash Back
• Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card ( See Rates and Fees )
• Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card ( See Rates and Fees )

Best no foreign transaction fee credit cards for bad credit

• Discover it® Secured Credit Card
• Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card

Best no foreign transaction fee credit cards for fair credit

• Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card
• Capital One Platinum Credit Card ( See Rates and Fees )
• Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® ( See Rates and Fees )

Best no foreign transaction fee credit cards for good credit

• Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card
• Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card ( See Rates and Fees )

Best no foreign transaction fee credit cards for excellent credit

• Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Credit Card
• Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card ( See Rates and Fees )

Pros and cons of a no foreign transaction fee credit card

Pros of a no foreign transaction fee credit card.

• You can rack up rewards . Some credit cards with no foreign transaction fees offer cash back rewards on popular spending categories in addition to travel cards offering points and miles.
• You’ll have access to travel perks . Along with base rewards and no foreign transaction fees, premium travel credit cards typically offer trip cancellation insurance, supplemental auto insurance, free checked bags, airport lounge access and other notable amenities.
• You’ll get a fair exchange rate . When you get your statement after buying something with a credit card in a foreign country, you’ll see that the charge has been converted to U.S. dollars. Your payment network will take care of the conversion, and you can usually be confident that you’re getting a fair exchange rate.

Cons of a no foreign transaction fee credit card

• You may need to pay an annual fee . Annual fees are common among mid-tier and premium travel credit cards, which often don’t charge foreign transaction fees. When evaluating whether to get a card that carries an annual fee, it’s important to determine whether that fee can be offset or recouped with reward earnings, added perks, or if you can shoulder the added cost.
• Your payment network may not have coverage . While Visa and Mastercard payment networks seem to be everywhere, some regions don’t accept certain credit card networks. When it’s time to travel, take credit cards from at least two different networks and always have cash on hand.

How to choose a no foreign transaction fee credit card

Who should get a no foreign transaction fee credit card.

• The frequent international traveler . If you travel abroad somewhat regularly, credit card charges for foreign currency transactions can have a significant impact on your personal finances.
• The international online shopper . You don’t necessarily have to travel in order to rack up foreign transaction fees. For someone who routinely shops at international online shops, those fees can really sting, especially once you factor in foreign shipping expenses.

Who should skip a no foreign transaction fee credit card

• The balance carrier . Some cards in this category have APRs that are usually on the higher end of average, which can mean a lot when it comes to carrying a balance on the card and what purchases you make abroad. Make sure to be aware of what you’ll be charged if you can’t pay your bills off in full each month.

How to make the most of a no foreign transaction fee credit card

• Contact your bank before you travel . Make sure to notify your bank before you travel, as banks will often freeze an account on suspicion of fraud if they detect unusual activity, such as a purchase being made thousands of miles from the cardholder’s address.
• Come prepared with multiple cards . Whether you’re traveling domestically or abroad, your ability to use a credit card at a merchant depends on whether the merchant accepts that card’s payment network. If you’re planning to travel internationally and your primary card is American Express or Discover , it’s best to bring along a Visa or Mastercard as a backup.
• Know how your rewards programs define “travel.” It’s important to pay attention to the specifics to get the most from your rewards credit card . Many rewards cards offer bonus points on smaller travel purchases, but issuers have their own definitions of travel. Some issuers put expenses such as rideshares and parking fees in the travel category, while others don’t.

Foreign transaction fees by card issuer

Below are the standard credit card foreign transaction fees for top issuers. Some issuers, like Capital One and Discover, elect not to charge a foreign transaction fee on any of their credit cards. Of course, even different cards from the same brand can vary in their fees.

Do I need a chip-and-PIN card for foreign transactions?

It’s a good idea for overseas travelers to have a chip-and-PIN card , but not necessarily a requirement.

Until a few years ago, U.S.-issued cards were swiped using magnetic stripe technology. Now, like Europe, our credit cards have an EMV chip . What happens after you insert the chip differs depending on where you are. While U.S. merchants will usually ask for your signature, European merchants may ask for a four-digit PIN.

The PIN provides an added layer of security and may be required at some overseas vendors — for example, at European train kiosks. Nowadays, however, most merchants can bypass the pin portion of the transaction if you don’t have one.

How we picked the best no foreign transaction fee credit cards

• Rewards: rates, type, ease of redemption : There are a variety of people who can benefit from avoiding credit card foreign transaction fees, from small business owners to travel enthusiasts. We chose credit cards with high rewards rates in spending categories to match, like business rewards and travel benefits.
• Travel perks : One reason you may be hoping to avoid foreign transaction fees is that you have international travel plans. Some of the travel perks you’ll find among our top credit cards with no foreign transaction fee include free checked bags, rental car insurance, airport lounge access and TSA PreCheck credits.
• Sign-up bonus/welcome offer value : Many of the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees also come with lucrative sign-up bonuses or welcome offers. We compared the value of cash back, airline mile and point bonuses to ensure you’re getting the most overall value from these picks.

Number of no foreign transaction fee cards we analyzed : 938

All criteria used : Rates and fees, rewards rates, rewards categories, sign-up bonuses, point values, redemption options, redemption flexibility, credit needed, travel benefits, transfer partners, international customer service, security, ease of application.

More information on credit cards with no foreign transaction fees

• Best credit cards for international travel
• Can you use a Discover card for international travel?
• How to maximize your credit card rewards for international travel
• Capital One Venture Rewards benefits guide ( See Rates and Fees )

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average foreign transaction fee + –.

Foreign transaction fees vary but are typically around 3% of any purchase made using an electronic form of payment outside of the United States or with a merchant that processes the transaction in a foreign currency.

When do you pay a foreign transaction fee? + –

When you make an overseas purchase, you may have to pay foreign transaction fees. This can happen when you travel abroad or make online purchases with vendors that are outside the U.S. If you’re using a credit card that charges foreign transaction fees, these charges will show up on your credit card statement at the end of your billing cycle. Just like any other statement, you’ll have at least 21 days before payment is due.

Do foreign transaction fees apply to online purchases? + –

Yes, it’s possible to get charged a foreign transaction fee on your online purchases. You’ll typically get hit with this surcharge whenever you make online purchases:

• With an online retailer located outside the United States.
• When the transaction processes in a foreign currency.
• When the payment is processed by a foreign bank.

Do foreign transaction fees apply to debit cards, charge cards and gift cards? + –

Yes. Just like a credit card, you’re likely to get charged a foreign transaction fee when you make international purchases using debit cards, charge cards and gift cards. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to avoid these unnecessary fees.

• Don’t use gift cards for international purchases, as these usually charge foreign transaction fees.
• Check with your bank to see if your account has no debit card foreign transaction or ATM fees.
• Use a credit card or charge card that comes with no foreign transaction fees. The best cards with no foreign transaction fees have additional benefits like built-in protections that make credit cards safer to use than debit cards .

Does paying in U.S. dollars avoid a foreign transaction fee? + –

Even when paying a merchant in U.S. dollars, you could be charged a foreign transaction fee when making purchases abroad or if the transaction is processed through a foreign bank.

About the Author

Tracy Stewart

Tracy Stewart is a personal finance writer specializing in credit card loyalty programs, travel benefits, and consumer protections. He previously covered travel rewards credit cards, budget travel, and aviation news at SmarterTravel Media. His money-saving tips have appeared in the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Consumer Reports, MarketWatch, Vice, People, the Zoe Report and elsewhere.

About the Editor

Jeanine Skowronski

Jeanine Skowronski is a credit card expert, analyst, and multimedia journalist with over 10 years of experience covering business and personal finance. She has previously served as the Head of Content at Policygenius, Executive Editor of Credit.com, Deputy Editor at American Banker, Staff Reporter at TheStreet and a columnist for Inc. Magazine.

About the Reviewer

Sally Herigstad

Sally Herigstad is a certified public accountant, author and speaker who writes about personal finance for CreditCards.com. She also writes regularly for MSN Money, Interest.com, Bankrate and RedPlum.com, and has been a guest on Martha Stewart radio and other programs.

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Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards of April 2024

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Best Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fee of April 2024

• Discover it® Balance Transfer : Best feature: 0% Introductory APR.
• Discover it® Cash Back : Best feature: Cash back on everyday purchases.
• Discover it® Miles : Best feature: Travel rewards.
• United Gateway℠ Card : Best feature: United Airlines rewards.
• IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card : Best feature only: Bonus points at IHG hotels.

Not all credit cards are a good choice for traveling abroad, as some charge a fee for purchases made in a foreign country or currency. Known as foreign transaction fees, these charges can accumulate quickly and add to travel expenses. Still, many credit cards waive foreign transaction fees and may offer rewards and benefits that make foreign travel safer, less expensive and more convenient. Terms apply.

U.S. News' Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards of April 2024

See all of our credit cards here .

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• Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards

What Are Foreign Transaction Fees?

Foreign transaction fees are charges you pay for credit card purchases made in a foreign currency, including online purchases. You might also hear them referred to as FX fees.

How Much Are Foreign Transaction Fees?

The fee is calculated as a percentage of the purchase price, usually up to 3%.

When you make a credit card purchase in a foreign country, your card network converts the foreign currency to dollars. The network, such as Visa or Mastercard, charges your card-issuing bank a fee, typically 1%, to offset the conversion cost and the risk of fraud inherent to international transactions. Your card issuer may pass that fee on to you and add its own fee of 1% to 2%.

What Are the Pros and Cons of No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards?

• Save money on purchases overseas. You can save the fee – up to 3% of each transaction, whether you're traveling abroad or using your card for an online purchase from a merchant outside of the U.S.
• Earn cash back or other rewards. Find a card that charges no foreign transaction fee and earns points, miles or cash back rewards for your spending. But choose a credit card that matches your spending habits to make your money go further.
• Access other travel perks. Cards with no foreign transaction fee may include trip cancellation insurance, free checked luggage and rental car benefits, to name a few.
• You might pay an annual card fee. The card you want could have an annual fee. If you select a card with an annual fee, make sure you will earn enough rewards to cover the charge.
• Your card network may not have coverage. American Express and Discover aren't as widely accepted internationally as Visa and Mastercard. When you travel abroad, bring backup cards and cash.
• You could pay a higher APR with a rewards card. Avoid carrying a balance if you go with this type of credit card to maintain the value of your rewards.

What Is Dynamic Currency Conversion?

A process known as dynamic currency conversion allows you to be charged in dollars while traveling abroad, but you could pay a poor exchange rate and other fees for it.

At the point of sale, a foreign merchant may ask if you want to be charged for an item in dollars instead of local currency to give you a better idea of what it costs. DCC may sound good, but just decline this optional service and pay in local currency.

The fee that merchants tack onto your bill for the convenience of paying in dollars can be as high as 7% of the transaction, sometimes more. Also, some credit cards still charge the foreign transaction fee on top of the DCC fee.

Finally, you may get a better exchange rate by letting your credit card provider do the currency conversion to dollars.

How Should You Choose a Card With No Foreign Transaction Fee?

1. Determine the type of credit card you want. Many kinds of credit cards come without a foreign transaction fee, including:

• Rewards credit cards .
• Travel credit cards .
• Cash back credit cards .
• Student credit cards .
• Cards for bad credit .

2. Make sure the card is widely accepted overseas. Because of higher processing fees, American Express and Discover have lower acceptance rates worldwide than Visa and Mastercard. American Express and Discover are fairly well accepted in the U.S., Canada and Mexico but may be limited elsewhere.

3. Look for useful travel benefits. Plenty of cards with no foreign transaction fee may stand out as great travel cards with extensive travel benefits. World Elite Mastercard and Visa Signature cards, in particular, offer perks that often include:

• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance.
• Trip delay reimbursement.
• 24/7 concierge services.
• Lost luggage reimbursement.
• Auto rental collision damage waivers.
• Baggage delay insurance.
• Roadside assistance.
• 24/7 customer service.

What Should You Know About Traveling Abroad With Your Credit Cards?

Try these tips to avoid financial surprises on your trip:

• Contact your issuer. Let your issuers know about travel plans. Otherwise, they might freeze your account for fraud when they see purchases made in a different location.
• Use a debit card for ATM withdrawals. Using a credit card is processed as a cash advance and that means you'll pay high interest on the amount you borrow.
• Be aware of the exchange rate. Credit card networks typically provide exchange rates that are close to the fair market rate. But before you travel, install a currency conversion app on your phone as a quick reference.
• Avoid dynamic currency conversion. You risk paying a much higher conversion rate on top of additional fees.
• Make sure your card has an EMV chip. If not, ask your issuer to mail you a chip-enabled card at least two weeks before your trip. These chip and PIN cards are common in Europe, and using one there can reduce hassles at checkout.
• Bring photocopies of your credit cards. Having copies of the front and the back of your credit cards gives you easy access to their customer service numbers if they are lost or stolen. Black out details such as your name, card expiration date and CVV number.
• Carry backup forms of payment. Pack a widely used credit card, such as a Visa or a Mastercard, a debit card for cash, and an additional credit card in case your primary one is unusable.
• Research your card's travel benefits and perks. You might be entitled to benefits that can help you deal with travel mishaps, such as lost bags and trip delays. Perks might include discounted or free entry to airport lounges, priority boarding, free checked luggage, and free in-flight Wi-Fi.
• Know how your card issuer can help in an emergency. Some issuers offer expedited card replacements, a 24/7 benefits administrator who can supply medical or legal referrals, assistance with prescriptions, and other emergency services.

Should I Use a Credit Card or a Traveler's Check?

Before credit cards and debit cards evolved to be more travel friendly, traveler's checks were popular. You can still get traveler's checks, but be aware of the advantages and disadvantages before using them in place of credit or debit cards.

Advantages of traveler's checks:

• You can exchange them for cash or use them to pay for goods and services during your travels.
• If the checks are lost or stolen, you don't lose your cash.
• They do not expire and are redeemable at the current exchange rate, often without fees.

Disadvantages of traveler's checks:

• Some merchants may not accept them.
• They lack the benefits and perks of travel rewards credit cards.

Now that credit cards are widely accepted, you can use them more easily during your international trips. That's especially true of credit cards with no foreign transaction fees. You can also save on travel by booking reservations with your travel rewards credit card.

Does a Foreign Transaction Fee Depend on Currency Exchange Rates?

The foreign transaction fee you pay does not depend on exchange rates. You also may be charged a currency conversion fee on top of a foreign transaction fee. This is why using a credit card with no foreign transaction fee can help you save money when traveling abroad.

Alternatives to Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees

• Exchange currency before you travel. Then stick with cash instead of cards. Visit your bank before your trip and swap your dollars for your destination's currency. You could pay a low fee or no fee.
• Apply for a travel rewards card. Many travel cards have no foreign transaction fee and offer travel rewards and benefits. If you choose a card with an annual fee, make sure you can justify it with rewards and perks.
• Get a debit card or a checking account with no foreign transaction fees. This will help you avoid fees for withdrawing cash from an ATM abroad.
• Consider using traveler's checks. These don't have foreign transaction fees and can be replaced if lost or stolen, unlike cash.

Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards Methodology

U.S. News has been helping consumers make money decisions for decades. For our Best Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fee list, we considered overall issuer satisfaction ratings, rewards earning rates, annual fees, APRs and sign-up bonus values. Satisfaction data is based on an annual nationwide survey.

To qualify for this list, a card must not charge a foreign transaction fee. Those who travel and make purchases in a foreign country or currency need a card that doesn't charge a fee for international purchases. Choose the best card for you with no foreign transaction fee by comparing cards on this list that have other perks to enhance your travel experiences.

Comparative assessments and other editorial opinions are those of U.S. News and have not been previously reviewed, approved or endorsed by any other entities, such as banks, credit card issuers or travel companies. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of our partner offers may have expired.

Beverly Harzog , Credit Card Expert

Beverly Harzog  is a nationally recognized personal finance and credit card expert for U.S. News & World Report. She’s the bestselling and award-winning author of five personal finance books. Harzog puts her expertise to practice in her personal life by saving thousands every year on travel and everyday expenses by using a combination of credit cards in various categories. Read more

Ali Cybulski , Contributor

Ali Cybulski has been an editor on the Advice Products team at U.S. News since 2018 and focuses on credit cards and loans content. Her experience traverses print and digital media. Among other roles, Cybulski has been a copy editor at The Chronicle of Higher Education and at USA Weekend, the former Sunday magazine. Read more

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The 11 Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards for Travelers [2024]

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What Is a Foreign Transaction Fee?

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If you’re a frequent international traveler, you’re probably familiar with foreign transaction fees, those pesky extra fees charged by your credit card company on every purchase you make outside of the U.S.

The fees can also be charged on transactions made with foreign banks, even if you’re making the purchase from the U.S. For example, if you purchase an airline ticket from a foreign company, you may be charged a foreign transaction fee.

Foreign transaction fees are widely unpopular, especially with travelers frequently paying their foreign expenses with credit cards. As a result, the list of credit cards that don’t charge these fees is growing as issuers introduce new card products without foreign transaction fees and remove them from some existing cards.

Let’s take a look at these fees and some of the best cards you can use to avoid them.

What You Should Know About Foreign Transaction Fees

Foreign transaction fees are assessed by your credit card issuer on any transaction processed by a foreign bank. The common rate is around 3% of the total foreign purchase amount , and there is no limit as to how much can be charged.

These fees are perfectly legal, but more and more credit card companies are eliminating them since informed travelers choose credit cards that don’t charge foreign transaction fees.

In some cases, the promotional summary for a credit card doesn’t disclose whether there is a foreign transaction fee charged on the card. You may need to dig deeper to find out for certain.

Fortunately, all of the financial information you’ll need can be found in what’s known as a Schumer Box. It’s named after Charles (Chuck) Schumer, the congressman responsible for the legislation that requires credit card companies to clearly disclose costs and terms associated with each card.

All credit card companies must use a standard format for the Schumer Box, so comparing cards became much easier after this legislation was passed in 1988.

For a credit card you’re considering, you can review the Schumer Box online for that specific card by clicking on a link titled:

• Rates & Fees
• Terms & Conditions
• Pricing & Rates
• Interest Rates & Fee Summary
• … or a link with a similar name

Here’s what you’ll see in the Schumer Box if the credit card you’re researching does not charge a foreign transaction fee:

Here’s an example of a section of the Schumer Box for a credit card that does charge a foreign transaction fee:

Determining if your existing credit card charges a foreign transaction fee:

• Call Your Credit Card Company — Contact your credit card company and ask whether your card charges a foreign transaction fee by calling the phone number printed on the back of your card.
• Review Your Paper Cardholder Agreement — When you received your new credit card in the mail, a cardholder agreement was included. In the agreement, there’s a chart similar to the ones illustrated above that lists all the fees assessed on your card.
• Access Your Account Online — Sign in to your online credit card account to access your cardholder agreement, which will include a breakdown of all fees and charges.

Bottom Line:  While a 3% foreign transaction fee might not seem like much, it can add up quickly, whether you’re a frequent traveler or just take 1 big trip a year. In any case, by selecting a credit card without the fees, you won’t come home to a billing statement full of additional foreign transaction charges on your purchases!

The 6 Best Personal Travel Rewards Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees

Selecting a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees is a real benefit for the traveler. But, there are so many credit cards in the marketplace without these fees that savvy travelers will want to choose a card that delivers even more benefits.

Let’s look at our picks for some of the top cards for international travel that have no foreign transaction fees.

The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card ® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card  is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access , hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
• Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment ( airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit )
• TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
• Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
• Access to Amex International Airline Program
• No foreign transaction fees ( rates and fees )
• $695 annual fee ( rates and fees )
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards ® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card ® , Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards ® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts ® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card ® . The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card ® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card ® . Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card ® .
• $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
• $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card ® . Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
• $189 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card ® . Learn more.
• $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck ® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card ® . Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card ® . That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card ® . An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card ® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

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American Express Membership Rewards

• Amex Platinum 150k Welcome Bonus Offer
• Benefits of The Amex Platinum
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• Amex Platinum Card Requirements
• American Express Platinum Military Benefits
• Amex Platinum and Business Platinum Lounge Access
• Amex Platinum Benefits for Authorized Users
• Amex Platinum vs Delta Platinum
• Amex Platinum vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Capital One Venture X vs Amex Platinum
• Amex Platinum vs Delta Reserve

Hot Tip:  Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 125k (or 150k) points with the Amex Platinum. The current public offer is 80,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

The Amex Platinum card is the go-to card for luxury travel benefits . With premier access to airport lounges worldwide , complimentary hotel elite status, car rental program benefits , and a long list of travel insurance benefits , it’s expected that this premium travel rewards card wouldn’t charge fees on foreign transactions (see rates & fees ).

Add in the hundreds of dollars of savings in the form of statement credits for specific purchases and the card easily earns a place in any frequent traveler’s wallet.

Read our review to find details on the Amex Platinum card foreign transaction fees.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

The American Express ® Gold Card  is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
• Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com , Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
• Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash : get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
• No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees )
• Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
• Access to American Express transfer partners
• $250 annual fee (see rates and fees )
• No lounge access
• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards ® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards ® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards ® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards ® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express ® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
• Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
• Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $250.
• Find the Amex Gold 75k or 90k Welcome Bonus Offer
• Benefits of the Amex Gold
• Upgrade Amex Gold to Amex Platinum
• Amex Gold Benefits for Military
• Amex Gold vs Blue Cash Preferred
• Amex Platinum vs Amex Gold
• Amex Gold vs Delta Gold

Hot Tip:  Check to see if you’re eligible for a welcome bonus offer of up to 90,000 points with the Amex Gold card. The current public offer is 60,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

The Amex Gold card has an identity problem. On one hand, it shines as an everyday rewards-earning card for spending at restaurants and at U.S. supermarkets, yet it also rewards specific travel purchases. And, at redemption time, Membership Rewards points earned on the card are there for good-value travel redemptions whether via AmexTravel.com or transferring points to the Amex transfer partners .

We like that the card is so diverse and also that it also offers a generous upfront welcome bonus.

Bottom Line:  The American Express collection of no foreign transaction fee credit cards offers strong benefits for the frequent traveler and options equally suited to those with loyalty to a specific brand. A combination of cards could offer the perfect umbrella of benefits for the frequent traveler. See our full list of Amex credit cards if you’re looking for even more choices from American Express.

A top player in the high-end premium travel credit card space that earns 3x points on travel and dining while offering top luxury perks.

If you’re looking for an all-around excellent travel rewards card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve ®  is one of the best options out there.

The card combines elite travel benefits and perks like airport lounge access , with excellent point earning and redemption options.  Plus it offers top-notch travel insurance protections to keep you covered whether you’re at home or on the road.

Don’t forget the $300 annual travel credit which really helps to reduce the annual fee!

• 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase TravelSM immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually
• 10x points on Lyft purchases March 31, 2025
• 10x points on Peloton equipment and accessory purchases over $250 through March 31, 2025
• 5x points on airfare booked through Chase Travel SM
• 3x points on all other travel and dining purchases; 1x point on all other purchases
• $300 annual travel credit
• Priority Pass airport lounge access
• TSA PreCheck, Global Entry, or NEXUS credit
• Access to Chase Luxury Hotel and Resort Collection
• Rental car elite status with National and Avis
• $550 annual fee
• Does not offer any sort of hotel elite status
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
• Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
• Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck ®
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more
• Member FDIC
• APR: 22.49%-29.49% Variable

Chase Ultimate Rewards

• Chase Sapphire Reserve 100k Bonus Offer
• Chase Sapphire Reserve Benefits
• Chase Sapphire Reserve Airport Lounge Access
• Chase Sapphire Reserve Travel Insurance Benefits
• Chase Sapphire Reserve Military Benefits
• Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Reserve
• Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Reserve

It’s difficult to compete with the Amex Platinum card when it comes to premium travel rewards cards, but the Chase Sapphire Reserve card also earns a successful nod as one of the best travel rewards cards.

We like that cardholders receive a $300 statement credit for travel purchases each year and that the card comes with complimentary Priority Pass Select membership that will give you access to over 1,400 airport lounges worldwide.

It’s not difficult to realize significant value with the card if you’re a frequent traveler, especially when earning and redeeming valuable Ultimate Rewards points for great value.

A fantastic travel card with a huge welcome offer, good benefits, and perks for a moderate annual fee.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred ® card is one of the best travel rewards cards on the market. Its bonus categories include travel, dining, online grocery purchases, and streaming services, which gives you the opportunity to earn lots of bonus points on these purchases.

Additionally, it offers flexible point redemption options, no foreign transaction fees, and excellent travel insurance coverage including primary car rental insurance . With benefits like these, it’s easy to see why this card is an excellent choice for any traveler.

• 5x points on all travel booked via the Chase Travel portal
• 5x points on select Peloton purchases over $150 (through March 31, 2025)
• 5x points on Lyft purchases (through March 31, 2025)
• 3x points on dining purchases, online grocery purchases, and select streaming services
• 2x points on all other travel worldwide
• $50 annual credit on hotel stays booked through the Chase Travel portal
• 6 months of complimentary Instacart+ (activate by July 31, 2024), plus up to $15 in statement credits each quarter through July 2024
• Excellent travel and car rental insurance
• 10% annual bonus points
• No foreign transaction fees
• 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs like United MileagePlus and World of Hyatt
• $95 annual fee
• No elite benefits like airport lounge access or hotel elite status
• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• APR: 21.49%-28.49% Variable
• The Chase Sapphire Preferred 80k or 100k Bonus Offer
• Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Score Requirements
• Military Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred
• Chase Freedom Unlimited vs Sapphire Preferred
• Amex Gold vs Chase Sapphire Preferred

As one of our favorite travel rewards cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a perfect choice for your first travel rewards-earning card. Not only will you receive elevated earnings on dining and travel, but at redemption time you’ll receive 25% more in value for your points via the Chase travel portal .

If your travel goals include enjoying a business or first class flight across the ocean, you’ll be pleased with your options when transferring points to the Chase airline and hotel partners .

Plus, the card offers a grand collection of travel protections and benefits .

Bottom Line:  The Chase Sapphire Preferred card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card earn valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points that can be redeemed for travel for up to 50% more in value through the Chase Travel portal or transferred to hotel and airline partners for even greater potential value.

Frequent flyers will enjoy 3x ThankYou Points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, air travel, and hotels.

The Citi Premier ® Card is an excellent option for anyone looking for an all-around travel rewards credit card. The card helps you earn points fast with great 3x bonus categories such as restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Plus, it offers access to airline and hotel transfer partners, doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, and has a reasonable annual fee!

• 3x points at restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, airfare, and hotel purchases
• Access to Citi transfer partners
• Annual hotel credit
• No foreign transaction fees
• $95 annual fee
• Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou ® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. Plus, for a limited time, earn a total of 10 ThankYou ® Points per $1 spent on hotel, car rentals, and attractions (excluding air travel) booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through June 30, 2024.
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
• Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
• Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Annual Hotel Savings Benefit
• 60,000 ThankYou ® Points are redeemable for $600 in gift cards redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com
• No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
• No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
• APR: 21.24% - 29.24% Variable

Citi ThankYou Rewards

• Benefits of the Citi Premier
• Authorized User Benefits of the Citi Premier
• Chase Sapphire Preferred Card vs. Citi Premier Card [Detailed Comparison]
• Best Citi Credit Cards
• Best Credit Card Sign Up Bonuses
• Best Travel Credit Cards
• Best Credit Cards for Groceries and Supermarkets
• Best Virtual Credit Cards

You’ll have lots of earning power with 3x points at restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets, hotels, and air travel.

You’ll have choices at redemption time, too, when your ThankYou Points can be redeemed for travel, merchandise, and gift cards or transferred to travel partners .

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card   is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
• No foreign transaction fees ( rates & fees )
• Access to Capital One transfer partners
• $95 annual fee ( rates & fees )
• Limited elite benefits
• Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck ®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Capital One Miles

• How To Find the 75k or 100k Bonus for the Capital One Venture
• Travel Insurance Benefits of the Capital One Venture
• Capital One Venture vs Venture X
• Capital One Venture Card vs. Capital One VentureOne Card [Detailed Comparison]
• Chase Sapphire Preferred vs Capital One Venture
• Best Capital One Credit Cards
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• Capital One vs. Citi Credit Cards – Which Is Best? [2024]
• Recommended Minimum Requirements for Capital One Credit Cards

The Capital One Venture card earns 2x miles per dollar spent on every purchase you make.

At redemption time, you have the option to purchase travel via Capital One Travel , or transfer miles to airline partners .

The 3 Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Rewards Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees

No foreign transaction fee credit cards that offer the highest levels of rewards and benefits typically charge an annual fee. However, there are plenty of no foreign transaction fee cards that do not charge an annual fee; here’s a sampling of those cards:

Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status, plus great earnings at Hilton, U.S. gas stations, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. restaurants!

You can’t beat a comfy king-sized bed and room service. For many travelers, it’s the hotel that really makes or breaks an experience. If you’re one of those people, you’ve probably stayed at a Hilton hotel.

Whether your visits are for work or pleasure, the Hilton brand has you covered with more than 6,200 locations in 100 counties and territories.

To enjoy a host of great benefits, you may want to apply for the Hilton Honors American Express Card .

• 7x points per $1 on Hilton stays
• 5x points per $1 at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations
• 3x points per $1 on all other purchases
• Complimentary Hilton Honors Silver status
• No annual fee ( rates & fees )
• No foreign transaction fees ( rates & fees )
• Not great for those who want multiple redemption options
• Offers the least benefits of all Hilton cards
• Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 4/17/24.
• Earn 7X Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar of eligible purchases charged on your Card directly with hotels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio.
• Earn 5X Points per dollar on purchases at U.S. restaurants, at U.S. supermarkets, and at U.S. gas stations.
• Earn 3X Points for all other eligible purchases on your Card.
• Enjoy complimentary Hilton Honors™ Silver status with your Card. Plus, spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Card in a calendar year and you can earn an upgrade to Hilton Honors™ Gold status through the end of the next calendar year.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
• No Annual Fee.
• APR: 20.99%-29.99% Variable
• Hotel Credit Cards
• No Annual Fee Cards

Hilton Honors Loyalty Program

• Comparing American Express Hilton Credit Cards
• Best Credit Cards for Hilton Honors Loyalists

The Hilton Honors card works best for earning lots of Hilton Honors points to redeem for free hotel nights and securing entry-level Hilton Honors elite status.

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

• Ability to use transfer partners
• Fraud coverage
• Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
• No luxury travel or elite benefits
• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies
• APR: 19.99% - 29.99% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
• Benefits of the Capital One VentureOne Card
• Capital One Venture X Card vs. Capital One VentureOne Card [Detailed Comparison]
• Capital One Platinum Card vs. VentureOne and Venture Cards [Detailed Comparison]
• Best Instant Approval Credit Cards
• Capital One Transfer Partners
• easyJet Review – Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Baggage Fees, & More
• The 5 Best First Credit Cards For Beginners [April 2024]

The Capital One VentureOne card keeps it simple when it comes to earning rewards with 1.25 miles earned per dollar spent on every purchase you make.

You’ll then have several options at redemption time including purchase merchandise, or gift cards. For the potential of greater value, you can also transfer miles to travel partners.

We like that the Bank of America Travel Rewards card offers unlimited 1.5x points for every dollar spent , has no annual fee, and has no foreign transaction fees.

The Bank of America Travel Rewards card is a great option for those who want an easy way to earn travel rewards without paying an annual fee.

The Bank of America ® Travel Rewards credit card  is a great option for those looking to dip their toe into the world of travel rewards cards, without paying an annual fee.

The card makes earning points and redeeming them for travel super easy for cardholders.

• 1.5x points per $1 you spend on all purchases
• No annual fee
• Boost your rewards rate with the Bank of America Preferred Rewards program
• Points are worth a fixed 1 cent per point, so it isn’t possible to get outsized redemptions
• Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire.
• 25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening –  that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
• Use your card to book your trip how and where you want – you’re not limited to specific websites with blackout dates or restrictions.
• Redeem points for a statement credit to pay for travel or dining purchases, such as flights, hotel stays, car and vacation rentals, baggage fees, and also at restaurants including takeout.
• 0% Introductory APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers made within the first 60 days, and a 4% fee applies thereafter.
• If you’re a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.
• Contactless Cards – The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
• This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
• APR: 0% Introductory APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases. After the intro APR offer ends, 18.24% - 28.24% variable will apply.
• Guide to Bank of America Preferred Rewards
• Best Bank of America Credit Cards for Cash-back and Rewards

One big reason we like this card is that if you’re a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means instead of earning an unlimited 1.5 points for every $1, you could earn 1.87-2.62 points for every $1 you spend on purchases.

Bottom Line: You don’t have to pay an annual fee to secure a credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees!

The 2 Best Business Travel Rewards Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees

If you own a business, even a small business, that involves travel, you’ll certainly want to have a travel rewards card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.

Here are 2 of the best business travel rewards cards available.

The Ink Business Preferred card is hard to beat, with a huge welcome bonus offer and 3x points per $1 on the first $150,000 in so many business categories.

The Ink Business Preferred ® Credit Card is a powerhouse for earning lots of points from your business purchases , especially for business owners that spend regularly on ads.

Plus the card offers flexible redemption options, including access to Chase airline and hotel transfer partners where you can achieve outsized value.

Business owners will also love the protections the card provides like excellent cell phone insurance , rental car insurance, purchase protection, and more.

• 3x Ultimate Rewards points per $1 on up to $150,000 in combined purchases on internet, cable and phone services, shipping expenses, travel, and ads purchased with search engines or social media sites
• Cell phone protection
• Purchase protection
• Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
• Rental car insurance
• Extended warranty coverage
• No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access
• Earn 100k bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 cash back or $1,250 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel℠
• Earn 3 points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year. Earn 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
• Round-the-clock monitoring for unusual credit card purchases
• With Zero Liability you won't be held responsible for unauthorized charges made with your card or account information.
• Redeem points for cash back, gift cards, travel and more - your points don't expire as long as your account is open
• Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Travel℠
• Purchase Protection covers your new purchases for 120 days against damage or theft up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 per account.
• APR: 21.24%-26.24% Variable
• Best Business Credit Cards
• The Chase Ink Business Preferred 100k Bonus Offer
• Benefits of the Ink Business Preferred
• Chase Ink Business Preferred Cell Phone Protection
• Chase Ink Business Preferred vs Amex Business Gold
• Ink Business Cash vs Ink Business Preferred
• Amex Business Platinum vs. Chase Ink Business Preferred
• Ink Business Preferred vs Ink Business Unlimited
• Best Chase Business Credit Cards
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• Best Credit Cards with Travel Insurance
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You’ll want your highest business expenses to earn rewards and the Ink Business Preferred card delivers. You’ll also find a nice collection of travel benefits and plenty of flexible options at redemption time to ensure you receive top value for Ultimate Rewards points earned on the card.

We like the card for its stellar level of benefits, including cell phone protection , compared to its lower annual fee.

This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!

The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.

When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges , along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.

Hot Tip:  Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 170,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum. The current public offer is 120,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

• 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
• Up to $200 annual airline fee credit on your selected qualifying airline
• Statement credits on select purchases with your card
• 35% airline bonus when using Pay With Points (up to 1,000,000 bonus points per calendar year)
• Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
• Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (cap applies)
• Access to Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts program
• High annual fee of $695 ( rates and fees )
• Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags
• Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards ® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
• 5X Membership Rewards ® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
• Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
• Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Card.
• $189 CLEAR ® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR ® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Business Platinum Card ® .
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection ® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
• $695 Annual Fee.
• APR: 19.49% - 28.49% Variable
• Find The Amex Business Platinum 150k Welcome Bonus Offer
• Find The Amex Business Platinum 170k Welcome Bonus Offer
• Benefits of the Amex Business Platinum
• Authorized Users Benefits of the Amex Business Platinum
• 35% Points Rebate with the Amex Business Platinum
• Amex Business Platinum vs Amex Platinum

Hot Tip:  Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 170,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum. The current public offer is 120,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)

With international airport lounge access and a 35% rebate when using Membership Rewards points for flights, the frequent business traveler could find tremendous value with the Amex Business Platinum card.

You’ll also find hundreds of dollars in statement credits for specific purchases and earnings of 1.5x points on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else  (up to $2 million in purchases per calendar year).

If you’d like to learn more about these 2 popular business travel rewards cards, check out our in-depth comparison of earnings, redemption options, benefits, and more.

Bottom Line:  Select a no foreign transaction fee business credit card based on the spending profile of your business to maximize earning rewards. You’ll also want to make sure the spending levels of your business offset any annual fees, and that your travel is frequent enough to maximize the travel benefits offered with each specific card. 

Please note that any additional benefit information we’ve provided is abbreviated and for general comparison purposes only.

All of the cards reviewed earn at least 1 point or mile per dollar spent on every purchase, so we’ve only included earnings in the additional benefits section that exceed this level.

A complete list of benefits and current card offers is provided when accessing each credit card summary page individually. Additional terms and conditions apply.

Hot Tip:  With so many different issuers providing cards without foreign transaction fees, it’s not a bad idea to quickly familiarize yourself with each bank’s specific rules prior to applying. 

Everything Else You Need To Know

Once you’ve selected a credit card that charges no foreign transaction fees, you’ll want to make sure you minimize the plethora of other fees you might incur when securing foreign currency abroad (or simply paying for your foreign purchase with a credit card).

You may be surprised to learn that you can be hit with several fees as a result of 1 simple foreign transaction!

While using your no foreign transaction fee credit card for purchases when traveling is a smart move, using that same credit card to secure a cash advance when you’re traveling can trigger additional fees and interest charges .

In an emergency, it’s good to know that a cash advance is an option… but it’s also important to understand the potential cost of doing so, even on a card that doesn’t charge a foreign transaction fee.

The term “currency conversion fees” is frequently used interchangeably with “foreign transaction fees,” but there is a difference.

Converting foreign currency costs money. When your bank is charged by the processing network (such as Visa or Mastercard) for converting your purchase made in foreign currency to U.S. dollars, it passes the expense on to you.

In some cases, the foreign transaction fee your bank charges you will include the currency conversion fee they have been charged (usually around 1%). The bank can also tack on additional fees, bringing the total to around 3%.

Bottom Line:  Foreign transaction fees are just one of the charges you need to be aware of when paying for foreign purchases with your credit card and securing foreign currency while traveling. Referencing your credit card’s Schumer Box before traveling can help you avoid some of these fees. 

When you check out of your hotel or are presented with your dining bill in a foreign country, it might seem convenient that the total amount is already converted from the foreign currency to U.S. dollars. There’s no need to do any calculations to determine how much you’ll be paying — it’s been done for you!

This practice of presenting the bill in your home credit card’s currency (in this case U.S. dollars) is known as “ dynamic currency conversion .” While it might seem convenient and harmless, the end results are not in your favor .

For example, let’s say you receive your foreign restaurant tab and there are 2 options for paying: you can select $106 or €86. You might do a quick calculation, think the totals make sense from a conversion perspective, and just pay the bill in U.S. dollars. Unfortunately, if you had paid €86, your U.S. bank would process the currency exchange based on the current rate — which in this case is closer to $96 (versus the higher $106 option on your bill).

Paying in U.S. dollars abroad adds a layer of cost to the transaction: U.S. dollars have to be converted to the local currency to pay the merchant, then back to U.S. dollars to bill you on your credit card.

When using a credit card, always pay your bill in the local currency of the country you’re in to ensure you get the best currency conversion rate.

Bottom Line:  Never pay in U.S. dollars when using your credit card in a foreign country! If your bill is presented in U.S. dollars, ask that it be voided and changed to reflect the amount in local currency. If both options are available on the receipt, be sure the U.S. dollars option isn’t already checked before you sign the receipt. 

You may think you could avoid foreign transaction fees by using your debit card to withdraw money from foreign ATMs when traveling abroad. This is a logical assumption, plus ATMs are usually conveniently located and facilitate an easy transaction. But foreign ATMs can charge exorbitant fees.

Even if the foreign ATM fee is reasonable, your bank may add on foreign transaction fees, currency conversion fees, an out-of-network ATM fee, or other transaction fees.

Some banks (such as Charles Schwab Bank and Capital One 360) reimburse these fees, and other banks allow a limited number of no additional fee transactions per statement period.

Bottom Line:  To minimize bank charges when abroad, review the fee disclosures associated with your debit card before you travel, and try to limit your withdrawals to 1 per trip. You can also open an account that reimburses ATM fees or allows a limited number of no additional fee withdrawals per month.

With the vast selection of credit cards that do not charge foreign transaction fees, it should be easy to find an appropriate card for your travel expenses that avoids these fees.

Remember to look at the Schumer Box for any credit card you’re considering, and learn about the fees charged on your current credit card before you travel.

With just a small amount of research, you can minimize the fees that make international travel more expensive and avoid returning home to a credit card statement full of unexpected charges.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa ® or Mastercard ® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

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The information regarding the Bank of America ® Travel Rewards credit card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here . For rates and fees of the American Express ® Gold Card, click  here . For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors American Express Card, click here . For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card ® from American Express, click here .

Frequently Asked Questions

How do foreign transaction fees work.

A foreign transaction fee is a fee charged by your credit card issuer on every purchase you make that is processed through a foreign bank.

You can even be charged a foreign transaction fee if you’re in the U.S. and make a purchase with a foreign merchant in foreign currency. The fee is calculated as a percent of your total purchase, usually around 3%.

How can I avoid foreign transaction fees?

You can avoid foreign transaction fees by always using a card for your foreign purchases that does not charge them.

Which credit cards have no foreign transaction fees?

The majority of credit cards today don’t charge foreign transaction fees, and we’ve put together a collection of the best credit cards for frequent travelers in this post.

There are certain credit card issuers (such as Discover and Capital One) that do not charge a foreign transaction fee on any of their cards. For other cards, you’ll need to review the terms and conditions or rates/fee chart.

How can I find out if a credit card charges foreign transaction fees?

Credit card issuers are required to disclose any fees they charge on their credit cards. For an existing credit card, you can call the number printed on the back of your card, review the paper cardholder agreement that came with your card, or access your credit card account online.

For a credit card you are considering, a list of all of the fees/charges can be found in the Schumer box that can be accessed via a link on the summary or application page.

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About Christine Krzyszton

Christine ran her own business developing and managing insurance and financial services. This stoked a passion for points and miles and she now has over 2 dozen credit cards and creates in-depth, detailed content for UP.

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Find the best credit card for you

Traveling overseas here are our top picks for credit cards with no foreign transaction fees, we evaluated the most popular credit cards with no foreign transaction fees to find the best of the best..

Traveling abroad can be expensive, but it's even worse when you have a credit card that charges you foreign transaction fees. These fees can be 3% or more of each purchase and add up quickly, especially when you're paying for big-ticket items like hotel rooms or rental cars.

Thankfully, there are credit cards geared toward travelers that don't charge foreign transaction fees and have wide acceptance overseas . And anyone who travels abroad — even if only occasionally — can save money with these cards.

To help you find the best option for you, CNBC Select chose our favorite credit cards with no foreign transaction fees and broke them down into specific categories. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best cards with no foreign transaction fees.)

Best credit cards without foreign transaction fees

• Best overall: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees )
• Runner-up: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
• Best for cash back: Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card
• Best for dining: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card*
• Best for luxury travel: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Best for hotels: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees )
• Best for no annual fee: Discover it® Miles
• Best for small businesses: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Best overall

Capital one venture rewards credit card.

5 Miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase

Welcome bonus

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

N/A for purchases and balance transfers

Regular APR

19.99% - 29.99% variable

Balance transfer fee

$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you

Foreign transaction fee

Credit needed.

Excellent/Good

See rates and fees , terms apply.

• 5 miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every 4 years
• No introductory APR
• There’s a $95 annual fee

Who's this for? Anyone who wants a card that's just as rewarding on the road as when you're home should consider the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card because it earns at least 2X miles on all purchases worldwide.

Is it worth it? The Capital One Venture card has several perks that can make the $95 annual fee worth paying, including a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit of up to $100 (every four years). The miles this card earns are also incredibly useful and highly versatile. (see rates and fees )

[ Jump to more details ]

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, and $50 annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

21.49% - 28.49% variable on purchases and balance transfers

Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater

Terms apply.

Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card review .

• Points are worth 25% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Travel℠
• Transfer points to leading frequent travel programs at a 1:1 rate, including: IHG® Rewards Club, Marriott Bonvoy™ and World of Hyatt®
• Travel protections include: auto rental collision damage waiver, baggage delay insurance and trip delay reimbursement
• No fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
• $95 annual fee
• No introductory 0% APR

Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a travel credit card that's loaded with under-the-radar perks. And it earns Chase Ultimate Rewards ® points , which are some of the best travel rewards you can collect.

Is it worth it? The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card comes with a $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, which already offsets more than half of its $95 annual fee . It also provides  primary rental car insurance , which is normally a pricey add-on, as well as other valuable perks like trip delay protection , trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance and more.

Best for cash back

Alliant cashback visa® signature credit card.

2.5% cash back on your first $10,000 of qualifying eligible purchases (1.5% for purchases over $10,000)

17.49% to 27.49% variable

• 2.5% cash back on all purchases (up to $250 in cash back rewards per billing cycle)
• No annual fee
• Simple cash-back rewards
• No welcome bonus
• No special financing offers

Who's this for? The Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Card is ideal for those who prefer to earn cash back and don't want to pay an annual fee .

Is it worth it? The appeal of the Alliant Cashback Visa Signature Card is simple. It earns a stellar 2.5% cash back on your first $10,000 of qualifying eligible purchases (1.5% for purchases over $10,000). And with no annual fee, you can keep this card long-term without worrying about your overall value being dinged.

Best for dining

Capital one savor cash rewards credit card.

4% cash back on dining and entertainment, 4% on eligible streaming services, 3% at grocery stores and 1% on all other purchases

Earn a one-time $300 cash bonus once you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening

4% for promotional APR offers; none for balances transferred at regular APR

• Unlimited 4% cash back on entertainment purchases
• Ability to redeem rewards at any amount, unlike some other cards with $25 minimums
• No introductory 0% financing offers for purchases or balance transfers

Who's this for? Foodies , sports fans, movie buffs and adventure seekers will all find a common reason to like the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card* : unlimited 4% cash back on dining, entertainment and streaming purchases.

Is it worth it? The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card* offers very competitive rewards rates for several popular spending categories. You only need to spend $2,375 a year in a combination of the card's 4% cash-back categories to earn enough rewards to cover its $95 annual fee. Plus, the card offers money-saving benefits with Uber .

Best for luxury travel

Chase sapphire reserve®.

Earn 5X total points on flights and 10X total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3X points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases plus, 10X points on Lyft rides through March 2025

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

22.49% - 29.49% variable

5%, minimum $5

Read our Chase Sapphire Reserve® review.

• $300 annual travel credit for travel purchases
• Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit up to $100 every four years
• Priority Pass™ Select lounge access at 1,000+ VIP lounges in over 500 cities worldwide
• Points are worth 50% more when redeemed for travel via Chase Travel℠
• Special benefits at The Luxury Hotel & Resort Collection
• Complimentary year of Lyft Pink membership
• High annual fee, but it can be offset by taking advantage of all the card’s perks
• Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $1,469
• Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $3,346

Rewards totals incorporate the points earned from the welcome bonus

Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Reserve® is designed for frequent travelers who want to maximize their earnings while enjoying luxury perks.

Is it worth it? The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a higher annual fee , but also offers elevated benefits to justify it, such as an annual travel credit of up to $300 for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year, airport lounge access, top-tier travel and purchase protections and a fee credit of up to $100 for Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS. Plus, with the Sapphire Reserve, your rewards are worth 50% more when redeemed through Chase Travel℠.

Best for hotels

Capital one venture x rewards credit card.

Unlimited 2X miles on all eligible purchases, and 5 Miles per dollar on flights and 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booked via Capital One Travel portal

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening

19.99% - 29.99% variable APR

$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you

Foreign transaction fees

Read our Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card review.

• Large welcome bonus
• No foreign transaction fees
• Up to $100 statement credits for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
• Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
• High annual fee
• No introductory 0% APR period

Who's this for? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is great for those who want to earn a strong return on their hotel stays booked through Capital One Travel and potentially get elite-like benefits.

Is it worth it? The Capital One Venture X's $395 annual fee (see rates and fees ) can be more than offset each year thanks to the card's $300 annual Capital One Travel credit and 10,000-mile anniversary bonus (worth at least $100 in travel). Cardholders also enjoy various travel protections, airport lounge access, flexible rewards and useful hotel benefits on stays booked through Capital One's Premier Collection and Lifestyle Collection .

Best for no annual fee

Discover it® miles.

Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase.

Discover will match all the Miles earned for all new cardmembers at the end of your first year.

0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases

17.24% to 28.24% Variable

3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*

Good / Excellent

*See rates and fees , terms apply.

Read our Discover it® Miles review.

• Miles program
• Generous welcome bonus
• No blackout dates
• No limit to the amount of miles you can earn and miles never expire
• No Global Entry or TSA PreCheck statement credit offerings
• Travel spending does not receive additional rewards
• No airport lounge access

Who's this for? The Discover it® Miles card is perfect if you don't want to navigate bonus spending categories or complicated benefits.

Is it worth it? With an excellent rewards rate on all purchases and no annual fee to pay, you can continue benefiting from this card year after year. The miles you earn with this card are worth one cent each for travel or as cash back and the best part is, Discover will match every mile that you earn in the first 12 months. That means you've got a year where you're effectively earning 3X miles on every purchase.

Best for small businesses

Ink business preferred® credit card.

Earn 3X points per $1 on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in select categories each account anniversary year (travel; shipping purchases; internet, cable and phone services; and advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines), 1X point per $1 on all other purchases

Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $8,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

21.24% - 26.24% variable

Good/Excellent

Read our Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card review.

• Free employee cards
• Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase TravelSM
• 1:1 point transfer to leading frequent travel programs
• Generous welcome bonus worth up to $1,000

Who's this for? The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is geared toward small business owners who want to maximize their travel rewards. It earns a competitive 3X Chase Ultimate Rewards points on the first $150,00 in combined purchases each year (then 1X points) in a wide range of spending categories.

Is it worth it? The Ink Business Preferred offers many different travel and purchase protections that make its moderate annual fee worth paying. Eligible purchases are covered by cell phone protection , rental car insurance and trip delay reimbursement. Plus, the card earns transferrable Ultimate Rewards points , which are some of the easiest to use and most valuable travel points you can earn.

More on our top credit cards without foreign transaction fees

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is versatile yet straightforward. It's a top pick for credit cards without foreign transaction fees because it checks every box for what you need in a travel card and more.

• 5X miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2X miles per dollar on every other purchase

Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within three months from account opening.

$95 (see rates and fees )

Notable perks

Cardholders receive Hertz Five Star status and a credit of up to $100 to cover Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership every four years. Eligible purchases made with the card also qualify for Travel Assistance Services*, Purchase Assurance*, MasterRental Insurance*, Master RoadAssist®*, and Trip Cancellation/Interruption Coverage*.

The Capital One miles earned with this card can be used to offset eligible travel purchases at a rate of one cent per mile or transferred to various airline and hotel partners for potentially greater value. For example, you can transfer Capital One miles to Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles at a 1:1 rate and book round-trip domestic award flights on United for only 15,000 miles.

[ Return to card summary ]

*Benefit available to accounts approved for the World Elite Mastercard product, subject to terms, conditions, and exclusions in the World Elite Mastercard Guide to Benefits. See Account Terms or Application Terms for more details. Terms, conditions and exclusions apply.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is ideal for maximizers and beginners alike. It earns valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points and is loaded with travel and purchase protection benefits, all for a modest annual fee.

• 5X on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
• 5X points per dollar spent on Lyft purchases through March 2025
• 3X points per dollar spent on dining
• 3X points per dollar spent on online grocery purchases (excluding Target, Walmart and wholesale clubs).
• 3X points per dollar spent on select streaming services
• 2X points per dollar spent on all other travel purchases
• 1X points per dollar spent on all other purchases
• 10% anniversary points boost
• $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit

Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card offers cardholders up to $50 in annual credit for hotel bookings made through the Chase travel portal and a 10% anniversary bonus on the points they earn. Cardholders can also take advantage of many travel and shopping protections, such as purchase protection , extended warranty protection, primary rental car insurance, trip delay insurance, baggage delay insurance and more.

Chase also has several temporary benefits that can help card members save money, including one year of complimentary DashPass membership (when activated by Dec. 31, 2024) and six months of free Instacart+ membership (activate by July 31, 2024), plus a $15 quarterly Instacart credit through July 2024. The Sapphire Preferred also grants cardholders $10 in monthly GoPuff credit through December 31, 2023.

The Chase points that you earn with this card can be redeemed for cash back, used to pay for travel through Chase Travel℠ (with a 25% bonus worth up to $750) or transferred to 14 airline and hotel partners like United, Southwest and Hyatt.

The value of the Alliant Cashback Visa® Signature Credit Card is easy to recognize and anyone who likes earning cash-back rewards would be hard-pressed to find a more rewarding cash-back card for everyday purchases .

• 2.5% cash back on your first $10,000 of qualifying eligible purchases
• 1.5% cash back for purchases over $10,000

As a Visa Signature card , this card offers purchase security, travel accident insurance, rental car collision coverage, extended warranty protection and identity theft protection .

Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card*

The Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card* is a top choice for earning cash back on dining, entertainment and streaming purchases.

• 8% back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• 4% back on dining, entertainment, and on eligible streaming services
• 3% back at grocery stores
• 1% back on all other purchases
• 10% back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases through Nov. 14, 2024

Earn a $300 cash bonus after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.

In addition to having no foreign transaction fees, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card* offers extended warranty coverage and travel accident insurance . Cardholders have access to exclusive events and experiences through Capital One Entertainment and Capital One Dining.

You can also save on food delivery and rideshares with a monthly Uber One membership fee credit through Nov. 14, 2024. The subscription normally costs $9.99 per month and provides benefits like a $0 delivery fee on eligible Uber Eats orders, 10% off eligible Uber Eats orders and 5% off Uber rides.

If you want a premium credit card that's packed with travel benefits, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® fits the bill. Its travel insurance perks can add peace of mind to any adventure and the card's airport lounge access allows you to relax in style while you're jet-setting across the globe.

• 10X total points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Travel℠*
• 10X points on Lyft purchases through March 2025
• 5X total points on flights purchased through Chase Travel℠*
• 3X points on other travel*
• 3X points on dining
• 1X points on all other purchases

*After the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually

Chase Sapphire Reserve card members get up to $300 in annual travel credits, which covers more than half of the card's annual fee. And its other benefits can add up to even more value, including an up to $100 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or NEXUS fee credit (every four years) and two years of complimentary Lift Pink membership (worth $199 a year) when you sign up by Dec. 31, 2024.

When traveling, cardholders have access to the new Sapphire Lounges and can enroll to receive a complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge membership. Further, cardholders can benefit from top-tier purchase and travel coverages , including purchase protection, extended warranty protection, return protection, primary rental car collision coverage, trip delay protection, trip interruption/cancellation insurance, baggage delay protection, travel accident insurance, emergency medical and dental insurance and more.

Chase has also partnered with a number of companies to provide even more value to cardholders. Sapphire Reserve card members can receive 12 months of Instacart+ membership and up to $15 in statement credit for Instacart purchases each month. In addition, you can also take advantage of statement credit for other delivery services. Cardholders are eligible for up to $10 back each month for Go Puff purchases and up to $5 in monthly credit with DoorDash . And you can activate a complimentary DashPass membership (minimum of one year free) through Dec. 31, 2024.

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card that earns rewards you can use for just about any travel expense. Plus, it has a straightforward points-earning structure so you'll be able to maximize your returns with minimal effort.

• 10X miles per dollar on hotel and rental cars booked through  Capital One Travel
• 5X miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel
• 2X miles per dollar on all other eligible purchases

Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within three months from account opening.

$395 (see rates and fees )

Every year, Capital One Venture X cardholders get up to $300 back on bookings made through Capital One Travel and a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus (worth $100 in travel). There are also benefits to make your visit to the airport a bit less stressful, such as a credit to cover Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® membership.

You can also access a range of elite-like benefits at select hotels when you book through Capital One's Premier Collection . Benefits include a $100 experience credit, daily breakfast for two people, free Wi-Fi, early check-in/late check-out (when available) and upgrades (when available). There's also the Lifestyle Collection , which offers special perks at a broader range of hotels.

When you pay for your rental car with your Venture X card , you'll receive rental car collision coverage. And cardholders qualify for ***Hertz Presidents Circle status, which comes with benefits such as complimentary upgrades.

***Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.

Discover it® Miles is a no-frills no annual fee card with no foreign transaction fees that earns miles that can be redeemed for cash back.

• 1.5X miles per dollar on every purchase

Discover will match the miles you earn during the first year with no minimum spending requirement or limits on how much you can earn through the match.

The Discover it® Miles has an introductory 0% APR offer for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers , then a 17.24% to 28.24% variable APR (3% intro balance transfer fee, 5% balance transfer fee on future transfers, see terms ). This can be useful if you need extra time to pay off your trip abroad.

The Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card is a top pick for small business owners due to its useful benefits, valuable rewards for business purchases and generous welcome bonus.

• 5X points per dollar on Lyft purchases through March 2025
• 3X points per dollar on the first $150,000 spent in combined purchases in select categories each account anniversary year (travel; shipping purchases; internet, cable and phone services; and advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines)
• 1X point per dollar spent on all other purchases

Earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Ink Business Preferred cardholders can add employee cards for free and also take advantage of various travel and purchase protections, including:

• Purchase protection
• Extended warranty protection
• Cell phone protection
• Primary rental car collision coverage
• Trip delay protection
• Trip interruption/cancellation
• Baggage delay insurance
• Lost luggage coverage
• Travel accident insurance

Points can be redeemed toward travel through the  Chase travel portal  at a rate of 1.25 cents per point, which is a 25% increase in value compared to using the points for cash back. Points can also be transferred to numerous hotel and airline partners, unlocking all sorts of redemption possibilities.

Which banks do not charge foreign transaction fees?

The fees a bank charges vary depending on what card you have. So regardless of what card issuer you're applying for a credit card with, it's important to review the fees that are assessed to that specific card, including possible foreign transaction fees. Discover is one of the few issuers that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees on any of its credit cards.

How do I get foreign transaction fees waived?

If you are charged a foreign transaction fee, you could call your card issuer and ask for a fee waiver. However, you might have limited success with this strategy, it's better to review your card's fees beforehand and to use a card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees whenever possible.

Does Amex charge foreign transaction fees?

Some American Express cards have foreign transaction fees, but many do not. There are no foreign transaction fees with cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express (see rates and fees ), the American Express® Green Card (see rates and fees ) and the American Express® Gold Card (see rates and fees ).

Does Chase charge foreign transaction fees?

Whether there is a foreign transaction fee varies depending on which Chase card you have. For example, the best Chase travel credit cards, like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card and the Chase Sapphire Reserve card , have no foreign transaction fees, while many of the no annual fee Chase cards do charge foreign transaction fees.

Bottom line

When you're traveling out of the country it's important to use a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, which are typically 3% or more. The good news is, there is no shortage of travel credit cards without this fee. So you'll be able to earn valuable cash back or travel rewards while using a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card abroad.

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Why trust CNBC Select?

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every travel credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit cards. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See  our methodology  for more information on how we choose the best credit cards .

Our methodology

To determine which cards will put the most money back in your pocket, CNBC Select evaluated the most popular rewards credit cards with no foreign transaction fees offered by major banks, financial companies and credit unions that allow anyone to join. We compared each card on a range of features, including travel rewards (points and miles), annual fee, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR, one-time perks, annual perks, redemption rates, as well as factors such as required credit and customer reviews when available.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards , banking and money . And follow us on TikTok , Facebook , Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.

* Information for this card not reviewed by or provided by Capital One

**For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Miles, click here .

For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click  here .

For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click  here .

For rates and fees of the American Express® Green Card, click  here .

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Best no foreign transaction fee credit cards for 2024

Compare based on criteria

Even if you know you are looking for a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, you should also consider other criteria. For instance, take a look at each card’s reward rates, bonus categories and redemption options. Also, compare the value per point or mile for each card.

In addition, weigh the fees and APRs of each card against its benefits. While the value of these benefits can be difficult to quantify, some issuers estimate the value of their cards’ benefits. Some also offer credits with specific values, which can help you estimate the value of the card’s offerings.

Eligibility by credit score

Each card issuer has different requirements, and you may have an easier time qualifying with some issuers than others. Here are some major credit issuers and their minimum credit score requirements.

How much are foreign transaction fees?

The amount you will pay in foreign transaction fees varies based on a few factors. Here are some to consider:

• Card issuer : Most card issuers charge about 3% of the transaction amount for foreign transactions—however, none of the cards mentioned earlier charge foreign transaction fees.
• Card network : Visa and Mastercard typically charge a 1% network fee on foreign transactions.
• Currency : In some cases, there may be a currency conversion fee, which varies depending on the currency and exchange rate.

For most credit cards, this amounts to a foreign transaction fee of 3%, plus a network fee of 1%, amounting to a 4% foreign transaction fee. Premium credit cards could have higher foreign transaction fees but offset them at least in part with premium perks.

As mentioned, the cards mentioned in this article don’t change any foreign translation fees, so these fees are not a concern for those cards.

Who should you get credit cards with no foreign transaction fees?

Almost anyone would benefit from a credit card with no foreign transaction fee, as these cards don’t necessarily make sacrifices to avoid these fees. However, these cards are the most beneficial for frequent international travelers.

Other than this, you should also consider a no foreign transaction fee credit card if you travel for extended periods, spend a lot of money while abroad, or want the convenience of not paying extra fees.

Some no foreign transaction fee credit cards also have benefits like excellent rewards programs and travel perks; some are even meant for those who want to build credit. As a result, many people can find a card in this category that works for them.

However, these cards aren’t for everyone. Many have annual fees, and some can have hidden fees, like currency conversion fees or inactivity fees. Some might also have lower reward rates than cards with foreign transaction fees. Check each card’s terms before signing up.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

What is a foreign transaction fee.

A foreign transaction fee is a fee charged by a credit card issuer on transactions outside your home country. These fees can be applied when you are outside your home country or make an online purchase from a foreign company. The typical foreign transaction fee is between 2% and 4%.

Are foreign transaction fees affected by exchange rates?

Foreign transaction fees are not directly affected by exchange rates. However, some card issuers may charge a currency conversion fee, and the fee amount may vary depending on the current exchange rate. Your purchasing power may also vary depending on the exchange rate between your home currency and the foreign currency, but this is not directly related to foreign transaction fees.

Which issuers are most widely accepted internationally?

The card issuers that are generally the most accepted internationally are Visa and Mastercard, both of which are accepted in over 200 countries and by more than 90 million merchants. While American Express is growing in its international acceptance, it lags behind Visa and Mastercard.

Will you be charged a foreign transaction fee when booking international trips online?

Whether you will be charged a foreign transaction fee in this situation depends on several factors. Regardless of the situation, if your card doesn’t charge these fees, you won’t pay them. However, you might pay a foreign transaction fee when booking trips if your card charges these fees and you book the trip with a foreign company.

When do I pay a foreign transaction fee?

You generally pay a foreign transaction fee once the transaction is authorized and processed. Typically, you will pay these fees if your card charges foreign transaction fees, and you either swipe/tap your card with a foreign merchant or make an online purchase with a foreign company. This could also occur when booking international travel or services, and you typically pay these fees at the time of booking.

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No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards

Travel with a no foreign transaction fee credit card from Chase. Purchases made with these credit cards outside the U.S. will not be subject to foreign transaction fees.

Chase Sapphire Preferred ® credit card . Links to product page.

Chase Sapphire Preferred ® credit card card reviews (7,829 cardmember reviews) Opens overlay

New cardmember offer.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 toward travel when redeemed through Chase Travel SM .

AT A GLANCE

Premium dining & travel rewards Earn 5x total points on travel purchased through Chase Travel SM , excluding hotel purchases that qualify for the $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit. Earn 3x points on dining at restaurants including eligible delivery services, takeout and dining out. Earn 2x on other travel purchases.

21.49 Min. of (8.50+12.99) and 29.99 %– 28.49 Min. of (8.50+19.99) and 29.99 % variable APR. † Opens pricing and terms in new window

$95 † Opens pricing and terms in new window

Chase Sapphire Reserve ® Credit Card . Links to product page.

Chase Sapphire Reserve ® Credit Card card reviews (4,642 cardmember reviews) Opens overlay

60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel SM .

Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels (excluding The Edit℠) and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually.

22.49 Min. of (8.50+13.99) and 29.99 %– 29.49 Min. of (8.50+20.99) and 29.99 % variable APR. † Opens pricing and terms in new window

$550 annual fee † Opens pricing and terms in new window ; $75 for each authorized user † Opens pricing and terms in new window

Instacart Mastercard ® . Links to product page.

Instacart Mastercard ® card reviews Opens overlay

Free year of Instacart+ and a $100 Instacart credit upon approval.

Turn everyday shopping into every day rewards Earn 5% cash back on Instacart purchases, 5% cash back on travel purchased through the Chase Travel Center and 2% cash back at restaurants, gas stations, and on select streaming services.

20.24 Min. of (8.50+11.74) and 29.99 %– 28.99 Min. of (8.50+20.49) and 29.99 % variable APR. † Opens pricing and terms in new window

$0 † Opens pricing and terms in new window

Aeroplan ® Card . Links to product page.

Aeroplan ® Card card reviews Opens overlay

Earn 60,000 bonus points. Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. That's enough to fly to another continent.

Earn points fast with Aeroplan. 3X points at grocery stores, on dining including take out and eligible delivery services and on purchases made directly with Air Canada. Plus, enjoy free first checked bag and other Aeroplan travel benefits.

21.74 Min. of (8.50+13.24) and 29.99 %– 28.74 Min. of (8.50+20.24) and 29.99 % variable APR. † Opens pricing and terms in new window

Southwest Rapid Rewards ® Priority Credit Card . Links to product page.

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Earn 50,000 points after qualifying purchases.

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How to choose a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card

If you're a frequent traveler, you know that credit card foreign transaction fees can add up — and become one of the most annoying aspects of making purchases abroad.

Foreign transaction fees are incurred when your credit card issuer processes a transaction you've made in another country. They can cost up to 3% of your purchase amount.

Luckily, there's a long list of credit cards that don't charge foreign transaction fees. In fact, Discover and Capital One don't charge foreign transaction fees on any of their cards.

Here's our guide to finding a no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card that works for you.

Consider where you're traveling

First things first: You want to make sure the credit card you're looking at is accepted in the country (or countries) you're planning to visit. All your advanced research will become moot if you reach your destination and discover that you can't use your card.

For example, Visa cards are accepted worldwide, while issuers like Discover are often limited outside North America.

Determine your overall goals

You need to determine whether your main priority is to earn travel rewards, rack up cash back or pay off a card balance.

As mentioned, the list of cards that don't charge foreign transaction fees is long. You'll want to narrow down your options by deciding what type of card makes sense for you; it might be a premium travel rewards card, a no-annual-fee cash-back card or something in between.

For example, a premium rewards card would make the most sense if you plan a lavish 10-day trip across a continent. Or, if you're an infrequent traveler hopping to another country for a couple of days, look for a more cost-effective, no-foreign-transaction-fee card.

Compare welcome offers

Once you have a general idea of the type of card you want, you can narrow your choices by comparing different benefits, such as the current welcome offers on the cards you're considering.

A generous welcome offer can greatly enhance a card's value. Or, you may be willing to compromise on the welcome offer for a card with a lucrative travel rewards program. It's all what you make it.

To help, TPG has a guide that tracks the welcome offer history on some of the most popular travel cards on the market. It can help you figure out the best time to apply for a specific card.

Bottom line

There are plenty of no-foreign-transaction-fee credit cards on the market. By considering a few basic factors, you can find a card that will give you plenty of value, whether you're traveling abroad or staying at home.

Related: Foreign transaction fees: Everything you need to know

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5 Best Travel Cards without Foreign Transaction Fees 2024

Do you spend frequently in foreign currencies? Maybe you love to shop online with international retailers, or perhaps you’re a frequent traveler, or you’re living and working abroad. Foreign transaction fees can add 3% or more to your bill, every time you spend with your debit or credit card – so what’s the alternative?

Some debit cards, prepaid cards and international credit cards waive foreign transaction fees, which can make it easier and cheaper to spend overseas. This guide covers all you need to know, including cards from popular US banks, as well as a couple of alternative providers which can help you save – Wise and Revolut .

Key points: Best cards with no foreign transaction fees

• Wise international debit card : Hold and exchange 40+ currencies, spend with your card in 170+ countries, with no foreign transaction fee and currency exchange with the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.43%
• Revolut debit card : Choose a basic account or upgrade for more features, with 25+ supported currencies, and linked payment card options – plus some no-fee ATM withdrawal and currency exchange, based on your account plan
• Chase Sapphire Preferred: Earn up to 5x rewards on travel and dining spending, which you can then redeem against travel spend – plus access some travel insurance and assistance products for free
• American Express Platinum: Earn 5x rewards on flights and hotel bookings, plus lounge access, travel benefits from partner organizations, and Amex membership benefits
• Charles Schwab Checking Account: Earn interest on your balance at 0.45%, and get ATM fee rebates around the world, with no account maintenance fees to pay

Go to Wise Go to Revolut

5 Best travel cards with no foreign transaction fees in the US

You’ll be able to find international debit, prepaid and credit cards in the US which have no foreign transaction fees. However, that doesn’t mean there are no fees to pay at all. Credit cards may have an annual fee, interest, cash advance costs and penalty fees for example, while debit cards can levy their own monthly charges, ATM withdrawal fees and exchange costs.

Banks like Chase , and card networks like Amex , both offer select cards with no foreign transaction fees – but you’ll have to weigh up the other costs to make sure they’re worthwhile.

Similarly, specialist services like Wise and Revolut have international debit cards with no foreign transaction fees, and their own set of features and fees.

To paint a picture, here’s a comparison chart with some of the options for no foreign transaction fee cards available in the US:

Go to Wise Go to Revolut  

As you can see, you’ve got a pretty diverse choice when it comes to US cards with no foreign transaction fees, from credit cards with an annual charge to pay, to no fee checking accounts and specialist services which let you hold in multiple currencies, as well as spending globally. That means you can weigh up your options, to pick the perfect card for you. Here’s a quick summary of the cards we’ve highlighted so far – there’s more detail on each coming right up:

• Wise international debit card : Spend in 170+ countries, with no foreign transaction fee and currency exchange with the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.43%
• Revolut debit card : Spend globally with your Revolut card and get some no-fee ATM withdrawal and currency exchange, based on your account plan
• Chase Sapphire Preferred: Earn up to 5x rewards on travel and dining spending, and access some travel insurance and assistance products for free
• American Express Platinum: Earn 5x rewards on flights and hotel bookings, plus lounge access and travel benefits from partner organizations
• Charles Schwab Checking Account: Earn interest on your balance at 0.45 %, plus get ATM fee rebates around the world, with no account maintenance fees to pay

Wise international debit card

💡 Key point: Hold 40+ currencies, spend with the Wise card in 170+ countries, send money to 70+ countries

The Wise account can be opened online, to hold and exchange 40+ currencies with the mid-market rate and low fees from 0.43%. There’s no foreign transaction fee to pay, and it’s free to spend any currency you hold in your account. Plus, get extras like local bank details to get paid easily from 30+ countries in 10 currencies.

Foreign transaction fee: No foreign transaction fee

Annual or monthly fee: No fee

Wise currency conversion : Mid market exchange rate with conversion fees from 0.43%

Benefits and rewards: Get local bank details to get paid to your Wise account from 30+ countries, in 9 foreign currencies

Get Wise Card

Revolut debit card

💡 Key point: Choose your account plan, to hold 25+ currencies, spend globally, and access some no-fee currency exchange based on your account plan

Revolut has standard accounts with no monthly fees, and a couple of higher tier account options with fees up to 16.99 USD/month, which have additional features. All accounts have linked debit cards, can hold 25+ currencies, and have some no-fee currency exchange and ATM withdrawals, although the exact number of no-fee transactions available depends on the account tier you select.

Annual or monthly fee: No fee for standard account, up to 16.99 USD/month for higher tier accounts

Currency conversion: Mid market exchange rate to plan limits

Benefits and rewards: Get extras like budgeting and saving features, plus accounts for under 18s

Go to Revolut

Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card

💡 Key point: Travel optimized card with high rewards on travel spend, and extra benefits and offers including travel insurance and assistance

Chase Sapphire Preferred is a Visa credit card with no foreign transaction fee and a relatively low annual charge of 95 USD. In return you can earn points on travel and everyday spend, to redeem later against travel rewards. You’ll also be able to access various travel benefits like some baggage insurance, trip cancellation cover and more.

Annual or monthly fee: 95 USD annual fee

Currency conversion: Visa exchange rate

Benefits and rewards: Earn up to 5x rewards on travel spend, plus extra travel perks and offers

American Express Platinum credit card

💡 Key point: Travel credit card with a relatively high annual fee, offset by extra perks and opportunities to earn rewards on travel faster than some alternative card options

If you don’t mind the annual fee, the American Express Platinum credit card can offer some great rewards on day to day spending, plus a huge range of partner offers and discounts which are tailored to travel. Rewards also cover entertainment and dining, making this a good card for people who love to spend on life’s little luxuries.

Annual or monthly fee: 695 USD annual fee

Currency conversion: American Express exchange rate

Charles Schwab Investor Checking Account Visa debit card

💡 Key point: No fee checking account, offered alongside Schwab brokerage options, to allow customers to spend internationally for lower fees

The Charles Schwab Investor Checking Account and Visa debit card is offered alongside the One brokerage account, so that as well as investing with Schwab, you can also cut the costs of managing your money day to day. Interest is paid on the balance you hold, and there are no foreign transaction fees and unlimited ATM fee rebates, to keep costs low overall.

Benefits and rewards: Offered with a brokerage account, to make it easier to transfer in and out of both account products

How to get a card with no foreign transaction fees in the US

The exact steps you need to take to get a card with no foreign transaction fee in the US may vary depending on the provider you select. However, in most cases, if you’ve got a full set of ID and proof of address documents, and you’re a US resident, you’ll be able to get your account all set up, and your card ordered, online or through the bank or provider’s app.

As an example, let’s look at how to get a Wise card in the US:

• Download the Wise app or head to the Wise desktop site
• Click ‘Open an account’ and enter your email address – you can also register using a Facebook, Google or Apple ID
• Follow the prompts to enter your personal and contact information
• Upload an image of your ID and proof of address documents for verification
• Once your account is verified you can add your first balance in the currency of your choice
• Select the card tab and follow the prompts to order your Wise card

Ready to get started?

What is a foreign transaction fee?

A foreign transaction fee is a percentage fee charged by your bank or card issuer every time you spend or make a withdrawal with your credit, debit or prepaid card, in a foreign currency. That means that foreign transaction fees can apply when you travel and spend or make ATM withdrawals overseas, or when you’re shopping online with retailers based overseas, and spending in foreign currencies.

Some banks, specialist providers and card issuers waive foreign transaction fees – we’ve got a few to consider coming up later in this article.

How do foreign transaction fees work?

If your bank or card issuer charges a foreign transaction fee, you’ll find that an extra percentage fee is added onto your bill whenever you use your credit, debit or prepaid card to spend in a foreign currency .

When you pay in a foreign currency, you’ll usually find your spending is converted back to dollars using the bank or card issuer’s exchange rate. The foreign transaction fee is then calculated as a percentage of the dollar amount , and also deducted from your balance (for a debit card) or added to your bill (when you spend with a credit card).

How much are foreign transaction fees?

As we mentioned earlier, the good news is that not all banks and card issuers charge foreign transaction fees. However, the bad news is that if your bank does use foreign transaction fees, they can be pretty steep – often around 3% of the dollar amount you spend.

That quickly mounts up. Say you’re on vacation, and spend 1,000 USD in total on shopping and eating out. The foreign transaction fee alone adds 30 dollars to the total bill – and this rises to 150 dollars in foreign transaction fees if you’re on a longer break and end up spending 5,000 USD, for example.

We all want our money to go further when we’re on vacation or when we shop online. This guide covers providers and banks which have card products without foreign transaction fees, to help you save. We’ve looked at a few major US banks and card networks, plus a couple of providers with multi-currency holding accounts and no foreign transaction fees – Wise and Revolut .

How to use cards internationally

Generally, using your credit, debit or prepaid card overseas is just as easy as doing so at home in the US. However, some banks may require you to inform them of your travel plans – to avoid your payments flagging as suspicious on their system – and you’ll also need to take a few other simple steps to make sure you can spend easily, and without any extra fees.

Here are a few things to consider:

• If you’re making a withdrawal or spending abroad, check that the ATM is compatible with your international card – look for the Amex, Visa or MasterCard logo
• Double check the fees charged by your bank for spending and making withdrawals overseas, so there are no surprises
• Always pay in the local currency wherever you are to avoid dynamic currency conversion (more on that next)
• Update your contact details with your bank, in case they need to get in touch while you’re abroad
• Pay your bills on time, so you don’t run into late payment fees from your card issuer

What is dynamic currency conversion?

Dynamic currency conversion (DCC) is where you’re asked, by a merchant or when making an ATM withdrawal, if you’d rather pay in dollars instead of the local currency where you are. It’s promoted as a time saver – as you’ll instantly see how much your payment is costing in dollars, with no need to do the math. However, in reality it usually means you pay more overall, as the merchant or ATM operator can set the rate used to convert your payment to dollars, and add in fees too. This pushes up the price, and is worth avoiding.

The card operators and specialist providers we’ve touched on in this guide all handle currency conversion in different ways – but they’ll usually offer a much fairer deal than relying on DCC. Here’s how a few convert your money when you spend:

• Wise : Currency conversion uses the mid-market rate with low fees from 0.43%, no foreign transaction fee
• Revolut : Currency conversion uses the mid-market rate to your plan limit with fair usage fees of 0.5% after that, no foreign transaction fee
• Chase: Currency conversion uses the Visa rate on the day of purchase, or on the day the purchase is processed, no foreign transaction fee

Which US banks do not charge foreign transaction fees?

Banks often charge foreign transaction fees when customers spend on their cards, but some US banks do offer a selection of card options with no foreign transaction fees. That can be a good pick if you travel a lot or if you like to shop online with international retailers.

Here are some examples of popular US banks that offer cards without overseas transaction fees:

• Chase: Sapphire Preferred credit card; Sapphire Reserve credit card. Chase has varied Sapphire brand cards, depending on your preferences, and a good selection of co-branded no foreign transaction fee cards issued with hotel chains, airlines and even Amazon
• Bank of America: Travel Rewards credit card; Premium Rewards credit card; Premium Rewards Elite, Travel Rewards for Students. Bank of America has a pretty impressive array of travel credit cards including these and a whole host of cards issued in partnership with airlines, cruise lines and more.
• Capital One: Quicksilver credit card; Venture Rewards credit card. Capital One has several different variants on both of these card brands, with no foreign transaction fees, and aimed at customers with different needs, preferences and credit ratings
• Wells Fargo: Autograph Visa credit card. Check out the offers from Wells Fargo for no foreign transaction fee card options, including the Autograph Visa

This list is not intended to be exhaustive – you may find other US banks or other cards that don’t have foreign transaction fees – so do remember to do your own research to pick out the perfect card for your specific needs.

Conclusion: Best card for overseas spending

If you spend in foreign currencies often – either when you travel or when you shop online, getting a no foreign transaction fee card can make sense. You’ll cut down the overall costs of transacting in foreign currencies, and depending on the card type and account you prefer, you may also get extras like reward points or multi-currency holding facilities.

We’ve looked at several different no-foreign-transaction-fee card types, including credit cards which have an annual fee but also offer great reward earning opportunities; and some specialist cards from providers like Wise and Revolut .

• Wise has a flexible multi-currency account which can hold and exchange 40+ currencies, so you can spend with no foreign transaction fees and currency conversion at the mid-market rate.
• Revolut also supports 25+ currencies for holding, and has handy perks like budgeting and saving options, so you can do more with your money at home or abroad.

Use this guide to compare the features of each card and choose the one that best fits your personal needs and spending habits.

Best card with no overseas transaction fees US FAQs

How do I avoid foreign transaction fees?

To cut the costs of spending overseas it makes sense to try to find a card which avoids foreign transaction fees. Take a look at no-foreign-transaction-fee credit cards from your own bank – including the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card, and compare them against low cost debit card options from services like Wise and Revolut.

Which banks charge no foreign transaction fees?

Many major US banks – including Chase, Capital One, Bank of America and Wells Fargo – have one or more credit cards with no foreign transaction fee. However, you’ll need to read the terms and conditions carefully on your account to make sure you’ve picked a card that suits your needs. As an alternative, you might consider a debit card with no foreign transaction fee from a non-bank provider like Wise or Revolut.

Is it better to pay in local or foreign currency with my card when traveling?

It’s always best to pay in the local currency wherever you are, to avoid the extra fees that come with dynamic currency conversion.

What is the most cost effective way to exchange currency?

Often spending on your no foreign transaction fee card is pretty economical – and usually cheaper than using an airport or hotel currency exchange. Another smart choice is to open a multi-currency account with a provider like Wise or Revolut so you can exchange and hold all the currencies you need in one account, ready to spend or withdraw when you travel.

Is it better to buy currency for the country you are visiting?

Carrying a lot of cash comes with risks, so making ATM withdrawals when you arrive in your destination is often the better idea. Make sure you have a card with low or no ATM fees and no foreign transaction fee, and avoid credit cards if you can, as these usually mean high cash advance costs. Both Wise and Revolut have low cost account options which have some no-fee ATM withdrawals internationally, every month.

How do you avoid exchange rate fees?

It’s not usually possible to avoid exchange fees entirely, but you can certainly look for a bank or provider which has transparent and low charges, to cut costs overall. Compare your own bank against a specialist service like Wise or Revolut, to see which works out cheaper for the type of transactions you make often.

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Credit Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fees

Credit cards with no foreign transaction fees give you the freedom to travel internationally and spend money without worrying about the added cost of foreign transaction fees.

Start your next trip off right by applying for a Bank of America® credit card with no foreign transaction fees.

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Bank of America ® Customized Cash Rewards

$200 online cash rewards bonus offer and 3% cash back in the category of your choice.

No annual fee †

Show More Show Less Bank of America ® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

• 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter) and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases Calculate rewards
• Choose which category you want to earn 3% cash back in: gas and EV charging stations ; online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming ; dining; travel; drug stores and pharmacies; or home improvement and furnishings. To change your choice category for future purchases, you must go to Online Banking, or use the Mobile Banking app. You can change it once each calendar month, or make no change and it stays the same .
• 0% † Intro APR for your first 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account. After the intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that's currently 18.24% to 28.24% will apply. 3% † Intro balance transfer fee for the first 60 days your account is open. After the intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for all future balance transfers is 4% .
• Bank of America Preferred Rewards ® members earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means the 3% choice category could earn 3.75% - 5.25% and the 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs could earn 2.50% - 3.50% , for the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter, and the 1% for all other purchases could earn 1.25% - 1.75% . Not enrolled? Learn more about Preferred Rewards Cash Rewards .
• This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page, if you visit a Bank of America financial center or call the bank. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

† Terms & Conditions  for Bank of America ® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Bank of America ® Unlimited Cash Rewards

$200 online cash rewards bonus offer, show more show less bank of america ® unlimited cash rewards credit card.

• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases Calculate rewards
• No limit to the amount of cash back you can earn and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open
• 0% † Intro APR for your first 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made within the first 60 days of opening your account. After that, a Variable APR that's currently 18.24% to 28.24% will apply. 3% † Intro balance transfer fee for the first 60 days your account is open. After the intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for all future balance transfers is 4% .
• Bank of America Preferred Rewards ® members earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 1.87% - 2.62% cash back on every purchase. Learn More About Preferred Rewards .

† Terms & Conditions  for Bank of America ® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card

BankAmericard ®

Save on interest, show more show less bankamericard ® credit card.

• 0% Intro APR † for 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days of opening your account. After the intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that's currently 16.24% - 26.24% will apply. 3% † Intro balance transfer fee for the first 60 days your account is open. After the intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for all future balance transfers is 4% .
• No Penalty APR. Paying late won't automatically raise your interest rate (APR). Other account pricing and terms apply † .
• Access your FICO ® Score for free within Online Banking or your Mobile Banking app.

† Terms & Conditions  for BankAmericard ® credit card

Bank of America ® Travel Rewards

25,000 online bonus points offer (a $250 value) and no annual fee †.

No annual fee †  and no foreign transaction fees †

Show More Show Less Bank of America ® Travel Rewards credit card

• Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases everywhere, every time and no expiration on points as long as your account remains open Calculate rewards
• Use your card to book your trip how and where you want with no blackout dates and pay yourself back with a statement credit towards travel and dining purchases
• Bank of America Preferred Rewards ® members earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means you could earn 1.87 to 2.62 points for every $1 you spend, everywhere, every time. Not enrolled? Learn more about Preferred Rewards Travel Rewards

† Terms & Conditions  for Bank of America ® Travel Rewards credit card

Bank of America ® Premium Rewards ®

60,000 online bonus points offer — a $600 value.

Low $95 annual fee † and no foreign transaction fees †

Show More Show Less Bank of America ® Premium Rewards ® credit card

• Earn unlimited points , that don't expire as long as the account remains open – 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points per $1 on all other purchases . Calculate Rewards Premium Rewards
• Get up to $200 in combined Airline Incidental and TSA PreCheck ® /Global Entry Statement Credits. Plus, access to world class travel benefits: travel and purchase protections, luxury hotel collection and concierge service.
• Redeem for cash back as a deposit into Bank of America ® checking or savings accounts, for credit to eligible Merrill ® accounts including 529 accounts, as a statement credit to your credit card, or for gift cards and purchases at the Bank of America Travel Center
• Bank of America Preferred Rewards ® members earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means you could earn 2.5 to 3.5 points on travel and dining purchases and 1.87 to 2.62 points on all other purchases, for every $1 you spend. Not enrolled? Learn more about Preferred Rewards Premium Rewards

† Terms & Conditions  for Bank of America ® Premium Rewards ® credit card

Bank of America ® Premium Rewards ® Elite

75,000 online bonus points offer — a $750 value.

$550 annual fee † and no foreign transaction fees †

Show More Show Less Bank of America ® Premium Rewards ® Elite credit card

• Earn unlimited 2 points for every $1 spent on travel and dining purchases , and unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 spent on all other purchases . No limit to the points you can earn and points don't expire as long as the account remains open. Calculate Rewards Premium Elite Rewards
• Bank of America Preferred Rewards ® members earn 25%-75% more points on every purchase. That means you could earn 2.5 to 3.5 points on travel and dining purchases and 1.87 to 2.62 points on all other purchases, for every $1 you spend.
• Get up to $550 in combined Airline Incidental, TSA PreCheck ® /Global Entry, and Lifestyle Statement Credits . Plus, a suite of luxury benefits to fit your lifestyle: full-service concierge, airport lounge and experience access, premier hotel amenities, travel and purchase protections.
• You choose how you want to be rewarded . Redeem points for travel, cash back, a statement credit, distinctive experiences or gift cards. Plus, save 20% on airfare when you pay with points through the Bank of America Travel Center.
• This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page, if you visit a Bank of America financial center or call the bank . You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

† Terms & Conditions  for Bank of America ® Premium Rewards ® Elite credit card

Bank of America ® Customized Cash Rewards for Students

3% cash back in the category of your choice, show more show less bank of america ® customized cash rewards credit card for students.

• 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter) and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Choose which category you want to earn 3% cash back in: gas and EV charging stations ; online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming ; dining; travel; drug stores and pharmacies; or home improvement and furnishings To change your choice category for future purchases, you must go to Online Banking, or use the Mobile Banking app. You can change it once each calendar month, or make no change and it stays the same .
• Online $200 cash rewards bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening
• When handled responsibly, a credit card can help you build your credit history, which could be helpful when looking for an apartment, a car loan, and even a job. Access your FICO ® Score for free within Online Banking or your Mobile Banking app.

† Terms & Conditions  for Bank of America ® Customized Cash Rewards credit card for Students

Bank of America ® Unlimited Cash Rewards for Students

Start building your financial future while earning unlimited cash back, show more show less bank of america ® unlimited cash rewards credit card for students.

• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases with no limit to the amount of cash back you can earn and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open

† Terms & Conditions  for Bank of America ® Unlimited Cash Rewards credit card for Students

BankAmericard ® for Students

Save on interest, a great choice when you’re just starting out, show more show less bankamericard ® credit card for students.

• Your card comes with our $0 Liability Guarantee and chip technology for additional security when used at chip-enabled terminals

† Terms & Conditions  for BankAmericard ® Credit Card for Students

Bank of America ® Travel Rewards for Students

Start building your financial future.

No annual fee † and no foreign transaction fees †

Show More Show Less Bank of America ® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students

• Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases everywhere, every time and no expiration on points as long as your account remains open. Use your card to book your trip how and where you want with no blackout dates and pay yourself back with a statement credit towards travel and dining purchases.
• 25,000 online bonus points after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening

† Terms & Conditions  for Bank of America ® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students

Bank of America ® Customized Cash Rewards Secured

Help build your credit while earning 3% cash back in the category of your choice, show more show less bank of america ® customized cash rewards secured credit card.

• 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter) and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Choose which category you want to earn 3% cash back in: gas and EV charging stations ; online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming ; dining; travel; drug stores and pharmacies; or home improvement and furnishings. To change your choice category for future purchases, you must go to Online Banking, or use the Mobile Banking app. You can change it once each calendar month, or make no change and it stays the same.
• Open your account with a security deposit ($200-$5,000) . Upon credit approval your required deposit is used, in combination with your income and your ability to pay, to help establish your credit line. We'll periodically review your account and, based on your overall credit history (including your account and overall relationship with us, and other credit cards and loans), you may qualify to have your security deposit returned. Not all customers will qualify.
• Build up your credit history – use this card responsibly and over time it could help you improve your credit score.
• Your financial health. Our Priority. Bank of America – Outstanding Customer Satisfaction with Financial Health Support – Banking & Payments, 2 years in a row
• Secured card products are not eligible for a new account bonus offer, like a cash rewards bonus offer, and introductory APRs are not available.

† Terms & Conditions  for Bank of America ® Customized Cash Rewards secured credit card

Bank of America ® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured

Help strengthen or build your credit and earn unlimited cash back, show more show less bank of america ® unlimited cash rewards secured credit card.

• Build up your credit history — use this card responsibly and over time it could help you improve your credit score

† Terms & Conditions  for Bank of America ® Unlimited Cash Rewards secured credit card

BankAmericard ® Secured

Help establish, strengthen - or even rebuild your credit with a card that's simple and convenient, show more show less bankamericard ® secured credit card.

• Open your account with a security deposit ($200-$5,000). Upon credit approval your required deposit is used, in combination with your income and your ability to pay, to help establish your credit line.
• We'll periodically review your account and, based on your overall credit history (including your account and overall relationship with us, and other credit cards and loans), you may qualify to have your security deposit returned. Not all customers will qualify.
• Secured card products are not eligible for a new account bonus offer, like a statement credit, and introductory APRs are not available.

† Terms & Conditions  for BankAmericard ® secured credit card

Bank of America ® Travel Rewards Secured

Help strengthen or build your credit and earn unlimited points, show more show less bank of america ® travel rewards visa ® secured credit card.

• Earn unlimited 1.5 points for every $1 you spend on all purchases everywhere, every time and no expiration on points as long as your account remains open. Use your card to book your trip how and where you want with no black out dates and pay yourself back with a statement credit towards travel and dining purchases.
• Open your account with a security deposit ($200-$5,000). Upon credit approval your required deposit is used, in combination with your income and your ability to pay, to help establish your credit line. We'll periodically review your account and, based on your overall credit history (including your account and overall relationship with us, and other credit cards and loans), you may qualify to have your security deposit returned. Not all customers will qualify.
• Build up your credit history — use this card responsibly and over time it could help you improve your credit score.
• Secured card products are not eligible for a new account bonus offer, like a bonus points offer, and introductory APRs are not available.

† Terms & Conditions  for Bank of America ® Travel Rewards Visa ® secured credit card

Alaska Airlines Visa Signature ®

Limited time online offer: 70,000 bonus miles plus alaska's famous companion fare™, show more show less alaska airlines visa signature ® credit card.

• 70,000 Bonus Miles plus Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ ($99 fare plus taxes and fees from $23) after you make $3,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening. Plus, celebrate your account anniversary with Alaska's Famous Companion Fare™ every year that you spend at least $6,000 on purchases with your card.
• Free checked bag for any cardholder who purchases airfare with their card, and up to 6 additional guests traveling on the same reservation. Plus you'll enjoy priority boarding when you pay for your flight with your card , so you can get to your seat quicker.
• Earn unlimited 3 miles for every $1 spent on eligible Alaska Airlines purchases. Earn unlimited 2 miles for every $1 spent on eligible gas, EV charging station, cable, streaming services and local transit purchases including rideshare. Earn unlimited 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. Plus, earn a 10% rewards bonus on all miles earned on card purchases if you have an eligible Bank of America ® account.
• Flexibility with no blackout dates on Alaska Airlines flights when booking with miles or a companion fare.
• This online only offer may not be available elsewhere if you leave this page. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.

† Terms & Conditions  for Alaska Airlines Visa Signature ® Credit Card

Susan G. Komen ® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Help fight breast cancer and get a $200 online cash rewards bonus offer, show more show less susan g. komen ® customized cash rewards credit card.

• 3% cash back in the category of your choice, 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter) and 1% cash back on all other purchases Calculate rewards Cash Rewards
• Bank of America Preferred Rewards ® members earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means the 3% choice category could earn 3.75% - 5.25% and the 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs could earn 2.50% - 3.50% , for the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter, and the 1% for all other purchases could earn 1.25% - 1.75% . Not enrolled? Learn more about Preferred Rewards

† Terms & Conditions  for Susan G. Komen ® Customized Cash Rewards credit card

Free Spirit ® Travel More World Elite Mastercard ®

Online offer: 50,000 bonus points + a $100 companion flight voucher.

$0 introductory annual fee for the first year. After that it's just $79 †

Show More Show Less Free Spirit ® Travel More World Elite Mastercard ®

• Earn 3 points per $1 spent on eligible Spirit purchases, 2 points per $1 spent on eligible dining and grocery store purchases and 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Earn 50,000 bonus points plus a $100 Companion Flight Voucher after making at least $1,000 in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening
• Receive a $100 Companion Flight Voucher each anniversary after making at least $5,000 in purchases within the prior anniversary year
• No limit to the points you can earn, no points expiration as long as your card account is open, and no redemption fees as a primary cardholder

† Terms & Conditions  for Free Spirit ® Travel More World Elite Mastercard ®

Allways Rewards Visa ®

Online offer: 25,000 bonus points.

Low $59 annual fee † and no foreign transaction fees †

Show More Show Less Allways Rewards Visa ® card

• Winner: Best Airline Credit Card , USA Today's 10Best Readers Choice Awards!
• Online Offer: Earn 25,000 Bonus Points – equal to $250 off a future Allegiant trip when you redeem points, after you make $1,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of account opening
• 3 points per $1 on Allegiant purchases, 2 points per $1 on qualifying dining purchases and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
• No blackout dates, no destination restrictions and no minimum points redemption

† Terms & Conditions  for Allways Rewards Visa ® card

Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard ®

Online offer: 50,000 bonus miles after qualifying purchases.

Low $89 annual fee † and no foreign transaction fees †

Show More Show Less Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard ®

• Online Offer: 50,000 Bonus Miles after you make $2,000 or more in purchases within the first 90 days of your account opening
• 3 Miles per $1 spent directly on Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and SkyTeam member airlines purchases
• 1.5 Miles per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Get 60 XP upon approval to help advance to the next status for more generous perks

† Terms & Conditions  for Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard ®

Royal Caribbean Visa Signature ®

Online offer: 25,000 bonus points, show more show less royal caribbean visa signature ® credit card.

• Get 25,000 MyCruise ® bonus points after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of your account opening, worth $250 in onboard credit
• Earn 2 MyCruise points for every $1 spent on qualifying purchases with Royal Caribbean® and our sister brand, Celebrity Cruises®
• Earn 1 MyCruise point for every $1 spent on all other purchases
• Redeem your points for onboard credit, stateroom upgrades and cruise vacations on Royal Caribbean ® and our sister brand, Celebrity Cruises ®

† Terms & Conditions  for Royal Caribbean Visa Signature ® Credit Card

Norwegian Cruise Line ® World Mastercard ®

Online offer: 20,000 bonus points, show more show less norwegian cruise line ® world mastercard ®.

• Online Offer: 20,000 bonus points after you make $1,000 or more in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening. That's enough for a $200 onboard credit or $200 off your next Norwegian cruise .
• Earn 3 WorldPoints ® points per $1 spent on Norwegian purchases, 2 WorldPoints points per $1 spent on eligible air and hotel purchases and 1 WorldPoints point per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Redeem points for hundreds of rewards like cash, gift cards, hotels stays, car rentals or Norwegian redemptions
• Bank of America Preferred Rewards ® members earn a 25% - 75% points bonus on every purchase, applied to the base earn of 1 point per $1. Not enrolled? Learn more about Preferred Rewards Travel Rewards

† Terms & Conditions  for Norwegian Cruise Line ® World Mastercard ®

Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature ®

Show more show less celebrity cruises visa signature ® credit card.

• Earn 2 MyCruise ® points for every $1 spent on qualifying purchases with Celebrity Cruises ® and our sister brand, Royal Caribbean ®
• Redeem your points for onboard credit, stateroom upgrades and cruise vacations on Celebrity Cruises ® , and our sister brand, Royal Caribbean ®

† Terms & Conditions  for Celebrity Cruises Visa Signature ® Credit Card

Preferred Rewards makes your credit card even better

When you enroll in the Preferred Rewards program, you can get a 25% — 75% rewards bonus on all eligible Bank of America ® credit cards.

Plus, as a Preferred Rewards member, you enjoy real benefits and rewards on your everyday Bank of America ® banking and Merrill investment accounts. And as your qualifying balances grow, so do your benefits.

Learn more about Preferred Rewards

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Understanding credit is key to your financial health

Selecting a credit card.

Choosing a credit card can be overwhelming. We’ve compiled some important considerations to help you pick the best credit card for you.

Managing your credit card

Get the most out of your credit card. Find out how you can take advantage of all the opportunities that may be available to you as a cardholder.

Paying down your debt

By following a few simple steps, you can help ensure you’re headed in the right direction when it comes to managing your credit card debt.

Improving your credit

Better credit habits can lead to a better credit score. If you’re looking to improve your credit, check out some of our helpful tips.

Connect one on one with a credit card specialist

As part of becoming a Bilt Mastercard Cardholder, not only do you get access to all the benefits that come with being a Bilt Member, you’ve also gained access to benefits offered with your Bilt World Elite Mastercard.

These Benefits can give you a ton of extra value if you know how to take advantage of them. So, check out the full range of Bilt Mastercard features and benefits here , and read on for four that we’re highlighting to help get you started.

Cellular Telephone Protection¹

Pay your monthly cell phone bill with your Bilt Mastercard you'll get up to $800 of protection (less a $25 deductible) to repair your phone if it’s damaged, or help replace it if it’s stolen or taken from you. Plus, you’re covered for two paid claims per 12-month period if your luck is especially bad one year. Your coverage will last as long as you keep paying your total monthly cell phone bill with your Bilt Mastercard, so we recommend getting that set up ASAP and leaving it on autopay for peace of mind.

Concierge Service²

Whether you need hard-to-find dinner reservations, the perfect last-minute gift or insider hotel recommendations, the World Elite Mastercard Concierge will work behind the scenes on your behalf–anywhere in the world.

No foreign transaction fee

When we’re swiping abroad the last thing we want to think about is extra fees. Use your Bilt Mastercard when you’re traveling internationally and you won't pay a foreign transaction fee for purchases converted to U.S. dollars. Terms apply.

Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle Services® ³

When you register with Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle Services as a Bilt cardholder, you’ll get access to exclusive perks and upgrades at thousands of 4 and 5 star hotels, a “lifestyle manager” to solve any problems you might have during your hotel stay or help find you things to do in the area, discounts on car rentals and certain airlines, and more.

Credit card is subject to credit qualification.

Mastercard and the circles design are registered trademarks of Mastercard International Incorporated.

Cellular Telephone Protection

World Elite Mastercard Concierge

Mastercard Travel & Lifestyle Services®

• Book Travel
• Credit Cards

Canada’s 4 Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards

Most Canadian credit cards charge a 2.5% foreign transaction fee on all purchases made in other currencies. Here are the best credit cards in Canada with no foreign transaction fees.

Best Credit Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fees

Best travel credit card with no foreign transaction fees.

• Earn 30,000 Scene+ points upon spending $1,000 in the first three months
• Earn an additional 10,000 Scene+ points upon spending $40,000 in the first year
• Earn 1x 2x Scene+ points on groceries, dining, entertainment, and transit
• Plus, earn 3x Scene+ points on grocery purchases at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, and FreshCo
• Visa Airport Companion membership with six free lounge visits per year
• Redeem points for statement credit for any travel expense
• Minimum income: $60,000 personal or $100,000 household
• Annual fee: $150 (waived in the first year)

The Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card sets itself apart as a true traveller’s card, offering strong welcome bonus, no foreign exchange fees, and the flexible Scene+ points for all purchases.

Travellers can take comfort in earning points abroad without having to pay FX fees on all their expenses, including hotel stays, eats, drinks, entertainment, public transportation, and more when journeying abroad. You’ll also have no trouble using this card along your travels, thanks to the wide acceptance of Visa cards around the world.

Also, this card comes with a complimentary DragonPass membership and six annual visits to participating airport lounges and restaurants.

You’ll be backed by the card’s suite of insurance coverage, including emergency travel coverage for up to 25 days out-of-province, flight delay insurance, delayed and lost baggage insurance, and more.

It’s always nice when you can extract multiple travel benefits from a single card (and a single annual fee).

If you’re looking to save money abroad, look no further than the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card.

Best American Express Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees

• Earn  20,000 Scene+ points  upon spending $1,000 in the first three months
• Earn an  additional 20,000 Scene+ points  upon spending $7,500 in the first year
• Earn 6x Scene+ points at Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, FreshCo, and more
• Plus, earn 1x 5x Scene+ points on groceries, dining, and entertainment
• Also, earn 1x 3x Scene+ points on gas, transit, and select streaming services
• No foreign transaction fees
• Enjoy the exclusive benefits of being an American Express cardholder
• Annual fee: $120

The Scotiabank Gold American Express Card is one of the best all-round credit cards in Canada. You’ll earn Scene+ points to the tune of 5% back on groceries, restaurants, and entertainment, 3% back on gas, transit, and streaming services, and 1% back on everything else.

However, it’s worth noting that the card only earns 1% back on foreign purchases, even in the bonus categories. Still, it’s good to earn any amount of rewards when you’re eating abroad.

For a card that you want in your wallet anyway for its peerless earn rates at home, you’ll always have a solid no-FX option when travelling and paying at stores that take Amex.

Best No Fee Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees

• Earn 1% cash back on all transactions in Canadian dollars
• Plus, save money abroad with no foreign transaction fees
• Minimum annual income: $15,000 personal
• No annual fee

If you’d rather not pay an annual fee, consider the entry-level Home Trust Preferred Visa Card instead. It has no annual fee, and earns 1% back on all purchases in Canadian dollars.

Unfortunately, you won’t earn cash back on foreign transactions; however, you’ll still save money that you’d otherwise be charged on a card with foreign transaction fees.

As a card with no annual fee, there aren’t many other notable features to benefit from, aside from saving on foreign transactions. However, if your ultimate goal is to save cash, the Home Trust Preferred Visa Card is your best bet.

Best Business Credit Card with No Foreign Transaction Fees

• Earn 30,000 Scene+ points upon spending $5,000 in the first three months
• Earn 10,000 Scene+ points upon spending $60,000 in the first year
• Plus, earn 1.5x Scene+ points on all purchases
• Priority Pass membership with six free lounge visits per year
• Qualify on the basis of your business financials
• Annual fee: $199

For businesses with a lot of expenses in US dollars or other currencies, the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Business is your best choice.

The card earns a steady 1.5% back in the form of Scene+ points, along with a welcome bonus of 30,000 points, worth $300. Considering that other business credit cards charge a 2.5% foreign transaction fee, and often offer lower rewards rates, you might find immense value in paying the $199 annual fee if your business makes a lot of purchases in a foreign currency.

Not to mention, the card has great travel perks too. You’ll get a comprehensive insurance package, lounge access, car rental discounts, and assorted Visa Infinite benefits.

If you spend a lot of time abroad for your business and need a Visa card, this one’s a fantastic option not only for keeping your rewards up and costs down, but also for boosting your travel experience along the way.

No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards: What You Need to Know

When choosing a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, you should familiarize yourself with what benefits a no-FX credit card can offer, what features to look out for, and how no-FX credit cards can fit into an optimized overall credit card strategy.

Why get a credit card with no foreign transaction fees?

Currency conversion fees are a quick way to chip away at your precious travel budget, whether it’s ATM withdrawals or purchases on your card.

When you’re spending abroad with your credit card, all transactions must be converted from the local currency to Canadian dollars before appearing on your account statement. Most cards levy a 2.5% foreign transaction fee on top of the spot rate.

For example, let’s say a purchase priced at $75 (USD) converts to $100 (CAD). Ultimately it’ll be charged as $102.50. Instead, cards with no foreign transaction fees will convert transactions to Canadian dollars at the mid-market rate (as set by the bank or payment network), without a surcharge – in that case, you’d only be charged $100.

Cards without these fees are indispensable for travellers, as they effectively represent a 2.5% discount on all of your spending while travelling out of the country.

They’re also useful at home. If you do any online shopping at retailers based outside of Canada who charge prices in other currencies, you’d be subject to conversion fees unless you use one of these cards.

What should you look for in a credit card with no foreign transaction fees?

No foreign transaction fees itself is the obvious feature to look for, but not all of these cards are created equal.

There are a few basic no-fee cards that fit this bill, but the lack of foreign transaction fees is usually their only notable feature.

A select handful of travel-oriented cards have no foreign transaction fees, but it’s hardly the standard in Canada. Don’t assume that all travel cards have this perk, or you’ll be sorely disappointed; indeed, most of the highest-end premium travel cards still impose a 2.5% FX fee.

Beware that not all credit cards earn rewards the same way on foreign transactions.

Some cards, like the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card , earn different rewards rates for foreign currencies. You don’t get a category bonus if the purchase isn’t in Canadian dollars.

Other cards, like the Rogers World Elite Mastercard , can be the opposite: they may actually offer higher rewards on foreign transactions, but don’t waive the conversion fee. The higher rewards are meant to offset the fee.

On these cards, if you have to return an item, you’d be dinged for the conversion twice, once each way, with no rewards to show for it and a total loss of 5%. These cards are much better for daily travel spending, and not for online shopping or souvenir purchases. Instead, a true no-FX card is much more versatile.

What’s the optimal strategy for credit cards with no foreign transaction fees?

No foreign transaction fees is a relatively rare feature on Canadian credit cards. It’s rather frustrating to be dinged an extra 2.5% on all your spending when you’re abroad, so it’s a good idea to leave room for at least one credit card with no foreign transaction fees in your wallet.

Ideally, you’ll want a credit card with no foreign transaction fees that also earns strong rewards on your foreign spending, as well as some useful benefits that you’ll get value out of. Without these, the no-FX benefit on its own can often struggle to justify a card’s annual fee.

For example, the trade-off between the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card and the Scotiabank Gold American Express Card (both of which have no foreign transaction fees) is that the former has a lower 2% bonus earning rate that also applies on foreign purchases, whereas the latter has higher bonus earning rates of 3% and 5%, but the only apply on purchases made in Canada. Abroad, you’ll only earn 1%.

Depending on how much you travel internationally, you might well prefer the Scotiabank Passport over the Scotiabank Gold Amex, since it’ll be a better partner along your international trips with its higher earning rate, airport lounge benefits, and wider global acceptance on the Visa network.

Alternatively, you may also consider US credit cards, where the lack of foreign transaction fees is much more commonplace on both premium travel credit cards and basic no-fee cards alike. You can use those US cards in Canada, or anywhere else, without additional fees.

However, you’d still have to consider any costs involved in exchanging Canadian dollars to US dollars in order to pay your credit card bill, including fees, the spread, and currency fluctuations.

Either way, a savvy traveller always makes sure they have at least one credit card with no foreign transaction fees on hand for their international trips, tailored towards their foreign spending volume, tolerance for annual fees, and other benefits they might value.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some questions we frequently hear from readers about the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees in Canada.

What will the foreign exchange rate be?

Conversion rates are set by Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. They’re very close to the true mid-market rate, often within tenths of a percent, and are usually much better than most other ways to exchange currency when you travel.

When is the foreign exchange rate determined?

The transaction will be converted to Canadian dollars at the time it is settled and posts to your account, not at the time it was authorized.

Will I get good rates on purchases in all currencies?

For all foreign currencies other than US dollars, credit cards will process two conversions: first from the underlying currency to USD, then from USD to CAD. You may be subject to a negligible spread on both conversions, but no additional fees.

Can I use cards with no foreign transaction fees anywhere in the world?

These cards all run on either the Visa, Mastercard, or American Express payment networks. They’ll be accepted at any merchant where Visa, Mastercard, or Amex is accepted, respectively.

If I’m offered the choice to pay in the local currency or to pay a converted CAD/USD amount, what should I do?

Always choose to pay in the local currency. The converted CAD/USD option is known as “dynamic currency conversion”, and is almost always a terrible deal that uses a very unfavourable exchange rate.

If you’re paying with a credit card that has no foreign transaction fees, you’ll be much better off paying the correct amount in the local currency and then having that converted into CAD/USD on your credit card bill based on the mid-market rate.

Can I use credit cards with no foreign exchange fee to buy foreign currency?

You shouldn’t. If you purchase cash from a currency broker, or use an ATM to withdraw from your credit card, those would be considered cash-like transactions. You’ll be charged a cash advance fee (usually a flat rate), and interest on the cash advance charge will begin accruing immediately (unlike regular purchases which have a grace period until your statement payment is due).

13 Comments

In part as a result of reading this article, I got a Brim card for a year of abroad travel. So far, I’ve put all appropriate travel alerts on it, called customer service upwards of six times, and have not, in two months of international travel, had this card work. As a result I’ve had to spend extra on foreign transaction fees on my other cards.

I would highly recommend you remove this card from your list as it is a terrible choice that has actually cost me money. NO ONE who travels internationally should use this card.

One item mentioned, when charge in non-USD it is converted to USD first , then to CDN. Not sure if this is true, case in point, when I paid in Dominican Peso with Scotia Passport Visa, it was converted straight to CDN. Also, as an aside, if you pay via CC in PayPal, make sure you pay in USD rather than CDN, as thier exchange rate is atrocious.

I don’t see in your review Home Trust Visa. No annual fee and no foreign exchange fee either. Do you know about them and if so why did they not make the list?

Hello, Im reading that there is an Account Set Up Fee for the Preferred Visa.

Account Set Up Fee: Up to 3% of the approved Credit Limit. This is a one-time, non-refundable fee and it will be charged on the first Account Statement. That could be a hefty amount of money.

What about pre-paid options like Wise or WealthSimple?

In the market for my first credit card specifically for travel. I would be travelling internationally once or twice a year at most. Aside from the no foreign transaction fees, I’d want to collect points for future international flights and have travel insurance. The cash back is not a priority of mine. I don’t mind paying an annual of $150 give or take. I have done alot of looking into this but still feel indecisive… Are there a couple you could recommend me based on what I’m looking for in a card? Thank you very much.

In terms of points collecting, I’d go with an Aeroplan co-branded card to an MR-branded Amex card (although Amex acceptance is lower worldwide). Unfortunately, neither of these waive foreign transaction fees, so if that’s a must, the HSBC World Elite is hard to beat, since HSBC points can also be transferred to frequent flyer partners.

Applied for Scotia bank online. WORST client experience ever. I’ve never seen anything like it. I finally received the card after months and said screw it and sent it back. Experience was a horror story and I’d suggest anyone else for a year or two until they get their act together.

“Alternatively, you may also consider US credit cards, where the lack of foreign transaction fees is much more commonplace on both premium travel credit cards and basic no-fee cards alike. You can use those US cards in Canada, or anywhere else, without additional fees.” – could you please explain how I can apply for a US card from Canada?? Don’t you need a US creditfile or am I missing something?

We have a dedicated guide here: https://princeoftravel.com/blog/getting-us-credit-cards-for-canadians/

Not sure how common this is – but if the PIN machine defaults to the card’s currency, hit “refuse” or whatever the equivalent is – and it should switch to the local currency.

Thanks for such a great review. I am wondering should I choose to pay local currency or US Currancy when credit card machine prompt for payment option during travel out of Canada?

Always choose to pay in the local currency. The US currency option is known as “dynamic currency conversion” and is almost always a terrible deal with an exchange rate that verges on being a scam. We’ll add a Frequently Asked Question about this!

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Credit Cards

Why I chose the Chase Sapphire Preferred as my first ever rewards card

Sarah Li Cain

Robin Saks Frankel

“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.

Grace Pilling

Published 6:03 a.m. UTC April 15, 2024

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I first started learning about the world of rewards credit cards from friends and bloggers and knew I wanted in. The challenge was that it took me a long time to build my credit , and I wanted to be sure I picked the right card. After some research, I landed on the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card as my first rewards credit card. Yes, there are other cards with lower (or no) annual fees, but I have squeezed a ton of value from this credit card.

Here are the reasons why I landed on the Chase Sapphire Preferred.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Welcome bonus.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Regular APR

Credit score.

Credit Score ranges are based on FICO® credit scoring. This is just one scoring method and a credit card issuer may use another method when considering your application. These are provided as guidelines only and approval is not guaranteed.

Editor’s Take

• Flexible points that can be transferred to 14 travel partners or redeemed through Chase Travel℠ at 1.25 cents each.
• $50 annual statement credit toward Chase Travel hotel bookings.
• Valuable travel protections.
• $95 annual fee.
• Category bonuses are limited and not competitive against other travel cards.
• Transfer partner list is limited compared to programs like Amex Membership ® Rewards and Citi ThankYou ® .

Card Details

• Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
• Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
• Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
• Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
• Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
• Member FDIC

1. I wanted flexible redemption options

Learning about travel rewards and how to redeem points as a beginner all those years ago felt extremely intimidating. I wanted to earn rewards that offered plenty of redemption options and where I could learn at a pace that felt accessible to me. Initially, I ignored the airline and hotel transfer partners and decided I would focus on how I would use my Ultimate Rewards® points through the Chase Travel℠ portal. 

Taking this route eased my fears about how to book flights and hotels using rewards. I was also happy that I didn’t have to feel loyal to one airline or hotel chain like I would have with a cobranded rewards card. After booking a few trips through the Chase travel site, I took the time to learn about the issuer’s travel loyalty transfer partners (there are 14 in total). But I still liked choosing which method — booking through Chase Travel or transferring points — was better for me to squeeze the most out of my points. 

Some travel rewards redemptions offer more value than others. Here’s some of the best ways to use Chase points .

2. The annual fee is accessible, even for occasional travelers

When I opened the Sapphire Preferred card, my family wasn’t traveling much. We were still settling into our new home, my husband had started a new job and I was juggling taking care of my young child with my freelance career. I aimed to earn enough rewards from the card to nab heavily discounted hotels and the occasional flight when we visited family once or twice a year.

At $95, the annual fee felt affordable to us. A pricier card with lounge access wasn’t important, because we didn’t fly enough to feel that feature would be worth it. However, the Sapphire Preferred’s $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit was, since we stop and stay overnight on our cross-country drives during the summer. 

3. I was able to earn the welcome bonus easily

My family and I mostly used credit cards to pay for bills like utilities and groceries. Looking over our expenses, we could easily spend thousands of dollars over a span of several months. The minimum spend requirement to earn the welcome bonus — 60,000 points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening — was well within our reach. Plus, I paid off my credit cards each month, meaning we didn’t pay any interest and our rewards earnings didn’t cost us extra. 

The minimum spend is higher than some rewards cards, though lower than luxury ones — my family and I were able to hit the minimum spend in a little over two months. Considering I earned $750 worth of travel if I booked through Chase Travel (which I was mostly doing in the beginning anyway), it was well worth it.

4. There are no foreign transaction fees

My mom and sister live in Canada where I grew up, so I make the annual trek with my family to visit them along with several other close friends. I knew that whatever credit card I signed up for, I wanted no foreign transaction fees when using it in another country. My last credit card did charge fees for transactions overseas, and though they may not seem like much on their own, they do add up.

This benefit alone didn’t convince me to sign up for the Sapphire Preferred but it was certainly a welcome benefit in addition to all the others. 

5. Why I keep the Sapphire Preferred even years later

The Chase Sapphire Preferred has stayed in my wallet for the last six years and I don’t plan on canceling it anytime soon. The initial signup bonus earned my family several hotel nights when we visited family and friends. In subsequent years we took advantage of the $50 annual hotel credit and other benefits, such as primary rental car insurance , to make the annual fee worth it. 

Over the years I’ve added two other Chase cards to the mix — the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card * The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. . I pool the points I earn from these two credit cards with my Sapphire Preferred because the Preferred offers a 25% points boost when booking travel through Chase. Since I have a family of three to book travel for, I want to use all the advantages I can get. 

Considering a rewards card? Here’s how to choose the right credit card for you.

*The information for the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy . The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Sarah Li Cain is a finance and small business writer currently based in Jacksonville, Florida whose articles have been published with outlets such as Fortune, CNBC Select, the Financial Planning Association and Zillow.

Robin Saks Frankel is a credit cards lead editor at USA TODAY Blueprint. Previously, she was a credit cards and personal finance deputy editor for Forbes Advisor. She has also covered credit cards and related content for other national web publications including NerdWallet, Bankrate and HerMoney. She's been featured as a personal finance expert in outlets including CNBC, Business Insider, CBS Marketplace, NASDAQ's Trade Talks and has appeared on or contributed to The New York Times, Fox News, CBS Radio, ABC Radio, NPR, International Business Times and NBC, ABC and CBS TV affiliates nationwide. She holds an M.S. in Business and Economics Journalism from Boston University. Follow her on Twitter at @robinsaks.

Grace Pilling is a deputy editor for credit cards at USA TODAY Blueprint. She believes credit cards are the ultimate choose-your-own-adventure tools of the financial world and gets excited about helping people discover the best credit card strategy for their unique goals. Prior to joining Blueprint, Grace worked on and led personal finance teams at Bankrate, CreditCards.com, MoneyUnder30 and MoneyGeek. She has a bachelor’s degree in English and writing and a diploma in editing and publishing.

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Foreign Transaction Fees by Bank

T here's no doubt that traveling abroad can be expensive. Accounting for expenses including airfare, hotel stays, meals and excursions, you'll need to budget and save for a big trip so you don't rack up debt.

In addition to these more obvious expenses, there is another potential cost of international travel you may not be aware of: foreign transaction fees. These fees can add up , so it's important to understand how they work and how to avoid them.

What Fees Can You Be Charged When Traveling Internationally?

There are a few fees you may have to pay when making purchases outside of the U.S. Collectively, they’re considered foreign transaction fees , although specific types of fees are charged in different situations. It's important to know when certain fees apply.

Foreign Transaction Fees

A foreign transaction fee is a charge that your credit card issuer or bank adds to your bill when you use your credit or debit card to make a purchase in a foreign currency. This fee is usually a percentage of the purchase amount and typically around 1% to 3%. For example, if you make a $100 purchase while traveling abroad and your foreign transaction fee is 3%, you'll pay an extra $3, which will show up as a separate line item on your bill.

Foreign transaction fees can apply to all kinds of transactions made abroad, including those at restaurants, hotels and retailers. "You may also incur this fee when making online purchases from companies that are based overseas," says Scott Lieberman, founder of personal finance website TouchdownMoney.com and extensive international traveler.

It's important to note that not all cards impose these fees. Some cards are specifically designed for international travel and don't charge foreign transaction fees.

Dynamic Currency Conversion Fees

Your credit card or debit card issuer, payment network or ATM network may charge this fee for converting one currency to another . It isn't the same as a foreign transaction fee, but your card issuer or bank may roll the dynamic currency conversion fee into the total foreign transaction fee. Typically, a DCC fee is around 1% of the transaction amount.

You have a choice when it comes to paying a DCC fee. Merchants usually aren't allowed to perform a currency conversion without your consent. For example, say you're shopping in London and want to buy a gift for 125 euros, but you aren't sure what that would cost you in U.S. dollars. The merchant may offer to perform a DCC and allow you to pay in your home currency, but you can decline this service and pay in euros to avoid the fee. Depending on your payment method, however, you may still have to pay the foreign transaction fee.

International ATM Fees

There are a few fees to be aware of when withdrawing money from an ATM abroad. You might have to pay a DCC fee to convert the transaction from your home currency to the local currency (or the ATM operator may give you a bad conversion rate). Your bank may charge a foreign transaction fee, even if you're using an in-network ATM. If you're using an ATM that is outside of your bank's network, you may pay an additional out-of-network ATM fee. Finally, the ATM operator could charge you a fee for using its machine.

Banks With No Foreign Transaction Debit Card or ATM Fees

Many credit card issuers offer cards with no foreign transaction fees. Debit cards with no foreign transaction fees are less common, but they do exist.

Foreign Transaction Fees by Bank 

If you're planning to travel internationally, it's a good idea to review your debit cards and determine what types of fees you may incur on foreign transactions.

The following is a look at debit card and ATM foreign transaction fees for many of the largest banks in the country.

The Right Way to Use Your Debit Card Abroad

Lieberman advises against using a debit card for purchases when traveling outside of the U.S. "Try to use cash or a credit card," he says. "Credit cards offer more consumer protections than debit cards."

Even so, there may be instances when you can't avoid using your debit card. In those cases, consider these tips to save money on fees.

• Use a bank that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. Ideally, you have a checking account that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees or it reimburses you for them. If not and you have a big trip coming up, it may be worth opening a new account.
• Use a Global ATM Alliance bank. Some banks, including Barclays, Scotiabank and Bank of America, are part of the Global ATM Alliance, which allows customers to use ATMs of other alliance banks throughout the world without paying out-of-network fees.
• Withdraw larger amounts less frequently. If your bank charges a flat fee to use a foreign ATM, consider withdrawing larger amounts of money less frequently rather than making multiple smaller withdrawals.
• Decline currency conversions: When making purchases with your debit card or withdrawing from an ATM abroad, you may be asked if you want the transaction to be converted into your home currency. It's typically best to decline, as the exchange rate provided by your bank will usually be better.

Austin Cole contributed to the reporting for this article.

Copyright 2024 U.S. News & World Report

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Are you looking to take your credit game to the next level? High-limit credit cards can be a powerful tool for earning rewards and building credit. But, it’s essential to understand how to qualify for and use them responsibly. 

Here are our picks for the best high-limit credit cards, including the inside scoop on how to make the most of them.

Top credit cards with high credit limits

Chase sapphire reserve® : best for travel rewards , american express® gold card : best for no set limit, chase freedom unlimited® : best for gas and groceries .

• Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Credit Card: Best for everyday purchases

Discover it® Cash Back: Best for rotating cash back

Capital one quicksilver cash rewards credit card : best for everyday cash back .

• Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards Card: Best for low interest and fees

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is a top choice if you’re a frequent traveler. You’ll earn elevated rewards on travel booked via the Chase travel portal and travel and dining purchases. 

Rewards:  

• 10X points on hotel stays, car rentals, and Chase Dining purchases booked through Chase
• 10X points Lyft purchases (through Mar. 31, 2025)
• 5X points on air travel booked through Chase (after earning your $300 travel credit)
• 3X points on restaurant and general travel purchases (after earning your $300 travel credit)
• 1X points on all other purchases

Annual fee: $550 

Credit limit : Starts at $10,000

One of the key features of the Sapphire Reserve is its $300 annual travel credit, which is automatically applied to any travel-related purchases. This effectively reduces the card’s $550 annual fee to $250, making it more affordable for frequent travelers. 

Other perks include complimentary Priority Pass Select membership for airport lounge access, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit, and extensive travel insurance.

The Sapphire Reserve’s credit limit is determined on a case-by-case basis, but most approved applicants report receiving limits of $10,000 or higher. 

The American Express Gold Card has no pre-set spending limit, which means the spending limit is flexible. Unlike a traditional card with a set limit, the amount you can spend adapts based on factors such as your purchase, payment, and credit history. Your purchasing power adjusts over time based on payment history and creditworthiness.

• 4X points at restaurants (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) and Uber Eats
• 4X points on U.S. supermarket purchases (on up to $25,000 in supermarket purchases per year, then 1X points)
• 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or via American Express Travel 

Annual fee : $250. See rates and fees . 

Credit limit : No preset credit limit

Other perks of the Gold Card include up to $120 in annual dining credits, up to $120 in annual Uber Cash, and no foreign transaction fees. The card has a $250 annual fee, which the credits and rewards can offset if you use them regularly. See rates and fees. 

The main drawback of the Gold Card is that it requires you to pay your balance in full each month, which may not be feasible for everyone. 

If you have the financial discipline to do so and can take advantage of the card’s rewards, the Amex Gold Card can be a valuable addition to your wallet.

The Chase Freedom Unlimited card offers elevated cash back on dining and drugstore purchases. But the real standout feature is the boosted cash back in the first year — up to $300 in total cash back.

This makes this an excellent choice for those who spend a lot on gas and groceries. After the first year, you’ll still earn 3% on dining and drugstore purchases and 1.5% on everything else — a solid flat-rate rewards structure.

• 5% cash back on Lyft purchases (through March 2025)
• 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel
• 3% cash back on dining at restaurants and on drugstore purchases
• 1.5% cash back on all other purchases

Annual fee : $0

Credit limit : Starts at $500

The Freedom Unlimited also has no annual fee. The card’s credit limit is determined based on your creditworthiness, but many approved applicants report receiving limits of $1,000 or higher.

Bank of America® Premium Rewards® credit card: Best for everyday purchases

The Bank of America Premium Rewards card is a solid choice for those who want to earn rewards on everyday purchases.

• Unlimited 2X points on travel and dining purchases
• Unlimited 1.5X points on all other purchases

Annual fee : $95

Credit limit : Starts at $1,500 

This card also offers a $100 annual airline incidental credit for expenses like baggage fees, seat upgrades, and in-flight purchases. You’ll also receive up to $100 in Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credits every four years. 

The card’s credit limit is determined based on your creditworthiness, but many applicants report receiving $5,000 or higher limits. Plus, if you’re a Bank of America Preferred Rewards member, you can earn even more rewards on your purchases, making this card an excellent choice for loyal customers.

The Discover It Cash Back card offers a unique twist on cash back rewards. Each quarter, you’ll earn 5% cash back on rotating categories (up to a limit). In 2024, categories include drug stores, restaurants, gas stations, public transit, and more.

The main drawback is that you’ll need to activate the 5% bonus categories each quarter to earn the higher rate, which can be a hassle.

• 5% cash back after activation on rotating categories each quarter (up to $1,500, then 1%)
• 1% for all other purchases

One of the standout features of the Discover It Cash Back card is its Cashback Match program. At the end of your first year, Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned, doubling your rewards. This means if you earned $500 in cash back during your first year, Discover will match that for a total of $1,000 in cash back.

The card’s credit limit is determined based on your creditworthiness, but many approved applicants report receiving limits of $1,000 or higher. 

The Capital One Quicksilver is a great option if you’re looking for a straightforward cash back. You’ll earn an unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no annual or foreign transaction fees. This makes it an ideal choice for those who want to earn rewards without keeping track of bonus categories or spending limits.

Rewards: 

• 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 1.5% cash back on all purchases 

Credit limit : Starts at $750

The Quicksilver Cash Rewards card also offers a $200 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first three months — a solid bonus considering the low spending requirement. 

The card’s credit limit is determined based on your creditworthiness, but many approved applicants report receiving limits of $1,000 or higher.

While the Quicksilver card lacks the perks of other high-limit cards, its simplicity makes it a solid way to earn cash back without hassle.

Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature® Flagship Rewards card: Best for low interest and fees

The Navy Federal Credit Union Visa Signature Flagship Rewards Card has lower rates and fees than most cards. It has no balance transfer fees, foreign transfer fees, or cash advance fees. You’ll also get a $100 annual air travel credit for expenses like baggage fees, seat upgrades, and in-flight purchases.

• 3X points on travel spending
• 2X points on all other purchases

Annual fee : $49

Credit limit : Starts at $5,000

Other perks of this card include no foreign transaction fees, emergency assistance services, and a 24/7 concierge service.

The card’s credit limit is determined based on your creditworthiness, but many approved applicants report receiving limits as high as $15,000. 

This card requires Navy Federal Credit Union membership, which is limited to active duty and retired military members, their families, and certain civilian employees of the Department of Defense. But, if you qualify for membership, the Flagship Rewards card can be an excellent choice for earning travel rewards with low rates and fees.

What is a high-limit credit card? 

Generally, a high-limit card offers a credit limit of $5,000 or more. These cards are often reserved for those with good to excellent credit scores and a solid income.

The most obvious benefit of a credit card with a sky-high limit is that you can borrow more money. A high credit limit can help keep your credit utilization low, which is a key factor in determining your credit score. It can provide more flexibility and purchasing power for larger expenses or emergencies.

As your balance grows, seeking a higher credit limit makes sense. You won’t have to worry about maxing out or paying extra fees for exceeding the limit.

“One of the best strategies is building strong and lasting relationships with the banks,” says Amanda Webster, chief operating officer of Fund&Grow. “The longer you show positive habits, such as paying on time, paying more than the minimum, and keeping your utilization low, the more that bank will trust you as a borrower.”

How to qualify for a high-limit credit card 

How do you get your hands on a high-limit card? Here are a few tips:

• Build your credit score: High-limit cards are typically reserved for those with good to excellent credit. Focus on paying your bills on time, keeping your credit utilization low, and avoiding new credit inquiries to boost your score .
• Increase your income: Lenders want to see that you have the means to pay back what you borrow. Increasing your income through a raise, side hustle, or job change can improve your chances of qualifying for a high-limit card.
• Be selective: Applying for too many credit cards in a short period can be a red flag for lenders. Be selective and only apply for cards you have a good chance of being approved.

How to use a high-limit credit card smartly 

While high-limit credit cards can offer valuable rewards, using them responsibly is crucial to avoid falling into debt.

• Pay your balance in full each month: High-limit cards often come with high interest rates, so paying your balance in full each month is best to avoid accruing interest charges.
• Keep your credit utilization low: Keeping your credit utilization (the amount of credit you use compared to your total credit limit) low is key to maintaining a good credit score. Aim to keep your utilization below 30%.
• Don’t overspend: Just because you have a high credit limit doesn’t mean you should max out your card. Stick to your budget and only spend what you can afford to pay back.
• Take advantage of rewards and perks: To get the most value out of your high-limit card, ensure you take advantage of all the rewards and perks it offers . This could include using your card for travel purchases to earn bonus points or taking advantage of annual credits and discounts.

Bottom line

High-limit credit cards can be a valuable tool for earning rewards and building credit, but using them responsibly is essential. 

Remember to pay your balance in full each month, keep your credit utilization low, and don’t overspend — and you’ll be well on your way to becoming a high-limit card pro.

Opinions expressed are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.

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Best Cash Back Credit Cards With No Annual Fee In Canada For April 2024

Updated: Apr 10, 2024, 9:28am

Cash-back credit cards make tapping your plastic even more tempting, since they turn some of your everyday purchases into cash rewards. They do so by allowing cardholders to earn back a percentage of their eligible credit card spending, either as a deposit into their bank account or as a statement credit.

That all sounds well and good, but some of the best cash-back credit cards have a major catch: They come with an annual fee that ends up eating into your rewards. And while some of these earn enough cash back that they cancel out said fee, spending enough to cover (or even surpass) the fee can be a big commitment—especially if you’re not sure how much you’ll spend each year on the card in question.

If thinking about such a prospect gives you anxiety, there are cash-back cards that have no annual fee —meaning their rewards don’t come with a yearly cost, so it’s pure reward. These cards can be a way to earn cash back without any kind of barrier hindering your earning potential. Here are the best cash back credit cards with no annual fee in Canada.

Featured Partners

Best Cash Back Credit Cards With No Annual Fee in Canada for April 2024

Rogers red world elite® mastercard®, simplycash card from american express, cibc costco mastercard, triangle world elite mastercard, neo standard mastercard, tangerine money-back credit card, tangerine world mastercard, rbc cash back mastercard, simplii financial cash back visa, bmo cashback mastercard, here’s a summary of best cash back credit cards with no annual fee in canada for april 2024, methodology, what is cash back on a credit card, how to choose a no annual fee cash back credit card, how to apply for a cash back credit card with no annual fee, frequently asked questions (faqs).

• Best Credit Cards
• Best Travel Credit Cards
• Best Airport Lounge Access Credit Cards
• Best Cash Back Credit Cards
• Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
• Best Aeroplan Credit Cards
• Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards
• Best Balance Transfer Credit cards

TD® Aeroplan® Visa Infinite Privilege* Card

On TD’s Website

Welcome Bonus

Up to 85,000 Aeroplan points†

Regular APR (Purchases) / Regular APR (Cash Advances)

20.99% / 22.99%

American Express Cobalt® Card

On American Express’s Secure Website

Up to 15,000 Membership Rewards points

$155.88 ($12.99 per month)

Regular APR

MBNA True Line Mastercard

On MBNA’s Website

0% interest for 12 months on balance transfers within 90 days of account opening, with a 3% transfer fee

12.99%-19.99%

Best For U.S. Dollar Purchases

Regular APR (Purchases)

Not only do you get flat-rate cash back on all purchases, a great 3% cash back rate on all purchases made in U.S. dollars, airport lounge access and five types of insurance, you get all that for no annual fee.

• No annual fee
• Earn 2% cash back on all purchases if you have one qualifying service with Rogers, Fido or Shaw
• Earn 1.5% cash back if you do not have a qualifying service with Rogers, Fido or Shaw
• Earn 3% cash back on U.S. dollar purchases
• Complimentary membership to Mastercard Travel Pass provided by Dragon Pass
• Includes some travel insurance coverage
• High income requirements to qualify
• The highest cash-back rate is for U.S. purchases only
• Airport lounge visits cost $32 USD per person, per visit, on top of the complimentary lounge access membership
• 2% unlimited cash back (exclusively for eligible Rogers, Fido or Shaw customers); otherwise, earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on non-U.S. dollar purchases
• 3% unlimited cash back on U.S. dollar purchases
• 5 Roam Like Home days at no cost with an eligible Rogers mobile plan (up to $75 value)
• 50% more cash back every time you redeem for Rogers, Fido or Shaw purchases
• Annual income requirements of $80,000 personal and $150,000 household
• Complimentary membership to Mastercard Travel Pass provided by DragonPass with access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide at a cost of $32 USD per person, per visit
• Included insurance benefits: Extended Warranty and Purchase Protection, Rental Car Collision/Damage, Out-of-Province/Out-of-Country Emergency Medical, Trip Interruption and Trip Cancellation

best for groceries and gas

Up to $100 in statement credits

This card offers a 2% rate on the two areas hardest hit by inflation in Canada: groceries and gas. The icing on the cake is that it comes with no annual fee, a slightly above average 1.25% base rate and even has some other perks like a little travel insurance.

Learn more: Read our SimplyCash Card from American Express Review

• 2% cash back on groceries and gas
• Includes consumer insurance and some travel insurance
• American Express is not accepted at some retailers
• In your first 10 months as a new SimplyCash® Card from American Express Cardmember, you can earn a $10 statement credit for each monthly billing period in which you spend $300 in purchases on your Card. This could add up to $100 in statement credits in the first 10 months
• Earn accelerated earn rates on eligible gas and grocery purchases
• Earn 2% cash back on eligible gas purchases in Canada, 2% cash back on eligible grocery purchases in Canada (up to $300 cash back annually)
• Earn 1.25% cash back on all other eligible purchases
• Access events and special offers curated for Cardmembers with American Express® Experiences
• Insurance coverage and 24/7 Customer Service
• American Express is not responsible for maintaining or monitoring the accuracy of information on this website. For full details and current product information click the Apply now link. Conditions apply

best for restaurants and costco

$0 (requires a Costco membership)

If you’re a Costco member, this card racks up cash back as your stock up on winter essentials. With no annual fee (aside from your Costco membership, of course) there’s no commitment and you can reap oversized rewards at this major retailer.

Learn more: Read our CIBC Costco Mastercard Review

• Earns 3% cash back on restaurants and at Costco Gas
• Includes mobile device insurance, purchase security and an extended warranty
• No welcome bonus
• Only offers 1% cash back at Costco (the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card earns 2%, for instance)
• Earns 3% cash back at restaurants and at Costco Gas
• Earns 2% at other gas stations and on Costco.ca
• Earns 1% cash back on all other purchases (including at Costco brick and mortar stores)
• Your rewards could add up to $367.62 a year in rewards value (or $422.58 with Costco purchases), according to Forbes Advisors calculations based on average spending among Canadians
• Comes with valuable mobile device insurance
• Includes purchase security and extended warranty insurance

Best For Roadside Assistance

This card has no annual fee, yet it earns Canadian Tire Money on your spending and offers a Gold Roadside Assistance plan with up to 250 km towing distance in Canada or the U.S, as well as emergency fuel delivery, battery boosts, accident assistance, flat tire changing and lock-out service.

• High cash back rewards at Canadian Tire
• Built-in car rental insurance
• Complimentary roadside assistance
• Only grants cash-back rewards from specific store chains
• Only gives digital Canadian Tire Money as cash-back rewards
• Gives 4% back in Canadian Tire Money on qualifying pre-tax purchases at Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark’s/L’Équipeur, Atmosphere, Party City, Sports Rousseau, Hockey Experts, L’Entrepôt du Hockey, and participating Sports Experts stores
• Gives 3% Canadian Tire money on groceries up to $12,000 per year (does not include Walmart or Costco)
• Gives 0.5% per litre in Canadian Tire money at gas stations and on all other purchases
• Forbes Advisor estimates $327.64 in annual rewards value based on average Canadian spending
• Car rental collision/loss damage waiver insurance
• Extended warranty protection and return protection
• Roadside assistance with up to 250 km towing distance in Canada or the U.S.
• Requires a minimum annual income of $80,000, or $150,000 in household income

best for retail shopping

Welcome bonus

Up to 15% cash back on the first purchase at a Neo retailer

This card’s earn rate and flexibility are impressive, as are its lack of any annual fee and its welcome bonus offer.

Learn more:  Read our Neo Standard Mastercard Review

• Average of 5% unlimited cash back at Neo partners
• The welcome bonus and cash back only applies to Neo partners
• Does not include travel insurance or other perks
• Welcome bonus of up to 15% cash back on your first purchase at a Neo retail partner. The exact amount depends on what the partner is willing to offer
• Average of 5% instant and unlimited cash back at over 10,000 Neo partners
• Forbes Advisor estimates $577.22 in annual cash back based on average Canadian spending

best for customizable cash back

10% cash back ($100 value)

This card is unique in that it allows you to customize where you earn the most cash back. Users can choose two of 10 spending categories that will earn 2% cash back (without limits) and get 0.5% on everything else. If you opt to deposit your cash-back rewards into a Tangerine Savings Account, you get to add a third category that earns 2% cash back as well.

That said, it is a bit sparing when it comes to other perks, but if you meet the income requirements for its high-end counterparts, the Tangerine Money-Back World Mastercard, you can get a few more frills, like travel perks, rental car collision loss/damage insurance and mobile device insurance.

Learn more:  Read our Tangerine Money-Back Card Review

• Welcome bonus of 10% cash back on up to $1,000 in purchases in your first two months ($100 value) when you apply by April 30, 2024
• Earns 2% back in two spending categories of your choosing
• Get 2% cash back in a third category when you deposit your savings into a Tangerine Savings Account
• Cash back is unlimited and paid monthly
• Includes extended warranty and purchase protection
• No additional perks, aside from extended warranty and purchase protection
• Welcome bonus of 10% cash back on up to $1,000 in purchases in your first two months ($100 value) when you apply by January 31, 2024
• 2% cash back in two spending categories of your choice, including grocery, furniture, restaurants, hotel or motel stays, gas, recurring bill payments, drug store, home improvement, entertainment, public transportation and parking
• Earn 2% cash back in a third category of your choice when you opt to deposit cash-back rewards into a Tangerine Savings Account
• 0.5% cash back on all other spending with no limit
• Forbes Advisor estimates based on average Canadian spending that you can earn $302.69 in cash back per year by using this card
• Balance transfers made in your first 30 days get a 1.95% interest rate on the transferred balance for six months

best for travel perks

The Tangerine World Mastercard is similar to the Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card in that cardholders can choose two of 10 spending categories that will earn 2% cash back (without limits) and get 0.5% on everything else. They can also add a third category if they deposit cash back into a Tangerine Savings Account. The only real difference is that the World Mastercard gets you a few more frills, like travel perks, rental car collision loss/damage insurance and mobile device insurance.

• A customizable rewards program
• No annual spending cap for any categories
• Minimum income requirements
• Mediocre rewards for most purchases
• The welcome bonus offers an extra 10% cash back on up to $1,000 in purchases made within the first two months of owning the card when you apply by April 30, 2024.
• Earn 2% cash back in two spending categories of your choice, including groceries, furniture, restaurants, hotels, gas, recurring bill payments, drug stores, home improvement, entertainment, public transportation and parking
• If you deposit your rewards into a Tangerine Bank savings account, you get a third 2% cash-back spending category
• All other spending categories earn 0.5% cash back
• The card carries an estimated annual net earnings of $302.69 per year based on average Canadian spending
• The card requires an annual minimum income of $60,000 personal, $100,000 in household income or $250,000 or more in Tangerine Bank Savings Accounts or Investment Fund Accounts
• A balance transfer rate of 1.95% for six months
• Credit card balance protection
• Rental car insurance
• Cell phone insurance
• Airport lounge access provided by DragonPass
• Checked baggage insurance

best for groceries

This low-maintenance cash back card earns 2% on groceries and 1% on everything else, with no annual fee.

• Unlimited 1% cash back
• Cash-back rewards only apply to every $100 purchase
• $6,000 cap on 2% earn rate
• 2% cash back for every $100 grocery store purchase (up to $6,000)
• 5% cash back for every $100 on qualifying purchases, up to $6,000 (1% cash back applies after)
• Forbes Advisor estimates a rewards value of $338.51 in annual earnings, based on average Canadian spending, with the annual fee factored in

best for restaurants, bars and coffee shops

Up to 20% cash back† ($100 value)

Interest Rate (Purchases) / Interest Rate (Cash Advances)

20.99% / 22.99%‡

This card gives you great cash back at bars and restaurants with no annual fee.

Learn more:  Read our  Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Review

• 4% cash back at bars and restaurants
• $15,000 in minimum household annual income
• A low selection of insurance options
• Low base rate cash back
• Get 20% cashback in your first 3 months on eligible gas, groceries, drugstore purchases and pre-authorized payments (up to $500 spend)†
• Get a 20.99% interest rate on purchases‡
• Get a 22.99% interest rate on cash advances ‡
• Earn 4% cash back at bars, coffee shops and restaurants up to $5,000 annually, after that 0.5% unlimited†
• Earn 1.5% on eligible gas, groceries, and drugstore purchases, as well as pre-authorized payments up to $15,000 per year, after that 0.5% unlimited†
• Earn 0.5% on all other purchases†
• Purchase security and extended protection insurance are included†
• †Terms and conditions apply. Click ‘Apply Now’ for complete details. This offer is not available for residents of Quebec.”
• ‡ “Purchase” means any Transaction other than a Cash Advance, Balance Transfer or Convenience Cheque. “Cash” means a Cash Advance, Balance Transfer and Convenience Cheque. Interest rates may change from time to time.

best for balance transfers

5% cash back

A basic no-fee cash back card that offers high returns on groceries and has a competitive welcome bonus and balance transfer offer. It even offers discounts on Cirque du Soleil shows.

• Balance transfer offer of 0.99% for 9 months with a 2% transfer fee
• Flexible redemption options
• No minimum income requirement
• Low spending caps
• 0.5% base earn rate
• Welcome offers of 5% cash back on $2,500 in total purchases for three months and 0.99% interest on balance transfers with a 2% fee for nine months
• 3% cash back at eligible grocery stores (up to $500 monthly)
• 1% cash back on recurring bills (up to $500 monthly)
• 0.5% cash back on every other purchase
• Forbes Advisor estimates a rewards value of $289.24 in annual earnings based on average Canadian spending, with the annual fee factored in
• 15% off Cirque du Soleil shows in Canada and 20% off shows in Las Vegas
• Up to 25% off rentals at National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car participating locations

When determining a rating for individual credit cards, the Forbes Advisor Canada editorial team factors in an exhaustive list of data points. With no-annual-fee cash back, the scoring model used takes into account factors such as, but not limited to, cash-back rates and categories, fees, welcome bonuses, and other rewards and features. Keep in mind, what may be best for some people might not be right for you. Conduct informed research before deciding which cards will best help you achieve your financial goals.

It offers 3% for purchases made in American dollars.

Rewards: Earn unlimited 2% cash back (exclusively for eligible Rogers, Fido or Shaw customers) on non-U.S. dollar purchases, otherwise earn 1.5% unlimited cash back. Earn unlimited 3% cash back on U.S. dollar purchases.

Welcome Offer: N/A

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: With this card, you get access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide, extended warranty and purchase protection on select items, rental car collision/damage insurance, out-of-province/country emergency medical care and trip Interruption and cancellation insurance. A drawback: To qualify, your annual personal income must be over $80,000, or your household income over $150,000.

———————————————————————————-

This American Express card is the only Canadian card offering 1.25% cash back on everything—and 2% on groceries and gas, up to a limit of $300 per year.

Rewards: Get 2% cash back on gas and groceries up to $300 cash back annually, and 1.25% cash back for everything else with no limit.

Welcome Offer: In your first 10 months with the card, you can earn a $10 statement credit for each monthly billing period when you spend $300 on your card, which could add up to a total of $100.

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: The card’s benefits include $100,000 travel accident insurance, automatic extended warranty on select purchases made with the card, 24/7 customer service, a fraud protection guarantee and emergency card replacement. One drawback is that American Express still isn’t as widely accepted as Visa and Mastercard .

Related: SimplyCash Card from American Express Review

This card earns you 3% cash back at restaurants and Costco gas stations, 2% at other gas stations and when you shop at Costco.ca and 1% everywhere else.

Rewards: Earn 3% cash back when you dine out at selected restaurants and fill-up at Costco gas stations on the first $5,000 net annual card purchases. You’ll earn 2% at other gas stations and Costco.ca until you hit $8,000 in purchases when it will revert back to the base rate of 1% on all other purchases.

Welcome Offer: None.

Annual Fee:  $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card offers up to $1,000 in repair or replacement coverage for your phone for up to two years, as well as purchase security and extended warranty insurance for some new items purchased with your card.

Related: CIBC Costco Mastercard Review

This card gives you 4% back in Canadian Tire (CT) Money on select items at a range of retailers beyond CT, five to seven cents  per  litre in CT Money on fuel, and 3% back in CT Money when you buy groceries.

Rewards: Earn 4% cash back in CT Money on select items at retailers including Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, Mark’s and Party City. Also, earn five to seven cents when you pump gas, 3% at grocery stores on the first $12,000 you spend per year (excluding Costco and Walmart) and 1% in CT Money everywhere else.

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: With this card, you get roadside assistance , purchase security, extended warranty and rental car insurance . But the cash-back earnings are in CT Money, making this only a card for those who frequent the home improvement store.

This card earns you up to 15% cash back on the first purchase from a Neo retail partner, then an average of 5% cash back at Neo partner locations.

Rewards: Collect an average of 5% cash back when shopping at Neo partner locations and an extra 0.5% cash back when you meet a minimum spending requirement (until you reach $50 in earnings).

Welcome Offer: Earn up to 15% cash back on the first purchase from a Neo retail partner.

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: With this card, you can choose one or multiple rewards packages for boosted cash back and app subscriptions, but it doesn’t come with any basic insurance or other benefits.

Related: Neo Standard Mastercard Review

This card offers unlimited 2% cash back in two or three purchase categories of your choice and 0.50% cash back on all eligible everyday purchases.

Rewards: Get unlimited 2% cash back in up to three categories of your choice (like groceries , gas and entertainment) and 0.50% cash back on all everyday purchases. Plus, get extra rewards when your earnings are deposited into your Tangerine Savings Account.

Welcome Offer: Receive an extra 10% cash back on up to $1,000 worth of everyday purchases made in the first two months of owning the card.

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: While this card is unique, in that it allows you to choose your cash back categories, it does not offer any additional perks like travel insurance .

Related: Tangerine Money-Back Card Review

Like the above card, this one offers unlimited 2% cash back in two or three categories of your choice and 0.50% cash back on all everyday purchases with a few Mastercard network benefits thrown in.

Rewards: Get unlimited 2% cash back in up to three categories of your choice (like groceries, gas and entertainment) and 0.50% cash back on eligible everyday purchases. Plus, get extra rewards when your cash-back earnings are deposited into your Tangerine Savings Account.

Welcome Offer: Be rewarded with an extra 10% cash back on up to $1,000 worth of everyday purchases made in the first two months of owning the card.

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Unlike Tangerine’s Money-Back Card, this one offers rewards when travelling outside Canada, access to select airport lounges for a fee and special offers for on-demand and subscription services. However, to apply, your annual personal income must be $80,000 or $150,000 per household.

Collect up to 2% cash back on groceries and unlimited 1% cash back on everything else.

Rewards: Earn 2% cash back on every $100 you spend at grocery stores, up to a maximum reward of $120 per year or $6.000 in annual spend. After that spend threshold is crossed, get 1% cash back per $100 spent on in-store grocery purchases with no spending limit. Also earn an unlimited 0.5% cash back on all purchases other than those at the grocery store, including recurring bill payments, until a maximum of $6,000 net purchases is made for a maximum reward of $30 per year., After the $6,000 limit is reached on all purchases outside of groceries, earn an unlimited 1% on all non-grocery purchases after that.

Welcome Offer: None

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Get  purchase security, extended warranty protection and special discounts and offers at Petro-Canada, Rexall and DoorDash for no annual fee. However, the low earn rates on this card and restrictive $6,000 spending limits on those rates ensure you won’t be earning a lucrative cash back return with this card.

This card earns a whopping 4% cash back at restaurants, bars and cafes—making it a great card for any foodie to have in their wallet.

Rewards: Earn 1.5% cash back on eligible gas, groceries, drugstore purchases and pre-authorized payments for an annual cash-back earnings maximum of $150.

Welcome Offer: Be rewarded with 20% cash back on eligible gas, groceries and drugstore purchases and any pre-authorized payments, during your first three months, up to a $500 spend ($100 value).

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Get purchase security and extended protection insurance with this card, but you can only cash in cash back at the end of the year, when it’s automatically applied to your December statement.

Related: Simplii Financial Cash Back Visa Review

The BMO CashBack Mastercard is an ideal choice for individuals that spend less than $500 on groceries and recurring bills every month.

Rewards: 3% cash back on groceries, 1% on monthly bills and 0.5% on other eligible purchases.

Welcome Offer: 5% cash back for the first three months and 0.99% interest on balance transfers for the first nine months.

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card offers a pretty high earn rate on groceries—a major spending category. It also has a competitive balance transfer offer. That said, it has low spending caps and has little to offer in the way of other perks.

Some credit cards offer cash-back rewards, meaning cardholders can receive a small percentage of their purchases back in cash. For instance, if your card offers 4% cash back on groceries, and you spend $100 at the grocery store, you’d receive $4 in cash back. The cards act as a way to help you to “save” a little on everyday spending, while helping to pay off your credit card bill or fund your bank account (depending on how you redeem it).

Typically, cardholders can redeem their cash back earnings for a cash deposit in their bank account or a credit towards their monthly bill.In some instances, you can only redeem cash back once per year and it’s applied to your credit card statement automatically. Often, if you redeem as you go, you’ll have to earn a certain amount of cash back to redeem (like a $25 minimum) but some cash-back cards allow you to redeem smaller amounts.

Typically, cash back credit cards have a base earn rate—usually 0.5% to 1%—that applies across all eligible purchases.Often, they’ll allow you to earn more cash back—typically 1% to 4—in select purchase categories, like gas, groceries, restaurants or recurring bills. Some cards have a cap on how much of your spending is eligible. For example, you may get 2% cash back on gas transactions when you spend $500 or less filling up your tank each month, but after that, you’ll only earn the 1% base rate on gas purchases.

How Does Cash Back on a Credit Card Work?

Every time you use your cash back credit card, you earn back a percentage of your spending in cash, which accumulates in your cardholder account. You can typically see how much you’ve accumulated on your online bank account or mobile banking app. Some purchases you make will earn you a higher percentage of cash back rewards than others, depending on the card you have. It’s worth noting that your card may require you to accumulate a minimum amount of cash back before cashing in on the rewards. Once eligible to collect, you can get your rewards deposited into your bank account or credited towards your next monthly bill. You may also be able to get the cash back on a gift card.

What Does No Annual Fee on a Cash Back Credit Card Mean?

Some credit cards charge you an annual fee, which could be as low as $25 or over $500. With a no-annual-fee cash-back card, that fee doesn’t exist—but there may be other fees to consider. Foreign transaction fees, interest charges, balance transfer fees, and cash advance fees are all common with credit cards. Read your card agreement carefully to learn the details about fees so you can avoid those fees when possible.

Why Do Some Cash Back Credit Cards Have an Annual Fee?

Cash back credit cards that have an annual fee typically offer higher rewards rates, more attractive welcome bonuses , and/or other perks. Before selecting a card with an annual fee, carefully evaluate if its extra benefits justify the additional cost. If they don’t, there are many cash-back credit cards that don’t come with an annual fee that also offer fair rewards and perks.

Not every cash-back credit card with no annual fee is perfect for everyone. Since each card offers different perks based on purchasing habits, you’ll need to consider your lifestyle and find the credit card that best compliments it.

Forbes Advisor simply highlights the key facts about each credit card to make it easier for you to compare them and find the best one for you. It’s up to you to do the math and consider which one makes the most sense based on your spending history and plans. Here’s what you should consider:

• Fees: Do you often do balance transfers? Make purchases outside of Canada? You may want to consider a card with low balance transfer and FX fees .
• Annual percentage rate (APR): Will you be paying off your credit card in full every month? Credit card interest rates are often higher than other loans. The best card for you may be one with a low interest introductory APR offer.
• Earn rate: Do you drive a lot? Like to dine out? Consider yourself a frequent flyer? Choose a card that’ll give you the greatest percentage back in those areas.
• Bonus categories: If a card offers 5% on rotating categories (meaning you can swap out the categories from which you get a large percentage of cash back) but you don’t want to keep track of them, it’s probably not the card for you.
• Redemption and rewards: Is it easy to redeem your cash back? Is there a minimum or maximum redemption amount? Make sure you can get your rewards in the way that is ideal for you.
• Other perks: Does the card offer other perks you could benefit from? Some offer rental car insurance, built-in travel insurance, extended warranties and more that could help save you money.

Once you’ve read through all of the card details, found out how much you spend in different categories, and considered the bonus features that could be beneficial to you, you’re better equipped to make a well-informed decision.

Applying for a cash-back credit card with no annual fee is the same as applying for any other credit card. Once you find one that is right for you and you’re eligible for (meaning, your credit score and income requirements align), you can visit a bank to apply in-person or sign up by yourself online. No matter the option you choose, you’ll be asked to provide personal information, including your Social Insurance Number and financial details. Once finished, you could get approved instantly or you may have to wait for your application to be reviewed manually. Once approved, you’ll receive your card in a few days or weeks.

What are the benefits of a no annual fee cash back credit card?

The benefits of a no annual fee cash-back credit card depend on the card. Common benefits include:

• The ability to earn cash back with no annual fee
• Consumer protections like purchase protection and extended warranties
• Travel protections such as rental car insurance

Before choosing the right no annual fee cash back credit card for you, consider your lifestyle, spending habits and compare the offerings of all cards, including the earning rates, fees and other benefits.

How do I choose the best no annual fee cash back credit card for me?

To choose the best cash-back card with no annual fee, take a look at where you spend your money most—groceries, gas, entertainment, etc.—and find a card that offers the greatest cash back for those categories. Also take into account the extra benefits the card offers (such as rental car insurance) to discover if they could be of use for you, as well as its fees (like low FX fees) to decide if they could be an extra perk for your lifestyle.

How do I redeem my cash back rewards?

How you redeem your cash-back rewards will depend on the card you have. Each card has different rules that will dictate how you can use and manage your cash backs. For example, some cards have a minimum redemption amount, meaning you’ll have to wait until you accumulate a certain amount of points before you can retrieve your points, which again, will depend on the card. You can have the cash back deposited into your bank account and/or credited to your monthly bill. Sometimes, you can get them back on a gift card.

What are the drawbacks of a no annual fee cash back credit card?

By choosing a no-annual-fee cash-back credit card, you could miss out on larger amounts of cash back in the long run. That’s because credit cards that charge an annual fee have higher rates and more benefits. To determine if a card with an annual fee makes sense for you, estimate how much cash back you could earn—if it’s higher than the annual fee, it may be the right option.

But remember: Most cash-back cards charge high APRs—so if you don’t think you’ll pay off your card each month in full, you’ll pay a hefty sum in interest. In that case, a credit card or loan with a lower interest rate may be a better option.

How can I improve my chances of getting approved for a no annual fee cash back credit card?

If you want to improve your chances of getting approved for a no-annual-fee cash-back credit card, first check your credit score and report so you know where you stand. If you have a poor credit score, you may not get approved for the card you’re interested in. In that case, work on paying down existing debt to prove you’ll be able to pay off your card balance. You can also find out if you prequalify for a card, which means your credit score and financial profile matches its eligibility criteria.

Renée Reardin is a writer and editor with over a decade of experience in the lifestyle and wellness spaces. She's the former senior digital editor at Best Health magazine and Canadian Living magazine, where she handled content that covered everything from food and fitness to fashion and finance. She currently freelances for publications like Allure, Glossy, InStyle, The Toronto Star, and Teen Vogue.