Best American Express credit cards with no annual fee of July 2024
“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
BLUEPRINT
Updated 12:00 p.m. UTC July 1, 2024
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Despite its image of exclusivity, American Express offers a suite of credit cards without annual fees. If you’re drawn to luxury but can’t stomach the idea of paying for it, the best no-annual-fee Amex cards can help you convert your day-to-day spending into free hotel nights, affordable flights or simple cash back in your pocket.
We analyzed the available options in this category to create our list of the best American Express cards with no annual fee of 2024. These are our selections.
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Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
- Amex EveryDay® Credit Card*: Best American Express card with no annual fee.
- Hilton Honors American Express Card: Best for hotel stays.
- American Express Cash Magnet® Card*: Best flat cash-back rate/welcome offer combo.
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best for groceries at U.S. supermarkets and gas in the U.S.
- Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card*: Best for flat-rate rewards.
- Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card: Best for airline travel.
*The information for the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card, American Express Cash Magnet® Card and Bread Cashback™ American Express® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why trust our credit card experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 9+ cards analyzed.
- 11+ data points analyzed.
- 5-step fact-checking process.
Best American Express card with no annual fee
Amex EveryDay® Credit Card
*The information for the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
All information about Amex EveryDay® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Best for hotel stays
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Best flat cash-back rate/welcome offer combo
American Express Cash Magnet® Card
*The information for the American Express Cash Magnet® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
All information about American Express Cash Magnet® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Best for groceries at U.S. supermarkets and gas in the U.S.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Best for flat-rate rewards
Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card
*The information for the Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best for airline travel
Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card
Compare the best American Express cards with no annual fee
Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $2,000 in qualifying purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership
Earn 70,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points plus a Free Night Reward after you spend $2,000 in purchases on the Hilton Honors American Express Card in the first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer Ends 7/31/2024.
Earn $200 back after you spend $2,000 in purchases within the first 6 months of card membership. You will receive the $200 back in the form of a statement credit.
Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
N/A
Earn 10,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
All information about American Express Cash Magnet® Card and Amex EveryDay® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
The information for the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card * The information for the Amex EveryDay® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply) is the lone no-annual-fee personal Amex card that earns American Express Membership Rewards® points, giving it a rare degree of flexibility for a no-annual-fee card. Amex points can be transferred to 21 airline and hotel loyalty programs, allowing you to take advantage of the most competitive travel deals on the market and amplify your points’ value. And, the points you get for your spending increase by 20% if you make 20 or more purchases in a billing period.
Pros:
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, followed by a regular APR of 18.24% to 29.24% variable. A balance transfer fee of either $5 or 3% of each transfer, whichever is greater applies.
- The only no-annual-fee card from Amex that earns Membership Rewards.
- Access to Amex Offers and other issuer perks.
Cons:
- Elevated cash-back rate on groceries capped at $6,000 annually.
- Other no-annual-fee travel credit cards come with better travel insurance coverage.
- The Amex EveryDay Card’s foreign transaction fees make it ill-suited to overseas purchases.
Card details
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 2 Membership Rewards points per $1 at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year (then 1 point), 2 points per $1 on American Express Travel and 1 point per $1 on other purchases. Plus, use the card 20 or more times in a billing period and earn 20% extra points.
- Welcome bonus: 10,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
- Foreign transaction fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars.
All information about Amex EveryDay® Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Why it’s the best
The standout feature of the Hilton Honors American Express Card (terms apply, rates & fees) is its generous welcome bonus, which can be worth more if you redeem its points and free night reward at a high-demand hotel. The card also has strong long-term value for Hilton regulars, as purchases at properties within Hilton’s 24 hotel brands earn Hilton Honors points at a fast clip.
Pros:
- The welcome offer’s potential value dwarfs the values of the best no-annual-fee cards’ welcome bonuses, which usually top out at around $200 or so. And the offer’s spending requirement is relatively low.
- Cardholders get automatic Hilton Honors Silver Status, which gives you a fifth night free when you book four nights in a standard room entirely with points, among other perks.
- Includes purchase protection¹ and secondary car rental loss and damage insurance².
Cons:
- Hilton Honors points can’t be redeemed for cash or a cash-equivalent statement credit.
- Although Hilton Honors points transfer to a number of airline partners’ loyalty programs, the transfer ratios aren’t as favorable as the transfer ratios offered by some competing hotel loyalty programs, like Marriott Bonvoy.
- Other Hilton Honors credit cards offer better perks and higher elite status, although they carry annual fees.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 7 Hilton Honors points per $1 on eligible purchases charged directly with hotels or resorts in the Hilton Portfolio, 5 points per $1 on eligible purchases at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gas stations and 3 points $1 on all other eligible purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 70,000 Hilton Honors points plus a Free Night Reward after spending $2,000 in purchases in the first six months of card membership. Offer ends 7/31/2024.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
The information for the American Express Cash Magnet® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
The American Express Cash Magnet® Card * The information for the American Express Cash Magnet® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. has neither the highest flat cash-back rate — i.e., the cash-back rate for every eligible purchase — among no-annual-fee Amex cards, nor the best welcome offer. But its decent mix of both might magnetize Amex loyalists who want an immediate punch of value and ongoing cash rewards for spending in any purchase category.
Pros:
- A decent unlimited, flat cash-back rate is the easiest way to earn back on all your spending without worrying about purchase categories, spending caps or point redemptions.
- It comes with secondary car rental loss and damage insurance, which provides up to $50,000 of coverage for theft or damage to most rental vehicles you pay for with the card, provided you decline the rental company’s collision damage waiver².
- It comes with an intro APR offer.
Cons:
- The Cash Magnet card’s cash-back rate is underwhelming next to several other cards that offer higher flat cash-back rates.
- It doesn’t offer accelerated cash-back rates for specific purchase categories, like groceries or gas.
- Aside from the promotional intro APR and secondary car rental loss and damage insurance², it doesn’t offer many extra benefits.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 1.5% cash back on purchases.
- Welcome bonus: $200 back after spending $2,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
- Foreign transaction fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars..
All information about American Express Cash Magnet® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Why it’s the best
According to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spends almost $9,000 annually on groceries and gas. Using a credit card like the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express (terms apply, rates & fees) — which has a respectable cash-back rate for purchases made at U.S. supermarkets and at U.S. gas stations — can lessen the sting of your food and transportation costs. And aside from offering high cash-back rates in everyday spending categories, it has a generous package of extra benefits that can help you save money on streaming services, cover damage to cars you rent and insure some of the goods you buy.
Pros:
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and on balance transfers requested in the first 60 days, then a variable APR of 19.24% to 29.99%. A balance transfer fee of $5 or 3%, whichever is greater, applies.
- Its purchase protection¹ covers eligible items you buy with the card for up to $1,000 each if a covered event results in the item being damaged or stolen, with a maximum value of $50,000 per calendar year per card.
- Perks include monthly statement credits on a Disney Bundle subscription fee and a Home Chef subscription fee (both subject to auto-renewal and enrollment is required).
Cons:
- The $6,000 annual spending caps for earning at the elevated rate might not meet the needs of all cardholders, particularly those with large grocery bills at U.S. supermarkets.
- Some competing no-annual-fee cash-back cards offer unlimited flat cash-back rates and/or higher rates for specific purchase categories of your choice.
- Other cards offer longer intro APR promotions.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and online retail purchases in the U.S. (on up to $6,000 in each category per year, then 1%), and 1% cash back on other purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or for eligible items at Amazon.com checkout.
- Welcome bonus: $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 in purchases in the first six months of card membership.
- Foreign transaction fees: 2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars..
The information for the Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
The Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card * The information for the Bread Cashback™ American Express® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. has a relatively rare combination of features that make it a great fit for frequent overseas travelers who favor cash back over rewards points: It has a high, unlimited flat cash-back rate, but doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. And although the card is issued by Comenity Capital Bank, it nonetheless provides access to Amex-specific benefits, like extra discounts at select retailers and restaurants via Amex Offers and AmexforFoodies.
Pros:
- The Bread Cashback card’s flat cash-back rate is competitive with the top flat-rate cards on the market.
- Although waived foreign transaction fees are relatively common among travel rewards cards, that feature is harder to find in the cash-back card market.
- It has some other convenient features of note, including secondary car rental loss and damage insurance² and purchase protection¹.
Cons:
- While key cash-back card competitors typically have welcome offers worth $200 or more, the Bread Cashback Amex has no welcome offer.
- Amex doesn’t issue the card, so cardholders won’t benefit from Amex’s highly regarded customer service.
- There’s no 0% promotional APR period.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 2% cash back on purchases.
- Welcome bonus: None.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
Why it’s the best
The Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card (terms apply, rates & fees) earns Delta SkyMiles, which can help you get flights on one of the world’s largest airlines. Although the card’s additional Delta-related benefits are relatively limited, you’ll at least 20% back via statement credits on eligible in-flight Delta food and beverage purchases made with the card.
Pros:
- Some no-annual-fee Amex cards’ maximum earning rates apply only to purchases within the U.S., but the Delta SkyMiles Blue Amex card’s rate on restaurant purchases applies globally.
- The card comes with secondary car rental loss and damage insurance², as well as purchase protection¹ and an added year of warranty protection on covered purchases³.
- Miles can be redeemed for award travel with Delta or one of its 30-plus partner airlines.
Cons:
- Other no-annual-fee co-branded airline cards have more generous welcome offers.
- Elevated rewards rates are available in only two purchase categories, which is a bit limited compared with other no-annual-fee airline cards.
- The card lacks perks you might associate with co-branded airline cards, like free checked bags. These types of benefits are more abundant among the Delta Amex cards that charge annual fees.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 2 miles per $1 on Delta purchases, at restaurants worldwide and takeout and delivery in the U.S. and 1 mile per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 10,000 miles after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
Methodology
Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. Factors we considered included:
- Annual earnings: 55%.
- Annual credits: 13%.
- Welcome offer: 10%.
- Intro APR on balance transfers: 6%.
- Intro APR on purchases: 5%.
- Foreign transaction fees: 2%.
- Return protection: 3%.
- Extended warranty: 3%.
- Lost luggage insurance: 1%.
- Lounge access: 1%.
- Cellphone protection: 1%.
Guide to the best American Express cards with no annual fee
The range of no-annual-fee American Express cards on the market includes cards for both personal and business use. Some are issued by American Express and some are issued by companies that partner with Amex. In this article, we’ve elected to feature personal credit cards only, most of which are issued by Amex itself.
Our list includes both cash-back and travel rewards cards. Some, like flat-rate cash-back cards and general travel cards, are useful for a wide variety of lifestyles and spending habits. Others, like co-branded hotel and airline credit cards, are only suitable for fans of specific brands.
How to apply for an American Express credit card
American Express will ask for the following details during its application process, which is similar to the general credit card application process for other card issuers. You’ll know most of the info offhand, but preparing some of it in advance can help you save time.
- Your full name.
- Date of birth.
- Email address.
- Mobile phone number.
- Full mailing address.
- Social Security number.
- Total annual income.
- Employment status.
Once you have all that ready to go, you can apply for the Amex card of your choice by clicking the blue “Apply Now” button underneath the card image toward the top of this page. Filling out the application fields should take less than a minute if you have the info ready beforehand.
After you submit your application, Amex will run a soft credit check to assess whether or not you qualify for the card. If you’re approved, you can then accept the card and permit Amex to run a hard credit check.
How to qualify for an American Express card
Two of the most important variables that will determine whether or not you qualify for an Amex card are your credit score and annual income.
American Express credit score requirements
Credit score requirements for American Express cards may vary depending on which card you’re interested in, but you’ll generally need a FICO Score of 700 or higher to be approved.
If you’re uncertain whether your credit score is high enough, you can check your score before applying. If your score is slightly below Amex’s expectations, you may still qualify, but it’s a good idea to try to improve your credit score before submitting your info. Reviewing your credit report can help you spot errors that may be hurting your score and allow you to identify areas of your credit use that need the most improvement.
If you’re a new immigrant to the U.S. and already have an American Express account that you established in another country, you have the option of logging into that account and sharing your foreign account history with Amex, which may improve your approval chances.
Immigrants from the below countries can also permit Amex to access their foreign credit history, though this may affect your foreign credit score.
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- The Dominican Republic
- India
- Kenya
- Mexico
- Nigeria
- The Philippines
- South Korea
- Switzerland
- The United Kingdom
American Express income requirements
The annual income you list in a credit card application may influence both your approval odds and the credit limit you’ll receive if you’re ultimately approved.
Aside from listing income from wages, you can also factor other forms of income into your annual income figure, including:
- Investments.
- Savings interest.
- Rental property income.
- Alimony.
- Child support.
- Supplemental Security Income.
- Disability payments.
- Workers compensation.
- Military allowances.
Choosing the best American Express card with no annual fee
Choosing the best credit card for you takes a little bit of research and introspection, but it’s well worth the effort. The step-by-step process of choosing a no-annual-fee Amex card should look something like this:
- Start by reviewing your expenditures over the past year.
- Add the expenditures up or create rough annual spending estimates by key purchase categories, like groceries, gas and restaurants. Create an approximate annual spending amount for everything outside those key categories as well.
- Multiply your annual spending in each key purchase category by the corresponding rewards rates for the credit cards you’re considering.
If your calculations reveal that you’ll earn a significantly higher amount of rewards with one card than the others, that’s probably the card you should choose.
If two cards will generate comparable amounts of rewards based on your spending habits, take a closer look at their extra features. Does one card offer a special benefit for a specific brand — like an airline, hotel or streaming service — that you patronize? Does one card waive foreign transaction fees but not the other?
Keep in mind that a single credit card may not offer high earning rates for all of your significant purchase categories, and gaps in its feature set might leave some of your bases uncovered. In that case, it’s worth noting that Amex allows you to hold up to five traditional Amex credit cards simultaneously. Just be sure to conform to Amex’s approval policy by waiting a period of six days or more between two credit card applications, and avoid applying for more than two cards within a 90-day period.
Is an American Express card right for you?
American Express cards have a few exclusive benefits that you can’t get with cards from other issuers. But some no-annual-fee Amex cards don’t compare favorably with options you’ll find when you zoom out and look at the broader no-annual-fee card market.
Before deciding on an Amex card, check to see if competing cards from other issuers offer better rewards rates that better align with your spending habits, more flexible rewards points or a superior insurance package. Some Amex products rely too heavily on the Amex brand and underperform in terms of their features, particularly in the no-annual-fee card sector.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
American Express issues five personal credit cards and five business credit cards that don’t have an annual fee. Amex also serves as the credit card network for no-annual-fee cards issued by other companies.
You can try calling Amex’s credit card department at 1-800-528-4800 and request an annual fee waiver. Tally up your annual purchase volume with the card in advance and be prepared to explain why you’re no longer deriving enough benefit from the card to justify paying its annual fee.
The American Express Centurion Black Card * The information for the American Express Centurion Black Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply) is the most prestigious American Express card, evidenced by its highly personalized service, invitation-only application process and astonishingly high initial and annual fees.
All information about American Express Centurion Black Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
The Amex Platinum (terms apply) cannot be downgraded to a no-annual-fee card. It can, however, be downgraded to an American Express® Gold Card (terms apply) card or an American Express® Green Card * The information for the American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. (terms apply).
All information about American Express® Green Card has been collected independently by Blueprint.
Some American Express cards’ annual fees are particularly high because the combined value of their benefits equals or exceeds their annual fee amount. Among the valuable benefits that Amex cards with high annual fees may include are annual statement credits, extensive airport lounge access and high rewards earning rates.
For rates and fees for the Hilton Honors American Express Card please visit this page.
For rates and fees for the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express please visit this page.
For rates and fees for the Delta SkyMiles® Blue American Express Card please visit this page.
¹When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase with their Eligible Card, Purchase Protection can help protect their Covered Purchases for up to 90 days from the Covered Purchase date if it is stolen or accidentally damaged. The coverage is limited up to $1,000 per occurrence, up to $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
²Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance can provide coverage up to $50,000 for theft of or damage to most rental vehicles when you use your eligible Card to reserve and pay for the entire eligible vehicle rental and decline the collision damage waiver or similar option offered by the Commercial Car Rental Company. This product provides secondary coverage and does not include liability coverage. Not all vehicle types or rentals are covered. Geographic restrictions apply. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company. Car Rental Loss or Damage Coverage is offered through American Express Travel Related Services Company, Inc.
³When an American Express® Card Member charges a Covered Purchase to an Eligible Card, Extended Warranty can provide up to one extra year added to the Original Manufacturer’s Warranty. Applies to warranties of five (5) years or less. Coverage is up to the actual amount charged to your Card for the item up to a maximum of $10,000; not to exceed $50,000 per Card Member account per calendar year. Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
*The information for the American Express Cash Magnet® Card, American Express Centurion Black Card, American Express® Green Card, Amex EveryDay® Credit Card and Bread Cashback™ American Express® 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.
