Applying for a premium credit card is an important financial decision, but it doesn’t have to be costly. Some of the top travel rewards credit cards currently offer waived annual fees alongside generous new account bonuses in the first year.
Today we take a look at cards you can test drive during the first year before determining if they deserve a long-term spot in your wallet.
Why apply for a card with a waived annual fee?
The market for travel rewards cards is almost unbelievably competitive, with new cards and improved offers appearing on these pages almost daily. But at the same time, the business model for premium rewards cards is to charge cardholders a substantial annual fee to recoup some of the costs of the rewards and benefits offered.
Unfortunately, you don’t always know exactly how much value you’ll be able to realize from each offer. At least not until you’ve tried it. Over the last 30 years, I’ve held dozens of rewards cards. Some I got primarily for the welcome bonus but ended up keeping due to the continued value of the rewards and benefits offered. But with other cards, I optimistically opened an account, assuming that it would deliver real long-term value, only to be disappointed.
But if you apply for a card without an annual fee, you have the first year to take it for a test drive and see what it can do for you without any financial commitment. Does the rewards program deliver on its promises? Are the benefits easy to use? Is the customer service acceptable? These are questions that you might not be able to answer until you’ve spent a year using a card.
And if you’re on the fence regarding the value of the card’s annual fee, having it waived the first year can effectively cut in half the average fee you pay during your account’s first two years.
Related: Guide to credit card annual fees
Top personal travel rewards cards with waived first-year annual fees
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Current welcome offer: Earn $250 back as a statement credit after using your card to make $3,000 in purchases in the first six months of cardmembership.
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Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee, then $95 (see rates and fees).
Why we like it: Blue Cash Preferred cardmembers can earn 6% back on the first $6,000 of purchases at U.S. supermarkets each year, 6% back on U.S. streaming subscriptions, 3% back on transit (including taxis, ride-hailing apps, tolls, parking and more), 3% back at U.S. gas stations and 1% back on other purchases. Cashback is earned as Reward Dollars that you can redeem as a statement credit.
You can receive $7 per month as a statement credit toward your Disney Bundle subscription and $10 per month in credits toward your Equinox+ membership. Enrollment is required in advance for these benefits.
For more details, see our full review of the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card.
Official application link: Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
Current welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after using your card to make $2,500 in purchases in the first three months from account opening. TPG values this bonus at $885.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee, then $99.
Why we like it: As a cardholder, you’ll receive a free first checked bag for you and up to four companions on your same reservation and can receive a $125 American Airlines flight voucher after spending $20,000 or more on your card during your cardmember year and then paying the annual fee to keep the card open for another year. You’ll also get a 25% savings on inflight purchases when paying with your card.
With the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card, you’ll earn 2 miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases, 2 miles per dollar at gas stations and restaurants and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases. You’ll also receive priority boarding and can earn 1 Loyalty Point toward AAdvantage elite status for each dollar spent on the card.
For more details, see our full review of the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select card.
Official application link: Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Current welcome offer: Earn 40,000 bonus SkyMiles after making $2,000 of purchases on your card in the first six months of cardmembership. TPG values this bonus at $564.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee, then $99 (see rates and fees).
Why we like it: This is the mid-tier option among Delta’s credit cards. You’ll enjoy perks like priority boarding and a free first checked bag for you and up to eight companions on your same reservation. If you make $10,000 or more in purchases using your card in a calendar year, you’ll also receive a $100 Delta flight credit toward future travel. Cardholders also receive a 20% discount (as a statement credit) for inflight purchases of food, beverages and headsets on Delta flights when paying with this card.
With the Delta Gold card, you can earn 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases, 2 miles per dollar on dining at restaurants worldwide and on takeout and delivery services in the U.S., 2 miles per dollar at U.S. supermarkets and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
For more details, see our full review of the Amex Delta Gold card.
Official application link: Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card
Free Spirit® Travel More World Elite Mastercard®
Current welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus points and a $100 companion flight voucher after making $1,000 of purchases on your card in the first 90 days from account opening. TPG values this bonus at $760.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee, then $79.
Why we like it: Don’t count this card out until you’ve learned the details of the revamped Free Spirit program. In addition to the $100 companion flight voucher in the welcome offer, you’ll receive a $100 companion flight voucher after each account anniversary as long as you’ve made $5,000 or more in purchases on your card within the previous year. Additionally, you’re exempt from the Free Spirit points expiration policy as long as you’re a cardholder.
Other cardholder benefits include Zone 2 shortcut boarding on all flights and a 25% rebate on inflight food and beverage purchases when you pay with your card. With the Free Spirit Travel More card, you’ll earn 3 points per dollar on Spirit Airlines purchases, 2 points per dollar on dining and grocery store purchases and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
The information for the Free Spirit Travel More World Elite Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For more details, see our full review of the Free Spirit Travel More card.
United Explorer Card
Current welcome offer: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after making $3,000 of purchases on your card in the first three months from account opening. TPG values this bonus at $726.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee, then $95.
Why we like it: You’ll receive priority boarding, a free first checked bag for you and a companion on the same reservation (as long as you paid for the flights with this card), 25% back on inflight and United Club premium drink purchases, and two United Club one-time passes each year. Also, this card offers a rare benefit for cards without an annual fee in the first year: up to $100 reimbursement for your application fee to Global Entry, TSA PreCheck or Nexus.
You’ll earn 2 miles per dollar on United Airlines purchases, 2 miles per dollar on dining (including eligible delivery services), 2 miles per dollar on hotel reservations booked directly with the hotel and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases. You’ll also earn 500 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) toward United elite status for each $12,000 of purchases on your card. You can earn a maximum of 1,000 PQPs this way in a calendar year, and these can be applied toward your United Airlines status up to the Premier 1K level. Another key benefit is access to more United award flight availability.
For more details, see our full review of the United Explorer Card.
Official application link: United Explorer Card
U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card
Current welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points after making $2,000 of purchases on your card in the first 120 days from account opening. These points can be redeemed at 1 cent apiece, making this bonus worth $500.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee, then $95.
Why we like it: There are more perks than you’d expect in this card. You’ll receive a $30 statement credit after making streaming purchases for 11 months, up to $600 of reimbursement via cellphone protection if you pay your monthly wireless bill with this card and Visa Signature benefits like auto rental collision damage waiver and roadside dispatch. You’ll also receive up to $100 in statement credits to reimburse your application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
U.S. Bank Altitude Connect cardholders earn 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels and car rentals booked in the Altitude Rewards travel portal, 4 points per dollar on travel, 4 points per dollar at gas stations and EV charging stations, 2 points per dollar at grocery stores and grocery delivery services, 2 points per dollar on dining and streaming services and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.
For more details, see our full review of the U.S. Bank Altitude Connect card.
Top small-business travel rewards cards with waived first-year annual fees
Business Green Rewards Card from American Express
Current welcome offer: Earn 25,000 bonus Membership Rewards points after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of cardmembership. TPG values this bonus at $500.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee, then $95 (see rates and fees).
Why we like it: With the Business Green card, you’ll gain access to important benefits like Amex Offers and earn valuable Membership Rewards points on every purchase. The card has no preset spending limit — meaning how much you can spend on the card evolves with your spending habits, payment history and other factors — and the ability to enroll in Pay Over Time. You may even receive a targeted offer of bonus points for enrolling in this feature, even if you never use it to carry a balance on your card.
Cardmembers earn 2 points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked online with Amex Travel and 1 point per dollar on other purchases. These amount to a 4% and 2% return on spending, respectively, based on our latest valuations.
The information for the Business Green Rewards Card from American Express has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For more details, see our full review of the Amex Business Green Card.
Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card
Current welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus Delta SkyMiles after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months of cardmembership. TPG values this bonus at $705.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee, then $99 (see rates and fees).
Why we like it: Without the need to earn elite status with Delta, you can enjoy many of its benefits by holding the Delta Business card. You’ll receive a free first checked bag for you and up to eight people on your same reservation, priority boarding on Delta flights and a 20% savings on inflight purchases (given as a statement credit). Cardmembers also can earn a $100 Delta flight voucher after spending $10,000 on purchases in a calendar year.
Cardmembers earn 2 miles per dollar on Delta Air Lines purchases and 2 miles per dollar on U.S. purchases at restaurants, shipping providers and advertising with select media platforms. All other purchases earn 1 mile per dollar.
For more details, see our full review of the Amex Delta SkyMiles Gold Business card.
Official application link: Delta SkyMiles Gold Business American Express Card
Capital One Spark Miles for Business
Current welcome offer: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $4,500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. TPG values this bonus at $925.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee, then $95.
Why we like it: Some people like simplicity, and that’s what the Spark Miles for Business card offers. You can earn 5 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and earn an unlimited 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. Capital One miles have increased in value over the past few years, based on our valuations, through gaining new transfer partners.
Cardholders also can receive up to $100 in statement credits to reimburse the application fee for TSA PreCheck or Global Entry and can use virtual card numbers for extra security when making purchases online.
For more details, see our full review of the Capital One Spark Miles for Business.
Official application link: Capital One Spark Miles for Business
CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®
Current welcome offer: Earn 65,000 bonus AAdvantage miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first four months from account opening. TPG values this bonus at $1,150.50.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee, then $99.
Why we like it: Without needing to earn American Airlines elite status, you can still enjoy perks like priority boarding and a free first checked bag (for you and up to four people on the same reservation) with the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum card. You’ll also receive a 25% savings (via statement credit) for inflight purchases of Wi-Fi, food and drinks on AA flights. You also can earn an American Airlines companion certificate for domestic travel on American Airlines after spending $30,000 or more on your card within a cardmember year and then paying the annual fee to keep your card for another year. The cost of the companion ticket is $99 plus taxes and fees.
Cardholders earn 2 miles per dollar on American Airlines purchases and 2 miles per dollar on cable and satellite providers, telecommunications providers, gas stations and car rentals. You’ll earn 1 mile per dollar on other purchases. Additionally, you’ll earn 1 Loyalty Point per dollar on all purchases, helping you work toward AAdvantage elite status.
The information for the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For more details, see our full review of the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum card.
United Business Card
Current welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus United Airlines miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. TPG values this bonus at $907.50.
Annual fee: $0 introductory annual fee, then $99.
Why we like it: The United Business card offers two United Club one-time passes each year, a free first checked bag (for the cardholder and a companion on the same reservation, as long as the ticket was purchased using this card), priority boarding on United flights and 25% on United inflight and Club premium drink purchases. Cardholders also receive 5,000 bonus United miles on each account anniversary if they have both a personal and small business United credit card. After making seven flight purchases of $100 or more (each) from United during a cardmember year, cardholders receive a $100 United flight credit. Cardholders also have increased saver award availability for mileage redemptions with United.
United Business cardholders earn 2 miles per dollar on purchases with United Airlines, 2 miles per dollar on dining (including eligible delivery services) and gas stations, 2 miles per dollar at office supply stores and local transit and 1 mile per dollar on other purchases.
For more details, see our full review of the United Business Card.
Official application link: United Business Card
Bottom line
It’s always nice when a credit issuer allows you to try their product before you buy it. These are the best credit cards with annual fees that are waived during the first year. After reading through the details, you may decide that you’re interested in one of them. Luckily, you’ve got a year to decide how you feel about these cards before needing to pay an annual fee.
Additional reporting by Jason Steele.
For rates and fees of the Amex Blue Cash Preferred card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold Amex card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Business Green card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Delta SkyMiles Gold Business Amex card, click here.
