Best No Annual Fee Credit Card

Lendio sometimes receives compensation for credit card offers. This compensation may impact how products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear.) Lendio does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace. This editorial is from the viewpoint of Lendio, and not endorsed by any 3rd party. The information is accurate at the time of publication.

The notion that you need to pay an annual fee to hold a credit card worth having is simply untrue. Many premier credit cards from big-name companies come loaded with perks and rewards. However, they also usually come with a cost. It’s not unheard of to pay $300, $400, or even $500 a year to possess those cards. While the perks and rewards are nice, it makes you question if they’re really worth it. 

If you are a small business that doesn’t spend enough on a credit card to make a hefty annual fee worth it, it’s ok. Not only is it ok but there are cards with no annual fee that are so good, they could actually be preferred for your business.

While it’s true that some no annual fee cards won’t be worth your time, plenty are. To save you time, we have analyzed these cards and will give you our suggestion for the best no annual fee credit card. 

Cards like Bank of America’s Platinum Plus Mastercard Business Credit Card have a shockingly low variable APR of 11.74%–22.74% but don’t have a way to earn rewards. Cards like the Citi Double Cash Card offer 2% cash back on purchases you buy and pay back, but the variable APR is quite high. 

The winner of the best no annual fee credit card goes to a well-balanced card that incorporates both a way to earn rewards and a beneficial variable APR. The winner of Lendio’s best no annual fee credit card goes to American Express’s The Blue Business Plus Credit Card. Here’s why: 

• APR: The Blue Business Plus Credit Card totes an unbeatable intro rate of 0% APR for the first 12 billing cycles. That means that for a whole year, you won’t have to pay a dollar of interest on your expenses. After the first year, it has a low variable APR of 13.24%–19.24%.

• Rewards: This card allows you to earn Membership Rewards points—2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners and 1 point per dollar after the first $50,000 in purchases per year.

• Expanded Buying Power: To aid your constantly-changing business, American Express allows you to spend beyond your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power. The amount you can spend above your credit limit is not unlimited. It adjusts with the use of the card, payment history, credit record, and other known financial resources.

The Blue Business Plus Credit Card is a solid credit choice. It has all the benefits of a premier card without the annual fee. By owning a credit card without an annual fee, it allows you to use the money you would’ve spent on having the card to invest in improving your business. Why pay to own a credit card when you can have one that’s just as good—for free?

Lendio sometimes receives compensation for credit card offers. This compensation may impact how products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear.) Lendio does not include all card companies or all card offers available in the marketplace. This editorial is from the viewpoint of Lendio, and not endorsed by any 3rd party. The information is accurate at the time of publication.