My favorite no annual fee cards

Credit card annual fees are on the rise, with cards like the American Express Platinum asking for $695 to stay in your wallet. I happen to be a fan of the coupon book Platinum, but only because I use most of the dozen or so credits, perks, and benefits, and am fortunate to be traveling a lot lately. Getting 5X points per dollar spent on airfare and finding value much higher than $695 means I'll be keeping it for the foreseeable future. However, many people wouldn't benefit from the card or can't stomach hefty annual fees. I get it. So, what cards should you add to your wallet without worrying if you can justify the cost? Which no annual fee cards do I use?

1) Capital One SavorOne. A fan favorite. This card earns 3% cash back on all dining, grocery, 'popular streaming', and entertainment purchases; 5% back on purchases made through the Capital One travel portal; and 8% back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. Until November of this year, you also get a free UberOne membership (in the form of a monthly statement credit of $9.99) and earn 10% back on all Uber purchases. Being a points/miles guy, I particularly like this card because I can convert cash back into Capital One miles at a 1:1 ratio ($1 cash back=100 miles) because I also have a Venture card. That effectively turns my SavorOne card into a powerhouse, earning 3X miles on what I spend most of my money on.

Current sign up bonus: $200 cash back after spending $500 in the first 3 months. This card has no foreign transaction fee.

2) Wells Fargo Autograph. This card is valuable because of its broad categories: 3X points on dining, gas stations, transit, streaming, phone plans, and travel. The points can be transferred to a few select travel partners, used to book travel through their portal, or used for gift cards or statement credits at a 1:1 ratio. While the current slate of airlines and hotel brands you can transfer points to is much smaller than the likes of Amex, Chase, Citi, and Capital One, Wells Fargo has planned to add new partners in the future.

Current sign up bonus: 20,000 points after spending $1000 in the first 3 months. This card has no foreign transaction fee.

3) American Express Blue Cash Everyday. Another keeper card, this one earns 3% cash back on groceries, gas, and online retail purchases (a very broad category). Cash back is earned in the form of Reward Dollars, which can be used for statement credits at a 1:1 ratio. Unlike the above cards, the cash back cannot be transferred to travel partners. However, despite no annual fee, this card comes with some perks: $15/mo statement credit for Home Chef purchases, and $7/mo statement credit for a Disney+ bundle when you spend at least $9.99 on the card each month.

Current sign up bonus: Earn $200 cash back after spending $2000 in the first 6 months. This card has a foreign transaction fee.

4) Chase Freedom Flex. If you can remember to use this card for different types of purchases every few months, it's a really solid earner. That's because it offers 5% cash back (5X Ultimate Rewards points) on different categories every quarter. For example, from July through September, you'll earn 5% back on Gas, EV charging, movie theaters, and select live entertainment (5% back up to a total of $1500 spent; 1% thereafter). In addition, you always earn 3% back on all dining and drugstore purchases; 5% on travel booked through the Chase travel portal; and will earn 5% on all Lyft purchases until March 2025. [Chase Freedom cards are marketed as earning cash back, but that is earned via Ultimate Rewards points. Those points can be used to statement credits at a 1:1 ratio (100 points=$1). However, if you hold a Chase Sapphire Preferred/Reserve or a Chase Ink Preferred card, you're then able to transfer those points to valuable travel partners].

Current sign up bonus: Earn $150 cash back (15,000 points) after spending $500 in the first 3 months. This card has a foreign transaction fee.