A decent no annual fee card for frequent Marriott guests, with a signup bonus of 30K points, 3x points on Marriott (as well as 2x on other travel and 1x on everything else) and Silver Elite status each year.
$183/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Chase
Chase
Network
Visa
Visa
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- 30,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months.
- 3x points on hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- 2x points on travel.
- 1 point per dollar on everything else.
- 15 elite night credits each year, which will qualify you for Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status.
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- If you like staying at Marriott hotels, there are Marriott credit cards (such as the American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card) that charge annual fees but would probably give you better value than this no annual fee version.
- Each point is worth just 0.7 cents on average, which is low compared to other credit cards.
Rewards & Perks
- 30,000 bonus points after you spend $1,000 within the first 3 months.
- 3x points on hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy.
- 2x points on travel.
- 1 point per dollar on everything else.
- 15 elite night credits each year, which will qualify you for Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR for purchases and balance transfers: 15.99-22.99%.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Total savings over 5 years: $916
A very basic card with no annual fee, but also no ongoing rewards and no signup bonus.
$40/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo
Network
Visa
Visa
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- No annual fee.
- 0% intro APR.
Cons
- No ongoing rewards.
- No signup bonus.
Rewards & Perks
- This credit card has no notable rewards.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR on purchases: 16.49-24.49%. (0% for the first 18 months.)
- APR on balance transfers: 15.49-24.99%. (0% for the first 18 months on balance transfers posted to your account within the first 120 days.)
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
Total savings over 5 years: $200
A low-APR card with no annual fee, but also no ongoing rewards.
$10/yr
total value to you
Issuer
PenFed Credit Union
PenFed Credit Union
Network
Visa
Visa
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- Has a relatively low purchase APR compared to most other credit cards.
- No annual fee.
Cons
- No ongoing rewards.
Rates & Fees
- Annual fee: $0
- Purchase APR: 7.49-17.99%
Total savings over 5 years: $50
An extremely basic credit card with no annual fee and a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance purchases, but also no rewards.
$8/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Citi
Citi
Network
Mastercard
Mastercard
Credit Score Required
Above Average (740-799)
Above Average (740-799)
X
Pros
- No annual fee.
- 0% intro APR.
Cons
- No ongoing rewards.
- No signup bonus.
Rewards & Perks
- This credit card has no notable rewards.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR on purchases: 14.74-24.74%. (0% for the first 18 months.)
- APR on balance transfers: 14.74-24.74%. (0% for the first 18 months on balance transfers that are completed within the first 4 months.)
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
Total savings over 5 years: $40
This socially-conscious debit card offers up to 5% cash back on purchases with no annual fee, making it a good choice for people with a bad credit score. (All credit scores are considered.)
$2/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Coastal Community Bank
Coastal Community Bank
Network
Mastercard
Mastercard
Credit Score Required
Bad (<580)
Bad (<580)
X
Pros
- A good choice for people with a bad credit score. (But all credit scores are considered.)
- 5% cash back on "Conscience Coalition" purchases with the Aspiration debit card, or 10% cash back on "Conscience Coalition" purchases if you're an Aspiration Plus member. (The "Conscience Coalition" includes companies like TOMS, Warby Parker, and Blue Apron.)
- No annual fee (unless you choose to upgrade to the Aspiration Plus debit card, which would cost $7.99/month, or $5.99/month if you pay annually).
Cons
- It's a debit card (rather than a credit card), so you'll need to already have the money for any purchases you make.
Rewards & Perks
- 5% cash back on "Conscience Coalition" purchases with the Aspiration debit card, or 10% cash back on "Conscience Coalition" purchases if you're an Aspiration Plus member. (The "Conscience Coalition" includes companies like TOMS, Warby Parker, and Blue Apron.)
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
Total savings over 5 years: $12
Official Card Description (from card issuer):
- Earn cash back on debit card purchases and up to 83x the national interest rate on savings
- Choose a monthly fee you think is fair
- Aspiration Spend and Save account does not include a credit card
- Spend and save with fossil fuel-free deposits
- Fee-free ATM withdrawals at 55,000+ Allpoint ATMs
- Cash back on debit card purchases at socially conscious businesses
- Up to 5.00% in interest on savings with Aspiration Plus
- Option to plant a tree with every roundup
- Personal impact score to help you shop to match your values
Disclaimer: The Aspiration Save Account’s up to 5.00% Annual Percentage Yield (“APY”) with up to 83x the national interest rate is variable, subject to change, and only available to customers enrolled in Aspiration Plus after conditions are met. Customers not enrolled in Aspiration Plus receive 3.00% APY after conditions are met. Terms & FAQ. The Aspiration Spend & Save Accounts are cash management accounts offered through Aspiration Financial, LLC, a registered broker-dealer, Member FINRA/SIPC, and a subsidiary of Aspiration Partners, Inc. (“Aspiration”). Aspiration Financial LLC is unaffiliated with any other named entity. Aspiration is not a bank.
An extremely basic credit card with no annual fee and a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance purchases, but also no rewards.
$0/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Citi
Citi
Network
Mastercard
Mastercard
Credit Score Required
Average (670-739)
Average (670-739)
X
Pros
- No annual fee.
- 0% intro APR.
Cons
- No ongoing rewards.
- No signup bonus.
Rewards & Perks
- This credit card has no notable rewards.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR on purchases: 14.74-24.74%. (0% for the first 18 months.)
- APR on balance transfers: 14.74-24.74%. (0% for the first 18 months on balance transfers that are completed within the first 4 months.)
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
Total savings over 5 years: $0
A surprisingly good card for travel and general spending, with a good signup bonus (75K points) and no annual fee.
$0/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Barclays
Barclays
Network
Visa
Visa
Credit Score Required
Above Average (740-799)
Above Average (740-799)
X
Pros
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 180 days. (50K points after spending $1K in the first 90 days, and another 25K points after spending $2K in the first 180 days.)
- Earn 8,000 anniversary bonus points every year you spend $10,000 or more on purchases with your card by your account anniversary date.
- 15x points at eligible Choice Privileges locations with your Choice Privileges Visa Signature Card and Choice Privileges membership.
- 5x points on purchases of Choice Privileges points or Choice Hotels gift card purchases.
- 2 points per eligible $1 spent on everyday purchases.
- Barclays Elite Gold status: Earn 10% in bonus points on qualifying stays, and get access to dedicated reservations, customer serivce numbers, and exclusive offers.
- No annual fee.
Cons
- Each point is worth just 0.6 cents on average, which is low compared to other credit cards.
Rewards & Perks
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 180 days. (50K points after spending $1K in the first 90 days, and another 25K points after spending $2K in the first 180 days.)
- Earn 8,000 anniversary bonus points every year you spend $10,000 or more on purchases with your card by your account anniversary date.
- 15 points per dollar spent at eligible Choice Privileges locations with your Choice Privileges Visa Signature Card and Choice Privileges membership.
- 5 points per dollar spent on the purchase of Choice Privileges points or Choice Hotels gift card purchases.
- 2 points per dollar spent on everyday purchases.
- Barclays Elite Gold status: Earn 10% in bonus points on qualifying stays, and get access to dedicated reservations, customer serivce numbers, and exclusive offers.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR for purchases: 15.74-24.99%.
- APR for balance transfers: 15.74-24.99% (0% for the first 15 months on BTs posted within the first 45 days).
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
Total savings over 5 years: $0
A very plain card with no rewards.
$0/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Bank of America
Bank of America
Network
Mastercard
Mastercard
Credit Score Required
Bad (<580)
Bad (<580)
X
Pros
- No annual fee.
Cons
- No ongoing rewards.
- No signup bonus.
- A minimum refundable security deposit of $300 (maximum of $4,900) is required to open this account.
Rewards & Perks
- This credit card has no notable rewards.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR on purchases and balance transfers: 22.99%.
- Foreign transaction fee: 3%.
Total savings over 5 years: $0
A very basic card with no annual fee (but also no rewards) for people with bad or limited credit.
$0/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Capital One
Capital One
Network
Mastercard
Mastercard
Credit Score Required
Bad (<580)
Bad (<580)
X
Pros
- People with bad or limited credit can get the card.
- No annual fee.
- No balance transfer fees.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- No ongoing rewards.
- No early spend bonus.
- High APR.
Rewards & Perks
- This credit card has no notable rewards.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- Required Security Deposit: $49, $99, or $200 refundable deposit based on your creditworthiness
- APR for purchases and balance transfers: 25.99%.
- No balance transfer fees.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Total savings over 5 years: $0
A basic card for people who have below-average credit and/or don't care about rewards.
$0/yr
total value to you
Issuer
Capital One
Capital One
Network
Mastercard
Mastercard
Credit Score Required
Below Average (580-669)
Below Average (580-669)
X
Pros
- No annual fee.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons
- No ongoing rewards.
- No early spend bonus.
- High APR.
Rewards & Perks
- This credit card has no notable rewards.
Rates & Fees
- No annual fee.
- APR for purchases and BTs: 25.99%.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Total savings over 5 years: $0