Best Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee For 2026
All the credit card travel rewards with none of the usual annual fees.
Using the best no-fee travel credit card, the More Rewards RBC Visa Infinite, to book trips and vacations is a very wise choice. You'll earn an average return rate of 2.11% on purchases and a welcome bonus valued at $86.
| Credit card | Average earn rate | Rewards | Welcome offer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | More Rewards RBC Visa Infinite | 2.11% | More Rewards | Up to 20,000 bonus points (terms) |
| #2 | American Express Green Card | 2.1% | American Express Membership Rewards | 10,000 bonus points (terms) |
| #3 | Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard | 1.5% | Cash back | None |
Travel credit cards get a lot of attention, especially the more premium ones, but those often come with high annual fees that put them out of reach for many people. Luckily, the best no-fee travel cards don't charge annual fees but still offer sweet benefits like free hotel stays, concierge services, increased earnings on flights, and more.
This article reviews these top three cards, offers information that can help you choose the right card for your needs, and answers questions about why annual fees can make a difference in what a credit card has to offer.
Key Takeaways
- The More Rewards RBC Visa Infinite is the best no-fee travel card, offering excellent earn rates, high points redemption value, and fuel savings at Petro-Canada.
- When choosing a no-fee travel credit card, evaluate its rewards system, consider whether it provides insurance coverage, and note any other included perks and benefits.
- It's true that no-fee cards don't typically offer as many perks as more premium fee-based travel cards, so you may eventually want to switch to a card that's fee is counteracted by the value of its benefits.
The best no-fee travel credit cards in Canada
Our Gold award for the best no-fee travel card goes to More Rewards RBC Visa Infinite, thanks to its high 8% earn rate at More Rewards grocery brands, which is quite extensive. The included mobile device insurance boosts its value even more.
Our Silver award goes to the American Express Green Card for its no-nonsense flat earn rate of 1x Membership Rewards points on all purchases. Plus, users earn an additional point on Amex Travel bookings.
And our Bronze award goes to the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard, thanks to its sweet cash back rates – up to 3% unlimited cash back. It offers even more value for those with Rogers services, too.
Canada’s best no-fee travel credit card: More Rewards RBC Visa Infinite
The More Rewards RBC Visa Infinite is our top no-fee travel card thanks to its impressive earn rates. Users get up to 8 points per $1 spent at participating stores, including Save-On Foods, Quality Foods, and Nesters Market. They also earn 8 points per dollar on gas, EV charging, and 4 points per dollar on everything else.
Those More Rewards points add up to offer surprising value. When redeemed for groceries, they offer an average value of 0.15 cents per point (CPP), and when redeemed for travel, that value shoots up to 0.43 CPP.
Commuters and road trippers will appreciate the Petro-Canada fuel savings this card provides: 3 cents per litre off the regular price. Link this card with your Petro-Points account, and you'll earn 20% more points when you pay with this card. Add these details to the earn rate on gas, and the More Rewards RBC Visa Infinite becomes a driver's best friend.
Silver award no-fee travel credit card: American Express® Green Card
American Express Membership Rewards has consistently been one of the best flexible rewards programs out there, and the American Express® Green Card lets you earn a point on every dollar spent. It even gives you a head start with a welcome bonus of up to 10,000 points, which is worth $200.
Plus, cardholders have access to Amex Offers and American Express Experiences, which include exclusive entertainment, dining, retail, and wellness benefits.
The American Express Green Card has a few more surprising benefits up its sleeve: there aren't any income requirements, and you can add extra users for free, too, as there aren't any fees for adding supplementary cards. Details like these are especially generous for a no-fee credit card.
Bronze award no-fee travel credit card: Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard®
The Rogers Red World Elite® Mastercard® takes the prize as the best high-earning no-fee card. The highest return, 3% cash back, is for U.S. dollar purchases, which is ideal for frequent travellers to the U.S. And you'll still earn up to 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
But the rewards don't stop there. The earnings are even sweeter for those who subscribe to Rogers, Fico, Comwave, and/or Shaw services – they earn unlimited 2% cash back on all non-U.S. purchases. Plus, if you redeem that cash back for Rogers, Fido, or Shaw purchases, you'll get another 1.5% back.
The Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard is the only card on our list with notable insurance, providing 6 different types of coverage. The emergency medical, trip cancellation, and rental car coverages are especially valuable for travellers.
Compare all top no-fee travel credit cards by Genius Rating
Our Genius Rating system uses a refined, math-based algorithm to rank
This list shows how the top no-fee travel cards compare, arranged by Genius Rating:
×9 Award winner 
$100 GeniusCash + Earn up to 15,000 Welcome Bonus Membership Rewards® Points.*
GC: $100
9x Award winner 
The Genius Rating methodology
Our proprietary algorithm calculated the earning power of every card by using a $3,000 monthly budget based on the spending patterns of the average Canadian.
- Rewards: 38%
- Fees: 38%
- Insurance: 8%
- Perks: 8%
- Interest: 3%
- Approval: 2%
- Acceptance: 2%
Learn more about our Genius Rating methodology
How to choose a no-fee travel credit card
When choosing a no-fee travel credit card, prioritize the features that matter most to you. Frequent international travellers should look for cards that waive foreign exchange fees, while cash back enthusiasts should focus on high earn rates in their top spending categories.
Consider your travel habits. Think about how often you travel, whether you typically fly during peak seasons, and whether your trips are mostly domestic or international. Understanding these patterns will help you choose a card that aligns with your travel style and maximizes the benefits you will actually use.
Finally, think about reward redemption. Some cards link to specific rewards programs, such as Avion or Aventura. If you're loyal to a particular airline or hotel chain, a co-branded card like Marriott Bonvoy or Aeroplan can accelerate your earnings and simplify your choices.
Rewards
Travel credit cards are renowned for their impressive rewards on eligible travel purchases (flights, hotels, cruises, baggage) and sometimes for additional bonus categories. That said, the earn rates on no-fee travel cards are bound to be lower than their premium counterparts, but you can still get some great value from them.
Take a look at how the rate of returns compare to each other:
Fees
No-fee travel cards eliminate one of the most significant charges found with travel cards: the annual fee. Where ultra-premium options can be as high as $799, no-fee options eliminate the annual fee in exchange for reduced perks and slightly lower rewards.
It’s critical to pay attention to the card’s foreign transaction fee. Most cards charge a 2.5 % foreign transaction (FX) fee on purchases made in non-Canadian currencies, though some waive this fee altogether and others offer no fees for purchases in U.S. dollars – like the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard.
While it doesn't have a reduced FX fee, the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard earns 3% cash back on U.S. dollar purchases, making it an excellent option if your travels typically take you south of the border.
Perks
As with rewards, no-fee travel credit cards tend to be lighter on perks. Many still have welcome offers, though they're not nearly as valuable. They also lack the more desirable benefits like airport lounge access, concierge services, and valuable insurance packages.
Some no-fee travel cards offer a few perks, especially if they're co-branded with an airline loyalty program, like Aeroplan. The perks are relatively basic, though, such as rental car discounts and basic insurance.
Of our top no-fee travel cards, the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard is the only one to provide insurance, and it does have a generous package: 6 types. This includes three days of emergency medical coverage for cardholders aged 65 and over. Meanwhile, the More Rewards RBC Visa Infinite provides savings on fuel at Petro Canada locations.
These perks aren’t gamechangers, but they offer real-world value to those who plan strategically.
Interest rates
No-fee travel cards feature interest rates comparable to those of other no-annual-fee cards. That is to say, they're pretty standard.
Still, as this table shows, the Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard's rates can get quite high. It's unusual, but these rates are based on creditworthiness. This could be a deciding factor if you're choosing between the three cards on our list.
| Credit card | Purchase rate | Cash advance rate | Balance transfer rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| More Rewards RBC Visa Infinite | 20.99% | 22.99% | 22.99% |
| American Express Green Card | 20.99% | 22.99% | 22.99% |
| Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard | 20.99% – 25.99% | 22.99% – 27.99% | 22.99% – 27.99% |
Approval
No-fee travel credit cards often have reduced income requirements – it's not universal, but fairly common. And while credit scores remain a factor, the lower income criteria significantly reduce the barrier to entry.
Here's how the eligibility requirements compare for our top three cards in this category:
| Credit card | Income requirements | Estimated credit score |
|---|---|---|
| More Rewards RBC Visa Infinite | * $60,000 personal $100,000 household | 660 - 724 |
| American Express Green Card | * $0 personal $0 household | 725 - 759 |
| Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard | * $80,000 personal $150,000 household | 760 - 900 |
When is an annual fee worth it?
While credit card annual fees can seem off-putting at first glance, the rewards and other perks typically make up for them once you do the math. Plus, many premium credit cards actually waive the annual fee for the first year you have the card, so you can use it for a full year to find out if it's worth it to you.
You can also switch to a low-fee card rather than a no-fee option. These can be a happy medium between paying nothing at all and paying a few hundred dollars per year.
In general, if you get more value from the card than the annual fee costs, it’s a good choice.
FAQ
What is the best credit card for travel with no annual fee?
The More Rewards RBC Visa Infinite is the overall best no-fee travel credit card for Canadians. It offers a very high earn rate at Save-On-Foods, Quality Foods, and other retailers, and redeeming More Rewards points for travel provides value as high as 0.43 CPP. Plus, with surprisingly low income and credit score requirements, this card is quite accessible.
Is there a Canadian credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees?
Yes, there are several to choose from, but the Scotiabank Gold American Express® Card is the best foreign exchange travel card in Canada. For a very reasonable $120 annual fee (waived for the first year), cardholders pay no FX fees at all, earn valuable Scene+ points, and get 12 types of insurance.
What is the best travel card to use in Canada?
The best travel credit card in Canada is the American Express Cobalt® Card. It's high 4.5% average earn rate and flexible American Express Membership Rewards are its best features, but it also provides comprehensive insurance coverage – 10 types – and exclusive perks through Amex Experiences.
Is there an airline credit card without an annual fee?
Yes, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card is a no-fee credit card that provides Aeroplan points on everyday purchases at an average earn rate of 1.55%. This is the only card of its kind – there are plenty of no-fee cards available in Canada, but none from airlines other than Air Canada.
Is it better to get a credit card with no annual fee?
Choosing between a card with an annual fee and a no-fee card is ultimately a personal decision. Cards with annual fees often provide more comprehensive benefits and premium perks compared to no-fee alternatives, though this isn't always the case. You should carefully evaluate whether the enhanced features, earn rates, and additional perks justify the yearly cost for your lifestyle.
Which Amex doesn't have an annual fee?
The American Express® Green Card and SimplyCash® Card from American Express are both no-fee cards, and they don't charge for supplementary cards either. Amex sometimes waives the annual fee for new clients applying for specific cards, but it's been a while since we've seen this type of offer.
Editorial Disclaimer: The content here reflects the author's opinion alone. No bank, credit card issuer, rewards program, or other entity has reviewed, approved, or endorsed this content. For complete and updated product information please visit the product issuer's website. Our credit card scores and rankings are based on our Rating Methodology that takes into account 126+ features for each of 231 Canadian credit cards.
