Best Travel Credit Cards With No Annual Fee For October 2025
All the credit card travel rewards with none of the usual annual fees.
Choosing to book your work trip or vacation with the American Express Green Card, the best travel credit card with no annual fee, is a very wise choice. You'll earn up to 2% back in Amex rewards and some very sweet, exclusive Amex benefits to make your trip that much more comfortable.
Premium travel credit cards get a lot of attention, but they tend to have pretty high annual fees that put them out of reach for many people. Luckily, there are a few travel cards that don't charge annual fees but still come with sweet benefits like free hotel stays, concierge service, increased earnings for flights, and more.
The reviews of the best no-fee travel credit cards below highlight their earn rates, outline the benefits, and can help you decide which card is the right fit.
Key Takeaways
- The American Express Green card is the best travel card, with high earn rates, a huge welcome bonus, and no annual fee.
- Some travel credit cards give rewards via cash back or travel points/miles.
- The Home Trust Preferred Visa charges no foreign transaction fee, which saves you 2.5% on foreign purchases.
Best travel credit cards with no annual fee
Let’s look at some of our favourite no fee credit cards that offer travel rewards, including cards from MBNA, BMO, American Express, and Home Trust.
Here's a quick summary of what they have to offer.
| Category | Credit card | Rewards program | Why you want it | Current offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | American Express Green Card | American Express Membership Rewards | * Earn up to 2% back in American Express Membership Rewards on select categories * Exclusive Amex benefits | 10,000 bonus points (terms) |
| Best for high earning potential | Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard | Cash back | * 3% cash back on U.S. purchases and up to 2% on other purchases | None |
| Best for earning Aeroplan points | CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card | Aeroplan | * Earn up to 1 point per $1 on select purchases and 1 point per $1.50 on everything else | Up to 10,000 bonus points (terms) |
| Best for earning Air Miles | BMO AIR MILES Mastercard | Air Miles | * Earn extra Air Miles at Air Miles partners * Can be used at Costco |  $20 GeniusCash + Up to 1,200 2,500 bonus miles (terms) |
| Best for earning flexible rewards | MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard | MBNA Rewards | * Earn up to 2 points per $1 on select categories * Up to 10,000 bonus points | 10,000 bonus points (terms) |
| Best for saving on foreign transaction fees | Home Trust Preferred Visa | Cash back | * 1% cash back on all purchases * No foreign exchange fee – a 2.5% savings on foreign purchases | None |
1. Best overall
×1 Award winner 
What it earns: American Express Membership Rewards
Why it’s the best: 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 on the card. Plus, it gives you a head start with a welcome bonus of up to 10,000 points.
In addition to the solid earn rate, you’ve got tons of options for redeeming your points, including airline rewards, flights, hotel rewards, statement credit, charitable donations, gift cards, merchandise, and more.
Plus, cardholders have access to Amex Offers, as well as American Express Experiences, which includes some exclusive entertainment, dining, retail, and wellness benefits. All this with no annual fee!
What you’ll earn:
- 1 point per $1 spent on all purchases
2. Best for high earning potential
What it earns: Cash back
Why it’s the best: The Rogers Red World Elite Mastercard takes the prize as the best high-earning no fee card – but there’s a caveat. You’ll earn the highest return (3%) on USD purchases only. All other purchases will net you a steady 1.5% back if you don’t have a Rogers service and 2% if you do.
That said, we like how easy it is to accumulate and keep track of points with this flat-rate card. When you’re ready to use your points, enjoy cash back. Plus, if you apply that cash back to your Rogers bill, you’ll get a 50% bonus.
Rewards:
- Earn 2% unlimited cash back on all eligible non-U.S. dollar purchases if you have 1 qualifying service with Rogers, Fido, Comwave, or Shaw
- Earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on eligible non-U.S. dollar purchases
- Earn 3% unlimited cash back on all eligible purchases made in U.S. dollars
3. Best for earning Aeroplan points
What it earns: Aeroplan
Why it’s the best: It goes without saying that if you want more Aeroplan points, you should get an Aeroplan credit card. We recommend the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card as a no fee option. Although the earn rate is low for most purchases, making purchases through the Aeroplan site (and select travel purchases) will help you rack up Aeroplan points faster.
Rewards:
- 1 point per $1 spent on gas, groceries, EV charging, and Air Canada
- 1 point per $1.50 spent on all other purchases
4. Best for earning Air Miles
What it earns: Air Miles
Why it’s the best: If you're an AIR MILES collector and want a no fee travel card, the BMO AIR MILES Mastercard deserves a closer look. While the tiered earn rate doesn’t look terribly impressive, you can link your Air Miles membership card for even more earning opportunities.
Another nice thing about this card is that it offers discounts on car rentals, select entertainment, and hotels throughout Canada.
Rewards:
- 1 Mile per $25 spent on all purchases
- 3x the Miles for every $25 at participating Air Miles partners
- 2x the Miles for every $25 spent at any eligible grocery, liquor, and wholesale stores
5. Best for earning flexible rewards
What it earns: MBNA Rewards
Why it’s the best: The MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard is one of our top picks for cards with no annual fee – travel or otherwise. It has a wide variety of high-value point redemption options, including travel, gift cards, merchandise, and even cash back – though the cash back return rate leaves a little to be desired. With a welcome bonus of up to 10,000 points, you’ll have a big cushion to try out the MBNA Rewards program.
While the average return rate of 1.35% isn’t as high as some others on this list, the MBNA Rewards Platinum Plus Mastercard offers some of the most versatile point redemption in a card with no annual fee.
Rewards:
- 2 points for every $1 spent on restaurants, groceries, and select recurring bills (up to $10,000 spent annually per category)
- 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
6. Best for saving on foreign transaction fees
What it earns: Cash back
Why it’s the best: Cards that help you travel at a discount are great, but what about helping out when you get to your destination? Foreign exchange fees are sneaky fees that get tacked on to every purchase you make in a foreign currency – and they often hover around the 2.5% mark.
The Home Trust Preferred Visa is one of the few cards on the Canadian market right now that will do exactly that. In addition to no annual or foreign exchange fees, you’ll get a steady 1% cash back on all your Canadian purchases. The rewards come as a statement credit every January.
Rewards:
- 1% cash back on all purchases
Pros and cons of travel credit cards
Travel credit cards have a lot going for them, but there are some things you should consider before signing up for one:
Pros:
- Easy to rack up points on travel expenses: You’re probably shelling out a lot for flights, hotels, and incidentals, which can mean earning plenty of rewards points or miles with the right travel card.
- Includes travel perks and benefits: The more premium the card, the more perks you get. We’re talking concierge services, discounts on hotels and rental cars, personalized offers for experiences and exclusive restaurants, and airline lounge access.
- Most include good insurance coverage: The best travel cards come with over a dozen types of coverage, including travel insurance types such as hotel burglary, emergency medical, trip delay, and cancellation coverage.
- Choose your redemption method: Many travel cards offer the option to cash out your reward points or miles for further travel, cash back, statement credits, merchandise, or financial investments.
Cons:
- May have limited redemption options for high-value rewards: Most travel credit cards require you to redeem your rewards towards future travel to maximize their value. This sometimes means you have to book travel through the issuer’s travel platform, which can result in missing out on better deals elsewhere.
- High annual fees: Only one card on our list is a no fee card, and it offers lacklustre insurance coverage and no airport lounge access. Be prepared to pay a hefty annual fee for good travel benefits.
- Limited availability and restrictions: You might have limited choices when it comes to booking rewards travel. For instance, you might have to work around blackout dates or fare restrictions.
How to choose a travel credit card with no annual fee
There are a lot of things to consider when picking a new credit card. To narrow down your options:
- Decide what factors are the most important to you. If you travel abroad frequently, you might choose a card with no foreign exchange fee. If you love getting cash back, you might be looking for the best earn rates on your top spending categories.
- Assess your travel habits. Consider how often you travel and whether you frequently travel during peak times. Do you travel abroad or within Canada? Being aware of your habits can help you find a card that aligns with your travel style.
- Consider how you want to receive your rewards. Some cards offer points, miles, or cash back; some are tied to designated travel rewards programs. If you’re already a loyal participant in a travel program, a co-branded card can narrow your options and help you earn points faster.
Don’t forget to weigh important things like interest rates and card eligibility, as well as additional benefits like insurance coverage, into your decision. If you’re still undecided, take our quiz to find the best credit card for you.
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.
In general, if you get more value from the card than the annual fee costs, it’s a good choice.
FAQ
Is there a travel card with no annual fee?
Yes, there are several travel credit cards with no annual fee. The best of the bunch is the American Express Green Card, which offers several perks and earns valuable American Express Membership Rewards at a high rate.
Is there an airline credit card without an annual fee?
Yes, the CIBC Aeroplan Visa Card doesn't charge an annual fee, but you can still earn Air Canada travel miles on everyday purchases. This is the only card of its kind – no other airlines offer no fee travel cards.
Is it better to get a credit card with no annual fee?
A card with an annual fee may offer more benefits and perks than no fee cards, though this isn't always the case. Really, it's a personal choice, and you'll need to decide whether the features are worth the annual cost.
Which Amex doesn't have an annual fee?
Yes, the American Express Green Card comes with no annual fee and earns 1 Membership Reward point per $1 on all purchases. There’s no need to track spending categories, since you’ll earn the same flat rate everywhere.
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 229 Canadian credit cards.
