Contrary to fashionable perception, you needn’t pay an annual price topping nearly $800 to get the best journey credit card. If you do not journey sufficient to make use of all the advantages that include a top-tier card — or just do not have room in your price range to justify these charges annually — there are nonetheless loads of no-annual-fee cards that may fit your wants.
When it involves hotel credit cards, the excellent news is {that a} no-annual-fee card can give you extra advantages than you would possibly anticipate. Some cards include complimentary elite standing, whereas others arrange a pathway towards incomes it via spending.
Depending on the product you select, no-annual-fee cobranded hotel cards can assist you earn perks particular to sure hotel chains. This is thanks, partially, to the elevated incomes charges they characteristic while you e-book a keep or make an on-property buy.
The best no-annual-fee hotel card will range from individual to individual, however among the best choices at present accessible embody the Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card (see charges and costs) and the Hilton Honors American Express Card (see charges and costs).
Both hotel chains supply properties all around the world, which means you’ve tons of alternatives to earn and redeem factors nearly wherever.
The best no-annual-fee hotel credit cards
Here are our high picks for the best no-annual-fee hotel cards.
The info for the Wyndham Rewards Earner Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Comparing the best no-annual-fee hotel credit cards
| Card | Earning charges | Welcome bonus | Bonus worth* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card |
|
Earn 60,000 bonus factors plus one free night time award (valued at as much as 50,000 factors) after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Certain motels have resort charges. | Up to $770 |
| Hilton Honors American Express Card |
|
Earn 100,000 bonus factors and a $100 assertion credit after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. This supply ends Aug. 13. | Up to $500 (plus the $100 assertion credit) |
| IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card |
|
Earn 120,000 bonus factors after spending $2,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening. | $600 |
| Choice Privileges Mastercard |
|
For a restricted time, earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 on purchases inside three months of card membership. | $360 |
| Wyndham Rewards Earner Card |
|
Earn 60,000 factors after spending $2,000 on purchases inside 90 days of account opening. Resort charges could apply and can’t be paid with factors. | $660 |
| Capital One EnterpriseOne Rewards Credit Card |
|
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles when you spend $500 throughout the first three months from account opening. | $370 |
*Bonus worth is predicated on TPG’s June 2025 valuations and never the cardboard issuer.
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The best no-annual-fee hotel credit cards
Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
Current welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus factors plus one free night time award (valued at as much as 50,000 factors) after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Certain motels have resort charges.
Bonus worth: Up to $770.
Earning charges:
- 3 factors per greenback spent at collaborating Marriott Bonvoy motels
- 2 factors per greenback spent at grocery shops, on ride-hailing providers, on choose meals supply providers, on choose streaming providers and on web, cable and cellphone providers
- 1 level per greenback spent on all different purchases
Other advantages: You’ll turn out to be an computerized Silver Elite member, which will get you perks akin to precedence late checkout and 10% bonus factors on stays, as a cardholder. Therefore, you will have the flexibility to earn as much as 14 factors per greenback spent on eligible Marriott stays (3 factors per greenback with this card, 10 factors per greenback for being a Marriott Bonvoy member and 1 level per greenback for having Silver Elite standing).
You’ll even have the chance to enhance your elite standing the extra you stick with Marriott. This card comes with a number of journey and buy protections, together with baggage loss and delay insurance coverage. To high all of it off, there isn’t any annual price (and no international transaction charges).
Why we prefer it: As you construct up your credit card portfolio, you will ultimately wish to have a card that earns transferable factors, together with an airline card and a hotel card. If Marriott is your hotel chain of selection (we do not blame you since there are greater than 9,000 properties worldwide), the Bold is the right place to begin. With a complimentary jump-start to Silver Elite standing, the probabilities of reaching greater tiers of Marriott elite standing are limitless.
For extra particulars, try our full assessment of the Marriott Bonvoy Bold card.
Apply right here: Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card
Hilton Honors American Express Card
Current welcome bonus: Earn 100,000 Hilton Honors bonus factors and a $100 assertion credit after spending $2,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership.
Bonus worth: Up to $500 (plus the $100 assertion credit).
Earning charges:
- 7 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases made instantly with motels and resorts within the Hilton portfolio
- 5 factors per greenback spent at U.S. eating places (together with takeout and supply), U.S. supermarkets and U.S. gasoline stations
- 3 factors per greenback spent on different eligible purchases
Other advantages: It’s not typically {that a} no-annual-fee card gives you with as many perks because the Hilton Honors Amex does. For starters, get pleasure from complimentary Silver standing to get 20% bonus factors on stays and a fifth-night-free profit. In addition to a profitable rewards price on Hilton and on a regular basis purchases, you will have secondary rental automotive protection and no international transaction charges.
Why we prefer it: The Hilton Honors Amex proves you do not have to pay an annual price to get top-notch perks. The card’s welcome bonus gives a wholesome stash of Hilton Honors factors and ample methods to proceed incomes in your on a regular basis spending. We suggest this card for many who get pleasure from staying at Hilton properties however wish to hold prices as little as doable.
For extra particulars, try our full assessment of the Hilton Honors Amex.
Apply right here: Hilton Honors American Express Card
IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
Current welcome bonus: Earn 120,000 bonus factors after spending $2,000 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening.
Bonus worth: Up to $600.
Earning charges:
- Up to 17 factors per greenback spent at IHG Hotels & Resorts (damaged down as 5 factors per greenback for being an IHG Traveler cardholder, as much as 10 factors per greenback spent on stays for being an IHG One Rewards member and as much as 2 factors per greenback spent on stays with Silver Elite standing, a advantage of this card)
- 3 factors per greenback spent on utilities, web, cable, cellphone providers and choose streaming providers, at gasoline stations and on restaurant purchases (together with takeout and eligible supply)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on every part else
Other advantages: This hotel card comes with the distinctive advantage of a fourth-night-free reward, which means you will pay the worth of three nights to remain for a complete of 4 nights while you e-book with factors. Plus, you will get a 20% low cost on factors purchases while you pay for these factors together with your card.
Why we prefer it: By being strategic with this card, you may get a ton of worth with out paying an annual price.
For extra particulars, try our full assessment of the IHG One Rewards Traveler card.
Apply right here: IHG One Rewards Traveler Credit Card
Choice Privileges Mastercard
Current welcome bonus: For a restricted time, earn 60,000 bonus factors after spending $1,000 on purchases inside three months of card membership.
Bonus worth: Up to $360.
Earning charges:
- 5 factors per greenback spent at eligible Choice Hotels, together with Choice Privileges level purchases
- 3 factors per greenback spent at gasoline stations, at grocery shops, at dwelling enchancment shops and on cellphone plan providers
- 1 level per greenback spent on different purchases
Other advantages: You’ll get computerized Gold standing within the Choice Privileges program, which unlocks advantages akin to an elite welcome reward, early check-in and late checkout. You’ll additionally rise up to $800 of mobile phone safety in opposition to injury or theft while you pay your month-to-month invoice with this card (topic to a $25 deductible), in addition to World Elite Mastercard advantages.
Why we prefer it: Being a Choice Privileges elite member will improve your hotel expertise, and with this card, you will be granted this standing free of charge. While not essentially the most profitable no-annual-fee hotel card on the market, this card gives simplicity — a cause to maintain it in your pockets annually.
For extra particulars, try our full assessment of the Choice Privileges Mastercard.
Apply right here: Choice Privileges Mastercard
Wyndham Rewards Earner Card
Current welcome bonus: Earn 60,000 factors after spending $2,000 on purchases inside 90 days of account opening. Resort charges could apply and can’t be paid with factors.
Bonus worth: Up to $660.
Earning charges:
- 5 factors per greenback spent on motels by Wyndham and gasoline
- 2 factors per greenback spent on eating and at grocery shops (excluding Target® and Walmart®)
- 1 level per greenback spent on every part else
Other advantages: With this card, you will get pleasure from no international transaction charges and complimentary Gold standing, which ensures free Wi-Fi, most well-liked room choice and late checkout. Additionally, you get the flexibility to redeem 10% fewer Wyndham Rewards factors on your eligible stays. Plus, you earn 7,500 bonus factors every anniversary 12 months after spending $15,000 on eligible purchases.
Why we prefer it: For a card with no annual price, those that keep at Wyndham properties frequently can get appreciable worth from the welcome bonus and ongoing Gold elite standing.
Learn extra: Wyndham Rewards Earner Card
Related: Wyndham Rewards: Guide to incomes, redeeming and elite standing
Capital One EnterpriseOne Rewards Credit Card
Current welcome bonus: Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles after spending $500 throughout the first three months from account opening.
Bonus worth: $370.
Earning charges:
- 5 miles per greenback spent on motels and rental vehicles booked via Capital One Travel
- 1.25 miles per greenback spent on all different purchases
Other advantages: While the hotel cards above can get you elite perks or different unique advantages, generally limiting your self to 1 model would not make sense. That’s why the EnterpriseOne is our favourite for all hotel stays, because it gives a easy incomes scheme (limitless 1.25 miles per greenback spent on all purchases), plus a fair easier method to redeem. And when you e-book via Capital One Travel, you will earn 5 miles per greenback.
You can redeem your miles for any hotel (or different journey) fees in your card. If you are a complicated award traveler, you will be pleased to know you can switch your Capital One miles to airline and hotel companions like Air Canada Aeroplan and Singapore KrisFlyer to seek out much more potential worth.
Why we prefer it: We like the pliability that the EnterpriseOne gives. You will not get hotel elite standing with this card, however you should use this card to pay for motels from any model. If all you are searching for is a method to earn and redeem your journey rewards, this can be a good card for you. Plus, with no international transaction charges, you may take the EnterpriseOne with you wherever.
For extra particulars, try our full assessment of the Capital One EnterpriseOne.
Learn extra: Capital One EnterpriseOne Rewards Credit Card
Bottom line
Almost all the no-annual-fee hotel cards on this information get you computerized elite standing. The best choose for you’ll first rely on the hotel chain you favor, however take a deeper have a look at the continuing rewards price and any extra advantages you may get from the cardboard (akin to no international transaction charges or any journey and buy protections).
And bear in mind: Since you are not paying an annual price on any of those cards, you will not have to fret about whether or not you are stretching sufficient worth to justify the associated fee annually.
Related: Earn rewards on a price range with these no-annual-fee credit card methods
For charges and costs of the Hilton Amex card, click on right here.
