Best No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards

Details

The Chase Sapphire Reserve is our top pick among credit cards that boast no foreign transaction fees. Cardholders earn 5x total points on air travel and 10x total points on car rentals and hotels when purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards immediately after you spend the first $300 on travel purchases annually. Earn 3 points on all other travel and when you dine at restaurants worldwide (including takeout and eligible delivery services), and receive 1 point per dollar spent on everything else.

If you spend your points on travel using the Chase travel portal, you’ll receive a 50% bonus on each point. You can also earn a 60,000-point early spending bonus for using your card for $4,000 in purchases over your first 3 months.

The Chase Sapphire Reserve has a $550 annual fee, which is largely offset if you claim the card’s $300 annual travel credit. You’ll also get up to $100 in statement credits for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® every four years.

Why We Like It

If you’re looking for a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, you’re likely someone who’s on the road and out of the country quite a bit. Not only does the Chase Sapphire Reserve charge no foreign transaction fees, it’s also one of the best travel cards on the market. You can earn a great signup bonus when you get the card. One attractive feature of the card is its built-in travel and purchase protections, which can help save you money if things go awry.

One major perk of the Chase Sapphire Reserve is the versatility of how you can redeem points. You can convert them into cash back or even use them through Chase’s own travel portal, which gives you a 50% bonus on each point. You also have the option to transfer points to a variety of hotel and airline partners. All of this makes the Chase Sapphire Reserve a great card for travelers looking to avoid foreign transaction fees.

Details

The American Express® Gold Card is a close second in our roundup of the best cards with no foreign transaction fees. With the Gold Card, you’ll earn 4x points on up to $25,000 in annual purchases at U.S. supermarkets, after which you will earn 1x points. You’ll also earn 4x points at restaurants in the U.S. (including takeout and delivery), 3x points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com and 1x points on other purchases. You can earn a 60,000-point welcome bonus after spending $4,000 in the first six months of card membership.

The Gold Card has a $250 annual fee and charges no foreign transaction fees. You can partially offset the annual fee by taking advantage of a $10 monthly statement credit when you dine at certain restaurants or through Seamless, Grubhub or a handful of other vendors (enrollment required). Terms Apply.

Why We Like It

Like the Chase Sapphire Reserve, the American Express® Gold Card earns solid transferable points and has good bonus categories. You can use the points you earn with your Gold Card to book travel directly through American Express, or you can transfer them out to a variety of hotel and airline loyalty programs.

The American Express® Gold Card doesn’t have the same built-in travel and purchase protections as the Chase Sapphire Reserve, but it’s still a solid option for anyone who travels and dines out frequently. Note that Amex isn’t as widely accepted as Visa and Mastercard, so it’s good to also have a backup option in your wallet just in case.

Details

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is the most straightforward card on our list. The card has no annual fee and earns you unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. You can also earn a $200 early spending bonus after spending $500 within your first 3 months of being a cardholder. You don’t have to wait to redeem your cash back and it stays with you as long as your account is open.

Why We Like It

Anyone looking for a simple, no-frill cash back credit card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees should take a serious look at the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. With a simple earning structure and no annual fee, there isn’t much reason not to have this card in your wallet. While you won’t earn transferable points, this card is a great way to get a little money back on all of your day-to-day purchases at home and around the world.

Details

The Deserve EDU Mastercard for Students is a great option for students who want to avoid foreign transaction fees. This card has no annual fee and earns 1% cash back on all purchases. It’s easy to get approved for with average or limited credit, as college students often have. You’ll have access to up to $600 in cell phone protection with your card. On top of everything, you’ll get one year of Amazon Prime Student after spending $500 in the first three billing cycles with your EDU card.

Why We Like It

While there are other student-centric cards that may seem like better choices, the Deserve EDU Mastercard for Students stands out because of its broad usability as a Mastercard and its easy cash back benefits. While 1% cash back isn’t particularly great, it’s still a solid rate, especially considering it applies to all purchases. Any student looking for a card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees should strongly consider the Deserve EDU.

Details

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a solid, but simple travel rewards card with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. When you use your card, you’ll earn 1.25 points for every dollar that you spend. You can then use these points to offset travel purchases, but you can also transfer them to a variety of different hotel and airline transfer partners if you’d like to redeem your rewards that way. Right now, you can earn an early spend bonus of 20,000 miles after you spend $500 in the first three months of card membership.

Why We Like It

The Capital One Venture Card, which is the VentureOne’s premium counterpart, is arguably a better all-around card. However, the VentureOne shouldn’t be overlooked. It’s still a great travel option and boasts many key features, all for no annual fee. For starters, the card has no foreign transaction fees, making it a solid option whether you’re abroad or at home. It also simplifies travel rewards, allowing you to redeem points as straight cash back against travel purchases.

However, a key feature of both the VentureOne and the Venture cards is that you can transfer your miles to airline and hotel partners. This option can often give you outsized value for your points, so don’t overlook it when it comes to planning your next trip. Either way, the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is a great option for anyone that wants a simple travel rewards card that doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees or an annual fee.