The Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Rewards Card -- Here's Why It Won

Maybe it's just me, but I think travel cards are starting to get way out of hand. I'm talking about $500+ annual fees, bloated benefit packages, and credits for luxury services most people don't even use.

That's why this year, when we chose our Best No-Annual-Fee Travel Card for the 2026 Motley Fool Money Credit Card Awards, we went the other direction. We chose a card that delivers real value without overcomplicating everything.

The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card (rates and fees) ran away with the win.

It's simple, useful, fits regular spending habits, and earns strong travel rewards without charging you a dime to keep it.

Easy travel rewards, no annual fee, no fuss

We analyzed dozens of cards for this category. But the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card stood out as the one that fits most regular Americans.

It's a perfect fit for people who travel occasionally, spend consistently, and want simple rewards that just work.

Here's what pushed it to the top of our list:

• $0 annual fee
• 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans
• A welcome offer of 20,000 bonus points (worth $200) when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months
• Flexible redemption options: cash back, statement credit, travel, or gift cards

Probably my favorite thing about earning rewards is that you don't need to book through a specific travel portal to earn the high rewards rate.

Most travel cards lock you into their proprietary booking site -- and if you find a better deal elsewhere, you only get the base rate (usually 1%). The Wells Fargo Autograph® Card lets you book however you want and still earn 3X points.

Learn more in our full Wells Fargo Autograph® Card review and apply today.

How regular spending could earn $670+ in rewards

Here's a quick snapshot of how your rewards could add up over the course of a year.

This is based on a total spend of about $3,200 monthly, split across common spending categories.

Total: 67,200 points per year = ~$670 in rewards

That's nearly $700 in value just from living normal life and buying groceries, gas, travel, and paying bills.

That's enough for two roundtrip flights, a few hotel nights, or a chunky statement credit to clear everyday expenses.

Plus, a nice head start

There's also a great welcome offer that's pretty easy to qualify for.

New cardholders can earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months (worth $200 in redemption value.)

As soon as you apply and get the card, just funnel your regular expenses through it and you'll likely hit the target quickly.

And since there's no annual fee, all your rewards are pure upside.

Who it's best for (and who might want more)

If you don't like paying annual fees but still want to earn decent travel rewards, you'll like the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card.

There's no annual fee, a great welcome bonus, and everything you buy earns travel rewards. And if you do book a lot of travel, you'll earn the highest rewards rate from any travel spending (not locked into a specific portal to book stuff).

That being said, it's not for everyone. If you're after airport lounge access, premium travel perks, or high-end transfer partners, you might prefer a higher end luxury card.

Still, for most people, the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card punches well above its weight.

Check out all our top travel rewards cards to find the best fit for your lifestyle and goals.

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