This Is Our Top Pick for a No Annual Fee Credit Card in 2025
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The Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees) isn't just beginner-friendly. It'll likely stay in your wallet for years, because it has no annual fee and a high cash back percentage across different spending types.
I've had mine for ages, and even though I experiment with other rewards cards (I'm a points nerd), this one never leaves my lineup.
In fact, our team just awarded it the Best No Annual Fee Card of 2025. Here's why.
Easy cash back across the board
There's no need to opt-in to categories or activate anything monthly. The Chase Freedom Unlimited® just gives you straight cash back for all your spending.
Here's the cash back breakdown and earning rates:
- 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel
- 3% cash back at drugstores, restaurants, takeout, and eligible food delivery
- 1.5% cash back on all other purchases
That last one -- the flat 1.5% -- beats the standard 1% offered by most no-fee cards for everyday spending. And it stacks up fast if you put all your regular purchases on it.
2025 Award Winner
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Intro APR 0% Intro APR on Purchases and Balance Transfers for 15 months
Purchases: 0% Intro APR on Purchases, 15 months
Balance Transfers: 0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers, 15 months
Regular APR
18.99% - 28.49% Variable
Rewards Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases
1.5% - 5% cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
Earn $200 cash back
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The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is the ideal all-in-one card, offering both big upfront value and long-term rewards. New cardholders can earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months. Plus, enjoy unlimited 3% back on dining and drugstores, 5% on travel booked through Chase Travel, and 1.5% on all other purchases. With the added benefit of 0% intro APR for 15 months, this card is perfect for a one-card wallet.
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- Innovative sign-up bonus
- Purchase and travel protections
- Robust rewards program
- Great intro APR
- No annual fee
- Limited bonus opportunities on everyday spending
- Foreign transaction fee
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- Intro Offer: Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99% - 28.49%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
My wife and I spend about $3,000 a month on credit cards. Without any bonus categories or special activity, that 1.5% would give us $540 a year in automatic rewards. Not bad for a no annual fee card!
Get a $200 welcome bonus head start
New Chase Freedom Unlimited cardholders get an extra welcome offer: a $200 welcome bonus after you spend $500 in the first 3 months.
That should be pretty easy for most folks to hit. After getting approved, it's likely just your regular groceries, gas, and Amazon orders will cover it.
Apply for the Chase Freedom Unlimited® today and start working towards that $200 bonus.
0% intro APR for 15 months
A sneaky hidden perk here is the 0% introductory APR for 15 months on both purchases and balance transfers. After that, a 18.99% - 28.49% Variable APR applies.
If you're planning a big expense (like replacing every kitchen appliance after watching too much HGTV -- speaking from experience, don't judge), this card gives you 15 months to pay it off without racking up interest.
Or, if you're stuck paying 20%+ interest on another card, you can transfer that balance and press pause on interest for 15 months. That's a generous window -- longer than most balance transfer offers out there.
More perks than you'd expect for a no-fee card
Even without an annual fee, this card still includes some premium-level benefits:
- Purchase protection on new items (120 days, up to $500 per claim)
- Extended warranties on eligible purchases
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Auto rental coverage
These extras are part of what earned the card a 4.8-out of 5-star rating from our review team this year.
Our favorite no annual fee card for 2025
We review hundreds of cards every year. And only a select few hit the sweet spot between everyday rewards, bonus offers, and ongoing perks.
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is our 2025 award winner for Best No Annual Fee Card. Whether you're a first-timer or a rewards vet looking for a reliable backup, this is one you'll love.
Our Research Expert
Joel is a full-time Personal Finance Writer at Motley Fool Money, known for his clear, approachable voice on topics like credit cards, savings hacks, and side hustles. He’s been writing about money since 2018 and previously managed editorial content for the How To Money podcast.
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