Here Are My 2 Favorite Credit Cards With Annual Fees Under $100

In recent years, the number of credit cards with annual fees of $500 or more on the market has skyrocketed. To be fair, some of them have long lists of perks that can easily justify their cost, but not everyone wants (or needs) to pay such a high fee just to carry a certain credit card in their wallet.

Fortunately, there are still some excellent credit cards with much more reasonable fees. Here are three great products that all have annual fees under $100, all of which could be worth several times their cost to the right consumers.

1. Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select Card

There are a few different American Airlines cobranded credit cards offered by Citi, and the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® is a mid-level product that comes with an annual fee of $99, waived for first 12 months.

In addition to a generous welcome offer, the card packs quite a few perks into such a low-fee product. Perhaps the most valuable for frequent flyers is a free checked bag on domestic American Airlines flights for you and as many as four other people on the same reservation. Since American charges $35 per bag, this benefit can save a family of four $280 per round trip.

Cardholders also get priority boarding, no foreign transaction fees, and 1 status-earning Loyalty Point for every eligible mile earned from purchases. Cardholders who spend more than $20,000 per year also get a $125 American Airlines flight discount upon their annual renewal.

2. IHG Rewards Premier Card

The IHG One Rewards Premier Credit Card is an excellent hotel rewards credit card with a $99 annual fee that's quite reasonable considering the perks. IHG is the parent company of hotel brands such as Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, InterContinental, Kimpton, Staybridge Suites, Candlewood Suites, and more.

In addition to a generous sign-up bonus, the credit card offers a free hotel night every year, which can justify the $99 annual fee several times over. Cardholders get IHG Rewards Club Platinum Elite status automatically, and there are no foreign transaction fees. It earns an excellent rewards rate on stays at IHG hotels, as well as on travel, gas, and restaurant purchases.

The bottom line

You don't need to be willing to pay a massive annual fee to get a credit card with some seriously valuable perks. All three of these have rewards and benefits that can be worth several times their sub-$100 annual fees for those who take advantage.