Personal Finance Credit Cards
Written by Tessa Campbell; edited by Katherine Fan
- No Annual Fee
- Sub-$100 Annual Fee
- Premium Travel
- Premium Benefits
- Simplest Rewards
- FAQs
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Best Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fee of 2024
- Discover it® Cash Back: Best with no annual fee
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best travel card with an annual fee under $100
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best premium travel card
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best premium card with the most benefits
- Capital One VentureRewards Credit Card: Best card with the simplest reward structure
Introduction to No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Cards
Foreign transaction fees are some of the most irritating charges associated with credit cards. They punish you with a fee ranging from 3% to 5% of your purchase for spending your money outside the U.S. Whenever you travel abroad, you may be subject to foreign transaction fees. Luckily, plenty of the best credit cards don't charge pesky foreign transaction fees.
Below, you'll find some of our favorite rewards credit cards without foreign transaction fees. We emphasize travel rewards credit cards that offer bonus points and miles for airfare, hotels, and more.
Compare the Top Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fee
Best with no annual fee
Discover it® Cash Back
On Discover's website
Insider’s Rating
Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
3.8/5
Perks
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR
18.24% - 28.24% Variable
Intro Offer
Unlimited Cashback Match™ – Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Earn Unlimited Cashback Match™
Recommended Credit
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
Good to Excellent
Pros
- From July 1 to September 30, 2024, you can earn 5% cash back atWalmart and grocery stores on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%
- Discover will match your cash back earned at the end of your first account year
- No annual fee
Cons
- Cap on how much bonus cash back you can earn each quarter
- If the quarterly categories aren't convenient for you, you can earn more cash back with a different card
Insider’s Take
The Discover it® Cash Back is one of the best credit cards that offers 5% back on popular rotating categories up to a spending limit. Your rewards are matched by Discover after the first 12 months, and the card has no annual fee.
Discover it Cash Back review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
- Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- Apply and you could get a decision in as little as 60 seconds.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- No annual fee.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Best travel card with an annual fee under $100
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's website
Insider’s Rating
Business Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
4.4/5
Perks
Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. Earn 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries. Earn 2x on all other travel purchases. Earn 1x on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Intro Offer
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Recommended Credit
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
Good to Excellent
Pros
- High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
- Strong travel coverage
Cons
- Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Insider’s Take
If you're new to travel rewards credit cards or just don't want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.
Sapphire Preferred Card review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
Best premium travel card
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
On Chase's website
Insider’s Rating
Business Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
4.4/5
Perks
Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$550
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
22.49% - 29.49% Variable
Intro Offer
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Recommended Credit
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
Good to Excellent
Pros
- Annual travel credit can effectively shave $300 off the annual fee if you use it
- Strong travel insurance
- Strong bonus rewards on travel and dining
Cons
- Very high annual fee
Insider’s Take
If you're new to rewards credit cards you may want to start elsewhere, but if you know you want to earn Chase points and you spend a lot on travel and dining, the Sapphire Reserve is one of the most rewarding options.
Chase Sapphire Reserve review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursem*nt for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
Best premium card with the most benefits
The Platinum Card® from American Express
On American Express's website
Insider’s Rating
Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
4.4/5
Perks
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Points on other purchases.
Annual Fee
See Rates and Fees
$695
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Intro Offer
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
- Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
- Annual statement credits with Saks and Uber
Cons
- Bonus categories leave something to be desired
- One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards
Insider’s Take
If you want as many premium travel perks as possible, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the right card for you. The annual fee is high, but you get a long list of benefits such as airport lounge access, travel statement credits, complimentary hotel elite status, and more.
Amex Platinum Card review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peaco*ck, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
Best card with the simplest rewards structure
Capital One VentureRewards Credit Card
On Capital One's website
Insider’s Rating
Business Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
4.55/5
Perks
Earn 5x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2x miles on every purchase.
Annual Fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% variable
Intro Offer
75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first cardholder year
Earn 75,000 bonus miles, plus $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
- $50 experience credit and free upgrades on Capital One Lifestyle Collection bookings
- Includes up to a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
Cons
- Other credit cards offer higher rewards in certain categories of spending
Insider’s Take
If you want an easy, no-fuss travel rewards credit card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great fit. For a moderate annual fee, it offers plenty of value, useful benefits, and a substantial welcome bonus.
Capital One VentureRewards Card review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
- Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fee Reviews
When you travel abroad, it's important to recognize what's in your wallet: The wrong credit card can easily cost you an extra 3% to 5% on every purchase, simply because of foreign transaction fees.
None of the credit cards on this list charge foreign transaction fees, and they also offer significant travel benefits. That's why Business Insider's credit card experts have chosen the following cards as our top choices for travelers in 2024.
Best Cash Back with No Annual Fee: Discover it® Cash Back
Introductory APR: 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then 18.24% - 28.24% Variable
Annual Fee: $0
Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.
The Discover it Cash Back earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent each quarter in bonus categories once activated (then 1%) (from July 1 to September 30, 2024, earn 5% cash back atWalmart and grocery stores on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%). There's no traditional welcome bonus; instead, Discover will match all the rewards you earn after the first year. Along with no foreign transaction fees, Discover cards do not charge an annual fee.
Discover it Cash Back Card Review
Best with no annual fee
Discover it® Cash Back
On Discover's website
Insider’s Rating
Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
3.8/5
Perks
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.
Annual Fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers
Regular APR
18.24% - 28.24% Variable
Intro Offer
Unlimited Cashback Match™ – Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
Earn Unlimited Cashback Match™
Recommended Credit
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
Good to Excellent
Pros
- From July 1 to September 30, 2024, you can earn 5% cash back atWalmart and grocery stores on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%
- Discover will match your cash back earned at the end of your first account year
- No annual fee
Cons
- Cap on how much bonus cash back you can earn each quarter
- If the quarterly categories aren't convenient for you, you can earn more cash back with a different card
Insider’s Take
The Discover it® Cash Back is one of the best credit cards that offers 5% back on popular rotating categories up to a spending limit. Your rewards are matched by Discover after the first 12 months, and the card has no annual fee.
Discover it Cash Back review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
- Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases—automatically.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- Apply and you could get a decision in as little as 60 seconds.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- No annual fee.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Best Travel Card with Sub-$100 Annual Fee: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Introductory APR: N/A
Annual Fee: $95
Rewards: 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, and 1x on all other purchases
One of the most popular and recommended travel rewards credit cards, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers 5 Chase Ultimate Rewards® points per dollar spent on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 5x points on Lyft rides through March 2025, 2x points on all other travel purchases, including internationally, and 3x points on dining.
Dining includes things like restaurants, bars, pubs, coffee shops, and more, while travel includes airfare, hotels, Airbnb, taxis, rideshare services like Uber, subways, and more. Right now, the Chase Sapphire Preferred offers awelcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Review
Best travel card with an annual fee under $100
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
On Chase's website
Insider’s Rating
Business Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
4.4/5
Perks
Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠. Earn 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries. Earn 2x on all other travel purchases. Earn 1x on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
21.49% - 28.49% Variable
Intro Offer
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Recommended Credit
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
Good to Excellent
Pros
- High intro bonus offer starts you off with lots of points
- Strong travel coverage
Cons
- Doesn't offer a Global Entry/TSA PreCheck application fee credit
Insider’s Take
If you're new to travel rewards credit cards or just don't want to pay hundreds in annual fees, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a smart choice. It earns bonus points on a wide variety of travel and dining purchases and offers strong travel and purchase coverage, including primary car rental insurance.
Sapphire Preferred Card review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
Best Premium Travel Card: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
Introductory APR: N/A
Annual Fee: $550
Rewards: Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
The Sapphire Reserve is essentially a beefed-up version of the Preferred, with a higher annual fee and a few key differences.
You get a $300 travel statement credit each cardmember year to cover your first $300 of travel charges, and a higher earning rate of 5x total points on air travel and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (after earning the $300 travel credit) and 3x points on other travel and dining (plus 10x points on Lyft rides through March 2025 and 1 point per dollar on everything else).
The Sapphire Reserveoffers a welcome bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Reserve cardholders can now activate a complimentary two-year Lyft Pink All Access membership (value of $199 per year) for discount pricing, priority pickup, unlimited rides, and more. And with the card, you can access the new Chase Sapphire Terrace at Austin Airport (AUS).
As with the Preferred, the Sapphire Reserve got a refresh, with improved or new bonus categories and benefits like access to the new Chase Sapphire Lounges at Hong Kong airport (HKG) and Boston (BOS), with more locations to come. As a Visa Infinite card, it offers top-notch travel insurance and purchase protection as well.
Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card Review
Best premium travel card
Chase Sapphire Reserve®
On Chase's website
Insider’s Rating
Business Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
4.4/5
Perks
Earn 5x points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1x point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$550
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
22.49% - 29.49% Variable
Intro Offer
60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening
Earn 60,000 bonus points
Recommended Credit
Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.
Good to Excellent
Pros
- Annual travel credit can effectively shave $300 off the annual fee if you use it
- Strong travel insurance
- Strong bonus rewards on travel and dining
Cons
- Very high annual fee
Insider’s Take
If you're new to rewards credit cards you may want to start elsewhere, but if you know you want to earn Chase points and you spend a lot on travel and dining, the Sapphire Reserve is one of the most rewarding options.
Chase Sapphire Reserve review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursem*nt for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™ Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Member FDIC
Best Premium Card With Luxury Benefits: The Platinum Card® from American Express
Introductory APR: 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership
Annual Fee: $695
Rewards: Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Points on other purchases.
The Platinum Card® from American Express is more or less the flagship premium travel card and one of the best metal cards, offering rewards, perks, and benefits that can net a ton of value for cardholders — whether you're traveling or staying close to home. You can more than offset the card's $695 annual fee if even a handful of card perks fit into your normal spending habits.
The Platinum Card® from American Express has no foreign transaction fees and earns 5 points per dollar on flights booked directly with the airline and through American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year), 5 points per dollar on prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel, and 1 point per dollar on everything else.
There's also an excellent welcome offer: 80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership.
You'll also get up to a $200 annual airline incidental fee credit**, up to $200 in Uber credits (including Uber Eats)** each year ($15 each month, plus a bonus of $20 in December), access to more than 1,200 airport lounges around the world, complimentary hotel elite status with Hilton and Marriott**, and up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits per year**.
American Express Platinum Card Review
Best premium card with the most benefits
The Platinum Card® from American Express
On American Express's website
Insider’s Rating
Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
4.4/5
Perks
Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel (on up to $500,000 per calendar year) and on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel. Earn 1X Points on other purchases.
Annual Fee
See Rates and Fees
$695
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
See Pay Over Time APR
Intro Offer
80,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new card in your first six months of card membership
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® points
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
- Long list of travel benefits, including airport lounge access and complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott (enrollment required)
- Annual statement credits with Saks and Uber
Cons
- Bonus categories leave something to be desired
- One of the highest annual fees among premium travel cards
Insider’s Take
If you want as many premium travel perks as possible, The Platinum Card® from American Express could be the right card for you. The annual fee is high, but you get a long list of benefits such as airport lounge access, travel statement credits, complimentary hotel elite status, and more.
Amex Platinum Card review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peaco*ck, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: CLEAR® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
- Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 year period for TSA PreCheck® application fee for a 5-year plan only (through a TSA PreCheck® official enrollment provider), when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
Best Card with the Simplest Reward Structure: Capital One VentureRewards Credit Card
Introductory APR: N/A
Annual Fee: $95
Rewards: Earn 5x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2x miles on every purchase.
The Capital One VentureRewards Credit Card is another great option without foreign transaction fees and with an annual fee under $100, especially because you can transfer Capital One miles to various airline and hotel programs with an improved 1:1 ratio for most partners (rates and fees).
The card earns 2 miles per dollar on most purchases (along with 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through the Capital One Travel Portal) — the simplest rewards structure among travel credit cards. You can also redeem Capital One miles at a fixed rate of 1 cent each toward travel purchases made with your card, without having to worry about award charts and blackout dates.
Capital One Venture Card Review
Best card with the simplest rewards structure
Capital One VentureRewards Credit Card
On Capital One's website
Insider’s Rating
Business Insider's Ratings are decided by our editorial team. The rating system considers various factors and evaluates cards against others of the same type so you can pick a card that is a good fit for your goals.
4.55/5
Perks
Earn 5x miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 2x miles on every purchase.
Annual Fee
$95
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% variable
Intro Offer
75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first cardholder year
Earn 75,000 bonus miles, plus $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year
Recommended Credit
Good to Excellent
Pros
- $50 experience credit and free upgrades on Capital One Lifestyle Collection bookings
- Includes up to a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
Cons
- Other credit cards offer higher rewards in certain categories of spending
Insider’s Take
If you want an easy, no-fuss travel rewards credit card, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a great fit. For a moderate annual fee, it offers plenty of value, useful benefits, and a substantial welcome bonus.
Capital One VentureRewards Card review External link Arrow An arrow icon, indicating this redirects the user."
Product Details
- Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enrich every hotel stay from the Lifestyle Collection with a suite of cardholder benefits, like a $50 experience credit, room upgrades, and more
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
No Foreign Transaction Fee Credit Card Frequently Asked Questions
How do foreign transaction fees work?
When you're using a credit card that charges a foreign transaction fee and you make a purchase abroad, you'll be charged an extra fee, as a percentage of your purchase amount. The fee is generally 3% of your purchase, and it will be added to your monthly bill.
Your foreign transaction fee may be broken down into two parts: a fee charged by the payment network (as in Visa or Mastercard) and a fee charged by your credit card company.
Do foreign transaction fees apply online?
In addition to applying to purchases you make while traveling abroad, a foreign transaction fee could be charged when you purchase from a vendor that's based outside of your home country. If you're shopping with a retailer or travel company based abroad, your best bet is to pay with a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees just to be safe.
Should I pay in local currency or US dollars with my credit card when traveling?
Some merchants may offer the option to pay in local currency or your home currency when you use your credit card for a purchase. You should always pay in local currency because merchants can give a conversion rate much lower than the market exchange rate. Therefore, local currency rates will be closer to the actual market rate.
Plus, if you pay in US dollars, you'll typically be charged an additional fee (usually around 3%) from Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), which is an unaffiliated third-party service that converts transactions to your home currency.
Why You Should Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees
Virtually all of the best travel rewards credit cards waive foreign transaction fees by this point, so for this guide, we focused on narrowing it down to the best options in various categories. We drew heavily from our editors' expertise and the input of experts, as quoted in our guide to the best rewards credit cards, to come up with this list of the most popular categories of cards.
You'll find a top pick for cash back, a top pick for travel rewards (in two different budget categories), our top airline credit card options, and more.
You can learn more about how we rate credit cards at Business Insider.
Investing and Retirement Reporter
Tessa Campbell is an investing and retirement reporter on Business Insider’s personal finance desk. Over two years of personal finance reporting, Tessa has built expertise on a range of financial topics, from the best credit cards to the best retirement savings accounts.ExperienceTessa currently reports on all things investing — deep-diving into complex financial topics, shedding light on lesser-known investment avenues, and uncovering ways readers can work the system to their advantage.As a personal finance expert in her 20s, Tessa is acutely aware of the impacts time and uncertainty have on your investment decisions. While she curates Business Insider’s guide on the best investment apps, she believes that your financial portfolio does not have to be perfect, it just has to exist. A small investment is better than nothing, and the mistakes you make along the way are a necessary part of the learning process.Expertise:Tessa’s expertise includes:
- Credit cards
- Investing apps
- Retirement savings
- Cryptocurrency
- The stock market
- Retail investing
Education:Tessa graduated from Susquehanna University with a creative writing degree and a psychology minor.When she’s not digging into a financial topic, you’ll find Tessa waist-deep in her second cup of coffee. She currently drinks Kitty Town coffee, which blends her love of coffee with her love for her two cats: Keekee and Dumpling. It was a targeted advertisem*nt, and it worked.
Top Offers From Our Partners
Chime® Checking Account Set up Direct Deposit and get your paycheck up to 2 days before your coworkers.** No overdraft fees. No monthly fees. Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. **Early access to direct deposit funds depends on the timing of the submission of the payment file from the payer. We generally make these funds available on the day the payment file is received, which may be up to 2 days earlier than the scheduled payment date.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, please click here.
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed in this article are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Read our editorial standards.
Please note: While the offers mentioned above are accurate at the time of publication, they're subject to change at any time and may have changed, or may no longer be available.
**Enrollment required.
***Terms, conditions, and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details. Travel Accident Insurance is not guaranteed, it depends on the level of benefits you get at application.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
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