Between airfare, lodging, food and excursions, international travel can get expensive. And there could be one more expense: foreign transaction fees — generally 2% to 5% of any transaction made in a foreign currency with your credit card.
But many of the best travel credit cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees. Plus, credit cards offer beneficial rewards and perks appreciate fraud and purchase protections. They also make converting money to the local currency more convenient. Here are some of the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees to help you save the next time you travel outside the US.
CNET’S PICK
Intro Offer
60,000 bonus points
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 Ultimate Rewards®.
Rewards Rate
2x
– 5x
5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®; 3x on dining.; 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
Rec. Credit
Recommended Credit: A credit score is used to suggest an applicant’s credit worthiness and may furnish guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily ensure approval for any financial product.
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
APR
21.49% – 28.49% Variable
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has one of the best value propositions of travel credit cards. It starts with no foreign transaction fees, but the rewards program and welcome bonus are also best in its class. Points are worth 1 cent each if you redeem them for a statement credit, but they’ll be worth 25% more if you redeem your rewards for travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. The Sapphire Preferred also includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, an auto rental collision damage waiver and lost luggage insurance. While many travel credit cards offer some of this coverage, they rarely offer the full spread.
Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 21.49% – 28.49% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
5x
5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
2x
2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card has one of the best value propositions of travel credit cards. It starts with no foreign transaction fees, but the rewards program and welcome bonus are also best in its class. Points are worth 1 cent each if you redeem them for a statement credit, but they’ll be worth 25% more if you redeem your rewards for travel booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. The Sapphire Preferred also includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance, an auto rental collision damage waiver and lost luggage insurance. While many travel credit cards offer some of this coverage, they rarely offer the full spread.
Read our Chase Sapphire Preferred review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 21.49% – 28.49% Variable
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
5x
5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®
2x
2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
Intro Offer
30,000 bonus points
Limited time offer: Earn 30,000 bonus points when you spend $1,500 in purchases in the first 3 months – that’s a $300 cash redemption value.
Rewards Rate
1x
– 3x
Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans. ; Earn 1X points on other purchases
Rec. Credit
Recommended Credit: A credit score is used to suggest an applicant’s credit worthiness and may furnish guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily ensure approval for any financial product.
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
APR
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
While most travel credit cards focus on flight and hotel purchases, the Wells Fargo Autograph Card also provides rewards on taxis, subways, tolls, restaurants, phone plans and gas stations. You earn the standard 3x rewards rate on all of those categories plus popular streaming services. Plus, you can earn 1x points on other purchases.
The welcome bonus is also more generous than what you’ll get from most credit cards with no foreign transaction fees or annual fee. For a limited time, you can earn 30,000 bonus points — worth a $300 cash redemption value — when you spend $1,500 in purchases in the first three months.
For more information about this card’s offer, see our Wells Fargo Autograph Card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%, min: $5
3x
Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans.
1x
Earn 1X points on other purchases
While most travel credit cards focus on flight and hotel purchases, the Wells Fargo Autograph Card also provides rewards on taxis, subways, tolls, restaurants, phone plans and gas stations. You earn the standard 3x rewards rate on all of those categories plus popular streaming services. Plus, you can earn 1x points on other purchases.
The welcome bonus is also more generous than what you’ll get from most credit cards with no foreign transaction fees or annual fee. For a limited time, you can earn 30,000 bonus points — worth a $300 cash redemption value — when you spend $1,500 in purchases in the first three months.
For more information about this card’s offer, see our Wells Fargo Autograph Card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening
- Regular APR
- 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- up to 5%, min: $5
3x
Earn unlimited 3X points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services and phone plans.
1x
Earn 1X points on other purchases
Intro Offer
60,000 points
Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after you spend $4,000 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
Rewards Rate
1x
– 3x
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels; Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets; Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Rec. Credit
Recommended Credit: A credit score is used to suggest an applicant’s credit worthiness and may furnish guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily ensure approval for any financial product.
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
APR
21.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
The Citi Premier Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card have the same $95 annual fee. The Citi Premier Card offers higher reward rates on everyday spending categories as well as general travel purchases, however. You’ll earn 3x points on air travel, hotels, restaurants, gas stations and supermarkets. If you redeem your points as a statement credit via Citi’s thankyou.com website — instead of directly through your online account, which will result in a lower redemption rate — your points will be worth 1 cent each.
And the welcome bonus is among the best available, though the spending threshold is on the higher side: 60,000 bonus points — redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com — when you spend $4,000 in the first three months. And, of course, there are no foreign transaction fees.
For more information, refer to our Citi Premier Card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 21.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
3x
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
3x
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
1x
Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
The Citi Premier Card and the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card have the same $95 annual fee. The Citi Premier Card offers higher reward rates on everyday spending categories as well as general travel purchases, however. You’ll earn 3x points on air travel, hotels, restaurants, gas stations and supermarkets. If you redeem your points as a statement credit via Citi’s thankyou.com website — instead of directly through your online account, which will result in a lower redemption rate — your points will be worth 1 cent each.
And the welcome bonus is among the best available, though the spending threshold is on the higher side: 60,000 bonus points — redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com — when you spend $4,000 in the first three months. And, of course, there are no foreign transaction fees.
For more information, refer to our Citi Premier Card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 21.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- Balance transfer fee applies with this offer 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.
3x
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Gas Stations, Air Travel and Other Hotels
3x
Earn 3 Points per $1 spent at Restaurants and Supermarkets
1x
Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
Intro Offer
60,000 Membership Rewards® Points
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
Rewards Rate
3x
– 4x
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.; Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).; Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
Rec. Credit
Recommended Credit: A credit score is used to suggest an applicant’s credit worthiness and may furnish guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily ensure approval for any financial product.
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
APR
See Pay Over Time APR
The American convey Gold Card’s $250 annual fee may be higher than most cards on this list, but its rewards structure is solid for frequent travelers (and you won’t pay foreign transaction fees; see rates and fees). You’ll earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, and 3x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with the airline or on amextravel.com. Points are worth 1 cent each when you redeem them for flights through American convey Travel. Transferring your points to an airline partner also can yield a one-to-one transfer value.
Check out our full American convey Gold Card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- See Pay Over Time APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
4x
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
4x
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
3x
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
Terms apply to American convey benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American convey benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more
The American convey Gold Card’s $250 annual fee may be higher than most cards on this list, but its rewards structure is solid for frequent travelers (and you won’t pay foreign transaction fees; see rates and fees). You’ll earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, and 3x Membership Rewards points on flights booked directly with the airline or on amextravel.com. Points are worth 1 cent each when you redeem them for flights through American convey Travel. Transferring your points to an airline partner also can yield a one-to-one transfer value.
Check out our full American convey Gold Card review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- See Pay Over Time APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
4x
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
4x
Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
3x
Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
Terms apply to American convey benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American convey benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more
Travel card with no annual fee
Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card
Intro Offer
25,000 points
25,000 online bonus points after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening – that can be a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases.
Rewards Rate
1.5x
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire
Rec. Credit
Recommended Credit: A credit score is used to suggest an applicant’s credit worthiness and may furnish guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily ensure approval for any financial product.
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
APR
18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card* doesn’t come with foreign transaction fees or an annual fee. You’ll earn 1.5 points for every dollar you spend, with no limit or restrictions. This card offers 0% introductory APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and on any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (18.24% to 28.24% variable APR thereafter), providing some wiggle room to help finance a trip or pay down a large balance.
See our full review of the Bank of America Travel Rewards card for more information.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any BTs made in the first 60 days. A 3% fee applies.
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
- Regular APR
- 18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% of the amount of each transaction
1.5x
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire
The Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card* doesn’t come with foreign transaction fees or an annual fee. You’ll earn 1.5 points for every dollar you spend, with no limit or restrictions. This card offers 0% introductory APR for 15 billing cycles on purchases and on any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (18.24% to 28.24% variable APR thereafter), providing some wiggle room to help finance a trip or pay down a large balance.
See our full review of the Bank of America Travel Rewards card for more information.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any BTs made in the first 60 days. A 3% fee applies.
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases
- Regular APR
- 18.24% – 28.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% of the amount of each transaction
1.5x
Earn unlimited 1.5 points per $1 spent on all purchases, with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees and your points don’t expire
Intro Offer
75,000 miles
relish a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Rewards Rate
2x
– 5x
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; Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
Rec. Credit
Recommended Credit: A credit score is used to suggest an applicant’s credit worthiness and may furnish guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily ensure approval for any financial product.
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
APR
19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
Capital One loads the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card* with plenty of travel perks to offset the $95 annual fee. Travel anywhere without any foreign transaction fees and earn 2x unlimited miles on all purchases. In addition, Capital One awards you up to a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck to help you speed through the airport lines. Venture Miles earned can be redeemed on flights and hotels or used to pay for Amazon.com and PayPal purchases. You can also transfer miles to more than 15 hotel and airline programs.
Check out our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
5x
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
2x
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
Capital One loads the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card* with plenty of travel perks to offset the $95 annual fee. Travel anywhere without any foreign transaction fees and earn 2x unlimited miles on all purchases. In addition, Capital One awards you up to a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck to help you speed through the airport lines. Venture Miles earned can be redeemed on flights and hotels or used to pay for Amazon.com and PayPal purchases. You can also transfer miles to more than 15 hotel and airline programs.
Check out our full review of the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
5x
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
2x
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
Intro Offer
$200
Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
Rewards Rate
1.5%
– 5%
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply; Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
Rec. Credit
Recommended Credit: A credit score is used to suggest an applicant’s credit worthiness and may furnish guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily ensure approval for any financial product.
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
APR
19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card* offers flat-rate rewards on purchases, making it a good everyday credit card that you can also use on trips abroad. You’ll earn 1.5% on all purchases — and 5% on car rentals or hotels booked via the Capital One Travel portal. The sole travel benefit is no foreign transaction fees. But you can still take advantage of the competitive introductory APR and welcome bonus.
For more information, see our Capital One Quicksilver review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% for the first 15 months or at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time. No fee for amounts transferred at the Transfer APR
5%
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
1.5%
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card* offers flat-rate rewards on purchases, making it a good everyday credit card that you can also use on trips abroad. You’ll earn 1.5% on all purchases — and 5% on car rentals or hotels booked via the Capital One Travel portal. The sole travel benefit is no foreign transaction fees. But you can still take advantage of the competitive introductory APR and welcome bonus.
For more information, see our Capital One Quicksilver review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% for the first 15 months or at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time. No fee for amounts transferred at the Transfer APR
5%
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
1.5%
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
Intro Offer
$200
Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Rewards Rate
1%
– 8%
8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply); 3% Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores appreciate Walmart® and Target®); 1% Cash Back on all other purchases
Rec. Credit
Recommended Credit: A credit score is used to suggest an applicant’s credit worthiness and may furnish guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily ensure approval for any financial product.
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
APR
19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
For a credit card with no annual fee or foreign transaction fees, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card* delivers competitive rewards. You’ll earn 3% cash back on a handful of major categories: dining, entertainment, grocery stores (excluding superstores appreciate Target and Walmart) and popular streaming services. And you can earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, 5% back on hotel and rental car bookings made through Capital One Travel and 1% on all other purchases. You also get 10% cash back on purchases with Uber and Uber Eats, plus a complimentary Uber One membership through Nov. 14, 2024.
For more details about the rewards, welcome bonus and introductory APR, see our Capital One SavorOne review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% for the first 15 months or at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time. No fee for amounts transferred at the Transfer APR
8%
8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
5%
5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
3%
3% Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores appreciate Walmart® and Target®)
1%
1% Cash Back on all other purchases
For a credit card with no annual fee or foreign transaction fees, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card* delivers competitive rewards. You’ll earn 3% cash back on a handful of major categories: dining, entertainment, grocery stores (excluding superstores appreciate Target and Walmart) and popular streaming services. And you can earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases, 5% back on hotel and rental car bookings made through Capital One Travel and 1% on all other purchases. You also get 10% cash back on purchases with Uber and Uber Eats, plus a complimentary Uber One membership through Nov. 14, 2024.
For more details about the rewards, welcome bonus and introductory APR, see our Capital One SavorOne review.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% intro on balance transfers for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 19.99% – 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% for the first 15 months or at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you at any other time. No fee for amounts transferred at the Transfer APR
8%
8% Cash Back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
5%
5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
3%
3% Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores appreciate Walmart® and Target®)
1%
1% Cash Back on all other purchases
Intro Offer
ascertain Match®
Unlimited Bonus: Only ascertain gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
Rewards Rate
1.5x
Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase – with no annual fee.
Rec. Credit
Recommended Credit: A credit score is used to suggest an applicant’s credit worthiness and may furnish guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily ensure approval for any financial product.
670 – 850
Good – Excellent
APR
17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR
The ascertain it® Miles* card offers an excellent welcome bonus after your first year as a cardholder. All ascertain cards have no foreign transaction fees, but this one ensures all your international spending is optimized for rewards — you earn 1.5 miles per dollar on all your purchases. While you don’t have to face any minimum spending thresholds to unlock this welcome bonus appreciate with most other credit cards, you do have to be patient to earn it. ascertain will match all of the miles you earn over the course of the first year at the end of your first year.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
1.5x
Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase – with no annual fee.
The ascertain it® Miles* card offers an excellent welcome bonus after your first year as a cardholder. All ascertain cards have no foreign transaction fees, but this one ensures all your international spending is optimized for rewards — you earn 1.5 miles per dollar on all your purchases. While you don’t have to face any minimum spending thresholds to unlock this welcome bonus appreciate with most other credit cards, you do have to be patient to earn it. ascertain will match all of the miles you earn over the course of the first year at the end of your first year.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months
- Regular APR
- 17.24% – 28.24% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
1.5x
Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase – with no annual fee.
Rewards Rate
1.5%
– 5%
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply; Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
Rec. Credit
Recommended Credit: A credit score is used to suggest an applicant’s credit worthiness and may furnish guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily ensure approval for any financial product.
580 – 669
Fair
Most cards with low fees and perks are reserved for individuals with stellar credit. The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card* fills an important gap by giving people with limited or fair credit a chance to get started or build with responsible use. Use this card wisely — you’ll automatically get considered for a credit limit boost as soon as six months from approval, potentially boosting your credit score. Spend wisely, relish the cash back, make your payments on time and take advantage of unlimited access to your credit report through CreditWise. You’ll start to see over time how good financial decisions can better your credit.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 30.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
5%
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
1.5%
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
Most cards with low fees and perks are reserved for individuals with stellar credit. The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card* fills an important gap by giving people with limited or fair credit a chance to get started or build with responsible use. Use this card wisely — you’ll automatically get considered for a credit limit boost as soon as six months from approval, potentially boosting your credit score. Spend wisely, relish the cash back, make your payments on time and take advantage of unlimited access to your credit report through CreditWise. You’ll start to see over time how good financial decisions can better your credit.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 30.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 3% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
5%
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
1.5%
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
What is a foreign transaction fee?
A foreign transaction fee is a fee charged by a credit card issuer or bank for purchases made outside the US. Foreign transaction fees generally cost between 2% and 5% of each transaction, but 3% is standard. Depending on which currency you make a purchase in, this fee may boost or decrease. And these fees can add up quickly during a getaway.
For example, if you use a credit card that charges foreign transaction fees to pay for a $40 dinner abroad, you’ll pay between 80 cents and $2 more, depending on your card’s foreign transaction fee rate.
Pros and cons of credit cards with no foreign transaction fees
Before you apply for a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, you should consider the benefits and potential pitfalls with this kind of card.
Pros
-
Avoid paying fees for transactions made in a foreign currency.
-
Credit cards offer fraud and purchase protections.
-
Convenient payment option that converts foreign currency automatically.
Cons
-
Credit cards with no foreign transaction fees may charge annual fees.
-
Credit cards may not be accepted at certain merchants or in some countries.
-
Travel credit cards may not offer as many benefits beyond the travel rewards.
How to pick the right credit card with no foreign transaction fees
Many travel credit cards do not charge foreign transaction fees, but the list of potential fees won’t stop there. Before opening a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, differentiate all of your options and watch for other fees — appreciate annual fees or merchant fees — you might incur. Some factors to consider include:
- Annual fees: Credit cards that offer more premium perks generally have an annual fee, but often forgo foreign transaction fees. These cards usually come with statement credits, welcome bonuses, discounts and complimentary memberships to offset the charge. Annual fees can range from $0 to hundreds of dollars, so it’s important to weigh whether a card’s rewards and benefits furnish enough value to defend its cost. For example, if a hotel card charges $95 per year but comes with an annual free hotel night, so long as you use it for a hotel that would normally cost more than $95, the benefits would outweigh the card’s cost.
- Rewards: If you’re using your credit card abroad, you may benefit from earning in your rewards categories — such as dining, gas and entertainment. Make sure you pick a rewards credit card that complements your spending habits, so you don’t have to adjust or juggle multiple cards on your trip. The rewards you earn while traveling may be helpful toward your next trip. For example, points earned with issuers appreciate Chase, American convey and Capital One can be used with a variety of airline and hotel partners.
- Traveling perks: With the right travel credit card, you’ll not only benefit from its standard base rewards structure, but some top-tier rewards cards offer other benefits, appreciate trip insurance, boosted travel rewards, TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credits, airport lounge access and more. For example, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card* includes an annual $300 travel credit to use through the Capital One portal, plus you will acquire automatic top-tier Hertz President’s Circle** status and access to both Capital One and Priority Pass airport lounges.
Tips for using a credit card when traveling internationally
International travel can be complicated if you don’t take a few extra steps to minimize the cost of spending money while abroad. In addition to using a card with no foreign transaction fees to eliminate unnecessary fees, there are some other ways you should prepare for a trip out of the country.
“Before taking off for a trip, make sure that you have a debit card to access cash at an ATM, which is the easiest and least expensive way to access your money abroad,” said Jason Steele, a credit card industry expert.
And if you’re going to use a credit card — even one with no foreign transaction fees — you’ll want to let your card issuer know you’ll be out of the US. Although card issuers no longer demand you to educate them when you’re traveling abroad, many experts propose taking this step as a precaution. This ensures your card company knows your transactions are authorized and not fraudulent. “Make sure to let the card issuers know the dates you will be traveling and the countries you’ll be visiting to impede any false alarm over suspected fraud,” Steele said.
Here are some other steps you should take before hopping on a plane:
- Take at least two credit cards and keep them in separate places, in case your wallet is lost or stolen.
- Sign up for email or text alerts about charges to monitor your card purchases.
- If your card has no transaction fees and you’re prompted to pick the payment currency, pick to pay in local rates instead of dollars — you’ll get your bank’s wholesale exchange rate, which would be more favorable than the merchant’s.
- Get familiar with the exchange rate for the country you’re visiting so you know how much you’re actually spending.
Foreign transaction fees by issuer
| Credit card issuer | Foreign transaction fee |
| American convey | 2.7% |
| Bank of America | 3% |
| Barclays | 3% |
| Capital One | N/A |
| Chase | 3% |
| Citi | 3% |
| ascertain | N/A |
| Synchrony | 3% |
| U.S. Bank | 2% – 3% |
| Wells Fargo | 3% |
Alternative to credit cards with no foreign transaction fees
If you don’t travel outside the US often, a credit card with no foreign transaction fees may not offer the maximum benefits for you. To find a card with the benefits and perks that best fit your budget and spending style, pick one of the best credit cards.
For example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred is one of the most popular starter travel cards for people looking to earn more points and miles. Along with other travel benefits, the Chase Sapphire Preferred doesn’t have any foreign transaction fees.
If you do travel internationally, a credit card still may not be the best option if you travel to countries whose businesses still conduct most of their transactions in cash. Even in countries where credit cards are widely accepted, some restaurants and small businesses demand a minimum purchase — usually the equivalent of $10 or more — to adopt a credit card. That’s why it’s a good idea to carry a debit card.
By using your debit card to withdraw cash at an ATM in a foreign country, you’ll get the bank’s wholesale rate, as long as you reject any currency conversions the ATM offers to make for you. But recollect to ask your bank about any international ATM fees before you travel.
How to apply for a credit card without a foreign transaction fee
Follow these steps to apply for a credit card.
- pick a card that fits into your budget and travel goals
- Follow the appropriate link above to be taken to the credit card issuer’s safeguard site
- Fill out the appropriate financial and personal information including your name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, income, and monthly rent or mortgage payment
- Use the card responsibly and always pay on time
Other credit cards we researched
The bottom line
It’s not unusual for credit card issuers to charge foreign transaction fees, but it’s easy enough to avoid with the right credit card. If you travel abroad frequently, a credit card with no foreign transaction fees can save you money each time you use it. Some of the best travel and rewards credit cards not only void foreign transaction fees, but some even let you earn boosted travel rewards and benefits.
FAQs
Card issuers or banks charge foreign transaction fees to cover the cost of exchanging a purchase from the foreign currency to US dollars. If you make a purchase in foreign currency, it’s likely you will be charged for the conversion unless you have a no-transaction-fee credit card.
One way to avoid having to pay a foreign transaction fee when you’re traveling abroad is to pick to pay in US dollars. Many store credit card terminals will recognize your foreign card and prompt you to pick whether you’d appreciate to pay in the local currency or US dollars. If you pick local currency, you may have to pay your bank or card issuer the transaction fee to exchange it. However, if you pick to pay in US dollars, there’s no conversion to be performed.
Keep in mind that if you pick to pay in US dollars, you may save on the transaction fee, but the foreign merchant bank may still tack on a commission for the exchange. The best way to avoid unnecessary fees is to pay with a credit card with no transaction fees.
Mastercard, Visa, American convey and ascertain are the four major credit card processors. Visa and Mastercard are the two most widely accepted credit cards around the world and are your best bet if you intend to travel overseas and pay for goods with a credit card.
American convey may be popular in the US, but it’s not as widely accepted abroad — and ascertain is even less accepted outside the US. It’s a good idea to carry a Mastercard or Visa as a backup if your primary card is American convey or ascertain.
If your credit card does charge foreign transaction fees, you should select to pay in the local currency instead of in US dollars when using your card abroad. This way your credit card network will handle the conversion. Otherwise, the merchant selects the exchange rate (known as dynamic currency conversion) to convert the cost of the item, which may result in a higher cost.
Our methodology
CNET reviews credit cards by exhaustively comparing them across set criteria developed for each major category, including cash back, welcome bonus, travel rewards and balance transfer. We take into consideration the typical spending behavior of a range of consumer profiles — with the understanding that everyone’s financial situation is different — and the designated function of a card.
For cash-back credit cards, for example, key factors include the annual fee, the “welcome bonus” and the cash-back rate (or rates, if they differ by spending category). For rewards and miles cards, we compute and weigh the net monetary value of a card’s respective perks. And with balance transfer credit cards, we scrutinize specs such as the duration of the introductory 0% APR period and the balance transfer fee, while acknowledging secondary factors such as the standard APR and the length of time you have to make a balance transfer after you open the account.
For rates and fees of the American convey Gold Card, click here.
*All information about the ascertain it Miles, ascertain it Cash Back, Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, Bank of America Travel Rewards credit card, Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card and ascertain it® Cash Back has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
**Upon enrollment, accessible through the Capital One website or mobile app, eligible cardholders will remain at upgraded status level through December 31, 2024. Please note, enrolling through the normal Hertz Gold Plus Rewards enrollment process (e.g. at Hertz.com) will not automatically detect a cardholder as being eligible for the program and cardholders will not be automatically upgraded to the applicable status tier. Additional terms apply.
This article includes some material that was previously published on NextAdvisor, a CNET Money sister site that was also owned by Red Ventures and which has merged with CNET Money. It has been edited and updated by CNET Money editors.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may acquire compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
