These cards offer the lowest ongoing purchase rates, high number of interest free days, and may earn rewards points - all for no annual fee.
7+
Great
Reasonable ongoing purchase rates and interest free days.
5+
Standard
These cards offer no fees, but may have higher interest rates.
0+
Basic
These are basic cards with no annual fee.
The lowdown on Finder Score
To qualify for this category, credit cards must:
Charge no annual fee for at least 12 months.
Every month, we carefully analyse over 250 credit card products and assess the most important features and benefits of each card.
We assign scores out of 10 for each feature, and adjust the scores depending on what category we're looking at.
Credit card scores are category-specific (e.g. No annual fee, Rewards), meaning the same card will receive a different score within each category.
Our Finder Score methodology is designed by our editorial and insights team. Products are reviewed objectively and commercial partners carry no weight. Remember that Finder Score is just one factor to consider. Look at other aspects like fees, features, benefits and risks to make sure a product is suitable for you. Double-check details that matter to you before applying or buying.
Annual fee credit cards - score weightings
Feature
Definition
Assessment
Weight
Annual Fee
Ongoing fees per year
Lower fees get higher scores, with $0 getting the highest score
30%
First-Year Fee
Introductory fee for the first year
Lower fees get higher scores, with $0 getting the highest score
20%
Interest-Free Days
The number of interest-free days
Higher number of interest-free days score more points, up to 55 days
10%
Value of points earned per month
Points earned for every dollar spent on eligible purchases
Points awarded per dollar
20%
Purchase Rate
Interest rate on new purchases
Lower rates receive higher scores
20%
Finder Score by the numbers
9+ Excellent - These cards offer the lowest ongoing purchase rates, high number of interest free days, and may earn rewards points - all for no annual fee.
7+ Great - Reasonable ongoing purchase rates and interest free days.
5+ Satisfactory - These cards offer no fees, but may have higher interest rates.
Less than 5 – Basic - These are basic cards with no annual fee.
A high 22.74% p.a. interest rate on balance transfers after the introductory period
A 21.99% p.a. interest rate on purchases applies at the end of the introductory period
No interest-free days if you have a balance transfer
Why we like it
The Kogan Money Card – Exclusive Offer is a genuine $0 annual fee card. Not just for the first year. You can earn rewards when you shop at Kogan and there's a decent balance transfer offer too.
This card has a Finder Score of 9.9 in the no annual fee category.
Best no annual fee cards: HSBC Premier World MasterCard - Qantas Frequent Flyer
HSBC Premier World MasterCard - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Up to 1.5 Qantas Points per $1 on eligible spending
$0 annual fee
Complimentary domestic and international travel insurance
Airport lounge access through Mastercard Airport Experiences/LoungeKey
No introductory bonus points offer
3% foreign transaction fee
Why we like it
The HSBC Premier World Mastercard lets you earn Qantas Points on your spending at a high rate. And it has no annual fee at all, plus perks like complimentary travel insurance.
This card has a Finder Score of 9.7 in the no annual fee category.
Best no annual fee cards: American Express Low Rate Credit Card
Complimentary card purchase cover and card refund cover
$30 late payment fee if you miss your minimum repayment
3% foreign currency conversion fee
No rewards program
Why we like it
There is no annual fee for this card at all.
The cards also has a low purchase rate and comes with complimentary card purchase cover.
How does a credit card with no annual fee work?
A no annual fee credit card allows you to shop and spend, without having to pay a yearly fee for the account. This can save you from $25 to as much as $1,750 for credit cards with an annual fee.
Just like other cards, interest and other charges may apply. But if you pay off the balance in full each month – and can get interest-free days on purchases – it's the closest you can get to free credit.
Finder's database contains every credit card we could find on the market, including some that offer balance transfers, rewards and other benefits. Right now, there are 29 credit cards on the market that charge no annual fee, ever.
Pros and cons of $0 annual fee credit cards
Pros
Save money on credit card fees. The most obvious perk of these cards is that you won't pay an annual fee. This could save you tens, hundreds or thousands of dollars over the life of the card.
Practical and cost-effective. A no annual fee credit card can be ideal for emergencies and when extra credit is required. This means you can leave it in your wallet without worrying about it costing you when you're not using it.
Promotional offers and perks. Depending on the card you choose, you can get big bonus points offers, 0% balance transfers and other perks as well as a $0 annual fee for the first year or ongoing.
Cons
Higher interest rates. These cards typically charge higher ongoing interest rates on purchases than some other cards. This could add to your costs if you regularly carry a balance from month to month.
Fewer extra features. While some no annual fee cards do come with rewards and other benefits, they typically boast fewer features than cards with a higher annual fee.
Temporary $0 annual fee. Unfortunately, not all of these cards offer a $0 annual fee for the life of the card. If your card only waives the annual fee for the first year, make sure you know the standard annual fee and when it will apply.
A $0 annual fee credit card saves you money up front, but make sure you get the most from it. Always pay it off every month in full - once you're paying interest, the card isn't free. And look for other features as well - if you can earn frequent flyer points, you can save real money on travel just by using your card for everyday purchases.
Some no annual fee credit cards offer the basics, while others have more features and benefits. This means you can compare credit cards that combine a $0 annual fee with other features, including introductory 0% interest rate offers, frequent flyer points, reward points and complimentary extras. Here are some examples.
Earns 0.75 Qantas Points per $1 spent on everyday purchases, 0.5 point / $1 with government bodies in Australia and an additional 1.75 Qantas Point per $1 spent on selected Qantas products and services in Australia, uncapped.
Offers 0% foreign transaction fees overseas and online with international merchants. Plus, complimentary overseas travel insurance.
$0
19.99% p.a.
How to find the right no annual fee credit card
Ask yourself these questions to help compare your options:
How often do you use your credit card? Finder research shows 41% of Australians got their most recent credit card for emergencies. If you rarely use a credit card but want one for unplanned expenses or emergencies, getting one with no annual fee helps you save on costs when you're not using it.
Do you carry a balance? Some no annual fee credit cards have high interest rates that are better suited to cardholders who pay their balance in full each statement period. If you regularly carry a balance, you might want to consider a low interest credit card instead.
Do you have existing debt? You could consider a balance transfer credit card to save money on interest charges for an introductory period. Or, focus on paying off your current debts before you get a new credit card.
Will you use the credit card after a $0 annual fee promotion ends? If it doesn't have a competitive interest rate or enough extra features to outweigh the ongoing cost, you might want to cancel the card before the annual fee is charged.
What other credit card fees and charges will you pay? As well as interest rates, make sure you check for other credit card fees that could apply, including foreign transaction fees, late payment fees and cash advance charges.
Interest-free spending hack
Most credit cards offer a number of interest-free days (such as up to 55) on purchases when you pay your account balance in full by the due date on your statement. So if you pay your account in full, make use of interest-free days and don't have an annual fee, your credit card could cost you nothing.
Frequently asked questions
If you have a card with a promotional $0 annual fee offer, the annual fee will usually be charged 12 months after you were approved for the credit card.
If you get a credit card that offers no annual fee in the first year, you can cancel it before the annual fee is charged in the second year. Just check your account details online or contact your credit card provider to find out exactly when the annual fee would be charged – and make sure you have paid off the balance – so you can cancel the account before that date.
This depends on the credit card provider. For example, some providers may waive your credit card annual fee when you also take out a home loan package with them. Others may waive or refund your annual fee if you meet specific conditions, such as spending a set amount each year or being a student. You can check the terms and conditions or ask the credit card company to see if an ongoing waiver is possible, or compare cards with ongoing $0 annual fees instead.
If you always pay off your balance in full and can make use of interest-free days on purchases, then a no annual fee card can be very affordable. But if you carry a balance that attracts a high interest rate, the interest charges could make your credit card an expensive option. In this case, you might want to compare credit cards and look at the potential savings you'd get from a card with a low interest rate (even if it has an annual fee).There is no such thing as a "free credit card" because there is always the potential cost of interest if you carry a balance. There are also other credit card fees that may apply for certain transactions (such as cash advances or purchases made in a foreign currency). But in most cases, if you have a $0 annual fee card and pay off your account balance in full by the due date on each statement, you won't be charged interest and can use the card at no cost.
Yes, there are a few no annual fee, low rate credit cards on the market. You can use the filters on Finder's comparison table to narrow down your search based on rates, fees and other features you want. But keep in mind that $0 annual fees and low rates are generally offered on separate cards – except when one of the features is promotional. For example, a $0 annual fee card may offer an introductory low or 0% interest rate before reverting to a higher standard rate, while a low rate credit card could offer a waived annual fee in the first year.
Having a bad credit rating will limit your chances of being approved and getting a credit card, regardless of whether there's an annual fee. You can use our bad credit rating credit card guide to see what credit alternatives are available for applicants with a negative credit history.
2024 Finder Award winner and finalists
Find out which brand took first place at the 2024 Finder Awards for no annual fee credit cards.
The American Express Low Rate Credit Card won the 2024 Finder Award for Best No Annual Fee Credit Card. It scored highly for its $0 annual fee, low interest rate for purchases and interest-free days. It also offers $0 additional cardholder fees and has won the Finder Award for this category every year since 2020.
The Heritage Bank Gold Low Rate Credit Card scored highly for its $0 annual fee and low 11.8% interest rate. Unlike the other finalists in this category, it does not offer interest-free days. It was also a finalist in this category in 2023. But unlike the other finalists, it does not offer interest-free days.
The Hume Value Visa offers a $0 annual fee, a low 11.95% interest rate for purchases and up to 55 days interest-free, which saw it score well across the criteria considered for this category.
Every year the Finder Credit Card Awards honor Australia's best credit cards, with expert analysis of rates, fees and offers based on 12 months' worth of data. Offers change regularly, so these cards may not currently have the most competitive deals but you can use them as a benchmark.
Why you can trust Finder's credit card experts
Obsessed with offers - You want all the perks and none of the fees, and we want that for you too. So we're tracking all the current no-fee cards, in one handy guide.
Save yourself some time. Why waste 100s of hours researching no-fee credit cards, when we've done the hard yards for you? Simply sit back, sort the options and get the card that suits your needs
No BS. We'll explain how all the credit card fees work and how you can avoid interest – and we'll always explain it all in plain English.
Richard Whitten is a money editor at Finder, and has been covering home loans, property and personal finance for 6+ years. He has written for Yahoo Finance, Money Magazine and Homely; and has appeared on various radio shows nationwide. He holds a Certificate IV in mortgage broking and finance (RG 206), a Tier 1 Generic Knowledge certification and a Tier 2 General Advice Deposit Products (RG 146) certification. See full bio
Richard's expertise
Richard has written 552 Finder guides across topics including:
Make the most of credit cards offering $0 annual fee in the first year and learn about other ways to save on this yearly cost with this guide to annual fees.
Share your credit card with a partner or family member but watch for extra costs. Compare cards and learn more about credit cards that offer free additional cardholders.
HSBC Card. Why does it show 17.99% on purchases then further down the list it advises Interest Free for up to 55 days??
Finder
JacobMay 2, 2013Finder
Hi Ray,
Thanks for your question.
Interest-free days are applied to all purchases provided that you are not carrying a balance from month to month, this includes a balance transfer amount, purchases, and cash advances that you have not paid from the previous statement period. If you are carrying a balance, then the standard rate for purchases will apply from the day you use your card to make a purchase. If you are wondering about how interest-free days work, you may check our guide to interest-free period. Before applying, please ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria and read through the details of the needed requirements as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jacob
caroleApril 26, 2013
Apparently I need to have a credit card to hire a car. They take an imprint of the card even although you’ve paid for the hire. I’d like a no interest card because I only want to use it for this type of thing on occasions. Can you be charged on an imprint only, when you are on holidays?
Finder
JacobApril 27, 2013Finder
Hi Carole,
Thanks for your question.
If they take an imprint of your card, it is most likely that they are just taking it in case they need to charge you for damage to the car, etc. You should speak to the merchant directly about this, if they plan to charge you, they will tell you about it. In regard to the no-interest credit cards. You can press the “Go to Site” button of your preferred credit card to proceed with your application. You can also contact the provider if you have specific questions. A gentle reminder, please ensure to read through the relevant product disclosure statement and terms and conditions to ensure that you got everything covered before you apply.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jacob
RoslynApril 20, 2013
Hi, Hubby and I have a credit card with Aussie. The Aussie card payment can only be paid by Bpay or direct debit as they are not linked with a bank – as I missed a payment recently they have hit me with a “late payment fee” and an “overlimit fee” as the annual fee was also debited which pushed the account over the limit. All up there were two fees of $25.00 each and the annual fee of $50.00 on the one statement – is this fair and can Aussie do this?
Finder
JacobApril 21, 2013Finder
Hi Roslyn. You shouldn’t be charged an over limit fee with this card, there is however, a late payment fee applicable. The annual fee is charged to the first statement period and will accrue the purchase rate of interest if it isn’t paid in the first statement period. Please speak to an Aussie Credit Card customer service agent to find out more about this. Jacob.
MollyApril 12, 2013
what credit card has the most days interest free? I can only see 55. Is there a 6month int free card?
Finder
JacobApril 13, 2013Finder
Hi Molly,
There are 0% Purchase Cards with a no-interest period on purchases when you first activate the card.
If you get one of these cards, you’re not going to get charged extra by the bank when you use the card to make purchases for a set period. After this term is over, you get up to 55 days interest-free (which is the longest period offered currently [excluding the GE Visa Card, which currently gives you 6 months interest-free for purchases over $250.]).
You may read about our interest-free period guide for an explanation on how to manage your account to maximise interest free days.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Jacob
marieApril 7, 2013
hi I’m looking for a card that will never charge an annual fee ever or interest or charge a fee if you don’t use the card i only want it for a back up but i don’t want to get charged if i don’t use the card as i am going to Australia August / September. Is there an all in one credit card that will do that without any hidden extras and also with a low credit limit for a fair credit rating with out extra hidden charges i seen so many credit cards but I am so confused as to which is the best overall card that wont ever charge of i don’t use it any ideas thanks.
Finder
JacobApril 7, 2013Finder
Hi Marie.
Thanks for your question.
Our comparison guide on no annual fee credit cards is the place to start your search. These cards, as you described, don’t charge an annual fee for the life of the card. If you pay the balance of the card in full each month, you will receive interest-free days on your purchases, and you won’t rack up any additional charges. It is not going to cost you anything to keep the card if you don’t use the card at all. Also, there are no charges for closing a credit card account provided you have paid the entire balance prior to closing.
Before applying, please ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria and read through the details of the needed requirements as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jacob
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Obsessed with offers - You want all the perks and none of the fees, and we want that for you too. So we're tracking all the current no-fee cards, in one handy guide.
Save yourself some time. Why waste 100s of hours researching no-fee credit cards, when we've done the hard yards for you? Simply sit back, sort the options and get the card that suits your needs
No BS. We'll explain how all the credit card fees work and how you can avoid interest – and we'll always explain it all in plain English.
HSBC Card. Why does it show 17.99% on purchases then further down the list it advises Interest Free for up to 55 days??
Hi Ray,
Thanks for your question.
Interest-free days are applied to all purchases provided that you are not carrying a balance from month to month, this includes a balance transfer amount, purchases, and cash advances that you have not paid from the previous statement period. If you are carrying a balance, then the standard rate for purchases will apply from the day you use your card to make a purchase. If you are wondering about how interest-free days work, you may check our guide to interest-free period. Before applying, please ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria and read through the details of the needed requirements as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jacob
Apparently I need to have a credit card to hire a car. They take an imprint of the card even although you’ve paid for the hire. I’d like a no interest card because I only want to use it for this type of thing on occasions. Can you be charged on an imprint only, when you are on holidays?
Hi Carole,
Thanks for your question.
If they take an imprint of your card, it is most likely that they are just taking it in case they need to charge you for damage to the car, etc. You should speak to the merchant directly about this, if they plan to charge you, they will tell you about it. In regard to the no-interest credit cards. You can press the “Go to Site” button of your preferred credit card to proceed with your application. You can also contact the provider if you have specific questions. A gentle reminder, please ensure to read through the relevant product disclosure statement and terms and conditions to ensure that you got everything covered before you apply.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jacob
Hi, Hubby and I have a credit card with Aussie. The Aussie card payment can only be paid by Bpay or direct debit as they are not linked with a bank – as I missed a payment recently they have hit me with a “late payment fee” and an “overlimit fee” as the annual fee was also debited which pushed the account over the limit. All up there were two fees of $25.00 each and the annual fee of $50.00 on the one statement – is this fair and can Aussie do this?
Hi Roslyn. You shouldn’t be charged an over limit fee with this card, there is however, a late payment fee applicable. The annual fee is charged to the first statement period and will accrue the purchase rate of interest if it isn’t paid in the first statement period. Please speak to an Aussie Credit Card customer service agent to find out more about this. Jacob.
what credit card has the most days interest free? I can only see 55. Is there a 6month int free card?
Hi Molly,
There are 0% Purchase Cards with a no-interest period on purchases when you first activate the card.
If you get one of these cards, you’re not going to get charged extra by the bank when you use the card to make purchases for a set period. After this term is over, you get up to 55 days interest-free (which is the longest period offered currently [excluding the GE Visa Card, which currently gives you 6 months interest-free for purchases over $250.]).
You may read about our interest-free period guide for an explanation on how to manage your account to maximise interest free days.
I hope this helps.
Regards,
Jacob
hi I’m looking for a card that will never charge an annual fee ever or interest or charge a fee if you don’t use the card i only want it for a back up but i don’t want to get charged if i don’t use the card as i am going to Australia August / September. Is there an all in one credit card that will do that without any hidden extras and also with a low credit limit for a fair credit rating with out extra hidden charges i seen so many credit cards but I am so confused as to which is the best overall card that wont ever charge of i don’t use it any ideas thanks.
Hi Marie.
Thanks for your question.
Our comparison guide on no annual fee credit cards is the place to start your search. These cards, as you described, don’t charge an annual fee for the life of the card. If you pay the balance of the card in full each month, you will receive interest-free days on your purchases, and you won’t rack up any additional charges. It is not going to cost you anything to keep the card if you don’t use the card at all. Also, there are no charges for closing a credit card account provided you have paid the entire balance prior to closing.
Before applying, please ensure that you meet all the eligibility criteria and read through the details of the needed requirements as well as the relevant Product Disclosure Statements/Terms and Conditions when comparing your options before making a decision on whether it is right for you.
I hope this helps.
Cheers,
Jacob