Best no annual fee credit cards

Get a no annual fee card for a rainy day. If you don't use it, it won't cost you anything to keep the account open.

By Verified by Kwok Zhong Li   |   Updated 29 Apr 2024

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Comparing of 21 no annual fee credit cards

American Express Singapore Airlines Business Credit Card

On website

FeaturedApply by 29 May 2024

American Express Singapore Airlines Business Credit Card

Cashback

N/A

Cashback cap

N/A

Minimum spend

N/A

Sign up bonus

57,200 points

Highlights

  • Enjoy a welcome offer of your choice and travel rewards worth over S$1,200: Earn up to 68,000 HighFlyer points or a Samsonite luggage, a complimentary Accor Plus membership worth S$418 offering a free night’s stay every year, and up to 20,000 HighFlyer points worth S$190 when you spend with the Singapore Airlines Group. Terms and Conditions apply.
  • Earn up to 8.5 HighFlyer points per S$1 spent on eligible Singapore Airlines Group flights.
  • Earn 1.8 HighFlyer points per S$1 spent on all other eligible spend.

Pros

  • Earn generous welcome offers.
  • Enjoy Priority Pass membership with two complimentary visits per year for you and a guest.
  • Fast-track to KrisFlyer Elite Gold status with S$15,000 spent with the Singapore Airlines Group within the first 12 months.
  • Offers 51 interest-free days.
  • Flexible payment with Pay Small.

Cons

  • The annual fee of S$301.79 p.a (inclusive of 8% GST).
HSBC Advance Credit Card

On website

HSBC Advance Credit Card

Cashback

3.50% on any spend

Cashback cap

$70.00 on any spend

Minimum spend

N/A

Sign up bonus

Get a S$200 cashback or a Samsonite ZELTUS 69cm Spinner Exp with built-in scale when you apply now. Terms and Conditions Apply.

Highlights

  • Get up to 3.5% Base Cashback on local and overseas spend (Terms and Conditions apply).
  • Get an additional 1% Bonus Cashback with HSBC Everyday+ Rewards Programme.
  • 1-year annual credit card fee waiver.

Pros

  • Earn up to 3.5% cashback when you meet the criteria.
  • No minimum spend is required.
  • Split your purchases into installments at 0% interest over 3 to 24 months.
  • Comes with complimentary travel insurance.
  • Enjoy shopping, dining, and travel deals.

Cons

  • The annual fee reverts to S$194.40 p.a. after the initial year (waived if you spend S$12,500 per year).
  • The ongoing interest rate of 26.90% p.a.
HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card

On website

HSBC Visa Platinum Credit Card

Cashback

Up to 5.00% on dining spend

Cashback cap

$1000.00 on dining spend

Minimum spend

S$600.00 per month, every quarter

Sign up bonus

Get a S$200cashback or a Samsonite ZELTUS 69cm Spinner Exp with built-in scale when you apply now. Terms and Conditions Apply.

Highlights

  • 5% cash rebate on dining, groceries and fuel.
  • 1 reward point per dollar spent.
  • 2-year annual credit card fee waiver.

Pros

  • Earn up to 5% cashback.
  • Additional 17% instant discount when you fuel up at Caltex or Shell.
  • No annual fee for the first 2 years.
  • Enjoy Visa Platinum credit card privileges.

Cons

  • Cashback is capped at $1,000 per year.
HSBC Revolution Credit Card

On website

HSBC Revolution Credit Card

Cashback

N/A

Cashback cap

N/A

Minimum spend

N/A

Sign up bonus

Get a S$200 cashback or a Samsonite ZELTUS 69cm Spinner Exp with built-in scale when you apply now. Terms and Conditions Apply.

Highlights

  • Up to 10X Reward points on online purchases and contactless payments (equivalent to 4 miles per S$1 spend).
  • 1X Reward point per S$1 spend on other purchases.
  • No minimum spend is required.
  • $0 annual credit card fee.

Pros

  • Earn 10x rewards points on online and contactless spending.
  • Get an additional 1% Bonus Cashback with HSBC Everyday Global Account
  • S$0 p.a. annual fee.
  • Includes travel insurance coverage against flight inconvenience and personal accidents.
  • Get instant discounts of up to 14% off at Shell stations and 16% off petrol at Caltex stations.

Cons

  • There is a 10,000 monthly cap on rewards points earned (online and contactless spending only).
American Express Platinum Charge Card

Apply by 29 May 2024

American Express Platinum Charge Card

Cashback

N/A

Cashback cap

N/A

Minimum spend

N/A

Sign up bonus

Receive up to 135,000 Membership Rewards points. Terms and Conditions apply.

Highlights

  • Receive up to 135,000 Membership Rewards points. Get a welcome offer of 87,500 Membership Rewards points with a minimum spending of S$6,000 within the first 2 months of Card approval, receive 40,000 Membership Rewards points upon Annual Fee payment, and 7,500 Membership Rewards points based on the S$6,000 spent. Terms and Conditions apply.
  • Receive up to S$2,247 credits in a calendar year to spend across a selection of travel and premium lifestyle brands.
  • Enjoy unlimited complimentary access to over 1,400 airport lounges around the world.

Pros

  • Receive up to 135,000 Membership Reward points when you meet the criteria.
  • Get complimentary upgrades for global hotels and lifestyle loyalty programs
  • Receive complimentary upgrades to Hotel Loyalty Programmes.
  • Earn 5 Amex Points for every S$1.60 spent with Singapore Airlines, SilkAir, and Scoot.
  • Earn 2 Amex points for every S$1.60 spent on another qualified spending.

Cons

  • The annual fee is S$1,728 p.a. (inclusive of 8% GST)
American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Ascend Credit Card

Cashback

N/A

Cashback cap

N/A

Minimum spend

N/A

Sign up bonus

Receive up to 34,000 KrisFlyer miles when you meet the criteria. Terms and Conditions apply.

Highlights

  • Receive up to 34,000 KrisFlyer miles points. Get 5,000 KrisFlyer miles for the very first charge on card, receive a welcome offer of 25,400 KrisFlyer miles points upon annual fee payment and a minimum spend of S$3,000 within the first 3 months of card approval, and 3,600 KrisFlyer miles based on the S$3,000 spent. Terms and Conditions apply.
  • Get a complimentary one-night stay at Hilton Properties in the Asia Pacific and 4 complimentary lounge access passes each year with exclusive Hertz privileges worldwide.
  • Accelerated upgrade to KrisFlyer Elite Gold Membership with a minimum spend of $15,000 on singaporeair.com within the first 12 months of card approval. This comes with an additional 20kg baggage allowance and other priority privileges.

Pros

  • Enjoy an accelerated upgrade to KrisFlyer Elite Gold membership with a minimum spend of $15,000 on SIA within 12 months of getting your card.
  • Enjoy Double KrisFlyer Miles Accrual Voucher (capped at 5,000 bonus KrisFlyer Miles) with min. spend of S$15,000 on Singapore Airlines from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.
  • On top of 1.2 KrisFlyer Miles per 1$ on local spend, you can earn KrisFlyer Miles at accelerated rates when spending overseas, for transactions with Grab, Singapore Airlines, and KrisShop.
  • Includes travel inconvenience and travel accident benefits.
  • Annual supplementary card fee is waived in the first year.

Cons

  • Min annual income of $50,000 for citizens/PRs and $60,000 for foreigners.
  • The annual fee is $340.20 (inclusive of 8% GST)
  • Free travel insurance only when your air ticket is charged to your card.
  • Supplementary cards have a fee of $81 p.a. second year onwards.
  • Late payment fee is $100.

American Express Platinum Credit Card

Cashback

N/A

Cashback cap

N/A

Minimum spend

N/A

Sign up bonus

Receive up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points. Terms and Conditions apply.

Highlights

  • Receive up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points with annual fee payment and min. spending of S$1,000 within first month of Card approval if you are new to American Express. Terms and Conditions apply.
  • Receive up to 40,000 Membership Rewards points with annual fee payment and min. spending of S$1,000 within first month of Card approval if you are an existing card member. Terms and Conditions apply.
  • Enjoy up to 50% savings at select 5-star hotels and restaurants with Love Dining by Platinum.
  • Enjoy Platinum Lifestyle benefits including deals and discounts at spas, golf, and bars, and the membership Rewards Catalogue.

Pros

  • Receive up to 60,000 Membership Rewards points when you meet the criteria.
  • Get up to 50% savings at 5-star hotels, spa vouchers and discounts, and complimentary green fees at premier golf and country clubs in Singapore and overseas with Platinum Lifestyle.
  • The first 2 Supplementary Cards fees are permanently waived.
  • Redeem points at the Membership Rewards Catalogue or pay with points to downsize your card bills.

Cons

  • Minimum income requirement of $80,000 p.a.
  • The annual fee is $324 p.a. (inclusive of 8% GST).
American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Credit Card

Apply by 29 May 2024

American Express Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer Credit Card

Cashback

N/A

Cashback cap

N/A

Minimum spend

N/A

Sign up bonus

Receive up to 27,000 KrisFlyer miles. Terms and Conditions apply.

Highlights

  • Receive up to 27,000 KrisFlyer miles with min. spending of S$500 within first month of Card approval if you are new to American Express, Terms and Conditions apply.
  • First-year fee waiver for main cardholder and supplementary card.
  • Get $150 cashback for use on your next purchase on singaporeair.com when you spend $12,000 on eligible purchases with your Card from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.
  • Get 500 Bonus KrisFlyer miles on paying the first telco recurring bill.

Pros

  • First year fee waiver
  • Earn 3.1 miles per $1 spend on Grab rides, up to $200 each month.
  • All other purchases earn you 1.1 miles per $1 spend.
  • All miles are auto-credited to your KrisFlyer account, sparing you the hassle.

Cons

  • Min annual income of $30,000 for citizens/PRs and $45,000 for foreigners.
  • Annual fee waived the 1st year, but $176.55 for principal card and $54 for each supplementary card thereafter.
  • Free travel insurance only when your air ticket is charged to your card.

Citi Rewards Credit Card

Citi Rewards Credit Card

Cashback

N/A

Cashback cap

N/A

Minimum spend

N/A

Sign up bonus

Get 40,000 bonus Citi ThankYou Points when you apply, get approved, and spend S$800 or more in the first 2 months. Terms and Conditions apply.

Highlights

  • Earn 10X Reward on online purchases and shopping purchases.
  • Earn 10X Reward on rides with Grab, Gojek, and more.
  • Earn 10X Reward on online food delivery.
  • Earn 10X Reward on online groceries.

Pros

  • All other purchases still earn you a 1X Reward.
  • The first-year annual fee is waived.
  • Enjoy complimentary travel insurance when you use your card to purchase an airline ticket.
  • Get deals and discounts with Citi World Privileges.

Cons

  • Annual fee is waived for the 1st year, but $194.40 for the principal card and $97.20 for the supplementary card after.
  • There is a 3.25% foreign conversion fee.
  • Sign-up promo is only applicable to new Citi cardholders.
  • A rewards cap applies.
OCBC Titanium Rewards Credit Card (Blue)

On website

OCBC Titanium Rewards Credit Card (Blue)

Cashback

N/A

Cashback cap

N/A

Minimum spend

N/A

Sign up bonus

N/A

Highlights

  • Earn 10x rewards (equivalent to 4 miles per S$1 spent) on eligible retail purchases – both online and in-store
  • Earn 1x rewards on all other eligible purchases.
  • Additional 2% cash rebate when you spend at BEST Denki.

Pros

  • The waived annual fee for the first 2 years.
  • Redeem points as miles, vouchers, or cash to offset purchases via Stack.
  • Earn up to 7.65% a year on your savings when you use the OCBC Titanium Rewards Credit Card

Cons

  • Min annual income of $30,000 for citizens/PRs or $45,000 for foreigners
  • The annual fee is waived for the 1st 2 years, but you will be charged $194.40 for the principal card and $97.40 for the supplementary card after.
Citi Prestige Credit Card

Citi Prestige Credit Card

Cashback

N/A

Cashback cap

N/A

Minimum spend

N/A

Sign up bonus

Get 177,500 bonus Citi ThankYou Points when you apply, get approved, and spend S$1,000 or more in the first 2 months. Terms and Conditions apply.

Highlights

  • Earn 5 ThankYou points (2 miles) per $1 overseas spend and 3.25 ThankYou points (1.3 miles) per $1 local spend.
  • Get a complimentary 4th-night stay at any hotel or resort.
  • Enjoy six complimentary golf games in Singapore, China, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
  • A concierge team to support your lifestyle at home and abroad

Pros

  • Earn 2 miles per $1 overseas spend and 1.3 miles per $1 local spend, miles won't expire on you.
  • No cap on ThankYou points.
  • Access to over 1,000 airport lounges with Priority Pass membership.
  • Up to $1 million travel insurance coverage is awesome.
  • Travel like a boss! Complimentary one-way Airport Limousine transfers to or from Changi International Airport.
  • Fly and stay with no blackout dates all year round.

Cons

  • The high annual fee of S$540 p.a.
  • A minimum income of S$120,000 a year is required to be eligible for this card.
  • Free travel insurance only when your air ticket is charged to your card.
Citi Lazada Credit Card

Citi Lazada Credit Card

Cashback

N/A

Cashback cap

N/A

Minimum spend

N/A

Sign up bonus

N/A

Highlights

  • Earn 10X reward points when you shop on Lazada Singapore. Terms and Conditions apply.
  • Earn 5X reward points on your dining, travel, entertainment, and commute transactions.
  • Enjoy a shipping rebate when you spend a minimum of S$50 per transaction at Lazada.

Pros

  • Get exclusive Lazada offers.
  • You can use your points to pay for any purchase.
  • Enjoy discounts locally and in 95 other countries.
  • Feel secure with this card's complimentary travel insurance.

Cons

  • Points earning is capped at 9,000 Reward Points per statement month.
  • Shipping rebate is capped at 4 shipping rebates per month.
OCBC Titanium Rewards Credit Card (Pink)

On website

OCBC Titanium Rewards Credit Card (Pink)

Cashback

N/A

Cashback cap

N/A

Minimum spend

N/A

Sign up bonus

N/A

Highlights

  • Earn 10x rewards (equivalent to 4 miles per S$1 spent) on eligible retail purchases – both online and in-store.
  • Earn 1x rewards on all other eligible purchases.
  • Additional 2% cash rebate when you spend at BEST Denki.

Pros

  • Earn up to 10 points per $1 spent.
  • The annual fee is waived for the first 2 years.
  • Comes with e-Commerce Protection,
  • Redeem points as miles, vouchers, or cash to offset purchases via Stack.

Cons

  • The annual fee is waived for the 1st 2 years, but you will be charged S$194.40 for the principal card and S$97.20 for the supplementary card after.
OCBC Platinum Credit Card

On website

OCBC Platinum Credit Card

Cashback

N/A

Cashback cap

N/A

Minimum spend

N/A

Sign up bonus

N/A

Highlights

  • Earn 5 OCBC$ for every S$5 spent
  • Enjoy discounts and special deals for travel, dining, health, wellness, and recreational activities with the family.
  • Redeem rewards via OCBC Rewards Catalogue.

Pros

  • Earn 5 OCBC$ for every S$5 spent.
  • Waived annual fee for the first 2 years if you meet the spending criteria.
  • Redeem points as miles, as nifty vouchers for petrol, shopping, or dining, or as cash to offset purchases on the spot

Cons

  • The annual fee of S$162.00 p.a.
CIMB Visa Infinite Card

CIMB Visa Infinite Card

Cashback

Up to 2.00% on online shopping foreign currency spend

Cashback cap

N/A

Minimum spend

S$2,000.00 per month, every month

Sign up bonus

Get S$188 cashback when you apply and meet the criteria. Terms and Conditions apply.

Highlights

  • Enjoy 2% unlimited cashback on Travel, Overseas spending, and Online Spend in Foreign Currencies when you spend at least S$2,000 every statement month.
  • $0 p.a, annual fee.
  • Get up to $1M in travel insurance coverage.

Pros

  • Get additional cards for free.
  • Enjoy complimentary access to airport lounges.
  • Comes with Visa Infinite Concierge.

Cons

  • A minimum of $120,000 annual income is required for citizens/PRs.
  • Bank promo is only applicable to new CIMB cardholders.
  • Free travel insurance only when your air ticket is charged to your card.

What is a no annual fee credit card?

If you consider yourself to be only an occasional spender or you’re applying for a credit card for the first time, a no annual fee credit card can be an affordable option.

A credit card with no annual fee is the exception rather than the norm. Many credit card providers will charge an annual fee just for keeping the account open. But an annual fee typically applies to credit cards that offer benefits like rewards points, KrisFlyer miles, or free travel insurance and airport lounge access. The higher the annual fee, the greater the benefits that come with your account. But a credit card with no annual fee enables the cardholder to waive the yearly cost, freeing up space in their budget.

Three types of no annual fee card

No annual fee credit cards come in three flavours:

  • No annual fee ever. This type of card promises a $0 annual fee for the life of the card.
  • No annual fee introductory offer. Some cards which do have an annual fee will waive the fee for new cardholders for an introductory period, typically for the first year only.
  • No annual fee for reaching a target spend. In this case, no annual fee is charged in any year where the cardholder reaches a minimum spending target.

Why many credit cards have an annual fee

Card issuers may charge an annual fee for various reasons, but it can be summed up as a way to cover the cost of the card's package of perks and benefits, but also the risk of extending credit.

  • Sign up bonus. To justify a hefty annual fee, some credit cards offer an incentive that attempts to vindicate the steep fee. You might, for instance, pay an annual fee of $100 to earn a one-time bonus of KrisFlyer miles or rewards points. However, the cardholder is still required to achieve a particular spending amount within a given period, and the fee will be charged every year while the sign-up bonus comes only once.
  • Rewards exceeding the cost of the fee. Some credit cards provide higher-value rewards, cashback or complimentary benefits, partly paid for by a larger yearly fee. If your household's spending habits outweigh the cost of the fee because the rewards points earned are substantial, the annual fee might make it worth keeping the account open.
  • Credit score rebuilding. Applicants with a poor or nonexistent credit score won't always qualify for a credit card without an annual fee. To work on increasing their creditworthiness, applicants might have to open an account with a higher interest rate and a substantial yearly fee.

Who are no annual fee credit cards suitable for?

An annual fee isn't always worth the benefits it comes with. A no annual fee credit card might be useful for the following purposes:

  • Credit card first-timers. Someone new to the world of credit cards won't always have a strong grasp of the market. A no annual fee credit card can get them into the habit of meeting monthly payments and keeping within budget while working towards an eventual account upgrade.
  • Emergency card. Even if you're not a regular credit card user, it could be a good idea to keep a no annual fee card in your wallet for emergency expenses like unexpected medical bills or car repairs.
  • Rebuilding credit. Similar to first-time credit card users, those without a credit history, or with poor credit, can use a no annual fee card to re-establish a positive score. By focusing on making timely payments instead of bagging rewards, holders of credit cards with no annual fee can improve their credit score in less than a year.
  • Debt consolidation. Individuals with debt on multiple credit cards can consolidate debts with a balance transfer, ideally to a no annual fee card. Some balance transfer cards will offer a low or 0% introductory APR on the transferred amount. These promotional interest rate periods on balance transfer cards last anywhere between six to 24 months.
  • Multiple cards. For experienced cardholders looking for an option to add value to their spending, a credit card without an annual fee is an affordable way to cover everyday expenses.
  • No fuss, no frills. Anyone wanting a credit card just as a convenient form of payment, and nothing else, need look no further than a no annual fee credit card.

What to compare for no annual fee credit cards

When looking for the best no annual fee credit card, it's important to consider various factors before making a decision. Here are some key features to compare:

  • Rewards. What kind of rewards points or cashback can you earn? Are they tailored to your spending habits?
  • Interest rates. Are the interest rates competitive with other cards? Can you find a card with lower rates to help keep costs down should you carry a balance?
  • Foreign transaction fees. Do you travel often or shop from overseas stores? If so, check what the foreign transaction fees are (since some cards have none).
  • Additional perks. Does the card offer any extra benefits, like travel insurance or dining discounts? Are these perks valuable to you?

How to compare no annual fee credit cards

To make the comparison process easier and more efficient, follow these steps:

  1. List your spending habits and priorities. This will help you identify the features and rewards that would actually be of benefit to you.
  2. Research options. There are lots of different credit cards available in Singapore, each with different offers, rates, fees, and benefits.
  3. Evaluate the additional perks and benefits each card offers. Don't expect these cards to be as interesting as those with an annual fee.
  4. Compare your shortlisted cards and choose one. Check that you meet the minimum criteria and apply.

How to eliminate a credit card annual fee

If you're unhappy about your current commitment to a card with an annual fee, you can eliminate the charge in several ways:

  • Close your account. If you're already maintaining other credit cards, closing one with the highest annual fee and a high interest rate is an option. Before doing so, you must pay off any existing debt. If you're closing an account you've held for a long time with a good payment history, consider how removing its payment history from your file will impact your credit score. If the result will be a lower score, think about closing a different account.
  • Downgrade your credit card. Closing an account isn't always an easy process. Instead, you could downgrade your card to one without an annual fee if its rewards aren't of any use to you. A card downgrade is similar to that of a balance transfer, except that everything on your previous card is switched over, including your account number, payment history and existing credit limit. By keeping your credit limit you can work to keep credit utilisation low, which helps maintain a healthy score.
  • Ask to have the annual fee waived. Though difficult to achieve, it isn't impossible to lobby for your issuer to waive your annual fee. Whether or not you succeed will depend on a case-by-case basis. Perhaps you'd prefer to shoulder a higher interest rate in lieu of a yearly credit card fee. Before granting a fee waiver, card issuers will look into your payment history, spending habits, and how much money they are making out of you in terms of merchant fees.

Pros and cons

Pros

  • No annual fees are budget-friendly.
  • Suitable for a wide range of cardholders.
  • Test the waters for first-time credit card users.

Cons

  • Typically have less appealing — or no — rewards compared to cards with annual fees.
  • Benefits and perks usually limited compared to cards with annual fees.
  • No real different in interest rates.

FAQs

What does "no annual fee" mean?

The annual fee is the yearly fee charged to keep the account open. A credit card with no annual fee is free and does not charge this fee.

Are annual fees necessary for a credit card?

Annual fees are not necessary for every credit card, though it is true that cards with annual fees generally offer superior rewards and additional benefits. That being said, no annual fee credit cards are still useful and can build credit when managed responsibly.

Do no annual fee credit cards offer rewards and cashback?

If a credit card with no annual fee does offer rewards or cashback rebates, they will be less competitive compared to cards with an annual fee.