Best 10 credit cards with no foreign transaction fees

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Foreign transaction fees can quickly add up and eat into your travel budget. These fees get charged when you make a purchase in a foreign country. They range between 1%-3% of the total transaction. While that doesn’t seem like much at first, it can make traveling much more expensive than it needs to be.

Luckily, avoiding these fees is as simple as bringing the right credit card on your travels. Here are our 10 favorite cards that don’t charge foreign transaction fees.

The best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees

Many cards don’t charge foreign transaction fees, but the best ones also come with added travel benefits. Here are some popular cards that offer no foreign transaction fees:

• Best travel card: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Credit Card
• Best for earning miles: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
• Best for earning cash back: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Best for luxury travel: Chase Sapphire Reserve®
• Best for business travel: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card
• Best for dining and entertainment: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Best for no annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card
• Best for dining and groceries: American Express® Gold Card 
• Best for airline miles: United℠ Explorer Card
• Best for hotel rewards: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Best travel card: Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card

Rewards: 

• 5X points on travel through Chase Travel℠
• 5X total points on Lyft rides (Through March 2025)
• 3X points on dining (including eligible delivery services), select streaming services and online grocery purchases (excluding Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs)
• 2X points on other travel
• 1X points on other purchases

Annual fee: $95

The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a top-rated travel card — for good reason.

The main draw of this card is the Ultimate Rewards program, which includes many transfer partners. You can redeem points for 25% more when booking through the Ultimate Rewards portal.

Best for earning miles: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Rewards: 

• Earn 5X miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn 2X miles per dollar on all other purchases

Annual fee: $95

If you want a solid travel card without the complication of tiered rewards, the Capital One Venture Rewards Card could be right for you.

You can redeem miles for travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars, and more. Miles never expire, and there are no blackout dates, so you can use your miles whenever (or wherever) you choose.

The Venture Rewards card also has many travel benefits, making it a solid choice for globetrotters. On top of no foreign transaction fees, cardholders enjoy access to travel accident insurance and 24/7 concierge service.

Best for earning cash back on travel: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Rewards:

• 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day

Annual fee: $0

Consider the Quicksilver Cash Rewards card if you’re interested in earning cash back on your travel expenses. This card has a simple rewards program that allows you to earn cash back on every purchase. With this card, you won’t have to worry about spending categories or limits.

The Quicksilver Cash Rewards card has no annual fee and includes a lengthy intro 0% APR offer on purchases and balance transfers. It also includes some travel benefits, like a 24/7 concierge service.

Best for luxury travel: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Rewards:

• 10X points on hotel stays, car rentals, and Chase Dining purchases through Chase Travel℠, plus on Lyft purchases (through March 2025)
• 5X points on air travel through Chase Travel℠ (after earning your $300 travel credit)
• 3X points on restaurant and general travel purchases (after earning your $300 travel credit)
• 1X points on all other purchases

Annual fee: $550

The Chase Sapphire Reserve card has many benefits and rewards, making it a stand-out choice for frequent travelers.

You can redeem points for 50% more when booking through the Ultimate Rewards portal — higher than the Preferred card. The Reserve card also has a large sign-up bonus, travel credits, travel insurance, airport perks, and more.

Best for business travel: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Rewards: 

• 3X points on the first $150,000 spent on travel and select business categories each account anniversary year (then 1X points) 
• 1X points on all other purchases 

Annual fee: $95

The Ink Business Preferred card is an excellent option for international business travel.

Like the Chase Preferred card, the Ink Business Preferred offers a 25% bonus when redeeming points via the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. You also get perks like trip cancellation/interruption insurance, purchase protection, and cell phone protection.

Best for dining and entertainment: Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card

Rewards: 

• 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber and Uber Eats (through November 14, 2024) 
• 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked using Capital One Travel
• Unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Annual fee: $0

If your weekends are full of dining out or catching up on the latest TV show, the Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card may be a good one to add to your wallet. It comes with no annual fee and includes a longer-than-average 0% introductory APR offer.

Best for no annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Rewards

• 3X points on purchases at restaurants, gas stations, and electric vehicle charging stations, as well on travel, transit, select streaming services, and phone plans
• 1X points on all other purchases

Annual fee: $0

Want to earn travel rewards without the annual cost? The Autograph card doesn’t charge an annual fee and earns 3X points on travel purchases.

This card includes a length 0% introductory APR offer and a solid welcome bonus. You can redeem rewards for travel, gift cards, or a statement credit.

Best for dining and groceries: American Express® Gold Card

Rewards:

• 4X points on restaurant (including takeout and delivery in the U.S.) (up to $50,000 in purchases per year, then 1X points)
• 4X points on U.S. supermarket purchases (up to $25,000 in purchases per year, then 1X points)
• 3X points on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com
• 2X points on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com
• 1X points on all other purchases

Annual fee: $325. See rates and fees. 

Not only does the Gold card offer solid travel benefits, but it also caters specifically to dining and grocery expenses. 

Other card perks include an annual dining credit and hotel credit. You’ll also get travel perks, including complimentary hotel upgrades, travel insurance, and no foreign transaction fees. See rates and fees.

Best for airline miles: United℠ Explorer Card

Rewards:

• 2X miles on dining, hotel stays, and United® purchases 
• 1X miles spent on all other purchases

Annual fee: $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. 

If you’re a frequent United flyer, the United℠ Explorer Card can help maximize your airline miles and avoid foreign transaction fees. 

The card also offers added travel perks, such as a free checked bag for you and a companion on each United flight, priority boarding, and two United Club℠ one-time passes each year. You’ll also get credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® application fees.

United also offers a number of other co-branded credit cards for every type of flier. 

Best for hotel rewards: Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card

Rewards

• 12X points on eligible purchases at Hilton hotels and resorts
• 6X points at U.S. restaurants, U.S. supermarkets, and U.S. gas stations
• 4X points on U.S. online retail purchases
• 3X points on other eligible purchases

Annual fee: $150. See rates and fees. 

Are you a Hilton regular? You may want to use this card next time you book your stay.

Rewards can be lucrative, but there is a catch. There is a higher annual fee, but if you travel frequently, the rewards more than compensate for it. You can redeem points for stays at any of Hilton's hotels and resorts worldwide and on exclusive experiences, Lyft rides, Amazon.com, and more.

The card also grants complimentary Hilton Honors Gold elite status, which comes with benefits like room upgrades, late check-out, and complimentary breakfast at select hotels.

What are foreign transaction fees?

A foreign transaction fee is a charge that many card issuers place on purchases made outside of the United States. These fees are typically around 3% of the total transaction amount and can add up quickly if you're making lots of purchases while traveling abroad. 

For example, let's say you have a credit card with a 3% foreign transaction fee and you spend $3,000 on hotels, meals, and souvenirs during a trip to Europe. You'll be charged an additional $90 in foreign transaction fees on top of your regular card bill. 

Foreign transaction fees aren't just limited to purchases made while physically abroad. They can also apply to online purchases made with international merchants, even if you're physically located in the U.S. 

Foreign transaction fees are separate from any currency conversion fees that may be charged by the merchant or payment network. Some credit cards charge both types of fees, while others may waive them. 

Why should you use a card with no foreign transaction fees? 

If you frequently travel abroad or make purchases with international retailers, using a credit card with no foreign transaction fees can save you a significant amount of money over time. Here are a few key benefits.

Save money on fees

The most obvious benefit of using a credit card with no foreign transaction fees is that you'll save money on those pesky 3% charges. If you spend $1,000 on an international purchase, you could save $30 in fees by using a card that waives them.

Simplify your finances

Using a credit card with no foreign transaction fees can make your finances simpler while traveling. You won't have to worry about carrying large amounts of cash or exchanging currency at unfavorable rates. You also won't stress about additional charges eating into your vacation budget. 

Earn rewards on international purchases 

Many credit cards with no foreign transaction fees also offer rewards on purchases, such as cash back, points, or miles. By using one of these cards while traveling, you can earn valuable rewards on your international purchases without paying any extra fees.

Access cardholder benefits 

Some credit cards with no foreign transaction fees also offer additional travel benefits, such as travel insurance, rental car insurance, or airport lounge access. These perks can add value and convenience to your trips.

What to look for in a credit card with no foreign transaction fees 

When choosing a credit card with no foreign transaction fees, there are a few key factors to consider beyond just the lack of fees. 

Rewards 

Look for a card that offers a rewards program that aligns with your spending habits and travel goals. For example, if you frequently stay at Hilton hotels, the Hilton Honors American Express Surpass® Card could be a good choice. If you prefer more flexible rewards, a card like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card might be a better fit.

Sign-up bonus

Many credit cards with no foreign transaction fees offer sign-up bonuses to new cardholders who meet certain spending requirements. These bonuses can be worth hundreds of dollars in cash back, points, or miles, so they're definitely worth considering.

Annual fee

Some credit cards with no foreign transaction fees charge annual fees, while others do not. Consider whether the rewards and benefits offered by the card are worth paying an annual fee. In some cases, the value of the rewards and perks can easily outweigh the cost of the fee.

Acceptance 

Make sure the credit card you choose is widely accepted in the countries you plan to visit. Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted card networks worldwide, while American Express and Discover may have more limited acceptance in some countries.

How we rated the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees

To determine the best credit cards with no foreign transaction fees, we carefully evaluated a wide range of factors, including the card's sign-up bonus, rewards earning rates on purchases, added perks and benefits, annual fees, and overall value for consumers.

Our team analyzed numerous credit card offers and selected the top contenders based on these key criteria. The options on this list represent the best value, rewards, and benefits available.

Here are some of the key factors we considered:

• Rewards: Rewards are the primary reason many people use credit cards, as they allow you to earn valuable points, miles, or cash back on your everyday spending.
• Redemption flexibility: What good are rewards if they're a hassle to redeem? Flexible redemption options allow you to use your rewards in the way that best suits you, whether that's offsetting your bill with statement credits or booking a dream vacation.
• Benefits: Credit card benefits can provide significant value and make your life easier, from saving you money on checked bags to providing peace of mind with travel insurance.
• Annual fee: The annual fee is a key factor because it's a recurring cost that can eat into your rewards earnings. It's important to make sure you're getting enough value from the card to justify the fee.
• Welcome bonus: A lucrative welcome bonus can give your rewards a massive head start, especially in the first year, making it a great way to kickstart your earnings.
• Rates & other fees: High interest rates and fees can quickly negate the value of any rewards you earn, so it's important to understand these costs and how to avoid them.

Frequently asked questions about credit cards with no foreign transaction fees 

Here are some common questions and answers about credit cards with no foreign transaction fees.

Do all credit cards charge foreign transaction fees?

No, not all credit cards charge foreign transaction fees. In fact, many travel rewards credit cards and premium credit cards waive these fees as a benefit to cardholders.

Can I avoid foreign transaction fees by paying in local currency?

No, paying in local currency does not necessarily avoid foreign transaction fees. These fees are charged by your credit card issuer based on the location of the merchant, not the currency used.

Will using a credit card with no foreign transaction fees affect my credit score?

Using a credit card with no foreign transaction fees will not directly affect your credit score. However, if you make a large purchase or carry a balance on the card, it could impact your credit utilization ratio and potentially lower your score.

The bottom line

With the right card, paying for expenses while traveling in a foreign country becomes much simpler. You won’t see an onslaught of charges on your card that eat away at your vacation budget.

You can avoid these fees by paying with the right credit card — maybe even one on this list.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.