Updated 30 March 2026
Every Amex Card With No Annual Fee
Four Amex cards that cost $0 per year to hold. Cash back, transferable points, or hotel rewards, all without an annual commitment.
Blue Cash Everyday
Groceries
3%
Gas
2%
Dining
1%
Other
1%
Special: 2% at select department stores
Best for: Families wanting grocery rewards at zero cost
Welcome bonus: $200 after $2,000 in 6 months
Amex Everyday
Groceries
2x
Gas
1x
Dining
1x
Other
1x
Special: 20% bonus for 20+ transactions/month
Best for: Building MR point balances without an annual fee
Welcome bonus: 10,000 MR after $2,000 in 6 months
Amex Cash Magnet
Groceries
1.5%
Gas
1.5%
Dining
1.5%
Other
1.5%
Special: Unlimited 1.5% on everything
Best for: Simple flat-rate earning on all purchases
Welcome bonus: $200 after $2,000 in 6 months
Hilton Honors Amex
Groceries
5x
Gas
5x
Dining
5x
Other
3x
Special: 7x at Hilton properties
Best for: Frequent Hilton guests wanting free nights
Welcome bonus: 70,000 Hilton points after $2,000 in 6 months
How No-Fee Amex Cards Compare to Competitors
vs Chase Freedom Unlimited
CFU earns 1.5% plus 3% dining plus 3% drugstores. Beats Cash Magnet on dining. But CFU points transfer into Chase ecosystem, while Cash Magnet is standalone.
vs Citi Double Cash
Citi Double Cash earns 2% on everything (1% at purchase, 1% when you pay). Beats Cash Magnet at 1.5%. But Blue Cash Everyday at 3% on groceries beats both for food spending.
vs Capital One SavorOne
SavorOne earns 3% on dining, groceries, and entertainment with no fee. Matches BCE on groceries and adds dining. Strong competition for Blue Cash Everyday.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which no-annual-fee Amex card earns the most?
It depends on your spending. For groceries, Blue Cash Everyday earns 3% at US supermarkets. For flat-rate cash back, Cash Magnet earns 1.5% on everything. For hotel stays, Hilton Honors Amex earns 7x points at Hilton properties. For transferable points, Amex Everyday earns 2x on groceries with a 20% transaction bonus.
Is the Amex Cash Magnet worth getting?
Cash Magnet earns 1.5% unlimited cash back with no annual fee. It is a solid baseline card but faces stiff competition from Chase Freedom Unlimited (also 1.5% plus 3% dining) and Citi Double Cash (2% on everything). Cash Magnet is best for people who want to stay within the Amex ecosystem without paying a fee.
Can I use a no-fee Amex card to earn MR points?
Yes. The Amex Everyday card earns Membership Rewards points with no annual fee. It earns 2x on groceries and 1x on everything else, with a 20% bonus for 20 or more transactions per month. This is the only no-fee way to earn MR points, making it valuable as a free companion to premium Amex cards.