Credit Cards With Annual Fee Waived First Year (Cashback, Travel & Business Offers)
Many credit cards offer a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year as a way to attract new cardholders. This allows you to test rewards programs, travel benefits, and business tools before committing to an ongoing annual fee.
Below is a breakdown of major credit card offers that include a waived annual fee during the first year, organized by category.
Cashback Credit Card With Intro Annual Fee Waiver
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express®
The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express® includes a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, followed by an annual fee after the promotional period.
- 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (up to $6,000 per year, then 1%)
- 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions
- 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and transit
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months
Airline Travel Credit Cards With First-Year Fee Waived
Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express® Card
This card includes a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year and is designed for frequent Delta travelers.
- Bonus miles after qualifying spend
- 2X miles on Delta purchases, restaurants, and U.S. supermarkets
- Free first checked bag on Delta flights
- Priority boarding on Delta flights
United℠ Explorer Card from Chase
The United Explorer Card includes a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year and offers travel benefits for United Airlines customers.
- Up to 80,000 bonus miles after qualifying activities
- 9x total miles on eligible United flights
- Free first checked bag for primary cardholder and companion
- 2 United Club one-time passes per year
- Priority boarding on United flights
Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®
This Citi® AAdvantage® card includes a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year and is built for American Airlines travelers.
- Earn 2 AAdvantage® miles per $1 on restaurants and gas stations
- First checked bag free on American Airlines itineraries
- Preferred boarding on American Airlines flights
- Bonus miles after qualifying spend
Business Credit Card With Intro Annual Fee Waiver
Spark 2% Cash Business Card from Capital One
The Spark 2% Cash Business Card includes a $0 introductory annual fee for the first year and is designed for business spending with flat-rate rewards.
- Unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases
- $1,000 cash bonus after qualifying spend in the first 3 months
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Business Travel
- Employee and virtual card tools for business expense management
Key Takeaways
- Most cards offer a $0 annual fee only for the first 12 months
- Travel cards focus on airline perks, baggage benefits, and miles
- Cashback cards reward everyday spending categories
- Business cards offer flat-rate earnings and expense management tools
Final Summary
Credit cards with an annual fee waived for the first year provide a way to test rewards programs and benefits before paying an ongoing fee. After the introductory period ends, annual fees vary depending on the card and creditworthiness.
FICO® Credit Scores
A FICO® Score is a proprietary credit score created by the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO). About 90% of top U.S. lenders use it to make lending decisions.
FICO® Score Ranges:
- Exceptional: 800–850
- Very Good: 740–799
- Good: 670–739
- Fair: 580–669
- Poor: 300–579
FICO categorizes scores as Poor, Fair, Good, Very Good, and Exceptional.
What is a Credit Score?
A credit score is a three-digit number (300–850) predicting your creditworthiness. Lenders use it to evaluate risk and determine rates and terms for credit.
Why it matters: A higher score can help you qualify for loans and lower interest rates. A lower score can lead to higher borrowing costs or application denials.
FICO® Credit Score Facts
- Three-Digit Number: Summarizes your credit risk.
- Range: 300–850; higher scores = lower risk.
- Data Source: Uses your credit reports from Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
- Industry Standard: Lenders rely on FICO for mortgages, auto loans, and credit cards.
Note: Credit scores reflect your creditworthiness but do not guarantee approval for any credit product.
Security Notice: All participating issuers use secure application systems protected by Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption to help protect your information.
*See the online credit card applications for details about terms and conditions of credit card offers. Reasonable efforts are made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. When you click on the " Apply Now " button you can review the credit card terms and conditions on the credit card issuer's web site.
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