Best No Annual Fee Card for Delta Air Lines
Delta loyalists should pair an Amex Delta card with a Membership Rewards card for maximum flexibility. These cards carry no yearly cost — every dollar of rewards is pure profit.
Top no annual fee picks for Delta Air Lines
Chase Freedom Flex
5% on Travel (Chase)Chase · No annual fee
One of the best no-annual-fee cards available, combining 5% rotating bonus categories with a permanent 3% on dining and drugstores. When paired with a Chase Sapphire card, cash back converts to transferable Ultimate Rewards points worth 1.25–1.5 cents each — dramatically increasing value. Cell phone protection is a bonus you won't find on most free cards.
Chase Freedom Unlimited
5% on Travel (Chase)Chase · No annual fee
Earn 5% on Chase Travel, 3% on dining and drugstores, and an unlimited 1.5% on all other purchases with no annual fee. When paired with a Sapphire card, points become fully transferable to 14 airline and hotel partners — making this one of the best zero-fee companion cards in the market.
Brex Card
5x on Travel (via Brex)Brex · No annual fee
A charge card designed for startups and tech companies. Incredible bonus categories (8x rideshare, 5x travel, 4x dining) and built-in expense management. No personal guarantee and no annual fee, but you must pay the balance in full each month.
Costco Anywhere Visa by Citi
3% on Travel & diningCiti · No annual fee
If you already have a Costco membership, this card is essentially free and earns some of the best rates available — 4% on gas, 3% on travel and dining, 2% at Costco. Heavy drivers can earn hundreds per year on gas alone. Rewards paid annually in February, usable at Costco or redeemable for cash.
Wells Fargo Autograph Card
3x on TravelWells Fargo · No annual fee
Wells Fargo's flagship no-annual-fee rewards card covers six popular bonus categories at 3x. Dining, travel, gas, transit, streaming, and phone plans all earn triple points. Add cell phone protection and no foreign transaction fees and you have a strong everyday card.
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards
3% on Your Choice (gas, online, dining, travel, etc.)Bank of America · No annual fee
Choose your own 3% cash back category — gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement — and earn 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to 2,500 dollars combined per quarter). Bank of America Preferred Rewards members earn up to 75% more cash back, making this a powerhouse for existing BoA customers.
Bank of America Business Advantage Cash Rewards
3% on Your chosen category (gas, travel, office, etc.)Bank of America · No annual fee
A flexible no-annual-fee business card that lets you choose where to earn 3% — gas, travel, office supplies, business consulting, and more. Bank of America Preferred Rewards for Business members can boost the 3% rate up to 5.25%, making it extremely competitive.
HSBC Premier World Mastercard
3x on TravelHSBC · No annual fee
A solid no-annual-fee travel card for HSBC Premier banking customers. 3x on travel and dining with no foreign transaction fees makes it ideal for international travelers who bank with HSBC. Requires a Premier banking relationship.
Annual value math — Chase Freedom Flex at Delta Air Lines
Typical spend
$4,000
per year at Delta Air Lines
Earn rate
5%
on Travel (Chase)
Annual value
$200
rewards earned per year
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best no annual fee credit card for Delta Air Lines?⌄
Our top pick is the Chase Freedom Flex — it's a no annual fee card that earns 5% on Travel (Chase), which applies to Delta Air Lines purchases. With typical spending of $4,000/year at Delta Air Lines, that's about $200/year in rewards.
Do Delta Air Lines purchases count as Travel?⌄
Delta Air Lines purchases typically code as Travel or Air Travel or Flights or Flights (direct) or Flights (Amex Travel) depending on the issuer. Card networks determine merchant category codes (MCC), so coding can vary between Visa and Mastercard for the same retailer.
Is a no annual fee card worth it just for Delta Air Lines?⌄
Yes — no-fee cards carry zero downside, so any rewards earned at Delta Air Lines are pure upside.
How much can I earn per year on Delta Air Lines with a no annual fee card?⌄
At the typical Delta Air Lines spend of $4,000/year and the 5% earn rate on our top pick, you'd earn about $200/year — more than enough to justify the card.