Best Credit Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fees: Ideal for Frequent Travelers

The joy of international travel is an unparalleled experience—exploring new cities, savoring diverse cuisines, and immersing yourself in different cultures.

However, the excitement can quickly fade when you return home to find your credit card statement inflated by unexpected foreign transaction fees.

These fees, typically around 3% of every purchase, can silently drain your travel budget without you even realizing it.

Fortunately, a new generation of credit cards has emerged with a solution: no foreign transaction fees.

These cards are an essential tool for any globetrotter, allowing you to use your card abroad just as you would at home.

The Top Contenders for Frequent Travelers

For the traveler who wants more than just fee-free transactions, these premium cards offer a suite of valuable rewards and benefits that can more than justify their annual fees.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Best For: A Versatile Rewards Card for the Modern Traveler

The Chase Sapphire Preferred Card is a long-standing favorite in the travel community, and for good reason. It offers a perfect blend of valuable rewards and strong travel protections at a reasonable annual fee.

Key Features: The card has a moderate $95 annual fee but charges no foreign transaction fees. Its rewards structure is excellent for travelers, earning 2x points on travel and dining and 1x point on all other purchases. The points are part of the highly flexible Chase Ultimate Rewards program, allowing you to transfer them to a variety of airline and hotel partners for maximum value.

Added Value: The points become even more valuable when you redeem them for travel through the Chase portal, where they are worth 1.25 cents each. The card also comes with a comprehensive set of travel protections, including trip cancellation/interruption insurance, primary car rental insurance, and baggage delay insurance. These benefits provide invaluable peace of mind on your journeys.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Best For: The Premium Traveler Seeking Airport Lounge Access

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card made a big splash in the premium card market, offering a unique value proposition that’s hard to ignore. It’s ideal for the frequent traveler who values luxury and simplicity.

Key Features: The card has a higher $395 annual fee, but it is heavily offset by a generous $300 annual travel credit for purchases made through the Capital One Travel portal. You also get a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus each year, which is worth at least $100. It charges no foreign transaction fees. The rewards are simple but powerful: 2x miles on every purchase, which can be a game-changer for those who want to earn on all their spending.

Added Value: The biggest draw is the unlimited Priority Pass Select membership and access for you and two guests to exclusive Capital One Lounges. This is a top-tier benefit that makes airport time much more comfortable and enjoyable.

American Express Gold Card

Best For: The Foodie Traveler

The American Express Gold Card is a must-have for those whose travel and daily life revolve around food. While it’s not strictly a travel card, its rewards in key spending categories make it a fantastic companion for both domestic and international trips.

Key Features: The card has a $250 annual fee but charges no foreign transaction fees. Its rewards structure is hard to beat for food lovers: 4x points on restaurants worldwide and 4x points on U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year). This makes it an incredibly powerful tool for accumulating Membership Rewards points on a daily basis.

Added Value: The card offers up to $240 in annual statement credits ($120 dining credit and $120 Uber Cash), which can effectively offset a large portion of the annual fee if you use these services regularly.

The Platinum Card from American Express

Best For: The Ultra-Premium Traveler Seeking Extensive Benefits

If you are a traveler who wants the ultimate in luxury, benefits, and lounge access, the Platinum Card from American Express is in a class of its own. It comes with a very high annual fee but is packed with a huge number of travel and lifestyle credits that can make it a worthwhile investment for the right person.

Key Features: The card has a $695 annual fee but charges no foreign transaction fees. The list of benefits is extensive, including a massive network of airport lounges (Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass Select, and Delta Sky Clubs for Delta travelers), elite status with hotels, and numerous statement credits.

Added Value: The card’s value comes from its ability to cover everything from your flights to your rideshare services, offering credits for Uber, airline fees, Equinox, and more. This card is not just about avoiding foreign transaction fees; it’s about transforming the entire travel experience.

Excellent No-Annual-Fee Options

You don’t need a premium card to enjoy the benefits of no foreign transaction fees. For budget-conscious travelers or those who prefer a simple, no-fuss approach, these cards are ideal.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Best For: A Simple, No-Annual-Fee Travel Card

The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is the younger sibling of the Venture X, and it’s a perfect option for those who want to earn rewards without any yearly cost.

Key Features: This card has a $0 annual fee and, crucially, no foreign transaction fees. It earns 1.25x miles on every purchase, making it a great card for a simple, all-in-one wallet strategy. The miles can be redeemed for travel, just like with the premium Venture cards.

Added Value: The card is a great entry point into the world of travel rewards, offering a solid earning rate and flexible redemption options without the pressure of an annual fee.

Discover it Miles

Best For: A Powerful First-Year Reward for New Travelers

The Discover it Miles card is another fantastic no-annual-fee option. It’s especially powerful for the first year, thanks to Discover’s unique rewards program.

Key Features: This card has a $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. It earns a flat 1.5x miles on every purchase.

Added Value: The card’s biggest selling point is Discover’s famous Cash Back Match. At the end of your first year, Discover will automatically match all the miles you’ve earned, effectively giving you 3x miles on every purchase for that first year. This is a phenomenal welcome bonus that can generate significant rewards.

Key Factors to Compare Beyond the Fees

Choosing a card with no foreign transaction fees is just the first step. To find the right card, you should also consider these factors:

Rewards Structure: Do you want a simple, flat-rate card like the Venture X or Discover it Miles, or a card that offers high returns in specific spending categories like the Amex Gold or Chase Sapphire Preferred?

Annual Fee: Be honest with yourself about whether you will use the card’s benefits and credits enough to justify the annual fee. A card with a high fee but great benefits can be a much better value than a free card with no perks.

Travel Protections: Benefits like trip cancellation insurance, baggage delay insurance, and primary rental car insurance can save you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars in unexpected situations.

Network Acceptance: While Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted globally, American Express is not as commonly accepted in many international markets. Consider this when choosing a primary card for travel.