Best Credit Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fees of February 2024
Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.
Foreign transaction fees are some of the most irritating charges associated with credit cards. They punish you, often to the tune of 3%, for spending your money outside the US. Whenever you travel abroad, you may be subject to foreign transaction fees. Luckily, plenty of the best credit cards don't charge pesky foreign transaction fees.
Best Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees of February 2024
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best travel card with an annual fee under $100
- Chase Sapphire Reserve®: Best premium travel card
- Discover it® Cash Back: Best with no annual fee
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best premium card with the most benefits
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Best card with the simplest reward structure
Below, you'll find some of our favorite rewards credit cards without foreign transaction fees, emphasizing travel rewards credit cards that offer bonus points and miles for airfare, hotels, and more.
Compare the Best Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees
Credit Card With No Foreign Transaction Fees Frequently Asked Questions
How do foreign transaction fees work?
When you're using a credit card that charges a foreign transaction fee and you make a purchase abroad, you'll be charged an extra fee, as a percentage of your purchase amount. The fee is generally 3% of your purchase, and it will be added to your monthly bill.
Your foreign transaction fee may be broken down into two parts: a fee charged by the payment network (as in Visa or Mastercard) and a fee charged by your credit card company.
Do foreign transaction fees apply online?
In addition to applying to purchases you make while traveling abroad, a foreign transaction fee could be charged when you purchase from a vendor that's based outside of your home country. If you're shopping with a retailer or travel company based abroad, your best bet is to pay with a credit card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees just to be safe.
Should I pay in local currency or US dollars with my credit card when traveling?
Some merchants may offer the option to pay in local currency or your home currency when you use your credit card for a purchase. You should always pay in local currency because merchants can give a conversion rate much lower than the market exchange rate. Therefore, local currency rates will be closer to the actual market rate.
Plus, if you pay in US dollars, you'll typically be charged an additional fee (usually around 3%) from Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), which is an unaffiliated third-party service that converts transactions to your home currency.
Best Credit Cards with No Foreign Transaction Fees Reviews
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card - Product Name Only
One of the most popular and recommended travel rewards credit cards, the
Dining includes things like restaurants, bars, pubs, coffee shops, and more, while travel includes airfare, hotels, Airbnb, taxis, rideshare services like Uber, subways, and more. Right now, the
Chase Sapphire Preferred Card Review
Chase Sapphire Reserve® - Product Name Only
The
You get a $300 travel statement credit each cardmember year to cover your first $300 of travel charges, and a higher earning rate of 5x total points on air travel and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards (after earning the $300 travel credit) and 3x points on other travel and dining (plus 10x points on Lyft rides through March 2025 and 1 point per dollar on everything else).
The
Reserve cardholders can now activate a complimentary two-year Lyft Pink All Access membership (value of $199 per year) for discount pricing, priority pickup, unlimited rides, and more. And with the card, you can access the new Chase Sapphire Terrace at Austin Airport (AUS).
As with the
Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card Review
Discover it® Cash Back - Product Name Only
The
Discover it Cash Back Card Review
The Platinum Card® from American Express - Product Name Only
There's also an excellent welcome offer:
You'll also get up to a $200 annual airline incidental fee credit**, up to $200 in Uber credits (including Uber Eats)** each year ($15 each month, plus a bonus of $20 in December), access to more than 1,200 airport lounges around the world, complimentary hotel elite status with Hilton and Marriott**, and up to $100 in Saks Fifth Avenue credits per year**.
American Express Platinum Card Review
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card - Product Name Only
The
The card earns 2 miles per dollar on most purchases (along with 5 miles per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through the Capital One Travel Portal) — the simplest rewards structure among travel credit cards. You can also redeem Capital One miles at a fixed rate of 1 cent each toward travel purchases made with your card, without having to worry about award charts and blackout dates.
Capital One Venture Card Review
Why Trust Us: How We Chose the Best Credit Cards With No Foreign Transaction Fees
Virtually all of the best travel rewards credit cards waive foreign transaction fees by this point, so for this guide, we focused on narrowing it down to the best options in a variety of categories. We drew heavily from our editors' expertise and the input of experts, as quoted in our guide to the best rewards credit cards, to come up with this list of the most popular categories of cards.
You'll find a top pick for cash back, a top pick for travel rewards (in two different budget categories), our top airline credit card options, and more.
You can learn more about how we rate credit cards at Personal Finance Insider.