Credit Cards With No Minimum Spend Requirements

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Update: Some of the credit card offers in this post are no longer available. Check our travel rewards card page for the latest offers.

Because airfare and lodging can be significant expenses when you travel, the fastest way to free airfare and free hotel stays and lowering your travel costs is through credit card signup bonuses, specifically credit cards with no minimum spend requirements.

Credit card signup bonuses can vary from 10,000 – 50,000 miles or points.  Depending on the airline and where you’re flying, the bonus miles may be enough to earn you a free airline ticket or two.  Bonus points can be enough for several free hotel nights.

From a purely economic standpoint, credit cards with no minimum spend requirements and high signup bonuses offer the best bang for your buck.

But times have changed and now most travel rewards cards have a minimum spending requirement. Read cards with low minimum spending requirements.

Miles/Points: “free” signup bonus miles/points received upon approval or first use
Bonus Miles/Points: additional miles/points received for laying out some dough
Cost for card: annual fee cost if any, most waive the fee for the first year
cpm (cost per mile) and cpp (cost per point): since there’s no such thing as a free lunch, what you’re paying for those “free” miles and “free” points

Credit Cards With No Minimum Spend Requirements

These are the credit cards with no minimum spend requirements.

Chase Ink Classic 

Points: 10,000 Ultimate Rewards points after first use
Bonus points: 15,000 Ultimate Rewards after $5,000 spend in first three months
Cost for card: $0 annual fee
cpp (cost per point): $0.01 ($1 ÷ 5,000)
cpp (cost per point): $0.20 ($1 + $5,000 ÷ 25,000)

Hawaiian Airlines Visa Signature card 

Miles: 60,000 Hawaiian Airline miles after spending $2,000 in the first 90 days
Cost for card: $99 annual fee
cpm (cost per mile): $0.03 ($2,000 + $99 ÷ 60,000)

Hilton Honors American Express Card 

Points: 80,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $2,000 in the first six months. Terms Apply. 
Cost for card: $0 annual fee (see rates and fees)
cpp (cost per point): $0.025 ($2,000 ÷ 80,000); $0.025 ($2,000 + $0 ÷ 80,000)

Marriott Rewards Visa Signature card 

Points: 50,000 Marriott Rewards points after first use
Cost for card: $85 annual fee after first year
cpp (cost per point): $0.01 ($1 ÷ 50,000); $0.02 ($1 + $85 ÷ 50,000)

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For Hilton Honors rates and fees, click here.

Traveling Well For Less has partnered with Your Best Credit Cards for our coverage of credit card products. Traveling Well For Less and YBCC may receive a commission from card issuers.

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best card to get started in the world of miles and points. It is the first card you should get to start traveling for free because the welcome offer is 60,000 points after spending $4,000 in the first three months.

 

My favorite perks about this card are earning 5X points on travel when booked through the Chase portal (2X if direct purchase), 3X points on dining, $50 yearly credit on hotels booked through the Chase portal, no foreign transaction fees, and transferring points to 13 airline and hotel partners like Hyatt, United, and Southwest.

 

Learn more about the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card and how to apply

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Chase Freedom Unlimited®

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is one of my favorite cards for earning cash back card and travel rewards. It offers a welcome offer of an additional 1.5% cash back on all your purchases up to $20,000 your first year.

 

My favorite perks about this card are earning 5% cash back on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal, 3% cash back at drugstores and restaurants (including delivery and takeout), 1.5% cash back on all other purchases and no annual fee. When paired with cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card or Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, you can use your points to travel for free.

 

Learn more about the Chase Freedom Unlimited® and how to apply