Consumer Information
Which Credit Card is Best for International Transactions
See which card gives you the biggest benefits for international transactions.
Published
2 years agoon
Some of the most annoying costs related to credit cards are foreign transaction fees. They penalize you for spending money outside of the US, frequently by 3%.
Foreign transaction costs could apply to any international travel. Fortunately, there are many cards that are suitable for traveling without annoying international transaction fees.
The majority of the finest rewards credit cards, including all Discover and Capital One cards, waive this cost. They are, therefore, ideal traveling companions. With a focus on travel rewards cards that provide bonus points and miles for airlines, hotels, and other purchases, you’ll find a few of our top rewards credit cards without foreign transaction fees in the list below.
Here are the top credit cards that don’t charge for international transactions.
Reviews Of The Top Credit Cards Without Foreign Transaction Fees
Chase Sapphire Preferred
The Chase Sapphire Preferred is among the most popular used and endorsed credit cards for travel rewards.
It offers 5 Chase Ultimate Rewards points for every penny spent on trips booked through the Chase Ultimate Rewards, 5x points for Lyft rides through March 2025, 2x points for all other travel-related purchases, which include international ones, and 3x points for dining.
Traveling includes airlines, lodgings, Airbnb, cabs, and ride-share services like Uber, subway systems, and more. Dining includes items like eateries, bars, pubs, coffee shops, and more.
Currently, after spending $4,000 on buying during the first three months of opening your account, you will receive 60,000 extra points from the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
Benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred include a 10% anniversary point bonus and up to $50 in yearly account credits for accommodations booked through the Chase Travel Portal.
Some of the best credit cards for moving from one place to another and purchasing coverage, including primary automobile insurance and trip interruption insurance, is this one.
Chase Sapphire Reserve
With a higher annual premium and a few significant modifications from the Preferred, the Sapphire Reserve is essentially an upgraded version of the latter.
You receive a $300 statement credit each year as a cardholder to cover your initial $300 in travel expenses.
Additionally, after you’ve used up your $300 travel credit, you earn at a higher rate of 5x total points for air travel, 10x total points for car rental and hotels booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, and 3x points for other travel and dining expenses.
The Sapphire Reserve offers 60,000 bonus points as a welcome bonus once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months of starting your account.
Reserve cards can now activate a free two-year Lyft Pink All Access membership (worth $199 per year), which includes discounted rates, priority pickup, unrestricted rides, and other benefits.
Discover it Cash Back
After activating the Discover it Cash Back, you can receive 5% cash back at Amazon.com and on e-wallets on up to $1,500 in purchases, after which you’ll only get 1%.
This offer is valid from October 1 through December 31, 2022. Instead of the customary introductory bonus, Discover will double all of your rewards after the first year. Discover cards do not have foreign transaction fees or an annual fee.
The first quarter of cash-back bonus categories for 2023 has been made public by Discover:
- Grocery Shops
- Pharmaceutical Stores
- A Few Selected Streaming Services
Amex Platinum
The American Express Platinum Card is essentially the company’s flagship premium travel card. It offers rewards, privileges, and services to customers that can be quite valuable, whether they are traveling or staying at home.
If even a few card benefits are compatible with your typical spending patterns, you can do more than make up for the $695 annual price of the card.
The American Express Platinum Card doesn’t impose international transaction fees and awards 5 points for each dollar spent on flights reserved directly with airlines or through Amex Travel.
Each dollar spent on all other transactions earns one point, with the exception of hotel reservations made in advance through Amex Travel, which earns five points for every dollar.
Capital One Venture Rewards
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one excellent option, which has no foreign transaction fees and an annual fee of under $100.
This card is particularly great because it allows you to transfer Capital One miles to a variety of airline and hotel programs at a better 1:1 ratio than most of its competitors.
The card features the most straightforward rewards program among travel credit cards, earning 2 miles for every $1 spent on most purchases (combined with 5 miles for every $1 spent on hotels and auto rentals booked through Capital One travel).
Without having to worry about award charts or blackout periods, you can also redeem Capital One miles at a flat rate of 1 cent apiece for travel-related expenditures made with your card.
Selecting The Top Credit Cards That Don’t Charge For International Transactions
By this time, almost all of the topmost travel rewards credit cards remove foreign transaction fees, so for this guide, we concentrated on selecting the best options across a range of categories.
To create this list of the most popular card categories, we significantly leaned on the knowledge of our editors and the opinions of professionals who were included in our guide to the top rewards credit cards.
You’ll discover our best airline credit card choices, along with our top picks for cash back, travel benefits (in two different budget categories), and more.
Final Note
For people who travel frequently, credit cards without international transaction fees are great. Additionally, the majority of credit cards give cardholders strong rewards, making them practical for even routine expenditures.
If none of these cards meet your needs, examine additional credit cards with no international transaction fees to find the best option.
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