Top No-Fee Business Credit Cards for Freelancers and Side Hustlers

Start with a no-annual-fee business card that gives 2% back on every purchase with no cap, which will suit most freelancers best. Only add a card that pays more in areas like phone, internet, or gas if those bills make up a large part of your spending, because those cards usually earn just 1% on everything else.

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A business card keeps freelance expenses on a separate statement, making them easier to total when tax time comes. If you pay the bill from a business checking account, it also helps keep business money separate from personal funds. You can apply as a sole proprietor without setting up an LLC first, and none of the cards below has an annual fee.

Which card works best depends on where your money goes. If your spending is spread across many different purchases, a flat-rate card usually wins because there are no categories to manage. Some freelancers spend heavily in just a few areas, such as phone and internet, gas, or Amazon purchases. In that case, a card with higher rewards in those categories may earn more, up to any yearly limit on that bonus rate.

No categories to track

Best for U.S. Bank clients: U.S. Bank Business Essentials™ Visa® Card

Freelancers who keep $10,000 in U.S. Bank business checking can earn 2.5% back on up to $10,000 in purchases per billing cycle. Everyone else earns 2% on all purchases with no cap.

• What Sets It Apart: No annual cap on the 2% rate, plus an extra 0.5% for businesses with a $10,000 checking balance at U.S. Bank
• Welcome Offer: $500 cash back after $5,000 in purchases within 150 days; employee card purchases count
• Rewards: 2% cash back on every purchase; 2.5% on the first $10,000 in eligible purchases each billing cycle with a $10,000 average balance in qualifying U.S. Bank business checking; 6% on prepaid hotels and car rentals in the Travel Center
• Features: Free employee cards; U.S. Bank Spend Management; auto rental coverage, purchase security, and extended warranty protection
• Annual Fee: $0
• Intro APR: 0% for 12 billing cycles on purchases; none on balance transfers
• APR: 16.99% to 27.99% variable
• Cost: Balance transfers 5% ($5 minimum); foreign transactions 3%; cash advances 5% ($10 minimum); late payments $41
• Pros: No cap on the 2%; no U.S. Bank account needed; free employee cards
• Cons: 3% foreign transaction fee; the 2.5% rate requires $10,000 in U.S. Bank business checking; no intro APR on balance transfers; points expire after 12 inactive statement cycles

For more information, read our full U.S. Bank Business Essentials™ Visa® Card Review.

Best for on-and-off work: Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash® Card

Side hustlers with irregular income keep every reward, since rewards do not expire while the account remains open, and earn 2% back on all purchases with no cap.

• What Sets It Apart: An uncapped flat 2% with no annual fee and no banking relationship required
• Welcome Offer: $500 after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months
• Rewards: 2% cash rewards on every business purchase; no categories or cap
• Features: Free employee cards with spending limits; Priority Pass membership with a fee per lounge visit; rental car coverage; $250,000 travel accident insurance; rewards redeemable as a statement credit, gift cards, travel, or a donation
• Annual Fee: $0
• Intro APR: 0% for 12 months on purchases
• APR: 16.99% to 24.99% variable
• Cost: 3% foreign transaction fee; cash advance fee of $10 or 5%, whichever is greater; late fee up to $40
• Eligibility: No Wells Fargo account needed; a business tax ID only if the business has one; details on each owner of 25% or more
• Pros: Uncapped 2%; free employee cards that earn 2%; rewards do not expire while the account is open; rental car and travel accident coverage
• Cons: 3% foreign transaction fee; no bonus categories; no purchase, warranty, or cell phone protection; the owner is personally liable for every charge

For more information, read our full Wells Fargo Signify Business Cash® Card Review.

Best for hands-off rewards: The American Express Blue Business Cash® Card

Freelancers who spend less than $50,000 a year earn 2% back, automatically credited to the statement each month, with Expanded Buying Power available for spending above the credit limit.

• What Sets It Apart: 2% back on up to $50,000 a year with no annual fee; cash back is automatically credited
• Welcome Offer: Statement credit of up to $500 after $5,000 in purchases in the first 3 months; the exact amount is shown before you accept
• Rewards: 2% cash back on up to $50,000 in eligible purchases each calendar year; 1% after that; paid as a statement credit
• Features: Expanded Buying Power above your credit limit; employee cards earn cash back; purchase protection up to $1,000 per item; extended warranty up to 1 extra year; secondary car rental coverage
• Annual Fee: $0
• Intro APR: 0% for 12 months on purchases
• APR: 16.99% to 28.74% variable
• Cost: 2.7% foreign transaction fee
• Pros: Full 2% with no categories to manage; no annual fee; welcome offer shown before acceptance
• Cons: 1% after $50,000 a year; 2.7% foreign transaction fee; no points to transfer

For more information, read our full The American Express Blue Business Cash® Card Review.

Best for travel points: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express

Freelancers who travel for work earn 2 points per dollar on the first $50,000 in annual purchases, and those points can be transferred to 19 airline and hotel programs.

• What Sets It Apart: 2 transferable points per dollar with no annual fee, on up to $50,000 a year
• Welcome Offer: Up to 50,000 points after $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months; American Express shows the offer before you accept the card
• Rewards: 2X until $50,000 of purchases a calendar year, then 1X; points are worth 1 cent on American Express Travel flights and 0.6 cent as a statement credit; 19 airline and hotel transfer partners
• Features: No-fee employee cards that earn points; Expanded Buying Power, which may allow charges beyond your credit limit; purchase protection up to $1,000 per item; extended warranty; secondary car rental coverage
• Annual Fee: $0
• Intro APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months
• APR: 16.99% to 28.74% variable
• Cost: 2.7% foreign transaction fee
• Pros: One flat earning rate; points transfer to 19 airline and hotel programs; free employee cards that earn points
• Cons: 1X after $50,000 a year; 1.2% back as a statement credit; 2.7% foreign transaction fee; a fee applies to transfers to U.S. airlines

For more information, read our full The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express Review.

Best for car rentals: Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card

Freelancers who rent cars for business get theft and collision coverage on business rentals that pays before their own auto insurance, along with 1.5% back on every purchase.

• What Sets It Apart: Points can be moved to a Sapphire or Ink Business Preferred card for airline and hotel transfers
• Welcome Offer: $750 after $6,000 in purchases in the first 3 months; may not be available if you have had this card or another no-fee Chase business card
• Rewards: 1.5% on every purchase, with no cap, as points worth 1 cent each
• Features: Three free months of Instacart+, with a $20 monthly Instacart credit while a member, through 2027; free employee cards with spending limits; rental car coverage that pays first on business rentals; purchase protection; extended warranty
• Annual Fee: $0
• Intro APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months; none on balance transfers
• APR: 16.99% to 24.99% variable
• Cost: 3% foreign transaction fee
• Eligibility: Sole proprietors and side businesses can apply with a Social Security number, even with $0 revenue
• Pros: Points can be worth more through a Sapphire card; rental coverage that pays first; 120-day purchase protection
• Cons: Less cash back than 2% cards; 3% foreign transaction fee; bonus may be withheld from past no-fee Chase business cardholders; subject to Chase’s 5/24 rule

For more information, read our full Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card Review.

Best for fair credit: Capital One Spark Classic for Business

Capital One offers this card to applicants with fair credit and reports activity to the personal credit bureaus, so a gig worker who pays on time may help their score, while late payments can hurt it.

• What Sets It Apart: The only card in Capital One’s business lineup that accepts fair credit, and it has no annual fee
• Rewards: 1% cash back on every purchase; 5% on hotel stays and car rentals booked in Capital One Business Travel; cash back never expires
• Features: Activity reported to the personal credit bureaus; free employee cards with spending limits; account managers, virtual card numbers, and QuickBooks exports; $0 fraud liability
• Annual Fee: $0
• Security Deposit: None; the limit depends on your personal credit and finances
• APR: 29.24% variable
• Cost: No foreign transaction fee
• Credit Needed: Fair; a pre-approval check does not affect your score
• Eligibility: Business owners, including sole proprietors, who apply with their SSN; revenue and time in business can count
• Pros: Open to fair credit; pre-approval check does not affect your score; on-time payments can help your personal score; cash back never expires
• Cons: Only 1% back; no welcome bonus or intro APR; carrying a balance costs more in interest than rewards earned; late payments and high balances can hurt your personal score

For more information, read our full Capital One Spark Classic for Business Review.

Higher rates where you spend most

Each of these cards pays 1% outside its bonus categories, so they only beat a flat 2% card when those categories account for a large share of your spending.

Best for phone & internet: Ink Business Cash® Credit Card

Freelancers who pay for phone and internet service and shop at office supply stores earn 5% on the first $25,000 of those purchases each account year.

• What Sets It Apart: No-fee 5% on monthly phone and internet bills, plus points that can be transferred to travel partners once moved to a Sapphire card
• Welcome Offer: $750 cash back after you spend $6,000 within the first 3 months
• Rewards: 5% on internet, cable, and phone service and at office supply stores, and 2% at gas stations and restaurants, each on the first $25,000 of combined spending each account year; 1% on everything else
• Features: Free employee cards; points can be moved to a Sapphire card or the Ink Business Preferred, worth 1.5 cents each there by our count; purchase protection and extended warranty
• Annual Fee: $0
• Intro APR: 0% on purchases for 12 months
• APR: 16.99% to 24.99% variable
• Cost: 3% foreign transaction fee
• Pros: 5% on cell, landline, internet, and cable or satellite service; travel transfers through a Sapphire card; primary business rental car coverage
• Cons: 1% outside its categories, below the Ink Business Unlimited’s 1.5%; no 5% on office supplies from discount, department, or electronics stores; bonus may be withheld from past no-fee Chase business cardholders; 3% foreign transaction fee

For more information, read our full Ink Business Cash® Credit Card Review.

Best for gig drivers: U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card

Rideshare and delivery drivers earn 3% at gas stations and EV chargers with no yearly cap, on each fill-up or charge of $200 or less.

• What Sets It Apart: Uncapped 3% back in four everyday business categories, plus a yearly $100 software credit
• Welcome Offer: $750 cash back after $6,000 in purchases on the owner’s card within 180 days
• Rewards: 3% at gas stations and EV chargers (up to $200 per transaction), office supply stores, cell phone carriers, and restaurants; 5% on hotels and car rentals prepaid in the Travel Center; 1% on everything else; no cap
• Features: $100 yearly credit after 11 straight months of software subscriptions; free employee cards with Spend Management; rental car, purchase, and warranty coverage
• Annual Fee: $0
• Intro APR: 0% for 12 billing cycles on purchases and on balances transferred within 30 days of opening
• APR: 17.49% to 26.49% variable
• Cost: 5% balance transfer fee ($5 minimum); 3% foreign transaction fee
• Eligibility: U.S. business owners 18 or older, including sole proprietors
• Pros: No cap on the 3% categories; $100 software credit; same 0% intro as the Business Shield
• Cons: 1% outside the four categories; 1% on gas or charging over $200; no 3% at wholesale clubs or supercenters; 3% foreign transaction fee

For more information, read our full U.S. Bank Triple Cash Rewards Visa® Business Card Review.

Best for a choice category: Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® Credit Card

Web developers can select computer services as the 3% category, and that rate, along with 2% on dining, applies to the first $50,000 in those purchases each calendar year.

• What Sets It Apart: A 3% category you choose and can change monthly, worth up to 5.25% with Bank of America balances
• Welcome Offer: $500 after you spend $5,000 in the first 90 days; online only
• Rewards: 3% in one of six categories you choose and 2% on dining, on the first $50,000 a year combined; 1% on everything else; 25% to 75% more with Preferred Rewards for Business
• Features: Free employee cards; travel accident insurance and auto rental coverage; purchase security and extended warranty; QuickBooks downloads
• Annual Fee: $0
• Intro APR: 0% for 7 billing cycles on purchases
• APR: 16.99% to 26.99% variable
• Cost: 5% balance transfer fee; 3% foreign transaction fee; 5% cash advance fee; late fee up to $49
• Eligibility: Owner or authorized officer, 18 or older, with a U.S. address; sole proprietors use a Social Security number
• Pros: Bonus rates on $50,000 a year; up to 75% more with Preferred Rewards; free employee cards
• Cons: 1% outside your category and dining; 3% foreign transaction fee; office supply 3% excludes discount warehouses

For more information, read our full Business Advantage Customized Cash Rewards Mastercard® Credit Card Review.

Prime members only: Prime Business World Elite Mastercard®

Online sellers who buy supplies on Amazon, and freelancers who pay for Amazon Web Services, earn 5% back there on the first $150,000 a year.

• Best for: Prime members whose businesses buy supplies or cloud services from Amazon
• What Sets It Apart: Its 5% rate covers AWS and Amazon Business purchases, and Amazon checkout offers 0% monthly payments
• Welcome Offer: $100 or more as an Amazon gift card or statement credit, on approval or after meeting the spending requirement in the offer
• Rewards: 5% at Amazon.com, Amazon Business, AWS, and Whole Foods Market and 2% on your top three of 15 categories each billing cycle, each on the first $150,000 a year; 1% on most other purchases
• Features: Payment plans of up to 12 months with no interest or fee on eligible Amazon purchases, in place of their rewards; employee cards and unlimited virtual cards with spending limits
• Annual Fee: $0
• APR: 17.99% to 29.99% variable
• Cost: No foreign transaction fee; balance transfers and cash advances 4% or $5, whichever is greater; $40 late fee
• Eligibility: An eligible Amazon Prime membership; sole proprietors can apply with a Social Security number
• Pros: Automatic top-three categories; interest-free Amazon payment plans; employee and virtual cards
• Cons: Requires Prime; 1% outside its bonus categories; one $150,000 cap on the 5% for all cards

For more information, read our full Prime Business World Elite Mastercard® Review.

The decision comes down to how much of your spending falls into a few recurring bills. Put day-to-day spending on a no-fee card that earns 2% on everything, and add a card with a higher rate on your biggest expense, such as phone and internet, once that category is large enough to come out ahead.

For cards that charge an annual fee, compare the best small business credit cards.

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