Best no-annual-fee card combo
Of every two-card set we can build from the cards we track with no annual fee, Barclays Wyndham Earner and Wells Fargo Active Cash keep the most from a year of typical spending: $571, $48 less than the best single card, Robinhood Gold Card.
- Updated October 17, 2026
- $22,300 a year of spending
- Rankings are never paid for
The combo
Keeps $571 a year
- Earns $571 a year on the spending below; no annual fees.
- That's $48 less than the best single card, Robinhood Gold Card ($619).
Rates change, so verify them with the issuer before you apply.
The cards
-
Use for groceries, dining and gas
Barclays Wyndham Rewards Earner
$375 a year
-
Use for travel, drugstores and everything else
$196 a year
Which card to use
A year of spending, each purchase on the card that earns the most on it. When a bonus runs out at its cap, the rest goes on the next best card.
| Category | Spend a year | Use | Earns |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groceries | $6,200 | Barclays Wyndham Earner | $186 3% |
| Dining | $3,900 | Barclays Wyndham Earner | $117 3% |
| Gas | $2,400 | Barclays Wyndham Earner | $72 3% |
| Travel | $2,500 | Wells Fargo Active Cash | $50 2% |
| Drugstores | $700 | Wells Fargo Active Cash | $14 2% |
| Everything else | $6,600 | Wells Fargo Active Cash | $132 2% |
| Total | $22,300 | $571 |
Close behind
The next best sets on the same spending.
| Cards | After fees | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Barclays Wyndham Earner + Fidelity Rewards Visa | $571 | $0 |
| Barclays Wyndham Earner + Citi Double Cash | $571 | $0 |
| Apple Card + Barclays Wyndham Earner | $571 | $0 |