Best no-annual-fee three-card combo
Of every three-card set we can build from the cards we track with no annual fee, Citi Strata, U.S. Bank Altitude Go and Wells Fargo Active Cash keep the most from a year of typical spending: $610, $9 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 $610 a year
- Earns $610 a year on the spending below; no annual fees.
- That's $9 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 and gas
$258 a year
-
Use for dining
U.S. Bank Altitude Go Visa Signature
$156 a year
Card details at U.S. Bank -
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 | Citi Strata | $186 3% |
| Dining | $3,900 | U.S. Bank Altitude Go | $156 4% |
| Gas | $2,400 | Citi Strata | $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 | $610 |
Close behind
The next best sets on the same spending.
| Cards | After fees | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Citi Strata + Fidelity Rewards Visa + U.S. Bank Altitude Go | $610 | $0 |
| Citi Double Cash + Citi Strata + U.S. Bank Altitude Go | $610 | $0 |
| Barclays Wyndham Earner + U.S. Bank Altitude Go + Wells Fargo Active Cash | $610 | $0 |