The 6 Best Credit Cards for Active-Duty Military in September 2026 [Waived Annual Fees]

Active-duty military members and their spouses can qualify for premium credit cards without incurring annual fees, unlocking luxury travel perks, airport lounge access, and generous rewards.

Beyond credit card perks, federal protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act of 2003 (SCRA) and Military Lending Act (MLA) also help shield eligible servicemembers from high interest rates and certain credit card fees.

However, not all card issuers handle these benefits the same way, and applying for the wrong card at the wrong time could mean missing out on valuable savings. Before submitting an application, use this guide to compare the best military-friendly credit cards and understand which issuers offer the best benefits for active-duty servicemembers and their families.

Quick Overview of the Best Credit Cards for Active-Duty Military

The core benefit for eligible active-duty service members is paying a $0 annual fee, even on premium cards that normally charge hundreds of dollars per year. For example, the Platinum Card^® from American Express comes with an $895 annual fee (rates & fees) that gets reduced to $0 for active-duty military, and the same rewards and benefits still apply.

Across the board, American Express charges $0 in annual fees on all of its cards for active-duty military, including newly acquired ones. Other issuers like Chase waive annual fees on personal cards for active-duty members.

Federal protections under the SCRA apply to credit cards openedbeforeactive duty, while the MLA governs cards opened during active duty. These benefits are not applied automatically, so you typically need to contact your card issuer after approval to request SCRA or MLA benefits.

Finally, approval criteria vary by issuer, but most premium American Express and Chase rewards cards featured in this guide recommend good to excellent credit for approval.

Best Cards for Active-Duty Military Right Now

Amex Platinum card: Best for global airport lounge access and premium travel perks, with a standard $895 annual fee that gets reduced to $0 for active-duty military
American Express^® Gold Card: Best for rich rewards on dining and U.S. supermarkets, with a standard $325 annual fee (rates & fees) that gets reduced to $0 for active-duty military
Chase Sapphire Preferred^® Card: Best for earning valuable Chase Ultimate Rewards points, with a standard $95 annual fee that’s waived for active-duty military
Chase Sapphire Reserve^®: Best for Chase Sapphire Lounge access, with a standard $795 annual fee that’s waived for active-duty military
Delta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card: Best for Delta Air Lines benefits and 15 annual Sky Club visits, with a $650 annual fee (rates & fees) that’s reduced to $0 for active-duty military
United Club℠ Card: Best for United benefits and United Club access, with a $695 annual fee that’s waived for active-duty military

Best Credit Cards for Active-Duty Military: Full Comparison

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Card	Welcome Offer	Annual Fee	Earning Rates	Key Benefits
Amex Platinum card	As High as 175,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.Platinum Card^® from American ExpressYou may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount — all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.	$895 (rates & fees) $0 for active-duty	1x-5x pointsPlatinum Card^® from American Express Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® Point on other purchases	Access to more than 1,550 airport lounges worldwide More than $3,500 in annual benefits value for travel, dining, lifestyle, and entertainment (enrollment may be required)
Amex Gold card	As High As 100,000 Points. Find Out Your Offer.American Express^® Gold CardYou may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.	$325 (rates & fees) $0 for active-duty	1x-5x pointsAmerican Express^® Gold Card Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels via AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App^TM Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid car rentals and cruises booked on AmexTravel.com. Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.	4x points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1x points) and 4x points on restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year, then 1x points) Annual statement credits for dining (enrollment may be required)
Chase Sapphire Preferred card	75,000 pointsChase Sapphire Preferred^® CardEarn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.	$95 Waived for active-duty	1x-5x pointsChase Sapphire Preferred^® Card Earn 5x points on travel purchased through Chase Travel Earn 3x points on dining Earn 3x points on select streaming services and online groceries Earn 3x points on gas and EV charging Earn 3x points on vacation homes, such as Airbnb and Vrbo Earn 2x points on all other travel purchases Earn 1x points on all other purchases	$100 annual Chase Travel hotel credit Up to 5x points on eligible purchases
Chase Sapphire Reserve card	100,000 pointsChase Sapphire Reserve^®Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.	$795 Waived for active-duty	1x-10x pointsChase Sapphire Reserve^® 10x points on eligible Peloton equipment and accessory purchases 8x points on all Chase Travel purchases 5x points on Lyft rides 4x points on flights and hotels booked directly 3x points on all dining purchases worldwide 1x points per $1 spent on all other purchases	Chase Sapphire Lounge access with generous guest privileges $300 annual travel credit
Delta Reserve card	LIMITED TIME OFFER2 Round-Trip Delta Comfort Flights + 50,000 MilesDelta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express CardEarn two round‑trip Delta Comfort Flight Certificates valid for travel to the U.S. 48, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. A 21+ day advance purchase is required. Taxes and fees up to $80 per person apply. Terms and other restrictions apply. Offer ends 11/4/2026.	$650 $0 for active-duty	1x-3x milesDelta SkyMiles^® Reserve American Express Card Earn 3x SkyMiles on purchases made directly with Delta Earn 1x SkyMiles on other eligible purchases	15 annual Delta Sky Club visits per year when flying Delta (can unlock unlimited visits with spending) Annual companion certificate valid up to first class
United Club card	Up to 90,000 milesUnited Club℠ CardEarn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.	$695 Waived for active-duty	1x-11x milesUnited Club℠ Card Earn 11 total miles per $1 spent on eligible United^® flights Earn 5 miles per $1 on all other eligible United^® purchases Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on all other travel and dining Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases	United Club access for the primary cardholder and 1 guest Eligible for complimentary upgrades on United award tickets when available

Best American Express Cards for Active Military

Amex Platinum Card

$0 annual fee for eligible active-duty military members, including their eligible spouses and domestic partners
The most comprehensive airport lounge access, including Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass (enrollment required), and up to 10 Delta Sky Club visits per year when flying the same day with Delta
Access to premium travel and lifestyle credits and elite status with eligible hotel and rental car programs (enrollment required for some benefits)
5x Membership Rewards points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year, then 1x points) and 5x points on prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com
Welcome offer: Apply and find out if you’re eligible for as high as 175,000 points after spending $12,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Amex Gold Card

$0 annual fee for eligible active-duty military members, including their eligible spouses and domestic partners
Amex’s most rewarding card by far for everyday spending, with 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per year, then 1x points) and 4x points at restaurants worldwide (up to $50,000 per year, then 1x points)
More than $500 in annual value from dining and everyday statement credits and benefits (enrollment required)
Welcome offer: Apply and find out if you’re eligible for as high as 100,000 points after spending $8,000 in eligible purchases in the first 6 months. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.

Delta Reserve Card

$0 annual fee for eligible active-duty military members, including their eligible spouses and domestic partners
Delta’s most premium card, offering the most Delta Sky Club access with 15 annual visits plus 4 one-time guest passes each year (with the ability to unlock unlimited visits through spending)
Annual companion certificate each cardmember anniversary, valid for a round-trip flight up to Delta first class (pay $22 to $250 in taxes and fees)
$2,500 Medallion Qualification Dollars every year, and the ability to earn $1 MQD toward elite status for every $10 spent on the card
More than $350 in annual value from dining and everyday statement credits and benefits (enrollment required)
Welcome offer: Earn two round‑trip Delta Comfort Flight Certificates valid for travel to the U.S. 48, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, along with 50,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $10,000 in purchases on your new Card in the first 6 months. A 21+ day advance purchase is required. Taxes and fees up to $80 per person apply. Terms and other restrictions apply. Offer ends 11/4/2026.

Bottom Line:

American Express offers over 60 different cards, and it reduces annual fees on all of them for active military.

Best Chase Credit Cards for Active Military

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card

Waived annual fee for eligible active-duty military members, including their spouses
Great travel rewards card for first-timers that upholds long-term value, with a reasonable $95 annual fee after active-duty status
Diversified rewards earning, with 5x Ultimate Rewards points on Chase Travel bookings, 3x points on dining, online grocery store purchases, some streaming services, gas, EV charging, and vacation rentals, 2x points on all other travel purchases, and 1x points on all other eligible purchases
Excellent travel protections and benefits, including trip interruption and cancellation and primary rental car insurance
Welcome offer: Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Chase Sapphire Reserve Card

Chase Sapphire Lounge access for the primary cardholder and up to 2 guests, with Priority Pass Select Membership for access to over 1,300 airport lounges worldwide after enrollment
$300 travel credit each anniversary year, applies to any eligible travel purchase on the card
8x Ultimate Rewards points on all Chase Travel purchases
Complimentary IHG One Rewards Platinum Elite status upon enrollment, up to $500 in credits a year for prepaid The Edit stays, and more luxury travel benefits
Welcome offer: Earn 100,000 bonus points after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

United Club Card

Access to all United Club locations for the primary cardholder and a guest
Earn 11x total miles on eligible United flights and 5x miles on all other eligible United purchases
Premier United benefits, including space-available upgrades on award tickets, expanded award availability, and earn 1 Premier Qualification Point (PQP) for every $15 spent toward elite status
Hundreds of dollars in travel and everyday statement credits (enrollment required for some benefits)
Welcome offer: Earn up to 90,000 United MileagePlus bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening (80K + 10K more miles with an authorized user).

American Express (Annual Fee Reductions, Best Card Benefits, and Perks)

American Express extends military benefits beyond the minimum federal requirements by reducing annual fees on eligible consumer and business cards for active-duty military members, including cards opened after entering active service. Eligible cardholders may also receive reduced interest rates under SCRA or MLA protections, depending on when the account was opened (Source: American Express).

However, these benefits aren’t applied automatically, so you need to request them after your card account is approved, either online or by calling customer service, with documentation ready to provide. For complete eligibility details and application instructions, see our full American Express military benefits guide.

Chase (Waived Annual Fees, Excellent Card Benefits)

Chase waives the annual fee on eligible personal cards for active-duty military members under the MLA. Eligible accounts will also receive SCRA protections, including limits on the military annual percentage rate (MAPR), while promotional APR offers remain in effect (Source: SCRA).

These benefits aren’t automatic and must be requested after your account is approved and opened.
See our full guide to Chase military credit card benefits for eligibility requirements and a list of participating cards.

Other Issuers That Offer Military Credit Card Protections

Military card protections are available with other issuers, but they cap interest rates or waive annual fees for cards opened before active military service only:

Bank of America caps interest rates at 6%.
Barclays caps interest rates at 6%.
Capital One and Discover waive all fees, including annual fees, and cap interest rates at 4%.
Citi waives all fees, including annual fees, and lowers interest rates to 0%.
U.S. Bank waives all fees and caps interest rates at 6%.

How We Evaluate and Select Cards

Upgraded Points also researched how issuers apply military-specific benefits, including annual fee reductions and other SCRA or MLA-related policies. These specific card recommendations then consider the reduced annual fees, rewards earning rates, welcome offers, ongoing benefits, and travel and purchase protections. For a detailed explanation of our review process, check out the Upgraded Points methodology for ranking and reviewing credit cards.

Final Thoughts

Active-duty military can find exceptional value from credit cards that reduce annual fees to $0 while still offering full rewards, travel credits, airport lounge access, and more. The best card for you depends on your spending habits, travel goals, and preferred rewards program. Before applying, review the comparison table and our recommended picks above to find the card that best matches your needs.