One Key Card review: Expedia rewards for no annual fee

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers.

One Key Card overview

The One Key™ Card (see rates and fees) is a new no-annual-fee offering that comes with decent earnings rates and some unique benefits with Expedia’s OneKey travel rewards program. If you use Expedia and its affiliated services frequently, the card could make sense for you. Card rating*: ⭐⭐⭐

*Card rating is based on the opinion of TPG’s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.

One Key is a loyalty program from Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo. It’s free to join and allows travelers to earn rewards for their purchases across all three travel apps, the first rewards program of its kind.

The One Key Card is a pared-down version of the $99-annual-fee One Key+™ Card (see rates and fees). However, given its earnings rates, it could still be a fit for some potential cardholders. It has no annual fee and a recommended credit score of 670.

Here’s what else you need to know.

Pros	Cons
No annual fee Solid earnings rates	Outclassed by the One Key+ Card in most areas Limited redemption options

One Key Card welcome offer

With the One Key Card, you can earn $400 in OneKeyCash after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.

It’s important to note that OneKeyCash is not, in fact, redeemable for cash, and can only be used with Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo. Still, this welcome offer provides decent value for those who use the platform often and is relatively easy to earn for many travelers.

The One Key Card is relatively short on benefits, but you will get automatic Silver tier in the One Key rewards program, which includes savings of 15% or more on over 10,000 hotels worldwide. You’ll unlock Gold status when you spend $15,000 or more per calendar year.

A person using a computer while holding a credit card — JUSTIN PAGET/GETTY IMAGES

Again, the One Key+ Card will win out on the benefits front for most users, but this card can make sense if you want to avoid paying an annual fee.

Earning rewards with the One Key Card

With the One Key Card, you’ll get 3% back in OneKeyCash on Expedia, Hotels.com, and Vrbo, 3% in OneKeyCash at gas stations, grocery stores, and on dining and 1.5% in OneKeyCash on other purchases.

Those are solid earnings rates with some nice bonus categories, but it’s worth nothing that you won’t be able to do much with your rewards outside of Expedia, Hotel.com and Vrbo redemptions.

Redeeming rewards with the One Key Card

Once again, OneKeyCash is not, in fact, redeemable for cash, and can only be used at Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo.

Woman using a credit card at her desk — FRESHSPLASH/GETTY IMAGES

If you often book travel through one of those sites, this card can make sense for you. Otherwise, though, you’ll get more value from a different travel rewards credit card.

Which cards compete with the One Key Card?

If you want additional travel perks or more flexible rewards, you may want to choose one of these cards instead.

If you want more perks: The One Key+ Card comes with a $99 annual fee but has stronger earnings rates and additional benefits that more than make up for the difference in annual fees. For more details, check out our full review of the One Key+.
If you want more Marriott Bonvoy benefits: The Marriott Bonvoy Bold® Credit Card comes with perks like automatic Bonvoy Silver status and five elite night credits per year, plus an earning rate of 3 points per dollar at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels — all for no annual fee. For more details, check out our full review of the Marriott Bonvoy Bold.
If you stay at Hilton properties more often: The Hilton Honors American Express Card has no annual fee (see rates and fees) and allows cardholders to earn Hilton Honors points and enjoy automatic Hilton Honors Silver status. For more details, check out our full review of the Hilton Honors Amex.

For additional options, see our list of the best hotel credit cards.

Is the One Key Card worth it?

Most travelers will want more flexible rewards than OneKeyCash, which can only be redeemed with Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo. But if you don’t mind that aspect of the One Key Card, it’s a solid no-annual-fee offering that will rack up rewards relatively easily.

Bottom line

If you want a card that earns rewards with Expedia, Hotels.com and or Vrbo and has an easy-to-earn welcome offer to boot, you just found it.

It’s not the most valuable travel card out there, but the One Key Card will make sense for consumers who want to make use of those platforms without having to worry about paying an annual fee.

Apply here: One Key Card

For rates and fees of the Hilton Honors Amex, click here.