Best Free Checking Accounts with No Minimum Balance for 2025

Your choice of checking account can make or break your finances, whether you’re using it to get your paychecks from your employer through direct deposits, everyday checking, paying off bills, or just a safe place to stash your savings.

In 2025, there are countless free checking accounts to choose from that don’t have a minimum balance requirement.

A great checking account won’t have any hidden charges and will meet all your banking needs – offering online banking, great customer services, and earning you interest on your cash and account benefits.

Today we’re going to explore some of the best checking accounts (some free & paid options) including their pros, cons, and fees.

Best Checking Accounts for 2025

1. Axos Bank – Best overall

Axos Bank Rewards Checking account pays up to 3.30% APY total; however, balances above $50,000 do not earn interest. Although the rate is very competitive, you will have to complete some additional steps to earn the full APY.

After you meet certain transaction or direct deposit qualifications within a statement cycle, you will have access to increased earning potential at one of the five rewards tiers.

In addition to interest earnings, account holders can take advantage of surcharge-free ATM withdrawals at approximately 91,000 ATMs across the country. Plus, the bank offers unlimited domestic ATM fee reimbursement.

This account not only provides helpful online and mobile features for daily money management, but also allows you to manage your debit card, set up auto-pay for bills, and pay friends and family–all from your account dashboard.

At Axos, it’s easy to open an account and there are no fees for insufficient funds.

2. Acorns Checking – Best for no hidden fees

Acorns is the only checking account and heavy metal debit card that invests when you spend and automatically invests a portion of every paycheck.

An Acorns Personal account is $3 a month but you can get all-in-one investing, retirement, and checking—plus much more.

Then you can instantly invest spare change and save from no hidden fees with over 55,000 fee-free ATMs within the AllPoint Network nationwide and around the world.

They even let you automatically invest money before you spend it and get paid up to 2 days early with direct deposit.

Get a checking account that saves and invests for your future, in fact, you can invest a piece of every paycheck automatically into all your Acorns accounts.

3. NorthOne: Best checking account for freelancers

Looking for a checking account to separate your personal and business expenses? NorthOne is a great place for freelancers to start their business banking.

It’s a standout bank that takes just $50 to open an account. The bank has a low monthly maintenance fee of only $10 but doesn’t have any monthly balance requirements or minimum deposits. 

NorthOne has some of the best integration and features: 

• Works with billing systems like Stripe, Quickbooks, Shopify, and Square
• Supports all modern payments types 
• Pay invoices
• Simple and powerful insights into your cashflow

Interest-bearing accounts are not available, but you enjoy unlimited fee-free transactions and a ton of online tools to help you manage your business banking.

You also don’t need a branch to operate your account with NorthOne banks because mobile banking and mobile check deposit are available. Overall, NorthOne is one of the best banks for freelancers.

4. CIT Bank: Best fee-free checking account

CIT Bank’s products are perfect for preparing for unexpected emergencies, growing funds for a down-payment on a dream home, saving up for a loved one’s future, or anything in between.

CIT Bank has recently started a new online eChecking account that earns up to 0.25% APY. However, if you have a balance of less than $25,000 you will earn an 0.10% APY.

Easy account management through the mobile app, including depositing checks and transferring funds. You’ll need a minimum of $100 to open.

But if you do open an account, you can use any ATM with an eChecking debit card without paying any CIT fees and receive up to $30 per month to offset other bank’s ATM charges.

Plus, you can make online payments from eChecking with Zelle, Bill Pay, Samsung Pay, and Apple Pay. And no opening or monthly fees.

5. SoFi Checking and Savings – Best for all-in-one app

SoFi Bank is a checking and savings account that offers you so much. If you’re looking for a free online bank where you can easily invest, save, with one app — this is it.

You can get paid up to 2 days early, earn 3.80% APY, no-free overdraft coverage and up to a $325 welcome bonus.

You can do it all from the app where you can deposit checks, get real-time alerts, freeze or unfreeze your card, change your pin, and more.

How to Choose a Checking Account

You’ve settled on a bank or credit union, but which checking account will work best for you? Here are some things to consider.

• Monthly maintenance fees. Remember that you are planning to do a lot of banking with your new checking account. Fees for checking accounts can range from $0 – $35 per month, depending on how you use the account. If you want an account without fees, or offer ATM fee reimbursements or overdraft protection, most banks offer free checking options or discounts for certain types of accounts.
• Minimums.  Some banks require a minimum balance to keep the account open or charge a fee for accounts that fall below a certain balance (minimum balance requirements). If you know you’ll only have a small amount of money in your checking account at any given time, it might be best to find an account with a lower minimum like Current.
• APY. APY stands for Annual Percentage Yield. You might want to earn interest on your cash, and if that’s the case, you’ll want an account with a high APY. Be sure to compare APYs between different banks, as they can vary significantly.
• Customer service. You’ll have to deal with customer service reps from time to time, so it’s good to know what to expect. Consider whether you want to work with a person or an automated system when you call the bank, and then choose accordingly.
• Digital experience.  If you prefer to bank online, make sure the bank offers a site that meets your needs like online bill pay and is easy to navigate.
• Retail locations.  You might also want to consider whether there’s a branch or ATM location near you if you plan on stopping by in person frequently.
• Safety.  This is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing a checking account. Make sure the bank is FDIC or NCUA insured and has a good reputation for security.
• Brokerage accounts. If you’re also looking for a place to invest your money, many banks offer brokerage accounts as well. This can be a convenient way to manage all of your finances in one place.

Choosing the right financial institution is the first step, and from there you need to decide what type of checking account is best for you.

Is Online Banking Safe?

Is online banking safe and secure? A ton of people believe that it isn’t — you may have heard from a friend or family member that their card was skimmed or robbed at an ATM or you may have experienced it yourself.

But the short answer is yes. Banks that are online-only are safe, given that they have FDIC insurance. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation is an independent federal agency insuring deposits in U.S. banks and thrifts in the event of bank failures. So if you are a member of an online bank that has FDIC insurance, your money is insured up to $250,000.

So even in the event that a hacker steals your money, you will be safeguarded. Your online bank has to reimburse you for your losses if reported within 60 days. This is a reason why many people track their finances on a weekly basis by using free budgeting apps like Empower.

However, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be aware of the risks associated with online banking.

Best Checking Accounts for 2025

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to checking accounts—it all depends on what you need.

If you want to deposit cash regularly, an online bank probably isn’t the best fit. But if you’re after higher interest rates and extra features, online banks usually beat traditional ones.

Think about how you’ll use your account. If you travel often, look for one with no foreign transaction fees. If you rely on your debit card, make sure there’s a solid ATM network. Some banks also offer perks for students, seniors, or military members.

Some checking accounts are always fee-free, while others only waive fees for a limited time.

Bottom line? There’s no single “best” checking account—it’s about finding the one that fits you.