Best Credit Cards for People with No Credit

Moving from zero to “excellent” on the credit score scale can feel like an uphill battle. 

To build credit, you often have to access and use credit through financial products like loans and credit cards. But that’s much easier when you already have a solid credit history. And unless someone is willing to make you an authorized user on their credit card account or co-sign your loan, doing it on your own can be even more challenging.

But there are credit cards specifically designed to help you begin building your credit with little or no credit history. These starter credit cards report your payment to the credit bureaus, which can increase your score over time, and may even offer tools to help you build lasting credit habits or rewards on your everyday spending.

Here are NextAdvisor’s picks for the best starter credit cards for people with no credit:

Best Credit Cards for No Credit History

Best Credit Cards for People With No Credit History Summary

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Good for: Building Credit

Get automatically considered for a credit line increase after six months of timely payments, plus access to CreditWise credit monitoring tools. This card charges no annual fee. 

Capital One QuicksilverOne Rewards Credit Card

Good for: Rewards

Earn 1.5{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} cash back on every purchase, in addition to automatic credit line reviews after six months of on-time payments and access to Capital One’s credit monitoring tools. You’ll pay a $39 annual fee for the QuicksilverOne Rewards card.

Citi Secured Mastercard

Good for: Secured Credit Card for Building Credit

Upon approval, you can submit a security deposit between $200 and $2,500, which will act as your credit limit, and choose your own monthly due date. Use this card to make purchases and pay them off each month to begin building your credit history and improve your credit score. There’s no annual fee for Citi Secured Mastercard.

Bank of America Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card

Good for: Secured Credit Card for Rewards

Earn 3{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} back in a category of your choice and 2{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on combined $2,500 in purchases each quarter, then 1{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}), plus 1{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} on all other purchases. To open your account, you’ll need to submit a security deposit between $300 and $4,900. Bank of America periodically reviews your account to determine whether you qualify to have your refund returned. This card has no annual fee. 

Petal 2 Visa Credit Card

Good for: No Credit History

Earn 1{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} cash back on eligible purchases and up to 1.5{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} cash back after 12 on-time monthly payments. In addition to your credit report, factors like income and bill payment history (using your bank account information) may be used to determine your approval.

Discover it Student Cash Back

Good for: Students

Earn 5{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} cash back in quarterly rotating categories upon activation (on up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter, then 1{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}) and 1{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} cash back on everything else. At the end of your first year, Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned, and you’ll get a $20 statement credit each year you maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA (up to 5 years). Discover it Student Cash Back charges no annual fee.

Card	APR	Rewards	Annual Fee
Capital One Platinum Credit Card	26.99{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} Variable	N/A	$0
Capital One QuicksilverOne Rewards Credit Card	26.99{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} Variable	1.5{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} cash back on every purchase	$39
Citi Secured Mastercard	22.49{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} Variable	N/A	$0
Bank of America Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card	23.99{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} Variable	• 3{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} cash back in choice category (gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, or home improvement/furnishings) • 2{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (on the first $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club purchases each quarter, then 1{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}) • 1{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} cash back on all other purchases	$0
Petal 2 Visa Credit Card	12.99{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}-26.99{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} Variable	1{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} cash back on all eligible purchases, and up to 1.5{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} cash back after establishing a positive payment history	$0
Discover it Student Cash Back	12.99{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}-21.99{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} Variable	• 5{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} cash back on up to $1,500 spent each quarter in rotating categories upon activation, then 1{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}. • 1{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} cash back on all other purchases	$0

How to Get a Credit Card Without Credit

While some credit cards (especially those with long-lasting intro offers or premium perks and rewards) do require excellent credit for approval, there are plenty of starter credit card options designed to help you build and maintain good credit. Here are some ways you can get a credit card with no credit:

Secured Credit Cards

Secured credit cards require an upfront deposit upon approval, which typically acts as your credit limit. The deposit makes these cards more accessible for people with little credit history or bad credit, because the deposit secures the credit the bank lends you, like a form of collateral. These cards usually don’t offer great rewards, but can be a helpful stepping stone to more valuable card options. Depending on your issuer, you may even be able to upgrade to an unsecured card in the future without having to close your account.

Student Credit Cards

Student cards are a great credit-building option for students looking to get ahead before graduation. Not only can you establish a positive payment history by using your card responsibly in school, but these cards often offer rewards and benefits geared toward students and everyday spending. When you graduate, you may choose to continue using your student card or request an upgrade to a standard credit card from your issuer.

Authorized User

You can build credit as an authorized user on a trusted friend or family member’s credit card account if you can’t get approved for your own. For example, parents may designate their children as authorized users on a card reserved for emergencies or another agreed-upon use, like fueling up at the gas station. 

As an authorized user, you may have your own card, but responsibility for payment (and resulting effects on your credit) ultimately falls on the account owner. Before agreeing to be an authorized user, ensure the account owner is a responsible cardholder with a history of timely payments, or future negative payment history could reflect badly on your credit score.

How Can a Credit Card Help You Build Credit?

Because your credit score is determined based on information in your credit report, building credit depends on reporting information to the credit bureaus that will appear on your report.

Credit card issuers report your payments to each of the three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TranUnion) regularly. Over time — and with responsible credit use — you’ll establish a positive payment history on your credit report, which accounts for 35{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} of your overall credit score determination, according to FICO.

Credit cards also play into other credit scoring factors, including credit utilization (30{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}), age of accounts (15{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}) and credit mix (10{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}). 

Experts recommend maintaining a credit utilization ratio (the amount of credit you use in comparison to your overall available credit) under 30{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}. Keep your regular spending under 30{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} of your card’s overall credit limit to increase your score over time. 

Opening a credit card and keeping it in good standing will also contribute to your age of accounts. The best credit scores benefit from long account ages, so the sooner you open an account, the longer history you can establish over time.

Credit cards play into credit mix as a form of revolving credit. Installment loans like auto or student loans are also reported to the bureaus and appear on your report, but introducing a credit card into your credit mix can help prove to future lenders your ability to manage different types of debt.

These factors, in addition to overall responsible credit use (avoid carrying a debt balance, make payments on time and in full each month, etc.) will improve your credit score.  

Why Establishing a Credit History Matters

Establishing a credit history is an important aspect of your finances that can have implications throughout your lifetime.

Lenders use your credit score, which is a reflection of your credit history, to determine your creditworthiness when you apply for financing for everything from a rewards credit card to a new car and even your dream home. Your credit score not only influences whether you’re approved or denied, but also the terms and interest.

Credit doesn’t just apply to loan eligibility, though. Insurance providers, prospective employers, and future landlords may also check your credit history to help determine your overall responsibility and trustworthiness.

What to Look for in a Starter Credit Card

You should use a starter credit card as a tool to help you establish a credit history and build your credit score. Here are a few details to consider before applying for your first credit card:

• Annual Fee: An annual fee doesn’t have to be a dealbreaker, but you should make sure you can recoup the cost of a credit card’s annual fee with your regular spending, whether through rewards or other benefits. For starter cards especially, there are plenty of great options available that charge no annual fee.
• Interest Rate: Responsible credit usage means you should pay your balance off in full and on time each month, so you don’t take on any high-interest charges. But it’s still important to know the rate your card charges on unpaid balances, and how much that could end up costing you over time.
• Credit Limit: Your credit limit is the maximum amount you can charge to your credit card. If you open a secured card, your limit will likely be the amount you put down as a deposit, while unsecured cards will assign a credit limit upon approval. This limit not only affects the amount you may spend using your card, but can also impact your credit score. If you’re assigned a small credit limit, it may be more difficult to maintain a good credit utilization ratio and increase your score.
• Fees: Beyond the annual fee, there are other fees you might take on with a new credit card, including late payment fees, foreign transaction fees, penalty APR, balance transfer fees, returned payment fees, and more. Be aware of what these fees charge as well as how you can avoid them.
• Rewards: While building good credit should be your primary goal with a starter credit card, you can also use it to add value to your regular spending through rewards. Look for a card with a simple rewards structure (like cash back) that will reward your most frequent spending. For many people, this includes everyday spending categories like groceries, gas, and dining.
• Upgrades: A secured credit card, student card, or basic credit-building card can be incredibly useful for establishing credit, but once you have a great credit score, you may want to upgrade to a card that better suits your spending habits. Some issuers offer the option to upgrade to another card after a certain amount of time or period of good standing, which can be an easy way to upgrade without another hard credit check or new account opening. 

Making the Most of Your Starter Credit Card

Make the most of your starter credit card by using it to establish a foundation of good credit habits.

Only charge purchases to your card you know you can pay off when your statement balance is due — in other words, use your card like a debit card. And when it is time to pay, submit your full statement balance on time to avoid taking on debt and late fees. Over time, as your card issuer reports these habits to the credit bureaus, your positive payment history will grow and increase your score over time.

You should also keep an eye on your credit utilization while you’re building your credit score. Keep your monthly balance below 30{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5} (and even more ideally, around 10{d54a1665abf9e9c0a672e4d38f9dfbddcef0b06673b320158dd31c640423e2e5}) of your overall credit limit to increase your credit score.

As you use your starter card to build your score, you can also make the most of any rewards and benefits it has to offer. 

Look into how rewards categories align with your regular spending to maximize your purchases — and then make sure to pay those charges off before you accrue interest, since carrying a balance will quickly wipe out any rewards you earn.

Take advantage of other added benefits your issuer may offer too, like credit monitoring tools, travel protections, account alerts, and more.

Methodology

To determine the best credit cards for people with no credit history, we focus on the cards currently available from major issuers that are accessible for applicants with little or no credit history and offer tools to help establish and maintain good credit. Card details we consider include annual fee, APR, rewards and benefits (including those tied to healthy credit habits), fees, credit reporting, and more.