The best 8 credit cards for no credit history
Starter credit cards are designed to help first-time borrowers responsibly establish an on-time payment history, which is essential for building credit.
Written by
Writer, Fox Money
Alene Laney has over 10 years of experience covering credit cards and mortgages with bylines at Newsweek, The Balance, and Business Insider.
Updated May 14, 2024, 1:36 PM EDT
Written by
Editor
Hanna Horvath is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and Red Venture's senior editor of content partnerships.
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Establishing credit is important to building your financial future so you can eventually qualify for loans like mortgages, auto financing, or rental applications.
But how do you build credit if you have no credit?
The good news is that there are several good starter credit cards that are ideal for those with no credit history. These cards are easier to qualify for and are designed to help build your credit from the ground up. With responsible use, these cards can set you up for future success.
The 8 best starter credit cards for those with no credit
We evaluated different starter credit cards based on fees, credit limit minimums, graduation options, and other perks to identify the top cards for those with no credit history. These offer the easiest approval odds and educational tools to help you build your credit.
Plus, these cards report your activity to the three credit bureaus, which can help boost your score.
Here are some of the best credit cards to help build your credit.
- Capital One Platinum Credit Card
- Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
- Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Discover it® Secured Credit Card
- Discover it® Student Cash Back
- Petal 2® "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card
- Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card
- Navy Federal Credit Union nRewards® Secured Card
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
- Rewards: None
- Credit limit: $300+
- Annual fee: $0
- Credit score needed: No credit score required
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is a great choice for new credit users, with no annual fee or security deposit required.
It offers a lower starting credit line — usually around $300 to $500 — allowing you to keep initial spending in check while you focus on building credit.
Though this card doesn't have rewards, you can access credit-building tools like an automatic credit increase review and CreditWise alerts.
Who is this card for? This card is ideal for individuals who are new to credit and looking to establish a positive credit history.
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Capital One Secured Platinum Credit Card
- Rewards: None
- Credit limit: $49-$200 (based on security deposit)
- Annual fee: $0
- Credit score needed: No credit score required
The Capital One Secured Platinum Credit Card requires a refundable security deposit that serves as your initial credit limit. Minimum deposits start at $49, $99, or $200, depending on your score.
There's no annual fee, and you’ll get access to automatic account reviews after six months, CreditWise credit alerts, and the chance to earn your deposit back and upgrade to an unsecured card after a period of regular payments.
Who is this card for? This secured credit card is designed for individuals with limited or no credit history who want to build their credit score.
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Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Rewards: Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
- Credit limit: $200-$3,000 (based on security deposit)
- Annual fee: $0
- Credit score needed: No credit score required
Unlike other secured credit cards, you can earn cash back on your spending with the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Credit Card.
You can earn 1.5% back on all purchases and an unlimited 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
This card starts with a minimum $200 credit limit, which can stretch to $3,000 depending on your score. A higher credit limit can help you keep your utilization low and establish a credit history faster.
When you use your card responsibly, you can earn your security deposit back and increase your credit limit in as little as six months.
Who is this card for? This secured credit card is a great choice for those with no credit history who want to earn cash back rewards while building their credit.
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Discover it® Secured Credit Card
- Rewards: 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $1,000 in combined purchases quarterly), 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Credit limit: $200-$2,500 (based on security deposit)
- Annual fee: $0
- Credit score needed: No credit score required
Discover’s popular secured card offers robust rewards and an exceptional welcome offer. This allows you to maximize your cash back while building your credit. You’ll earn 2% back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $1,000 in combined quarterly purchases, then 1%) and 1% back on all other purchases. Discover will also match all your cash back earned at the end of your first year.
This card requires a $200 minimum deposit, though you can contribute up to $2,500 for a higher credit limit. You’ll get an automatic account review for a card upgrade after seven months — you may also get your security deposit back and a higher credit limit.
Who is this card for? This secured credit card is perfect for individuals looking to establish credit while earning cash back rewards.
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Discover It® Student Cash Back
- Rewards: 5% cash back on rotating categories (up to $1,500 in purchases quarterly), 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Credit limit: Starting at $500
- Annual fee: $0
- Credit score needed: No credit score required
Discover’s student version of its popular cash back card offers 5% rotating category bonuses and no annual fee. It’s one of the best student cards available. You’ll also earn 1% back on all other purchases. Discover will also match all your cash back earned at the end of your first year.
There’s no security deposit required and a lower APR than you’ll see with many other credit cards for no credit.
Who is this card for? This student credit card is an excellent option for college students who want to build credit and earn cash back rewards.
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Petal 2® "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card
- Rewards: 1% cash back on eligible purchases, up to 1.5% cash back after 12 on-time monthly payments
- Credit limit: $300-$10,000
- Annual fee: $0
- Credit score needed: No credit score required
You don’t need a credit score or security deposit to qualify Petal 2® "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card, making it an accessible option to build credit.
This card earns 1% back on eligible purchases or up to 1.5% back on eligible purchases when you make 12 on-time payments. You can also earn between 2%-10% back at select merchants.
The card has no late fees, annual fees, foreign transaction fees, or returned payment fees. You also have the option to increase your credit limit after responsible use.
Who is this card for? This credit is designed for those with limited or no credit history who want to earn cash back rewards and avoid fees.
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Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card
- Rewards: None
- Credit limit: Varies (based on the amount moved from Chime Spending Account to Credit Builder secured account)
- Annual fee: $0
- Credit score needed: No credit score required
This unique secured card from Chime allows you to load money onto your card from a Chime Checking Account — with zero fees.
This card helps build your credit history by functioning like a prepaid debit. The money you move from the checking account to the card is your security deposit and becomes your credit limit. Because of this, you don’t have to worry about interest charges.
The Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card requires no credit check and offers one of the highest credit limits for a secured card — up to $10,000.
Who is this card for? This secured credit card is an excellent choice for those who want to build credit without the risk of overspending.
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Navy Federal Credit Union nRewards® Secured Card
- Rewards: Earn 1X points on all purchases
- Credit limit: $200-$5,000 (based on security deposit)
- Annual fee: $0
- Credit score needed: No credit score required
This popular secured card from Navy Federal offers easy approval with a security deposit.
With this card, you can earn 1X points on all purchases and redeem rewards for merchandise, gift cards, or cash back. Other perks include the ability to upgrade to an unsecured card, automatic credit limit increases, and free credit score monitoring.
Who is this card for? This secured credit card is designed for individuals with limited or no credit history who are members of the Navy Federal Credit Union.
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How to get a credit card with no credit
Still worried about whether or not you’re going to be approved for a credit card with no credit? Here are a few tips to help boost your odds.
- Target cards with no credit checks: Some cards marketed to first-timers won’t run a hard credit inquiry when approving you for a card. These cards are some of the easiest to qualify for.
- Look for secured cards: Because they require a security deposit, secured cards are often much easier to get approved for.
- Check for pre-approval: Many issuers allow you to check for pre-approved offers using your name and address. These “soft inquiry” checks won’t affect your limited credit further.
How to build credit from scratch with a credit card
Think of a starter credit card as training wheels to help you get used to credit before graduating to higher, often unsecured cards.
Once you have your card, you’ll want to be intentional with how you use it. Remember these ideas to give yourself a head start on building a solid credit history.
- Pay in full each month. To avoid interest charges and debt, commit to paying your statement balance in full monthly — no exceptions. This can help you build a strong payment history and credit score.
- Automate your payments. To make sure your credit card bill is paid on time every month, you’ll want to set up autopay. By setting up automatic payments, you’re sure to build a solid credit history.
- Keep your credit utilization low. Credit utilization is the percentage of credit you use relative to your total credit limit. For example, if your credit limit is $1,000 and you charge $100 on the card, your credit utilization would be 10%. As a rule of thumb, keep balances under 30% of your limit. Going over this threshold can negatively impact your credit.
- Limit new credit inquiries. Every new credit application triggers a hard inquiry on your report. This signals increased risk and can impact your approval odds in the short term. Avoid applying for many credit cards simultaneously, especially while establishing a credit history. Use your starter card for 6-12 months before applying for a new one.
Picking the right starter credit card for you
The right starter credit card can help build your credit, but it can also offer valuable perks. Take into consideration these factors when choosing a card.
- Secured vs. unsecured: Unsecured cards won’t charge a deposit, but they often come with higher interest rates and may be harder to get. Secured cards require a security deposit but are easier to get approved for and may offer a lower interest rate.
- Interest rate: Credit cards for those with no credit can charge exorbitant interest rates, so it’s advisable to shop around. Some cards don’t charge interest at all.
- Rewards: If you like earning cash back rewards, there are several rewards cards you can choose from.
- Reporting to credit bureaus: If you want to build credit, ensure the card you’re using reports to the three major credit bureaus (most do).
- Upgrade possibility: Some cards can graduate from a secured card to an unsecured card. You may also be able to get your deposit back.
How we rated the best credit cards for no credit history
To determine the best credit cards for those with no credit history, we carefully evaluated a wide range of factors, including the card's introductory offer, regular APR, added perks and benefits, annual fees, and overall value for consumers.
Our team analyzed numerous credit card offers and selected the top contenders based on these key criteria:
- Approval odds: High approval odds are crucial for credit-builder cards because they provide access to credit for those who may have been denied by other issuers due to limited or no credit history.
- Fees: Fees are an important factor for credit-builder cards because high fees can burden users who are often in the early stages of their financial journey.
- Credit-building features: These features are often the key reasons why you would consider a credit-builder card. Features like regular credit bureau reporting and free credit score access are essential for helping users understand and improve their credit over time.
- Credit limit: The credit limit affects the your ability to maintain a low credit utilization ratio, which is a key factor in building a strong credit score. For secured cards, a high security deposit could be a barrier to entry.
- APR: While it's best to pay the balance in full each month to avoid interest, a lower APR can provide some flexibility for users who may occasionally need to carry a small balance on their credit-builder card.
- Added perks: Additional benefits like rewards or discounts can provide extra value and incentives, which can in turn support responsible credit habits.
The bottom line
Starter credit cards are an excellent stepping stone for those new to credit. Finding the right card is about considering what you qualify for and what you value in a card. Your best bet is to pick the card that helps you spend and save according to your values.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.