Hear from our editors: Best starter credit cards of May 2026
Updated May 7, 2026
This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.
Editorial Note: Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors’ opinions. Our third-party advertisers don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. Information about financial products not offered on Credit Karma is collected independently. Our content is accurate to the best of our knowledge when posted.
Written by: Gaby Lapera
Key Takeaway: The best first credit cards offer clear paths to establish and build credit without charging high fees. If you’re a student, it’s best to start your search with a student credit card. For others, you might set yourself up for better long-term success with a secured card than with an unsecured card, if you can afford the security deposit.
If you’re new to credit, your credit card options can be limited. Whether you’re a college student, a young professional or someone else who hasn’t yet had a chance to build credit, these starter credit cards can help you build credit from scratch with little in the way of fuss or fees.
- Best for bonus cash back: Discover it® Student Cash Back
- Best secured card for beginners: Discover it® Secured Credit Card
- Best for a limited credit history: Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best for bonus cash back: Discover it® Student Cash Back
Here’s why: This is a good option for students, with a good rewards rate on rotating quarterly categories. Just remember: You have to activate the higher rewards rate every quarter.
Read more about Discover it® Student Cash Back.
Best secured card for beginners: Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Here’s why: The Discover it® Secured Credit Card offers the opportunity to graduate to an unsecured version after consistent, on-time payments. Plus, it offers rewards, which is a rarity among secured cards.
Read more about the Discover it® Secured Credit Card to see if it fits your needs.
Best for a limited credit history: Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Here’s why: Capital One says this card is for people with fair credit. You’ll have to pay a $39 annual fee, but the solid rewards rate can help offset that.
If you’re on the fence, learn more about Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.
How we picked these cards
We chose cards that are designed for people with no credit — which means a card caters to students or a card is specifically advertised to people without a credit history. Once we established that the card is meant for users with no credit, we focused on practical features that can help those looking to build credit from scratch, such as low fees, application flexibility and rewards to give you added value.
We know that our picks might not be for everyone, but these cards are likely a good starting point for understanding what’s available. Before applying for any cards, make sure you read the terms and conditions first. Also, you may want to look for cards that allow you to prequalify without hurting your credit.
FAQs about starter credit cards
Having no credit is not the same as having bad credit — though sometimes it can feel similar when it comes to gaining access to financial products.
If you have no credit history, there’s no way to generate credit scores or reports for you, which could result in what’s called a “thin” credit file. Because there’s little to no credit history for lenders to see, it’s harder for them to decide whether lending you money is worth the risk.
When you have bad credit, lenders can see past your credit history, including any problems on your records that might make you a riskier bet in terms of lending. If you have bad credit, you may want to focus on raising your scores before applying for new products.
Applying for a credit card can trigger a hard inquiry, which will temporarily cause your credit scores to drop a few points — regardless of whether your application is approved or denied.
It’s unclear how credit card applications affect people with no credit, but it’s wise to approach each new card application with caution.
There are a couple of useful strategies for beginners trying to build credit, including becoming an authorized user on a relative’s credit card (if they have good credit habits), getting a secured credit card or using a credit-builder product.
Once you have access to credit, you’ll want to maintain healthy credit habits to help build up your scores. Making all your payments on time is the most important factor but you’ll also want to try to keep your credit utilization ratio below 30%. Learn about more the factors that affect your credit scores.
You have a few options to start building your credit from scratch, including being added to an existing credit account (say from a relative with good credit). You can also try to apply for a specific credit-building product or a credit card that’s typically easier to be approved for, like a secured card (which requires collateral) or a retail card. Check out the terms and conditions carefully before applying for any financial product — and remember that there are no guarantees when it comes to credit.
It typically takes at least three to six months to generate a credit score for the first time, and it can take even longer to build your scores into the good or excellent category.
Having a job isn’t a prerequisite for qualifying for a credit card, but card issuers are required to check that you have the ability to repay your debts. If you have income without a job, lenders will take that into account when considering your application.
How to make the most of the best credit cards for first-time users
If you want to build your credit, a credit card can be a helpful tool. But these starter cards aren’t as impressive as some of the rewards cards you might qualify for once your credit is in better shape. To get there, it’s important to use your starter credit card responsibly.
What does responsible mean? Make sure you pay your bill on time every month. Set up automatic payments or at least a reminder to ensure you don’t forget. If possible, pay the bill in full to avoid interest charges.
Also, keep your balance low relative to the card’s credit limit. Your credit utilization rate, which is the percentage of your limit you’re using at any given time, is an important factor in your credit health, and the lower it is, the better.
