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Credit cards for no credit

We recommend these cards from our partners.
CK Editors’ Tips††: Credit cards for no credit can help you establish a credit history, and some even come with rewards.
Read more
What to consider when choosing a credit card for no credit
Credit cards for no credit can come with cool features like rewards and other perks, but it’s worth remembering that their primary use is to help you establish a credit history. While there’s no problem with looking for bonus rewards rates, don’t forget to look for cost-effective features like no annual fee and a relatively low purchase APR. If you do, you can avoid expensive costs that might wipe out any value you get from rewards.
How we picked the best credit cards for no credit
Our best credit cards for no credit can help you build a credit history while keeping your costs relatively low. While we selected several rewards cards, our main aim was to pick cards that won’t charge high fees just for the ability to build credit. We also picked both secured and unsecured credit cards because either type of card might be right for you depending on the circumstances. Read more about our methodology for picking the best credit cards.
Jump to editors’ picks

Great for no annual fee††
Petal® 1 Visa® Credit Card
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Petal® 1 Visa® Credit Card

Great for no annual fee††

Petal® 1 Visa® Credit Card

170 reviews
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  • Rewards rate

    2% - 10%
    Cash back
  • Annual fee

    $0
Rewards rate

2% - 10% Cash back

Annual fee

$0

  • No annual fee, and no security deposit required
  • 2-10% cash back at select local and national merchants
Great for a low purchase APR††
First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
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First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card

Great for a low purchase APR††

First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card

388 reviews
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  • Min. deposit

    $200
    Refundable
  • Regular purchase APR

    17.99%* Variable
  • Annual fee

    $39
  • Rewards rate

    1%
    Cash back
Min. deposit

$200 Refundable

Regular purchase APR

17.99%* Variable

Annual fee

$39

Rewards rate

1% Cash back

  • Choose the First Progress Select Card for a Lower Annual Fee!
  • Get a First Progress Select Card and Earn 1% Cash Back Rewards!
Great for no credit check††
opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
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opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

Great for no credit check††

opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

1943 reviews
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  • Min. deposit

    $200
    Refundable
  • Regular purchase APR

    24.64%* Variable
  • Annual fee

    $35
  • Rewards rate

    10%
    Cash back
Min. deposit

$200 Refundable

Regular purchase APR

24.64%* Variable

Annual fee

$35

Rewards rate

10% Cash back

  • Earn up to 10% cash back on everyday purchases
  • No credit check to apply—Fast approval process, get your results quickly - Zero credit risk to apply!
Great for a lower security deposit††
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
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Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Great for a lower security deposit††

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

677 reviews
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  • Min. deposit

    $49, $99 or $200
    Refundable
  • Regular purchase APR

    29.49% (Variable)
  • Annual fee

    $0
Min. deposit

$49, $99 or $200 Refundable

Regular purchase APR

29.49% (Variable)

Annual fee

$0

  • No credit score required to apply, but may be used if available
  • No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
Great for automatic credit limit increases††
Double Your Line® Platinum Mastercard®
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Double Your Line® Platinum Mastercard®

Great for automatic credit limit increases††

Double Your Line® Platinum Mastercard®

582 reviews
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  • Regular purchase APR

    29.95%* Variable
  • Annual fee

    $0
Regular purchase APR

29.95%* Variable

Annual fee

$0

  • Initial Credit Line $1,000 - $1,500, Doubling to $2,000 - $3,000
  • Credit limits DOUBLE AUTOMATICALLY after making at least your minimum payment on time for the first 7 months
Great for rewards with no credit history††
Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card
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Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card

Great for rewards with no credit history††

Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card

377 reviews
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  • Rewards rate

    1% - 10%
    Cash back
  • Annual fee

    $0
Rewards rate

1% - 10% Cash back

Annual fee

$0

  • No annual fee– in fact, no fees of any kind
  • Up to 1.5% cash back on unlimited everyday purchases (1% right away increases to 1.25% after 6 monthly on time payments and 1.5% after another 6 monthly on time payments)
Great for a low purchase APR††
First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
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First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card

Great for a low purchase APR††

First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card

307 reviews
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See details, rates, & fees
  • Min. deposit

    $200
    Refundable
  • Regular purchase APR

    13.99%* Variable
  • Annual fee

    $49
  • Rewards rate

    1%
    Cash back
Min. deposit

$200 Refundable

Regular purchase APR

13.99%* Variable

Annual fee

$49

Rewards rate

1% Cash back

  • Earn 1% Cash Back Rewards with First Progress Prestige!
  • Apply Now and Fund your Security Deposit over 90 days with the Option to make Partial Payments.
Great for access to credit††
Merrick Bank Secured Credit Card
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Merrick Bank Secured Credit Card

Great for access to credit††

Merrick Bank Secured Credit Card

231 reviews
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See details, rates, & fees
  • Regular purchase APR

    22.70%* Variable
  • Annual fee

    $36 the first year. Billed $3 per month thereafter
Regular purchase APR

22.70%* Variable

Annual fee

$36 the first year. Billed $3 per month thereafter

  • Choose your own credit line based on how much money you want to put down as a security deposit.
  • Initial deposits can be from $200 to $3,000. You can increase your credit line at any time by adding additional money to your security deposit, up to $3,000.
Great for rotating cash back categories††
Discover it® Student Cash Back
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Discover it® Student Cash Back

Great for rotating cash back categories††

Discover it® Student Cash Back

6 reviews
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See details, rates, & fees
  • Rewards rate

    1% - 5%
    Cash back
  • Annual fee

    $0
Rewards rate

1% - 5% Cash back

Annual fee

$0

  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200.
  • Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Great for commuter students††
Discover it® Student Chrome
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Discover it® Student Chrome

Great for commuter students††

Discover it® Student Chrome

No reviews yet
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See details, rates, & fees
  • Rewards rate

    1% - 2%
    Cash back
  • Annual fee

    $0
Rewards rate

1% - 2% Cash back

Annual fee

$0

  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200.
  • Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
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Hear from our editors: Best starter credit cards of October 2025

Updated September 30, 2025

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

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

Is no credit the same as bad credit?

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.

Does applying for a credit card hurt your credit if you don’t have credit?

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.

How can a beginner build credit?

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.

How do you get credit with no credit history?

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.

How long does it take to build credit history?

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.

Can you get a credit card if you never worked?

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.


About the author: Gaby Lapera is a researcher and writer at Credit Karma and a personal finance expert. She also spends time working on investing and science communication. Gaby graduated with a master's degree in biological anthropolo… Read more.

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†† The opinions you read here come from our editorial team. Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors' opinions. Our marketing partners don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge when it’s posted.
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