Credit cards for no credit

These offers are no longer available on our site: Chase Freedom Unlimited®, Chase Freedom Flex℠, Deserve® EDU Mastercard, Capital One® Savor® Cash Rewards Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, United℠ Explorer Card, Target RedCard™, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, Journey® Student Rewards from Capital One®, Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, Bank of America® Premium Rewards® Visa® credit card, Bank of America® Business Advantage Travel Rewards World Mastercard® credit card, Capital One® SavorOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card

Hear from our editors: Best starter credit cards of February 2023

Updated January 31, 2023

This date may not reflect recent changes in individual terms.

Editorial note: 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. It’s 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 if you’re completely new to credit: Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card
• Best for students: Deserve® EDU Mastercard
• 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 if you’re completely new to credit: Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card

Here’s why: This lender can use different parameters, like cash flow, to assess your application — which can help someone new to credit qualify for a card. Plus, this card has no fees and pretty good rewards for a credit-building card.

For more details, read reviews of the Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card.

Best for students: Deserve® EDU Mastercard

Here’s why: Since the Deserve® EDU Mastercard doesn’t require credit history or a Social Security number, this card is good for international students studying in the U.S. or folks new to credit.

If you like what you see so far, read reviews of the Deserve® EDU Mastercard to get the full picture.

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 our review of the Discover it® Student Cash Back to learn more.

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 our review of 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, read our review of Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card to find out more.

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

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.