Credit cards for no credit

Hear from our editors: Best starter credit cards of May 2025

Updated April 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

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.