Short Review of Best Credit Cards For People With No Credit History
| Name | Best for | Rewards Rate | APR | Apply |
|---|
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card | | 5% Cash Back on hotel and rental car purchases through Capital One Travel.1.5% Cash Back on every purchase. | 29.99% Variable | Learn more on our partner’s site |
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card | International students | 1.5% Cash Back on all purchases. | 19.99% - 29.99% Variable | Learn more on our partner’s site |
Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card | International students | 8% Cash Back on Capital One entertainment purchases.5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.3% Cash Back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services & at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®).1% Cash Back on all other purchases. | 19.99% - 29.99% Variable | Learn more on our partner’s site |
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card | Single mom, Without SSN | This card doesn't offer cash back, miles or points. | 29.99% Variable | Learn more on our partner’s site |
FIT™ Platinum Mastercard® | Unsecured | This card doesn't offer cash back, miles or points. | 35.90% Fixed | Apply now On Continental Finance site |
Celtic Bank Surge® Platinum Mastercard® | Walmart purchases | This card doesn't offer cash back, miles or points. | 35.90% Fixed | Apply now On Celtic Bank‘s site |
| | 1% Cash Back rewards^^ on payments made to your Revvi Credit Card. | 35.99% * | Apply now On the Revvi secure website |
| Low income | 1% Earn 1% cash back rewards on payments made to your First Access Credit Card. | 35.99% | Apply now On the First Access Visa® Card secure website |
Celtic Bank Reflex® Platinum Mastercard® | Unsecured | This card doesn't offer cash back, miles or points. | 35.90% Fixed | Apply now On Celtic Bank‘s site |
| | 1% Cash Back on all purchases. | 35.99% * | Apply now On the Total Visa® Card secure website |
Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card | 18 year old | This card doesn't offer cash back, miles or points. | 9.99% Fixed | Apply now On Applied Bank®‘s site |
First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card | | 1% Cash Back rewards on payments. | 14.49% Variable | Apply now On First Progress’s site |
Merrick Bank Secured Credit Card | | This card doesn't offer cash back, miles or points. | 22.95% Variable | Apply now On Merrick Bank‘s site |
First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card | | 1% Cash Back on payments made to your First Progress Secured credit card account. | 18.49% Variable | Apply now On First Progress’s site |
First Electronic Bank Destiny® Mastercard® | Unsecured | This card doesn't offer cash back, miles or points. | 35.90% | Apply now On First Electronic Bank‘s site |
| Cash Back, Without SSN, Student | 1% Cash Back on all purchases with your Deserve EDU Mastercard. Once approved, you'll automatically start earning Cash Back on all purchases. | 22.99% Variable | Learn more |
Capital Bank OpenSky® Secured Visa® | 18 year old | This card doesn't offer cash back, miles or points. | 25.64% Variable | Learn more |
| First time applicants | This card doesn't offer cash back, miles or points. | 27.74% Variable | Learn more |
| No history | This card doesn't offer cash back, miles or points. | 26.99% Variable | Learn more |
Who should apply?
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
The Capital One Platinum Secured Mastercard® Credit Card is a sound starter card for those who want to build or rebuild credit. It’s also a solid choice for those who typically don’t carry a balance due to its high APR and those who don’t really care about rewards.
Read more about Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Celtic Bank Deserve EDU
The Deserve EDU for Students could be a great solution if you are a student and don’t have any credit history or a Social Security number. You won’t earn outstanding rewards, but you’ll get some, plus you’ll receive some nice perks for students.
Read more about Celtic Bank Deserve EDU
Capital Bank OpenSky® Secured Visa®
The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is another choice for those with either no credit or bad to fair credit because there is no credit check required to apply, and typically it’s easy to get approved. The APR is relatively low, so if you’re someone who carries a balance, you might consider this card. If lower interest rates and fees mean more to you than having a rewards credit card, this could be a good fit.
Read more about Capital Bank OpenSky® Secured Visa®
Citi Secured Mastercard®
The Citi Secured Mastercard® works if you have limited or nonexistent credit and want a basic card that will help you build a long-term history. It’s also a good choice for those who want the option to graduate to an unsecured card, but it can take some time.
Read more about Citi Secured Mastercard®
Lead Bank Self Visa®
The Self Visa® Credit Card might be a match if you’re serious about building credit and want to build your security deposit rather than put it down upfront. You can also qualify for the credit card without going through a credit check once you’re eligible. So if you have patience and can wait for the actual credit card, this could be the one for you. Additionally, you start building your credit by setting up a Credit Builder Account even before you’re approved for the credit card.
Read more about Lead Bank Self Visa®
What do you need to get a credit card without credit?
You can still get a credit card without any credit. However, you will need to look at starter cards, such as secured credit cards and student cards designed for those light in the credit department. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to put down a security deposit for a secured card.
If you apply for a card, you’ll usually need to provide your Social Security or individual taxpayer identification number, identify your income source(s), and provide information on your monthly housing or rent payment.
You can also ask a friend or family to become an authorized user on their account — your name will be on the account, but the cardholder will be responsible for payments. It’s best to ask someone to do this if they have a long and healthy payment record with the card.
How to build your credit with no or little credit
There are plenty of ways to build your credit if you don’t have much or any already. If you get a secured card, leave your security deposit alone and pay off your card in full each month. Once you’ve established some history, you might consider switching from a secured card to an unsecured one. And as discussed, student cards are another great way to build credit.
You could apply for a retail card from your favorite department store, which is generally very easy to get approved. Don’t overspend on the card, and again, pay off the entire bill each month — as all your activity will be reported to the credit bureaus.
In addition, you might consider applying for a credit builder loan, which is designed particularly to raise your credit score. The lender gives you a loan, puts it into an account, reports to the credit bureaus, and gives you back the money once you’ve paid it off.
Why is building a credit history important?
Having a good credit history is crucial for many things you’ll want to do in life. You’ll need it if you want to get approved for a mortgage or a car loan or apply for an advanced credit card. You’ll need solid credit if you want to rent an apartment, get cable service or hook up utilities without a security deposit. And sometimes, a prospective employer will even check your score before offering you the job. In short, having a good credit history is essential for your financial future.
How to compare credit cards for people with no history
Just because you don’t have any credit history doesn’t mean you don’t have credit card options. You’ll want to compare the things you’d compare even if you had a credit history. It’s always best to look for a card with no annual fee and a low interest rate. After that, compare the rewards and perks of each card to see what best fits your spending habits. Combine these features to figure out which card suits your needs best.
Where to get a credit card with no credit?
You can find student and secured credit cards from many issuers. Use this guide to explore eight good choices, then compare features and make an individualized decision.
What’s the best credit card for people with limited or no credit?
There is no one best credit card for people with limited or no credit. The best credit card is one that checks most of your boxes and works with your financial habits and goals.
Are there any instant approval credit cards for people with no credit?
Yes: Two of the cards on this list offer instant approval for people with no credit, the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card and the Self Visa® Credit Card.
Secured vs. unsecured cards for no credit
If you don’t have credit, it’s definitely easier to get a secured card but not impossible to get an unsecured one. If you’re light on cash for the security deposit most secured cards require, you might want to try for an unsecured one. Both cards will work for building credit, but if you have any issues managing money, you should consider a secured one because it can help you not to overspend and get into debt.
FAQ
What are other credit cards to consider for someone with no credit?
Some other cards to consider if you don’t have credit include:
- Capital One Journey Student Credit Card
- Chime Credit Builder Visa® Card
- Discover it® Student chrome
- Bank of America® Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students
- BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card
- U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card
How old do you have to be to get a credit card?
The legal age to sign up for a credit card in the U.S. is 18. However, authorized users younger than 18 can be added on the card, depending on the issuer.
How long does it take to get a credit score?
If you have no credit, it doesn’t take long to build it. According to the credit bureau
Experian, “most credit scoring systems require at least three months of history in order to calculate a score, and some may require more.”
Does a credit check affect my score?
A “soft” credit inquiry does not affect your credit score. Examples of soft inquiries include a prospective landlord or employer running a check or a lender doing one to pre-approve you for an offer. A “hard” inquiry, on the other hand, can temporarily lower your score by a few points and is visible to other lenders. Examples of hard inquiries include a lender — such as a car dealership or mortgage company —or credit card issuer pulling your credit report when making the decision to approve you.
