The best credit cards for no credit help people without a credit history (those who have never had a credit card or loan) build their profile with as little cost as possible. When you have no credit, it can be tricky to find an appealing credit card that you qualify for, so we’ve simplified the process for you. Our favorites have fewer fees or lower interest costs than competitors and may even offer rewards.
Best Credit Cards for No Credit of March 2021
- Best Overall, Best for Students, Best Unsecured, Best With a Low APR: Wells Fargo Cash Back College℠
- Best for Earning Rewards: Discover it® Student Cash Back
- Best Secured Card: Discover it® Secured
- Best for Avoiding Fees: Apple Card
- Best for Learning About Credit: Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
Best Overall, Best for Students, Best Unsecured, Best With a Low APR : Wells Fargo Cash Back College℠
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Regular APR (%) | 11.15% - 21.15% variable |
Annual Fee | $0 |
INTRO PURCHASE APR | 0% for 6 Months |
Rewards Earning Rate | 3% cash rewards earned for up to $2,500 spent on gas, grocery, and drugstore purchases for the first 6 months. 1% cash rewards for each $1 spent on virtually all other purchases with your card. |
Foreign transaction fee (%) | 3% |
This card gives those new to credit a taste of many appealing credit card features: an introductory 0% APR offer on purchases and balance transfers, no annual fee, and rewards. It’s not common for cards like this to give rewards on everyday purchases, so it’s our pick for best student card, too. Avoiding card debt is crucial when building credit and earning rewards, but if you need to carry a balance short-term, this card also charges reasonable interest rates. It’s not a secured card, which would require a deposit to back up your credit line, but you must have an existing account with Wells Fargo to apply.
No annual fee
Offers rewards on everyday purchases, unlike many other student cards
0% APR promotional offers that are rare for a student card
Must have a Wells Fargo account to apply
Rewards earning rate drops after six months
Foreign transaction fee means using this card overseas costs extra
- Build credit history while you’re in college.
- 3% cash rewards earned for up to $2,500 spent on gas, grocery, and drugstore purchases for the first 6 months. Enjoy 1% cash rewards for other purchases.
- Access your FICO Credit Score.
- Existing Wells Fargo relationship needed to apply online.
Read the full Wells Fargo Cash Back College℠ Review
Best for Earning Rewards : Discover it® Student Cash Back
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Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically.
Regular APR (%) | 17.99% variable |
Annual Fee | $0 |
INTRO PURCHASE APR | 0% for 6 Months |
Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories, each time you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases — automatically. |
Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
If you’re a student with no credit who wants to dive right into earning rewards, this is our top pick. There are generous 5% cash-back rewards when you make up to $1,500 in purchases within quarterly bonus categories (just remember to activate them), and unlimited 1% cash back on everything else. Better yet, Discover will match all the cash back earned at the end of your first year, which is a stellar welcome bonus for those who don’t mind the wait. Each year (for up to five years) you maintain a GPA of 3.0 or higher you’ll receive a nice little $20 cash bonus, too.
Generous first-year bonus for new cardholders
Excellent rewards-earning rate on quarterly bonus category purchases
Extra rewards for good grades
Waived first late payment fee
Complicated rewards
Limited international acceptance
- Cashback Match - Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year. There's no limit to how much they'll match.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, select rideshares and online shopping, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate.
- Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
- Get $20 statement credit each school year your GPA is 3.0 or higher for up to the next five years.
Read the full Discover it® Student Cash Back Review
Best Secured Card : Discover it® Secured
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Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically.
Regular APR (%) | 22.99% variable |
Annual Fee | $0 |
Minimum Deposit to Activate | $200 |
Allows upgrade to unsecured card | Yes |
Pay deposit in installments | No |
A secured card (one that requires a deposit) is often your best option when you have no credit, and this is our favorite. It’s one of the few secured cards with rewards: 2% cash back on gas and restaurant purchases up to $1,000 per quarter, and unlimited 1% cash back on everything else. Discover will match all your cash back from your first year, too. The minimum security deposit of $200 is lower than some competitors, and if you make regular on-time payments, Discover may upgrade your card to an unsecured version and return your deposit.
Ability to earn cash-back rewards while building credit
Responsible use can lead to automatic unsecured card upgrade
No foreign transaction fee
Cash-back match as a first year bonus
Low cap on highest rewards earning rate
Mediocre maximum credit limit compared to other secured cards
- No annual fee, earn cash back, and build your credit with responsible use.
- It's a real credit card. You can build a credit history with the three major credit bureaus. Generally, debit and prepaid cards can't help you build a credit history.
- Automatic reviews starting at 8 months to see if Discover can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
- Get 100% U.S.-based customer service and get your free Credit Scorecard with your FICO Credit Score.
Read the full Discover it® Secured Review
Best for Avoiding Fees : Apple Card
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Regular APR (%) | 10.99% - 21.99% variable |
Annual Fee | $0 |
Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 3% cash back at Apple and select Apple pay partners, 2% on other Apple pay purchases, and 1% on everything else. |
Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
This co-branded card doesn’t charge an annual fee, late payment fee, or any other of the tricky fees you might encounter with cards aimed at people new to credit. Although it's recommended that you have a credit score of at least 600 when you apply, you may still be considered for the card if you have no credit history Whenever you use Apple Pay, you’ll get 2% cash back, and 3% back when you make Apple and purchases with partner retailers such as Uber and Walgreens. We love that the card offers tools that can teach you how your usage impacts your credit history and how to build your credit over time.
Good rewards on Apple and partner-retailer purchases
Ability to earn more when using this card with Apple Pay
Interactive account tools offer visual ways to learn about credit
Lowest offered APR is good for a rewards card
No annual fee
Mediocre rewards rate on non-Apple and non-Apple-Pay purchases
Non-iPhone users will miss out on highest rewards earning rate
Few extra benefits (e.g. bonus or free credit score)
- Apply and start using in minutes. Just open the Wallet app and tap the plus icon.
- Get 2% Daily Cash back every time you pay with your iPhone or Apple Watch.
- See each purchase go through right away. No waiting. No wondering.
- No fees. Period.
Read the full Apple Card Review
Best for Learning About Credit : Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
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Regular APR (%) | 26.99% variable |
Annual Fee | $0 |
Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 1% Cash Back on all purchases. 0.25% Cash Back bonus on the cash back you earn each month you pay on time. Earn $5 per month for 12 months on Select Streaming Subscriptions when you pay on time. *Exclusions Apply |
Foreign transaction fee (%) | 0% |
This student card can help you get comfortable using a credit card—and even earn rewards—without paying the deposit required for a secured card. And you don’t have to be a student to qualify. Every month you pay your bill on time, Capital One will give you a slightly higher rewards rate (1.25% cash back instead of 1%). Plus, after making your first five monthly payments on time, you’re eligible for a higher credit limit. Capital One’s CreditWise education tool will help you track growth in your credit score over time, too.
Higher rewards rate and credit limit available if you make on-time payments
Few fees, which helps keep costs low
Rewards that are easy to earn and redeem
No bonus or 0% introductory APR offer for new cardholders
High APR if you carry a balance
- Earn 1% cash back on all your purchases. Pay on time to boost your cash back to a total of 1.25% for that month.
- $0 annual fee.
- With Credit Steps your account will be reviewed for a credit limit increase after making your first 6 monthly payments on time.
- Enjoy unlimited access to your credit score and tools to help you monitor your credit profile with CreditWise.
Read the full Journey Student Rewards from Capital One Review
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Can I Get a Credit Card If I Have No Credit History?
Finding cards intended for credit newbies is the key. Because usually, one of the first things credit card companies do when you apply for a card is to check your credit score and credit report to see if you have a track record of handling credit responsibly.
If you’ve never had a loan or credit card, you may not have a credit report. And since credit scores are based on the data in credit reports, you won’t have one of those, either. But in order to build your credit, you need to get credit.
Fortunately, there is a way around this catch-22. There are credit cards designed specifically for people with no credit. As long as you are at least 18 years old and have enough income to afford a monthly payment, you have options.
Tip
Try to order your free credit report to make sure you really don’t have a credit history or score. Even if you’ve never had a credit card before, if you have student loans or are an authorized user on someone else's credit card, you may have at least some credit history.
What Are My Credit Card Options If I Have No Credit?
- Secured card: These cards have low (or no) credit score requirements, but do require a deposit to cover the bank if you stop making payments. The amount you deposit typically becomes your credit limit, and it’s refundable when you upgrade to an unsecured card or close the account in good standing. Secured cards often charge extra fees, but they can be used just like “regular” cards.
- Store card: These are easy to get because they are often only accepted by the branded store or a small retailer network, and they charge high interest rates. New cardholders typically get a first-purchase discount or special financing offer. Many store cards also let you earn rewards on an ongoing basis, but that can encourage unnecessary spending, so apply with caution.
- Student card: These cards, designed for college students, don’t require a deposit and may have lower interest rates than secured cards. Student cards are the most similar to traditional cards, and many even offer rewards or 0% interest promotions.
What Should You Look For in Your First Card?
Even though your options are limited, be selective about the quality of your first credit card. Our recommendations above are a great place to start, and then pay attention to the following:
- Credit bureau reporting: Before you apply for a card, make sure that the card company will report your account information to the major credit bureaus—the companies that create your credit reports. That’s crucial to building credit. Most cards do report to the credit bureaus, but always double-check. If it doesn’t say on the issuer’s website, call their customer service to ask.
- APR: Ideally, the interest rate—also called annual percentage rate, or APR—of your first card won’t matter because you’ll pay off the balance each month to avoid interest charges. However, you should still seek a card with a lower APR in case you do ever run a balance.
- Fees: Look for cards that don’t have tons of fees. Secured cards, in particular, are known to add extra charges such as monthly maintenance fees, an application fee, and other fees, so watch out for those. Try to spot cards without annual fees or cards that waive the late fee the first time you miss a due date.
- Credit limit: A larger credit limit will make it easier to use the card often without eating up all your available credit. A high credit limit also helps you to keep your credit utilization rate low. That’s the ratio of your credit card balances to your available credit, and a low rate is important for your credit score.
- Credit education features: Many cards offer free credit scores, but also look for other resources, like credit report monitoring and financial advice.
- Rewards: You aren’t eligible for the most rewarding cards on the market, but you can still find valuable offers. However, if earning rewards may encourage overspending, pass on this feature.
Once you've decided what you're looking for, decide which card to apply for. Here's another rundown of our top picks for credit cards when you have no credit history:
Best Credit Cards for No Credit | ||
---|---|---|
Credit Card | Category | Annual Fee |
Wells Fargo Cash Back College | Best Overall | $0 |
Wells Fargo Cash Back College | Best for Students | $0 |
Wells Fargo Cash Back College | Best Unsecured | $0 |
Wells Fargo Cash Back College | Best With a Low APR | $0 |
Discover it Student Cash Back | Best for Earning Rewards | $0 |
Discover it Secured | Best Secured Card | $0 |
Apple Card | Best for Avoiding Fees | $0 |
Journey Student Rewards from Capital One | Best for Learning About Credit | $0 |
How Do You Apply for a Credit Card?
You can apply for most credit cards online. The applications are straightforward. Besides basic personal information, you’ll need your Social Security number, employment, income, banking, and possibly housing information. For more information, check out our guide to applying for a credit card.
Important
Don’t apply for multiple credit cards at once. That can make you look desperate to lenders. Instead, focus on the best cards you really can qualify for, especially those that offer pre-approval.
How Do You Build Credit?
Once you open your credit card, you’ll have activity that can go into your credit report. Then, pay your bill on time, every single time. Pay off your balance each month in full to keep your credit utilization ratio low. Then be patient. You won’t earn a 700+ credit score just by opening a credit card. Follow these steps and your credit will rise over the months and years to come.
For more information, check out our guide to building credit from scratch.
Methodology
We collect data on hundreds of cards and score more than 55 features that affect your finances. We do this because it's our mission to give you unbiased, comprehensive credit card reviews.
Our reviews are always impartial: No one can influence which cards we review, the way we present them to you, or the ratings they receive.
What We Score
Annual fee, APR, and rewards are the most important things people consider when choosing a credit card, so we weigh those features heavily. But for this list of cards, we also look closely at features like having access to a free credit score and the minimum required credit score someone may need to qualify. For full details on how we evaluate credit card attributes, check out our full methodology.