Bianca Smith, WalletHub Credit Cards Analyst
@bianca_stoian
The best credit card for 18-year-olds to build credit with is the Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card. This card accepts applicants with limited credit, gives monthly reports to the credit bureaus, and has an annual fee of $0. Cardholders also get 1 - 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases.
Best Credit Cards for 18-Year-Olds to Build Credit
- Best Overall: Petal® 2 Visa® Credit CardPetal® 2 Visa® Credit CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Best for No Annual Fee: Capital One Platinum Credit CardCapital One Platinum Credit CardLearn MoreLearn More
- Best Secured: Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit CardCapital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit CardLearn MoreLearn More
- No Credit Check: OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit CardOpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Best for Students: Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit CardCapital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit CardLearn MoreLearn More
It’s worth noting that people younger than 21 years old cannot add their shared household income on credit card applications. In order to get a card, 18-year-olds must have enough independent income to afford monthly credit card payments.
Unless they were previously added as an authorized user on someone else’s credit card account, 18-year-olds start their credit journey with a clean slate. In other words, you could see great improvement in your credit score with just a few months of responsible credit card use. That means never missing a payment due date and always keeping your balance well below the credit limit. To find your first credit card, check out WalletHub’s picks for the best credit cards for 18-year-olds.
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
People also ask
How can I build credit at 18?
The best way to build credit at 18 is to get a credit card in your name and use it responsibly. All major credit cards report account information to the credit bureaus each month, allowing you to build credit history. As long as the information shows on-time payments and reasonable credit utilization, that credit history will be positive and you’ll be on your way to building a good credit score.
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read full answerShould teens have credit cards?
Yes, teens should have credit cards because having one is the most efficient way to build credit history. Plus, credit history will come in handy as teenagers get older. Knowing how to handle a credit limit and reaching financial independence from an early age is a bonus. A significant number of parents agree, too. Nearly 20% of teenagers ages 13-17 have credit cards, according to a TransUnion survey.
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read full answerAre there any high school student credit cards?
There are several credit cards you can get if you are a high school student, and you are at least 18 years old. But until you are 21 years old, you need to either have a proof of steady income that demonstrates your ability to pay back the debt, or have a co-signer who is at least 21 years old on the application. For the latter, the co-signer agrees to assume responsibility for your account,...
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