50
Research Hours
107
Companies Reviewed
200
Cards Reviewed
- Our picks
- Methodology
- Sources
- Key things to know
- About the author
- User questions & answers
- Expert opinions
Our Picks for the Best Credit Cards for No Credit in 2023
The best credit cards for people with no credit have annual fees as low as $0 and credit limits starting around $200 - $300. No-credit credit cards also offer high approval odds to newcomers despite their limited credit experience.
For your convenience, we'll recap our picks for the best cards below.
Best Credit Cards for No Credit Compared
| Credit Card | Best For | Annual Fee |
| Chase Freedom Rise™ Credit Card | Overall | $0 |
| Capital One Platinum Credit Card | Starter Card | $0 |
| Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card | Student with No Credit | $0 |
| OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card | Easiest to Get | $0 |
| Capital One Spark Classic for Business | Business | $0 |
| Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | Cash Back | $39 |
Methodology for Selecting the Best Credit Cards for No Credit
To identify the best credit cards for people with no credit, WalletHub’s editors regularly compare 1,500+ credit card offers based on their approval requirements, fees, rewards, initial bonus, and interest rates. We also take some key secondary factors into account, such as whether a security deposit is required or an applicant must be a student to qualify.
We start by identifying the cards with the lowest annual fees, preferably $0 per year, as it is best to keep costs low while building credit. We then identify the cards with the best rewards, using low APRs as a tiebreaker, because people working to build credit should strive to pay their credit card bill in full every month. Finally, the cards with the lowest two-year cost are selected.
How Two-Year Cost Is Calculated
Two-year cost is used to approximate the monetary value of cards for better comparison and is calculated by combining annual and monthly membership fees over two years, adding any one-time fees or other fees (like balance transfer fees), adding any interest costs, and subtracting rewards. Negative amounts indicate savings. When fees or other terms are presented as a range, we use the midpoint for scoring purposes.
Rewards bonuses and credits have been taken into account for two-year cost calculations. However, bonuses applicable to only a very small portion of cardholders are not considered. For example, credits and bonuses awarded for spending or redeeming rewards through a company portal with non-co-branded cards have not been taken into account. Similarly, bonuses and credits related to spending with specific merchants using a non-co-branded card have not been taken into account (for example, if Card A offers credits with DoorDash, this feature would not be factored into calculations because it is hard to assess how many cardholders would use the benefit or exactly how much value they'd get from it).
Cardholder Spending Profiles
Given that different users have different goals and are likely to use their credit cards differently, we identified spending profiles that are representative of different users’ financial priorities and behaviors. For each cardholder type, we have assumed a specific amount of monthly spending by purchase type (e.g., groceries, gas, etc.), as well as an average balance, balance transfer amount, amount spent on large purchases and average monthly payment. Spending assumptions are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data and PEX data.
Sources
WalletHub actively maintains a database of 1,500+ credit card offers, from which we select the best credit cards for people with no credit for different applicants as well as derive market-wide takeaways and trends. The underlying data is compiled from credit card company websites or provided directly by the credit card issuers. We also leverage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to develop cardholder profiles, used to estimate cards’ potential savings.
Key Things to Know About Credit Cards for People with No Credit
Definitely make sure to check out the best student credit cards if you’re currently in college. They tend to have better terms than other credit cards for people with limited credit.
Getting a credit card with no credit is an essential step toward a solid first credit score and, ultimately, reaching excellent credit. You just have to make sure to use your card responsibly. Above all else, that means paying your bill on time every month. For help with that, make sure to check out WalletHub’s 8 Tips For Never Missing A Due Date.
For more tips that will help you get started on the right foot, read our instructions for how to get a card with no credit as well as our new to credit guide.
