Best Credit Cards for Young Adults

A young person can get a credit card by becoming an authorized user on someone else's account, or by waiting until they turn 18 and applying for one on their own. There are some guidelines and requirements for both methods – such as having self-control with spending, or having enough income to qualify for your own credit card – but the positives are well worth the trouble for a young person just starting to build their credit.

Becoming an authorized user is the easiest way to start building credit as a young person because there's no credit check for authorized users, and it's the only way to get a credit card before you turn 18. Authorized users aren't legally responsible for paying the bill, so it's good to lay down some spending rules with the primary cardholder before using the card. As long as the primary cardholder pays their bills on time and uses the card responsibly, the authorized user will get good information on their credit report, even if they never use their card.

Young people age 18 and older are legally allowed to apply for their own credit card. However, credit cards - even student credit cards - require applicants under 21 to have independent income to comply with federal law. That means an 18-year-old can't list a parent's or spouse's income, for example, on their credit card application. The more income you're able to show on an application, the higher your approval odds, and possibly your credit limit, will be. So it's best to have a job with steady income before you apply.

If you're not sure about your ability to handle an unsecured credit line, or if your credit report already has some blemishes, consider a secured credit card. Secured credit cards require a deposit up-front, which then becomes your credit line, so it's harder to “go overboard” with these credit cards. But they report to credit bureaus, so having one will build your credit every month as long as you pay your bills on time. And they are easier to get than unsecured credit cards. Some don't even check your credit.

Finally, if you're looking for your first credit card, it's good to keep a few things in mind. The best credit cards for young adults aren't expensive - they won't have monthly or annual fees. Some secured cards have annual fees, but there are fee-free options, too. Also, find a credit card that reports to all three major credit bureaus every month so you can build your credit history.

No matter which card you choose, make sure to pay your bill on time. This will keep your account in good standing and help you build credit. Paying your balance in full every month will also allow you to avoid paying unnecessary interest. In addition, make sure to keep your utilization low by not going over (or even getting close) to your credit limit. Do those things as a young adult, and you're on the road to a great credit score.

Applying for a starter credit card as soon as possible will add positive information to your credit reports and will help you build credit fast. The main thing you need to do in order to benefit from a credit card's credit building effects is to always pay your bills on time and in full.

You can get a credit card at 17 as an authorized user, but you have to be at least 18 years old to open a credit card account in your own name. And when you turn 18, you'll need to show that you have your own independent income to qualify. In the meantime, you can begin to build credit as an authorized user, and you can always use a debit card for everyday purchases.

Here's what you can get instead of a credit card at 17:

• Authorized user card: If someone makes you an authorized user on their card, the account will be added to your credit report. And if the main accountholder pays the monthly bills on time, your credit score will improve. The main accountholder may or may not decide to give you a card that you can use to charge purchases to the account. But you won't be responsible for making payments either way.
• Debit card: Most banks will give you a debit card connected to your checking account. You'll be spending your own cash, not borrowing money, so you don't need to be 18 to get one. Different banks have different rules, but most require you to be 13 or 14 years old. You won't build credit with a debit card, but having one can make life more convenient until you turn 18.

So to recap, you can't get a credit card at 17, at least not one of your own. But if you find someone to back you, then you can start building credit right away. And in just a year, you'll be eligible for student credit cards, secured credit cards and other options for people new to credit.

You can build your credit at 19 by becoming an authorized user on someone else's credit card account or by getting your own credit card. You can get your own credit card when you turn 18 as long as you have an independent source of income. You can also build credit without a credit card by getting a loan – student loans, auto loans, and most other types of loans will help build your credit if you make your payments on time. You can also get a credit builder loan, which is designed for people with limited or bad credit.

If you don't have income, the easiest way to start building credit at 19 is by becoming an authorized user on someone else's account. This doesn't require a credit check or independent income. Authorized users are not responsible for paying the credit card bill. But if the primary cardholder pays the bill on time and uses the credit card responsibly, any authorized users on the account will build credit history.

Getting your own credit card at 19 will require independent income, as you can't use someone else's income that you have reasonable access to (i.e. a parent or spouse's income) on a credit application until you turn 21. Building credit at 19 is a good idea, but limited credit history could bar you from getting approved for some credit cards on your own. That said, there are plenty of starter credit cards and student credit cards that will increase your approval odds as someone with a thin credit file. Secured credit cards are another great choice.

Taking out a loan can also help build your credit, if you qualify for one. There are lots of types of loans out there, and they all require you to either provide proof of income or have someone else cosign for the loan. Getting approved for an auto loan, a student loan, or a personal loan will build your credit. Credit builder loans are upside-down loans, where you make payments to a lender in order to get the amount of the loan back when it's paid off. These are generally offered by smaller banks, credit unions, and online lenders. No matter which loan you get, good information will be reported to credit bureaus every month as long as you pay on time.

However, building credit isn't just about finding a financial institution that's willing to extend you a loan or line of credit with your limited credit history. It's also about managing your credit well. Those just starting out in the realm of credit cards should take time to learn the basics of building credit. A credit card won't get you very far if you don't know how to use it properly. And using credit properly – keeping your balance low and paying at least the minimum payment on time – is what eventually produces an excellent credit score.

The best credit cards for young professionals are the Capital One Venture, Citi Double Cash Card, and Chase Sapphire Reserve. They all offer above-average rewards per $1 spent, plus a sign-up deal of some kind, and some come with extra perks for travelers. 

Young professionals are likely to have some credit history behind them and to want a credit card that rewards an on-the-go lifestyle while not costing them too much or being too rigid with rewards redemption. You can get to know the top options a bit better below.

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Capital One Venture gives 5 miles per $1 spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per $1 on all other purchases. You don't have to use these miles for travel - they redeem for cash back and other items like gift cards, too - but they're worth the most when used for travel. You can use miles to book your travel through Capital One, or you can reimburse travel purchases on your statement. The credit card's wide definition of “travel” - including airfare, hotels, cruises, train tickets, taxi/bus/limo fare, time shares, and more - make redeeming for travel purchases worth it.

You'll also get 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, worth about $750 in travel redemptions. You'll need at least good credit to get this card. The annual fee is $95.

Citi® Double Cash Card – 18 month BT offer

Young professionals who don't do much traveling (and even those who do) might prefer the Citi Double Cash Credit Card. This card gives 2% cash back on all purchases - 1% when you make a purchase and 1% when you pay for it. That's twice the average rate across rewards credit cards. With cash back credit cards like this one, you don't have to worry about categories or redemption methods. The annual fee is $0 and at least good credit is required.

Chase Sapphire Reserve®

The Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card is ideal for the young professional who travels more often than not. That's because this card has a $550 annual fee, and it may not be worth the fee if you don't travel a fair amount. But if you do, the fee will pay for itself.

Chase Sapphire Reserve gives 60,000 points ($900 when redeemed for travel through Chase) after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months, and a $300 travel expense credit each year you renew. You'll also get an application fee credit of up to $100 for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck, and a free Priority Pass Select membership. You'll need excellent credit to get approved for this card, though, which means it's best for more established young professionals.

Whether you travel frequently or stay put most of the time, credit cards can be rewarding no matter which bracket you fall into as a young professional. Take your time to weigh out what you want in a credit card versus how you spend your money. And whichever rewards you end up choosing, make sure you redeem them often.

The best credit card for people under 21 is the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students as it offers an attractive initial bonus, ongoing rewards, and an introductory APR on new purchases and qualifying balance transfers.

Usually, the best credit cards for people under 21 are college student credit cards or simply cards for people with no credit. Most people under 21 will begin their credit building journey with a starter credit card.

Here are some of the best credit cards for people under 21:

Among college student credit cards, the Bank of America Cash Rewards for Students is a good overall choice as it offers 1 - 3% cash back on purchases. Plus, it features an online offer of $200 for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days.

It's a great financing option as well, with its introductory purchase APR of 0% for 15 months (14.74% - 24.74% (V), based on creditworthiness, thereafter). Bank of America Cash Rewards for Students has a $0 annual fee and accepts students with limited credit. It's also definitely worth checking out our editors' picks for the best credit cards for students.

As for cards for people with no credit, Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card stands out. It has an annual fee of $39, but you can counter that with the unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase.

The Capital One Platinum Credit Card comes with a $0 annual fee and is also available to those with limited credit. Some of the best credit cards for people with no credit will enable you to build credit and help you save along the way, thanks to no annual fees and even some rewards.

If you're under 21, but still managed to build good credit or better, you'll have access to some of the best credit cards on the market. If, on the other hand, you have bad credit, some of the best secured credit cards will allow you to rebuild your credit, while even offering some rewards from time to time. And their fees tend to be considerably lower than their unsecured counterparts.

Keep in mind that you need to be at least 18 years old to get a credit card account. If you're any younger than that, you have the option of becoming an authorized user on an adult's credit card which will allow you to start building credit.

You can get a credit card without a job. Most credit card applications have a section for employment information, but you can also put student, homemaker or unemployed. Annual income and assets are more important than employment status when applying for a credit card, though.

Income is usually from a job, but it can also come from other sources like an inheritance or investments. Your assets are anything of value that you own. For example, if you have a rental property, the property would be an asset. And the rent you charge would be part of your income.

If you're under 21 years old, you'll need your own income source to qualify for a credit card. That could include a regular allowance from your parents, though. If you're over 21, you can list household income that you have reasonable access to. For example, a stay-at-home parent could list their spouse's income. Without a job or any income, a credit card will be much more difficult to get.

How to get a credit card without a job:

• Put down non-employment income: You can list alimony, disability benefits, certain scholarships, and investment or rental income, for example.
• List shared income: If you have consistent access to someone else's income, you can list that. For example, it could be an allowance from a relative (if you're under 21 years old) or your partner's pay (21+).
• Become an authorized user or get a joint account with someone else: An authorized user can make charges on someone else's account. But the primary cardholder owns the account and is legally responsible for paying the bills. This option is the easiest way to get a card and start building credit. You can also get a joint credit card from U.S. Bank without a job, as long as the co-owner has enough income. But in a joint credit card arrangement, both people are liable for the debt.
• Get a secured card: To get a secured card, you must put down a security deposit (usually $200+), which serves as the credit limit. Since there is no possibility of borrowing more than you can pay, secured cards are easier for people with limited income or bad credit to get.

You can get a credit card without a job as long as you have enough income or assets to pay your bills. So being out of work doesn't mean losing out on the opportunity to improve your credit score or enjoy the convenience of plastic.

The best credit card for millennials is the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card because it offers 1.5 - 5% cash back spent on purchases and has a $0 foreign fee. It's great for travel, which millennials love, and most millennials have limited credit or better, which is needed for approval.

Millennials are a diverse bunch, though. If you'd prefer cash back rewards or 0% introductory APRs, we've got you covered there, too.

Best Credit Cards for Millennials

At the end of the day, you have to decide what type of millennial you are in order to determine which of the best credit cards for millennials is right for you. In particular, you need to know your credit score and have at least a rough idea of what types of purchases you'll be using the card for. You can check your credit score for free on WalletHub.

The best credit cards for 20-year-olds (and 20-somethings more generally) depend on whether you've already built any credit and whether you're still in school. If you have limited credit, you'll want to get a starter card, like the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. If you're still a student, you could get a better deal with Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students.

But if you're no stranger to credit and you've already built up at least good credit, you can start setting your sights on more lucrative rewards cards such as Chase Freedom Unlimited® (5% cash back on travel through Chase, 3% back at restaurants and drugstores, and 1.5% back on all other purchases (plus an additional 1.5% cash back on everything, up to $20,000 spent the first year)) or Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card (5 miles per $1 spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per $1 on all other purchases).

Here are the best credit cards for 20-somethings:

• No credit check: OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card. Requires a refundable security deposit of at least $200. $35 annual fee. Open to applicants with bad credit.
• For students: Bank of America Cash Rewards for Students. $200 for spending $1,000 in the first 90 days. 3% cash back in a category of your choice, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 spent on these categories combined per quarter), and 1% on all other purchases. $0 annual fee. Can get this card with limited credit.
• For cash back: Capital One QuicksilverOne. Unlimited 5% cash back on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. $39 annual fee. Accepts applicants with limited credit.
• For frequent travelers/young professionals: Capital One Venture. 75,000 miles for spending $4,000 in the first 3 months. 5 miles per $1 spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, and 2 miles per $1 on all other purchases. $95 annual fee. Requires good credit or better.
• For good credit: Chase Freedom Unlimited. . 5% cash back on travel through Chase, 3% back at restaurants and drugstores, and 1.5% back on all other purchases (plus an additional 1.5% cash back on everything, up to $20,000 spent the first year). Introductory APRs of 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers (15.74% - 24.49% (V), based on creditworthiness, thereafter). Balance transfer fee: Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days (5%, min $5 after). $0 annual fee.

Most of these cards will be aimed at those at the beginning of their credit journey. If you have bad credit, though, it's definitely worth checking out the best secured credit cards. On the other hand, those with good credit or better will have access to the best credit cards on the market. Students are a special category, as the best credit cards for students tend to offer better deals than credit cards aimed at other consumers with similar credit scores.