Best Credit Cards for People with No Credit

To get a credit card with no credit, apply online for a starter credit card, student credit card or other type of credit card for people with limited credit history. By choosing a card designed for people with no credit, newcomers who are at least 18 years old with enough income to afford monthly bill payments will have good approval odds. You don’t need credit history to get credit. But you do need to demonstrate the ability to repay future balances.

It’s actually easier than you might think to get a credit card with no credit. You just need to follow a few simple steps. We’ll tee them up below and then explain each in more detail.

How to Get a Credit Card with No Credit

1. Check for a credit report/score to confirm you really have no credit
2. See if your school email still works, as student credit cards are the best available to beginners
3. Compare starter credit cards to find the lowest fees and highest approval odds
4. Apply online and get a decision within days, if not instantly
5. Activate your starter credit card

So, if you want to get a credit card without credit history, start by making sure you really have no credit, then compare credit card offers, select the best one for your needs and submit an application. You could have a new card in your hands within 7-10 business days of applying.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Let’s go through the steps involved in getting a credit card for the first time with no credit history in greater detail.

Step 1: Confirm you have no credit. You might have credit history without even realizing it. This could have come from being an authorized user on a parent’s credit card account. Or, it could be some sort of a mistake. And it could either put you in line for a better starter credit card or make it harder to get approved. You can check your credit report and score for free on WalletHub.

Step 2: See if your school email still works. College students typically get much better credit cards than other people with no credit. So if you have an active “.edu” email address, it will be an asset in your credit card search.

Step 3: Compare starter credit cards. You have to comparison shop if you want to find the best credit card deal. Your top priority should be getting a card with no annual fee whose other terms complement your spending and payment habits nicely.

Step 4: Submit your application. Actually applying for a credit card is the simplest part of the process. Just click “Apply Now” when you find your favorite offer, and we’ll redirect you to the issuer’s secure online application page. Applying online is the fastest application method. You could even be approved instantly.

Step 5: Activate your new credit card (or place a deposit on a secured card). If you don’t get approved the first time you apply for a starter credit card, place a refundable deposit on a secured credit card. Secured cards have the highest approval odds because your deposit usually matches your spending limit.

It’s simple to get a credit card with no credit. But once you open a credit card account, make sure to use it responsibly. Above all else, that means paying your bill on time every month and keeping your credit utilization as low as possible. That will ensure your credit score starts strong and stays headed in the right direction. You can track your progress for free on WalletHub, the first and only site with free daily credit score updates.

Building credit when you have no credit history brings to mind the old “chicken or the egg” conundrum.  After all, credit cards are the most cost-efficient, accessible credit building tools available to consumers, but your credit standing determines your ability to get one.  So, what is a credit newcomer to do?

Well, most banks offer starter credit cards – accounts targeted to students and other financially inexperienced consumer cohorts that enable such folks to prove their financial responsibility in a relatively low-risk environment.

The risk is low from the card issuer’s perspective because these cards usually offer spending limits around $300 - $500 and don’t come with rewards/financing deals attractive enough to cost the issuing banks too much money.  However, the stakes are high for consumers because while never missing a payment and maintaining a reasonable credit utilization ratio will ultimately translate into higher credit standing and eligibility for better credit cards, mistakes are a ticket to higher costs and increased difficulties across life.

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A starter credit card is a credit card designed for people with limited credit or bad credit to use to establish and improve their credit standing (including students and immigrants). The best starter credit cards can help you build credit and save money. 

Based on WalletHub’s research and years of experience, starter credit cards usually have a $300+ starting credit limit, annual fees as low as $0, and rewards of up to 1% cash back on purchases (some cards are from WalletHub partners). If you’d like a recommendation, you can check out WalletHub’s expert picks for the best starter credit cards below.

Your objective in picking between these beginner credit cards should be to pay as little as possible in fees and interest. As long as you remember to pay your bill on time and in full every month, you will be able to build credit inexpensively with the right first-time credit card. Within a few years, you may be able to qualify for one of the market’s best overall credit cards.

Best Starter Credit Cards of April 2023

• Winner: Capital One Platinum
• Rewards & No Fee: Petal 2 Card
• Cash Back: Capital One QuicksilverOne
• No Credit Check: OpenSky
• Secured Rewards: Discover it Secured Credit Card

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The only way to get a credit card with no credit and no income is to have a cosigner who can supplement your application with their own credit and income. While there are plenty of credit cards for people with no credit, all credit cards require applicants to have an income to prove they can make payments. A cosigner promises to pay back the credit card balance if you cannot, so their credit and income matter much more on the application. Unfortunately, there aren’t any major issuers that allow cosigners, but you might be able to find local banks and credit unions that do.

In addition, it’s worth noting that “income” doesn’t have to be from a salary. If you get money from things like retirement benefits, child support or investments, for example, those count as income. Your assets can be considered on the application, too.

Authorized Users With No Credit and No Income

One way to get access to a credit card without actually owning the account is to become an authorized user on someone else’s credit card. You can do this even if you have no credit and no income. The account won’t be in your name, but you can get your own physical card to use for purchases. The primary cardholder may have the ability to limit how much you spend, though.

As an authorized user, you will build credit every month, as long as the account gets used responsibly. The primary cardholder must make all payments on the account. Being an authorized user on a responsibly-managed card can help you eventually qualify for your own credit card once you have an income.

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.

You can have a credit score without a credit card if you’ve taken out a loan, had rent payments reported to the major credit bureaus, or fallen behind on other bills. A credit score is just a way of summarizing the contents of your credit reports. And in addition to information about any credit card accounts you’ve had in the past 7 years, credit reports contain info about other loans and lines of credit you’ve used as well whether you’ve been sent to collections or sued for amounts owed. Unpaid alimony and child support also are noted on credit reports, as are tax liens. So even without ever using a credit card, you still could have a credit score if you’ve otherwise borrowed money or failed to pay some key bills. 

You can see if you have a credit score for free on WalletHub, the only site with free daily updates. The fact that it’s possible to have a credit score without a credit card might mean you already have a rating. But if you don’t have a score, or just want yours to be higher, you really should get a credit card. Having an open credit card account is the most efficient, inexpensive credit-building option available. Just consider the alternatives.

Here are the best ways to get a credit score without a credit card:

• Make rent payments: Ask if your landlord reports your monthly rent payments to the credit bureaus. If they don’t, you can sign up for a service like PayYourRent.com that will ensure you get credit for paying on time. 

• Pay your student loans: If you took out loans to pay for college or vocational training, consistently paying them on time will build up your credit.

• Get an auto loan: You can get an auto loan with limited or bad credit history, but your interest rate and car insurance premiums will be fairly high.

• Get a credit-builder loan: Some banks and credit unions offer small loans specifically designed to help people with no credit build their history. You may have to offer collateral in order to get one.

You can have a credit score without a credit card if you’ve otherwise borrowed money, had a landlord report your payments to the credit bureaus, or failed to pay bills. But applying for the right credit card, like an easy-to-get secured card, is one of the cheapest ways to start building your credit history. And if you’re not able to get a credit card in your own name, you may be able to find someone who will add you as an authorized user. This will also help you build credit.

Yes, you can get a Chase credit card with no credit. The best Chase credit card for people with no credit is the Chase Freedom® Student credit card because it accepts applicants with limited or no credit history and has an annual fee of $0.

Using a Chase credit card for no credit will allow you to establish a credit history and build a good credit score over time. But you’ll have to consistently pay your bills on time, maintain low credit utilization, and otherwise manage your account responsibly.

An easy way to track your progress is to sign up for a free WalletHub account. You’ll get free access to your latest credit score and report, personalized credit improvement advice, and 24/7 credit monitoring.