Starter Credit Cards

To get a credit card for the first time, you must be at least 18 years old and have enough income to afford monthly credit card payments, in addition to your other expenses. The minimum payments on a starter credit card usually are around $15 per month.

The two basic steps involved in getting a credit card for the first time are to: 1) compare credit card offers designed specifically for people with limited or no credit history; and 2) apply for one with no annual fee, if available – rewards and APRs can be the tiebreaker.

There are plenty of other things about the process of picking, applying for and getting your first credit that are important to learn, too. We’ll walk you through them below, step by step.

How to Get a Credit Card for the First Time

1. See if you have a credit report and score.

You could have more credit history than you think, perhaps from being an authorized user on a family member’s credit card. This will help you determine how good of a credit card you should shoot for. Check your latest credit score and credit report for free on WalletHub.

2. Determine whether student credit cards are an option.

College students can usually get better first credit cards than other people with no credit. Their youth and above-average expected income make them attractive to banks and credit unions. If you’re enrolled in school, check out the best student credit cards.

3. Compare secured and unsecured starter cards.

Secured credit cards have the highest approval odds, but they require you to place a refundable security deposit. The amount of that deposit becomes your spending limit. Unsecured cards are harder to get but have no deposit.

4. Limit your search to cards with the lowest fees.

Focus on weeding out cards with expensive non-refundable fees. A no annual fee credit card with no security deposit is best. But a low-fee secured card isn’t bad, either. You can get back your deposit when you close your account.

5. Choose the best remaining offer for your needs.

If several credit cards are tied for the lowest fees and highest approval odds, consider the terms that are next most important to you. If you plan to pay your bill in full every month, that will probably be rewards. If not, you may want to focus on interest rates.

6. Confirm you have enough income

If you’re at least 21 years old, you can list household income and assets that you have reasonable access to on your credit card application. Applicants who are 18-20 years old can only list independent income and assets, but even having a part-time job should provide enough income to get a credit card for the first time.

7. Submit your credit card application.

Apply online for the fastest decision. You may even be approved instantly if you clearly meet the issuer’s criteria. You should receive your card within 7-10 business days of being approved.

Learning how to get a credit card for the first time is a rite of passage for young adults after turning 18 years old. And it’s a lot easier than you might think. The key is to choose wisely, by focusing on offers for people with limited credit and secured credit cards, which provide nearly guaranteed approval.

Key Things to Know About Choosing Your First Credit Card

High approval odds are among the most important things to look for in your first credit card. The sooner you get approved, the sooner you can begin building your credit standing. Getting rejected for a credit card sets you back, both in terms of time and possible damage to your limited credit.

Low fees are another key feature to seek out when getting a credit card for the first time. Starter credit cards generally don’t offer rewards or interest rates worth paying high annual or monthly fees for. So it’s best to make your first credit card one with a $0 annual fee and always pay your monthly bill in full to avoid interest charges.

Tips for Using Your First Credit Card

It’s really important to remember that learning how to get a credit card for the first time and getting approved are only the beginning. You also need to use that card responsibly, which means spending within your means, paying your bill on time every month, and keeping your credit utilization below 30%.

If you can avoid racking up costly credit card debt and hurting your credit score with missed payments, your first credit card will be a huge asset. It will add positive information to your major credit reports each month. That will gradually improve your credit standing. And better credit will make it easier to rent an apartment, buy or lease a car, find a job, get approved for good loans and lines of credit and save on car insurance premiums, among other things.

You can track your progress for free on WalletHub, the only site with free credit scores and reports that are updated daily. We’ll even tell you exactly what you need to do to improve your credit score at a given time, plus provide personalized credit card recommendations. You can use them to find your first credit card and then graduate from it when the time is right.

You can get your first credit card at any time by becoming an authorized user. If you want your own credit card account, you will have to be at least 18 and able to prove you have enough income to afford a credit card.

When you become an authorized user on a primary cardholder’s account, you can make charges (assuming the primary cardholder allows it), but you bear no responsibility for paying the bills. The account also gets added to the authorized user’s credit report, which allows for a head start on building a solid credit history, provided there’s no negative activity on the account. There is no legal restriction on the age of an authorized user, and most credit card issuers don’t have a minimum age requirement, either.

Legally, you can get your own credit card account for the first time when you turn 18 years old, as long as you have a verifiable source of independent income. Even if you don’t plan to charge your purchases often, it’s still worthwhile to open a credit card account. You’ll still build credit if you don’t use your card, just not as quickly. The fastest way to build credit would be to charge 1% to 10% of your credit limit per month and pay it off in full.

When to Get Your First Credit Card:

• As an authorized user: Any time. You should start building credit as early as possible. While there is no legal minimum age to become an authorized user, some issuers may have their own age requirements.
• As a primary cardholder: Once you turn 18 years old and are legally allowed to apply. The Credit CARD Act of 2009 only emphasizes that applicants under 21 need to be able to show that they have enough independent income to afford a credit card.
• If you’re older than 18: As soon as possible. Credit building is essential for things like buying cars and houses later in life.

If you’ve been an authorized user on an account in good standing and have a full-time income, you should have little difficulty getting approved for your first credit card. But make sure to focus on cards for people with limited or no credit, to have the best odds of approval.

People with no credit history can also look into secured credit cards, some of which don’t even do a credit check when you apply. You’ll just have to put down a security deposit, usually at least $200, to set your credit limit. This deposit is fully refundable when you close your account without an unpaid balance.

Or, if you’re a student with a part-time income, consider applying for a student credit card. A student credit often comes with better terms and rewards than a regular credit card for limited credit.

Finally, when you get your first credit card, understand that it will also be your most important credit card. If you spend within your means and consistently pay on time, you will eventually qualify for credit cards with better terms and more rewards. If you go the opposite route, it will be more difficult to secure additional credit and you may run up costly debts. To keep an eye on you credit, you can sign up for free credit score updates, right here on WalletHub.

Getting your first credit card is an essential, often daunting rite of passage – no matter how old you are when it comes. Most people think of credit newcomers as being college students, but first-time applicants come in all shapes and sizes. Many are simply late to credit-building class, so to speak. Others, such as immigrants and divorcees, are merely responding to a recent change in circumstances.

Your particular circumstances will dictate what, exactly, you should look for in your first credit card, but the benefit of opening an account is always the same: Credit cards are the most cost-effective, accessible credit-building vehicles at our disposal. Merely having an open credit card in your own name will help to improve your credit score, even if you lock your card in a drawer and don’t use it to make purchases. And having a good credit score can save you hundreds, even thousands, of dollars each year.

With that being said, let’s take a look at how the three main types of credit newcomers should go about choosing their first credit card.

College Students

If have an active university email address, you also have a leg up in the credit card game. Most credit card companies require one on a student credit card application, and students generally get better terms than their experience would normally merit. Why? Because issuers know that college graduates earn about 84% more than people who don’t make it past high school. They also have years of financial needs to capitalize on, considering that the median college student is just 27 years old, according to the Department of Education.

The first thing a student should look for in a credit card is an offer without annual and monthly fees. The rates and rewards available at this point simply aren’t worth paying for.

With your options whittled down to “free” student credit cards, focus on finding rewards that suit your lifestyle, if you plan to pay your bill in full each month. We recommend that you do so, as it’s important to adopt good habits and build savings at the beginning of your credit career.

But if you anticipate needing some extra time to pay off a looming big-ticket expense (e.g., textbooks or a car), you should try to find a card with a long 0% intro APR period instead of worrying about rewards.

Non-Student Newcomers

The credit card pickings tend to be slimmer for non-student first-timers. But the available options are just as effective when it comes to credit building. And as long as you don’t need an emergency loan, it doesn’t really matter whether you get an unsecured (“regular”) credit card or one that requires a refundable security deposit.
Meaningful rewards won’t be on the table in either case. And you should think of your credit card more as an investment in your credit score’s future than a financing vehicle at this point in your life.

As such, we recommend prioritizing low fees and approvability when looking for your first credit card. With that in mind, you may want to place a deposit on a secured credit card.

You don’t want to apply for unsecured card after unsecured card, only to be rejected each time. Too many applications within a short period of time can damage your credit score and make access to credit even harder to come by. Secured cards are much easier to obtain because their deposit doubles as your spending limit, preventing you from overspending and shielding the issuer from risk.

First Card for a Fresh Start

​​​​​​​Sometimes, your first credit card isn’t literally the first credit card you’ve ever owned. Rather, it may be the first card in your comeback from credit mistakes. And in that case, a secured card is undoubtedly your best option.

Secured cards are not only easier to get approved for than their unsecured counterparts, but they’re also far safer. The fact that your deposit matches your spending limit means it’s impossible to spend more than you can afford to pay back. And since carrying a balance from month to month would basically mean paying interest on a loan you’ve given yourself, hopefully, you’ll avoid doing that, too.

It is important to know that a starter credit card should be used as a tool to build credit for larger purchases like a car or a home later in life. Thus, it is not bad to use the starter card for items like a new outfit, school supplies, or other things. But the user should definitely have the funds to pay in full at the end of a billing cycle. It is very important to start good credit habits with your very first credit card. It is so easy to get caught up in using a credit card for every purchase, feeling like it is "free money" for those who have never had a credit card before. But, by doing this, a person can face a lifetime of bad credit decisions, especially if they are uneducated.

Here's what you should know before using a starter credit card:

• Know the card's terms: Some of the best starter credit cards have no annual fees, but make sure to be aware of any costs your credit card comes with. Starter cards tend to have high interest rates, so it's best to pay your bill in full.
• Don't max out your credit limit: If you're using your card to build credit, maintaining a good credit utilization is important. You should aim to use less than 30% of your available credit. If your credit limit is low, making several payments per month can help lower the credit utilization figure at the end of the month.
• Pay your bill on time and in full: Payment history is an important part of your credit score as late payments can cause considerable damage. And most starter cards have high interest rates which can be avoided if you pay on time and don't carry a balance from one month to another. You can avoid paying late by setting up automatic payments.
• Set a spending budget: Know how much you can afford to spend monthly and keep your charges below that amount. If you exceed your budget, make a plan to pay off what you owe as quickly as possible so you can avoid accruing interest on your balance.
• Review your monthly statements: Keeping track of your purchases and understanding your spending habits will help you budget more efficiently. It will also help you avoid getting overcharged and spot any potential unauthorized charges. If you spotted an error, you can dispute the charge.

Starter cards can be a very helpful tool if used correctly, and a very dangerous obstacle if used frivolously. But with a bit of common sense and a little self-control they can help young people, students or anyone with limited or bad credit get off to a great start at building credit!

One of the best starter credit cards for students is the Chase Freedom® Student credit card because it has a $0 annual fee and gives you $50 after your first purchase made in the first 3 months. This card also offers 1% cash back on all purchases.

Nearly all student credit cards qualify as starter credit cards because you can get approved for them with limited or no credit history.

In general, student credit cards are the best starter credit cards because they’re easy to get without prior experience yet offer far better terms than an inexperienced applicant would ordinarily command. That’s because lenders want to appeal to students in the hope of gaining a long-term customer who may land a well-paying job upon graduation.

Ultimately, you can check out our editors’ latest picks on the best starter credit cards for students to see which better suits your needs.

Most people consider their first credit card to be a “starter” credit card. As such, the types of people who typically need starter credit cards include:

• Young People
• Immigrants
• Divorcees & Widowers (who haven’t had credit under their own name in the last few years)

All of these groups tend to have minimal credit history, either because they haven’t been eligible to access credit for very long or because circumstances that previously allowed them to rely on another party’s credit standing have changed.

Some of us may also seek out starter credit cards when looking to start our financial lives over after previous mistakes, such as missed payments, account default, or even bankruptcy.

You can get credit cards for kids by making them authorized users on your credit card account. A child legally cannot get their own independent credit card account until they turn 18 years old, but making your child an authorized user on your credit card can help them get a head start on building their credit history. Some credit card companies have minimum age limits for authorized users, but most credit card companies do not.

When a primary cardholder pays the bill on time and maintains low credit utilization, any authorized users on the account benefit from it. An authorized user doesn’t even have to use the credit card to reap the benefits. Also, some card issuers allow primary cardholders to set spending limits for each authorized user, which could come in handy if you’re giving a credit card to a child.

That said, if you’re trying to teach your kids about budgeting in a more hands-on way, you may also consider letting them use a prepaid or reloadable debit card designed for kids. These prepaid cards - one example is the Greenlight Card - allow parents to load money onto the card from an app and closely monitor their kids’ transactions. The big downside to a prepaid card for kids is that it does not build their credit history, because it’s not a credit card.

The best Capital One starter card is the Capital One Platinum Credit Card because it has a $0 annual fee and is available to people with limited or no credit history. Capital One Platinum does not offer rewards, but it does help cardholders build credit by reporting to the three major credit bureaus monthly. Plus, cardholders become eligible for a credit limit increase in as little as 6 months. 

That’s not the only option, though. Capital One is a rare credit card company with several good starter cards. They include a starter credit card for students with no credit, a rewards card for newcomers, a business credit card for no credit, and even a fresh start card for people with damaged credit. Which you choose really depends on who you are and how much you plan to spend.

Best Capital One Starter Cards

• Best for No Annual Fee: Capital One Platinum Credit Card
• Best for Rewards: Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
• Best for Bad Credit: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card 
• Best for Students: Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
• Best for Business Owners: Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business

For people with no credit who expect to spend at least $2,600 per year, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is the best starter credit card Capital One has to offer. It gives 1.5% cash back on all purchases, with no earning limit, but charges a $39 annual fee. And folks looking for a fresh start might want to begin with the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card for high approval odds. It requires a deposit of $49, $99 or $200 but guarantees a $200 credit limit.

One great quality that all Capital One starter cards share is $0 foreign transaction fees. No Capital One credit cards charge them. So, you won’t have to pay extra when buying from foreign-based merchants.

There is no Chase starter credit card. All Chase credit cards require a minimum of good credit (700+ credit score) for approval. Some even require excellent credit (750+ credit score). A true starter credit card is for people with limited or bad credit.

The one way to get a starter credit card from Chase is by becoming an authorized user on someone else’s Chase account. Anyone can be an authorized user regardless of credit, and it gets you a Chase credit card that shares a credit limit with the primary cardholder. You’ll be able to make purchases and use the card’s benefits while you’re building your credit. But you won’t be responsible for paying the bill; the primary cardholder will be.

There are also starter cards from other issuers that are ideal for anyone looking to build credit. A couple of good options are Discover it Secured and Capital One QuicksilverOne. Responsible use of a starter card can raise your credit profile to the point where you’ll be eligible to qualify for your own Chase credit card account.

The best Discover starter cards are the Discover it® Student chrome and Discover it® Secured Credit Card because they are the easiest for people with limited credit to get. The student option is the way to go if you’re in school because it does not require a security deposit.

Lenders view students as good future customers because of their increased earning potential when they graduate. Because of this, students are more likely to receive offers with more favorable terms, fewer fees and better rewards than non-students with limited credit.

Best Discover Starter Credit Cards

• Discover it® Student chrome
• Discover it® Student Cash Back
• Discover it® Secured Credit Card

A Discover starter credit card is a great credit-building opportunity for students with limited credit. Pay your bill on time and don’t overspend during your college years. By the time you graduate, you’ll qualify for cards for good or excellent credit. It will also be easier to secure favorable terms on a car loan, get an apartment, or land that first job.