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.

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. Younger applicants 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. Only people who are at least 18 years old can get their own credit card account. But there is no minimum age for being an authorized user on a credit card, in most cases.

High approval odds are one of 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.

There are plenty of other things about the process of picking, applying for and getting your first credit that are also important to learn. 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. 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.

It’s also 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.

My first credit card was the Capital One Journey. I was a student back then.

You can't beat the benefits you get with a student credit card if you have no credit and absolutely want a credit card with 0 fees.

The best credit cards for no credit and no bank account are Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Platinum Credit Card, which don’t require a bank account. Both are designed for people who are new to credit. And you can even pay your Capital One credit card bills with cash at the nearest 7-Eleven, without having a bank account.

For more tips, you can read our guide on how to build credit. Remember that you can easily track your credit score’s progress, for free, right here, on WalletHub!

It is important to view a starter credit card as a tool, mainly as one 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.

Also, I would recommend NOT using it for things like gas or food, there is nothing tangible to show at the end of the month.

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 or students get off to a great start on building credit while still in school!

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.

Starter credit cards are necessary because consumers need a way to prove that they’re responsible enough to handle more robust financial products, such as a substantial home loan or a high line of credit.

Starter credit cards offer the kind of low-risk environment in which unproven consumers can show what they’ve got without the potential losses being too high for banks. They tend to have modest credit limits, modest rewards, modest fees, and modest interest rates, but they do report usage information to the major credit bureaus on a monthly basis and therefore provide an exceptionally cost-effective means by which to build 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 History

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.

The best way to get credit cards for minors is to add them as an authorized user. A minor cannot get their own credit card account. You must be at least 18 years old to do so. But all major credit card companies allow customers to get authorized-user credit cards for minors. Many don’t even have a minimum age for authorized users.

An authorized user is granted access to another person’s credit card account. The user can make purchases on the account and build credit. But they will not have to make monthly payments. The primary cardholder is responsible for all transactions charged to the card, including those made by an authorized user.

A parent can add their child as an authorized user as soon as they think the child is ready to learn about financial responsibility. Or, they could add them even earlier than that and just not allow them to use the card. That way, even an infant could build credit history. And once the minor does get spending access, the primary cardholder can usually set limits on the user’s spending.

Adding a minor as an authorized user is simple. You’ll need only the minor’s name, birthdate, and in some cases, Social Security number. Make sure you and the minor you’re thinking of adding to your account are aware of the potential benefits and risks of authorized users before you add them.

Here’s the best way to get credit cards for minors:

1. Add the minor as an authorized user. Becoming an authorized user is the best way to get credit cards for minors. Legally, minors are unable to get their own credit card.
2. Check age requirements. Most issuers don’t have an age restriction for authorized users. Amex has a minimum age of 13 to 15 years old, depending on the card. Barclays sets its minimum age at 13 years old. Discover and U.S. Bank require at least 15 and 16 years old, respectively.
3. Keep transactions separate. Consider adding an authorized user to a credit card you don’t use all that often. That makes it easier to monitor the minor’s spending.
4. Monitor credit activity: When an authorized user gets added to a credit card account, the card activity goes on their credit reports. If the minor has no previous credit history, their first credit score will be generated within the first six months. The score depends on how responsibly the card is used.
5. Don’t miss payments or pay late: Missed payments cause credit score damage for both the primary cardholder and the authorized user. But authorized users can dispute accounts with negative information to have them removed from their credit reports.

An authorized user is limited to making purchases on the account. They typically are unable to do balance transfers or take out cash advances. Only the primary cardholder can make changes to the account like requesting a credit limit increase or adding additional users. The primary cardholder can call the issuer’s customer service department to remove an authorized user from their account. An authorized can be removed for any reason.

Becoming an authorized user is the only way to get credit cards for minors in order to establish credit. Once an authorized user is no longer a minor, they can add their own credit card account to the mix.

Shoot for one with high approval odds and a low annual fee. People applying for their first credit card at age 18 should consider cards for no credit or secured cards if they don’t have credit history already. College students can also consider student cards, which give better terms because of students’ higher earning potential.

The best credit card for 18 year olds is the Capital One Platinum card because it has a $0 annual fee. The minimum starting credit limit is $300, and there’s no security deposit required to open the account. Accounts are considered for a credit limit increase after 6 months. Young people who want to earn rewards and don’t mind paying a small annual fee may opt for the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards card. It offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases, and the annual fee is $39.

The best credit cards for 18-year-old students are the Capital One Journey Student Rewards, Discover it Student Chrome and Discover it Student Cash Back cards. They all offer $0 annual fees and solid cash back rewards on all purchases. A student’s age and earning potential are an attractive prospect for credit card issuers, so they’re willing to extend offers not readily available to non-students.

Some of the other best credit cards for 18 year olds are secured credit cards, which offer the easiest approval. They require a security deposit, typically around $200. The security deposit sets the credit limit and serves as collateral for the lender. It’s fully refundable after closing the account in good standing. The Discover it Secured card and Capital One Secured Mastercard are two of the best secured credit cards for 18-year-olds.

Here are the best credit cards for 18-year-olds:

• Capital One Platinum: $0 annual fee. Eligible for a credit limit increase if you pay your bill on time for the first five months. 26.99% (V) APR.
• Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards: $39 annual fee. 1.5% cash back on all purchases. $400 minimum starting credit limit. 26.99% (V) APR.
• Capital One Journey Student Rewards: $0 annual fee. 1% cash back on all purchases; 1.25% for each month you pay your bill on time. 26.99% (V) APR.
• Discover it Student Chrome: $0 annual fee. 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants up to $1,000 spent each quarter and 1% on all other purchases. First year’s cash back matched. $20 statement credit for a 3.0 GPA or better each school year. 12.99% - 21.99% (V) APR.
• Discover it Student Cash Back: $0 annual fee. 5% cash back on $1,500 spent per quarter in categories that rotate. 1% back on all other purchases. First year’s cash back matched. $20 statement credit for a 3.0 GPA or better each school year. 12.99% - 21.99% (V) APR.
• Capital One Secured Mastercard: $0 annual fee. $200 initial credit limit with security deposit of $49, $99 or $200, based on creditworthiness. 26.99% (V) APR.
• Discover it Secured: $0 annual fee. 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants up to $1,000 each quarter and 1% on all other purchases. First year’s cash back matched. 22.99% (V) APR.
• Citi Double Cash: $0 annual fee. 2% cash back on all purchases, 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay your bill. 0% balance transfer APR for 18 months with 3% transfer fee. 13.99% - 23.99% (V) regular APR. For 18-year-olds who have already built good credit as an authorized user.

Keep in mind that the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility And Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009 places limits on credit cards for 18-year-olds. Under the law, consumers younger than 21 years old must have either a co-signer or proof of a steady income to be a credit card’s primary accountholder. If you can meet one of these two requirements, you’ll have a pool of cards to choose from that will help you establish credit.

Another option is to become an authorized user on someone else’s credit card. You can become an authorized user on any type of credit card, and you’ll enjoy any benefits the card offers while you establish your credit. The primary cardholder is financially responsible for the account, and his or her card activity will also be reflected on your credit report. However, any negative information such as late or missed payments will cause a drop in both of your credit scores.

The best Capital One starter card is the Capital One Platinum Credit Card because it has a $0 annual fee, gives a $300+ credit limit with no deposit required, and is available to people with limited or no credit history. Plus, cardholders become eligible for a credit limit increase after making about 5 consecutive monthly payments on time.

That’s not the only option, though. Capital One is a rare credit card company with several good starter credit 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.

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 Secured Mastercard® from Capital One for high approval odds. It requires a $49, $99 or $200 deposit but guarantees a $200 credit limit.

Here are the best Capital One starter cards:

• Capital One Platinum Credit Card. $0 annual fee. Available to people with limited history.
• Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. $39 annual fee. 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Available to people with limited history credit.
• Secured Mastercard® from Capital One. $0 annual fee. $49, $99 or $200 deposit required, but $200 minimum credit limit guaranteed. Available to people with limited history credit.
• Journey Student Rewards from Capital One. $0 annual fee. 1 - 1.25% cash back on all purchases or 1.25% for paying on time. Available to students with limited history.
• Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business. $0 annual fee. 1% cash back on all purchases. Available to business owners with limited history.

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. All Capital One starter cards also offer $0 balance transfer fees, though they do not have any kind of introductory 0% APR on balance transfers.