Building credit with a credit card can sometimes feel like a Catch-22. You need good credit to get approved for a credit card, but you need a credit card to build good credit. Secured credit cards provide one solution, but require users to pay deposits.
Other companies take different approaches to offer credit cards to consumers with no credit. Some will use info from your bank accounts and average income to make credit card approvals. Others provide special cards for students that don’t require any existing credit rating.
Find our best partner offers for credit cards that don’t require a credit rating below. For related offers, be sure to see our top partner offers for those with bad credit.
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 17.49% – 31.49% (Variable)
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- No Credit History
- Rewards rate
-
1% – 1.5% Up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments.; 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away.
The Petal 2 Visa Card, issued by WebBank, stands out as one of the best cards to begin establishing credit. It’s our top pick because it comes with no annual fees, no late fees, no foreign transaction fees and no returned payment fees -- perfect for someone first handling the reins of managing credit. Your credit score, if you have one, and Petal’s Cash Score, which analyzes how you spend your money, may be used when evaluating your application. If you have no credit, this means you will need to provide some financial details.
Your credit limit will be between $300 and $10,000, based on creditworthiness. You also have the opportunity to earn 2% to 10% cash-back at select merchants, and your cash-back rate of 1% on eligible purchases will increase to up to 1.5% after 12 months of on-time payments. There’s also no need to worry about a security deposit.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 17.49% – 31.49% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
The Petal 2 Visa Card, issued by WebBank, stands out as one of the best cards to begin establishing credit. It’s our top pick because it comes with no annual fees, no late fees, no foreign transaction fees and no returned payment fees -- perfect for someone first handling the reins of managing credit. Your credit score, if you have one, and Petal’s Cash Score, which analyzes how you spend your money, may be used when evaluating your application. If you have no credit, this means you will need to provide some financial details.
Your credit limit will be between $300 and $10,000, based on creditworthiness. You also have the opportunity to earn 2% to 10% cash-back at select merchants, and your cash-back rate of 1% on eligible purchases will increase to up to 1.5% after 12 months of on-time payments. There’s also no need to worry about a security deposit.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 17.49% – 31.49% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
- Intro Offer
-
Cashback Match™ Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 17.49% – 26.49% Variable APR
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- No Credit History
- Rewards rate
-
1% – 2% Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter.; Earn 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
The Discover it® Student chrome* offers a winning combination of cash-back and other rewards opportunities, as well as lenient terms for first-time credit card holders. You won’t get dinged by the credit card company for your first late payment (up to $41 thereafter) or have to deal with an exorbitant penalty APR. Plus, you can earn 1% to 2% back in rewards each month (2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined quarterly purchases, then 1%) on this Discover credit card. Discover does offer another similar student credit card, the Discover it® Student Cash Back*, but the rotating bonus categories for earning rewards can make things overcomplicated, especially for first-time cardholders.
For our full review of the Discover it® Student chrome, check out our coverage of the best student credit cards.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 10.99% for 6 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% for 6 months
- Regular APR
- 17.49% – 26.49% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
The Discover it® Student chrome* offers a winning combination of cash-back and other rewards opportunities, as well as lenient terms for first-time credit card holders. You won’t get dinged by the credit card company for your first late payment (up to $41 thereafter) or have to deal with an exorbitant penalty APR. Plus, you can earn 1% to 2% back in rewards each month (2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined quarterly purchases, then 1%) on this Discover credit card. Discover does offer another similar student credit card, the Discover it® Student Cash Back*, but the rotating bonus categories for earning rewards can make things overcomplicated, especially for first-time cardholders.
For our full review of the Discover it® Student chrome, check out our coverage of the best student credit cards.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 10.99% for 6 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- 0% for 6 months
- Regular APR
- 17.49% – 26.49% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
- Intro Offer
-
No current offer
- Annual fee
- $0
- APR
- 29.74% (Variable)
- Recommended Credit A credit score is used to indicate an applicant’s credit worthiness and may provide guidance about account eligibility. It does not necessarily guarantee approval for any financial product.
- No Credit History
- Rewards rate
-
N/A This card doesn’t offer cash back, miles, or points
Secured credit cards work differently than other credit cards. They require an upfront security deposit to open your account, which your “credit limit” is often based on. It’s an arrangement that’s especially useful as a credit builder account for someone who needs to show they can reliably pay a bill each month.
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card* gives you $200 in credit when you deposit $49, $99 or $200, depending on your credit history -- making it one of the few secured cards to offer actual credit. (Your particular terms depend on your specific application.) And this secured card checks all of the boxes: $0 annual fee, modest minimum security deposit of $49 -- and the opportunity to earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making on-time payments. Also nice: Capital One will see if you’re preapproved with a soft credit check, providing a risk-free peek at eligibility before you submit an official application to the credit card company.
Check out our full review of the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 29.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at this Transfer APR
Secured credit cards work differently than other credit cards. They require an upfront security deposit to open your account, which your “credit limit” is often based on. It’s an arrangement that’s especially useful as a credit builder account for someone who needs to show they can reliably pay a bill each month.
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card* gives you $200 in credit when you deposit $49, $99 or $200, depending on your credit history -- making it one of the few secured cards to offer actual credit. (Your particular terms depend on your specific application.) And this secured card checks all of the boxes: $0 annual fee, modest minimum security deposit of $49 -- and the opportunity to earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making on-time payments. Also nice: Capital One will see if you’re preapproved with a soft credit check, providing a risk-free peek at eligibility before you submit an official application to the credit card company.
Check out our full review of the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card for more details.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 29.74% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at this Transfer APR
What you need to know about credit before getting a credit card
The most important thing to know about credit is that it’s much easier to damage it than it is to repair it. That means missing any credit card payments will be detrimental to your finances, especially when you factor in penalty fees and penalty interest rates.
Pay your credit card statement bill on time each month to avoid any headaches, preferably in full to avoid paying any interest charges. You also want to avoid using more than 30% of your credit limit for the best results.
How to choose your first credit card
First, you’ll need to consider your credit level. Credit cards have credit requirements, meaning not every person is immediately eligible for all credit cards. Generally speaking, the higher the credit requirement, the better the rewards and features.
You can check your credit report for free by requesting your credit reports once per year from each credit bureau (Equifax, TransUnion and Experian), or through annualcreditreport.com. Some credit card issuers will provide your credit score for free, like Capital One’s CreditWise.
Checking your credit report periodically for inaccuracies (which can then be disputed) can help keep your credit in good shape.
Some credit cards help you build credit from the ground up. For example, a secured credit card or a credit card for people with no credit accept applicants of various credit backgrounds.
Be aware of any annual fee. An annual fee typically equates to higher rewards, larger welcome bonuses and better perks, but you want to make sure it fits your budget.
Make sure the card earns rewards that line up with your lifestyle. Consider how you can redeem your rewards and choose the route that provides the highest return.
Lastly, credit cards have an annual percentage rate, or APR, at which your credit card balance will accrue interest. Interest compounds daily, and any interest you’ve accrued will be added to your credit card statement at the end of the month. Opt for a card with a low APR and pay off your credit card statement in full each month to avoid interest charges.
When should you get your first credit card
You’re eligible to apply for a credit card once you’re 18 years old. The sooner you begin building credit the better. Your credit score determines what kinds of terms you get on loans, including auto loans, student loans, mortgages, personal loans and more.
A good time to consider applying for your first credit card is if you’re going away to college. A credit card not only provides a way to build credit, but also offers access to emergency funds and rewards on your spending.
How to build credit without a credit card
If you don’t have a credit card, there are still ways to build credit. If you have student loans or an auto loan or mortgage, making your payments on time will improve your credit score. You could also utilize a credit builder loan which will help establish a strong history of positive payments.
You can be added as an authorized user on a family member’s credit card. If they have good credit and manage their credit card well, it’ll contribute to your credit score. The most straightforward way to build credit, however, is by responsibly using a credit card.
How to apply for a credit card if you have no credit
Follow these steps to apply for a credit card if you have no or limited credit.
- Find a credit card with lower or alternative requirements.
- Follow one of the links above to a secure application.
- Submit all the required information.
- Use the card responsibly and pay your bill on time each month.
FAQs
No. Having no credit means you don’t have any credit history, while bad credit means you have a credit history, but it’s been damaged in some way.
Most credit cards require some form of income verification while applying. Credit cards are still a form of loan, which means they involve risk. The lender needs to know you have a way of paying back the money you borrow.
In most cases, you’ll need a checking account and evidence of regular income to be eligible for a credit card. If you don’t have one, check out our article on best checking accounts to find the account that best suits your needs.
While most of the credit-building process requires time, there are a few things you can do to ensure that you’re improving your credit score number as quickly as possible.
- First, pay all of your bills on time. This will boost the on-time payment calculation in your credit score.
- Second, work to keep your credit utilization as low as possible. Do that by paying off your entire balance at least once a month, and twice per month if you can. It will also help to have a higher credit limit, so look for cards that offer credit increases periodically -- or call your bank every five to six months if they don’t, and ask for a credit limit increase.
- Finally, don’t open too many new credit accounts all at once, even if you’re trying to improve your credit mix. Lenders can get skittish if you’ve recently applied for multiple credit accounts, as it shows you could be a riskier borrower.
Our methodology
CNET reviews credit cards by exhaustively comparing them across set criteria developed for each major category, including cash-back, welcome bonus, travel rewards and balance transfer. We take into consideration the typical spending behavior of a range of consumer profiles -- with the understanding that everyone’s financial situation is different -- and the designated function of a card.
For cash-back credit cards, for example, key factors include the annual fee, the “welcome bonus” and the cash-back rate (or rates, if they differ by spending category). For rewards and miles cards, we calculate and weigh the net monetary value of a card’s respective perks. And with balance transfer credit cards, we analyze specs such as the duration of the introductory 0% APR period and the balance transfer fee, while acknowledging secondary factors such as the standard APR and the length of time you have to make a balance transfer after you open the account.
More credit cards
- Best Credit Cards for Fair and Average Credit
- Best Credit Cards Without Foreign Transaction Fees
- Best Credit Cards for Good Credit
*All information about the Discover it Student chrome, Discover it Student Cash Back and the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
