Best First Credit Card – No Credit Is No Problem

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August 13, 2023

Best First Credit Card – No Credit Is No Problem

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If you’re looking for your first credit card, you might feel overwhelmed by all the options. Secured cards — which offer you a credit line in exchange for a security deposit — are a good pick if you don’t have a high credit score or want to control your credit line. But they’re not the only cards available.

You might also qualify for an unsecured or traditional credit card, even with no credit history. Some card providers look at your income and other factors when approving you for a credit line. And you may even be able to earn rewards with certain credit cards.

Whichever card you choose, it’s important to practice responsible credit habits, like only charging what you can afford and paying off your bill in full and on-time every month. This can help boost your credit score and set you up for an even better credit card in the future.

Here are our picks for the best first credit card.

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Best first credit cards overview

Issuer	Best for
Discover it® Secured Credit Card	Best welcome bonus
U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card	Best for dining rewards
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card	Best secured card
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card	Best for earning rewards
Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card	Best for no credit check
Capital One Platinum Credit Card	Best low security deposit requirement
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card	Best rewards option for fair credit
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card	A no-security deposit option

Best first credit cards

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Discover It® Secured Credit Card

Card Name

Discover It® Secured Credit Card

APR

28.24%

Recommended Credit Score

N/A

Annual Fee

Rewards Rate

Earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all your other purchases automatically. 2x cash back with Cashback Match, get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically.

Why We Like It

Credit-building credit card with limit you set with your deposit.
Automatic review in 7 months to see if you can transition into an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

Card Name

U.S. Bank Altitude® Connect Visa Signature® Card

APR

20.24% - 28.24%

Recommended Credit Score

Excellent Credit

Annual Fee

$0 intro for the first year, then $95

Special Offer

Intro Offer: Earn 50,000 bonus points

Special Offer Terms

when you spend $2,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening. That's a $500 value redeemable towards travel, gift cards, cash back, merchandise and more.

Terms

See Terms

Why We Like It

Up to $100 in statement credits for reimbursement toward TSA PreCheck® or Global Entry® application fee once every four years.
Points never expire.

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Card Name

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

APR

29.99%

Recommended Credit Score

Limited, Bad

Annual Fee

Special Offer

No annual or hidden fees,

Special Offer Terms

and you can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day. See if you're approved in seconds.

Rewards Rate

1.5 % Cash Back on every purchase, every day. 5 % Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply).

Terms

See Terms

Why We Like It

No annual or hidden fees.
Earn unlimited cash back every day.
You can automatically be considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months with no additional deposit needed.

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

Card Name

U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card

APR

19.49% - 29.49%

Recommended Credit Score

Excellent/Good

Annual Fee

Special Offer

$200 bonus

Special Offer Terms

after spending $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 120 days of account opening.

Terms

See Terms

Why We Like It

Cash back on all purchases.
No annual fee.

Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card

Petal 1 "No Annual Fee" Visa® Credit Card

Card Name

Petal 1 "No Annual Fee" Visa® Credit Card

APR

28.49% – 35.74%

Recommended Credit Score

N/A

Annual Fee

Why We Like It

No security deposit required
Bad and poor credit possible
No annual fee

Card Details

Get a credit limit of $300 to $5,000 with $0 annual membership fee. You can earn 2% to 10% at select local and national merchants.

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Card Name

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

APR

29.99%

Recommended Credit Score

Limited, Bad

Annual Fee

Special Offer

No annual or hidden fees.

Special Offer Terms

See if you're approved in seconds.

Rewards Rate

N/A

Terms

See Terms

Why We Like It

No annual or hidden fees.
You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit by making on-time payments.
Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months with no additional deposit needed.
Monitor your credit score for free with CreditWise from Capital One.

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Card Name

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

APR

29.99%

Recommended Credit Score

Average, Fair, Limited

Annual Fee

$39

Special Offer

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back

Special Offer Terms

on every purchase, every day

Rewards Rate

1.5 % Cash Back on every purchase, every day. 5 % Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply).

Terms

See Terms

Why We Like It

Earn unlimited cash back on every purchase.
No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn.
Cash back doesn't expire.
You can be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months.

OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card

Card Name

OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card

APR

25.64%

Annual Fee

$35

Why We Like It

No credit check required
Credit limit from as low as $200 and as high as $3,000
Reports to all three credit bureaus
85% average approval rate

Best first credit card summary

Issuer	Annual Fee	APR
Discover it® Secured Credit Card	$0	28.24% variable
U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card	$0	19.99% - 28.99%
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card	$0	29.99%
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card	$0	19.49% - 29.49%
Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card	$0	24.99% - 34.49%.
Capital One Platinum Credit Card	$0	29.99%
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card	$0	29.99%
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card	$35	22.39% variable

FAQs

How old do you have to be to get a credit card?

You’ll need to be at least 18 years old to get a credit card. If you’re younger, your parent or guardian may be able to add you to their credit card as an authorized user in some cases. If you don’t work and you’re between the ages of 18 and 21, you may need to include a co-signer on your credit card application to get approved. However, some choices on our best list may not require proof of income for approval.

When should I get a credit card?

A credit card can help you build your credit profile and grow your credit score, which may be helpful if you want to finance a car or apply for an apartment to rent. For some, applying for a high school or college credit card may make sense. But it’s best to wait until you know you can handle the financial responsibility and use it smartly. If you’re tempted to overspend, it might be better to practice budgeting and spending within your means before adding a credit card to the mix.

What is a security deposit?

When you’re just starting out on your credit journey, a secured credit card is often the easiest card to get. Secured cards require a security deposit which often acts as your credit card. This allows lenders to approve you more easily, even if you have no or poor credit history because the deposit protects them if you don’t pay your bill. This deposit is usually refundable, meaning you get it back if you close your account or graduate to a traditional credit card — but that’s not always the case. And, in some cases, you may be granted a larger credit line than your security deposit, like with the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card.

Do starter credit cards come with rewards?

Some credit cards designed for new credit users offer some rewards — but they don’t offer anywhere near the rewards rates reserved for those with higher credit scores and longer credit histories. While a rewards card may seem intriguing, it’s important not to overspend just to earn rewards. This can also lead to debt and may hurt your credit score in the long run. Credit card rewards are only lucrative if you can pay your bill in full each month. Otherwise, your interest can quickly overshadow any rewards you’ve earned.

The bottom Line

When choosing your first credit card, look at your credit report and understand the options available. While you may be able to avoid paying a security deposit, you might also be on the hook for an annual fee. Make sure you can afford the cost of a credit card before applying.

Once you decide on the right card, use it responsibly by spending within your means, using less than 30% of your credit line to keep your credit score growing, and always paying your bill in full each month. After demonstrating healthy credit use, you may be able to upgrade to a traditional card with no security deposit or annual fee — or move on to a more valuable rewards card.

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Courtney Johnston is a freelance writer, specializing in finance, travel, and health. She has written for The Chicago Tribune, Benzinga, BestReviews, Mashvisor, Fundera, MoneyGeek, and The Culture Trip. She also teaches writing instruction at the University of Indianapolis. Courtney currently resides in Indianapolis.

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