Best Credit Cards for People with No Credit of July 2024

Don't let your lack of credit history hold you back. Check out our list of the best credit cards for no credit history and start building your credit today!

Having limited or no credit history can make it difficult to qualify for a traditional credit card. For many young adults or individuals who are new to the credit game, this can be a major hurdle when trying to establish credit and financial stability.

The good news is that there are credit card options specifically designed for individuals in this situation. These cards are often referred to as "starter" or "secured" credit cards and can be a great entry point for building credit. The best card can differ depending on individual goals. Read on to find your top options for the best credit cards for no credit to start credit-building and reach your financial goals. 

Quick Look: The Best Starter Credit Cards for No Credit History

• Best for Budget-Conscious Students: Firstcard® Credit Builder Card with Cashback for College Students
• Best Overall: Capital One Platinum Credit Card
• Best for First Card: Open Sky Secured Visa®
• Best for Travel: Petal 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa Credit Card
• Best for College Student: Discover It Student Cash Back
• Best for Business: American Express Blue Business Cash
• Best for Cashback: Capital One QuickSilver Secured Cash Rewards

7 Best Credit Cards for No Credit

When looking for the best starter credit card options, a no credit history credit card that meets your needs can help you earn and save more. From cards that can help you build a credit score overnight or get a mortgage-qualifying credit score to cards with rewards, find the best options here. 

1. Best for Budget-Conscious Students: Firstcard® Credit Builder Card with Cashback for College Students

Firstcard is a student credit card with no fees, minimum balance or credit history requirements, founded by Kenji Niwa in 2020. It offers cash back rewards on purchases, high APY on deposits and virtual card access. It aims to provide student-accessible banking solutions and streamline the banking experience for college students.

Why We Love It: This is a great option for students looking to establish credit in a responsible and budget-friendly way. With its low credit limit, cashback rewards program, educational resources, and no annual fee, this card provides a solid foundation for college students to start building their credit history.

2. Best for Overall: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

The Capital One Platinum Secured card is great for those building or rebuilding their credit. The card is designed to help people with no credit. Capital One reports all payment activity to the major credit reporting agencies, so each time you make an on-time payment, it's building a positive credit history. 

Your credit line equals the initial deposit, so you can choose your credit line by depositing the amount you desire. In some cases, you may get a credit limit that’s higher than your initial deposit. You can also opt to pay the security deposit in installments over a 35-day period.

After six months of on-time payments, you can request an increase in your credit line with no additional deposit or shift to an unsecured credit card. According to a Redditor, Capital One offers some of the best credit-building cards on the market. 

Why We Love It: With no annual fee, easy approval process and opportunity for credit limit increases, this card can help you build a positive credit history with all three credit bureaus with a small deposit and work towards achieving your financial goals.

3. Best for First Card: OpenSky Secured Visa

The OpenSky Secured Visa is a card for those who are serious about improving their credit score. The card issuer claims that after six months of on-time payments, you can request an increase in your credit line with no additional deposit or get approved for an unsecured credit card.

On-time payments are reported monthly to all three reporting agencies to help you build or improve your credit score. Your credit line equals your deposit. Choose your credit line from $200 up to $3,000 with a matching deposit. With a higher credit limit, keeping your credit utilization ratio low while building a positive credit history is easier. This card has an annual fee of $35.

Why We Love It: Anyone looking to build a strong credit history fast on a secured card. With no credit check required for approval, the ability to improve your credit score by making on-time payments, and low fees, this card is a solid option for first-time cardholders or anyone looking to build a strong credit history fast on a secured card.

4. Best for Travel: Petal 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa Credit Card

Few secured credit cards are good for travel, but Petal 2 is the exception. It has no foreign transaction fees and a decent cash-back reward. The Petal 2 is issued by WebBank, which looks at your income, expenses, savings and debts instead of credit scores to determine eligibility. 

You can earn up to 1.5% cash back with on-time payments. There are also no annual fees or late fees. While it's not a fantastic travel credit card, you can build a credit history and save before applying for premium travel rewards cards. 

Why We Love It: This card is a great option for travelers who want to earn rewards on their purchases without having to worry about hidden fees. With its cash back rewards, no fees and travel benefits, the Petal 2 card is perfect for those who love to explore the world while also saving money along the way.

5. Best for College Student: Discover It Student Cash Back

Students wanting a little more cash back while building their credit score can consider the Discover It Student Cash Back. You'll get a free FICO score with regular access to your score, low fees and forgiveness for your first late payment.

You could get 5% cash back on everyday purchases with rotating quarterly categories. Common rewards categories include grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations, plus unlimited 1% cash back on purchases. You'll have to activate the quarterly bonus categories for higher rewards. 

Discover automatically matches all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, with no minimum spending or maximum rewards. 

Why We Love It: With its generous rewards program, no annual fees and added security features, this credit card is definitely worth considering for students looking to manage their finances responsibly while in school.

6. Best for Business: American Express Blue Business Cash

If you're launching a business in the U.S. or want to build a positive credit history, consider the American Express Blue Business Cash card. Thanks to a partnership between American Express and credit-reporting startup Nova Credit, this card allows expats from certain countries to translate credit to a U.S.-equivalent credit report instantly. 

You can access a credit history from bureaus in Australia, Canada, India, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Kenya, Nigeria, South Korea, the Philippines, Spain and Switzerland. 

With no annual fee, you can also enjoy these perks:

• Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per year, then 1% thereafter
• Get a $500 statement credit after you spend $8,000 in purchases in the first three months
• Travel benefits such as car rental loss and damage insurance
• Shopping benefits such as purchase protection and extended warranty

Why We Love It: With no annual fee, employee cards at no extra cost, and a range of expense management tools, this card offers great value for international businesses and expats who want to transfer credit history to build USA credit fast. 

7. Best for Cashback: Capital One QuickSilver Secured Cash Rewards

The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Card stands out because it offers cash back on a secured card. You earn 1.5% on every dollar spent on purchases. In addition, you can earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. 

To get the Capital One Quicksilver Secured card, you must make a $200 deposit for a $200 credit line. This low credit line makes it difficult to keep credit utilization low, but after six months of on-time payments, you may qualify for a credit line increase or an unsecured card. 

Capital One reports to all three credit reporting agencies monthly, making it easier to build your credit score from the first month.

Why We Love It: This card offers a simplified cash back structure,  making it an attractive option for individuals looking to build or rebuild their credit. With its straightforward rewards program, no annual fee and opportunity to increase credit limit over time, this card provides a solid foundation for improving financial health and achieving credit goals.

Can You Get a Credit Card With No Credit?

Yes, you can get a credit card with no credit. No credit means that you haven't built a positive credit history. This usually means you've never had a line of credit that reports to credit bureaus. Many credit-building cards are designed to help students and recent immigrants get started on their credit-building journey.

In some cases, cards designed for people with no credit can also be used by those with poor or fair credit to build a positive credit history. Common cards include:

• Secured credit cards: With these cards, you'll need to make a deposit, usually equal to the line of credit, to "secure" the line of credit. These cards typically have low credit lines and can often be converted to a standard credit card after six months to one year.  A secured credit card is the easiest credit card to get approved for if you have no credit.
• Student credit cards: These cards are often the best credit cards for an 18-year-old with no credit history and are designed to help young people build credit history. Student credit cards usually have lower credit limits and higher interest rates.
• Store credit cards: Store credit cards are issued by popular retailers and may come with store rewards or perks. These cards are a form of revolving credit you can use to make purchases and pay the balance later. Some, like the Amazon secured card or JCPenny card, are available to borrowers with no credit history. 

What to Look for in a Starter Credit Card

When you're just starting out on your financial journey, getting a credit card can be a great way to build your credit history and establish good financial habits. However, with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to choose the right starter credit card for you. Here are some key factors to consider when looking for a starter credit card:

• Are there annual fees?
• What is the interest rate (APR)?
• Are there credit score requirements?
• Which credit bureaus does the issuer report to?
• Are there foreign transaction fees?
• Is it secured or unsecured?

When you’re new to credit, it is best to look for a credit card with no annual fees that offers decent rewards and the possibility of qualifying for an unsecured credit card after some months of on-time payments.   

How to Get a Credit Card With No Credit History

To get approved for credit cards if you don’t have a credit history, you'll need to provide other information requested by the lender. For a secured credit card, you'll need to make a deposit. You'll also usually need to show the lender: 

• Your name and legal ID
• Social Security number (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN)
• Information on employment, income and debt
• Any other issuer-specific requirements

How to Build Your Credit With Starter Credit Cards

To build credit with starter credit cards, remember the basics:

• Keep credit utilization below 30% of available credit
• Pay off the card in full each month
• Setup automatic payments to avoid late payment

Remember that building a credit history is a long-term process. While you can start seeing positive credit history from the first month, it can take months or years to build a good to excellent credit score. 

If you want to build your credit history faster, consider becoming an authorized user or using a rent reporting company to report past on-time rental payments.

Should You Get No Credit Credit Cards?

Building a positive credit history can open new financial opportunities. It can help you get a business or personal loan or a mortgage with a lower interest rate. Sometimes, it can help you get a job. With on-time payments and responsible use, the best credit card for no credit can be the first step to financial freedom.