- $0 monthly fees
- No credit check, interest charges or security deposit
- Build credit plus earn up to 4% on savings
Best credit cards for teens
Some credit cards for teens build credit history before turning 18.
To get a traditional credit card, you have to be 18. However, there are two ways around this to help teens build credit before turning 18. One is for a parent or guardian to add the teen as an authorized user on their credit card and the other is to open a credit-building card that allows teens to start building a credit history before turning 18. Upon turning 18, teens can request to have up to two years of previous credit history reported to credit bureaus, giving them a head start on their credit history.
Before they venture into adulthood, explore the best credit card options for teens.
Our top picks
- $0 monthly fee
- No credit check, security deposit or interest charges
- Up to 3% cashback
- Earn 5% with $500+ in direct deposits
- Build positive credit history before 18
- $0 monthly fee
- $200 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back
- Low intro rates on purchases and balance transfers
9 best credit cards for teens
These are some of the best cards available to help teens build credit, either by being added as an authorized user or starting to build credit history prior to turning 18 with a secured card like Step.
Quick view
- Best overall: Step Visa Card
- Best for cashback: Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express
- Best for unlimited cash back: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Best for low-deposit secured card: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
- Best for families: Greenlight
- Best for balance transfers: Citi Diamond Preferred Card
- Best for no credit: Discover It Chrome for Students
- Best starter credit card: Discover It Secured
- Best for traveling students: Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students
Best overall
Step Visa Card
Finder score
APY | 5.00% |
---|---|
Fee | $0 per month |
Minimum deposit to open | $0 |
Best for unlimited cash back
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card
Finder score
Welcome Offer | $200 |
---|---|
Rewards | Up to 1.5% cash back |
Annual fee | $0 |
Minimum credit score | 670 |
Best for low-deposit secured card
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Finder score
Welcome Offer | n/a |
---|---|
Rewards | None |
Annual fee | $0 |
Minimum credit score | New / limited credit |
Best for cashback
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Finder score
Welcome Offer | $200 |
---|---|
Rewards | Up to 3% cash back |
Annual fee | $0 |
Minimum credit score | 670 |
Best for families
Greenlight Family Cash Card
Finder score
Fee | $4.99 per month |
---|---|
Minimum deposit to open | $0 |
Best for balance transfers
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card
Finder score
Welcome Offer | n/a |
---|---|
Rewards | None |
Annual fee | $0 |
Minimum credit score | 670 |
Best for no credit
Discover it® Chrome for Students
Welcome Offer | Other |
---|---|
Rewards | Up to 2% cash back |
Annual fee | $0 |
Minimum credit score | 580 |
Best starter credit card
Discover it® Secured
Finder score
Welcome Offer | Other |
---|---|
Rewards | Up to 2% cash back |
Annual fee | $0 |
Minimum credit score | 300 |
Best for traveling students
Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students
Finder score
Welcome Offer | 25,000 points |
---|---|
Rewards | Up to 1.5x points |
Annual fee | $0 |
Minimum credit score | 580 |
Methodology: How we choose the best teen credit cards
Finder’s banking experts look at over 700 credit cards to narrow down the best ones for teens. We heavily consider credit cards that accept authorized users under age 18, secured and unsecured options, cashback rewards and nationwide availability. We consider cards that meet this minimum criteria:
- $0 annual fee
- $0 or max $5 monthly fee, as long as there are extra perks.
- Maximum APR of 30.50%
- Credit scores 670 or lower
You must be 18 years old to apply for a credit card
Legally, you can’t get a credit card until you’re at least 18 years old. However, teens under 18 can become authorized users on an adult’s account, enabling them to build a strong credit history and increase their chances of qualifying for better credit card options — such as rewards or travel cards — once they’re old enough to apply.
Once they turn 18, they can apply for a credit card on their own. However there’s a minor stipulation for those aged 18 and 20 years old: the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility Disclosure (CARD) Act requires that they must provide proof of income to show their ability to repay the card’s payments, or have a cosigner who is at least 21 years old. Once they’re 21 years old, these requirements are lifted, though many lenders may still request proof of income before approving a line of credit.
Is your teen ready for a credit card?
It depends on your teen’s level of responsibility. If you’re not sure they’re ready, consider introducing them to a debit or prepaid card, such as Greenlight. These cards offer a safe way to teach teens how to manage their money while granting them some spending freedom. They often have spending limits, but they don’t typically build credit, and you may have to pay a monthly fee, depending on the provider.
Another option is to add them as an authorized user on a secured credit card or open a type of secured with more traditional banking options, such as Capital One. These cards allow teens to make purchases up to the amount available in their account, promoting responsible spending habits.
Authorized users age requirements
Consider the minimum age authorized users requirements for our best credit card options for teens.
Product | Minimum age for authorized user | Authorized user fee |
---|---|---|
Step Visa Card | 18+ to be a co-sponsor | Free |
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | 13+ | Free |
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card | 18+ | Free |
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card | 18+ | Free |
Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card | No minimum | Free |
Discover it® Chrome for Students | 15+ | Free |
Discover it® Secured | 15+ | Free |
Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students | No minimum | Free |
Pros and cons of getting your teen a credit card
There are many more upsides than downsides when it comes to adding your teen as an authorized user on a credit card.
Pros
- Parents have control. You’d be the primary account holder, having control over the account and getting insight into their spending. Alternatively, you can add them to your account to help them build credit without giving them their own card.
- Builds credit. Adding a teen as an authorized user helps them start building credit history early. This way, they’ll have better approval chances when they’re ready to borrow on their own.
- Convenient for everyone. Instead of giving your teen cash for meals, transportation or supplies, a credit card means they always have access to funds, which is also helpful in the case of emergencies.
- Earn rewards. With another user on your credit card account, you could earn cashback rewards or travel points from spending a lot quicker.
Cons
- Overspending. There’s the risk that your teen goes buckwild with their new credit card and overspends. Avoid this by teaching them how their credit utilization ratio affects their credit score and how high balances make it hard to repay over time.
- Late fees. These fees are often around $40 per late payment, which can really add up.
- Could damage credit scores. If your teen overspends and you’re unable to repay the balance on time, it’s a surefire way to damage both yours and your teen’s credit score.
- Theft or fraud. Although credit card fraud can happen even if you take all necessary precautions, teach your teen to recognize which sites are safe and which aren’t for online use.
What if my teen is entering college?
There are many student credit cards geared towards those exiting high school and entering college. And just because a teen is in high school doesn’t mean they can’t get a credit card. If they’re at least 18, they can apply for a credit card on their own — but they’ll need some income to prove they can repay what they’ve borrowed.
For a safer option, there are also secured credit cards and credit-debit cards that are secured by a bank account. One great example the Fizz card, which is a debit-credit card that’s designed with college students in mind. It offers cashback rewards, daily autopay to keep balances down, no interest charges and there’s no credit check.
Bottom line
Preparing your teen for a credit card helps them toward their financial future. But before adding them as an authorized user on your account, ensure they have proper financial supervision and a clear understanding of how credit cards work.
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