Credit card options for teens under 18 years old

Cash back with no foreign fees

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Go to site on Capital One's secure site

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Welcome offer

$200

Min. credit score

670

Travel rewards with no annual fee

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

Go to site on Capital One's secure site

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Welcome offer

20,000 miles

Min. credit score

670

For everyday rewards

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Go to site on Creditcards.com's secure site Terms apply, see rates & fees

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Welcome offer

$250

Min. credit score

670

6 credit cards that allow authorized users under 18

Some card providers have minimum age requirements for authorized users, usually 13 to 16 years old. But many card issuers have no minimum age for authorized users. The cards on this list are some of the top rewards cards on the market that also allow for authorized users under the age of 18.

7 best credit cards for teens

If you’re adding your child as an authorized user, these cards can offer a lot of extra value to your account thanks to your kid’s card purchases.

Best for easy-to-earn signup bonus

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Finder Rating: 4.2 / 5 ★★★★★

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The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is a leading flat rate cashback card thanks to its simple rewards structure. Your kid can earn 1.5% back on all purchases to your account without needing to worry about categories or earning limits.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Signup bonus. Earn $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 within the first 3 months after opening your account.
  • Cash back. Earn flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
  • Intro APR period on purchases. Get 0% on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months after account opening. After that, your purchase APR will be 19.24% to 29.24% variable. You’ll pay a balance transfer fee of 3% on balance transfers performed in the first 15 months.

  Cons

  • Potentially high APR. Your ongoing APR for purchases and balance transfers could be as high as 29.24% variable depending on your credit.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 19.24% - 29.24% variable)
  Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 19.24% - 29.24% variable) 3% fee on the amounts transferred within the first 15 months
  Welcome Offer	$200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
  Rewards	Up to 1.5% cash back

Welcome Offer	$200
Rewards	Up to 1.5% cash back
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	670

Go to site on Capital One's secure site Read review

Best for rotating category rewards

Chase Freedom Flex℠

Finder Rating: 4.7 / 5 ★★★★★

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The Chase Freedom Flex℠ is our current favorite pick for earning big rewards in rotating categories throughout the year and the fact that you can add your teen as an authorized user is icing on the cake. The card is a point earning powerhouse for travel, dining, and rotating categories, and it doesn't even require an annual fee. Let your teen in on the purchasing action and you can max out your quarterly earning categories in no time.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Cash back. Earn 5% cash back in select rotating categories on up to $1,500 each quarter you activate, then 1%. You'll also earn 5% back on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards and on Lyft through March 2022, 3% back at restaurants and drugstores and 1% back on all other purchases.
  • Signup bonus. Earn $200 cash back after you make $500 in purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
  • Intro APR. Get a 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months from account opening, then 19.24% to 27.99% variable.

  Cons

  • You'll need to keep track of rotating categories. You won't get the 5% cashback rate on the same categories each quarter. Also, you'll need to activate your cashback categories, or you won't receive the bonus rate.
  • Categories not always known. Often, Chase won't reveal the whole year's rotating categories until they're close to launching.
  • Foreign transaction fees. You'll pay a 3% fee on transactions made abroad.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 19.24% to 27.99% variable)
  Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 19.24% to 27.99% variable) $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days
  Welcome Offer	$200 after spending $500 in the first 3 months
  Estimated welcome offer value	$200 based on Finder's valuation
  Rewards	Up to 5% cash back

Welcome Offer	$200
Rewards	Up to 5% cash back
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	670

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Best for unlimited cash back

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Finder Rating: 4.7 / 5 ★★★★★

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Like the Chase Freedom Flex, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® is terribly powerful cash back card, earning a flat 1.5% back on all purchases in addition to the new unlimited categories introduced to the Flex. This card is also an excellent introduction to the Chase Ultimate Rewards program and can educate your teen on the ins and outs of credit card points.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Earn cash back. Earn 6.5% cash back on Chase Travel Portal purchases, 4.5% back on dining, including takeout and delivery, and 4.5% back on drugstore purchases. On everything else, earn 1.5% back.
  • Signup bonus. Earn an additional 1.5% back on all purchases on up to $20,000 spent total in your first year. This is a $300 value.
  • Intro APR on purchases. Enjoy 15 months of 0% intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers. After that, a variable APR of 19.24% to 27.99% applies.
  • Point transfer value. Pair this card with one of the Sapphire cards and you get either 25% or 50% higher redemption value for travel purchases at the Chase Ultimate Rewards program.

  Cons

  • Foreign transaction fee. All purchases made abroad or online with foreign merchants cost 3% of the amount.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 19.24% to 27.99% variable)
  Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 19.24% to 27.99% variable) $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater in the first 60 days
  Welcome Offer	Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back
  Estimated welcome offer value	$300 based on Finder's valuation
  Rewards	Up to 6.5% cash back

Welcome Offer	$300
Rewards	Up to 6.5% cash back
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	670

Read Review Terms apply, see rates & fees

Best for building credit

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

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Capital One's new secured card is a surprisingly generous credit building option for teens if you want to give them their own card account, but still keep the training wheels on. It requires no annual fee, offers respectable cash back and allows for a security deposit of up to $3,000 depending on creditworthiness.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Earn cash back. You'll earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
  • No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee to use this secured card.
  • Flexible security deposit. The security deposit for this card starts at $200 minimum, though you can deposit up to $3,000 depending on your creditworthiness.

  Cons

  • High APR. The ongoing APR for this card is rather high at 29.74% variable.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	29.74% variable
  Balance transfer APR	29.74% variable
  Welcome Offer	N/A
  Rewards	Up to 5% cash back

Welcome Offer	n/a
Rewards	Up to 5% cash back
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	300

Go to site on Capital One's secure site Read review

Best for no annual fee, everyday purchases:

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5 ★★★★★

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Like the name suggests, the Blue Cash Everyday is an excellent choice for letting your teen earn rewards on everyday purchases, including stuff they're likely purchasing anyway, such as groceries or gas. The card's lack of annual fee means that even if your teen ends up not using it much, it won't burden your finances to leave the account open.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers. The intro APR on purchases and balance transfers can help with holiday spending or other family needs. Get a 0% intro APR period for 15 months following your account opening. After that, your rate reverts to 18.24% to 28.24% variable.
  • Earn cash back. Earn 3% cash back on U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations on up to $6,000 per year, then 1%. Plus 3% on U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 per year, then 1% after that.
  • Welcome offers. Once you spend $2,000 in purchases with your new card within the first 6 months, you'll earn a $200 statement credit..

  Cons

  • Cap on 3% cashback categories. Your accelerated rates in these categories only last until you spend $6,000 in each category, each year.
  • Foreign transaction fees. You'll pay a 2.7% fee on purchases made abroad.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 18.24% to 28.24% variable)
  Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 15 months (then 18.24% to 29.24% variable) Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
  Welcome Offer	Earn a $200 statement credit after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months.
  Rewards	Up to 3% cash back

Partner terms and conditions

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.
Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.

Welcome Offer	$250
Rewards	Up to 3% cash back
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	670

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Best for the whole family

Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express

Finder Rating: 4.3 / 5 ★★★★★

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The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express is next step up from the Blue Cash Everyday and carries a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. But this fee is balanced out by much larger earning potential on everyday purchases. In fact, both you and your teen will want to hold on to this card even after they can apply for their own thanks to the card's top-notch earning rates.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Welcome offer. Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in purchases during your first 6 months of card membership.
  • Earn cash back. Earn 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year. After that, you'll earn 1% back. You'll also earn 6% on select U.S. streaming services and 3% on transit purchases. At U.S. gas stations, you'll earn 3% back. For all other eligible purchases, you'll get 1% back.
  • Intro APR period. Enjoy a 0% intro APR period on purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months of account opening. After that, a variable APR of 18.24% to 28.24% applies.

  Cons

  • Annual fee. The card comes with a $95 annual fee after the first year intro.
  • Cashback cap on groceries. Your 6% cashback rate at U.S. supermarkets is capped on up to $6,000 each year, and 1% after that.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter)
  Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 12 months (then 18.24% to 28.24% variable)
  Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 12 months (then 18.24% to 29.24% variable) Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
  Welcome Offer	$250 statement credit after spending $3,000 in the first 6 months
  Rewards	Up to 6% cash back

Partner terms and conditions

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.
Cash Back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit.

Welcome Offer	$250
Rewards	Up to 6% cash back
Annual fee	$95 after the first year intro
Minimum credit score	670

Go to site on Creditcards.com's secure site Terms apply, see rates & fees Read review

Best for introductory APRs

Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5 ★★★★★

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Your teen likely (hopefully) doesn't have need for a balance transfer to wipe out some debt. However, the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card as an excellent opportunity to settle some of your own debt and then open the floodgates to your teen so they can start building good credit habits. The card also comes with an intro APR on purchases, but it's unwise to make purchases on the card if you've performed a balance transfer, so hatch out a plan before you apply.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Intro APR for purchases and balance transfers. Get a 0% intro APR on balance transfers for an impressive 21 months after account opening, then 15.99% to 26.74% variable after that. You'll also get a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months following your account opening. After the intro period passes, your rate reverts to an APR between 15.99% to 26.74% variable.
  • No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee to use this card.
  • Longer than average period to transfer balance. You have 4 months from account opening to transfer your balance and receive the intro offer.

  Cons

  • No rewards. The card is excellent for saving money on interest, but you won't earn any rewards on your purchases.
  • No signup bonus. There's no bonus to earn upon signup.
  • Balance transfer fees. This card doesn't offer an intro period for balance transfer fees.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	0% intro for the first 12 months (then 15.99% to 26.74% variable)
  Balance transfer APR	0% intro for the first 21 months (then 15.99% to 26.74% variable) Balance transfer fee of either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
  Welcome Offer	N/A
  Rewards	None

Partner terms and conditions

Information about this card has been collected independently by Finder.

Welcome Offer	n/a
Rewards	None
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	670

Read Review

3 alternatives to credit cards for teens

Although your teen could benefit from a credit card, they might not be ready for one just yet. Fortunately, debit cards for teens can teach your teen healthy financial habits without any risk of damaging their credit. And when you’re confident your kid can manage their money, you can graduate them into a full-fledged credit card.

Greenlight

Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5 ★★★★★

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Greenlight is among the best debit cards for teens because it includes a broad set of features and parental controls, including the ability to restrict when and where your teen uses their card. The Greenlight app includes the ability to assign chores and automate allowance payments. Plus, it encourages your teen to invest some of their balance and donate money to charity. But there's a $4.99 monthly fee, and you'll pay more to access some of Greenlight's features.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Beyond banking. You could access an investing platform, parent-paid interest, and purchase protection depending on which plan you choose.
  • Merchant-specific limits. Greenlight lets you limit how much money your teen can spend at specific retailers.
  • Good for multiple kids. Greenlight supports up to five kids and one parent per account, making it a good option for families with multiple kids.

  Cons

  • Unavoidable fee. You'll pay at least $4.99 per month for this account, but you won't pay extra if you have up to five kids on the account.
  • Compatibility issues. Your teen can receive direct deposits from an employer, but Greenlight isn't compatible with PayPal, Venmo or Apple Cash.
  • Not accepted globally. The Greenlight Card won't work in some countries, so make sure your teen is covered if they're traveling abroad.

• More details

  Annual or monthly fee	$4.99 per month
  ATM withdrawal	$0
  Card replacement fee	$3.50
  Age requirements	1 to 17 years old
  Card type	Debit
  Card network	Mastercard
  Special offer	For each successful referral you or your kid make, you’ll earn a cash bonus and so will your referral.

Maintenance Fees	$4.99 monthly
Card purchase fee	$0
Age requirements	1 to 17 years old

Go to site on Greenlight's secure site Read review

Best for families with multiple kids

BusyKid

Finder Rating: 4.6 / 5 ★★★★★

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BusyKid is the best debit card for families with multiple kids because you can have up to five different debit cards for one competitive fee. Like Greenlight, BusyKid features chore assignments and automated allowance payments. But you can't restrict spending at certain retailers. BusyKid costs around $4 per month ­— billed annually ­— less than its competitor Greenlight, which costs $4.99 a month for its standard plan.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Competitive fee. BusyKid charges annually at $48, $49.74 if you use a debit or credit card for funding. This price works out to around $4 per month, competitive compared to other cards with similar features.
  • Parent-paid interest. This feature lets you reward your teen for steadily contributing to their savings goals.
  • Donating and investing. Along with spending and saving, your teen can also use their BusyKid account to buy stocks or donate to charities.

  Cons

  • Can't control spending. You'll need to approve transfers to your teen's BusyKid card, but you can't control where or when they spend money once it's on the card.
  • Loading limits. You can't load more than $2,000 onto your teen's BusyKid card within a 30-day period.
  • ATM fee. A $1.50 fee is tacked onto every ATM withdrawal, plus whatever the owner of the ATM charges.

• More details

  Annual or monthly fee	$48 per year or $4 per month
  ATM withdrawal	$1.50
  Card replacement fee	$5
  Age requirements	5+
  Card type	Debit
  Card network	Visa

Maintenance Fees	$4 monthly
Card purchase fee	$0
Age requirements	5+

Go to site on BusyKid's secure site Read review

Step

Finder Rating: 4.5 / 5 ★★★★★

Go to site on Step's secure site Read review

Step leverages secured loans to help your child develop a strong credit score. The account combines aspects of a debit card and a credit card to help your child build credit. But you won't have to worry about paying overdraft fees because Step won't allow your kid to spend more money than is in their account.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Build credit. Step lets your kid develop a credit record even before they're old enough to apply for a credit card.
  • Automated transfers. As the joint owner of the account, you can turn on recurring transfers to fund the card automatically.
  • No recurring fees. There's no monthly or annual fee to use the Step card, and teens won't have to maintain a minimum balance to keep the account active.
  • Parental control and management. Account sponsors can get spending notifications, set up recurring or one-time instant deposits or create a Parent Managed Account to track a young childs money even before their child has a phone.

  Cons

  • No mobile check deposit. You can't deposit checks into this account on mobile, but you can fund the account through cash deposits, direct deposits, bank-to-bank transfers and apps like Venmo.
  • ATM withdrawal limit. ATM withdrawals are limited to $250 in a day.

• More details

  APY	N/A
  Intro or bonus offer	Earn $1 for every person that joins using your unique link or code. They'll also get $1
  Fee	Free
  Overdraft fee	$0

APY	N/A
Fee	Free
Age requirements	Any age

Go to site on Step's secure site Read review

verified_user FDIC Insured

You must be 18 years old to apply for a credit card

You can’t get a credit card until you’re at least 18 years old. If you’re under 18, however, you can be an authorized user on someone else’s account. This can be a good option for a minor as it helps them build a credit score and history. Having a strong credit history can help a minor be eligible for better credit card options — such as a rewards or travel card — once they’re old enough to apply.

Here’s an example of a typical journey a teen might have with credit cards

Teens: 11–13 years old

This age range is a good time to introduce your tween to a debit or prepaid card designed for kids. These cards are a relatively safe way to teach your child how to spend responsibly. They don’t accrue interest and they draw from preloaded money through a bank account or other source. These cards don’t build credit, however, so only rely on them until you think your kid has picked up on the fundamentals of card usage.

Teens: 14–17 years old

If your teen proves they’re able to responsibly use a debit or prepaid card, consider letting them graduate to a credit card. After you add them as an authorized user, you can monitor their spending. At the same time, you can teach them how to manage credit before they get their own card.

Teens: 18+ years old

Once your child hits 18 years of age, they can legally apply for a credit card with certain providers. This is where the training wheels can come off and your child can open an account in their own name. While you could encourage your child to apply for a strong rewards or travel card right away, a student credit card is one of the safer options available. These cards tend to have some built in forgiveness for missed payments and few fees, which is perfect for a kid still coming to grips with a credit card.

4 reasons your teen should get a credit card

You might think your teen is far too young to use a credit card. But you’ll find two big reasons why it could be a good idea for them to have one.

1. It can teach your teen how to use a credit card responsibly for the future.

After adding your teen as an authorized user, you have control over their account and can see how they use their card. With insight into their spending, you can more effectively teach them solid financial habits. It’s better for them to learn from you now than figure everything out on their own later.

2. It can help your teen build credit early.

Most people start with a brand-new credit history when they’re ready to get a credit card. This usually means they’re limited to student cards and secured cards, both of which typically come with limited features. You can help your teen build an impressive credit history before they reach adulthood. Just add them as an authorized user on your account and consistently make payments on time. When they turn 18, their credit may be strong enough to expand their card options considerably.

3. It’s convenient for parents and kids.

Sometimes you could forget to give your kid cash for meals at school, transportation or supplies. Getting your kid a credit card can help you avoid unpleasant situations and avoid cash theft. And for some cards, you can set spending limits to ensure your child doesn’t spend over their budget.

4. You can earn more rewards.

Why not get something in return for helping your teen build credit? Most credit cards let you earn rewards on purchases made by authorized users. Consider a credit card geared toward families as adding your teen as an authorized user on one of these cards could help you earn additional rewards on common purchases.

4 credit card mistakes to teach your kids to avoid

While you still have them under your wing, teach your teen how to avoid trouble with a credit card. Here are a few common pitfalls they should know about.

1. Just paying the minimum payment.

A cardholder is allowed to make only the minimum monthly payment on their credit card. However, that’s arguably the worst thing to do behind paying late. Paying the minimum allows interest to snowball and debt to accumulate.

• Here’s what to do: Show your teen why it’s smart to pay off their balance in full each month. Teach them how credit card interest accumulates, and how it can be avoided.

2. Overspending.

Teach your teen they should avoid spending close to their credit limit. Carrying a high balance puts one in danger of incurring overlimit fees, on top of accumulating high debt. Many experts recommend keeping spending under 30% of one’s credit limit.

• Here’s what to do: Encourage your teen to spend less than they receive from their allowance or job. Teach them how their credit utilization ratio affects their credit score. And explain why it’s smart to keep their ratio under 30%.

3. Paying late.

This is a sure path to decreasing a credit score. Because your teen is an authorized user on your account, you can protect them by paying your card bill as usual. But if you see signs your teen may pay late in the future, it’s best to nip the problem in the bud.

• Here’s what to do: Set up automatic payments on your card account so that you never miss a payment on your teen’s card account. Meanwhile, ask your teen to repay you by a certain date each month. Encourage them to set up phone or calendar reminders so they don’t forget.

4. Credit card fraud.

Teach your kids how to keep their credit card information safe. Although credit card fraud can happen even if you take all necessary precautions, it’s a good starting point for your kid to learn how to protect their credit cards.

• Here’s what to do: Explain to your kids that the credit card information can be copied and used illegally. Also, teach them how to recognize which sites are safe and which aren’t for online use.

Which card issuers allow authorized users?

Each of these card issuers allows authorized users under 21 years old, though the minimum age varies. These issuers also report authorized user activity to credit bureaus, which can help the authorized user build a healthy credit score and history.

Bottom line

Getting your teen on the path to a credit card can be a great way to help them financially prepare for the future. Before you make them an authorized user on an account, however, be sure they have proper financial supervision and that they understand the basics of how credit cards work.