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If you want a credit card but have no credit history, there are plenty of options — as long as you limit your search mostly to secured and student cards. Use our table to compare your options and narrow your search by clicking "Show filters" to see products that fit your credit range and have features that will benefit you most.
★★★★★
| Annual Fee | $35 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 17.39% variable |
| Balance transfer APR | N/A |
| Welcome offer | N/A |
| Estimated welcome offer value | |
| Rewards | N/A |
★★★★★
| Annual Fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 12.99% to 26.99% variable |
| Balance transfer APR | N/A |
| Welcome offer | N/A |
| Estimated welcome offer value | |
| Rewards | 1% cashback, 1.25% after six on-time payments and 1.5% after 12 on-time payments, plus 2% - 10% back from select merchants |
★★★★★
| Annual Fee | $0 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 15.49% to 24.99% variable |
| Balance transfer APR | N/A |
| Welcome offer | N/A |
| Estimated welcome offer value | |
| Rewards | Up to 6% cash back by referring friends. Start with 1% and get an extra 1% for a full year for every friend you bring on board |
★★★★★
| Annual Fee | $25 |
|---|---|
| Purchase APR | 21.74% variable |
| Balance transfer APR | N/A |
| Welcome offer | N/A |
| Estimated welcome offer value | |
| Rewards | N/A |
If you’re just moving to the US, you’ll want to look at credit cards that cater to those without prior credit history and a Social Security number. Though your choices are more limited than traditional credit cards, you do have several strong no-credit options for immigrants.
To get a credit card with no credit:
Here are a few tips to increase your odds of approval:
If you have no credit history, follow these steps to start building it:
In addition to these things, you can also help your score by keeping your card balance low, retaining your cards for a long time, opening other types of credit accounts and opening new accounts sparingly. The aim is to eventually build a good credit score — at least 670 for your FICO score. This gives you the opportunity to apply for more valuable credit cards and get better interest rates on loans. There are four types of credit-building credit cards that are especially useful if you’re just starting out.
One of the best ways to beef up your credit report is by opening a credit card.
Look for a product that’s available to someone new to credit — such as a secured card. Unlike an unsecured card, a secured card requires you to put down a deposit which serves as your credit limit. As you spend with your card and pay your card bill on time, your provider will report your positive payment activity to the credit bureaus. Eventually, you’ll get a credit score. And as you continue being a responsible cardholder, you’ll steadily see your score rise.
You’ll want to apply for credit cards you have a good chance of being approved for. These include:
When you’re looking for the right credit card for no credit, you’ll want to ask yourself a few questions to narrow down your choices:
You might see an unsecured card and jump at the chance to apply. But a closer look at its fee table may reveal extremely high fees and interest rates.
If you have no credit, it means you have no history on your credit report.
Your credit report is a record that shows information such as your debt, payment history and how long you’ve had credit accounts. If you haven’t borrowed money — for example, through a loan or credit card — you won’t have a credit history.
A credit history is important because it’s similar to a report card. It’s something lenders can use to judge how reliable of a borrower you are. If you have no credit, you’re a question mark to lenders, and they’ll be more hesitant to accept you as a customer.
Your credit score plays an important role in whether providers are willing to lend to you when it comes to making big purchases. Personal loans, mortgages, and auto loans are just a few of the big-ticket items you’ll need to consider as you make life’s big purchases. Depending on your credit score, the amount a provider is willing to loan you can increase or decrease.
You can check your credit score through one of the three major credit bureaus.
If you have no credit, there are plenty of good credit cards to start with. As you make card payments on time, you’ll steadily build your credit score. With a strong score, you can apply for better credit cards, including cashback and travel products.
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A youth savings account with a whopping 7% APY on account balances up to $1,000.
Northpointe Bank’s Kids Savings account earns an unmatched interest rate on balances above $1,000.
A kids savings account with an interest rate that compounds daily but has long hold times for customer service.
Get a line of credit with low closing costs — but you can’t apply online.
A kids’ savings account with a generous interest rate that transitions to a lackluster regular savings account when your child turns 18.
