Compare credit cards for no credit

OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

4

★★★★★

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A rare secured card for no credit that lets you apply with no credit check.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • No credit check. OpenSky uses your ID to confirm your identity and it won't do a credit pull.
  • Build your credit. The card reports to all three major credit bureaus, which can help strengthen your credit. All you have to do is keep your utilization low and make timely payments.
  • Credit line. You have full control over your credit line, as it's the sum of your security deposit. You can make a deposit from $200 up to $3,000.

  Cons

  • Annual fee. The card comes with a $35 annual fee. A small price to pay for no credit check.
  • Foreign transaction fee. Every transaction made abroad or online with foreign merchants will cost you 3% of the amount.
  • No rewards. You won't earn rewards on your purchases.

• More details

  Annual fee	$35
  Purchase APR	25.64% variable
  Balance transfer APR	N/A
  Welcome Offer	N/A
  Rewards	None

Welcome Offer	n/a
Rewards	None
Annual fee	$35
Minimum credit score	300

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Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card

3.1

★★★★★

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Build your credit with rewards and no fees: Apply if you're new to credit or have a fair to good score.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Cashback rewards. You’ll earn 1% cash back on all eligible purchases. To reward responsible spending, that cashback value will be bumped to 1.25% after six on-time payments and 1.5 after 12 on-time monthly payments. The Petal 2 also earns 2% to 10% back at select retailers, including Gap, Old Navy, Casper and more.
  • No credit history required. If you have no credit score or limited credit history, your income and financial records, including your checking accounts and bill payments, may be analyzed to determine your eligibility. You can still apply if you already have a good credit history and you want to take advantage of the card’s generous fee structure.
  • No fees. There’s no annual, foreign transaction, overlimit or even late fees.

  Cons

  • No intro APR period. Most cashback cards come with a 0% intro APR period on purchases, balance transfers or both. Unfortunately, that’s one perk you won’t get with the Petal 2.
  • No signup bonus. Unlike many of its competitors that offer signup bonuses or introductory offers, Petal has no such offer.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	18.24% to 32.24% variable
  Balance transfer APR	N/A
  Welcome Offer	N/A
  Rewards	Up to 10% cash back

Partner terms and conditions

Petal credit cards are issued by WebBank, Member FDIC

Welcome Offer	n/a
Rewards	Up to 10% cash back
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	New / limited credit

Self Secured Visa® Credit Card

4

★★★★★

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The Self Secured Visa® Credit Card is unique in that it just requires you open a credit building account with Self Credit Builder Account to qualify.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • No credit history required. To apply, you'll need to open a credit-building account with Self Credit Builder Account and meet their requirements. You won't pay an annual fee to use this card.
  • Choose your own credit limit. Once you qualify for the Self Credit Builder Account Visa, you can choose your own credit limit based on the amount you saved in your Self Credit Builder Account account.

  Cons

  • No rewards. This card doesn't offer opportunities to earn rewards on purchases.

• More details

  Annual fee	$25
  Purchase APR	29.24% variable
  Balance transfer APR	N/A
  Welcome Offer	N/A
  Rewards	None

Partner terms and conditions

Self Visa® Credit Card issued by Lead Bank, First Century Bank, N.A., or SouthState Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC. See Self.inc for details.

Credit Builder Accounts & Certificates of Deposit made/held by Lead Bank, Sunrise Banks, N.A., SouthState Bank, N.A., First Century Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC. Subject to credit approval.

Active Credit Builder Account in good standing, 3 on-time payments, $100 or more in savings progress, and satisfy income requirements. Requirements are subject to change.

Sample loans: $25/mo, 24 mos, $9 admin fee, 15.92% APR; $35/mo, 24 mos, $9 admin fee, 15.97% APR; $48/mo, 24 mos, $9 admin fee, 15.72% APR; $150/mo, 24 mos, $9 admin fee, 15.88% APR. See self.inc/pricing

Welcome Offer	n/a
Rewards	None
Annual fee	$25
Minimum credit score	300

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Tomo Credit Card

4.3

★★★★★

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The Tomo Credit Card is a straightforward credit-building card that has a $0 annual fee and doesn't require a credit score. What gives this card an extra nudge to our list however is that you can apply even if you're not a US citizen provided you have an ITIN.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • No credit history required. To apply, you'll need to open a credit-building account with Plaid.
  • No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee to use this card.
  • SSN not required. You can apply for the Tomo Credit Card so long as you have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number.

  Cons

  • No signup bonus. This card doesn't offer a signup bonus.
  • Not a credit card. The Tomo Credit Card is a charge card, meaning you'll need to pay off your purchases as required by Plaid.

• More details

  Annual fee	$35.88
  Purchase APR	N/A
  Balance transfer APR	N/A
  Welcome Offer	N/A
  Rewards	None

Welcome Offer	n/a
Rewards	None
Annual fee	$35.88
Minimum credit score	New / limited credit

Use an ITIN if you’re without a Social Security number

If you want to apply for a credit card but don’t have a Social Security number, there’s another option: Get an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN). Once you start building a credit history, you’ll eventually able to apply for a wider variety of financial products.

What’s an ITIN?

An ITIN is a nine-digit tax processing number issued by the IRS. Many people who can’t obtain Social Security numbers opt for ITINs instead.

An ITIN can be useful if you want to apply for a credit card. Most card providers require a Social Security number in their applications, but some let you use an ITIN instead.

How to get an ITIN

Follow these steps to get an ITIN:

1. Fill out IRS Form W-7.
2. Mail the form to the IRS along with your immigration documentation and proof of identity, such as a visa or passport. Or, submit the required materials to an IRS walk-in office or Acceptance Agent.

For more information about applying for an ITIN, visit the IRS website.

3 steps to get a credit card with no credit

To get a credit card with no credit:

1. Look for a card that’s open to those in your financial circumstances. These typically include secured and student cards, but may include unsecured and store products. Avoid cards that are stacked with features, as they usually require strong credit.
2. Check the requirements. Depending on the type of card, you may need to supply a security deposit.
3. Apply for the card. Have information such as your contact details, Social Security number and total annual income on hand. If you’re applying for a secured card, you’ll need to provide info from the bank that’s funding your security deposit.

3 steps to start building credit

If you have no credit history, follow these steps to start building it:

1. Decide on a credit account. Compare different types of credit accounts that can help you start accumulating data on your credit report. One option is to get a credit-builder loan.
2. Compare lenders or issuers. Make sure your lender reports your activity to the three major US credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. Over time, these bureaus provide information to create your credit score. Your score with each bureau is important because lenders often pull credit reports from only one when making approval decisions.
3. Be consistent with your payments. Once you’re approved for a credit account, make your payments on time and keep your account in good standing. This will ensure your lender reports positive activity to the credit bureaus. After at least six months of credit activity, you’ll get a credit score.

Additionally, keep your card balance low, retain your card accounts for a long time, open other types of credit accounts and new accounts sparingly to keep your score in great shape. The aim is to eventually build a good credit score — at least 670 for your FICO score.

A 670 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.

4 types of credit cards for no credit

Apply for credit cards that offer a good chance of approval for your financial situation. These include:

1. Secured credit cards. A secured card requires an upfront deposit — typically at least $200. While the deposit is a bummer, you’ll have many secured cards to choose from. Most of these cards require no prior credit history.
2. Student credit cards. These can be great options if you’re enrolled in a college or university. Most student credit cards don’t require security deposits, unlike secured cards.
3. Business credit cards for no credit. If you’re a business owner, you might want this type of card to separate your personal and business expenses. While you’re mostly limited to secured cards, you might also want to consider a line of credit.
4. Unsecured cards for no credit. If you don’t want to put down a deposit for a secured card, look for providers that welcome applicants new to credit.

What’s considered “no credit?”

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 your reliability as a borrower. If you have no credit, you’re a question mark to lenders, and they’ll be more hesitant to accept you as a customer.

Why it’s important to build credit?

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 only 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.

Use one of the three credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian or TransUnion — to check your credit score.

Bottom line

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.