Getting a credit card when you’re under 21

It’s easier to get approved for credit cards at 21 or over, but if you're 18-20 you're eligible to apply.

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To be able to apply for a credit card, you’ll need to be at least 18 years old. However, even if you meet this age requirement, your eligibility will be considered on a case-by-case basis, with providers looking at your credit report and income to determine whether or not they are happy to offer you credit. If you’re under 21 and seeking credit, our experts have compiled a guide of options and tips.

Compare cards by type

Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
1 - 6 of 28
Name Product UKCCF Finder Score Annual/monthly fees Initial credit limits Minimum income Representative APR Incentive Link
Zable credit card
3.4
★★★★★
£0
Min. limit £200, max. limit £1,500.
Not specified
48.9%
Representative example: Representative 48.9% APR (variable). Based on assumed borrowing of £1200. Rate of interest 48.9% (variable) annual.
Check eligibility
Yonder 'No Fee' Credit Card
4.0
★★★★★
£0
Min. limit not specified, max. limit not specified.
£25,000
32.9%
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 32.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 32.9% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
118 118 Money Guaranteed Rate Card
3.8
★★★★★
£0
Min. limit £500, max. limit not specified.
£8400
49%
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 49% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 49% APR (variable).
Check eligibility
Vanquis Bank Credit Builder Credit Card Visa
3.6
★★★★★
£0
Min. limit £500, max. limit £3,000.
Not specified
30.9%
Representative example: When you spend £1,000 at a purchase rate of 30.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 30.9% APR (variable).
Vanquis Bank Balance Transfer Credit Card Visa
3.0
★★★★★
£0
Min. limit £500, max. limit £3,000.
Not specified
33.5%
Representative example: When you spend £1,000 at a purchase rate of 33.5% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 33.5% APR (variable).
Tesco Bank Foundation Card
3.9
★★★★★
£0
Min. limit £100, max. limit not specified.
£5000
29.9%
5 points per £4 spent (£4 minimum) in Tesco and 1 point per £8 spent (£8 minimum) outside Tesco. Must have available credit to earn points. Points are converted to Tesco vouchers or can be exchanged for Partner rewards to receive money off a variety of restaurants, entertainment or Avios points.
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 29.9% APR (variable).
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1 - 5 of 5
Name Product UKCCF Finder Score Finder score Purchases Annual/monthly fees Initial credit limits Representative APR Link Incentive Representative example
Zable credit card
3.4
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
48.9%
£0
Min. limit £200, max. limit £1,500.
48.9% APR (variable)
Check eligibility
Representative example: Representative 48.9% APR (variable). Based on assumed borrowing of £1200. Rate of interest 48.9% (variable) annual.
Additional account needed
AIB Student Credit Card
4.0
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
12.2%
£0
Min. limit £300, max. limit not specified.
12.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 12.2% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 12.9% APR (variable).
Additional account needed
HSBC Student Credit Card Visa
3.5
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
18.9%
£0
Min. limit £250, max. limit £500.
18.9% APR (variable)
Discounts and exclusive offers for dining experiences, leisure activities and shopping available through HSBC Home and Away.
Representative example: When you spend £500 at a purchase rate of 18.9% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 18.9% APR (variable).
Additional account needed
TSB Student Credit Card
3.5
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
21.95%
£0
Min. limit £500, max. limit £1,000.
21.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,000 at a purchase rate of 21.95% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 21.9% APR (variable).
Ocean Credit Card
3.9
★★★★★
★★★★★
Expert analysis
39.94%
£0
Min. limit £200, max. limit £8,000.
39.9% APR (variable)
Representative example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 39.94% (variable) p.a., your representative rate is 39.9% APR (variable).
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Name Product UKFCR-TLS Score Reports to Savings requirement Credit limit Fee How it works
Loqbox free
Finder rating
★★★★★
Experian, Equifax, TransUnion
£20 - £200 per month
N/A
£0
Decide how much you can save over 12 months and LOQBOX will handle each deposit as a payment on a 0% APR loan – helping build your credit score. Receive all your savings back into a new bank account for free.
Wollit
Finder rating
★★★★★
Experian, Equifax, TransUnion
N/A
N/A
£7.99 per month
Build your credit score with a 12 month credit building plan starting from £7.99 a month. Wollit reports your payments to all major UK credit agencies and offers tools like Rent Reporting and Affordability Optimiser.
Pave Plus
Finder rating
★★★★★
Experian, Equifax, TransUnion
N/A
Not specified
£9 per month
Build your credit score with all major Credit Reference Agencies by paying your membership fee on time. Subject to eligibility, Pave may open a credit line that you can use to top up your bank account periodically.
Pave Lite
Finder rating
★★★★★
TransUnion
N/A
N/A
£5 per month
Build your Experian credit score by paying your membership fee on time (reported to Experian as loan repayments).
Loxbox flexi
Finder rating
★★★★★
Experian, Equifax, TransUnion
£20 - £200 per month
N/A
£30 (one-off)
Decide how much you can save over 12 months and LOQBOX will handle each deposit as a payment on a 0% APR loan – helping build your credit score. Receive all your savings back into an existing account for £30.
Pave Spotlight
Finder rating
★★★★★
N/A
N/A
N/A
£3 (one-off)
Identify the best fixes for your score and check if Pave Plus could help you build credit.
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If you’re under the age of 21, it’s unlikely you’ll have borrowed before and you will have a limited credit history as a result. This means lenders won’t be able to see whether you’re good at managing and repaying credit and they may be more reluctant to offer you a credit card. Similarly, you might not be earning a regular income yet, which means lenders might have further concerns about your ability to repay your debt.

If you want to know more about your credit score, it’s free and easy to access your credit score and report online with a number of companies, including Finder.

Can an 18 year old get a credit card?

Although it’s harder to get a credit card if you’re under the age of 21, it’s not impossible. Before applying, there are a number of steps that are worth carrying out to build your credit score and increase your chances of success. We explain more below.

How do I get a credit card if I’m between 18 and 21 years old?

One of the first steps you should take is to get visibility of your credit record through a free online service. Your credit record is essentially your financial history and will indicate to lenders how reliable you are as a borrower. Whenever you apply to open a credit card or store card or take out a loan or mortgage, the bank or provider will check your credit report to determine if you’re a good candidate to lend money to.

If you’ve never borrowed before, your credit score is likely to be low. This will also be the case for someone who has borrowed in the past but has missed repayments or defaulted on their debt.

By checking your credit report yourself, you’ll be able to see where your credit score sits and how likely you are to be accepted for a credit card. If your credit score is low, don’t panic, there are steps you can take to improve it. These include correcting any mistakes on your report and making sure you’re registered on the electoral roll.

It’s also sensible to open a bank account if you don’t already have one and see whether you can get an overdraft. Managing this responsibly will help you to build credit, as will paying any bills, including your mobile phone contract, on time each month.

How to choose your first credit card

When choosing your first credit card, you’ll need to consider what you are planning to use your credit card for. Are you planning to use it to help spread the cost of your purchases? Are you looking to earn rewards? Will you be using your card overseas? Once you’ve decided, you’ll need to compare credit cards and look at:

  • The interest rate. It’s important to find out how much interest you’ll be charged if you don’t pay off your balance in full each month. Some cards will charge no interest on purchases for a number of months, but you’ll usually need a good credit score to qualify. Be aware that when a credit card is advertised with a representative APR (annual percentage rate), the rate only has to be offered to 51% of successful applicants. The remaining 49% are likely to be offered a higher rate.
  • Rewards available. Some credit cards offer perks such as reward points for travel or shopping, or cashback. Again, though, you’ll usually need a good credit rating.
  • Fees. Some credit cards charge annual fees, while you’ll also often be charged if you want to use your credit card overseas.

Before you make an application in full, you should always use an “eligibility checker”. Most banks or card providers now use free eligibility checkers which will give you an indication of how likely you are to get accepted for a particular credit card.

Because they use a “soft search”, this won’t leave a mark on your credit file for other lenders to see and it won’t impact your credit score. This means you’ve got nothing to lose by using one. You’ll simply get a better idea of the cards you are likely to get accepted for.

In comparison, if you apply for a credit card without using an eligibility checker, a “hard search” will be carried out and this can affect your credit history.

Comparison sites can check your eligibility with multiple card issuers in one go, saving you a lot of hassle.

Check eligibility for a range of cards

What’s the best credit card to get at 18

The best credit card to get at 18 is simply the cheapest credit card you can get accepted for. If you can get accepted for a credit card with a low-interest rate or even one that offers an interest-free period for a number of months, this is likely to be the best credit card for you.

Unfortunately, you’re unlikely to get accepted for these cards if you have little to no credit history. So one option that’s definitely worth looking at is a credit builder credit card. These are designed for those looking to improve their credit score over time.

Generally, these types of cards have a low credit limit and a high interest rate so you’ll need to pay off your bill in full every month. Your provider will regularly monitor your payment history and your credit limit may be raised over time if you prove you’re a responsible cardholder.

These cards rarely have many benefits or extras, but could pave the way for you to progress to a mainstream or low-rate credit card in the future if your credit score improves.

Full guide to credit building cards

Alternatively, if you’re in further education, you could consider a student credit card. These are credit cards for young adults in part-time or full-time education who are unlikely to have a sizable credit history. However, they will often require you to have a student bank account with the same provider.

All you need to know about student credit cards

Best student credit cards

Some of the best student credit cards can be found below:

  • HSBC Student credit card. With this credit card, you’ll get a credit limit of up to £500 and there’s no annual fee. To apply, you will need an HSBC student bank account.
  • TSB Student credit card. This credit card offers a maximum credit limit of £1,000 and no annual fee. You’ll need a TSB student account to qualify.

What should you consider before getting your first credit card?

Before you apply for a credit card, you need to think about exactly what you plan to use it for and be sure that you only ever spend what you can afford to pay back.

If you have yet to build up a credit history, you’ll most likely have to apply for a credit card with a high interest rate and low credit limit. It’s crucial that you stay within this credit limit and aim to pay off your balance in full each and every month. Do this and you could see an improvement in your credit score within 6 to 12 months.

Bear in mind that if you’re late with a monthly repayment or you miss it completely, you will be charged a fee and this could have a negative impact on your credit rating. You must pay off at least the minimum monthly amount each month, ideally more.

Beginner’s guide to credit cards

What payment methods do 18-24 year-olds use for larger purchases?

Response% of responses
PayPal Credit7.94%
PayPal7.94%
Other15.89%
Debit card35.98%
Credit card21.96%
Buy now, pay later (e.g. Klarna & Clearpay)10.28%
Source: Finder survey by Censuswide of 2,000 UK shoppers

What age should I get a credit card?

The best age to get a credit card is when you fully understand how they work and can use one responsibly. This means only ever spending what you can afford to pay back, and doing your best to pay off your balance in full each month to avoid building up debt.

Building up a credit score sensibly and carefully over time can stand you in good stead later on in life when you apply for additional credit products including a mortgage.

What is the best credit card for 19 year olds?

This will depend on whether you’ve been able to build up a credit history. If you haven’t, you might still be looking at credit builder cards or student credit cards. But if your credit rating has started to improve, perhaps because you’ve used an overdraft responsibly, and you also have a regular source of income because you now have a job, you might qualify for a credit card that offers 0% on purchases for a set time or even rewards such as cashback.

You can check your eligibility for a selection of cards using a comparison site. This won’t impact your credit score and can save you time and hassle.

If you don’t qualify for a mainstream credit card, you might get offered a credit builder credit card, or could apply for a student credit card if you’re in further education (this would be from the same bank that provides your student current account).

How can I build credit at 18-21?

If you want to build up a credit history and improve your credit score, there are several steps you can take:

  • Get on the electoral roll. This is important even if you live at home or in a shared house as the information is used by lenders to confirm your name and address.
  • Open a bank account. If you don’t already have one, opening an account and managing it well can help to improve your credit score, particularly if you have an overdraft. If you use an overdraft, try not to use the full amount and pay it off whenever you can.
  • Add your name to bills such as an energy bill or mobile phone contract. These are classed as a form of credit and, providing you pay them on time, can help to improve your credit score.
  • Use a credit card (responsibly). As mentioned above, any credit card you can get accepted for will help you improve your credit score, providing you use it sensibly.

Alternatively, some prepaid cards can also help you to build your credit score. The big advantage of prepaid cards is that no credit checks are carried out, making them easier to get accepted for. If you choose a credit builder service on your prepaid card, the provider will effectively lend you a year’s worth of monthly fees for you to repay over 12 months. If you do this on time, your credit score will go up.

Another option is to use a credit building service such as LOQBOX or Pave. With LOQBOX, you set up a direct debit to save a regular amount each month. These are then treated as finance repayments which are reported to a credit reference agency.

Similarly, Pave is a personal finance management app that connects your bank accounts and, for a monthly fee, works with you to improve your credit score.

CreditLadder is a tool that can help you show your timely rent payments in your credit file.

Top 10 ways to improve your credit score

Name Product UKFCR-TLS Score Reports to Savings requirement Credit limit Fee How it works
Loqbox free
Finder rating
★★★★★
Experian, Equifax, TransUnion
£20 - £200 per month
N/A
£0
Decide how much you can save over 12 months and LOQBOX will handle each deposit as a payment on a 0% APR loan – helping build your credit score. Receive all your savings back into a new bank account for free.
Wollit
Finder rating
★★★★★
Experian, Equifax, TransUnion
N/A
N/A
£7.99 per month
Build your credit score with a 12 month credit building plan starting from £7.99 a month. Wollit reports your payments to all major UK credit agencies and offers tools like Rent Reporting and Affordability Optimiser.
Pave Plus
Finder rating
★★★★★
Experian, Equifax, TransUnion
N/A
Not specified
£9 per month
Build your credit score with all major Credit Reference Agencies by paying your membership fee on time. Subject to eligibility, Pave may open a credit line that you can use to top up your bank account periodically.
Pave Lite
Finder rating
★★★★★
TransUnion
N/A
N/A
£5 per month
Build your Experian credit score by paying your membership fee on time (reported to Experian as loan repayments).
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Boshhh mobile

Build your credit history with Boshhh mobile network

  • Starting from £9.95 per month
  • Access to exclusive discounts, 5G and EU roaming
  • Monitor your progress with access to your credit history
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Tips for managing your credit card

If you do qualify for a credit card, it’s crucial that you use it sensibly to ensure your credit score improves over time. To do this, follow the tips below:

  • Set up a monthly direct debit to ensure you never miss a payment.
  • Always pay more than the minimum monthly repayment if you can – these are set at low levels and can result in you paying out a lot in interest. Only paying the minimum will also take you much longer to clear your debt.
  • If you can afford to, pay off your balance in full each month to avoid paying any interest.
  • Always stay within your credit limit.
  • Never use your credit card for cash withdrawals – you’ll be charged a fee for doing so and interest will accrue from the date of the withdrawal, even if you pay off your balance in full that month.

How to get a credit card if you’re under 18 years old

If you’re under 18, you won’t be able to get a credit card. By law, anyone under the age of 18 cannot enter into their own credit agreement.

As an under 18 year old, your two options are:

  • Prepaid cards. Reloadable cards that act like a debit card.
  • Debit cards. Linked to your bank account.

Credit card options for teens under 18 years old

Pros and cons of credit cards for 18-21-year olds

Pros

  • Build or rebuild your credit. A credit card isn’t the only way to build credit, but it’s an excellent choice. When you use your card and consistently pay your bills on time, your credit score will increase which could help you when you come to apply for a mortgage for example.
  • Safe and convenient. Instead of carrying a lot of cash, you can simply use your card. Most cards have contactless technology to pay for purchases of £100 or under which don’t require a PIN.
  • Payment protection. Credit cards give you more protection than debit cards when things go wrong thanks to Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974. On purchases worth between £100 and £30,000, the provider is jointly liable with the retailer if you don’t get what you paid for.
  • Spreads the cost of a large purchase. Credit cards can buy you more time if you need a large sum to pay for an expensive item, holiday or repair. You usually have up to 56 days’ interest free on items purchased on your credit card, which gives you time to pay it off. Some purchase credit cards also offer 0% deals for a set time.

Cons

  • Encourages spending. If you’re prone to spending beyond your means, consider holding off on a credit card. You risk accruing huge amounts of debt that will be difficult to repay.
  • Extra fees. As well as paying interest, you might have to stump up for annual fees, penalty charges for late payments, and foreign transaction fees. Do your research before opening a credit card and aim to pay off your bill in full every month if possible to avoid high interest charges.
  • Cash withdrawals are expensive and bad for your credit record. Nearly every provider charges instant interest on any cash withdrawals or other cash advance transactions, along with hefty fees. It’s better to stick to your debit card for withdrawals.

Frequently asked questions

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We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
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Rachel Wait is a freelance journalist and has been writing about personal finance for more than a decade, covering everything from insurance to mortgages. She has written for a range of personal finance websites and national newspapers, including The Observer, The Mail on Sunday, The Sun and the Evening Standard. Rachel is a keen baker in her spare time. See full bio

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