Your first credit card does one main job: it builds a credit history that lenders can see. The best starter credit cards do that cheaply, with a low or $0 annual fee, a small or no security deposit, reporting to all three credit bureaus, and a clear path to a better card once you have a track record.
Below are our eight picks for people with no credit or thin credit, grouped by secured cards, unsecured cards, and a student card. Some links may earn us a commission. Learn more.
Terms checked November 4, 2026. Confirm current rates on the issuer’s site before applying.
Best starter credit cards at a glance
| Card | Type | Annual fee | Deposit | APR | Recommended credit | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discover it Secured Cash Back | Secured | $0 | $49, $99 or $200 | Variable; see issuer terms | No credit to limited | Best overall starter card |
| Capital One Quicksilver Secured | Secured | $0 | $200 minimum | 29.24% variable | Limited to fair | Simple flat cash back |
| OpenSky Secured Visa | Secured | $35 | $200 to $3,000 | 24.14% variable | No credit check | Rebuilding or skipping a credit check |
| OpenSky Plus Secured Visa | Secured | $0 | $300 to $3,000 | 28.49% variable | No credit check | No credit check, no annual fee |
| Capital One Platinum | Unsecured | $0 | None | 29.24% variable | Fair; no score required to apply | No-deposit starter card |
| Chase Freedom Rise | Unsecured | $0 | None | 18.49% to 27.99% variable | New to credit | Chase customers and students |
| Capital One QuicksilverOne | Unsecured | $39 | None | 29.24% variable | Fair | Fair credit with rewards |
| Discover it Student Cash Back | Unsecured (student) | $0 | None | 0% intro for 6 months, then 16.74% to 25.74% variable | No credit score required | College students |
How we chose these cards
We compared starter cards on what matters most with little or no credit:
- Fees: $0 annual fee scored best. A small fee made the cut only when it bought something specific, like no credit check or no-deposit rewards.
- Deposit: lower minimum deposits and flexible funding ranked higher.
- Bureau reporting: every card here reports to Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
- Upgrade path: we favored cards with automatic credit line reviews or a stated route to an unsecured card and your deposit back.
- Rewards: nice to have, never the deciding factor.
- Approval odds: cards that state no credit score is required, or that skip the credit check entirely, got extra credit.
Best secured cards for no credit
Discover it Secured Cash Back
Annual fee: $0 · Deposit: $49, $99 or $200 · APR: variable, see issuer terms · Recommended credit: no credit to limited
Capital One relaunched this card in October 2026 as the Discover it Secured Cash Back, and applications and account management now run through Capital One. The big change for beginners is the deposit: depending on your application, you may put down $49, $99 or $200 and still get a $200 starting credit line. You have 35 days after approval to fund it.
Rewards are unusually strong for a secured card: 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories, up to $1,500 in purchases each quarter when you activate, and 1% on everything else. At the end of your first year, Discover matches all the cash back you earned, with no cap. After a positive track record, you can get your deposit back and move to the regular Discover it Cash Back. Read our full Discover it Secured review for more background.
Who it’s for: almost anyone starting from zero who can set aside a small deposit and wants real rewards while building credit.
Capital One Quicksilver Secured
Annual fee: $0 · Deposit: $200 minimum · APR: 29.24% variable · Recommended credit: limited to fair
The Quicksilver Secured earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, so there are no categories to track.
Capital One says that with responsible use you could earn your deposit back and upgrade to the unsecured Quicksilver card. Pay in full each month to avoid the high APR.
Who it’s for: beginners who want flat, no-effort cash back and a clear upgrade path inside Capital One.
OpenSky Secured Visa
Annual fee: $35 · Deposit: $200 to $3,000 · APR: 24.14% variable · Recommended credit: no credit check
The OpenSky Secured Visa does not require a traditional credit check to apply, which makes it one of the easiest approvals available. It reports to all three bureaus, and OpenSky says cardholders may qualify for credit limit increases and better cards after 6 to 12 months.
OpenSky also advertises up to 10% cash back at participating merchants through its rewards program; check the rewards terms for which purchases qualify. The $35 fee is the trade-off, so choose it only if credit-checked cards are likely to decline you.
Who it’s for: people with no credit or past credit problems who need approval above all else.
OpenSky Plus Secured Visa
Annual fee: $0 · Deposit: $300 to $3,000 · APR: 28.49% variable · Recommended credit: no credit check
The OpenSky Plus keeps the no-credit-check application but drops the annual fee. In exchange, the minimum deposit is higher at $300 and the APR is higher.
If you can fund the bigger deposit and pay in full, the Plus usually wins over time since you skip $35 a year.
Who it’s for: no-credit-check seekers who can fund a $300 deposit and never carry a balance.
Best unsecured cards with no deposit
Capital One Platinum
Annual fee: $0 · Deposit: none · APR: 29.24% variable · Recommended credit: fair; no score required to apply
The Capital One Platinum is a plain, no-deposit card with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. Capital One says no credit score is required to apply, and you are automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months.
There are no rewards, which is fine for a card whose job is building history. Put one small bill on it, set up autopay, and let it age.
Who it’s for: beginners who don’t want to tie up cash in a deposit and don’t care about rewards.
Chase Freedom Rise
Annual fee: $0 · Deposit: none · APR: 18.49% to 27.99% variable · Recommended credit: new to credit
Chase built the Freedom Rise for people new to credit and students. It earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases, plus a $25 statement credit when you enroll in autopay within the first 3 months and stay enrolled for 90 days. Extras include 2% total on qualifying Lyft rides through 9/30/2027 and 6 months of complimentary DashPass when activated by 12/31/2029.
Chase says you’ll be evaluated for a credit line increase in as soon as 6 months. Once you have history, the Freedom Rise is a natural step into the Chase ecosystem; see our Amex vs. Chase cash back comparison for what comes next.
Who it’s for: new-to-credit Chase banking customers who want rewards with no deposit.
Capital One QuicksilverOne
Annual fee: $39 · Deposit: none · APR: 29.24% variable · Recommended credit: fair
The QuicksilverOne earns unlimited 1.5% cash back with no deposit, and you’re automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months.
The $39 fee means you need to spend about $2,600 a year just to break even on rewards. The Quicksilver Secured or Platinum is cheaper if you qualify.
Who it’s for: people with fair credit who will use the card regularly and pay in full.
Best student card
Discover it Student Cash Back
Annual fee: $0 · Deposit: none · APR: 0% intro for 6 months, then 16.74% to 25.74% variable · Recommended credit: no credit score required
The Discover it Student Cash Back is still open to new applicants, now through Capital One. It earns 5% cash back in quarterly categories you activate (up to a quarterly maximum) and 1% on everything else, and Discover matches all the cash back you earn in your first year.
Its ongoing APR is lower than most starter cards, and there is no foreign transaction fee, which helps if you study abroad. You need to be enrolled at a two- or four-year college and meet income requirements.
Who it’s for: college students with a steady income source who want rewards from day one.
Also consider
- Citi Secured Mastercard (check availability): the Citi Secured has a $0 annual fee and a $200 to $2,500 deposit, with upgrade reviews starting at 9 months. Citi’s page still shows an apply button but does not list a current APR, so confirm it’s open before you plan around it.
- Wells Fargo Active Cash (as your next card): once you have about a year of on-time payments, the Active Cash offers unlimited 2% cash rewards with no annual fee, plus a 0% intro APR for 12 months on purchases and qualifying balance transfers.
What you need to get your first credit card
- Income: issuers must check that you can afford payments.
- The under-21 rule: if you’re 18 to 20, federal law requires you to show your own independent income or apply with a co-signer, and few issuers accept co-signers today.
- No SSN: some major issuers accept an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) instead of a Social Security number. Check the application requirements or call the issuer before applying.
- Authorized user status: a parent or partner with good credit can add you to their card. Their on-time history can appear on your report.
- Check your reports: pull your free reports at AnnualCreditReport.com and use issuer pre-approval tools, which don’t cause a hard inquiry.
Secured vs. unsecured: which should you get?
A secured card requires a refundable deposit that usually becomes your credit limit. An unsecured card has no deposit, but approval depends more on your income and any credit history.
Both build credit the same way, since the bureaus don’t see the deposit. Get a secured card if you’ve been declined before or have no history at all. Try unsecured first if a pre-approval tool shows good odds.
What to do after your starter card
Plan on 6 to 12 months of on-time payments before you look at your next move. Then:
- Graduate your secured card: Discover, Capital One and Citi all describe paths from a secured card to an unsecured one with your deposit refunded. Keep the account open after it graduates so it keeps aging.
- Ask for a product change: if your card has a fee or no rewards, ask the issuer about switching to a no-fee rewards card in the same family. It keeps your account history and usually needs no new application.
- Accept credit line increases: a higher limit lowers your utilization, which can help your score.
- Add a rewards card: after a year or so, a flat 2% card or a points card makes sense. If travel is the goal, compare Amex or Chase points for travel, and if you pay rent, look at the Bilt card welcome offer.
- Hold off on premium travel cards: cards with $95 to $895 annual fees can be worth it later, but only once your credit is solid and your spending can cover the fee in value.
Tips for using your first credit card responsibly
- Pay the full statement balance every month. Starter card APRs are high, and paying in full means you never pay interest.
- Set up autopay for at least the minimum so you never miss a due date. Payment history is the biggest factor in your score.
- Keep utilization low, ideally under 30% of your limit and lower if you can. On a $200 limit, that’s under $60.
- Use the card a little each month so it stays active.
- Avoid cash advances, which carry fees and a higher APR from day one.
- Don’t apply for several cards at once. Space out applications by about six months.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest credit card to get with no credit?
Cards that skip the credit check, such as the OpenSky Secured Visa and OpenSky Plus Secured Visa, are among the easiest to get. Among credit-checked cards, Capital One says no credit score is required to apply for the Platinum, and the Discover it Secured Cash Back is built for people with no credit history.
Can I get a credit card at 18 with no credit?
Yes. If you are 18 to 20, you need to show your own independent income or apply with a co-signer. A secured card or a student card like the Discover it Student Cash Back is usually the best place to start. Becoming an authorized user on a parent’s card can also help.
Do starter credit cards report to all three credit bureaus?
Every card on this list reports to Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. That reporting is what builds your credit history, so confirm it before applying for any card not listed here.
How long does it take to build credit with a starter card?
A FICO score generally needs at least one account that has been open for six months and reported in the past six months, so expect your first score about six months after your first account opens. Many issuers review accounts for credit line increases or upgrades after 6 to 12 months of on-time payments.
Will I get my security deposit back?
Yes, if you graduate to an unsecured card or close the account with the balance paid in full. Discover and Capital One both describe a path to an unsecured card with your deposit refunded after responsible use.
Which starter card should you get?
For most people, the Discover it Secured Cash Back is the best of the starter credit cards: no annual fee, a deposit as low as $49, strong rewards and a first-year match. If you don’t want to put down a deposit, start with the Capital One Platinum or, if you bank with Chase, the Freedom Rise. Students should look first at the Discover it Student Cash Back, and anyone who keeps getting declined should try the OpenSky Plus or OpenSky Secured Visa.
Whichever card you pick, the formula is the same: small purchases, autopay, full payment every month. Do that for a year and better cards will open up.
