Credit:
Reviewed / Tara Jacoby
Products are chosen independently by our editors. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission.
Credit:
Reviewed / Tara Jacoby
Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.
Learn more about our product testing
Some regular cards don't even have the cash-back customization of this student card. It allows you to build credit without sacrificing solid rewards. Read More
Anyone trying to build up their credit responsibly or find a card with few approval requirements can turn to this option from Capital One. Read More
Petal makes building your credit simple with this unsecured card, as you'll avoid an annual fee and minimum deposit costs in the process. Read More
While most secured cards stake their value only on accepting those with poor credit, this card does that and offers great rewards with no annual fee. Read More
If you need to recover from bad credit, this card can help put you on the right track. A security deposit is required, but it can be refunded. Read More
Applying for your first credit card can be exciting—but also intimidating. If you’ve never used credit before, there’s a chance you might not get approved. Secured cards are often a popular choice for first-time cardholders because you could be accepted with limited credit or poor credit, but that’s not your only option.
Companies like Petal have popped up on the scene with unsecured cards for people who don’t yet have credit history. For young adults on the hunt for a first card, there are also student cards to consider. In this review, we highlight seven of the best first cards to think about adding to your wallet.
Here are the best first credit cards we evaluated:
In a nutshell: Unsecured cards do not require an upfront security deposit, while secured cards do. Your deposit on a secured card minimizes risk for the creditor and can make it easier to qualify for.
Creditors assume more risk when offering unsecured cards, so they tend to have stricter eligibility criteria. That said, going the secured route isn’t the only way to dip your toes into the credit card pond. Our list below highlights both unsecured and secured cards that could be a good choice for your first card.
We searched for unsecured and secured cards available to people with limited or fair credit. After reviewing the APRs and fees, we pulled the ones that offer the best terms. We also looked at the benefits and focused on helpful first-time cardholders perks, like free credit scores, payment reporting to all bureaus to help you build credit, and rewards opportunities. Finally, we tailored recommendations based on different situations.
No annual fee
Gives free access to your FICO Score
Good for bad or no credit
Security deposit required
No rewards
No annual fee
High reward rate
Good for no credit history
Not many travel perks
No annual fee
Free credit score check
Security deposit required
No rewards
High reward rate
Doesn't require excellent credit
Annual fee
No bank account required
Good for bad or no credit
Annual fee
No rewards
Security deposit required
Good for bad or no credit
Gives free access to your FICO Score
Annual fee
Security deposit required
Please note: The offers mentioned above are subject to change at any time and some may no longer be available.
Reviewed has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Reviewed and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.
Always review card terms and multiple offers to find the best card for you. For example, do you really need a card with gas perks when you don’t own a car? And how do the late fees compare from one card to the next? We also have a rundown of the credit card lingo you'll come across.
Remember that late payments, even on a small balance, can have a lasting effect on your credit history. You may not be planning to buy a home anytime soon, but your credit goes beyond securing a mortgage. It can come up when you purchase a car, sign up for utilities at an apartment, and apply for a job. So make sure you’re ready to keep up with payments before borrowing money against your first credit line.
APR rates, credit limits, and deposit requirements vary based on your individual credit. APRs tend to be higher for borrowers with limited or poor credit, but you will not be charged interest if you pay your bill off in full every month.
Banks have the final say on who they accept for a credit card. Although the cards below are geared to first-time borrowers with limited credit, not everyone may be approved.
While there may not be age restrictions for authorized users on credit card accounts, you usually need to be 18 years or older to apply for a credit card on your own. U.S. citizenship may not be necessary, but the credit card issuer may ask for a Social Security number during the application. Some issuers, including Petal, accept tax identification numbers.
Before applying for a credit card, consider checking your credit to see where you stand. This can help you determine which credit cards you have the best shot at getting approved for. Pulling your own credit doesn’t hurt your score, and you can do it for free at one of several sites, such as Credit Sesame, Credit Karma, or CreditWise.
When you’re ready to apply, here are the steps:
Fill out the online form: The beginning of the process is usually as easy as filling out an online form that asks for your name, address, monthly income, and other personal information. The full application often requires a hard credit check that will show up on your credit report and temporarily ding your score. However, in some instances, such as with the Chime Credit Builder Visa Secured Credit Card (more on it below), there may be no credit check at all.
Get approved or submit additional information: Credit card approvals can sometimes happen instantly. However, in some cases, the credit card issuer may ask for additional information before giving you the stamp of approval.
Get your card and activate it: If approved, congratulations! The credit card issuer will send your card in the mail with instructions on how to activate it.
Taylor Medine is a personal finance writer with over five years of experience writing about credit, credit cards, personal loans, and money management. She's written for Credit Karma, CompareCards, LendingTree, MagnifyMoney, Student Loan Hero, and more.
Our team is here for one purpose: to help you buy the best stuff and love what you own. Our writers, editors, and lab technicians obsess over the products we cover to make sure you're confident and satisfied. Have a different opinion about something we recommend? Email us and we'll compare notes.
Shoot us an email