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Home Credit Cards Best Credit Cards for No Credit

Credit Cards for No Credit: Best Options for 2022

Hand grabbing the best credit card of many credit cards for no credit

At a glance

For people with little to no credit history, securing a credit card can be difficult. That's where we come in. We've gathered some of the best credit cards for no credit so you can start building a better financial future.

Written by Zachary Vickers

Reviewed by Robert Jellison

Jan 6, 2022

Fresh advice you can trust

We promise to always deliver the best financial advice that we can. That's our first priority, and we take it seriously. Our writers and editors follow strict editorial standards and operate independently from our advertisers and affiliates. Learn more about how we make money.

Credit Cards for No Credit

Credit Card Best For Credit Score Annual Fee Welcome Bonus Apply Now
Discover It secured credit card Discover it® Secured Credit Card No Credit Overall 300–850 $0 Cashback Match Apply
First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard secured credit card First Progress Platinum Select MasterCard® Secured Credit Card Starters 350–850 $39 N/A Apply
Discover it student cash back credit card Discover it® Student Cash Back Students 580–850 $0 Cashback Match Apply
OpenSky Secured Visa credit card OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card No Credit Check 300–850 $35 N/A Apply
Petal 2 cash back no fees visa credit card Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card No Annual Fee 500–850 $0 N/A Apply
Total Visa credit card Total Visa® Credit Card Unsecured (No Deposit) 300–850 $48–$75 No cash advance fee for the first year Apply

Table of Contents

  1. Best credit cards for people with no credit
  2. How do I get a credit card with no credit?
  3. What credit cards can I apply for with no credit?
  4. How old do you have to be to get a credit card?
  5. What does “insufficient credit history” mean?
  6. How long does it take to build credit?
  7. FinanceJar credit card rating methodology

Best credit cards for people with no credit

These are the best credit cards for people with no credit.

Best overall credit card for no credit

Discover It secured credit card Apply Now

on Discover's secure site
or call (800) 347-2683

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

4.8

Authority

Rates & Fees

Minimum Deposit
$200
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
24.49% (variable)
Rewards Rate
1% - 2%
Recommended Credit Score
300–850
Poor Fair Good Excellent
300 850

Why It's Great

Our choice for the overall best credit card for no credit, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card offers unique perks that make it stand out. Secured cards rarely offer rewards, but this card offers several kinds of cash back. Notably, Discover’s Cashback Match will match all cash back earned in your first year. Users who keep up good credit habits for seven months also become eligible to have their card upgraded to an unsecured card and have their deposit refunded. In all, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card is an appealing choice for anyone looking to build or rebuild their credit.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Multiple cash back rewards
  • Ability to upgrade to unsecured card

Cons

  • Requires deposit
  • High APR

Card Details

  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Intro Offer: 2% cash back on gas and restaurants up to a total $1,000 each quarter, and 1% unlimited cash back on all other eligible purchases.
  • Regular APR: 22.99% (Variable)
  • APR for Balance Transfers: 10.99% intro APR for 6 months from date of first transfer, for transfers posted to your account by November 10, 2021. After intro APR expires, your APR will be 22.99%
  • APR for Cash Advances: 24.99%
  • Deposit: $200

Best starter card for no credit

First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard secured credit card Apply Now

on First Progress' secure site
or call (866) 706-5543

First Progress Platinum Select MasterCard® Secured Credit Card

3.9

Authority

Rates & Fees

Minimum Deposit
$200
Annual Fee
$39
Regular APR
13.99% (variable)
Rewards Rate
N/A
Recommended Credit Score
350–850
Poor Fair Good Excellent
300 850

Why It's Great

Establishing a credit history is easy with the First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card. Applications don’t require a credit inquiry, so a lack of credit history won’t affect your chances for approval. The relatively low APR and quick and easy online application process make this a convenient starter credit card for people with no credit.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • No credit inquiry required
  • Simple application process

Cons

  • Not available in AR, IA, NY, or WI. See card terms for details.

Card Details

  • Annual Fee: $39
  • Intro Offer: N/A
  • Regular APR: 13.99% (Variable)
  • APR for Balance Transfers: N/A
  • APR for Cash Advances: 16.74%
  • Deposit: $200–$2000

Best student credit card for no credit

Discover it student cash back credit card Apply Now

on Discover's secure site
or call (800) 983-1307

Discover it® Student Cash Back

4.6

Authority

Rates & Fees

Minimum Deposit
$0
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
12.99% – 21.99% (variable)
Rewards Rate
1% - 5%
Recommended Credit Score
580–850
Poor Fair Good Excellent
300 850

Why It's Great

We chose the Discover it® Student Cash Back as the best student credit card because it offers an impressive stack of rewards for users, including 5% cash back on food and gas, a further 1% cash back on all other purchases, and its Unlimited Cashback Match reward for the first year. Additionally, the Good Grade Reward provides a $20 statement credit for having a 3.0 GPA or higher for five years after opening your card, which sweetens the deal for students even more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Multiple cash back rewards
  • No annual fee
  • 0% intro APR

Cons

  • High (and highly variable) APR

Card Details

  • Annual Fee: $0
  • Intro Offer: 0% intro APR for the first 6 months and Unlimited Cashback Match for the first year.
  • Regular APR: 12.99%–21.99% (Variable)
  • APR for Balance Transfers: 10.99% intro APR for first 6 months starting at date of first transfer, for transfers that post to your account by March 10, 2022. Once intro APR expires, 12.99% to 21.99% Variable APR based on creditworthiness.
  • APR for Cash Advances: 24.99%
  • Deposit: N/A

Best no-credit-check credit card for no credit

OpenSky Secured Visa credit card Apply Now

on OpenSky's secure site
or call (800) 859-6412

OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

4.5

Authority

Rates & Fees

Minimum Deposit
$200
Annual Fee
$35
Regular APR
17.64% (variable)
Rewards Rate
N/A
Recommended Credit Score
300–850
Poor Fair Good Excellent
300 850

Why It's Great

Your credit won’t be checked at all when you apply for the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card, making it a great choice for people with no credit. The quick online application process and ability to set your credit limit as high as $3,000 makes the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card a simple but effective card for anyone who needs to establish a credit history.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • No credit check for approval
  • Easy online application

Cons

  • Credit limit determined by initial deposit
  • No rewards

Card Details

Annual Fee: $35
Intro Offer: N/A
Regular APR: 17.39% (Variable)
APR for Balance Transfers: N/A
APR for Cash Advances: 17.39%
Deposit: $200–$3000

Best credit card for no credit with no annual fee

Petal 2 cash back no fees visa credit card Apply Now

on Petal's secure site
or call (855) 697-3825

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

4.4

Authority

Rates & Fees

Minimum Deposit
$0
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
15.24%–29.24% (variable)
Rewards Rate
1% - 1.5%
Recommended Credit Score
500–850
Poor Fair Good Excellent
300 850

Why It's Great

The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card lives up to its name with no annual fee or penalties for late payments and cash back rewards on all purchases. Those rewards gradually increase as you make on-time payments, which is a nice incentive to keep up on your balance. The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card also has the highest credit limit of all the cards we considered, making it a versatile option for people with no credit.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • 1%–1.5% cash back on eligible purchases
  • Earn an extra 2%–10% cash back shopping at select businesses

Cons

  • May run a credit inquiry
  • No balance transfers or cash advances

Card Details

Annual Fee: $0
Rewards Rate: 1% cash back on eligible purchases for first six months, 1.25% cash back after six on-time payments, capping at 1.5% cash back after twelve on-time payments.
Regular APR: 12.99%–26.99% (Variable)
APR for Balance Transfers: N/A
APR for Cash Advances: N/A
Credit Limit: $300–$10,000

Best unsecured (no deposit) credit card for no credit

Total Visa credit card Apply Now

on Total Visa's secure site
or call (877) 480-6988

Total Visa® Credit Card

3.4

Authority

Rates & Fees

Minimum Deposit
$0
Annual Fee
$48–$75
Regular APR
34.99%
Rewards Rate
N/A
Recommended Credit Score
300–850
Poor Fair Good Excellent
300 850

Why It's Great

Specially made for people with less-than-stellar credit histories, the Total VISA® Credit Card is our choice for the best unsecured card for people with no credit. This card doesn’t require a deposit, but starts you off with a $300 credit limit. You can request a higher limit later once you prove your reliability, but watch out for this card’s high APR and multiple annual fees.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • No deposit
  • Starting credit limit of $300

Cons

  • $89 program fee at card opening
  • Multiple annual fees
  • High APR

Card Details

Annual Fee: $75 for the first year, then $48 annually. No monthly servicing fee for the first year, then $75 annually ($6.25/month)
Intro Offer: No cash advance fee for the first year
Regular APR: 34.99%
APR for Balance Transfers: N/A
APR for Cash Advances: 34.99%
Deposit: N/A

How do I get a credit card with no credit?

Credit card issuers recognize that people with no credit score, an insufficient credit history, or a bad credit score still want (and need) credit cards. Many offer cards with this in mind.

To maximize your chances of approval, try the following:

  • Apply for a card with your bank: If you already have a checking or savings account, find out if you qualify for a credit card issued by your bank. While standard credit card issuers can only make their decisions based on the information on your credit report, you have a more personal relationship with your bank. This gives you more leeway when explaining your credit situation and can improve your chances of approval.
  • Get a cosigner: If you’re having trouble getting your first credit card, you can ask someone to be your cosigner (family members and friends are ideal). By cosigning, they take on responsibility for paying your debt if you aren’t able to, which minimizes risk for your lender and encourages them to relax their requirements.

What credit cards can I apply for with no credit?

When applying for credit cards with no credit history, your best options are:

  • Secured credit cards: These require a minimum deposit when you open them, which serves as collateral if you miss one of your payments. This insulates your lender from risk, which means they may be willing to offer you a card even if you have no credit to speak of.
  • Student credit cards: Cards marketed towards students tend to have especially favorable terms because they’re governed by special regulations meant to protect young consumers. Issuers are also usually willing to offer them to people with minimal credit because students aren’t expected to have been using their credit for long.

Credit cards with no credit check

You can also apply for credit cards whose issuers do not check your credit. Generally speaking, these will always be secured credit cards, since they’re meant for people with little to no credit history. Expect most unsecured credit cards to require a credit check.

How old do you have to be to get a credit card?

You must be at least 18 years old to apply for a credit card. However, you can still be added as an authorized user to your parent’s credit card if you’re under 18. This is a good way to establish a credit history in high school, so you’ll have a more robust credit score by the time you’re an adult.

If you’re between the ages of 18 and 21 with no credit history, you’ll probably be required to provide evidence that you can pay your bills independently (i.e., without parental help) as part of the application process.

What does “insufficient credit history” mean?

Lenders may cite “insufficient credit history” when they deny your credit card application. This means your lender has determined you have no credit accounts or that your accounts have been open for too short a time. Both of these things indicate that you’re a higher risk as a borrower.

Getting a credit card application approved can be difficult with a short or nonexistent credit history, and the cards you may qualify for tend to have higher interest rates and lower credit limits.

How long does it take to build credit?

If you have no credit history, it will take at least six months to generate your first credit score. Raising that score to a level where you can apply for better credit cards will take a lot longer, so it’s best to understand how to build your credit by developing good credit habits early.

How to start building your credit

Here are some ways to establish a credit history when you have no credit:

  • Become an authorized user: When someone adds you to their card as an authorized user, their on-time payments on their card will also appear on your credit report. This means that being added as an authorized user can boost your credit score.
  • Report alternative information: Some specialized services, such as Experian Boost, will report your rent, utilities, or cell phone payments to the credit bureaus.
  • Apply for a credit-builder loan: Credit-builder loans are designed for people with bad credit or no credit to increase their credit score via regular payments.
  • Apply for a no-credit-check card: As mentioned, some secured credit cards don’t require a credit check at all. Your issuer may look at other financial factors, like your employment and income, during the approval process. You can use that as a starter card and build your payment history so that you qualify for a better card down the line.

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FinanceJar credit card rating methodology

How we rate our credit cards for people with no credit

FinanceJar's card experts analyzed a variety of factors when rating our "no credit" credit cards—including:

  • Annual, Maintenance, and Late Fees
  • Interest Rates
  • Credit Score Required
  • Deposit Amount (if applicable)
  • Credit Limit
  • Customer Satisfaction

These factors, among many others, are part of our 5-star credit card rating methodology for all card categories. Our star ratings are unbiased and independent of our affiliates and advertisers.

Zachary Vickers

Assignment Editor

View Author

Zachary Vickers worked previously as an editor for a team of journalists and reporters. He's covered a range of topics including personal finance, estate planning, small business operations, career advice, and more.

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