Credit Cards for 18 Year Olds
| Credit Card | Best For | Credit Score | Annual Fee | Welcome Bonus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 300–669 | $0 | Cashback Match | ||
| No Credit History | 300–669 | $0 | |||
| Students | 580–739 | $0 | Cashback match | ||
| Building Credit | 300–669 | $0 | |||
| Rewards | 300–669 | $0 | |||
| Travel | 580–739 | $0 | |||
| Good Credit | 670–850 | $0 |
$200 cash back 5% back on groceries |
||
Table of Contents
Turning 18 is a huge milestone. Now that you’re an adult, you have a lot of freedom—and a lot of expenses. Luckily, you’re now eligible to apply for your own credit card. While getting a credit card when you’re under 21 is a little tricky (more on that later), there are still plenty of options available to you. Find out the best credit cards for 18 year olds, no matter where your credit stands.
Best credit cards for 18 year olds
Here are our top expert picks for credit cards for 18 year olds.
Overall best credit card for 18 year olds
Best credit card for 18 year olds with no credit history
Best student credit card for 18 year olds
Best credit card for 18 year olds to build credit
Best rewards credit card for 18 year olds
Best travel credit card for 18 year olds
Best credit card for 18 year olds with good credit
Can I get a credit card at 18 years old?
Yes, you can get a credit card when you’re 18. However, the Credit CARD Act makes it more difficult for borrowers under 21 years old to get credit cards. If you’re between 18–21, you need to meet one of the following requirements to get a credit card:
- Provide proof of sufficient income to cover your monthly expenses and credit card payments
- Have someone 21 years or older co-sign the credit card application
How do I get a credit card at 18?
There are three ways you can get a credit card when you’re 18:
- Get a secured card: If you’re 18 and don’t have credit, your best bet of qualifying for a credit card may be to get a secured card. Secured cards require security deposits and are usually more limited in their functions and benefits. However, they’re a great source of building credit so you can later qualify for better cards.
- Get an unsecured card: If you don’t want to put down a security deposit, you can also qualify for some unsecured cards when you’re 18. What you can qualify for will depend on whether you’re a student and want to get a student card, the credit of your application co-signer (if you have one), or your level of income (if you have one).
- Become an authorized user: One useful alternative to getting a credit card at 18 is becoming a credit card authorized user. Being an authorized user builds your credit score while giving you a credit card to use. However, you’ll have to work out an arrangement with the primary cardholder as to how bills will be handled and rewards will be split.
What should an 18 year old look for in a credit card?
When you’re picking out your first credit card at 18, consider the following features:
- Qualification requirements: Check your credit score (you can get a free one from Experian) to see where your credit currently stands. Pay attention to credit card requirements and focus on ones available to your credit score or the credit score of your card’s co-signer.
- Annual fee: If you’re a first-time borrower, it’s probably not worth it to pay an annual fee for a credit card. Luckily, there are tons of options without, so set your sights on annual-fee-free cards.
- APR: APR is the annual rate of interest a credit card charges. Interest is charged if you don’t pay your balance in full every month. As a new borrower, look for a card with lower interest rates, so you can adjust to borrowing without having to pay a high price for carried-over balances.
- Rewards: Some starter cards come with rewards while others don’t. Consider whether rewards are important to you and what areas of spending you’ll benefit the most from getting cash back in (e.g., gas, dining, travel, etc.).
