Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases and 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel platform.
If you’re wondering how to get credit cards when you have no credit history — it’s actually easier than you would think. Often, these cards have high approval odds so that most people can qualify, even those first starting on their credit journey. Although your first card may not offer a high credit limit or many rewards, it will allow you to gradually build your FICO score, which can help you qualify for better products in the future.
Here are the cards we suggest for people starting their credit-building journey.
Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases and 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel platform.
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Especially for a secured card, this card offers a decent cash-back rate, so you can earn rewards while building your credit.
This card doesn’t earn any rewards.
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This card offers a good alternative for people to build or rebuild their credit but doesn’t earn rewards and may be confusing to use.
Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart? and Target?), plus 1% back on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. Earn 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
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It’s difficult to do better than this card as a student, with high reward rates in very useful categories, no annual fee, and the ability to qualify with fair credit.
Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
This card doesn’t earn any rewards.
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Credit Builder Accounts & Certificates of Deposit made/held by Lead Bank, Sunrise Banks, N.A., SouthState Bank, N.A., First Century Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC. Subject to credit approval.
Self Visa? Credit Card issued by Lead Bank or SouthState Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC. See self.inc for details.
*Sample loans: $25/mo, 24 mos, $9 admin fee, 15.92% APR; $35/mo, 24 mos, $9 admin fee, 15.97% APR; $48/mo, 24 mos, $9 admin fee, 15.72% APR; $150/mo, 24 mos, $9 admin fee, 15.88% APR. See self.com/pricing
Earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases and 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel platform.
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It’s not our favorite in the Quicksilver lineup due to its annual fee, but it’s an unsecured option for people with fair credit and it still earns rewards.
This card doesn’t earn any rewards.
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It’s an okay option if your credit is less than ideal and you don’t qualify for much else, but it doesn’t earn rewards and its APR is sky-high.
Earn up to 10% cash back on everyday purchases. OpenSky Rewards links offers from merchants directly to your card, allowing you to automatically earn cash back.
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Earn 1% cash back on payments.
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Your credit score and history show lenders whether you are trustworthy with your money, like if you’re likely to pay your bills on time. This helps them determine if they’re willing to risk loaning you money.
Your credit history starts the second you open a credit card or take out a loan, and it will then continue to grow with new account openings.
Having a credit history can make a big difference in your credit score. Creditors look for two main things: how long you’ve been using credit and the type of credit. The length of your credit history accounts for 15% of your FICO score, while a mix of your credit accounts makes up 10%.
These are the factors that go into determining your credit score:
How long your accounts have been open can?directly impact your credit score. While it’s true that it may not be the most important factor when scoring your credit, having a long history of keeping up with cards and loans can make you more trustworthy when borrowing money.
Credit scoring agencies get the information they need to analyze your credit report from the three main national credit reporting companies: TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. The detailed record of your financial history is called your?credit report.
There are various reasons someone may benefit from a credit card for no credit. Credit cards are a big responsibility, so it’s important to understand?how credit cards work?before committing to your first card.
College is a great time for students to begin building their credit history, and there are a variety of credit cards to help them do just that. Read more in our guide to the?best student credit cards.
Young adult credit cards are ideal for those who aren’t in college but want to start building their credit history to help benefit their future. Note, however, that you must be 18 or older to become a primary credit account holder, and if you’re under 21, you need to either show proof of independent income or have a co-signer.
If you’ve recently immigrated to the United States, you may want to start building a credit history as soon as possible. This will help you have a better chance of approval when looking to rent or purchase a home, borrow money, etc.
It’s never too late to start building a credit history and it’s actually easier to build a positive history from the ground up than fixing a?bad credit score. Ensure you understand how credit cards work, what different terms mean, and how to keep your credit score high so you don’t need to repair your score with a?credit card for bad credit.
You shouldn’t wait until you need to be approved for a home, car, or loan to consider your credit history. However, starting can be tricky. How can you prove you are a responsible card owner if you don’t qualify for most credit cards? Fortunately, beginner credit cards are meant for this!
Here are some tips as you’re starting to establish credit:
Establishing credit is a marathon, not a sprint, so it’s good to start as soon as you can so you can enjoy the rewards.
Those new to credit likely won’t be eligible for?top-rated credit cards?with hefty rewards, large sign-up bonuses, or the?lowest interest rates. However, you can work your way up as you secure your credit history.
Your first credit card for no credit may be geared toward people with no history or low credit scores. However, some cards still provide rewards, no annual fees, and can be some of the easiest credit cards to get with no credit.
Things you should look for may include:
Carefully look at the card’s interest rates, late fees, annual fees, balance transfer fees, and foreign transaction fees. The fewer fees a card has, the better.
Secured credit cards are some of the easiest to get when you have a limited credit history, but they also require a security deposit to open them. Make sure you can fund this initial deposit if the card requires one.
Starter credit cards tend to have easier qualification requirements, but will likely still require things like proof of income, housing status, and a social security number.
Some starter credit cards, like the Capital One Quicksilver Secured card, offer rewards as you spend. Although this can be an easy way to make money back on purchases, it can also encourage overspending, so make sure to evaluate your personal habits.
Established credit is an important factor when applying for a card.
Your options can be limited if you don’t have a credit history. Your credit history won’t necessarily prevent you from being able to get a card, but it will impact the cards that are available to you.
That is what starter credit cards are for! You can use these cards to build credit and raise your credit score. Some cards don’t require credit checks to qualify, making them easier to get.
When you first apply for a starter card, you may need certain information, depending on the card lender:
Some credit cards will need more information, and some starter cards will accept less.
Make sure you don’t apply for too many cards, as credit card applications lead to a hard inquiry on your credit report, which can temporarily damage your credit score.
Not having a credit history can limit your options, but you can still be eligible for certain cards. Look for cards specifically for credit builders, like student or secured cards.
It is possible to apply for a credit card without income, but you still need to prove you have access to income — this doesn’t necessarily mean an annual salary.
In this case, having access to financial investments, your spouse’s income, or being an authorized user on an existing account are all options. The bottom line is meeting the income requirements.
You aren’t automatically overlooked if you are unemployed. Issuers often look at more than your income, including your credit score, credit history, and existing debt.
The Credit Card Act of 2009 allows you to list household income that you have access to, including Social Security payments, investment returns, unemployment benefits, and more.
For most newcomers to credit, cards are often the quickest way to establish a history and a relationship with credit lenders, but what if your credit score is too low to qualify for a card?
You may be surprised to learn that many people have less-than-perfect credit, but there are ways to build credit without a card. While many agencies that report credit often evaluate your score using card payment history and combined purchases, that is not the only option.
Ways to build credit without a credit card:
No, actually, your credit score and credit report are two separate things.
Your credit report displays information like your current credit debt, credit activity, history of loan payments, and the general status of your credit. Your credit score uses all the information in your credit report to calculate your standing.
Creditors look at your credit score and credit report to determine if you qualify for a card, mortgage, car loan, or other forms of credit and the interest rate you will pay.
It’s a good idea to keep an eye on your credit report to look for errors, especially before applying for a credit card or loan. It’s much easier to fight any errors before being disqualified.
* Opinions expressed here are those of the LA Times Compare Cards Team and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser or entities included within this content. See our editorial policy for more details.
All products or services are presented in this content without warranty. The information, including card details such as rates and fees, is accurate at the time of publish. Please visit each bank's website directly for the most current information.