Best credit cards for no credit history in May 2024

If you have no credit history, that means you haven’t had an active credit account that reports to one of the credit bureaus: Experian, TransUnion or Equifax. Credit cards are a common tool with which to build your credit, but mortgages and car loans can also affect your credit.

Why your credit score matters

Most credit cards and loans have credit score requirements for qualification. If you have no credit history, you won’t be able to qualify for many credit cards, including some of the most valuable rewards cards. 

Having no credit score may also restrict you from qualifying for several other types of loans, including car loans and mortgages. Before lenders are willing to work with you, they want to know that you’re a reliable borrower who pays off your loans or cards regularly and on time. 

If you don’t have a credit history, your credit card choices are more limited than if you have even fair credit. Here’s some expert advice to help you choose a card that can steer you toward your ultimate financial goals. 

Discover and Chase cards were some of the most popular among Reddit users in the r/CreditCards subreddit, with several people praising the Discover it® Secured Credit Card and Chase Freedom® Rise℠ Card for their generous rewards and low cost. 

The Freedom Rise was highlighted in particular for being an unsecured card, making it more accessible than cards that require a security deposit. It also stood out because it could put cardholders on the path to better Chase cards down the line. Users also pointed to cards like the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card as well as various student cards as options for people with limited credit history.

“Chase Freedom Rise is my pick. To what others have said, it’s an unsecured credit builder card without any real disadvantages when compared to ‘normal’ cards. This can also be useful for you down the road, since you can establish a relationship with Chase, and Chase has some of the best rewards cards on the market. It also offers a good product change path, as the [Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited®] are both fantastic cards to have.”

— Reddit user*

The user goes on to recommend Discover as another great issuer to start your credit journey with, as “they’ve historically been one of the more forgiving issuers for people with limited credit, and their products are solid. They also probably offer the best secured card on the market, if you must resort to a secured card.”

The search for your first credit card can be daunting, so it certainly helps when others who are more experienced can lead you in a good direction. Another Reddit user offered advice for anyone eager to apply for their first credit card: Start with your own bank.

“If you bank with Chase that might be a good place to start. They have good cards and they might be more willing to offer you an unsecured card from the start as you already have a relationship.”

— Reddit user

Whichever route you take, it’s best to look for cards that carry low or no annual fees and ideally offer a clear upgrade path to better cards down the line.

*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Be sure to check the issuer's website/terms and conditions for all up to date content. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.

Here’s a Bankrate expert’s advice on building from no credit

Bankrate editor Steve Dashiell offers some insight on just how many options you have for building credit, even if you have thin or no credit history. 

“Rather than thinking of your lack of credit history as a negative, think of it as a blank slate. You’re unproven to most lenders, which means that while you may not qualify for some of those juicy high-earning rewards cards, you still have a variety of credit-building options available through most issuers. Student cards for example are an excellent place to start if you’re a student, as many have lax credit score requirements. Secured cards are another great option if you don’t mind putting down a security deposit to open your account. Both card types are relatively simple and can help you start building your credit. 

And if you don’t feel comfortable managing your own credit card just yet, you can do what I did: ask to become an authorized user on a trusted family member’s credit card. This lets both of you benefit from the main accountholder’s credit habits but frees you from managing payments. Once your score improves and you become more comfortable with how a credit card works, you can apply for a card in your own name.”

— Steve Dashiell, Editor, Credit Cards

Getting your first credit card is an essential first step in your long-term credit journey. Follow this expert advice to make the most of the opportunity and set yourself up for success. 

Make building credit a priority

Starter cards help you start your credit-building journey. While some cards offer rewards, the best starter cards have features like FICO score snapshots, payment reminders and spend analysis breakdowns to help you manage and build credit. 

Limit your applications

Don’t apply for too many cards too fast. Applying for multiple cards in a short period of time could signal to lenders that you want more credit than you can responsibly handle, and the multiple hard credit checks may also lower your credit score. The ding to your credit score for one inquiry is small, but multiple inquiries could make a difference.

Follow standard credit card best practices 

There are several credit card best practices you can leverage that will help you build credit and avoid credit card fees or interest. These are especially useful for new credit users as they establish positive credit habits and are relevant even as you qualify for credit cards for good and excellent credit. 

Be patient

Take your time as you build your credit. Start with one card and make small purchases, pay them off immediately and set up payment reminders so you never miss your bill due date. Typically, it takes six months before you can have a valid FICO score, but how long before you see improvement depends on your goals and situation. Be patient and consistent and your hard work should pay off.  

When evaluating the best cards for building credit, we consider a mix of factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether cards offer features that make it easy to build credit history while minimizing costs.

We analyzed over 50 of the most popular cards designed for people with no credit history and rated each based on its cost, APR, credit-building features and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup.

Here are some of the key factors that we considered: 

Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.

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