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Best credit cards for no credit history in June 2025

Updated June 14, 2025

Advertiser Disclosure: Bankrate’s editorial team chooses and recommends the credit cards on this page. While we may receive compensation when users apply for cards through this page, our recommendations and card ratings are produced independently without influence by advertising partnerships with issuers.

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Showing 9 results

Best for students

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Cardholder rating

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4.5
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Bankrate score

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5.0
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Bankrate review
No Credit History
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Apply nowLock

on Discover's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

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Cashback Match

Rewards Rate

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1% - 5%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

17.24% - 26.24% Variable APR

Why you'll like this: This card is every bit as valuable as its non-student counterpart, which is rare for a student card.

Best for a low deposit

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Cardholder rating

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4.4
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Bankrate score

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4.1
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Bankrate review
No Credit History
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Apply nowLock

on Capital One's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

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N/A

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

29.74% (Variable)

Why you'll like this: This card can give you a credit limit higher than your security deposit if you pay less than $200, giving you some breathing room while you build your credit.

Best secured card

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Cardholder rating

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4.6
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Bankrate score

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5.0
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Bankrate review
No Credit History
InfoHover to learn more
Apply nowLock

on Discover's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

InfoHover to learn more

Cashback Match

Rewards Rate

InfoHover to learn more

1% - 2%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

27.24% Variable APR

Why you'll like this: This card earns twice as many rewards as most other cards’ base rewards rates in two popular spending categories.

Best for no deposit

Chase Freedom Rise®

Bankrate score

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4.2
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Bankrate review
No Credit History
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Apply nowLock

on Chase's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

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$25 statement credit

Rewards Rate

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1.5%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

25.99%

Why you'll like this: It’s a great fit if you want a low-cost, rewarding starter card that doesn’t require a deposit.

Best for accessible credit

Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card with Cashback

Bankrate score

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3.0
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Bankrate review
N/A
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Apply nowLock

on Firstcard's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

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N/A

Rewards Rate

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1% - Up to 15%

Annual fee

N/A

Regular APR

0% APR

Why you'll like this: You can build your credit while earning interest on funds you deposit on the card.

Best starter rewards card

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Cardholder rating

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4.5
InfoHover to learn more

Bankrate score

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star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
4.2
InfoHover to learn more
Bankrate review
No Credit History
InfoHover to learn more
Apply nowLock

on Capital One's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

InfoHover to learn more

N/A

Rewards Rate

InfoHover to learn more

1.5% - 5%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

29.74% (Variable)

Why you'll like this: Its solid flat rate matches the flat rewards rate of most other flat-rate cards, despite its status as a secured card.

Best for flexible credit line

Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card

Cardholder rating

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4.5
InfoHover to learn more

Bankrate score

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star iconstar iconstar iconstar iconstar icon
4.2
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Bankrate review
No Credit History
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Apply nowLock

on Chime's secure site

Intro offer

InfoHover to learn more

N/A

Annual fee

None

Regular APR

N/A

Why you'll like this: You can build credit in a safer manner compared to other cards, without worrying about extra fees and high interest rates.

Best for building a credit mix

The secured Self Visa&reg; Credit Card<sup>1</sup>

Cardholder rating

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4.3
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Bankrate score

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3.1
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Bankrate review
No Credit History
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Apply nowLock

on Self's secure site

Intro offer

InfoHover to learn more

N/A

Annual fee

$0 annual fee for the first year only, $25 annual fee thereafter.

Regular APR

28.24% APR Variable

Why you'll like this: You can diversify your credit mix with just one product to build credit fast, without a security deposit.

Best for no bank account

OpenSky&#174; Secured Visa&#174; Credit Card

Cardholder rating

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3.9
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Bankrate score

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3.1
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Bankrate review
No Credit History
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Apply nowLock

on OpenSky's secure site

Intro offer

InfoHover to learn more

N/A

Annual fee

$35

Regular APR

24.64% (variable)

Why you'll like this: If you have negative marks on your credit report, you could have an easier time qualifying for this card than other credit-builder cards.

compare
Compare

Compare Bankrate's top credit cards for no credit history

Card name Best for Annual fee Regular APR Bankrate review score

Students

$0
Intro Offer: Cashback Match
Info Icon
Regular APR: 17.24% - 26.24% Variable APR

5.0 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Discover's secure site
Low deposit
$0
Intro Offer: N/A
Regular APR: 29.74% (Variable)

4.1 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Capital One's secure site

Secured card

$0
Intro Offer: Cashback Match
Info Icon
Regular APR: 27.24% Variable APR

5.0 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Discover's secure site
No deposit
$0
Intro Offer: $25 statement credit
Info Icon
Regular APR: 25.99%

4.2 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Chase's secure site
Accessible credit
N/A
Intro Offer: N/A
Regular APR: 0% APR

3.0 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Firstcard's secure site

Starter rewards card

$0
Intro Offer: N/A
Regular APR: 29.74% (Variable)

4.2 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Capital One's secure site
Flexible credit line
None
Intro Offer: N/A
Regular APR: N/A

4.2 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Chime's secure site
Building a credit mix
$0 annual fee for the first year only, $25 annual fee thereafter.
Intro Offer: N/A
Regular APR: 28.24% APR Variable

3.1 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Self's secure site
No bank account
$35
Intro Offer: N/A
Regular APR: 24.64% (variable)

3.1 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on OpenSky's secure site

What makes a great card for no credit?

While you're researching which cards are the best fit to establish your credit profile, here are a few factors to help you determine which options are a cut above the rest.

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A great secured card only requires just the typical $200 minimum deposit, although a few cards may allow a lower deposit or a deposit value of your choice (like a prepaid card). There aren't many unsecured cards available that don’t require a credit history, but the few on the market typically charge higher rates and fees to skip the upfront deposit — and may provide a lower credit limit. 

Great examples: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card, Discover it® Secured Credit Card, Chase Freedom Rise®, Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card

Typically, secured cards require an upfront security deposit (which can be later refunded), so the best options don't charge an annual fee. If you don’t want a card that requires a security deposit, consider an unsecured card for building credit. However, these unsecured cards may commonly come with a $59 to $99 annual fee.

Great examples: Discover it® Secured Credit Card, Discover it® Student Cash Back, Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card, Chase Freedom Rise®

Opportunities for credit line increases and a security deposit refund are some of the best features to kick-start your credit-building journey. Some issuers let you upgrade to an unsecured card with a potentially higher credit limit once you've established a positive payment history, and some of the best credit-building cards automatically review your account for this potential upgrade after six or seven months.

Great examples: Discover it® Secured Credit Card, Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card, Navy Federal Credit Union nRewards® Secured Card*, Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card*

Rewards aren't a given among cards for no credit since building credit is the focus. However, you're more likely to find a consistent rewards rate with a secured card than an unsecured credit-building card.

Great examples: Discover it® Secured Credit Card, Discover it® Student Cash Back, Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card*

A hard inquiry will temporarily lower your credit score, but cards with preapproved or prequalified offers can help you gauge your approval odds and make your final decision without risking your credit score. You can also use Bankrate's CardMatch™ to get personalized card recommendations with approval odds for an extra vote of confidence.

Great examples: Discover it® Secured Credit Card, OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

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Bankrate insight

About 28 million Americans are "credit invisible," meaning they have no traditional credit report with the three major credit bureaus. Without a documented credit history, lenders have no record of your ability to pay back debt, which could make it harder to borrow money, obtain excellent insurance coverage and some housing or job opportunities.

The data behind getting approved with no credit

Issuers began tightening their credit approval standards in 2021 in the wake of the pandemic, and issuers have continued decreasing their approval ratings slowly since. In fact, Bankrate’s 2025 Credit Denials Survey showed that 48 percent of Americans who’ve applied for a loan, credit card or other financial product over the past 12 months have been rejected — with about 1 in 8 people being rejected for a credit card, although this figure is much higher for younger applicants (those more likely to have no credit or a thin credit profile). 

Unfortunately, we don’t expect this to improve in the immediate future due economic uncertainties and the Federal Reserve’s prime rate remaining steady to attempt to balance these factors.

Our proprietary data echoes this trend, indicating that 11.03 percent of Bankrate users with thin credit who applied for a card on our pages were approved — a fairly low approval rate — and slightly lower than the 13.70 percent approval rate we saw at the beginning of April 2025. This is in line with the approval rate changes we’ve seen since then across other credit ranges. Approval rates only decreased a percentage point or less for those with excellent and fair credit, but applicants with good, bad and even thin credit experienced about a 2 to 3 percent drop.

Although it can be hard to say which individual cards offer the best approval odds, you should have a better chance with cards on this page. For an extra vote of confidence, our data also shows more Bankrate users applied to these starter cards than any other (in order of number of card applications):

Bankrate's experience with building credit

How you can best build credit will depend on what you’re most comfortable with and what you can afford.  In my case, I moved out for college before I was old enough to qualify for a secured card or student card, and the authorized user route would have made it harder to manage my own account. Instead, I was able to open a joint credit card with my father at the credit union my family used. A joint credit union card let me learn the ropes with an unsecured $1,500 credit line and lower rates and fees than major card issuers typically provide.

Bankrate experts Steve Dashiell, Benét J. Wilson and Harlan Vaughn offer insight on just how many options you have for building credit, even if you have no credit history.

Bankrate staff insights

“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.

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 cardholder’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 Steve Dashiell, Bankrate credit cards editor

“I got the BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students* in 1981 — during the wild west of credit cards when card companies recruited at colleges with free T-shirts, Frisbees and maybe even a beer (depending on the state's drinking age back then). You'd get a flyer with the fine print, but we were too busy tossing Frisbees to actually read it.

I got the card because my grandfather was a bank manager at Bank of America, and he walked me through the fine print (which I forgot five minutes after the lecture). Looking back, I would have chosen the same card, but I would have been a lot more responsible with it.”

Benét J. Wilson Benét J. Wilson, Bankrate credit cards lead writer

“My first credit card was a Chase student card that's no longer available. I used its $500 credit limit for books and supplies in college, and I still use it regularly 22 years later after eventually upgrading it to a Chase Freedom Unlimited® card. It has served me incredibly well for over many life changes and is an anchor in my credit history.”

Harlan Vaughn Harlan Vaughn, Bankrate credit cards senior editor

*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.

How to make the most of your starter card

When you have no credit, you won’t be approved for top-shelf, premium rewards cards, but you do have the advantage of starting with a clean slate. Having no credit can be better than having bad credit since you can establish yourself as a reliable credit user at the start, but you’ll need to be careful and disciplined with your starter card to make the most of this opportunity. Here are a few pointers to start your credit profile off on the right foot:

  • Clock Wait Icon
    Always pay on time.

    The biggest factor in your credit score is your payment history, so always paying your monthly minimum card payment on time is the best thing you can do to lay a trustworthy credit foundation. Setting up an autopayment could help keep you on track, and also avoid the sky-high interest rates, penalty APR and other fees that starter cards usually carry.

  • Calendar Day Icon
    Pay off your balance each month (or keep it as low as possible).

    Naturally, it takes some time to establish a good payment history and a lengthy credit age (another credit scoring factor). Your credit utilization accounts for about a third of your score, and it's the biggest factor you can actively control, so it's important to pay off your card in full each month. If you absolutely must carry a balance for a short time, keep your balance below 30 percent of your available credit if you can.

  • Calculator Icon
    Save up for a large security deposit, and plan for unexpected expenses.

    Keeping a low credit utilization ratio could be challenging if you have an emergency expense since credit-building cards typically have smaller credit lines. You may want to consider a secured card if this is a concern since you can save up for a larger deposit and obtain a matching, higher credit limit. It may be harder to develop a back-up plan if you choose an unsecured card with a traditionally low limit, but if your card earns rewards, stockpiling cash back for a rainy day could help.

  • Credit Card With Clock Icon
    Consider keeping your first credit account open.

    Closing your first credit card could hurt your credit score if you don't have a lengthy credit history with more than one credit account. It could be worth keeping your starter card open until your credit profile is a bit more seasoned. Don’t forget to use the card occasionally to prevent it from closing for inactivity as well. Setting up autopayment and using the card for a recurring purchase (like a streaming or subscription service) is one of the easiest ways to keep a card active and paid off.

Frequently asked questions about credit cards for no credit history

How we choose the best cards for building credit

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50+
cards rated
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500+
data points analyzed
Debt Icon
250+
fees tracked
Credit Card Reviews Icon
40+
perks evaluated

We select cards for “Best” credit cards pages based primarily on how cards score in our proprietary card rating system, our editors’ subjective assessment of card quality, card approval odds and credit requirements and unique card features. 

Cards typically must score a minimum of 3.0 stars to be included on a “Best” list. However, we may include cards with scores below 3.0 if they have low credit requirements or unique features — despite their scores, these cards may still be among the “best” in certain categories. Card ratings are not influenced by advertisers or issuer relationships in any way. 

Card selection and ordering may vary based on business considerations, including Bankrate visitor interest, site interactions and card application volume. Affiliate commissions (see how we make money), limited-time offers and a card’s general popularity in the product landscape may also influence which cards we feature on our pages and the order in which they appear. Bankrate’s editorial and business teams also strive to feature a variety of card types from various issuers.

Here’s a quick look at how our rating methodology breaks down for cards available with no credit history:

Build credit, minimize fees

Cards available with no credit score can include no-annual-fee secured cards, pricey unsecured cards and many options in between. While fees tend to be a bit more forgiving on cards designed for people with limited credit than cards available with bad credit, cost is still a major consideration. As such, cost is a key factor in our credit-building card rating methodology, along with how easy it is to build credit with the card.

Here’s how overall scoring breaks down for credit-building cards.

  • Cost 45.00%
  • Ease of building credit 25.00%
  • APR 10.00%
  • Perks 10.00%
  • Customer experience 10.00%

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

*The information about the BankAmericard® Credit Card for Students, Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card, Citi® Secured Mastercard® and Navy Federal Credit Union nRewards® Secured Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.