Best credit cards for no credit of July 2024
Updated 5:20 p.m. UTC June 27, 2024
Editorial Note: Blueprint may earn a commission from affiliate partner links featured here on our site. This commission does not influence our editors' opinions or evaluations. Please view our full advertiser disclosure policy.
When you have no credit history, it’s often difficult to qualify for the best available credit cards. The best credit cards for no credit feature approval criteria that’s easy to satisfy even if you don’t have any credit history or a credit score. Plus they come with features and perks you’ll actually want to use. We combed through the details of each one to come up with our selections for the best credit cards for no credit of 2024.
Best credit cards for no credit of July 2024
- Chase Freedom Rise℠*: Best credit card for no credit.
- Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card*: Best for preapproval.
- U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Secured Visa® Card*: Best for rewards.
- Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card*: Best unlimited cash back for a secured card.
Why trust our credit card experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 50+ cards analyzed.
- 14+ data points analyzed.
- 5-step fact-checking process.
Compare the best cards for no credit
Earn a $25 statement credit after signing up for automatic payments within the first three months of account opening.
N/A
N/A
N/A
The information for the Chase Freedom Rise℠ has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
The Chase Freedom Rise℠ * The information for the Chase Freedom Rise℠ has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. earned the top spot thanks to a combination of benefits that aren’t always easy to find in a card designed for consumers trying to build credit history. This includes a decent cash-back rewards rate, a welcome bonus and increased odds of qualifying if you own a qualifying Chase checking account.
Pros:
- Easily attainable welcome bonus.
- Increased odds of qualifying if you have an eligible Chase checking account.
- Reports to all three major credit bureaus.
Cons:
- No bonus categories.
- You may need to open a Chase bank account to qualify.
- Not available to those with bad credit.
Card details
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
- Welcome bonus: $25 statement credit after enrolling in autopay in the first three months of account opening.
- Foreign transaction fees: 3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
The information for the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
Capital One has a handy preapproval tool to evaluate your odds of being approved with no impact to your credit score. While preapproval does not guarantee you’ll be granted the card once you formally apply, your chances of acceptance are greater if you do meet the requirements. If approved for the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. , you can earn an unlimited flat-rate of cash-back rewards on every purchase.
Pros:
- Potential to upgrade to an unsecured version with time and good payment behavior.
- Automatic credit line review after six months.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons:
- Very high APR.
- Minimum security deposit of $200 required.
- No welcome offer.
Card details
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 1.5% cash back on purchases and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- Welcome bonus: None.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Secured Visa® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Secured Visa® Card * The information for the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Secured Visa® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. offers the best cash-back rewards rate among the cards on this list. It’s rare for a secured card to offer up rewards as high as this one in several categories. Your points can then be redeemed for travel, cash back, gift cards and merchandise and are worth 1 cent each.
Pros:
- High rewards rate for common spending categories.
- Automatic upgrade potential to an unsecured version of the card.
- Reports account activity to all three credit bureaus.
Cons:
- A higher minimum $300 security deposit is required.
- No preapproval tool.
- High variable APR.
Card details
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 4 points per $1 on dining, takeout and restaurant delivery, 2 points per $1 at grocery stores, grocery delivery, streaming services, gas stations and EV charging stations and 1 point per $1 on all other eligible purchases.
- Welcome bonus: None.
- Foreign transaction fees: None.
The information for the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
The Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card * The information for the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. offers a unique value for a secured card: Unlimited cash-back rewards on all eligible purchases. Secured credit cards and rewards don’t always go hand in hand, so this benefit might make a difference if you’re trying to figure out which secured credit card is the best option to help you establish credit for the first time.
Pros:
- Unlimited, flat cash-back rewards rate on all purchases.
- Reports account activity to all three credit bureaus.
- No preapproval tool.
Cons:
- No welcome offer.
- Security deposit of at least $200 required to open the account.
- Very high APR.
Card details
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
- Welcome bonus: None.
- Foreign transaction fees: 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction.
Methodology
Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. Factors we considered included:
- Annual fee: 20%.
- Card APR: 15%.
- Foreign exchange fees: 5%.
- Welcome bonus: 10%.
- Estimated annual earnings: 40%.
- Cellphone insurance: 5%.
- Extended warranty coverage: 5%.
How to choose a credit card for no credit
A credit card has the potential to be a useful tool when trying to establish a credit history and credit score for the first time. Yet it’s important to do your research before you start filling out applications for your first credit cards. If you don’t choose the right credit card for your situation, you might experience the frustration of applying for credit cards you’re not eligible to open.
Consider the criteria below as you try to choose a credit card for no credit that works for you.
- Credit requirements: The best credit cards for no credit should feature qualification criteria you can satisfy without no previous credit history and with no credit score.
- Fees: Many credit cards for no credit feature no annual fee. So, you may want to think twice if a card you’re considering comes with this type of yearly charge. However, there could be other fees you might incur, including foreign transaction fees, balance transfer fees and late fees, depending on how you use and manage your account.
- APR: Opening a credit card with a lower annual percentage rate (APR) could save you money if you need to carry a balance. But the best way to use a credit card and build up your credit score is to pay off your full statement balance every month. Doing so can help you avoid paying interest on your credit card and enjoy the benefits your account has to offer while establishing credit history.
- Rewards: In general, credit cards for no credit aren’t known for offering robust rewards. However, some cards may offer more generous rewards than others.
- Welcome bonus: Although it’s rare to find sign up bonuses on credit cards for no credit, there are a few card issuers that may offer modest welcome bonuses on these types of accounts.
Is a credit card for no credit right for me?
If you have no previous credit history on your credit reports and no credit score established, applying for a credit card for no credit might be worth considering. When you open and manage a credit card in a responsible manner, the account has the potential to help you build and improve your credit over time.
Keep in mind, however, that it’s important to evaluate the pros and cons of credit cards before you apply for an account to establish credit. Although a credit card has the potential to be an effective credit-building tool when you use it wisely, there are ways to build credit without a credit card if you decide a different approach is better for you.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
When you have no credit, it’s important to apply for credit cards with approval criteria that you are likely able to satisfy. A premium credit card that requires a good credit score or an excellent credit score won’t make sense in this situation. However, a secured credit card or a credit card marketed to consumers with no credit will be a better fit.
In general, secured credit cards tend to be the easiest credit cards to open. With this type of credit card, you make a security deposit that serves as collateral and as your line of credit. The security deposit reduces the risk involved for the card issuer. So, even if you have no credit or bad credit, you may be more likely to qualify for a new account.
You typically need to be at least 18 years old to open a credit card in your own name. But you’ll need to show some proof of income in order to qualify. However, you shouldn’t open your first credit card until you feel confident that you’re ready to manage the account responsibly (e.g., making on-time payments and avoiding credit card debt).
If you want to help your child start establishing credit before the age of 18, you could consider adding him or her as an authorized user on one of your existing credit cards.
Whether you have no credit or bad credit, you will face challenges. A lack of credit or a low credit score can make it difficult for you to qualify for financing. Likewise, either of these issues could cause lenders and credit card issuers to offer you less favorable interest rates when you qualify to borrow money.
Yet having bad credit tends to be a bigger issue than having no credit. When you have no credit, it won’t take a lot of time to establish a credit history and build your credit score once you get a credit account and manage it responsibly. By comparison, when you have bad credit, you have to try to repair those issues and try to rebuild new positive credit accounts at the same time.
The best student credit cards for no credit should feature easy qualification criteria and a combination of other benefits that work well for young consumers. No annual fee, rewards, and welcome bonuses are other perks you may want to look for as you shop around and compare offers for these types of credit cards.
*The information for the Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card, Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card, Chase Freedom Rise℠ and U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Secured Visa® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.