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6 Best Credit Cards for Teens

Getting credit cards for minors under 18 is possible, but you’ll have to go the authorized user route.

Teen with credit card
To get a traditional credit card, you must be 18 years old. This age requirement means that credit cards for minors under 18 don’t exist, since the law forbids minors from getting a credit card on their own.

However, a parent or guardian can add a teen to a credit card as an authorized user — if the bank allows it. Fortunately, many institutions, including Discover, American Express, Bank of America, Chase and Step, allow minors to be authorized users of credit cards.

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Here are the best six credit cards that allow a teen under 18 to become an authorized user.

Best overall

Step Visa Card

9.6 Excellent

Go to site Read review
Minimum deposit requiredN/A
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit scoreNew / limited credit
Step Black Card

8.6 Great

Go to site Read review
Minimum deposit requiredN/A
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit scoreNew / limited credit
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

9.2 Excellent

Go to site
Terms apply, see rates & fees
Read review
Minimum deposit requiredN/A
Purchase APR0% intro
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score670
Discover it® Secured

8.8 Great

Welcome OfferOther
RewardsUp to 2% cash back
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score300
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Credit Card

Minimum deposit requiredN/A
Purchase APR0% intro
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score670
Chase Freedom Unlimited®

9.4 Excellent

Read review
Minimum deposit requiredN/A
Purchase APR0% intro
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score670

Methodology: How we choose the best teen credit cards

Finder’s banking experts look at over 700 credit cards to narrow down the best ones for teens. We only considered institutions that accept authorized users under the age of 18. We prioritized choosing credit cards with flexible credit score requirements, rewards programs and 0% intro APR periods.

To qualify for our list of the best credit cards for teens under 18, cards must meet these minimum criteria:

  • Accepts authorized users under the age of 18
  • $0 annual fee (or an easily waivable fee)
  • Maximum APR of 30%

Can you get a credit card at 17?

Legally, you can’t get a credit card until you’re at least 18 years old. However, teens who aged 13, 14, 15 and so on can often become authorized users on an adult’s account if the bank allows it. This enables them to build a strong credit history and increase their chances of qualifying for better credit card options — such as rewards or travel cards — once they’re old enough to apply on their own.

However there’s a minor stipulation for 18-, 19- and 20-year-olds: the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility Disclosure (CARD) Act requires that they must provide proof of income to show their ability to repay the card’s payments, or have a cosigner who is at least 21 years old. Once they’re 21 years old, the co-signer requirement is lifted, though lenders are still required to ask for proof of income before approving a line of credit.

Are there credit cards for kids under 13?

A handful of banks, such as Chase and American express, require authorized users to be at least 13. Then there is Bank of America and Citi, which have no age requirements for authorized users.

Authorized users age requirements

If you are looking for a credit card for teens under 18, 17 or 16, consider the minimum age for authorized users requirements to find the best fit for your situation.

ProductMinimum age for authorized userAuthorized user fee
No minimum
Free
13+
Free
No minimum
Free
Discover it® Chrome for Students
15+
Free
Discover it® Secured
15+
Free
Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students
No minimum
Free

Is your teen ready for a credit card?

It depends on your teen’s level of responsibility. If you’re not sure they’re ready, consider introducing them to a debit or prepaid card, such as Greenlight. These cards offer a safe way to teach teens how to manage their money while granting them some spending freedom. While debit and prepaid cards don’t build credit, they typically have spending limits and can be a good introduction into the world of spending and finance.

Pros and cons of getting your teen a credit card

Consider these points carefully before you give your teenager a credit card under your name.

Pros

  • Parents have control. You’d be the primary account holder, having control over the account and getting insight into their spending. Alternatively, you can add them to your account to help them build credit without giving them their own card.
  • Builds credit. Adding a teen as an authorized user helps them start building credit history early. This way, they’ll have better approval chances when they’re ready to borrow on their own.
  • Convenient for everyone. Instead of giving your teen cash for meals, transportation or supplies, a credit card means they always have access to funds, which is also helpful in the case of emergencies.
  • Earn rewards. With another user on your credit card account, you could earn cashback rewards or travel points from spending a lot quicker.

Cons

  • Overspending. There’s the risk that your teen goes buckwild with their new credit card and overspends. Avoid this by teaching them how their credit utilization ratio affects their credit score and how high balances make it hard to repay over time.
  • Late fees. These fees are often around $40 per late payment, which can really add up.
  • Could damage credit scores. If your teen overspends and you’re unable to repay the balance on time, it’s a surefire way to damage both yours and your teen’s credit score.
  • Theft or fraud. Although credit card fraud can happen even if you take all necessary precautions, teach your teen to recognize which sites are safe and which aren’t for online use.

What if my teen is entering college?

There are many student credit cards geared towards those exiting high school and entering college. And just because a teen is in high school doesn’t mean they can’t get a credit card. If they’re at least 18, they can apply for a credit card on their own — but they’ll need some income to prove they can repay what they’ve borrowed and may need a cosigner until they turn 21.

For a safer option, there are also secured credit cards and credit-debit cards that are secured by a bank account. One great example the Fizz card, which is a debit-credit card that’s designed with college students in mind. It offers cashback rewards, daily autopay to keep balances down, no interest charges and there’s no credit check.

Bottom line

Getting your teen on the path to a credit card can be a great way to help them financially prepare for the future. However, before you make them an authorized user on an account, be sure they have proper financial supervision and understand the basics of how credit cards work

Frequently asked questions

Can I add my 13-year-old to my credit card?

There’s no legal age requirement for authorized users on credit cards, so financial institutions are free to set their own. If your bank allows it, you can add a 13-year-old as an authorized user on your existing credit card. Some banks, such as Bank of America, Chase and American Express, allow minors as young as 13 to be authorized users.

Can a 14-year-old get a credit card at Chase?

A 14-year-old can’t get their own credit card at Chase, but they can become an authorized user on an adult’s credit card. Chase accepts authorized users as young as 13.

How do you start building a child’s credit history?

Many parents add their children as authorized users on an existing credit card. However, to make sure they receive credit history, check the bank’s or credit union’s reporting practices. Learn more about building credit.

Holly Jennings's headshot
To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Holly Jennings as part of our fact-checking process.
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Written by

Editor, Banking

Bethany Hickey is the banking editor and personal finance expert at Finder, specializing in banking, lending, insurance, and crypto. Bethany’s expertise in personal finance has garnered recognition from esteemed media outlets, such as Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GOBankingRates, SuperMoney, AOL and Newsweek. Her articles offer practical financial strategies to Americans, empowering them to make decisions that meet their financial goals. Her past work includes articles on generational spending and saving habits, lending, budgeting and managing debt. Before joining Finder, she was a content manager where she wrote hundreds of articles and news pieces on auto financing and credit repair for CarsDirect, Auto Credit Express and The Car Connection, among others. Bethany holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan-Flint, and was poetry editor for the university’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine. See full bio

Bethany's expertise
Bethany has written 427 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Personal finance
  • Banking
  • Auto loans
  • Insurance
  • Cryptocurrency and NFTs

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