Whether you’ve landed your first post-college job, want to start beefing up your credit file or never had a credit card before, there are plenty of great cards designed for young adults. The best credit cards for young people have low credit score requirements but enough perks to make it worth your time. And, of course, you’ll want a card that builds credit history.
The Discover it® Secured credit card easily scooped the best overall card for young adults and is one of the most highly recommended starter cards out there. It doesn't require a credit score to apply, and after seven months, Discover determines if you're eligible to get your deposit back and upgrade to an unsecured card. It offers 2% cash back on select categories like US grocery stores and restaurants, up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. You'll also get unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases and an unlimited dollar-for-dollar cashback match for your first year. And there are no annual or foreign transaction fees. However, as a secured card, you'll need an opening deposit of at least $200, and like many secured cards, it has a high purchase APR.
Minimum deposit required
Starting at $200
Purchase APR
28.24% variable
Annual fee
$0
Minimum credit score
300
The Discover it® Secured credit card easily scooped the best overall card for young adults and is one of the most highly recommended starter cards out there. It doesn't require a credit score to apply, and after seven months, Discover determines if you're eligible to get your deposit back and upgrade to an unsecured card. It offers 2% cash back on select categories like US grocery stores and restaurants, up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. You'll also get unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases and an unlimited dollar-for-dollar cashback match for your first year. And there are no annual or foreign transaction fees. However, as a secured card, you'll need an opening deposit of at least $200, and like many secured cards, it has a high purchase APR.
Pros
No annual or foreign transaction fees
No credit score required
Up to 2% cash back on select categories
Ability to earn deposit back and upgrade
Unlimited cashback match for first year
Cons
Requires $200 minimum deposit
High 28.24% variable purchase APR
Annual fee
$0
Minimum deposit required
Starting at $200
Purchase APR
28.24% variable
Balance transfer APR
10.99% intro for the first 6 months (then 27.99% variable) Balance transfer fee of 3%
The unique Fizz card has no interest charges, and there's no hard credit check. It's well-suited for credit card beginners, as it works more like a debit card and is secured by an existing bank account. The amount in your account determines your spending limit and adjusts daily based on your balance. Your Fizz card balance is repaid automatically with your linked bank account, and Fizz reports payments to all three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Also, you earn limited-time cashback rewards at places normally located around college campuses. However, you must have a bank account with at least $150 in it, and the Fizz card isn't suited for emergencies because your spending limit is what you have in your linked account.
Minimum deposit required
N/A
Annual fee
$0
Minimum credit score
580
The unique Fizz card has no interest charges, and there's no hard credit check. It's well-suited for credit card beginners, as it works more like a debit card and is secured by an existing bank account. The amount in your account determines your spending limit and adjusts daily based on your balance. Your Fizz card balance is repaid automatically with your linked bank account, and Fizz reports payments to all three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Also, you earn limited-time cashback rewards at places normally located around college campuses. However, you must have a bank account with at least $150 in it, and the Fizz card isn't suited for emergencies because your spending limit is what you have in your linked account.
A second win for Discover, the Discover it® Student Cash Back is a great cashback credit card for students, and it doesn't have any credit score requirements, annual fees or foreign transaction fees. Earn up to 5% on rotating categories such as grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations, up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter. You'll also get 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases. And just like the Discover it® Secured card, the same dollar-for-dollar cashback match program matches all your cash back earned for your first year. This card also comes with a 0% APR intro period for six months, but afterward, there's a high purchase APR depending on creditworthiness.
Minimum deposit required
N/A
Purchase APR
0% intro
Annual fee
$0
Minimum credit score
580
A second win for Discover, the Discover it® Student Cash Back is a great cashback credit card for students, and it doesn't have any credit score requirements, annual fees or foreign transaction fees. Earn up to 5% on rotating categories such as grocery stores, restaurants and gas stations, up to $1,500 in purchases per quarter. You'll also get 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases. And just like the Discover it® Secured card, the same dollar-for-dollar cashback match program matches all your cash back earned for your first year. This card also comes with a 0% APR intro period for six months, but afterward, there's a high purchase APR depending on creditworthiness.
Pros
No annual or foreign transaction fees
No credit score required
Up to 5% cash back on rotating categories
1% unlimited cash back
Unlimited cashback match for first year
0% intro APR for 6 months
Cons
High 18.24% to 27.24% variable APR after intro period
Annual fee
$0
Minimum deposit required
N/A
Purchase APR
0% intro for the first 6 months (then 18.24% to 27.24% variable)
Balance transfer APR
10.99% intro for the first 6 months (then 17.99% to 26.99% variable) Intro fee of 3% of the amount of each transfer for transfers that post to your account by September 10, 2022 with the 10,99% intro APR balance transfer offer described above. After that, 5% of the amount of each transfer.
Minimum credit score
580
Minimum deposit required
N/A
Purchase APR
0% intro
Annual fee
$0
Minimum credit score
580
Best for DoorDash
DoorDash Rewards Mastercard®
As the name suggests, the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® by Chase is a great option if you order with DoorDash a lot — or eat out a lot in general. This card has no annual fee and offers up to 4% cash back on DoorDash and Caviar orders, 3% at dine-in restaurants, 2% at grocery stores (online or in-store) and 1% cash back on everything else. On top of that, you'll get a free one-year membership of DashPass that comes with $0 DoorDash delivery fees if you spend at least $10,000 per year with the card. There's also a limited-time offer to earn 10% off one convenience, grocery, alcohol or DashMart order once per month until December 2024. However, like other Chase cards, you may need good credit to qualify.
Minimum deposit required
N/A
Purchase APR
Up to 28.99% variable
Annual fee
$0
Minimum credit score
670
As the name suggests, the DoorDash Rewards Mastercard® by Chase is a great option if you order with DoorDash a lot — or eat out a lot in general. This card has no annual fee and offers up to 4% cash back on DoorDash and Caviar orders, 3% at dine-in restaurants, 2% at grocery stores (online or in-store) and 1% cash back on everything else. On top of that, you'll get a free one-year membership of DashPass that comes with $0 DoorDash delivery fees if you spend at least $10,000 per year with the card. There's also a limited-time offer to earn 10% off one convenience, grocery, alcohol or DashMart order once per month until December 2024. However, like other Chase cards, you may need good credit to qualify.
Pros
No annual fee
Up to 4% cash back
Free DashPass membership with spending requirements
10% monthly discount on select purchases
Cons
May need good credit to qualify
Annual fee
$0
Minimum deposit required
N/A
Purchase APR
20.24% to 28.99% variable
Balance transfer APR
20.24% to 28.99% variable Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
The Bilt Mastercard offers cashback rewards on rent payments of up to 100,000 points each year. Earn cashback rewards for paying your rent, dining, travel and more. It also has no annual fee or foreign transaction fees. While no specific credit score requirements are listed, it is said to accept fair to good credit. Bilt also offers free rent reporting if you rent with a Bilt property. However, you need to make at least five transactions in a statement period to earn reward points.
The Bilt Mastercard offers cashback rewards on rent payments of up to 100,000 points each year. Earn cashback rewards for paying your rent, dining, travel and more. It also has no annual fee or foreign transaction fees. While no specific credit score requirements are listed, it is said to accept fair to good credit. Bilt also offers free rent reporting if you rent with a Bilt property. However, you need to make at least five transactions in a statement period to earn reward points.
You can only use it for Amazon purchases, but it's a flexible secured card with simple cashback rewards and credit-building opportunities. The Amazon Prime Secured Card offers 2% cash back on Amazon purchases if you have a Prime membership. It requires a minimum security deposit of $100, and you can make your deposit in installments of $50. Also, this card has a very low APR of just 10% and a small late payment fee of up to $5— most secured cards often have an APR near 30% and much higher late fees. Additionally, after a year of careful management, you may become eligible for an upgrade to the Amazon Store card that offers up to 5% cash back on Amazon purchases if you have Prime.
Minimum deposit required
Starting at $100
Purchase APR
10% fixed
Annual fee
$0
Minimum credit score
New / limited credit
You can only use it for Amazon purchases, but it's a flexible secured card with simple cashback rewards and credit-building opportunities. The Amazon Prime Secured Card offers 2% cash back on Amazon purchases if you have a Prime membership. It requires a minimum security deposit of $100, and you can make your deposit in installments of $50. Also, this card has a very low APR of just 10% and a small late payment fee of up to $5— most secured cards often have an APR near 30% and much higher late fees. Additionally, after a year of careful management, you may become eligible for an upgrade to the Amazon Store card that offers up to 5% cash back on Amazon purchases if you have Prime.
Pros
Up to 2% cash back on Amazon purchases
Low $100 minimum deposit
Low 10% variable purchase APR and up to $5 late fee
Upgrade option available
Cons
Can only be used for Amazon purchases
Annual fee
$0
Minimum deposit required
Starting at $100
Purchase APR
10% fixed
Balance transfer APR
N/A
Minimum credit score
New / limited credit
Minimum deposit required
Starting at $100
Purchase APR
10% fixed
Annual fee
$0
Minimum credit score
New / limited credit
Best for young professionals
Ink Business Cash® Credit Card
4.5
★★★★★
Finder score
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card by Chase is a business credit card with nearly unmatched cashback rewards for business professionals with no annual fee and a 12-month 0% APR intro period. Earn up to 5% cash back on purchases at office supply stores up to $25,000 in purchases per year and 5% cash back on telecom services up to $25,000 in purchases per year. If you hit those maximums, the rate is 1% unlimited cash back. You'll also get up to 2% cash back on gas and dining of up to $25,000 in purchases combined annually, then 1% if you hit those maxes. If you have a Chase Business Checking account, you'll also earn a one-time 10% bonus of all eligible cash back earned in your first year. On top of all that, you earn a $350 cashback bonus if you spend $3,000 on purchases within three months of opening the account and a $400 bonus if you spend at least $6,000 within the first six months of opening. However, you may need good credit to qualify.
Minimum deposit required
N/A
Purchase APR
0% intro
Annual fee
$0
Minimum credit score
670
The Ink Business Cash® Credit Card by Chase is a business credit card with nearly unmatched cashback rewards for business professionals with no annual fee and a 12-month 0% APR intro period. Earn up to 5% cash back on purchases at office supply stores up to $25,000 in purchases per year and 5% cash back on telecom services up to $25,000 in purchases per year. If you hit those maximums, the rate is 1% unlimited cash back. You'll also get up to 2% cash back on gas and dining of up to $25,000 in purchases combined annually, then 1% if you hit those maxes. If you have a Chase Business Checking account, you'll also earn a one-time 10% bonus of all eligible cash back earned in your first year. On top of all that, you earn a $350 cashback bonus if you spend $3,000 on purchases within three months of opening the account and a $400 bonus if you spend at least $6,000 within the first six months of opening. However, you may need good credit to qualify.
Pros
No annual fee
0% intro APR for 12 months
2% to 5% cash back on multiple categories
Up to $750 in bonus offers with spending requirements
10% Business Relationship Bonus w/ Chase Business Checking
Cons
May require 670+ credit score to qualify
Annual fee
$0
Minimum deposit required
N/A
Purchase APR
0% intro for the first 12 months (then 18.49% to 24.49% variable)
Balance transfer APR
18.49% to 24.49% variable
Minimum credit score
670
Minimum deposit required
N/A
Purchase APR
0% intro
Annual fee
$0
Minimum credit score
670
Methodology: How we choose the best credit cards for young adults
Finder’s banking experts analyzed hundreds of credit cards suited for young adults and borrowers with limited credit histories. We favored credit cards designed with students in mind, cards that offer cash back or points, and secured credit cards with low deposit requirements. To be considered on our list, the credit cards must meet this criteria:
$0 annual fee
Accepts credit scores under 700
Reports to all three credit bureaus
Secured credit cards with a security deposit at or below $200
How to choose a credit card as a young adult
If you’re under the age of 25, there’s a good chance your credit history isn’t that lengthy, and your credit score may not be great. If you’re new to credit cards, it’s important to know how they work so you can more easily compare the best ones, learn what credit score you’ll need and know what you’re getting into.
Annual fees. Unlike checking or savings accounts, many credit cards have an annual fee instead of a monthly maintenance fee. The credit cards on our list don’t have any, but annual fees are very common, typically starting at $99 per year. When comparing credit cards, if you find one with an annual fee, make sure the perks are worth the cost.
Secured vs. unsecured cards. Secured credit cards require an opening deposit to get started, which acts as a security for the card issuer in case you can’t repay your balance. While they require a deposit, they’re often much easier to qualify for than unsecured credit cards, which don’t require a deposit to open.
Low credit score requirements. Many traditional credit cards may require good or excellent credit scores, often above 700. Secured credit cards tend to have lower credit score requirements or may not require a specific credit score at all, like the Discover it Secured or Fizz card.
Interest rates. Most credit cards have APRs well above 20%, which is applied to your outstanding balance if it carries over into the next billing cycle. With APRs that high, it’s easy to accumulate debt quickly, so as a beginner, you may want to look for cards with low APRs or be sure to repay your balance every month.
Rewards. One of the best parts of credit cards, many offer cashback rewards or points you can earn with purchases. However, if you don’t pay off your outstanding balance each month, the interest charges may outweigh the rewards.
Can credit cards build credit history?
Absolutely! Credit cards build credit history. For many, credit cards are the first step in building credit history, as it’s a flexible form of credit that often doesn’t require collateral.
Payment history. As the biggest piece of your FICO credit score, making up 35% of it, staying on top of your credit payments can really help improve your credit score — and credit card payments count in this category.
Amounts owed. FICO considers your total amounts owed as 30% of your FICO credit score. The less you owe on a credit card, the better.
Credit mix. By having installment loans and revolving credit accounts on your credit history with a positive payment history, you’re showing you can manage different types of credit, which can improve your credit score.
Length of credit history. The older your accounts are on average on your credit reports, the better off your credit score can be. Keeping old, unused credit cards open can benefit your credit score, while closing old accounts can reduce your credit age and hurt your credit score temporarily.
New credit. Applying for a credit card often requires a hard credit check, which can hurt your credit score for a few months, so try to only apply for new credit cards when you need them.
The average American has credit card debt of $3,929, as found by Finder’s Consumer Confidence Index. It’s not ideal to have that much debt looming over your head, so to avoid a mountain of debt and excessive interest charges, here are some tips for managing credit cards as a beginner:
Autopay. Most credit cards let you set up auto payments for the full outstanding balance or monthly minimum payment. Credit cards often charge late fees of around $30 a pop, which adds up quickly. Late payments can also do major credit score damage. To avoid late fees and hurting your credit score, consider autopay.
How credit limits work. Your overall credit limit is a set amount and can change based on your outstanding balance. For example, if your card has a credit limit of $5,000 and you owe $1,000, your limit is now $4,000. If you pay the $1,000 owed, your credit limit is back up to $5,000. In other words, your credit limit doesn’t “reset” every month.
APR vs. rewards. Cashback rewards are nice, but interest charges aren’t. If you’re getting a card because of its enticing cashback offers, pay off your outstanding balance each month, or the interest charges could cancel out any rewards you’re earning.
Balances under 30%. To avoid credit score damage, keep your credit card outstanding balances below 30% of their credit limit. Any higher than that, you may see a decrease in your credit rating.
Try the 15/3 rule. This old guideline stipulates that you make two payments on your credit card balance each month; one payment 15 days before the due date, then another payment 3 days before the due date. This can help keep your balance and credit utilization low and, overall, help reduce interest charges.
Credit increases. Credit limit increases are tempting, but as a young adult and beginner with credit cards, they may not be a great idea — yet. Higher credit limits may tempt you to overspend. Until you get a handle on managing your new credit cards, avoid asking for a credit limit increase until you get the training wheels off.
Can you get a credit card with no credit history?
It’s possible to get a credit card as a new borrower. The Discover it Secured and Discover it Student Cash Back don’t require a credit score to apply, and the Fizz and Chime credit cards don’t perform a hard credit check when you apply.
If you’re struggling to qualify for a credit card due to poor or no credit, some credit-building debit cards lack credit checks, and many have no APR. There’s also the option of becoming an authorized user, where someone adds you to their existing credit card account.
Bottom line
The best credit cards for young adults have low or no annual fees, flexible credit score requirements and perks you’ll actually use. Of course, if you’re over 18 and have good credit, the overall best credit cards may be available to you.
Frequently asked questions
How do young adults get a credit card?
To get a credit card on your own, you must be at least 18 years old, as stipulated by the Credit CARD Act of 2009. You also need to prove you have enough income to afford the card. If you’re under 21, you’ll need a cosigner.
How can a young adult get credit?
Building credit history can be tough for a young person, but it’s not impossible. Secured credit cards are often easier to qualify for since they have security and more flexible credit score requirements, making them a good starting point for young people to get credit.
Young adults can also consider becoming authorized users on a parent’s existing credit cards or taking out more traditional loans on their own, such as auto loans or personal loans.
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 415 Finder guides across topics including:
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