Best First Credit Cards (No Credit History)
With no credit file, you can still get approved by cards that use alternative data (bank history, income) or student status. Your first card creates your credit file — pick one that reports to all three bureaus and graduates to an unsecured card over time.
12 cards realistically approvable at this score.
Top picks for No Credit History
Discover
Discover it Cash Back
Best for: Those who enjoy maximizing rotating categories
$0
1%–5%
cashback
$300 value
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards
1%–5%
Intro Offer
$300 value
Discover
Discover it Student Cash Back
Best for: Students wanting maximum first-year rewards
$0
1%–5%
cashback
$150 value
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards
1%–5%
Intro Offer
$150 value
Capital One
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards
Best for: Students studying abroad or international students
$0
1.5%
cashback
$50 value
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards
1.5%
Intro Offer
$50 value
Not sure which card is right for you?
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Discover
Discover it Student Chrome
Best for: College students building credit
$0
1%–2%
cashback
$100 value
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards
1%–2%
Intro Offer
$100 value
Goldman Sachs
Apple Card
Best for: iPhone users wanting a seamless, no-fee cashback card
$0
1%–3%
cashback
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards
1%–3%
Intro Offer
N/A
Chase
Chase Freedom Rise
Best for: College students starting their credit journey
$0
1.5%
cashback
$25 value
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards
1.5%
Intro Offer
$25 value
Bank of America
Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students
Best for: Students who travel internationally
$0
1.5x
points
$250 value
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards
1.5x
Intro Offer
$250 value
Stride Bank
Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa
Best for: People who want a risk-free way to build credit
$0
None
cashback
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards
None
Intro Offer
N/A
Navy Federal Credit Union
Navy Federal More Rewards American Express
Best for: Military families who want low APR and solid rewards
$0
1x–3x
points
0% APR / 12 mo
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards
1x–3x
Intro Offer
0% APR / 12 mo
Coinbase
Coinbase Visa Debit Card
Best for: Crypto enthusiasts who want to earn Bitcoin/ETH on daily spending
$0
1%–4%
mixed
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards
1%–4%
Intro Offer
N/A
TD Bank
Target REDcard Credit Card
Best for: Frequent Target shoppers
$0
0%–5%
cashback
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards
0%–5%
Intro Offer
N/A
Crypto.com
Crypto.com Visa Card
Best for: Crypto holders who want lifestyle perks and high cashback rates
$0
1%–3%
mixed
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards
1%–3%
Intro Offer
N/A
Approval odds by issuer at No FICO yet
| Issuer | Approval odds |
|---|---|
| Capital One (Journey Student) | Strong |
| Discover (Student Cash Back) | Strong |
| Petal (Petal 1 / 2) | Strong |
| Chime Credit Builder | Strong |
| Chase | Low |
Odds reflect typical approval patterns at this score band — individual approvals also depend on income, utilization, and recent application history.
Card types to target at this score
Strategy for a no credit history profile
- 1If you're under 21, a student card is the path of least resistance — Discover it Student offers 5% rotating categories.
- 2Not a student? Petal 1 and 2 use bank activity instead of FICO to approve you.
- 3Becoming an authorized user on a family member's seasoned card can give you an instant 2-5 year account age.
- 4Use your first card for one small recurring charge — autopay the full balance to avoid any interest.
What to avoid at No FICO yet
- ✕Skip cards with annual fees for your first card — the fee offsets any rewards you earn at starter credit limits.
- ✕Don't request a limit increase in the first 6 months — it often triggers a hard pull and can backfire.
- ✕Avoid opening two cards in the same week — concentrated inquiries look risky to a thin file.
Compare top cards for no credit history
Comparing the best cards
| Credit Card | Best For | Annual Fee | Rewards | Intro Offer | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discover it Cash Back Discover | Those who enjoy maximizing rotating categories | $0 | 1%–5% | $300 value | 4.7 |
| Discover it Student Cash Back Discover | Students wanting maximum first-year rewards | $0 | 1%–5% | $150 value | 4.5 |
| Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Capital One | Students studying abroad or international students | $0 | 1.5% | $50 value | 4.4 |
| Discover it Student Chrome Discover | College students building credit | $0 | 1%–2% | $100 value | 4.3 |
| Apple Card Goldman Sachs | iPhone users wanting a seamless, no-fee cashback card | $0 | 1%–3% | — | 4.3 |
| Chase Freedom Rise Chase | College students starting their credit journey | $0 | 1.5% | $25 value | 4.2 |
| Bank of America Travel Rewards for Students Bank of America | Students who travel internationally | $0 | 1.5x | $250 value | 4.1 |
| Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa Stride Bank | People who want a risk-free way to build credit | $0 | 0% | — | 4.2 |
| Navy Federal More Rewards American Express Navy Federal Credit Union | Military families who want low APR and solid rewards | $0 | 1x–3x | 0% / 12 mo | 4.3 |
| Coinbase Visa Debit Card Coinbase | Crypto enthusiasts who want to earn Bitcoin/ETH on daily spending | $0 | 1%–4% | — | 3.8 |
Frequently asked questions
How long until I have a FICO score?⌄
FICO requires 6 months of activity on at least one account. Before that, you'll see a VantageScore (same concept, different model) after ~1-3 months of reporting.
Can I get approved with no credit at 18?⌄
Yes. Student cards (Discover it Student, Capital One Journey) and alternative-data cards (Petal) approve new adults regularly. Having income — even part-time — improves your odds.
Will being added as an authorized user build my credit?⌄
If the primary cardholder's card reports authorized-user activity (most major issuers do), the full account history appears on your report. Becoming an AU on a 10-year-old card with perfect payments gives your file an instant foundation.
Should my first card be secured or unsecured?⌄
Unsecured if you can qualify — Petal, Journey Student, or Discover it Student. Secured only if those deny you. Both report identically; the difference is whether your money sits as a deposit.
How much should I spend on my first card?⌄
Aim for under 10% of the credit limit each month. On a $500 starter limit, keep monthly spend under $50 and pay in full. Reported utilization matters more than total usage.