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The Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card is accessible for many customers with limited credit, charges a $0 annual fee and gives users the opportunity to earn 1.5% cash back on purchases.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.The Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card is specifically geared to individuals with limited credit, and applicants can boost their approval odds by funding a Chase bank account with $250 or more before applying. There’s no annual fee, and users earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases. There’s even a $25 bonus available for enrolling in automatic payments within the first three months of account opening.
Cardholders may be eligible for a credit line increase after just six months of responsible use. Plus, they also receive additional benefits, including trip cancellation and interruption insurance, purchase protection and extended warranty protection on eligible items.
Who’s this card best for?
The Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card is best for existing Chase banking customers and individuals who don’t mind opening and funding an account with the bank before they apply.
This card is ideal if you want to avoid an annual fee and earn a consistent cash back rate on all of your purchases. It’s also a good choice if you want to start to build a relationship with Chase, which offers some of the best cash back and travel credit cards around.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.The Discover it® Miles offers simple flat-rate rewards on every purchase, making it a great beginner travel card. Cardholders get 1.5 Miles per dollar on all purchases. Plus, Discover will even match all miles earned during the first year.
This card also comes with an intro offer for purchases and balance transfers, which is uncommon for travel credit cards. That means cardholders can save on interest costs for a limited time.
Who’s this card best for?
If you have good / excellent credit and are looking for your first travel card, the Discover it® Miles card is a solid choice. While the card doesn’t offer many travel benefits, it does have a simple rewards structure that allows you to redeem for travel purchases or cash back. It also comes with a $0 annual fee.
Just keep in mind that miles can’t be transferred to other programs — instead, they are mostly redeemable for cash back or statement credits to cover travel purchases.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.The Discover it® Student Cash Back offers college students an opportunity to earn generous rewards and build credit. Members can earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent in quarterly bonus categories that change every three months (then 1% back) and 1% cash back on other purchases. Discover will also double all rewards earned the first year through its Cashback Match program.
Who’s this card best for?
The Discover it® Student Cash Back can help students build a solid credit history and credit score while earning rewards in popular spending categories. The card also offers a 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases, then an ongoing 17.74% - 26.74% Variable APR. That can make it a good choice for students who want to use an interest-free period to finance a large purchase, like a laptop or school books.
The Discover it® Student Cash Back is designed for students with limited / fair credit, and no credit score is required to apply. However, just know that if you want to sign up for this card, you’l need to be at least 18 years old and have a U.S. address, Social Security number and proof of education.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.The Petal® 2 Cash Back, No Fees Visa® Credit Card may not come from one of the major banks, but it does have a ton of features that make it a solid choice for credit building. For starters, this no-annual-fee card has no late fees, returned payment fees or foreign transaction fees, and you can earn rewards.
Cardholders start out earning 1% cash back on all purchases, and can graduate to earning 1.25% cash back or 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Cardholders can also earn 1% to 10% back when they use their card to shop with select merchants through the Petal app.
Petal also offers a Leap Program that lets you get approved for a higher credit limit in as little as six months. This factor is important, since starting credit limits on the card can be as low as $300.
Who’s this card best for?
The Petal® 2 Cash Back, No Fees Visa® Credit Card is designed for people with limited credit looking to build their credit history. The card reports to the three major credit bureaus, which will help you build your credit profile and score through responsible use.
This card also has a unique approval process that focuses on more than just your credit score to get you approved. For example, you can link your bank account to your application to show positive cash flow and banking history. This data can be used to determine your card eligibility and credit limit.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is designed for people who have poor credit or no credit, and it doesn’t even require a credit check to be approved. It’s one of the easiest cards to get to build credit if you don’t want to jump through a bunch of hoops or link bank accounts to your application. It also reports to the three major credit bureaus to help users build credit history.
Who’s this card best for?
Because the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card doesn’t require a credit check when you apply, it may be your best option if your lack of credit history makes getting a card difficult, and you may be able to eventually transition to an unsecured card.
While this card doesn’t require that you have a bank account for approval (unlike some secured cards), you will have to provide some financial information, including your annual income, monthly housing payment and housing payment type when you apply.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.The Capital One Spark Classic for Business is one of a handful of business credit cards available to individuals with fair credit. In addition, it has no annual fee and lets cardholders earn a flat rate of 1% cash back on all their purchases.
Other notable benefits include free employee cards, extended warranties, a roadside assistance program and expense tracking tools for business.
Who’s this card best for?
The Capital One Spark Classic for Business is best for business owners with fair credit, especially since most business credit cards require applicants to have good or excellent credit. This card earn unlimited 1% cash back for your business on every purchase, everywhere, no limits or category restrictions. Plus, earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Just keep in mind that this card’s high variable APR makes it a poor option for carrying a balance. Business owners who need to borrow money and pay it back over time should look into credit cards with lower APRs or small business loans.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card has no annual fee, and the minimum refundable security deposit ranges from $49 to $200. This card reports to the three major credit bureaus, which can help you build credit and work toward an unsecured card.
Further, note that the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card offers a pathway to a higher credit limit in as little as six months, with no additional deposit needed. And with enough responsible card use, you may be able to get your security deposit back.
Who’s this card best for?
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is a great option if you’re looking to build credit with a secured credit card, but don’t want to put down a large deposit or pay an annual fee. (That said, you’ll have to apply and be approved before your minimum deposit is determined, and you’re not guaranteed to get a lower security deposit amount of $49 or $99.)
Still, although there’s no rewards program, building credit without the temptation of spending more to earn more rewards may be a better choice for some consumers.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is an excellent credit card for beginners with higher credit scores. This card earns elevated rewards in a range of everyday categories, including Chase travel purchases, Lyft rides, dining and drugstore purchases. Cardholders earn a minimum of 1.5% cash back on all purchases, and they don’t even have to pay an annual fee.
Members can even earn a $200 cash bonus when they sign up and spend at least $500 on purchases within three months of account opening. An intro APR offer for purchases and balance transfers sweetens the pot even more.
Cardholders also enjoy benefits like trip cancellation and interruption insurance, purchase protection against damage or theft and extended warranties.
Who’s this card best for?
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a solid card option for anyone whose credit is strong enough to be approved. It offers generous, flexible rewards that can be redeemed for a check, statement credits, gift cards, merchandise and even travel through Chase.
That said, the fact this card charges foreign transaction fees makes it less than ideal for people who plan to travel abroad. When traveling internationally, it would be best to use a card with no foreign transaction fees.
Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Welcome Offer | Intro Purchase APR | Regular APR | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card*
Learn More
on Chase's secure site |
Winner
|
Earn a $25 statement credit after signing up for automatic payments within the first three months of opening your account. With automatic payments, just pick a date and dollar amount to make sure your Credit Card gets paid on time. | N/A | 26.49% Variable |
Learn More
on Chase's secure site |
Discover it® Miles*
|
Travel
|
Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers—only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. You could turn 35,000 Miles to 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match. | 0% Intro APR for 15 months | 17.74% - 27.74% Variable APR | |
Discover it® Student Cash Back*
|
Students
|
Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match. | 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases | 17.74% - 26.74% Variable APR | |
Petal® 2 Cash Back, No Fees Visa® Credit Card*
|
No credit
|
N/A | N/A | 27.99% - 31.49% | |
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
Apply Now
on Capital Bank, N.A.'s secure site |
No credit check
|
N/A | N/A | 25.14% (variable) |
Apply Now
on Capital Bank, N.A.'s secure site |
Capital One Spark Classic for Business*
|
Business
|
N/A | N/A | 29.99% (Variable) | |
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
Low deposit
|
N/A | N/A | 29.99% (Variable) |
Apply Now
on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
Best credit card for beginners with good credit
|
Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases. | 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 15 months | 19.99% - 28.74% Variable |
Apply Now
on Chase's secure site |
To select the best card for each of these categories, our credit card experts compared offers for individuals with poor, limited and average credit on LendingTree.com and issuer sites. We chose our top picks based on a variety of factors from there, including each card’s annual fee, interest rate, rewards program and more.
Our credit experts also compared additional card features that apply with each offer, such as benefits offered by the card and the opportunity to increase your credit line with responsible card usage.
The best first credit card for you will likely depend on your credit. If you already have a good credit score due to credit history built with other types of loans, for example, you’ll likely qualify for more types of cards. But if you don’t have much credit, you may only qualify for cards with lower starting limits, or ones that may require a security deposit upfront.
Consider the card categories below and see if any of them work with your financial situation.
STUDENT CREDIT CARDS
Student credit cards are geared toward college students with limited credit history, and most come with lower credit limits as a result. However, student credit cards are typically unsecured with no security deposit required, and many offer rewards for spending. In addition, these cards report to the three credit bureaus to help users build credit history over time.
SECURED CREDIT CARDS
Secured credit cards are designed for those with poor or limited credit who need to build or rebuild their credit history. This type of card requires you to put down a refundable security deposit, which typically starts at around $200. If you demonstrate responsible credit card usage, many will allow you to graduate to an unsecured card, and your deposit will be refunded.
REWARDS CREDIT CARDS
Not all credit cards available to beginners offer rewards. However, many student credit cards and secured credit cards do. Just remember that you really only benefit from rewards credit cards if you pay your balance in full each month and never pay credit card interest. If you carry a balance and wind up paying interest on your purchases, the rewards you earn won’t be worth the extra expense.
BUSINESS CREDIT CARDS
Small business credit cards are designed for business owners who want to have a separate credit card strictly for business purchases. It can be difficult to find a business card for people with fair credit, but the Capital One Spark Classic for Business is one available option.
CREDIT CARD BENEFITS
Many cards offer additional perks and benefits, which may include travel benefits or purchase protections. For example, credit card travel protections can include trip cancellation and interruption insurance and roadside assistance. Credit card purchase protections can include extended warranty coverage or protection against damage and theft.
Before you start applying for credit cards, you should figure out what kinds of cards you might be able to get. You can start to get an idea of the types of cards you could qualify for by looking at your credit score and credit history.
Your credit score is a three-digit number that represents your credit health and typically falls between 300 and 850. The credit range you fall into — whether you have poor credit, fair credit, good credit or very good credit — will greatly impact your approval odds.
Your credit history is another factor that can impact eligibility for a new credit card — but remember, there are other ways to build your credit history (and credit score) without cards. You may already have credit history due to student loans, auto loans or your authorized user status on another person’s credit card. Credit-builder loans and credit building apps are other ways of building credit that don’t require a credit card.
If you’re a college student who wants to build credit for the first time, student credit cards can be a good fit. These cards are typically unsecured, and you may not even need a credit score to apply. Many student credit cards also offer rewards for spending, although they tend to come with low credit limits at first.
Some credit cards let you get prequalified online before you apply, and this step doesn’t result in a hard inquiry on your credit reports. While getting prequalified doesn’t guarantee you’ll be approved after you move forward with a full application, it lets you gauge your approval odds and get an idea of whether you’re a candidate for a card before you apply.
There are also credit cards that don’t require a credit check at all. These cards may be a good choice if your credit score is very low, and you most likely wouldn’t be approved for other cards you may apply for. You can use these cards to build credit so you can get a better card in the future.
You can also become an authorized user on another person’s credit card. This move can help you piggyback off the positive credit history of the primary account holder, which builds your own credit history as they make on-time payments and use credit responsibly.
Becoming an authorized user also gives you the chance to use a credit card with your name on it, though the primary cardholder will be the only one legally responsible for repayment.
After you’ve checked your credit and figured out what type of card you might qualify for, you’ll want to get ready to apply for a card.
Issuer | Starter credit card | Annual Fee | Recommended Credit |
---|---|---|---|
American Express | Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | $0 | Good / Excellent |
Bank of America | Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students | $0 | Good / Excellent |
Capital One | Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card | $0 (see rates & fees) | Limited / Fair |
Discover | Discover it® Student Cash Back | $0 | Limited / Fair |
Citi | Citi® Secured Mastercard® | $0 | Limited |
Wells Fargo | Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | $0 | Good / Excellent |
U.S. Bank | U.S. Bank Cash+ Visa Secured Card | $0 | Limited / Poor |
Chase | Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card | $0 | Good / Excellent |
Don’t rush into a decision. There are plenty of credit cards for beginners to choose from, so take your time when comparing starter credit cards and making your selection. If a card doesn’t seem like it’ll work well for you after an initial review, move on to another one.
Look for $0 annual fee cards. While there are many excellent cards out there with annual fees, it’s best to get started with a no-annual-fee card. This also means you keep your card open indefinitely, for free.
Use your student status. If you’re a college student with little to no credit history, there are cards intended specifically for you. This may help you qualify for a better card than you could otherwise get, like the Discover it® Student Cash Back.
Use your card responsibly. Building credit takes time, though you can demonstrate responsible credit card use by consistently making your monthly payment on time. Try not to run your credit balance up to the limit, either. Both of these will negatively affect your credit score.
Fully pay off your balance each month. While paying on time is most important, it’s even better to pay off your balance in full each statement cycle. This means you won’t pay any interest on your purchases, which lets you truly benefit from any rewards you’re earning.
Don’t cancel your card. Your first credit card is one that you’ll want to keep open. Issuers take into consideration the average age of your credit card accounts. Even if you move on to a better card once you’ve developed a good or excellent credit score, it’s helpful to keep your first card account open.
You can check your credit score in a variety of ways with only a “soft pull” on your credit, which won’t negatively impact your score. For example, you can request a free copy of your FICO Score through Experian, or you can view your credit score with LendingTree Spring.
You can also get a copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus through a website called AnnualCreditReport.com. Your credit reports typically won’t tell you your actual credit score, but they can help you get an overview of your current credit history, the accounts you have open, the balances you owe and other details that can impact your scores.
A good credit score is any FICO Score that falls between 670 and 739, with scores above that range being considered even better. For example, FICO Scores from 740 to 799 are considered very good, while exceptional scores fall between 800 and 850.
Higher scores are correlated with lower risk for lenders, which means creditors are more likely to approve you for a credit card or a loan.
A secured credit card is a type of credit card that requires a refundable security deposit as collateral. This deposit typically dictates your line of credit, meaning a $200 security deposit will get you a starting credit limit of $200 with most cards.
If you fail to pay back charges you make on the card, the card issuer can seize your security deposit. That said, you’ll get your security deposit back automatically if you close your card in good standing with a $0 balance. Many secured credit cards will also refund your deposit and upgrade you to an unsecured version after a period of responsible credit use.
To see rates & fees for American Express cards mentioned on this page, visit the links provided below:
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.
The information related to the Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card, Discover it® Miles, Discover it® Student Cash Back, Petal® 2 Cash Back, No Fees Visa® Credit Card, Capital One Spark Classic for Business and Discover it® Cash Back has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
Tracy Brackman is a senior editor and credit card expert at LendingTree, where she writes and edits educational articles on credit cards and personal finance using her 14+ years of experience in the industry.
Before joining LendingTree in 2019, Tracy worked as a products editor for CreditCards.com, where she developed the credit card products section and wrote breaking news content focused on credit cards.
Prior to that, she worked as a product information manager for Bankrate, where she managed the credit card product details and maintained compliance for two affiliate networks, as well as Bankrate-owned and operated sites.
She began working in the credit card space in 2009 as the editorial department manager for FlexOffers, an affiliate marketing company.
“Currently, I like to use my American Express® Gold Card to earn a high rewards rate on dining and grocery purchases — the two categories I spend the most in each month. I also love the protections that the card provides on my purchases and travel. My husband and I are able to easily combine our Membership Rewards points to use toward flights and hotel stays.”
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