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Best Credit Cards for Young Adults and Young Professionals for 2022

Glen Luke Flanagan
Julie Sherrier

August 1, 2022

*Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It may not have been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.

This article was last updated August 1, 2022 . Terms and conditions may have changed. For the most accurate information, please consult the issuer website.

If you are new to credit and have no credit history, our top pick is the Discover it® Secured Credit Card. This card requires a minimum security deposit of $200, charges a $0 annual fee, and offers the chance to graduate to an unsecured card and get your deposit back. It also comes with a solid cashback rewards program.

However, if you have at least a “good” credit score (670 to 739), we suggest you check out the BankAmericard® credit card as it has a generous 0% intro APR, allowing you to save on interest charges for more than a year.

Whether you’re about to graduate high school and go out into the world, enter a college program you’re excited about or take your first professional job and start your career, you’re at a good point in life to make sure your credit score is moving in the right direction. Using a credit card responsibly is one of the best ways to build credit, so we’ve picked out the best credit cards for young adults and young professionals based on a variety of needs.

Best Credit Cards for Young Adults and Young Professionals for 2022

  • Discover it<sup>®</sup> Secured Credit Card
    Best for young adults with no credit history
    Discover it® Secured Credit Card
  • Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
    Best for young adults rebuilding credit
    Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
  • Capital One Platinum Credit Card
    Best for young adults with no deposit required
    Capital One Platinum Credit Card
  • Discover it<sup>®</sup> Student Cash Back
    Best for young adults attending college
    Discover it® Student Cash Back
  • Discover it<sup>®</sup> Cash Back
    Best for young professionals as a first credit card
    Discover it® Cash Back
  • Wells Fargo Active Cash<sup>®</sup> Card
    Best for young professionals to earn cash back
    Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
  • Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
    Best for young professionals for dining and entertainment
    Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
  • Chase Sapphire Preferred<sup>®</sup> Card
    Best for young professionals who travel
    Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
  • BankAmericard<sup>®</sup> credit card
    Best for young professionals planning a big purchase
    BankAmericard® credit card
  • Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
    Best for young professionals who need flexibility
    Citi Custom Cash℠ Card
  • American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card
    Best for young professionals starting a business
    American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Best For Young adults with no credit history

Discover it<sup>®</sup> Secured Credit Card Advertisement

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

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Discover it® Secured Credit Card

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Intro Purchase APR N/A
Annual Fee $0
Regular Purchase APR 24.49% Variable APR
  • About the card
  • Who's This Card Best For?
  • Card Benefits

The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is aimed at applicants with poor/limited credit and is a great choice for a first credit card. You must submit a security deposit in the amount of your desired credit limit (ranging from $200 to $2,500), but after 7 months, Discover will begin conducting monthly reviews of your account to see if you qualify to graduate to an unsecured credit card and get your deposit back.

Plus, you’ll earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically. Many secured cards don’t offer rewards, so this is a nice feature. There’s also a unique sign-up bonus: Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.

The annual fee is $0 and there’s a 24.49% Variable APR.

If you haven’t yet established a credit history, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card can help you do that as it reports account and payment activity to the big three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion). The security deposit protects the issuer, just in case you don’t pay back what you charge to the card — and if you use the card responsibly, you get a chance to get your deposit back when upgrading to a secured card. Note that Discover considers information not just from your Discover it® Secured Credit Card account but any other credit cards and loans you may have as well when making the decision of whether you qualify for an upgrade to an unsecured card.

  • Free access to your FICO Score
  • Alerts if your SSN is found on the Dark Web (if you enroll)
  • 24/7 access to customer service based 100% in the U.S.
  • Easily freeze and unfreeze your card if you misplace it

The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is aimed at applicants with poor/limited credit and is a great choice for a first credit card. You must submit a security deposit in the amount of your desired credit limit (ranging from $200 to $2,500), but after 7 months, Discover will begin conducting monthly reviews of your account to see if you qualify to graduate to an unsecured credit card and get your deposit back.

Plus, you’ll earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically. Many secured cards don’t offer rewards, so this is a nice feature. There’s also a unique sign-up bonus: Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.

The annual fee is $0 and there’s a 24.49% Variable APR.

If you haven’t yet established a credit history, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card can help you do that as it reports account and payment activity to the big three credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion). The security deposit protects the issuer, just in case you don’t pay back what you charge to the card — and if you use the card responsibly, you get a chance to get your deposit back when upgrading to a secured card. Note that Discover considers information not just from your Discover it® Secured Credit Card account but any other credit cards and loans you may have as well when making the decision of whether you qualify for an upgrade to an unsecured card.

  • Free access to your FICO Score
  • Alerts if your SSN is found on the Dark Web (if you enroll)
  • 24/7 access to customer service based 100% in the U.S.
  • Easily freeze and unfreeze your card if you misplace it

Check out our review of the Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Best For Young adults rebuilding credit

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card Advertisement

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

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Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

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Intro Purchase APR N/A
Annual Fee $0
Regular Purchase APR 26.99% (Variable)
  • About the card
  • Who's This Card Best For?
  • Card Benefits

While most secured credit cards require a deposit in the amount of your desired credit limit, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card does things a little differently. After you apply, if you’re approved for the card, Capital One will set your minimum deposit at $49, $99 or $200. Whichever deposit amount you’re required to make, you’ll receive a starting credit limit of $200.

Plus, the issuer will automatically consider your account for a credit limit increase in as little as six months, and will also monitor your account to see if you qualify to get your deposit refunded based on responsible usage. Note that there isn’t a set timeline for when you might qualify for such a refund, however.

The card’s annual fee is $0 and it comes with a 26.99% (variable) APR.

When you envision consumers who need to rebuild credit, you might not typically think of young adults — but it can happen. For example, if a parent or guardian commits identity theft by using a child’s information to open credit cards and then doesn’t pay the cards off, a young adult could wind up with a damaged credit score without even realizing it.

If this has happened to you, you’ll want to report identity theft at identitytheft.gov and file disputes on the fraudulent accounts with the three major consumer credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion).

But while you’re going through the process of trying to fix the damage done, you might struggle to get approved for financial products such as credit cards and loans. That’s where a card such as the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card, aimed at applicants with poor/limited credit, can help.

You’ll have to submit a security deposit to the issuer, but in other regards, it functions just like any other credit card. You can use it responsibly, pay it on time, and use it to build positive credit history with the credit bureaus and improve your credit score.

  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Free access to your VantageScore through CreditWise
  • Easily lock your card if you misplace it

While most secured credit cards require a deposit in the amount of your desired credit limit, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card does things a little differently. After you apply, if you’re approved for the card, Capital One will set your minimum deposit at $49, $99 or $200. Whichever deposit amount you’re required to make, you’ll receive a starting credit limit of $200.

Plus, the issuer will automatically consider your account for a credit limit increase in as little as six months, and will also monitor your account to see if you qualify to get your deposit refunded based on responsible usage. Note that there isn’t a set timeline for when you might qualify for such a refund, however.

The card’s annual fee is $0 and it comes with a 26.99% (variable) APR.

When you envision consumers who need to rebuild credit, you might not typically think of young adults — but it can happen. For example, if a parent or guardian commits identity theft by using a child’s information to open credit cards and then doesn’t pay the cards off, a young adult could wind up with a damaged credit score without even realizing it.

If this has happened to you, you’ll want to report identity theft at identitytheft.gov and file disputes on the fraudulent accounts with the three major consumer credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion).

But while you’re going through the process of trying to fix the damage done, you might struggle to get approved for financial products such as credit cards and loans. That’s where a card such as the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card, aimed at applicants with poor/limited credit, can help.

You’ll have to submit a security deposit to the issuer, but in other regards, it functions just like any other credit card. You can use it responsibly, pay it on time, and use it to build positive credit history with the credit bureaus and improve your credit score.

  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Free access to your VantageScore through CreditWise
  • Easily lock your card if you misplace it

Check out our review of the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Best For Young adults with no deposit required

Capital One Platinum Credit Card Advertisement

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

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Capital One Platinum Credit Card

(0) Reviews
Intro Purchase APR N/A
Annual Fee $0
Regular Purchase APR 26.99% (Variable)
  • About the card
  • Who's This Card Best For?
  • Card Benefits

The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is a basic, no-frills card. It offers no rewards or sign-up bonus. However, it charges a $0 annual fee and is available to applicants with fair/limited credit.

You may also be considered for a higher credit limit in as little as six months, which is a nice feature in the event you’re initially granted a low credit limit. The card’s APR is 26.99% (variable).

If you’re looking for a good first credit card that doesn’t require a security deposit, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card fits the bill. Unlike the Discover it® Secured Credit Card and the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card is an unsecured card — what people typically think of when they think of a “normal” credit card. Once you’ve used this card responsibly for some time, you will likely be able to request a product change to another Capital One card such as the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, which earns flat-rate cash back on every purchase.

  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Free access to your VantageScore through CreditWise
  • Easily lock your card if you misplace it

The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is a basic, no-frills card. It offers no rewards or sign-up bonus. However, it charges a $0 annual fee and is available to applicants with fair/limited credit.

You may also be considered for a higher credit limit in as little as six months, which is a nice feature in the event you’re initially granted a low credit limit. The card’s APR is 26.99% (variable).

If you’re looking for a good first credit card that doesn’t require a security deposit, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card fits the bill. Unlike the Discover it® Secured Credit Card and the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card is an unsecured card — what people typically think of when they think of a “normal” credit card. Once you’ve used this card responsibly for some time, you will likely be able to request a product change to another Capital One card such as the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, which earns flat-rate cash back on every purchase.

  • Foreign transaction fee: None
  • Free access to your VantageScore through CreditWise
  • Easily lock your card if you misplace it

Check out our review of the Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Best For Young adults attending college

Discover it<sup>®</sup> Student Cash Back Advertisement

Discover it® Student Cash Back

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Rates & Fees

Discover it® Student Cash Back

(0) Reviews
Intro Purchase APR 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases
Annual Fee $0
Regular Purchase APR 14.49% - 23.49% Variable APR
  • About the card
  • Who's This Card Best For?
  • Card Benefits

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically. There’s a $1,500 spending cap in the 5% category each quarter, after which your earning rate will drop down to 1% on all purchases.

There’s also a unique sign-up bonus for new cardmembers: Unlimited Cashback Match – 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 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.

Finally, enjoy an intro 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases, after which a 14.49% - 23.49% Variable APR applies. The card’s annual fee is $0.

The Discover it® Student Cash Back is an excellent choice for students enrolled in college or university programs. It offers a chance to build credit history while earning cash back at a generous rate (as long as you remember to activate the rotating categories each quarter). Plus, the intro APR period on purchases can help if you need time to pay off a big purchase such as textbooks or a laptop for your classwork.

  • Free access to your FICO Score
  • Alerts if your SSN is found on the Dark Web (if you enroll)
  • 24/7 access to customer service based 100% in the U.S.
  • Easily freeze and unfreeze your card if you misplace it

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically. There’s a $1,500 spending cap in the 5% category each quarter, after which your earning rate will drop down to 1% on all purchases.

There’s also a unique sign-up bonus for new cardmembers: Unlimited Cashback Match – 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 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.

Finally, enjoy an intro 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases, after which a 14.49% - 23.49% Variable APR applies. The card’s annual fee is $0.

The Discover it® Student Cash Back is an excellent choice for students enrolled in college or university programs. It offers a chance to build credit history while earning cash back at a generous rate (as long as you remember to activate the rotating categories each quarter). Plus, the intro APR period on purchases can help if you need time to pay off a big purchase such as textbooks or a laptop for your classwork.

  • Free access to your FICO Score
  • Alerts if your SSN is found on the Dark Web (if you enroll)
  • 24/7 access to customer service based 100% in the U.S.
  • Easily freeze and unfreeze your card if you misplace it

Check out our review of the Discover it® Student Cash Back

Best For Young professionals as a first credit card

Discover it<sup>®</sup> Cash Back Advertisement

Discover it® Cash Back

(0) Reviews
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Rates & Fees

Discover it® Cash Back

(0) Reviews
Intro Purchase APR 0% Intro APR for 15 months
Annual Fee $0
Regular Purchase APR 13.49% - 24.49% Variable APR
  • About the card
  • Who's This Card Best For?
  • Card Benefits

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically. After spending $1,500 in the 5% category for the quarter, your earning rate will drop to 1% on all purchases. That means you can earn a maximum of $75 in cash back at the elevated rate.

Plus: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.

There’s an intro 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases, after which a 13.49% - 24.49% Variable APR applies. And there’s an intro 0% Intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers, after which a 13.49% - 24.49% Variable APR applies. The balance transfer fee is 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*, and the annual fee is $0.

Discover is often considered to be more willing to accept applicants without extensive credit history than some other credit card issuers. If you’re a young professional looking for your first credit card, consider the Discover it® Cash Back. It earns cash back at a generous rate (as long as you activate the quarterly categories) and comes with a unique cashback match the first year you have the card.

While the cashback categories can change from year to year, here’s what Discover offered in 2022 to give you an idea of what to expect:

  • Jan. – March: Grocery stores, fitness club and gym memberships
  • April – June: Gas stations and Target
  • July – Sept.: Restaurants and PayPal
  • Oct. – Dec.: Amazon.com and digital wallets
  • Free access to your FICO Score
  • Alerts if your SSN is found on the Dark Web (if you enroll)
  • 24/7 access to customer service based 100% in the U.S.
  • Easily freeze and unfreeze your card if you misplace it

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically. After spending $1,500 in the 5% category for the quarter, your earning rate will drop to 1% on all purchases. That means you can earn a maximum of $75 in cash back at the elevated rate.

Plus: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.

There’s an intro 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases, after which a 13.49% - 24.49% Variable APR applies. And there’s an intro 0% Intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers, after which a 13.49% - 24.49% Variable APR applies. The balance transfer fee is 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*, and the annual fee is $0.

Discover is often considered to be more willing to accept applicants without extensive credit history than some other credit card issuers. If you’re a young professional looking for your first credit card, consider the Discover it® Cash Back. It earns cash back at a generous rate (as long as you activate the quarterly categories) and comes with a unique cashback match the first year you have the card.

While the cashback categories can change from year to year, here’s what Discover offered in 2022 to give you an idea of what to expect:

  • Jan. – March: Grocery stores, fitness club and gym memberships
  • April – June: Gas stations and Target
  • July – Sept.: Restaurants and PayPal
  • Oct. – Dec.: Amazon.com and digital wallets

  • Free access to your FICO Score
  • Alerts if your SSN is found on the Dark Web (if you enroll)
  • 24/7 access to customer service based 100% in the U.S.
  • Easily freeze and unfreeze your card if you misplace it

Check out our review of the Discover it® Cash Back

Best For Young professionals to earn cash back

Wells Fargo Active Cash<sup>®</sup> Card Advertisement

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

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Rates & Fees

Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

(0) Reviews
Intro Purchase APR 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening
Annual Fee $0
Regular Purchase APR 17.24%, 22.24%, or 27.24% variable APR
  • About the card
  • Who's This Card Best For?
  • Card Benefits

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. Plus, earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. Spending about $333.33 per month can help you hit that target. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is geared toward those with excellent/good credit.

The card offers a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases, after which a 17.24%, 22.24%, or 27.24% variable APR applies. There’s also a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, after which a 17.24%, 22.24%, or 27.24% variable APR applies.

To transfer a balance, you’ll pay a fee of 3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%; min: $5. The annual fee for the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is $0.

If you don’t want to worry about activating categories each quarter or earning a higher rate on some purchases and a lower rate on others, you need a flat-rate cashback card. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a stellar choice in that case.

The cash back you earn with this card can be redeemed toward past purchases, as a credit to a qualifying Wells Fargo credit card, checking account, or mortgage, for cash at a Wells Fargo ATM (requires a Wells Fago ATM card or debit card) or for gift cards from a variety of retailers.

Note that the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has a 3% foreign transaction fee, so it’s not the best card to take when traveling abroad.

  • Cellphone protection of up to $600 (subject to a $25 deductible)
  • 24/7 access to the Visa Signature Concierge
  • Benefits when you stay at a property in the Visa Signature Hotel Collection

Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. Plus, earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 3 months. Spending about $333.33 per month can help you hit that target. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is geared toward those with excellent/good credit.

The card offers a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases, after which a 17.24%, 22.24%, or 27.24% variable APR applies. There’s also a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on qualifying balance transfers, after which a 17.24%, 22.24%, or 27.24% variable APR applies.

To transfer a balance, you’ll pay a fee of 3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%; min: $5. The annual fee for the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is $0.

If you don’t want to worry about activating categories each quarter or earning a higher rate on some purchases and a lower rate on others, you need a flat-rate cashback card. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a stellar choice in that case.

The cash back you earn with this card can be redeemed toward past purchases, as a credit to a qualifying Wells Fargo credit card, checking account, or mortgage, for cash at a Wells Fargo ATM (requires a Wells Fago ATM card or debit card) or for gift cards from a variety of retailers.

Note that the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card has a 3% foreign transaction fee, so it’s not the best card to take when traveling abroad.

  • Cellphone protection of up to $600 (subject to a $25 deductible)
  • 24/7 access to the Visa Signature Concierge
  • Benefits when you stay at a property in the Visa Signature Hotel Collection

Check out our review of the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card

Best For Young professionals for dining and entertainment

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Advertisement

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

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Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

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Intro Purchase APR 0% intro on purchases for 15 months
Annual Fee $0
Regular Purchase APR 16.49% - 26.49% (Variable)
  • About the card
  • Who's This Card Best For?
  • Card Benefits

This card offers excellent cashback rates in several useful categories. Earn 3% Cash Back on dining and entertainment; 3% Cash Back on popular streaming services; 3% Cash Back at grocery stores; 1% Cash Back on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and tickets at Vivid Seats.

Plus, earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. The rewards and sign-up bonus are especially competitive on a $0 annual fee card.

There’s 0% intro on purchases for 15 months, after which a 16.49% - 26.49% (variable) APR applies.

Whether you’re out at a restaurant for a work lunch with colleagues, hosting a meal at home with friends using groceries you picked out just for the occasion, or going on a date to the movie theater, paying with the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card can help offset some of those expenses.

Plus, if you happen to be planning a vacation abroad, you’ll appreciate that this card comes with a foreign transaction fee of none. That means you’re free to explore exciting new cuisine without worrying about an extra fee being tacked onto every purchase you make.

  • Extended warranty
  • Travel accident insurance
  • Special access to music events, culinary experiences, and sporting events
  • Easily lock your card if you misplace it
  • 24/7 access to a complimentary concierge service

This card offers excellent cashback rates in several useful categories. Earn 3% Cash Back on dining and entertainment; 3% Cash Back on popular streaming services; 3% Cash Back at grocery stores; 1% Cash Back on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and tickets at Vivid Seats.

Plus, earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening. The rewards and sign-up bonus are especially competitive on a $0 annual fee card.

There’s 0% intro on purchases for 15 months, after which a 16.49% - 26.49% (variable) APR applies.

Whether you’re out at a restaurant for a work lunch with colleagues, hosting a meal at home with friends using groceries you picked out just for the occasion, or going on a date to the movie theater, paying with the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card can help offset some of those expenses.

Plus, if you happen to be planning a vacation abroad, you’ll appreciate that this card comes with a foreign transaction fee of none. That means you’re free to explore exciting new cuisine without worrying about an extra fee being tacked onto every purchase you make.

  • Extended warranty
  • Travel accident insurance
  • Special access to music events, culinary experiences, and sporting events
  • Easily lock your card if you misplace it
  • 24/7 access to a complimentary concierge service

Check out our review of the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Best For Young professionals who travel

Chase Sapphire Preferred<sup>®</sup> Card Advertisement

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

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Intro Purchase APR N/A
Annual Fee $95
Regular Purchase APR 17.49% - 24.49% Variable
  • About the card
  • Who's This Card Best For?
  • Card Benefits

Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases. 1X on other purchases.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also offers a generous sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

There’s a $95 annual fee, but the value of the sign-up bonus easily outweighs the cost of the sign-up bonus in the first year of having the card.

Whether you travel for business or pleasure, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great card to have in your wallet. It has a $0 foreign transaction fee, offers 25% more value per point when you book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, and lets you earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

You can also transfer your points at a 1:1 value to the following airline and hotel partners:

  • Aer Lingus AerClub
  • Air Canada Aeroplan
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Emirates Skywards
  • Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM
  • Iberia Plus
  • JetBlue TrueBlue
  • Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
  • Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
  • United MileagePlus
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • IHG Rewards Club
  • Marriott Bonvoy
  • World of Hyatt
  • Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
  • Trip delay reimbursement
  • Baggage delay insurance
  • Auto rental collision damage waiver (primary)
  • Travel and emergency assistance services
  • Purchase protection
  • Extended warranty protection

Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases. 1X on other purchases.

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card also offers a generous sign-up bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

There’s a $95 annual fee, but the value of the sign-up bonus easily outweighs the cost of the sign-up bonus in the first year of having the card.

Whether you travel for business or pleasure, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a great card to have in your wallet. It has a $0 foreign transaction fee, offers 25% more value per point when you book travel through the Chase Ultimate Rewards® portal, and lets you earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.

You can also transfer your points at a 1:1 value to the following airline and hotel partners:

  • Aer Lingus AerClub
  • Air Canada Aeroplan
  • British Airways Executive Club
  • Emirates Skywards
  • Flying Blue AIR FRANCE KLM
  • Iberia Plus
  • JetBlue TrueBlue
  • Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer
  • Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
  • United MileagePlus
  • Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  • IHG Rewards Club
  • Marriott Bonvoy
  • World of Hyatt

  • Trip cancellation and interruption insurance
  • Trip delay reimbursement
  • Baggage delay insurance
  • Auto rental collision damage waiver (primary)
  • Travel and emergency assistance services
  • Purchase protection
  • Extended warranty protection

Check out our review of the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

Best For Young professionals planning a big purchase

BankAmericard<sup>®</sup> credit card Advertisement

BankAmericard® credit card

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BankAmericard® credit card

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Intro Purchase APR 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases
Annual Fee $0
Regular Purchase APR 15.24% - 25.24% Variable APR
  • About the card
  • Who's This Card Best For?
  • Card Benefits

The BankAmericard® credit card charges a $0 annual fee and offers a 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases. After the intro period ends, a 15.24% - 25.24% Variable APR applies.

There’s also a sign-up bonus: Earn a $100 statement credit online bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Finally, the card offers 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After, a 15.24% - 25.24% Variable APR on balance transfers applies. The balance transfer fee is either $10 or 3% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.

Perhaps you’ve just moved into a new apartment and need to furnish it. Or maybe you’re starting a new job and have decided it’s time to upgrade your laptop. Whatever the case may be, between a lengthy intro APR period on purchases and a decent sign-up bonus, the BankAmericard® credit card allows you to pay off a big purchase for more than a year without incurring interest charges.

  • Free access to your FICO Score when you enroll
  • No penalty APR if you pay late (but your credit score will still suffer)

The BankAmericard® credit card charges a $0 annual fee and offers a 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases. After the intro period ends, a 15.24% - 25.24% Variable APR applies.

There’s also a sign-up bonus: Earn a $100 statement credit online bonus after making at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Finally, the card offers 0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After, a 15.24% - 25.24% Variable APR on balance transfers applies. The balance transfer fee is either $10 or 3% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater.

Perhaps you’ve just moved into a new apartment and need to furnish it. Or maybe you’re starting a new job and have decided it’s time to upgrade your laptop. Whatever the case may be, between a lengthy intro APR period on purchases and a decent sign-up bonus, the BankAmericard® credit card allows you to pay off a big purchase for more than a year without incurring interest charges.

  • Free access to your FICO Score when you enroll
  • No penalty APR if you pay late (but your credit score will still suffer)

Check out our review of the BankAmericard® credit card

Best For Young professionals who need flexibility

Citi Custom Cash℠ Card Advertisement

Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

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Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

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Intro Purchase APR 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases
Annual Fee $0
Regular Purchase APR 16.24% - 26.24% (Variable)
  • About the card
  • Who's This Card Best For?
  • Card Benefits

Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. That’s a maximum of $25 per month ($300 per year) at the 5% rate, which is generous, especially with the $0 annual fee.

Plus, earn $200 in cash back after you spend $750 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

There’s a solid 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases, after which a 16.24% - 26.24% (variable) APR applies. And there’s a 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers as well, after which a 16.24% - 26.24% (variable) APR applies. The balance transfer fee is on the high end, however, at 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.

Maybe you don’t want to have to keep track of your top spending category and like the idea of a card that figures it out for you and adapts. Or perhaps you have a carefully planned cashback setup in place with other credit cards and want the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card for purchases where your existing cards don’t earn an elevated rate. Either way, this is a flexible card that is worth keeping in your wallet.

Just note there’s a 3% foreign transaction fee, so this isn’t the card to take if you’re traveling abroad.

The card’s cashback categories include the following:

  • Restaurants
  • Gas stations
  • Grocery stores
  • Select travel
  • Select transit
  • Select streaming services
  • Drugstores
  • Home improvement stores
  • Fitness clubs
  • Live entertainment
  • Free access to your FICO Score
  • Special access to music, sports, culinary events and more with Citi Entertainment®
  • Easily lock your card if you’ve misplaced it

Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. That’s a maximum of $25 per month ($300 per year) at the 5% rate, which is generous, especially with the $0 annual fee.

Plus, earn $200 in cash back after you spend $750 on purchases in the first 3 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

There’s a solid 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases, after which a 16.24% - 26.24% (variable) APR applies. And there’s a 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers as well, after which a 16.24% - 26.24% (variable) APR applies. The balance transfer fee is on the high end, however, at 5% of each balance transfer; $5 minimum.

Maybe you don’t want to have to keep track of your top spending category and like the idea of a card that figures it out for you and adapts. Or perhaps you have a carefully planned cashback setup in place with other credit cards and want the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card for purchases where your existing cards don’t earn an elevated rate. Either way, this is a flexible card that is worth keeping in your wallet.

Just note there’s a 3% foreign transaction fee, so this isn’t the card to take if you’re traveling abroad.

The card’s cashback categories include the following:

  • Restaurants
  • Gas stations
  • Grocery stores
  • Select travel
  • Select transit
  • Select streaming services
  • Drugstores
  • Home improvement stores
  • Fitness clubs
  • Live entertainment

  • Free access to your FICO Score
  • Special access to music, sports, culinary events and more with Citi Entertainment®
  • Easily lock your card if you’ve misplaced it

Check out our review of the Citi Custom Cash℠ Card

Best For Young professionals starting a business

American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card Advertisement

American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

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Rates & Fees
Terms Apply

American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

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Intro Purchase APR 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening
Annual Fee No annual fee
Regular Purchase APR 15.49% - 23.49% Variable
  • About the card
  • Who's This Card Best For?
  • Card Benefits

Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Your cash back is automatically redeemed a statement credit. If you max out the higher rate, that’s $1,000 in cash back.

Plus, earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your card in your first 3 months.

There’s also an intro APR of 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening, after which a 15.49% - 23.49% Variable APR applies. And there’s no annual fee.

To see rates and fees for the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card please click here.

Whether you’ve got a great idea for a new business or you’re already an established small business owner, the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card offers a way to easily keep your business purchases separate from your personal expenses and earn cash back while doing so. Your business doesn’t need to operate on a big scale to apply — something as simple as selling handcrafts on Etsy counts as operating your own business as a sole proprietor, for example.

  • Spend more than your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power
  • Car rental loss and damage insurance
  • Global Assist® Hotline when traveling more than 100 miles from home
  • Free employee cards
  • Year-end spending summary
  • Extended warranty
  • Purchase protection
  • Dispute resolution
  • Amex Offers (enrollment required)
  • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Earn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%. Your cash back is automatically redeemed a statement credit. If you max out the higher rate, that’s $1,000 in cash back.

Plus, earn a $250 statement credit after you make $3,000 in purchases on your card in your first 3 months.

There’s also an intro APR of 0% on purchases for 12 months from date of account opening, after which a 15.49% - 23.49% Variable APR applies. And there’s no annual fee.

To see rates and fees for the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card please click here.

Whether you’ve got a great idea for a new business or you’re already an established small business owner, the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card offers a way to easily keep your business purchases separate from your personal expenses and earn cash back while doing so. Your business doesn’t need to operate on a big scale to apply — something as simple as selling handcrafts on Etsy counts as operating your own business as a sole proprietor, for example.

  • Spend more than your credit limit with Expanded Buying Power
  • Car rental loss and damage insurance
  • Global Assist® Hotline when traveling more than 100 miles from home
  • Free employee cards
  • Year-end spending summary
  • Extended warranty
  • Purchase protection
  • Dispute resolution
  • Amex Offers (enrollment required)
  • Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details.

Check out our review of the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card

Side-by-side comparison of the best credit cards for young adults and young professionals

Credit cardBest forRewardsAnnual fee
Discover it® Secured Credit CardYoung adults with no credit history2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically.$0
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit CardYoung adults rebuilding creditNo rewards.$0
Capital One Platinum Credit CardYoung adults with no deposit requiredNo rewards.$0
Discover it® Student Cash BackYoung adults attending college5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.$0
Discover it® Cash BackYoung professionals as a first credit card5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.$0
Wells Fargo Active Cash® CardYoung professionals to earn cash backEarn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.$0
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit CardYoung professionals for dining and entertainment3% Cash Back on dining and entertainment; 3% Cash Back on popular streaming services; 3% Cash Back at grocery stores; 1% Cash Back on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and tickets at Vivid Seats.$0
Chase Sapphire Preferred® CardYoung professionals who travel5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases. 1X on other purchases.$95
BankAmericard® credit cardYoung professionals planning a big purchaseNo rewards.$0
Citi Custom Cash℠ CardYoung professionals who need flexibilityEarn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.$0
American Express Blue Business Cash™ CardYoung professionals starting a businessEarn 2% cash back on all eligible purchases on up to $50,000 per calendar year, then 1%.No annual fee

To see rates and fees for the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card please click here.

FAQs about credit cards for young adults and young professionals

To apply for a credit card in the United States, you must be at least 18 years old and have a source of income.

While issuers won’t allow someone under the age of 18 to open their own credit card, parents have the option of adding children as authorized users on cards where the parent is the main account holder, which offers a chance for the child to start building credit history.

When calculating your FICO Score, which is the credit scoring method typically used by lenders when deciding whether or not to extend credit, length of credit history makes up 15% of your score. This is something that simply can’t be rushed; the earlier you start building credit history, the better chance you have of reaching an exceptional or even perfect credit score.

The better your credit score, the more likely you’ll be approved for the best interest rates on loans, such as car loans or a future mortgage. Plus, landlords also typically check your credit score before approving you for an apartment lease.

Yes, there are student cards specifically targeted at helping college students build credit. Note that you’ll need to be at least 18 years old and have a source of income to qualify.

No matter how old you are, building credit is a matter of being consistent with good behavior. Always pay your credit cards and loans on time, don’t use more than 30% of your cards’ credit limits (for example, spend no more than $150 on a card with a $500 limit) and don’t apply for new credit products too often.

Methodology

When evaluating the best credit cards for young adults and young professionals, one of the key factors we considered was whether or not a card charges an annual fee. Since young adults are likely to have limited incomes and young professionals may be on a tight budget, most of the cards on this list have no annual fee. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is one exception, charging a $95 annual fee, but it offers enough value to compensate for that.

In many cases, we selected cards that are accessible to applicants with no credit history or limited credit history. For young adults just starting to build credit, the odds of being approved for more premium cards are low until your credit score hits the mid-700s. Plus, all the cards on this list report to the three major consumer credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion), so you’ll be building a positive credit history as long as you pay on time and don’t max your card out.

We also considered rewards. For example, the Discover it® Student Cash Back allows cardholders to build credit while earning cash back at a very competitive rate.

Finally, having an introductory APR period was counted in a card’s favor, because an intro APR offers cardholders a chance to pay down their balance without immediately incurring interest charges.

To see rates and fees for the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card please click here.

Glen Luke Flanagan

  • Expertise: Personal finance, credit scoring, credit cards
  • Education: Radford University, East Carolina University

 


 

Glen Luke Flanagan is a senior credit card writer for LendingTree. He joined the team in June 2019, and covers topics including new credit cards, how your credit score works and what you need to know about credit card interest.
 
Before joining LendingTree, Glen worked in journalism and government communications. As a journalist at newspapers in North Carolina and South Carolina, his reporting won awards from the North Carolina Press Association and the South Carolina Press Association, respectively.
 
Glen earned his bachelor’s degree in media studies with a concentration in journalism from Radford University, graduating summa cum laude in May 2014. He also earned a master’s degree in English with a concentration in technical and professional communication, as well as a graduate certificate in marketing, from East Carolina University in May 2022.

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