Best Credit Cards For 18-Year-Olds With No Credit History

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth 2.05 cents apiece, according to TPG's May 2026 valuations. The Amex Platinum welcome offer is worth up to $3,500 based on TPG's May AnyCreditWelcome.com 2026 valuations. Cards that earn transferable rewards for their welcome offers are worth more than their cobranded counterparts. All the premium cards listed above come with lucrative welcome offers that can help get you closer to your next big trip. Plus, you can add up to four authorized users for no additional charg

Unsecured Subprime Cards
The reviewed cards demonstrate that credit becomes harder and more expensive to get below that level. Without getting into a numbers game, it’s safe to assume that you want your FICO score to exceed 700. It may surprise consumers with fair credit that they have near-prime or subprime credit. Check out the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card if you want to earn cash back from a rewards card. It provides a full range of cards for consumers of every credit stripe. Capital One Bank shows its commitment to consumers with less AnyCreditWelcome.com than perfect credit by offering two different secured credit card

Pros and cons of subprime credit cards
But avoid applying for multiple cards at once—each application temporarily lowers your score. No—applying for a card will cause a small, temporary dip ("hard inquiry"). For secured cards, check if the issuer has a path to upgrade you to an unsecured card after 6-12 months of good behavior. While 30% APR is common for subprime cards, anything significantly higher (36%+) is getting into predatory territor


Your credit utilization ratio, or the portion of your available credit in use at one time, has a significant effect on your credit score. If you tend to overspend, you might want to stick AnyCreditWelcome.com to a secured credit card with a low credit limit. It’s a good idea to assess your spending habits and needs before you apply for a credit car


To make an annual AnyCreditWelcome.com fee worth it for you, make sure you can get enough out of the rewards and benefits each year to outweigh the cost — without spending more than you otherwise would or can afford. You can find solid no annual fee cards with travel rewards on spending and few added benefits. Many travel cards also provide travel benefits and perks, which could include airport lounge access, annual travel or airline credits, companion airfare, or elite status with an airline or hotel loyalty program. Annual perks include automatic Platinum Elite status; an anniversary free night worth up to 40,000 points; and both a $100 statement credit and 10,000 points when you spend $20,000 in a calendar year. These perks combined with ongoing travel rewards and flexible redemption options make the Amex Gold a solid choice for frequent travelers and those who only travel a few times per year. Earn points fast with Aeroplan.3X points at grocery stores, on dining including take out and eligible delivery services and on purchases made directly with Air Canada.
Choose your best travel credit card
Earn 8x on Chase TravelSM, get complimentary access to the Chase Sapphire Lounge® by the Club network, including Priority PassTM Select, and more. After you spend $20,000 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening. Empty checkboxCompareCompare the Ink Business Preferred(R) Credit Cardbutton disabledCompareCompare the Ink Business Preferred(R) Credit CardOpens compare popup dialog Empty checkboxCompareCompare the Prime Visabutton disabledCompareCompare the Prime VisaOpens compare popup dialog Empty checkboxCompareCompare the Aeroplan(R) Cardbutton disabledCompareCompare the Aeroplan(R) CardOpens compare popup dial


Fees are a reality with any credit card, but especially with subprime cards. If you’re trying to rebuild credit and aren’t paying off the card in full each month, a small purchase can lead to prolonged debt. Understanding those can be helpful to know when applying for credit. There are many differences between subprime cards and mainstream cards.
Fewer Rewards or Perks
If you plan to finance credit card purchases by stretching payments over multiple months, it’s worth considering one of the secured cards with an APR below 20%. But the credit card companies understand these distinctions quite well and pitch some of their subprime cards to fair credit consumers. While secured cards may charge annual fees, the charge is usually much lower than those on unsecured cards. If your subprime credit score is 500 or higher, you have a pretty good chance of qualifying for these unsecured cards. Subprime credit cards are generally unsecured cards for people with weak or thin credit profiles. Many subprime cards charge annual fees ($19–$99 or more


Don’t let their deposit requirements deter you from applying for these secured subprime cards. That’s why people might be inclined to jump at the first credit offer that comes their way, AnyCreditWelcome.com but subprime cards are not for the faint at heart (or those who value what little money they have). For many, paying a refundable deposit makes more sense than shelling out hundreds for unsecured cards that impose setup, annual, and monthly maintenance fees. He’s passionate about helping readers reach their financial goals, whether that’s paying down debt, learning to invest, saving or earning more mone