Looking for credit cards for no credit or a limited credit history?

These credit cards are designed for consumers who have no credit history, but not necessarily bad credit. If this describes you, you may have trouble getting approved for most credit cards, so your best bet for a first credit card is probably a secured credit card that will allow you to build a payment history.

It is difficult to qualify for most cards if you have no credit. So if you decide on a secured credit card, you will have to post collateral money upfront, usually equal to the credit line you wish to have. Choose the card wisely, since some come riddled with heavy fees. One of the best lenders to those with bad or no credit is Orchard Bank, which waives the fees on the Orchard Bank Secured MasterCard for the first year.

A pre-paid debit card is the last line of defense for those with limited credit. These are the easiest to qualify for because you have to pay first and spend later. However, they generally don’t report to credit agencies and won’t help you build your credit, plus they face many of the same absurd fees as secured cards.

Fortunately for you, we’ve read most of these terms and have done our best to spotlight as many of these fees as possible. So just start by answering a few questions on the left, and you’ll be on your way to financial freedom in no time.