Best Unsecured Cards for Short Credit Histories of April 2023
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ALSO CONSIDER: Best credit cards of 2023 || Best credit cards for fair credit || Best starter cards for no credit || Best rewards credit cards
Most credit cards are "unsecured," meaning you don't have to put up any collateral in order to use them to borrow money for purchases. People with good or excellent credit don't have much trouble qualifying for unsecured cards. Those with short credit histories can have a harder time finding an unsecured card that will approve them without charging exorbitant fees. Even so, when it comes to getting approved for an unsecured credit card, a short credit history is better than none.
If you're starting with no credit history at all, though, getting a secured credit card — a card that requires a refundable security deposit — is still your best bet. After six months to a year of on-time payments and responsible credit use, you might be able to qualify for a better offer.
These cards stand out as the best unsecured cards for people with short histories and fair or average credit profiles (FICO scores of 630-689).
ALSO CONSIDER: Best credit cards of 2023 || Best credit cards for fair credit || Best starter cards for no credit || Best rewards credit cards
Most credit cards are "unsecured," meaning you don't have to put up any collateral in order to use them to borrow money for purchases. People with good or excellent credit don't have much trouble qualifying for unsecured cards. Those with short credit histories can have a harder time finding an unsecured card that will approve them without charging exorbitant fees. Even so, when it comes to getting approved for an unsecured credit card, a short credit history is better than none.
If you're starting with no credit history at all, though, getting a secured credit card — a card that requires a refundable security deposit — is still your best bet. After six months to a year of on-time payments and responsible credit use, you might be able to qualify for a better offer.
These cards stand out as the best unsecured cards for people with short histories and fair or average credit profiles (FICO scores of 630-689).
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Best Unsecured Cards for Short Credit Histories From Our Partners
| Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Intro APR | Regular APR | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply now on Capital One's website | Best for Cash-back rewards | $39 | N/A | 29.99% Variable APR | Apply now on Capital One's website |
Capital One Platinum Credit Card Apply now on Capital One's website | Best for Boosting your credit limit | $0 | N/A | 29.99% Variable APR | Apply now on Capital One's website |
AvantCard Credit Card Apply now on Avant's website | Best for Minimizing impact on credit score | $39 | N/A | 30.74% Variable | Apply now on Avant's website |
Our pick for
Cash-back rewards
on Capital One's website
on Capital One's website
$39
N/A
29.99% Variable APR
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases. When you're relatively new to credit, that kind of rewards rate is hard to find. You can also be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months.
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases. When you're relatively new to credit, that kind of rewards rate is hard to find. You can also be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months.
Pros
You'll get a solid flat rewards rate on all purchases, and you can redeem your rewards in any amount. If you tend to forget about your rewards, you can even set up auto-redemption, where cash back is automatically applied as a statement credit when it reaches a certain threshold. This card travels well, too, because there's no foreign transaction fee.
Cons
There's an annual fee of $39. That means you'd have to put at least $2,600 on this card each year to break even on rewards. This card offers no sign-up bonus and has a 29.99% Variable APR. That makes carrying a balance expensive.
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account. It's that simple
Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you're all set
Our pick for
Boosting your credit limit
on Capital One's website
on Capital One's website
$0
N/A
29.99% Variable APR
For anyone who wants a no-fuss way to build their credit history and eventually increase their credit limit, the $0-annual-fee Capital One Platinum Credit Card keeps it simple.
For anyone who wants a no-fuss way to build their credit history and eventually increase their credit limit, the $0-annual-fee Capital One Platinum Credit Card keeps it simple.
Pros
As with the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, you can be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months. But unlike that card, this one doesn't cost you anything to keep in your wallet (assuming you don't carry a balance). There are also no foreign transaction fees.
Cons
There's no sign-up bonus, and the card earns no rewards. There's also no introductory 0% APR period for purchases or balance transfers. Use this card to build credit, then move on up.
No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you're all set
Pay by check, online or at a local branch, all with no fee - and pick the monthly due date that works best for you
Our pick for
Minimizing impact on credit score
on Avant's website
on Avant's website
$39
N/A
30.74% Variable
The AvantCard Credit Card is an option for applicants with a thin credit file who don't want to risk hurting their credit scores by applying for multiple cards in search of approval. That's because you first complete a pre-qualification process that doesn't need a hard credit pull. That will give you an idea of your likelihood of being accepted for the card, and the terms you'd be eligible for, without the ding to your credit. If you'd like to proceed from there, you can complete the application process with a hard credit pull.
The AvantCard Credit Card is an option for applicants with a thin credit file who don't want to risk hurting their credit scores by applying for multiple cards in search of approval. That's because you first complete a pre-qualification process that doesn't need a hard credit pull. That will give you an idea of your likelihood of being accepted for the card, and the terms you'd be eligible for, without the ding to your credit. If you'd like to proceed from there, you can complete the application process with a hard credit pull.
Pros
Avant's underwriting model takes into account other factors beyond applicants' credit histories, like income and other debt obligations. This can make it easier to qualify for the card without a long credit history. Also, the card doesn't charge a foreign transaction fee and reports to the three major credit bureaus — TransUnion, Equifax and Experian — which helps you build your credit history.
Cons
There's no sign-up bonus, no rewards program and no 0% intro APR, but there is a $39 annual fee.
No deposit required.
Reports to all three major credit bureaus.
No penalty APR.
No hidden fees.
We may periodically review your account for credit line increases.
Fast and easy application process.
Cash Advance Fee: 3%, Min: $10.
Disclosure: If you are charged interest, the charge will be no less than $1.00.
Avant branded credit products are issued by WebBank, member FDIC.
Checking your eligibility does not affect your credit score.
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST UNSECURED CARDS FOR SHORT CREDIT HISTORY
Click the card name to read our review. Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.
Our pick for: Cash-back rewards
This card for people with fair or "average" credit pays the same cash-back rate as the regular Quicksilver card, which targets people with excellent credit. The key difference is that this version charges an annual fee while the regular one does not. Read our review.
Our pick for: Boosting your credit limit
You don't get rewards with the Capital One Platinum Credit Card, or a sign-up bonus or a 0% period. But if you've got fair credit and you need a card you can use to build credit without paying an annual fee, it's definitely worth a look. Read our review.
Our pick for: Minimizing impact on credit score
The AvantCard Credit Card is an option for applicants with a thin credit file who don't want to risk hurting their credit scores by applying for multiple cards in search of approval. You first go through a pre-qualification process that doesn't require a hard credit check. That will give you an idea of your likelihood of being accepted. If you'd like to proceed from there, you can complete the application process with a full credit check. Read our review.
Last updated on March 30, 2023
