Credit Cards That Don’t Charge Interest
If you're worried about falling into a debt spiral, you can find credit cards that don't have an APR. But they tend to come with strings attached.
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Credit cards that don’t charge interest — but still help you build credit — have carved out a niche in the market in recent years. Their built-in guardrails prevent debt or overspending and are typically best for credit beginners or second-chance seekers who can't qualify for more traditional cards.
Of course, even with traditional cards that do have an annual percentage rate (APR), interest charges are avoidable if you pay off the balance in full every month. But when you're just learning how to manage credit, that may be easier said than done. Credit cards with no APR generally don't even allow you to carry a balance, making it difficult to fall into a debt spiral.
But there's usually a trade-off with these products: You may need to link a bank account, or pay a monthly fee that could end up being more expensive than interest. You may not get a very big credit limit, or you might face limits on where you can use the card. The card may not feature comprehensive credit reporting or may not offer an upgrade path. It might even be invite-only.
Depending on your circumstances, credit scores and spending habits, you may want to consider other options, such as a traditional secured credit card. But if you think you'd benefit from some credit-management training wheels, here are some credit cards that don't charge interest.
Buzzy but less established cards from fintechs or startups can serve as steppingstones when your credit-building options are slim. But they're also particularly prone to significant changes in terms and conditions as they find their place in the market. Keep that in mind as you peruse this list.
Cards that require a linked account
Current Build Card
The Current Build Card has no APR and charges an annual fee of $0 (see terms). There's no credit check or minimum security deposit, and it reports to the three main credit bureaus. It's also possible earn rewards with the card if you meet specific criteria.
You'll need to open a Current account to get the card, and the money in that account serves as your security deposit and credit limit.
There is, however, no upgrade path to a better card from Current when you're ready.
Varo Believe Secured Credit Card
The $0-annual-fee Varo Believe Secured Credit Card doesn't charge interest, doesn't require a credit check, and doesn't have a minimum security deposit requirement. It reports to all the major credit bureaus, and it's possible to earn limited rewards through card-linked offers with select merchants.
To be eligible for the Varo card, you must have a Varo account, which allows you to set the card's credit limit. The account doesn’t charge a fee, but you'll need to have received direct deposits of at least $200 in the past 31 days to qualify.
There's no upgrade path.
Cred.ai Card
The $0-annual-fee Cred.ai Card (aka the "Unicorn Card") isn't as simple to grasp as other cards given the company’s marketing jargon. What you need to know is that you can avoid interest charges when the card is paired with a Cred.ai deposit account. The money in that account sets your spending limit on the card, and having the account also enrolls you in automatic payment and the "Cred.ai Guaranty," which covers any interest or fees you might otherwise incur if autopay were to fail for some reason.
There's no upgrade option, and unlike some other cards on this list, this one doesn't earn rewards. But there's no credit check, and it reports payments to all three major bureaus.
Cards with no Social Security number requirement
Neu Card 1
The Neu Card 1 doesn't charge interest, but it has an annual fee of $84 ($7 monthly fee). Still, it might be a good fit for international applicants because, unlike most other cards, you don't need a U.S. credit history or Social Security number to qualify. The card also earns 3% cash back on air travel purchases, and travel rewards are a rare feature on a card meant for beginners.
However, as of January 2026, the Neu Card 1 reports payments to only two of the three credit bureaus. And while there is a version of the card — the Neu Card 2 — that doesn't charge a monthly or annual fee, you can't upgrade to it. (And that version does indeed charge interest.)
Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card
The Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card doesn't have an APR and also doesn't require a Social Security number to apply. In addition, there's no credit check and no minimum security deposit requirement. It reports to all three credit bureaus and can earn modest cash-back rewards.
But as with some of the other options on this list, you'll need a linked deposit account (in this case with Firstcard), which lets you set your credit limit with the card. It's also a more expensive choice, with an annual fee of $72-$144/year, depending on subscription plan. The fee you pay will determine your rewards rate, the interest earned on your deposit, and whether you pay foreign transaction fees.
It lacks a traditional upgrade path, but it's possible to get a more rewarding card from the company by paying for a more expensive subscription plan.
Other cards that require a monthly or annual fee
Grow Credit Mastercard
The Grow Credit Mastercard can help you build credit when you use it to pay for qualifying subscription services like Netflix, Spotify, etc. (Typically, those kinds of payments aren't factored into your credit reports.) The card doesn’t charge interest, but it does require a monthly membership fee, which ranges from $3.99 to $12.99. The more expensive the plan, the higher the spending limit you'll have and the more subscriptions you'll be allowed to pay with it. The card reports to all three credit bureaus.
There's no credit check and you don't need to open a separate account with Grow Credit. But you will need to link an existing bank account through a third-party service (Plaid) to determine your eligibility for the card.
Note, too, that you won't be able to use the card for anything that's not included in your membership plan. There's also no upgrade path to a better card with Grow Credit.
TD Clear Visa Platinum Credit Card
The TD Clear Visa Platinum Credit Card is the rare card from a traditional bank — not a startup or fintech — that doesn’t charge interest. But it’s also among the most expensive on this list, and it doesn't earn rewards to help offset some of that cost.
Instead of an APR, you'll owe a monthly fee that can range as high as $20. The higher the fee, the higher the credit limit. (The credit limit you receive is based on your creditworthiness, so there will be a credit check.) The card doesn't charge a late-payment or foreign transaction fee.
Just keep in mind that as with other cards on this list that charge monthly fees, you'll owe that amount regardless of whether you actually use the card for purchases.
Ava Credit Builder Card
The Ava Credit Builder Card doesn't charge interest and doesn't require a credit check. But there's a cost involved, and you'll face limits on where you can use it and how much you can spend with it. It’s linked to a membership service that gives you access to Ava products for $96 annually ($8 per month) if you pay upfront. If you choose not to pay upfront, the cost is $10 per month.
The card limits your spending to the Ava store and Ava-approved merchants. It reports payments to the three major credit bureaus, but there's no upgrade path to a better product from Ava when you're ready to move on.
Super.com Card
The Super.com Card is a secured card that doesn't charge interest and doesn't require a credit check. You'll need to connect a debit card or bank account and use it to fund your Super.com deposit account, which determines your credit limit with the card.
Technically, the card doesn't charge an annual fee, but to get it, you'll need a Super+ membership. and that costs $15 per month. Membership includes things like discounts in certain spending categories and other perks. It does earn modest rewards, and payments are reported to the three major credit bureaus. But there's no upgrade path to other Super.com products.
Kikoff Credit Card
The Kikoff credit card is a secured card that has no APR, but it requires a paid Kikoff subscription. The Kickoff Premium plan costs $20 per month, and the Ultimate plan is $35 per month. Both of these plans offer different credit-building features, including payments reported to all three main credit bureaus if you deposit enough.
As with other cards on this list, you'll need to link a funding source for the card, and the amount you deposit becomes your credit limit. There is no upgrade path to a different Kikoff card once you're ready.
Possible Card
As of January 2026, the Possible Card is available by invitation only. There's no credit check, and while it doesn't charge interest, it does require a fee of $8 per month for a $400 credit limit, or $16 per month for an $800 limit. You won't earn rewards to help offset that cost either.
Unlike many of the cards on this list, this one allows you to actually carry a balance from one month to the next. You'll still owe a minimum payment, though. Payments are reported to all three major credit bureaus, but there's no path to upgrade your card with Possible.
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