8 Excellent Credit Cards for Building Credit
Building credit can be tricky. If you don’t have a credit history, it’s hard to get a loan, a credit card or even an apartment. Credit cards can be an effective tool to build credit whether you’re starting out or seeking a second chance. If your aim is to get a credit card, you could start with a secured credit card or co-signed card, or ask to be an authorized user on another person’s card. Some of our selections for the best cards for building credit can be applied for through NerdWallet; below, you'll find application links for some of the credit cards from our partners.
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NerdWallet's Excellent Credit Cards for Building Credit
Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card: Best for Easy Account Management
Mission Lane Cash Back Visa® Credit Card: Best for Solid Rewards for Limited Credit
Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card: Best for A No-Deposit Option for Poor Credit
Prosper® Card: Best for Building Credit With No Security Deposit
Discover it® Secured Credit Card: Best for No Credit Score Required
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card: Best for Low Deposit
Self Visa® Secured Card: Best for One of the Lowest Deposits In the Industry
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card: Best for No Credit Check
Excellent Credit Cards for Building Credit From Our Partners
| Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Intro APR | Regular APR | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent for Easy Account Management | $0 | N/A | N/A | Apply Now on Chime's website | |
| Excellent for Solid Rewards for Limited Credit | $0 | N/A | 26.99%-29.99% Variable APR | Apply Now on Mission Lane's website | |
| Excellent for A No-Deposit Option for Poor Credit | $0-$59 | N/A | 26.99%-29.99% Variable APR | Apply Now on Mission Lane's website | |
| Excellent for Building Credit With No Security Deposit | $0 intro with auto pay, then $39 after first year | N/A | 23.99%-34.99% Variable APR | Apply Now on Prosper's website | |
| Excellent for No Credit Score Required | $0 | 10.99% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 6 months | 27.99% Variable APR | ||
| Excellent for Low Deposit | $0 | N/A | 29.99% Variable APR | Apply Now on Capital One's website | |
| Excellent for One of the Lowest Deposits In the Industry | $25 | N/A | 28.24% Variable | Apply Now on Self's website | |
| Excellent for No Credit Check | $35 | N/A | 22.14% Variable APR | Apply Now on Capital Bank's website |
Excellent for: Easy Account Management
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
N/A
Recommended Credit Score
- The Chime Credit Builder Visa® Card is issued by Stride Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted.
- No credit check to apply, no annual fees or interest, and no minimum security deposit required. No stress! Additional terms apply.
- Use your secured Credit Builder card everywhere VISA is accepted, including on everyday purchases, such as gas and groceries.
- Help build your credit history with your own money. The money you move into the Credit Builder secured account is the amount you can spend on your card (no minimum deposit required!). Turn on Safer Credit Building and have your monthly balance automatically paid on time. Chime will report your activities to Transunion®, Experian®, and Equifax®.
- Increase your credit score by an average of 30 points, with regular, on-time payments.¹
- Turn on transaction notifications to receive real-time transaction alerts. Then, use Chime’s instant in-app disable card feature to help prevent unauthorized activities.
- Live support 24/7 to assist you around the clock.
- Now you can use your Credit Builder card fee-free at over 60K+ in-network ATMs at retailers like Walgreens, CVS, and more! Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply except at Moneypass ATMs in 7-Eleven locations, or any Allpoint or Visa Plus Alliance ATMs.
- Apply for a secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card once you sign up for a Chime Spending Account and receive a qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more. See www.chime.com to learn more.
Excellent for: Solid Rewards for Limited Credit
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
26.99%-29.99% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as few as 7 months.
- Free, online credit score access for cardholders.
- Instant decision on your application.
- No interest on purchases when you pay in full and on time each month.
- No security deposit required – get started today!
- The coverage of Visa®.
- Access your account anytime, anywhere with our mobile app.
- If you are charged interest, the charge will be no less than $0.50.
Excellent for: A No-Deposit Option for Poor Credit
Annual fee
$0-$59
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
26.99%-29.99% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as few as 7 months.
- Free, online credit score access for cardholders.
- Instant decision on your application.
- No interest on purchases when you pay in full and on time each month.
- No security deposit required – get started today!
- The coverage of Visa®.
- Access your account anytime, anywhere with our mobile app.
- If you are charged interest, the charge will be no less than $0.50.
Excellent for: Building Credit With No Security Deposit
Annual fee
$0 intro with auto pay, then $39 after first year
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
23.99%-34.99% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
- No security deposit required.
- $0 first year annual fee with AutoPay.
- Instantly access 50% of your credit while your card ships to you.
- $0 ATM cash withdrawal fee.
- You’ll be reviewed for regular credit line increases.
- Zero fraud liability (which offers protection against unauthorized purchases).
- Annual Percentage Rate (APR) for purchases: 23.99% - 34.99% variable based on Prime Rate.
- APR for cash advances: 34.99% variable based on Prime Rate.
- Annual Fee: $39 (waived for the first year if you sign up for AutoPay before your first statement).
- Minimum interest charge: no less than $1.00 (ME residents no more than $0.50).
- Foreign transaction fee: 1% of the transaction amount.
- Issued by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC pursuant to a license by Mastercard® International.
- View Rates & Fees
Excellent for: No Credit Score Required
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
10.99% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 6 months
Regular APR
27.99% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
- No credit score required to apply.
- No Annual Fee, earn cash back, and build your credit history
- Your secured credit card requires a refundable security deposit, and your credit line will equal your deposit amount, starting at $200. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.
- Automatic reviews starting at 7 months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites. Activate for free.
- Click through to Discover’s website to see terms and conditions.
- View Rates & Fees
Excellent for: Low Deposit
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
29.99% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
- No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
- Building your credit? Using the Capital One Platinum Secured card responsibly could help
- Put down a refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get a $200 initial credit line
- You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
- 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 to access your account from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
Excellent for: One of the Lowest Deposits In the Industry
Annual fee
$25
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
28.24% Variable
Recommended Credit Score
- One of the lowest deposit in the industry ($100).
- Users can micro-pay their way to a deposit (as low as $25/mo).
- $25 annual fee.
- Monthly credit limit increases.
- No hard credit check required.
- Reports to all three bureaus.
- Start with a Credit Builder Account**.
- Make at least 3 monthly payments on time, have $100 or more in savings progress in your Credit Builder Account, and be in good standing. Then, you’ll be eligible for the Self Visa Credit Card.
- Your savings progress from your Credit Builder Account acts as your security deposit for your secured Credit Card.
- *The Self Visa® Credit Card is issued by Lead Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender or SouthState Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. Individual results will vary. Visit self.inc for more details.
- **All Credit Builder Accounts made by Lead Bank, Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender, Sunrise Banks, N.A. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender or SouthState Bank, N.A. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender. Subject to ID Verification. Individual borrowers must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and at least 18 years old. Valid bank account and Social Security Number are required. All loans are subject to consumer report review and approval. All Certificates of Deposit (CD) are deposited in Lead Bank, Member FDIC, Sunrise Banks, N.A., Member FDIC or SouthState Bank, N.A., Member FDIC.
Excellent for: No Credit Check
Annual fee
$35
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
22.14% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
- No credit check to apply. Zero credit risk to apply!
- Looking to build or rebuild your credit? 2/3 of cardholders receive a 48+ point improvement after making 3 on-time payments
- With an 87% average approval rate for the past 6 months, OpenSky gives everyone an opportunity to improve their credit
- Extend your $200 credit line by getting considered for an unsecured credit line increase after 6 months - no additional deposit required!
- Get free monthly access to your FICO score in our mobile application
- Build your credit history across 3 major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax, and Transunion
- Fund your card with a low $200 refundable security deposit to get a $200 credit line
- Apply in less than 5 minutes with our mobile first application
- Choose the due date that fits your schedule with flexible payment dates
- Fund your security deposit over 60 days with the option to make partial payments
- Join over 1.2 million cardholders who’ve used OpenSky to build their credit
