6 Excellent Credit Cards for Building Credit
Credit cards can be an effective tool to build credit whether you’re starting out or seeking a second chance, but they aren't always easy to get. Some of our selections for the best cards for building credit can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you'll find application links for some of the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet.
Credit cards can be an effective tool to build credit whether you’re starting out or seeking a second chance, but they aren't always easy to get. Some of our selections for the best cards for building credit can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you'll find application links for some of the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet.
Excellent Credit Cards for Building Credit From Our Partners
Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Intro APR | Regular APR | Learn more |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card Apply now on Chime's website | Excellent for Easy Account Management | $0 | N/A | N/A | Apply now on Chime's website |
Mission Lane Cash Back Visa® Credit Card Apply now on Mission Lane's website | Excellent for No Security Deposit Required | $0 | N/A | 26.99%- | Apply now on Mission Lane's website |
Prosper® Card Apply now on Prosper's website | Excellent for No Security Deposit Required | $0 intro with auto pay, then $39 after first year | N/A | 23.49%- | Apply now on Prosper's website |
Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card Apply now on Mission Lane's website | Excellent for Instant Decision On Your Application | $0- | N/A | 26.99%- | Apply now on Mission Lane's website |
Discover it® Secured Credit Card Apply now on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264 | Excellent for No Credit Score Required | $0 | 10.99% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 6 months | 27.49% Variable APR | Apply now on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264 |
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply now on Capital One's website | Excellent for No Annual or Hidden Fees | $0 | N/A | 29.74% Variable APR | Apply now on Capital One's website |
Excellent for: Easy Account Management
on Chime's website
on Chime's website
$0
N/A
N/A
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.
on Chime's website
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.
on Chime's website
Pros
No annual fee
No credit check
No APR
Adjustable credit limit
Cons
Must open a Chime account
No rewards
No upgrade path
Excellent for: No Security Deposit Required
on Mission Lane's website
on Mission Lane's website
$0
N/A
26.99%-29.99% Variable APR
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.
on Mission Lane's website
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.
on Mission Lane's website
Excellent for: No Security Deposit Required
on Prosper's website
on Prosper's website
$0 intro with auto pay, then $39 after first year
N/A
23.49%-34.49% Variable APR
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: 23.49% - 34.49% variable based on Prime Rate.
APR for cash advances: 34.49% 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
on Prosper's website
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: 23.49% - 34.49% variable based on Prime Rate.
APR for cash advances: 34.49% 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
on Prosper's website
Pros
Qualify with limited credit
No security deposit
Automatic credit-limit reviews
Cons
Annual fee
No rewards
Excellent for: Instant Decision On Your Application
on Mission Lane's website
on Mission Lane's website
$0-$59
N/A
26.99%-29.99% Variable APR
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.
on Mission Lane's website
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.
on Mission Lane's website
Excellent for: No Credit Score Required
on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264
on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264
$0
10.99% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 6 months
27.49% Variable APR
No credit score required to apply.
No Annual Fee.
Use your tax refund to fund your security deposit and start building your credit history. 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
on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264
No credit score required to apply.
No Annual Fee.
Use your tax refund to fund your security deposit and start building your credit history. 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
on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264
Pros
No annual fee
Reports to the three major credit bureaus
Qualify with limited/bad credit
Earns rewards
New cardholder bonus offer
Cons
Requires minimum deposit
High APR
Excellent for: No Annual or Hidden Fees
on Capital One's website
on Capital One's website
$0
N/A
29.74% Variable APR
No annual or hidden fees, and you can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day. See if you're approved in seconds
Put down a refundable $200 security deposit to get a $200 initial credit line
Building your credit? Using a card like this responsibly could help
Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
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
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
Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
on Capital One's website
No annual or hidden fees, and you can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day. See if you're approved in seconds
Put down a refundable $200 security deposit to get a $200 initial credit line
Building your credit? Using a card like this responsibly could help
Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
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
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
Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
on Capital One's website
Pros
Qualify with limited/bad credit
Reports to the three major credit bureaus
Earns rewards
No minimum redemption amount
Rewards don't expire
No annual fee
Cons
High APR
No new cardholder bonus offer
No bonus categories