Best Credit Cards for Building Credit

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Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card

Our rating:4.2

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Recommended credit

(No Credit History) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

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Rewards rate

Card without rewards: This card doesn't offer cash back, miles, or points

Annual fee: None

Balance transfer intro APR: N/A

Regular APR: N/A

Recommended credit: (No Credit History) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Overall rating

Our rating:4.2

Rating methodology

Cost of Membership: 5.0
Ease of Building Credit: 5.0
APR: 1.0
Features: 2.5

Highlights

To apply for Credit Builder, you must have received a single qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more to your Chime® Checking Account
The qualifying direct deposit must be from your employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, or benefits payer by Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit OR Original Credit Transaction (OCT).
The Chime Credit Builder Card is a secured credit card that can help consumers build credit history. It has no interest*, no annual fees, no credit check to apply, and no minimum security deposit required**
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®.
Use your secured Credit Builder card everywhere VISA is accepted, including on everyday purchases, such as gas and groceries.
*No Interest: Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and OTC advance fees may apply. View The Bancorp agreement or Stride agreement for details; see back of card for issuer.
**No Minimum Security Deposit: Money added to Credit Builder will be held in a secured account as collateral for your Credit Builder Visa card, which means you can spend up to this amount on your card. This is money you can use to pay off your charges at the end of every month.
The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your card for its issuing bank.
To apply for Credit Builder, you must have received a single qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more to your Chime Checking Account. The qualifying direct deposit must be from your employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, or benefits payer by Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit OR Original Credit Transaction (OCT). Bank ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, verification or trial deposits from financial institutions, peer to peer transfers from services such as PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo, mobile check deposits, cash deposits, one-time direct deposits, such as tax refunds and other similar transactions, and any deposit to which Chime deems to not be a qualifying direct deposit are not qualifying direct deposits.
**Safer Credit Building - On-time payment history may have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score. Chime will report your activities to Transunion®, Experian®, and Equifax®. Impact on your credit may vary, as Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations.

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: None
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: N/A
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Our rating:4.2

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Recommended credit

(No Credit History) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Apply now

Rewards rate

Card without rewards: This card doesn't offer cash back, miles, or points

Annual fee: $0

Balance transfer intro APR: N/A

Regular APR: 29.99% variable

Recommended credit: (No Credit History) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Overall rating

Our rating:4.2

Rating methodology

Cost of Membership: 5.0
Ease of Building Credit: 2.5
APR: 2.0
Features: 3.8

Highlights

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

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $0
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 29.99% (Variable)
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Our rating:4.1

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Recommended credit

(No Credit History) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Apply now

Rewards rate

2%: Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically.
1%: Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Annual fee: $0

Balance transfer intro APR: 10.99% for 6 months

Regular APR: 27.74% variable

Recommended credit: (No Credit History) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Overall rating

Our rating:4.1

Rating methodology

Cost of Membership: 5.0
Ease of Building Credit: 3.3
APR: 1.3
Features: 2.5

Highlights

No credit score required to apply. No Annual Fee.
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.
Raise your credit score by 30+ points.
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, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
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.
Terms and conditions apply.

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $0
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 27.74% Variable APR
Intro Balance Transfers APR: 10.99% for 6 months

The Card with No Credit Check - The Secured Self Visa® Credit Card*

Our rating:2.5

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Rewards rate

Card without rewards: This card doesn't offer cash back, miles, or points

Annual fee: $25

Balance transfer intro APR: N/A

Regular APR: 28.74% variable

Recommended credit: (No Credit History) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Overall rating

Our rating:2.5

Rating methodology

Cost of Membership: 2.0
Ease of Building Credit: 3.0
APR: 2.0
Features: 3.8

Highlights

With no credit check or prior credit required, anyone can start building credit. Fund your card with a minimum security deposit of $100 and use it anywhere Visa® is accepted in the U.S. Build credit by making on-time payments and maintaining a low credit utilization ratio. Every on-time payment helps build credit history.
If you don’t have the $100 security deposit today, consider a Credit Builder Account² starting at $25 a month⁴. Consistent, on-time payments help you build credit and build savings to secure the Self Visa® Credit Card³.
*The secured Self Visa® Credit Card is issued by Lead Bank or First Century Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC.
²Credit Builder Accounts & Certificates of Deposit made/held by Lead Bank, Sunrise Banks, N.A., First Century Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC. Subject to credit approval.
³Qualification for the secured Self Visa® Credit Card is based on meeting eligibility requirements, including income and expense requirements and establishment of security interest. Criteria Subject to change.
⁴$25/mo, 24 mos, 15.92% APR; $35/mo, 24 mos, 15.69% APR; $48/mo, 24 mos, 15.51% APR; $150/mo, 24 mos, 15.82% APR. See self.inc/pricing

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $25
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 28.74% (Variable)
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Our rating:3.5

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Rewards rate

5%: 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
1.5%: Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, everywhere

Annual fee: $0

Balance transfer intro APR: N/A

Regular APR: 29.99% variable

Recommended credit: (No Credit History) CreditCards.com credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

Overall rating

Our rating:3.5

Rating methodology

Cost of Membership: 5.0
Ease of Building Credit: 1.5
APR: 2.0
Features: 5.0

Highlights

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

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee: $0
Intro Purchase APR: N/A
Regular APR: 29.99% (Variable)
Intro Balance Transfers APR: N/A

Best Credit Cards for Building Credit

How we Choose

Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card

Rewards rate

At A Glance

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Rewards rate

At A Glance

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Rewards rate

At A Glance

The Card with No Credit Check - The Secured Self Visa® Credit Card*

Rewards rate

At A Glance

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Rewards rate

At A Glance