Best Starter Credit Cards of December 2023

Our experts answer readers’ credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here’s how we assess credit cards). In some cases, we receive a commission from our partners; however, our opinions are our own. Terms apply to offers listed on this page.The information for the following product(s) has been collected independently by Business Insider: Chase Freedom Rise℠. The details for these products have not been reviewed or provided by the issuer.You can get a credit card with average credit, bad credit, or no credit at all. But if your credit score isn’t great or you barely have any credit history, you’ll have a hard time qualifying for many of the best credit cards. Fortunately, there are beginner credit cards specifically made for credit newcomers, and anyone can apply.Here are some of the best starter credit cards to consider if you’re a credit beginner — including several that earn rewards.Earn 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®). Earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.$0N/A19.99% – 29.99% VariableEarn a $50 cash bonusAverage, Fair, LimitedThe Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great pick for students who spend a lot on food and going out, because it earns 3% cash back on dining, groceries (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), streaming, and entertainment.Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.$00% intro APR for six months on purchases18.24% – 27.24% VariableEarn Unlimited Cashback Match™Fair/New to CreditThe Discover it® Student Cash Back is a great choice if you’re a student with limited credit history and want to earn a strong rate of cash back on your everyday spending without paying an annual fee.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.$0N/A28.24% VariableEarn Unlimited Cashback Match™New/RebuildingThe Discover it® Secured Credit Card is worth considering if you’re new to credit or are working on rebuilding your score, since it’s unlikely you’ll be approved for any of the best credit cards on the market. It’s unique because it earns strong rewards when most other secured credit cards do not.Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases.$39N/A30.74% VariableN/AAverage, Fair and LimitedThe Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card could be the right choice for you if you’re building your credit history. You could be able to qualify for the card even if you don’t have an excellent credit score, and you’ll earn at least 1.5% cash back on your purchases.Earn 1.25-5 miles per dollar on purchases.$00% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months (3% fee on the amounts transferred for the first 15 months)19.99% – 29.99% VariableEarn 20,000 milesGood to ExcellentThe VentureOne Rewards Card is a slimmed-down version of the popular Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. It’s one of the few no-annual-fee cards on the market that gives you the option to redeem miles for cash back or transfer them to travel partners.Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases.$0N/A26.74%N/ANo credit historyThe Chase Freedom Rise℠ card offers a new opportunity to build credit with a credit card, and it’s specifically designed for new-to-credit consumers like young adults and college students. This no-annual-fee credit card earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases, and if you enroll in autopay within the first three months of account opening, you’ll earn a $25 statement credit.Help build your credit through responsible use. Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months.$0N/A30.74% VariableN/AAverage, Fair and LimitedThe Capital One Platinum Credit Card is worth considering if you’re new to credit or trying to improve your credit score. While it doesn’t earn rewards or offer many benefits, it could be a good stepping stone in your credit journey — and you won’t pay an annual fee or foreign transaction fees.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.$00% intro APR for six months on purchases18.24% – 27.24% VariableEarn Unlimited Cashback Match™Fair/New to CreditThe Discover it® Student Chrome is a great starter credit card to help you build credit while learning how to responsibly use a credit card. It’s worth noting that this student credit card is nearly identical to the regular Discover it® Chrome in almost every way, with the addition of a few student-specific perks.Earn 1-10% cash back on purchases.$0N/A18.24% – 32.24% VariableN/ANo credit and limited credit to ExcellentThe Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card doesn’t charge any fees and offers cash back on everyday purchases — but if you’ve already got a good credit score, you should consider a different rewards credit card with better earnings and benefits. For those just beginning a credit journey, this card is one of your better options as it earns rewards — something many starter cards can’t claim.Choosing the right beginner credit card for you depends on your credit score and where you’re at in your credit journey. If you’ve never had a credit card before, it’s likely you’ll have to get started with a secured credit card that requires a cash deposit to shore up a small line of credit.If your FICO credit score is at least “fair,” or above 580, on the other hand, you may qualify for a card geared to consumers with average credit.The easiest cards to get approved for are secured credit cards, if you’re just starting out. This type of credit card requires an initial cash deposit to secure a line of credit that is typically for the same amount. For example, you may put down a cash deposit of $500 in order to secure a $500 line of credit.With the requirement for collateral in place, almost anyone can get approved for a secured credit card regardless of their credit score, even if they’re rebuilding credit. Also note that, once you use your secured credit card to establish a reasonable amount of credit history, you can cancel or upgrade your card provided your account is in good standing. At that point, your initial security deposit would be refunded to you.To build credit with a credit card, it’s best to start the process off slowly, even though it isn’t overly difficult. Use your credit card for regular purchases you can afford to pay off each month. When your bill comes due, make sure to pay at least the minimum payment and hopefully your entire credit card balance.As you make payments each month, those payments will be reported to the three credit bureaus. Over time, you’ll build a history of responsible credit use that can help boost your credit score.You can have one credit card or several. It’s totally up to you. When you’re first building credit, however, it makes sense to limit yourself to a single card. This way, you can spend time building responsible credit habits before you add more cards and complicate your finances.How quickly you’ll raise your credit score depends on a whole host of factors including whether you have any credit history at all, whether you have negative marks on your credit report, and the way you handle credit in the short term.Your best bet is signing up for a credit card that can aid you in building credit, then using it for regular purchases that you pay in full each month. This will help you build a history of on-time payments while keeping your credit utilization low.You can likely qualify for the best rewards and travel credit cards if you have excellent credit, which means a FICO score above 740. Make sure to compare the best current credit card bonuses of 2023 in terms of their rewards and cardholder perks, and see our best rewards credit cards guide for more info.When you’re ready to start building credit for the first time, it’s smart to have a basic understanding of how credit cards can help.Read our step-by-step guide that shows you how to apply for a credit card and find out more about how to improve your chances of approval if you’ve never opened a card before. You can check your credit score online for free. From there, you can figure out which credit card can help you build credit that lasts.If you’re a college student who likes to go out, the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is hard to beat. Cardholders earn 3% cash back on dining, groceries, entertainment, and eligible streaming services with no limits, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. In addition, until November 14, 2024, cardholders earn 10% back on Uber and Uber Eats purchases, and can enroll for a complimentary Uber One membership.This card is extra appealing because it currently comes with a welcome bonus offer of a $50 cash bonus once you spend $100 on purchases within three months of account opening. It’s possible to qualify with limited credit, so if you’re new to credit cards it’s a solid choice.You’ll also receive surprisingly good benefits for a no-annual-fee student card, including:Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card ReviewMost Capital One rewards cardholders, including those with the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card, can now access the Capital One Travel Portal. It allows you to book flights, hotels, and rental cars with rewards — or pay with your card and earn 5 points per dollar on hotels and car rentals booked through the portal.Students who like to maximize rewards should consider the Discover it® Student Cash Back, which is typically available to consumers who don’t have an extensive credit history.Once you’re approved, you can enroll to earn 5% cash back up to a quarterly maximum limit spent on purchases in categories that rotate each quarter, plus 1% back on everything else (from October 1 to December 31, 2023, you can earn 5% cash back at Amazon.com and Target on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%). Like other cash-back credit cards from Discover, this card will also match all the rewards you earn at the end of the first account year.If you’re a college student, be sure to read our guide to the best credit cards for students with little to no credit history and find out how to boost your credit score by having a parent add you as an authorized user to their credit card.This card also lets you see your credit score for free each month, and you’ll get Social Security Number monitoring, zero fraud liability, and no late fee on your first late payment. Consider signing up if you want to earn rewards and build credit at the same time without an annual fee.Discover it Student Cash Back Card ReviewIf you have poor credit or no credit history at all, you may need to get started with a secured credit card. Unlike unsecured credit cards that extend a line of credit without collateral, secured cards require a small cash deposit upfront in order to secure an equally small line of credit.The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is widely considered to be one of the best secured credit cards because, unlike other cards in this niche, it doesn’t charge an annual fee or any hidden fees. You’ll also earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter (then 1%), as well as 1% back on all other purchases. Discover will also match all the rewards you earn at the end of your first account year. Other top benefits include a free look at your FICO score each month, zero liability for fraudulent purchases, and no late fee on your first late payment. With this card, automatic reviews start at seven months to see if Discover can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.Discover it Secured Credit Card ReviewThe Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is available to consumers with “average” credit according to Capital One, which brings it into reach for individuals with limited credit or anyone who has made credit mistakes in the past.You’ll be able to earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and a flat 1.5% cash back for each dollar you spend on other purchases with this card. That’s not bad for a rewards credit card, and it’s especially good for cards available to consumers with average credit.Capital One also promises to reconsider your credit limit and potentially boost it after you’ve made six on-time payments on your credit card. This card also comes with no foreign transaction fees and several benefits, which is a lot more than many credit cards for average credit offer (see rates and fees).Capital One QuicksilverOne Card ReviewThe Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card is typically only available to consumers with good credit or better, but it’s important to note that a good FICO score typically starts in the 670+ range. If you can qualify, this card can serve as a starter travel credit card that can help you get accustomed to earning this type of rewards.Once you sign up, you’ll earn a flat 1.25 miles for each dollar you spend. You can also earn 20,000 miles after spending $500 on purchases within three months from account opening. On the redemption side of the equation, you can redeem Capital One miles for any type of travel at a rate of 1 cent apiece, or for transfers to airline and hotel partners. This card also comes with no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees).Capital One VentureOne Rewards Card ReviewThe brand-new Chase Freedom Rise℠ n should be on your shortlist if you’re completely new to credit cards, because it’s geared specifically toward folks with no credit history at all. This no-annual-fee card earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases, which is a solid rate of return for a starter credit card.However, the card is only officially available in Chase bank branches for now, and to improve your chances of approval, you should have or open a Chase checking account with a $250 balance within two days of applying for the card (you won’t need to maintain a minimum checking account balance after approval).There’s no traditional welcome bonus, but if you enroll in autopay within the first three months of account opening, you’ll earn a $25 statement credit. Chase Freedom Rise credit card launch detailsIf you have average credit and want to learn good credit habits without worrying about rewards, consider the Capital One Platinum Credit Card.This card will likely start you out with a low credit limit, but Capital One says it will consider boosting your limit after you make six on-time payments on your card. This card also comes with no annual fee (see rates and fees).Capital One Platinum Card ReviewIf you want to save money with low interest for a limited time, look into the Discover it® Student Chrome. This card starts you off with a 0% intro APR for six months on purchases, then a 18.24% – 27.24% Variable APR.You’ll also earn 2% cash back on your first $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter (then 1%) at gas stations and restaurants, plus 1% back on everything else you buy. Discover will also match all the rewards you earn after the first year.If you’re torn between the two Discover student cards, read our comparison of the Discover it Student Cash Back and Student Chrome for a closer look at both cards.Discover it Student Chrome Card ReviewThe Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card (card issued by WebBank) could be ideal for anyone who wants to build good credit that lasts. This card comes with a minimum credit limit of $500, although there’s no annual fee and no fees on late payments. You’ll earn a flat 1% back on all your eligible purchases for the first year, but you have the opportunity to graduate to 1.5% back after you’ve made 12 on-time payments on your credit card.This card also reports to all three credit bureaus — Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion — like the other cards on our list, so it can help you build credit as your purchases and payments are reported. You’ll also get access to the powerful Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card Card app, which can help you manage your money better, track your spending, and stay on top of all your bills.Petal 2 Visa Credit Card ReviewInsider chose the best starter credit cards by first considering credit cards that don’t require an excellent credit score to be approved. From there, we focused on cards that appeal to those just starting out with credit, including credit cards for students with no credit and secured credit cards.We then narrowed down the list by evaluating the card’s features, including rewards earning, annual and other fees, simplicity, and benefits. Here’s our methodology for rating credit cards.

Source