No Credit and Limited Credit Credit Cards
In the past, having no credit history made it near impossible for consumers to get a credit card. But now, certain issuers, like Capital One®, realize consumers cannot have a positive credit history if no one is willing to extend them credit. For these consumers, we recommend the no credit and limited credit credit cards below.
With great features like fixed APR rates and automatic reporting, the credit cards listed here can help you build, rebuild or reestablish your credit history if you make on-time minimum payments with all of your creditors and maintain your balances below the credit limits.
If you’re new to the credit world and this is your first foray into applying for a credit card, you’ll want to consider no credit credit cards to begin. After all, you have to start somewhere when applying for credit. Credit cards for people with no credit give consumers the opportunity to begin building their credit and are perfect for students, young adults or those with limited credit.
Whether you’re a student, a credit newbie or you're just hoping to improve your credit history, there ARE no credit credit cards available to improve both your credit history and score. In the same way jobs require experience, credit requires, well, credit! The cards listed below are the best offers that new credit consumers are most likely to get approved for.
Find the best credit card for you.
Capital One® Secured Mastercard®
$0.00
Yes
First Progress Platinum Prestige Secured MasterCard®
$0.00
Yes
First Progress Platinum Elite MasterCard® Secured Credit Card
$0.00
Yes
If you've never had a credit card or loan in your name, you likely have "no" credit or a very limited credit history. Build positive credit by getting credit in your name (such as a credit card), by always staying within your credit limits, and by paying on time and in full every month.
Discover it® for Students
| Year One | Year Two | Year Three | Total | |
Interest Savings on Balance Transfers  |
$315.45 | $315.45 | $315.45 | $946.35 |
| * For Interest Savings on Balance Transfers calculations, we use the amount you input in your "My Credit Card Profile". For calculation purposes, please note that as of February 2010, the CARD Act requires credit card companies to use customer credit card payments to pay off the highest APR portion of their balance first, which is more favorable for the customer. | ||||
| Interest Savings on Balance for New Purchases |
$810.30 | $420.60 | $420.60 | $1,651.50 |
| * For Interest Savings on Balance Carried on New Purchases calculations, we use the amount you input in your "My Credit Card Profile". Please note that as of February 2010, the CARD Act requires credit card companies to use customer credit card payments to pay off the highest APR portion of their balance first, which is more favorable for the customer. | ||||
| Reward Points |
$86.40 | $86.40 | $86.40 | $259.20 |
| This card offers 5% cash back ($.05) on up to $1,500 spent in rotating categories that change each quarter. Creditnet assumes cardholders spend 35% of their total purchase balance on these 5% cash back options. Creditnet then assumes that consumers earn 1% cash back on the remaining 65% of their monthly purchase balance. | ||||
| Balance Transfer Cost |
-$135.00 | -$0.00 | -$0.00 | -$135.00 |
| * For Balance Transfer Cost calculations, we take the specific balance transfer fee associated with a card to determine the cost. Once this balance transfer cost is calculated, we deduct this value from the total savings amount. Please note that we only factor in this cost if a user intends to transfer a balance, as determined by selecting "Yes" under "I want to carry a balance" in your "My Credit Card Profile". | ||||
| Annual Fee |
-$0.00 | -$0.00 | -$0.00 | -$0.00 |
| * Annual fee costs are only deducted from your total savings when a card includes an annual fee. Credit cards that waive the annual fee for the first year have also been accounted for in our calculations. | ||||
| Totals | $1,077.15 | $822.45 | $822.45 | $2,722.05 |
VISA® Platinum from Credit One Bank®
$0.00
Yes
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Build Your Credit with No Credit or Limited Credit Credit Cards
If you’re a beginner in the credit world (and since you’re on this page, we have a feeling you might be), here are some tips on what to look for when applying for a credit card...
0% APR Intro Periods
From the moment you begin building your credit score with that first swipe, you’ll want to pay back that balance at the end of each month. However, if you’re, say, a student who plans on carrying a (hopefully small) balance, you’ll want to make sure you put off paying interest for as long as possible. In which case, you’ll want to apply to a card that has an extended 0% APR introductory period.
APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate, and it describes the amount of interest you’ll pay on a balance on a per year basis. So, the lower the APR, the lower the interest.
Many limited credit credit cards offer an introductory period in which the cardholder will pay 0% for a set number of months. If you plan on carrying a balance - or at the very least consider it a possibility - then we would recommend applying to a credit card with an extended 0% APR introductory period. It’s simple - the longer you put off paying interest, the more money you’ll save.
Cash Back Rewards
Who doesn’t like rewards? Or free cash? Anyone? Bueller?
OK, we ALL love cash back rewards and, believe it or not, many credit cards for limited credit offer some great cash back rewards! And why do they call them rewards? Well essentially, your credit card is offering you a “reward” for using their card in the form of cash back bonuses, travel miles, points - stuff like that. However, you don’t want to get carried away with bonus programs since the risk of credit debt is not worth the possibility of rewards. Keep your spending responsible, earn cash back gradually and watch your credit score improve.
Since credit card companies want new consumers to A.) Build a relationship with them and B.) Learn how to use credit responsibly from the get-go, a number of our favorite no credit credit cards include cash back and rewards points programs for those hoping to build credit.
Student Credit Cards
Cash back student cards for no credit or limited credit consumers are also particularly rewarding since, let’s face it, any college student can appreciate getting something for “free”. (Aren’t most college apartments furnished with free futons, chairs and coffee tables? Free = good, especially when you’re in college.) Plus, most student cards are credit cards with no annual fee; again, FREE reigns supreme.
Anyways, the best student credit cards for limited credit are the ones that reward students even further on the things they’re purchasing anyway; books, groceries, movies, etc. If you’re a student, definitely consider one of the recommended no credit credit cards above designed specifically to help you build credit. Plus, take a look at our full list of student credit cards on Creditnet.com and take the first step towards building your credit today!
