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.

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.

Updated by on May 15, 2012

Capital One® Secured Mastercard®

Capital One Secured Mastercard
  • Automatic reporting to the 3 major credit bureaus
  • Get the credit you need with no processing fees or application fees
  • You may qualify for credit line increases with no further security deposit required
  • More Info
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Ongoing APR Setup Fee Annual Fee Credit Bureau Reporting Credit Required
22.9%(V) $0 $29.00 Yes Limited / Bad

Capital One® Platinum Credit Card

credit cards for bad credit, capital one, no interest credit card
  • 24-hour travel assistance gives you a replacement card and cash advance
  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $19 after that
  • Monitor your spending with free text message alerts
  • More Info
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Ongoing APR Setup Fee Annual Fee Credit Bureau Reporting Credit Required
24.9%(V) $0 $0 intro for first year; $19 after that Yes Limited to
Average Credit

Capital One® Cash Rewards for Newcomers

capital one cash rewards newcomers
  • A card designed to help those new to the U.S. establish credit and earn cash back
  • Build credit with automatic reporting to the three major credit bureaus
  • Get 2% cash back on travel purchases
  • More Info
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Ongoing APR Setup Fee Annual Fee Credit Bureau Reporting Credit Required
24.9%(V) $0 $0 Yes Limited Credit
Fair Credit OK

If you want to build credit, make sure to apply for a credit card and not a prepaid (or debit) card. Prepaid cards require you to deposit money into your account before you're able to use the card, and your spending limit is determined by the current balance in your account. You do not build credit when using a prepaid card.

Discover® Student Credit Card

discover student platinum credit cards
Expert Rating:
4.75 / 5
stars
  • No annual fee, 0% intro on purchases
  • Earn up to 20% cash back
  • Unlimited Cashback Bonus
  • More Info
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Intro APR Intro Applied To Intro Period Annual Fee Rewards
0% Purchases 9 mo. $0 No

Discover® Open Road℠ Card for Students

Discover Open Road for Students gas rebate card
Expert Rating:
4.5 / 5
stars
  • Earn a full 2% cash back on gas and restaurants (up to $250 per month)
  • Earn up to a 20% Cashback Bonus® through ShopDiscover
  • Redeem for cash, gift cards, statement credits, merchandise, and more
  • More Info
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Intro APR Intro Applied To Intro Period Annual Fee Rewards
0% Purchases 9 mo. $0 Yes

Even if you've never applied for a credit card, they still may show up on your credit report. If you are an authorized user on someone else's account, such as a parent or spouse, their usage and payment activity can affect your credit.

Journey(SM) Student Rewards from Capital One®

cash back student rewards card
Expert Rating:
4.5 / 5
stars
  • Designed to help students build good credit with responsible use
  • Get 1% cash back on all purchases, plus a 25% bonus each month you pay your bill on time
  • Access to your monthly credit score, plus an interactive tracking tool to help monitor your credit
  • More Info
Apply Now
Ongoing APR Setup Fee Annual Fee Credit Bureau Reporting Credit Required
19.8%(V) $0 $0 Yes Average Credit

Discover® Student Card - Monogram Collection

Discover student cash back monogram card
  • Unlimited cash rewards
  • Up to 20% Cashback Bonus® when you shop online*
  • Personalize your card with a monogram of your initials!
  • More Info
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Intro APR Intro Applied To Intro Period Annual Fee Rewards
0% Purchases 9 mo. $0 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® Student Clear Student Credit Card

Discover Student Clear credit card
  • No annual fee
  • Up to 5% cashback
  • 0% Intro APR
  • More Info
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Intro APR Intro Applied To Intro Period Annual Fee Rewards
0% Purchases 9 mo. $0 No

Discover® Student Tropical Beach Student Credit Card

Discover Tropical Beach Student credit card
  • No annual fee
  • Up to 5% cashback
  • 0% Intro APR!
  • More Info
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Intro APR Intro Applied To Intro Period Annual Fee Rewards
0% Purchases 9 mo. $0 No

Secured credit cards report your payment and usage activity to the credit bureaus, which means responsible use can help to build credit.

Horizon Gold Card
Bad Credit / Subprime Card

horizon gold credit card for bad credit
  • Bad credit accepted
  • Guaranteed approval - No employment check!
  • Reports to major credit bureaus, could help improve your credit score
  • More Info
Apply Now
Ongoing APR Setup Fee Annual Fee Credit Bureau Reporting Credit Required
n/a n/a n/a Yes Bad Credit OK

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