How long does it take to build credit history?

Since your payment history and the length of your credit history combine to be the biggest factors in determining your credit score, building up to a prime credit score can take some time — especially if you’ve made some credit missteps in the past. Fortunately, having no credit history can expedite the process since you’re starting with a clean slate. The fastest way to build up good credit is by paying your balance on time, which can establish a positive credit history on your FICO report after your first six months and after just a month or two on your VantageScore report.

Can you get a credit card with no credit history and no job?

It's possible to access a credit card without a job or a credit history. Here are a few options to consider: Find a co-signer: Having a co-signer on your credit card application could bolster your chances of approval depending on the strength of your co-signer’s credit history, income and other factors. Get a secured credit card: Rather than income, a secured credit card prioritizes whether or not you can pay a security deposit. If you can afford the upfront cost of a security deposit, then this type of card might be accessible even without a job. Apply for a joint credit card account: Some banks may allow you to apply for a joint credit card with someone, like a spouse or partner. Both applicants get a credit check, but the income is considered jointly.

When can you get your first credit card?

You can’t get approval for your own credit card if you’re under 18. For applicants younger than 21 years old, the Credit CARD Act of 2009 requires proof of independent income or a parent or guardian cosigner. Credit card applications also ask for your annual income, so you must have an income source or access to one. If you don’t have an independent source of income, you may list your parent’s, guardian's or partner’s income as long as you have “reasonable expectation of access,” like having a shared bank account.

What are some credit-building alternatives to credit cards?

If you don’t want a credit card or are having a hard time qualifying for one, here’s how you can build your credit without using a credit card: Get a credit-builder loan Responsibly pay installment loans

Best Credit Cards for No Credit History in March 2026

Compare Bankrate's top credit cards for no credit history

Card name	Best for	Annual fee	Regular APR	Bankrate review score
Discover it® Student Cash Back	Students	$0	Intro Offer: Cashback Match Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. Regular APR: 16.49% - 25.49% Variable APR	5.0 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Discover's secure site See Rates & Fees
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card	Low deposit	$0	Intro Offer: N/A Regular APR: 28.99% (Variable)	4.1 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
Discover it® Secured Credit Card	Secured card	$0	Intro Offer: Cashback Match Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers—only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Regular APR: 26.49% Variable APR	5.0 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Discover's secure site See Rates & Fees
Chase Freedom Rise®	No deposit	$0	Intro Offer: $25 statement credit Earn a $25 statement credit after signing up for automatic payments within the first three months of opening your account. With automatic payments, just pick a date and dollar amount to make sure your Credit Card gets paid on time. Regular APR: 25.24%	4.2 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Chase's secure site See Rates & Fees
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card	Starter rewards card	$0	Intro Offer: N/A Regular APR: 28.99% (Variable)	4.2 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Capital One's secure site See Rates & Fees
Chime Card™	Flexible credit line	None	Intro Offer: N/A Regular APR: N/A	4.2 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Chime's secure site
The secured Self Visa® Credit Card¹	Building a credit mix	$0 annual fee for the first year only, $25 annual fee thereafter.	Intro Offer: N/A Regular APR: 27.49% APR Variable	3.1 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on Self's secure site
opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card	No bank account	$35	Intro Offer: N/A Regular APR: 23.89% (variable)	3.1 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards. (Read card review) Apply now on opensky's secure site See Rates & Fees

What it means to have no credit

Having no credit or a “thin” credit profile simply means that you haven’t made any (or enough) transactions that were reported to credit bureaus. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it just means you don't have credit cards, loans or other eligible accounts to establish yourself as a credit user yet.

In fact, having no credit can be better than bad credit. Instead of a history of late payments or high credit utilization, you have a blank slate to work with. You won’t start with the lowest possible score. Instead, your FICO score is calculated once you have an account at least six months old.

We’ve compared the best offers currently available and can walk you through how to maximize your card in order to choose the best option to start off on the right foot.

How to choose the best card for no credit

While you're researching which cards are the best fit to establish your credit profile, here are a few factors to help you determine which options are a cut above the rest.

A great secured card usually requires just the typical $200 minimum deposit, although a few cards may allow a lower deposit or a deposit value of your choice (like a prepaid card). There aren't many unsecured cards available that don’t require a credit history, but the few on the market typically charge higher rates and fees to skip the upfront deposit — and may provide a lower credit limit.

Typically, secured cards require an upfront security deposit (which can be later refunded), so the best options don't charge an annual fee on top of that. If you don’t want a card that requires a security deposit, consider an unsecured card for building credit. However, these unsecured cards may commonly come with a $59 to $99 annual fee.

Opportunities for credit line increases and a security deposit refund are some of the best features to kick-start your credit-building journey. Some issuers let you upgrade to an unsecured card with a potentially higher credit limit once you've established a positive payment history, and some of the best credit-building cards automatically review your account for this potential upgrade after six or seven months.

Rewards aren't common among cards for no credit since building credit is the focus. However, you're more likely to find a consistent rewards rate with a secured card than an unsecured credit-building card.

A hard inquiry might temporarily lower your credit score, but cards with preapproved or prequalified offers can help you gauge your approval odds and make your final decision without risking your credit score. You can also use Bankrate's CardMatch™ to get personalized card recommendations with approval odds for an extra vote of confidence.

The data behind getting approved with no credit

Although your unique financial history and current status can make it hard to say which cards offer the best approval odds, you should have a better chance with the cards on this page.

While having no credit is better than having bad credit, Bankrate’s 2025 Credit Denials Survey showed that 48% of Americans who’ve applied for a loan, credit card or other financial product over the past 12 months have been rejected — with about 1 in 8 people being rejected for a credit card, although this figure is much higher for younger applicants (those more likely to have no credit or a thin credit profile).

Unfortunately, we don’t expect this to improve in the immediate future due to economic uncertainties and the Federal Reserve’s prime rate remaining steady to attempt to balance these factors.

How to make the most of your starter card

When you have no credit, you won’t be approved for top-shelf, premium rewards cards, but you do have the advantage of starting with a clean slate. Having no credit can be better than having bad credit since you can establish yourself as a reliable credit user at the start, but you’ll need to be careful and disciplined with your starter card to make the most of this opportunity. Here are a few pointers to start your credit profile off on the right foot:

Always pay on time

The biggest factor in your credit score is your payment history, so always paying your monthly minimum card payment on time is the best thing you can do to lay a trustworthy credit foundation. Setting up an autopayment could help keep you on track, and also avoid the sky-high interest rates, penalty APR and other fees that starter cards usually carry.
Pay off your balance each month (or keep it as low as possible)

Naturally, it takes some time to establish a good payment history and a lengthy credit age (another credit scoring factor). Your credit utilization accounts for about a third of your score, and it's the biggest factor you can actively control, so it's important to pay off your card in full each month. If you absolutely must carry a balance for a short time, keep your balance below 30% of your available credit if you can.
Save up for a security deposit, and plan for unexpected expenses

Keeping a low credit utilization ratio could be challenging if you have an emergency expense since credit-building cards typically have smaller credit lines. You may want to consider a secured card if this is a concern, since you can save up for a larger deposit and obtain a matching, higher credit limit. It may be harder to develop a back-up plan if you choose an unsecured card with a traditionally low limit, but if your card earns rewards, stockpiling cash back for a rainy day could help.
Keep your first credit account open

Closing your first credit card could hurt your credit score if you don't have a lengthy credit history with more than one credit account. It could be worth keeping your starter card open until your credit profile is a bit more seasoned. Don’t forget to use the card occasionally to prevent it from closing for inactivity as well. Setting up autopayment and using the card for a recurring purchase (like a streaming or subscription service) is one of the easiest ways to keep a card active and paid off.

Bankrate's experience with building credit

How you can best build credit will depend on what you’re most comfortable with and what you can afford. For example, Bankrate’s Ana Staples got the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card in 2018 when she was building her credit. She paid a $200 security deposit, which gave her access to a $200 credit line. After six months of on-time payments, the issuer increased her credit limit to $500.

In 2020, Staples got another credit limit increase to $1,500. She reached out to Capital One to see if she was eligible to have her deposit refunded, and she was. Moreover, the issuer upgraded her to the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card — her first rewards credit card.

About a year later, she finally reached a FICO score of 670, meaning her credit score was “good”.

A secured credit card may not be luxurious, and she wasn’t a fan of putting down a deposit. But in her credit journey, it was a key step to building credit. The journey certainly took time, but today, her credit is now exceptional, and she has three Capital One credit cards.

Read on: How expert Ana Staples built her credit with cards

Frequently asked questions about credit cards for no credit history

Since your payment history and the length of your credit history combine to be the biggest factors in determining your credit score, building up to a prime credit score can take some time — especially if you’ve made some credit missteps in the past. Fortunately, having no credit history can expedite the process since you’re starting with a clean slate.

The fastest way to build up good credit is by paying your balance on time, which can establish a positive credit history on your FICO report after your first six months and after just a month or two on your VantageScore report.

Learn more: How long does it take to increase your credit score?
It's possible to access a credit card without a job or a credit history. Here are a few options to consider:
- Find a co-signer: Having a co-signer on your credit card application could bolster your chances of approval depending on the strength of your co-signer’s credit history, income and other factors.
- Get a secured credit card: Rather than income, a secured credit card prioritizes whether or not you can pay a security deposit. If you can afford the upfront cost of a security deposit, then this type of card might be accessible even without a job.
- Apply for a joint credit card account: Some banks may allow you to apply for a joint credit card with someone, like a spouse or partner. Both applicants get a credit check, but the income is considered jointly.
You can’t get approval for your own credit card if you’re under 18. For applicants younger than 21 years old, the Credit CARD Act of 2009 requires proof of independent income or a parent or guardian cosigner.

Credit card applications also ask for your annual income, so you must have an income source or access to one. If you don’t have an independent source of income, you may list your parent’s, guardian's or partner’s income as long as you have “reasonable expectation of access,” like having a shared bank account.
If you don’t want a credit card or are having a hard time qualifying for one, here’s how you can build your credit without using a credit card:
- Get a credit-builder loan
- Responsibly pay installment loans

How we choose the best cards for building credit

50+

cards rated

500+

data points analyzed

250+

fees tracked

40+

perks evaluated

We select cards for “Best” credit cards pages based primarily on how cards score in our proprietary card rating system, our editors’ subjective assessment of card quality, card approval odds and credit requirements and unique card features.

Cards typically must score a minimum of 3.0 stars to be included on a “Best” list. However, we may include cards with scores below 3.0 if they have low credit requirements or unique features — despite their scores, these cards may still be among the “best” in certain categories. Card ratings are not influenced by advertisers or issuer relationships in any way.

Card selection and ordering may vary based on business considerations, including Bankrate visitor interest, site interactions and card application volume. Affiliate commissions (see how we make money), limited-time offers and a card’s general popularity in the product landscape may also influence which cards we feature on our pages and the order in which they appear. Bankrate’s editorial and business teams also strive to feature a variety of card types from various issuers.

Here’s a quick look at how our rating methodology breaks down for cards available with no credit history:

Build credit, minimize fees

Cards available with no credit score can include no-annual-fee secured cards, pricey unsecured cards and many options in between. While fees tend to be a bit more forgiving on cards designed for people with limited credit than cards available with bad credit, cost is still a major consideration. As such, cost is a key factor in our credit-building card rating methodology, along with how easy it is to build credit with the card.

Here’s how overall scoring breaks down for credit-building cards.

Cost 45.00%
Ease of building credit 25.00%
APR 10.00%
Perks 10.00%
Customer experience 10.00%

A credit-building card’s cost has a large influence on its overall score and our decision to include it in our best cards list. This is because cards in this category tend to be much pricier than traditional credit cards designed for people with a good or better credit score.

We compare a card’s total cost, including any annual fees, account activation fees, monthly fees and more against the total cost of other cards in the credit-building category and assign each card a score based on its affordability. We also factor rewards-earning potential into our assessment of a credit-building card’s total cost, subtracting expected earnings from the sum of its fees.

To get a sense of a credit-building card’s rewards-earning potential, we estimate its average annual rewards rate and average annual earnings based on the most popular spending categories (as covered in the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer spending report).

However, we use a slightly lower spending assumption ($300 per month or $3,600 per year) to estimate average earnings, assuming credit-builders will start out with a lower credit limit, will want to keep credit utilization low and will focus primarily on small purchases they can easily pay off.

While low-cost credit-building cards will always be at a major advantage in our scoring system and will likely earn a higher spot on our best cards list, no-annual-fee credit-building cards can be hard to come by, especially if you’re looking for an unsecured card. With this in mind, we may include unsecured cards with high fees in our list if they offer other benefits for credit-builders, like a high starting credit limit or useful perks.

A card’s APR is also a major factor in its credit-building score. Each card’s average APR is compared against the average APR of other cards in the category, and the cards with lower-than-average APRs receive a higher rating.

Given the many costs students face — from textbooks to laptops — the presence of an introductory APR on purchases or balance transfers also plays a role in a student card’s score and its inclusion on our list.

Though high APRs are hard to avoid when you’re just starting out or working on your score, credit-builders and students should strive for as low an APR as possible since they’re likely to either be new to managing cards or trying to establish better financial habits and avoid falling into debt.
Along with a credit-building card’s cost, we consider how easy the card makes it to build credit. To assess this, we evaluate its credit limit potential and minimum deposit requirement.

Unsecured cards with a high starting credit limit and secured cards that let you put down a large deposit and get a matching high credit limit will score the highest according to our “Ease of building credit” rubric and are more likely to appear on our list.

This is because a high credit limit can make it much easier to keep your credit utilization low, a primary credit-building factor that makes up 30 percent of your FICO credit score.

Secured cards have a slight advantage in this category since the maximum credit limit on a secured card tends to be much higher than the typical starting credit limit on an unsecured card that’s available with a bad or fair credit score. However, unsecured credit-building cards have the upper hand in another key aspect of building credit: accessibility.

Cards that carry no or a low deposit requirement can also receive a high score according to our “Ease of building credit” rubric since these cards offer a lower barrier to entry than secured cards that require you to put up hundreds of dollars in an upfront deposit.

Indeed, some users may prefer to pay a non-refundable $50 annual fee while they work on their credit score than tie up hundreds in a refundable security deposit.
We evaluate a student or credit-building card’s benefits based on how useful they are for someone looking to build a positive credit history or save money on everyday spending.

We consider the inclusion of a rewards program, student-centric perks, access to your credit score or a credit monitoring service of prime importance, along with the ability to prequalify for the card with only a soft credit pull and a clear path to increase your credit limit or graduate to an unsecured or full-fledged rewards card.

Cards that include these benefits are likely to score higher according to our credit-building card and student card scoring rubrics and are more likely to earn a place in our list.

We use primary sources to support our work. Bankrate’s authors, reporters and editors are subject-matter experts who thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate, timely and relevant.
1. “Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009 (Credit CARD Act).” Federal Trade Commission. Accessed on March, 30, 2026.

Best credit cards for no credit history in March 2026

+ Show Summary

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Chase Freedom Rise®

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Chime Card™

The secured Self Visa® Credit Card¹

opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

Compare Bankrate's top credit cards for no credit history

What it means to have no credit

How to choose the best card for no credit

The data behind getting approved with no credit

How to make the most of your starter card

Keep your first credit account open

Bankrate's experience with building credit

Frequently asked questions about credit cards for no credit history

How long does it take to build credit history?

Can you get a credit card with no credit history and no job?

When can you get your first credit card?

What are some credit-building alternatives to credit cards?

How we choose the best cards for building credit

Build credit, minimize fees

Relatively low cost and APR

Solid credit-building features

Relevant perks

Article sources

Best credit cards for no credit history in March 2026

+ Show Summary

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Chase Freedom Rise®

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Chime Card™

The secured Self Visa® Credit Card1

opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

Compare Bankrate's top credit cards for no credit history

What it means to have no credit

How to choose the best card for no credit

The data behind getting approved with no credit

How to make the most of your starter card

Keep your first credit account open

Bankrate's experience with building credit

Frequently asked questions about credit cards for no credit history

How long does it take to build credit history?

Can you get a credit card with no credit history and no job?

When can you get your first credit card?

What are some credit-building alternatives to credit cards?

How we choose the best cards for building credit

Build credit, minimize fees

Relatively low cost and APR

Solid credit-building features

Relevant perks

Article sources

The secured Self Visa® Credit Card¹