Best Credit Cards for Beginners

Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases

Early Spend Bonus: Earn $100 when you spend $300 in the first three months

Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges

Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees

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

Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card

Earn 8% cash back on entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal

Build your credit with responsible card use

Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you

$0 annual fee for the first year only, $25 annual fee thereafter. Variable APR of 28.24%. Offer valid for new customers only.

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.

¹The secured Self Visa® Credit Card is issued by Lead Bank, Sunrise Bank, N.A., 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

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day

Early Spend Bonus: Earn $100 when you spend $300 in the first three months

Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges

Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees

Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it's misplaced, lost or stolen

Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card

Build your credit with responsible card use

Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you