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Overview
If you’re a regular visitor to our website, you’ve probably had your head turned by one of the excellent travel credit cards we’ve covered. Dreams of free business class travel and 5-star hotels can get you excited.
But unfortunately, the best cards typically require strong credit scores, and that’s something that evades many of us. Whether you’re young and just don’t have the credit experience or have watched your score plummet for whatever reason, clawing back up the scale should be a financial priority for everyone.
Thankfully, some cards are designed with this in mind, offering customers a way to build their credit with responsible usage before they move on to the world of powerful rewards cards. Here are some of the best cards for building credit out there.
The Bottom Line:
Any of these brilliant cards can help establish a solid baseline for your credit, showing banks and issuers you’re responsible and, eventually, ready for a more powerful credit card.
The quick pick:
The Chase Freedom Rise® Credit Card is the best card overall, even if it’s limiting for those with poor credit.
Best Credit Cards for Building Credit
- Best for building credit from scratch with serious growth potential: Chase Freedom Rise® Credit Card
- Best for building on average credit: Capital One Platinum Credit Card
- Best for no-frills rebuilding: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
- Best for rebuilding poor credit scores: Discover It Secured Credit Card
- Best for new customers looking to build credit: OpenSky Plus Secured Visa Credit Card
- Best for: Building credit from scratch
- Annual Fee: $0
- Variable APR: 25.99%
- Reward Rate: 1.5%
- Recommended Credit: No credit history and a Chase checking account with $250+
Chase Freedom Rise® Credit Card
Reward Rate: 1.5% cashback
Offer Details:
No current offer live
Why we like it
The Chase Freedom Rise is a unique card. It’s designed as a credit-building card but comes with none of the typical barriers. There’s no deposit required and no annual fee, making it approachable for credit newbies. Chase has stated that having a checking account with the bank with $250 or more in it will have an increased likelihood of acceptance.
Despite the lack of fees or deposits, it still offers 1.5% cashback on all qualifying purchases and even a $25 statement credit when you sign up for automatic payments within three months of opening an account. Chase regularly assesses cardholder progress and will increase credit limits and even offer upgrades as you improve. It’s a card for those with an eye on the future.
It’s important to distinguish a card for beginners and a card for those with poor credit. If you fall below a 629 score, you probably won’t be accepted.
Reward details
1.5% cashback
Pros & Cons
Pros
No annual fee
No credit history required
1.5% cashback
Regular process checks and upgrade opportunities
$25 bonus for enrolling in autopay
No deposit required
Cons
Not for those with poor credit
APR is pretty high
No bonus earning categories
Terms Apply
- Best for: Building on average credit
- Annual Fee: $0
- Variable APR: 29.74%
- Reward Rate: N/A
- Recommended Credit: 620+
Why we like it
The Capital One Platinum positions itself as a segue card. Those with no or poor credit will probably not be accepted, but those who’ve done the hard work to get out of the lower score realms can utilize this to make the jump to the bigger leagues.
There’s no annual fee, no deposit required, and no foreign transaction fees giving you everything you need to build your credit with minimal fuss. The downside to that simplicity is a lack of reward earning. But that will come with time if you use this card responsibly.
Reward details
No reward rates for this card
Pros & Cons
Pros
-
No annual fees
-
No foreign transaction fees
-
No deposit required
-
Accessible for those with average credit
Cons
-
No rewards
-
APR is high— be careful
Terms Apply
- Best for: No frills rebuilding
- Annual Fee: $0
- Variable APR: 29.74%
- Reward Rate: N/A
- Recommended Credit: 300+
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
No current offer
Offer Details:
No current offer live
Why we like it
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is similar to the previously mentioned Platinum card. The primary difference is the presence of a security deposit to counter the credit line. Like its sibling card, it offers no rewards but has no annual fees or foreign transaction fees.
It’s a little more flexible on how much the deposit needs to be, depending on your individual history. For example, you may only need to put down as little as $49 and get a $200 limit. Others may be required to pay the full amount, though. Putting a larger deposit down will also increase your limit. It’s no frills, but if you’re building a poor credit score, your focus should be on that.
Reward details
No reward rates for this card.
Pros & Cons
Pros
No annual fee
Accessible for those with poor or no credit
No foreign transaction fees
Helps rebuild or build credit
Cons
Deposit required
No rewards earning
APR is high — be careful
Terms Apply
- Best for: Rebuilding poor credit scores
- Annual Fee: $0
- Variable APR: 27.24%
- Reward Rate: 1-2%
- Recommended Credit: 300+ or no credit
Why we like it
The Discover It Secured Card is an excellent choice for those trying to rebuild their credit—no matter how things went downhill. As a secured card, customers are required to deposit at least $200. The credit line will equal this amount, ensuring the bank is covered. From there, use it as you would a normal credit card, paying back the balance each month.
At the seven-month mark, Discover will start monthly account reviews to gauge your eligibility for an unsecured account. If successful, you’ll get your deposit back and be given a true credit limit. Despite its position as a credit-building tool, it still offers some epic cashback rates. All things considered, it’s one of the best cards for rebuilding credit.
Reward details
2% cashback on gas stations and restaurants
1% on everything else
2x cashback match on all cashback earned at the end of the first year of card ownership
Pros & Cons
Pros
No annual fees
Strong cashback earning rates
Regular upgrade opportunities after six months
Accessible with poor or limited credit
Cons
Deposit required: $200 minimum, $2,500 maximum
APR is high
Terms Apply
- Best for: New customers looking to build credit
- Annual Fee: $0
- Variable APR: 28.99%
- Reward Rate: Up to 10% at specific vendors
- Recommended Credit: 300+.
OpenSky Plus Secured Visa Credit Card
Reward Rate: Up to 10% at specific vendors
Offer Details:
No current offer live
Why we like it
OpenSky’s secured card fits a specific niche. As a standalone product, it’s not vastly impressive. Where it sets itself apart is that it doesn’t require a credit check or a bank account to accept an applicant.
There’s no fee on the card but the minimum deposit is fairly high at $300. Just remember that it’s refundable aftter you’ve proved yourself responsible. It does offer cashback up to 10%, but don’t get too excited—it’s limited to specific deals with individual vendors, so you’ll need to be strategic about where you shop.
Reward details
Up to 10% at specific vendors
Pros & Cons
Pros
No annual fee
Accessible for poor credit
Accessible for unbanked
Some rewards opportunities
Cons
The minimum deposit is high: $300 minimum
APR is also high
Upgrade and growth opportunities are limited
by your friends at The Daily Navigator
