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Starting with zero credit history? These cards are designed specifically for people with no credit — and they’ll help you build a strong score from day one.
Last updated: April 2026
🏆 Our Top 3 Picks
- Discover it® Secured — Best overall for building credit
- Capital One Platinum Secured — Lowest deposit option
- Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa — Best for no deposit needed
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Discover
Best for: Building credit with rewards
The only secured card that earns real cash back rewards. You get 2% at gas stations and restaurants (on up to $1,000 combined per quarter), 1% everywhere else — and Discover matches ALL your cash back at the end of your first year. That’s essentially double rewards for 12 months.
Pros
- Cash back rewards (rare for secured cards)
- First-year cash back match doubles rewards
- Reports to all three bureaus
- Free FICO score access
- Automatic review for upgrade to unsecured
Cons
- Requires refundable deposit
- Not accepted everywhere (Discover network)
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Capital One
Best for: Low deposit requirement
Capital One may approve you for a $200 credit line with a deposit as low as $49 — the lowest in the secured card market. No rewards, but the low barrier to entry makes it perfect if you want to start building credit without tying up a lot of cash.
Pros
- Deposit as low as $49
- Reports to all three bureaus
- Access to higher credit line with on-time payments
- Accepted everywhere (Visa network)
Cons
- No rewards program
- No intro APR offer
Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa Credit Card
Petal
Best for: No deposit needed
No credit history? No deposit? No problem. Petal uses your banking history (not just your credit score) to evaluate you. Start at 1% cash back and earn up to 1.5% after 12 months of on-time payments. It’s an unsecured card — meaning no deposit required.
Pros
- No security deposit required
- Cash back rewards that increase over time
- Uses banking data for approval (not just credit score)
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Harder to qualify than secured cards
- Lower starting credit limit possible
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
OpenSky
Best for: No credit check needed
OpenSky doesn’t even run a credit check — approval is based solely on your ability to fund the deposit. If you’ve been denied everywhere else, this is your backstop. The $35 annual fee is the trade-off for guaranteed approval.
Pros
- No credit check at all
- Reports to all three bureaus
- Choose your own credit limit ($200-$3,000)
Cons
- $35 annual fee
- No rewards
- No path to automatic upgrade
How to Choose Your First Credit Card
If you have no credit history at all, here’s the decision tree:
- Want rewards? → Discover it Secured
- Want the lowest deposit? → Capital One Platinum Secured ($49)
- Don’t want a deposit at all? → Petal 2
- Been denied everywhere? → OpenSky (no credit check)
Tips for Building Credit Fast
- Use the card for one small purchase per month (gas, Netflix, groceries)
- Pay the full balance before the due date — not just the minimum
- Keep utilization under 10% of your limit (on a $200 limit, keep the balance under $20)
- Set up autopay so you never miss a payment
- Don’t apply for multiple cards at once — each application is a hard inquiry
With consistent use and on-time payments, you can build a 700+ credit score within 12-18 months.