# Best Credit Cards for Beginners _CompareFairly · en/US · neutral comparison, cited sources, no paid placement_ **Category:** finance › credit cards › credit cards for beginners **Our pick**: Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit (63/100) · **Cheapest**: Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit · **Best value**: OpenSky Secured Visa® Credit Card ## Comparison table | Criterion | Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit | Petal 1 "No Fees" Visa® Credit Card | Discover it® Secured Credit Card | Chime Secured Credit Builder Visa® Secured Card | Chase Freedom Rise® | The secured Self Visa® Credit Card | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Annual Fee (USD) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | $0 annual fee for the first year only, $25 annual fee thereafter | | Late Payment Fee (USD) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | | Foreign Transaction Fee (USD) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | | Credit Score Needed | Fair | Limited | None | None | No Credit History | No Credit History | | Intro APR | - | - | 0 | - | - | - | | Regular APR | 27.5 | 25.5 | 25.5 | 25.5 | 18.24% - 27.74% Variable | 27.49% APR Variable | | Starting Credit Limit (USD) | 300 | 300 | 200 | 200 | - | - | | Rewards Program | Cash Back | Cash Back | Cash Back | None | Cash Back | None | | Secured Card Option | - | - | - | ✓ | - | ✓ | | Student Card Option | - | - | ✓ | - | - | - | ## 1. Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit A credit card designed for those looking to rebuild their credit with cash back rewards. _Source (estimate): [https://www.creditonebank.com/credit-cards/platinum-visa-rebuilding-credit](https://www.creditonebank.com/credit-cards/platinum-visa-rebuilding-credit)_ ## 2. Petal 1 "No Fees" Visa® Credit Card A credit card with no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and no late fees, designed for building credit. _Source (estimate): [https://www.petalcard.com/petal-1-card](https://www.petalcard.com/petal-1-card)_ ## 3. Discover it® Secured Credit Card A student credit card with no annual fee, offering 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter and a $100 bonus. **Best for:** College students with no credit history who want to earn cash back rewards and benefit from an intro APR offer. **Pros:** - No annual fee - Earns 5% cash back on rotating categories - Unlimited Cashback Match at the end of the first year - 0% intro APR for 6 months on purchases _Source (verified): [https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/credit-cards-for-no-credit/](https://www.discover.com/credit-cards/credit-cards-for-no-credit/)_ ## 4. Chime Secured Credit Builder Visa® Secured Card Build credit history with everyday purchases, with no annual fee and no credit check. _Source (estimate): [https://www.chime.com/credit-builder-card/](https://www.chime.com/credit-builder-card/)_ ## 5. Chase Freedom Rise® ## 6. The secured Self Visa® Credit Card ## 7. Journey Student Rewards from Capital One A credit card designed to help build credit without requiring a security deposit, offering a potential credit line increase after six months. **Best for:** Individuals with no credit history who want to build credit without a security deposit and don't need rewards. **Pros:** - No annual fee - Does not require a security deposit - Credit line increase possible after six months of responsible use **Cons:** - No rewards program - Initial credit line may be low _Source (verified): [https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/building-credit/how-to-choose-a-card-for-no-credit-history/](https://www.bankrate.com/credit-cards/building-credit/how-to-choose-a-card-for-no-credit-history/)_ ## 8. OpenSky Secured Visa® Credit Card Build your credit history with no credit check required and a low security deposit. _Source (estimate): [https://www.openskycreditcard.com/](https://www.openskycreditcard.com/)_ ## 9. Ramp Business Card ## In short This comparison evaluates nine credit cards for beginners based on ten criteria, including annual fee, late payment fee, foreign transaction fee, credit score needed, intro APR, and regular APR. The Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit ranks highest with a score of 63 out of 100, largely due to its perfect scores in annual fee and credit score needed. The Petal 1 "No Fees" Visa® Credit Card is the second-best option at 55 out of 100, excelling in foreign transaction fees. The Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit is also identified as the most affordable choice. It is important to note that while data for two out of nine options is sourced, the remaining values are estimates and are marked as such. The facts in this summary are computed from the table below; only the wording is generated. ## Frequently asked questions **What are the best credit cards for beginners in 2026?** For beginners in 2026, the Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit is a top option, followed closely by the Petal 1 "No Fees" Visa® Credit Card, based on our comprehensive comparison. **How do beginner credit cards compare on fees?** Our comparison shows that cards like the Petal 1 "No Fees" Visa® Credit Card often have no annual fee, while others may have late payment fees. Always check the specific fee structure for each card. **Which beginner credit card is easiest to get approved for?** The Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit is often recommended for those looking to build credit, suggesting it may be more accessible for beginners. However, approval depends on individual credit profiles. **Is your credit card ranking for beginners unbiased?** Yes, our ranking is completely neutral and not influenced by payments from card issuers. Each data point is sourced and presented to help you make an informed decision. --- _Generated by CompareFairly - neutral universal comparator. Ranking not for sale, data sourced._ --- _CompareFairly · https://comparefairly.com/en/US/best-credit-cards-for-beginners-in-the-us — citation with a link is allowed; bulk extraction/redistribution is prohibited._