Best credit cards for 18-year-olds: Earn rewards while building credit

The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card is no longer available to new applicants.

You can open a credit card starting at 18 years old, but if you're under 21, you may face stricter verification requirements (i.e., providing proof you can afford the card's payments).

Your credit history is also taken into account. Thankfully, many of the best credit cards for 18-year-olds are designed for those with little or no credit history, meaning you can qualify with no credit score.

Below, CNBC Select highlights the best credit cards for 18-year-olds, including credit cards for students, low credit scores and no credit history.

Who's this for? The Discover it® Student Cash Back is one of the top credit cards for students, as it doesn't require a credit score for approval, earns bonus category rewards and features an automatic welcome bonus.

Standout benefits: You can earn 5% cash back in rotating bonus categories when you activate (on up to $1,500 in quarterly spending, then 1%; See Discover's 5% cash-back calendar). Discover it Student Cash Back cardholders also enjoy many of the same benefits as non-student Discover credit cards, including a Cashback Match welcome bonus (Discover will match all of the rewards new cardmembers earn in the first year) and no foreign transaction fees.

Who's this for? The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card is a good option if you're just starting your credit journey. The card is available to borrowers with no prior credit history — and those who don't have a Social Security number.

Standout benefits: Cardholders earn 1% cash back on purchases, but that rate can bump up to 1.5% after making 12 on-time monthly payments. Additionally, Petal's Leap program can help you get a credit line increase after six months of qualifying on-time payments.

Who's this for? The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is ideal for individuals who have less-than-perfect credit but still want to earn rewards. You'll need to provide a minimum $200 security deposit, but you may have the opportunity to get that money back.

Standout benefits: The Discover it Secured earns 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1%), and you earn at least 1% back on all other purchases. It features the standard Cashback Match welcome bonus as other Discover cards and offers the ability to automatically upgrade to an unsecured card after seven months.

Who's this for? If you already have an established credit history and a good credit score (or a FICO Score of 670+), the Citi Double Cash® Card is a top cash back credit card to consider. Plus, the card is doubly rewarding for those who use it responsibly.

Standout benefits: The Citi Double Cash earns generous, flat-rate rewards on everyday spending: 1% cash back when you make a purchase and an additional 1% back when you pay for the purchase. Plus, the card technically earns valuable Citi ThankYou® Points (redeemable for cash back) that can be used for travel and transferred directly to all of Citi's airline and hotel partners.

Who's this for? The Chase Freedom Rise® is available to both students and those new to credit, and it's a solid choice if you're looking to graduate into the Chase Ultimate Rewards® ecosystem.

Standout benefits: This credit-building card not only earns 1.5% cash back on every purchase, but after 12 months of on-time payments and responsible card use, Chase will automatically evaluate your account for a potential upgrade to the higher-tier Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees).

Many 18-year-olds are just starting their financial journey. As such, the most important consideration when choosing a credit card is to focus on credit building rather than cards offering the highest rewards rates and perks.

Student credit card

If your child is in college, there are unsecured student credit cards geared toward those with either no credit or lower credit scores. These cards typically have no annual fee and offer minimal perks, but some of the top options (as listed above) earn rewards on everyday purchases.

Secured credit card

If you're open to paying a security deposit (typically a $200 minimum), a secured credit card can often be much easier to qualify for. Secured cards help cardholders with no or minimal credit establish a line of credit, as well as those with poor credit scores who are looking to rebuild. Similar to student cards, secured cards offer fewer perks and may not earn rewards.

Unsecured cards for limited credit

If neither of these options sounds like a good fit for your child, there are traditional, unsecured credit cards designed for those with no or limited credit. A similar theme, however, is that these cards typically offer little in terms of rewards but can help cardholders get the hang of using a line of credit responsibly.

Building a strong credit score helps you qualify for the best financial products and most favorable terms. Lenders typically check your credit when you apply for a new credit card, personal loan, auto loan or mortgage.

Prospective landlords and employers may also check your credit report for potential red flags. The higher your credit score, the less risky you are considered.

While you generally have to be at least 18 to open a credit card or loan, there are ways to start building credit before then.

For example, you can be added as an authorized user on someone else's credit card at any age. As long as the primary cardholder is making their payments on time and in full, you should see that positive history reflected on your own credit report.

There are a few tips to keep in mind before opening your first credit card. And if you're helping your child get started, here are key talking points to review together:

• Avoid paying interest: Try your best to pay off your credit card balance in full each period, as any remaining balance will typically start generating interest. With the average credit card interest rate hovering above 22%, your balance could cost you a lot in the long run.
• Keep your credit usage low: Your credit utilization ratio (or the amount of credit you're using compared to your total line of credit) makes up 30% of your FICO credit score. Try to keep your credit utilization under 30%, or closer to 10% for the best results.
• Pay attention to the card's offerings: Read your credit card agreement to fully understand the rewards and additional benefits your card offers. For example, there may be category enrollment or activation requirements in order to earn the highest rewards rates.
• Make sure you pay on time: Paying your credit card bill on time will help you avoid any late fees (often costing $40 or more per late payment), interest charges and dings on your credit report.

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards for 18-year-olds.

To determine which cards offer the best value for 18-year-olds, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.  

When choosing the best credit cards are best for 18-year-olds, we focused on cards that are available to consumers with no credit or poor credit. We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back). 
 
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.  

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* For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, click here.