You can open a credit card starting at 18 years old, but if you're under 21, you may face stricter verification requirements, including needing to show proof that you can afford the card's payments. Your credit history is also taken into account, so opening a credit card designed for those with no credit or weak credit can make sense. Alternatively, being added as an authorized user on someone else's account could help you jump-start your credit journey, especially since many banks have no minimum age requirements for authorized users.
Below, CNBC Select shares the best credit cards for 18-year-olds, including credit cards for students, credit cards for bad credit and credit cards without an annual fee. (See our methodology for more information on how we made this list.)
Best credit cards for 18-year-olds
- Best for college students: Discover it® Student Cash Back
- Best for welcome bonus: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
- Best for poor credit: Discover it® Secured Credit Card
- Best for cash-back: Citi Double Cash® Card
- Best for no credit: Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card
- Best for authorized users: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card (see rates and fees)
Best for college students
Discover it® Student Cash Back
Rewards
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases-automatically.
Welcome bonus
Discover will match all the cash back earned for all new cardmembers at the end of your first year
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% for 6 months on purchases
Regular APR
18.24% - 27.24% Variable
Balance transfer fee
3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Fair / New to Credit
*See rates and fees, terms apply.
Pros
- Cash-back program
- Generous welcome bonus
Cons
- Cash-back categories must be activated each quarter
- Cash-back program limits earnings: Enroll every quarter to earn 5% cash back in various categories on up to $1,500 in quarterly purchases, then 1%
- You must be a U.S. citizen and college student to apply for this card
Who's this for? The Discover it® Student Cash Back is great for students as it doesn't require a credit score for approval.
Standout benefits: Discover it Student Cash Back cardholders enjoy many of the same benefits as the non-student Discover cards, including a welcome bonus in which Discover will match all of the rewards you earn in the first year and no foreign transaction fees.
Best for welcome bonus
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
Rewards
Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate
Regular APR
20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
Balance transfer fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening then BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Credit needed
Excellent/Good
See rates and fees, terms apply.
Pros
- Unlimited cash rewards
- $200 cash rewards welcome bonus
- No annual fee
- Introductory APR period for first 15 months
- Access to Visa Signature® Concierge
- Get up to $600 cell phone protection (subject to a $25 deductible)
Cons
- 3% fee charged on foreign transactions
Who's this for? The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card can be a great starter card for young adults thanks to its easy-to-earn welcome bonus and exceptional yet straightforward rewards rate.
Standout benefits: Wells Fargo Active Cash Card holders can take advantage of cell phone protection, as well as a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
Best for poor credit
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Rewards
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus
Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
N/A on purchases
Regular APR
28.24% Variable
Balance transfer fee
3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
New / Rebuilding
*See rates and fees, terms apply.
Pros
- Cash-back program
- Generous welcome bonus
- Starting at seven months from account opening, Discover will automatically review your credit card account to see if you can transition to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit
Cons
- Cash-back program limits earnings: 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, then 1%
- Low credit line prevents cardholders from charging high-cost items or many expenses
Who's this for? The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is ideal for individuals who have less-than-perfect credit and may only qualify for a secured credit card, but still want to earn rewards.
Standout benefits: Discover matches the cash back you earn during the first year you have the card. Plus, the card offers the ability to transition to an unsecured card starting seven months from account opening.
Best for cash-back
Citi Double Cash® Card
Rewards
Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24
Welcome bonus
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% for the first 18 months on balance transfers; N/A for purchases
Regular APR
19.24% - 29.24% variable
Balance transfer fee
For balance transfers completed within 4 months of account opening, an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies; after that, a balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Credit needed
Fair/Good/Excellent
See rates and fees, terms apply.
Read our Citi Double Cash® Card review.
Pros
- 2% cash back on all eligible purchases
- Simple cash-back program that doesn't require activation or spending caps
- One of the longest intro periods for balance transfers at 18 months
Cons
- 3% fee charged on purchases made outside the U.S.
- Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $443
- Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $2,213
Who's this for? The Citi Double Cash® Card is another top pick with generous rewards on everyday spending, an excellent introductory APR offer and no annual fee. Plus, you may get approved with only a fair credit score.
Standout benefits: Earning and redeeming rewards is effortless, with no bonus categories or activation to keep track of and no limit to how much cash back you can earn. You'll earn 1% cash back when you make a purchase and an additional 1% back when you pay for those purchases.
Best for no credit
Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card
Rewards
1% cash back on eligible purchases right away and up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments; 2% to 10% cash back at select merchants
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
18.24% - 32.24% variable
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
Credit needed
Fair, Good, No Credit
Terms apply.
Pros
- No credit history required (if you do have a credit history, that does factor into the credit decision)
- No fees whatsoever
- 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away and up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments; 2% to 10% cash back at select merchants
- Credit limits range from $300 to $10,000
Cons
- Card isn't for rebuilding credit, but it's good for building credit
- No special financing offers
- No welcome bonus
- Estimated rewards earned after 1 year: $249
- Estimated rewards earned after 5 years: $1,577
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 because it is available to borrowers with no prior credit history. It's even available to those without a social security number
Standout benefits: Cardholders earn 1% cash back on all purchases, but can bump that return to up to 1.5% back after making 12 on-time monthly payments. On top of that, cardholders can take advantage of special offers to earn 2% to 10% back at select retailers.
Best for authorized users
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Rewards
Unlimited 2X miles on all eligible purchases, and 5 Miles per dollar on flights and 10 Miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars when booked via Capital One Travel portal
Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
Annual fee
$395
Intro APR
None
Regular APR
19.99% - 29.99% variable APR
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fees
$0
Credit needed
Excellent
See rates and fees, terms apply.
Pros
- Large welcome bonus
- No foreign transaction fees
- Up to $100 statement credits for either Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
Cons
- High annual fee
- No introductory 0% APR period
Who's this for? As a luxury credit card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card isn't a realistic option for most 18-year-olds. However, if you have a parent or guardian who qualifies for the card, there's no additional fee to add you as an authorized user, and share the benefits. (See rates and fees)
Standout benefits: Capital One Venture X authorized users can take full advantage of one of the card's best perks — airport lounge access. Authorized users can also take advantage of various purchase and travel protections like cell phone protection and primary rental car insurance*.
More on our best credit cards for 18-year-olds
Discover it® Student Cash Back
The Discover it® Student Cash Back is a no annual fee card that allows students to start building credit and earn rewards while they're still in college.
Rewards
- 5% back on up to $1,500 in purchases in rotating bonus categories each quarter (then 1%, activation required)
- 1% back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Discover will match all cash back you earn for the first year.
Annual fee
$0
Notable benefits
The Discover it® Student Cash Back can be useful when studying abroad because it has no foreign transaction fees.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a terrific entry-level cash-back card that earns earns unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases and has a generous intro APR period.
Rewards
- Earn 2% cash rewards back on every purchase
Welcome bonus
Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months.
Annual fee
$0
Notable benefits
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card offers a strong introductory APR and you can also receive cell phone protection when you pay your monthly cell phone bill with your Wells Fargo Active Cash Card. This coverage has a $25 deductible and covers you for up to $600 per claim and up to two claims every 12 months.
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card can be opened with a deposit of at least $200, which then becomes your credit limit. It stands out from other secured cards in that it earns rewards and offers a a clear path to upgrading to an unsecured credit card.
Rewards
- 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Discover will match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year.
Annual fee
$0
Notable benefits
At the end of your card anniversary year, Discover will match all of the cash back you have earned, and there is no limit to how much cash back you can earn. This is an unusually rewarding introductory offer, especially when you compare it to other secured credit cards which typically don't offer any type of rewards.
Cardmembers receive an automatic review after seven months to see if they are eligible to upgrade to an unsecured card and have the deposit refunded. This card also has no foreign transaction fees.
Citi Double Cash® Card
The Citi Double Cash® Card is a lucrative no-annual-fee cash-back card that's hard to beat for everyday purchases.
Rewards
- Earn 2% back on every purchase (1% back when you buy, plus 1% back when you pay for those purchases)
- Earn 5% total cash back on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel site through Dec. 31, 2024.
Welcome bonus
Earn $200 cash back after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
Annual fee
$0
Notable benefits
When you earn cash back, it is awarded as Citi ThankYou® Points. You can redeem Citi points for various cash-like rewards, including statement credits, checks and direct deposits. It also has a handful of Citi transfer partners, including JetBlue, Choice Hotels and Wyndham Hotels. You can unlock access to the full suite of Citi's transfer partners if you also have the Citi Premier® Card, which makes the points you earn with the Double Cash card much more valuable. This makes the Citi Double Cash an excellent starter credit card to begin accumulating rewards that pair well with a travel credit card you can get later on after your credit score has increased.
Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card
The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card is unique in that doesn't judge an applicant's creditworthiness solely based on credit history, but also considers bank statements and other data, such as bill payments and earnings. Unlike many other credit-builder cards, it also doesn't require a security deposit.
Rewards
- 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away, which can increase up to 1.5% cash back after you make 12 on-time monthly payments
- 2% to 10% cash back at select merchants
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0
Notable benefits
This card is noteworthy because it doesn't have many of the fees you'll often find on other credit cards, including no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, no late payment fee and no returned payment fee. There's also no security deposit required to open this card.
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card that's great for adding authorized users.
Rewards
- 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked via Capital One Travel
- 5X miles on flights booked via Capital One Travel
- 2X miles on all other eligible purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Annual fee
$395 (see rates and fees)
Notable benefits
The Capital One Venture X offers an annual $300 travel credit for bookings made through Capital One Travel that's shared between the primary cardholder and authorized users. The primary cardholder also receives 10,000 bonus miles (worth at least $100 in travel) every account anniversary, as well as a statement credit of up to $100 every four years (per account) for a Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee.
Most other benefits are available to both primary cardholders and authorized users, including unlimited visits to Priority Pass, Plaza Premium and Capital One airport lounges (enrollment required). Primary cardholders and authorized users also enjoy comprehensive travel and shopping protections, including:
- Cell phone insurance
- Rental car insurance
- Trip cancellation and interruption coverage
- Travel accident insurance
- Trip delay reimbursement
- Lost luggage reimbursement
- Purchase security
- Extended warranty protection
- Return protection
*Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Refer to your Guide to Benefits for more details.
FAQs
How old do you have to be to get a credit card?
You must be at least 18 years old to be eligible for a credit card. You will need to be able to verify you can afford to make the monthly payments and card issuers typically review your credit history as part of the application process.
How do I choose a credit card when I turn 18?
The best rewards credit cards normally require good to excellent credit and are easier to be approved for when you have a healthy income. So when you turn 18 years old, you'll need to assess what credit cards you're eligible for and find the option with the best rewards and lowest fees.
Can I get a credit card in my child's name?
You can add your child as an authorized user on your credit card accounts, although there may be a minimum age requirement depending on the card issuer.
Bottom line
When you turn 18 years old, you'll be eligible to open a credit card as the primary cardholder. But to be approved, you'll need to be able to show you can afford the card's payments. While your credit history is an important consideration for most card applications, there are credit cards available for students and young adults with little or no credit history.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
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.
Our methodology
To determine which credit cards are best for 18-year-olds, CNBC Select analyzed the most popular credit cards available to U.S. consumers. We compared each card on a range of features, including the annual fee, authorized user fees, rewards, credit score requirements, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks and how easy it is to redeem points.
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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.
For rates and fees of the Discover it® Student Cash Back, click here.
