The Best First Credit Cards for Beginners
Starting your credit journey with the right credit card can set you up for future financial success. In 2024, several credit cards stand out for beginners, offering a mix of low fees, manageable interest rates, and useful rewards. Here are some of the top options to consider:
BEST FOR REWARDS ON AN UNSECURED CARD
Chase Freedom Rise
Welcome Bonus
$25 statement credit
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
26.99% Variable
Credit Score
New To Credit / Limited Credit
Our Expert Take
The Chase Freedom Rise is specially designed for first-time cardholders and comes with fair rewards in this category.
Why We Like It
Credit line increases are considered automatically, which could improve your spending power as you use the card responsibly.
What We Don’t Like
Some customers may feel compelled to bank with Chase, since having a Chase checking account could improve your chances of card approval.
Who It’s Best For
Current Chase checking customers and credit card beginners who want to earn rewards on all card spending.
Pros
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
- $0 annual fee
- Trip cancellation/interruption coverage
- 5% back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025
- Low-cost financing on purchases over $100 with Chase Pay Over Time
Cons
- No bonus categories (except for Lyft)
- High APR
- Foreign transaction fee of 3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars.
- May not be eligible for balance transfers
- Increased odds of approval for depositing money in a Chase checking account, which requires an extra step that may or may not help you get the card
Card Details
- Increase your approval chances – Having a Chase checking or savings account with a balance of at least $250 will increase your chances of getting approved for Chase Freedom Rise®
- Earn Cash Back – With Chase Freedom Rise®, you can start building credit while earning 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open and there is no minimum to redeem for cash back.
- Earn a $25 statement credit after signing up for automatic payments within the first three months of opening your account. With automatic payments, just pick a date and dollar amount to make sure your Credit Card gets paid on time.
- Credit Limit Increase – As a Freedom Rise cardmember, you’ll be evaluated for a credit line increase in as soon as 6 months. Your credit line is the maximum amount of money you can spend on your Freedom Rise® Card
- Free Credit Score – Track your credit score and learn how to build it with Chase Credit Journey.
- No Annual Fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Rise® card.
- Member FDIC
BEST FIRST CARD FOR TRAVELERS
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Welcome Bonus
N/A
Annual Fee
$39
Regular APR
29.99% (Variable)
Credit Score
Average, Fair, Limited
Our Expert Take
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card fills a niche for credit beginners looking for a card they can use abroad without foreign transaction fees.
Why We Like It
Flat-rate cash-back rewards can make understanding your first credit card’s benefits easy.
What We Don’t Like
This card is pretty light on perks considering it charges an annual fee.
Who It’s Best For
Travelers with fair credit who want to earn bonus cash back and avoid added fees on international purchases.
Pros
- Unlimited 1.5% cash-back rewards
- Fair-to-average credit applicants considered
- No foreign transaction fee
- Rewards don’t expire
Cons
- High APR
- No boosted rate in common spending categories
- No welcome offer
- No intro APR offer
Card Details
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn’t expire for the life of the account. It’s that simple
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
- Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It’s free for everyone
- Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you’re all set
The Best First Credit Cards For Fair Credit
BEST FOR FLEXIBLE CASH BACK
Citi Custom Cash® Card
Welcome Bonus
$200
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
Credit Score
Excellent, Good, Fair
Our Expert Take
The Citi Custom Cash® Card doesn’t market itself as a first credit card. Instead, it’s a solid card for anyone—including those rebuilding from fair credit.
Why We Like It
Just about everyone will appreciate earning up to 5% cash back on top of an introductory APR and welcome offer…with no annual fee.
What We Don’t Like
The earning rates aren’t nearly as impressive when you factor in a spending cap of $500 per month in your chosen bonus category.
Who It’s Best For
Individuals with at least fair credit who want rewards that adapt each month to fit their spending habits.
Credit Cards and Travel Rewards Expert
If you’ve always wanted a credit card that adapts to your lifestyle instead of you having to adapt to it, you’ve found what you’re looking for with the Citi Custom Cash. You’ll never have to worry again about making sure you’re earning bonus points at the places you shop the most, because this card will automatically do it for you — even if those places change every month.
Pros
- No registration required to earn bonus rewards
- Cash-back categories are unique categories that other cards may not offer bonus rewards for
- Introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers
- No annual fee
Cons
- High balance transfer fee
- High foreign transaction fee
- Some everyday rewards categories are neglected
Card Details
- 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 (Thank You Points), which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- 0% Intro APR on balance transfers and purchases for 15 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Earn 5% cash back on purchases in your top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent, 1% cash back thereafter. Also, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Special Travel Offer: Earn an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/2025.
- No rotating bonus categories to sign up for – as your spending changes each billing cycle, your earn adjusts automatically when you spend in any of the eligible categories.
- No Annual Fee
- Citi will only issue one Citi Custom Cash® Card account per person.
BEST FLAT-RATE CASH-BACK CARD
Citi Double Cash® Card
Welcome Bonus
Earn $200 cash back
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
19.24% – 29.24% (Variable)
Credit Score
Excellent, Good, Fair
Our Expert Take
I think everyone should have a 2% cash-back card in their wallet, and the Citi Double Cash® Card is one available to those with fair credit scores (1% when you buy and 1% when purchases are paid off).
Why We Like It
The cash rewards are awesome on their own, but you’ll also have access to a few travel transfers for additional redemption options (and even more if you hold a premium Thank You points-earning card).
What We Don’t Like
The introductory APR offer only extends to balance transfers, not new purchases.
Who It’s Best For
Cash-back lovers who want simple rewards that don’t require extra work to track.
Credit Cards and Travel Rewards Expert
Not everyone wants to chase bonus categories or shuffle cards in their wallet, which makes the Citi Double Cash the perfect “set it and forget it” credit card. It’s one of the only cards around that not only earns 2% cash back on all purchases – 1% when purchases are made and another 1% when they’re paid off but also offers a path to using that cash back in the form of more valuable travel points down the road when you’re ready to take the next step.
Pros
- Earn up to 2% cash back—1% when the purchase is made and 1% when payment is made on the account
- No cash-back cap—no limit on the amount of cash back that can be earned
- No annual fee
- Introductory APR period for balance transfers
Cons
- Foreign transaction fee
- Balance transfer fee
- Lack of benefits seen in other no annual fee cards
- No introductory 0% APR on purchases
Card Details
- 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.
- 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.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% – 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Final Thoughts
Picking the best Mastercard incorporates getting a handle on your financial situation, evaluating your approaches to overseeing cash, and taking apart the card’s benefits and costs. By considering your FICO rating, necessities, offers, capability, charges, and APR, you can get the Visa that best lines with your prerequisites and financial goals.