A bank card is usually a highly effective device in your private finance technique. With a very good newbie bank card, you possibly can set up a credit score historical past, earn rewards in your spending and luxuriate in helpful perks.
Plus, for those who like to journey like we do right here at TPG, you should utilize your bank card to elevate your subsequent journey.
All of us start at totally different locations. Possibly you have determined to break up together with your debit card — which generally will not earn rewards in your spending — or perhaps you are a first-timer looking for to construct credit score as you intend for the longer term.
If you happen to’re like me after I was 18, you is perhaps prepared to maneuver past being an licensed consumer on another person’s card and tackle the accountability of getting your personal.
I used to be beforehand a certified consumer on my mother and father’ Disney® Visa® Card (see charges and charges). After a couple of years, I used to be prepared to seek out my very own card with easy rewards and a 0% introductory annual share fee interval.
No matter the place you might be in your journey, bear in mind to use your bank card responsibly and repay your payments in full every month to get essentially the most worth out of your rewards and perks.
Whether or not you are fascinated by incomes cash-back rewards, factors and miles or a mix of all three, we have now you lined with our collection of the perfect first bank cards.
The perfect first bank cards
*The knowledge for the Uncover it Money Again has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
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Evaluating the perfect first bank cards
Listed here are some suggestions for the perfect first bank cards for freshmen.
| Card | Finest for | Welcome supply | Incomes charges | Annual payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Sapphire Most well-liked | Journey rewards | Earn 75,000 bonus factors after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
|
$95 |
| Capital One Quicksilver Money Rewards Credit score Card | Easy money again | Earn $200 money again after spending $500 on purchases inside three months of account opening. |
|
$0 |
| Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit score Card | Flat-rate rewards | Earn 20,000 miles after spending $500 on purchases throughout the first three months of account opening. |
|
$0 |
| Capital One Savor Money Rewards Credit score Card |
Eating and leisure | Earn $200 money again after spending $500 on purchases inside three months of account opening. |
|
$0 |
| Chase Freedom Limitless | Versatile money rewards | Earn $200 money again after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. |
|
$0 |
| Citi Double Money | On a regular basis purchases | Earn $200 money again after spending $1,500 on purchases within the first six months of account opening. |
|
$0 |
| Uncover it Money Again Credit score Card | Money-back rewards | Uncover will match all of the money again earned throughout the first 12 consecutive billing durations that the brand new account is open. |
|
$0 |
Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card
Welcome supply: Earn 75,000 bonus factors after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Annual payment: $95.
Standout advantages: The Sapphire Most well-liked Card earns Chase Final Rewards factors on each buy and options fashionable bonus classes to get extra factors to make use of towards journey on frequent bills.
It is simple to gather factors to make use of towards journey with this card. You may earn:
- 5 factors per greenback spent on journey booked by Chase Journey℠
- 3 factors per greenback spent on eating, choose streaming providers and on-line grocery retailer purchases (excluding Goal®, Walmart® and wholesale golf equipment)
- 2 factors per greenback spent on all different journey purchases
- 1 level per greenback spent on every little thing else
You may additionally obtain a press release credit score of as much as $50 on lodge stays bought by Chase Journey whenever you open the cardboard and on every account anniversary.
Cardholders get a 10% anniversary factors bonus every year, based mostly on their whole spending throughout the account anniversary 12 months, at a fee of 1 level for every $10 spent. The cardboard additionally contains a minimum of one 12 months of complimentary DoorDash DashPass membership (activate by Dec. 31, 2027) and incorporates a host of journey and buy protections.
Why it is nice for freshmen: If you happen to’re able to dip your toes into transferable bank card factors as a newbie, there are few higher locations to start out than the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card.
The Chase Final Rewards factors you may earn with this card are helpful when used for journey, whether or not you are redeeming to buy airfare, reserve lodge rooms or lease a automobile by Chase Journey at a fee of as much as 1.75 cents per level, relying on the particular redemption (see your rewards program settlement for full particulars), or transferring to one in all Chase’s 14 airline and lodge companions for optimum worth.
Whereas some points-earning journey playing cards can carry hefty annual charges, the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card’s $95 annual payment is a modest entry level for these beginning off with bank cards. It is splendid for frequent or informal vacationers trying to earn helpful rewards.
For extra particulars, learn our full assessment of the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card.
Apply right here: Chase Sapphire Most well-liked Card
Capital One Quicksilver Money Rewards Credit score Card
Welcome supply: Earn a one-time $200 money bonus after spending $500 on purchases inside three months of account opening.
Annual payment: $0.
Standout advantages: The Capital One Quicksilver Money Rewards Credit score Card is an effective card to have in your pockets as a result of it’s straightforward to earn money again.
You may get a vast 1.5% money again on each buy with no annual payment and no expiration dates on the money again you rack up.
And for those who add a card that earns Capital One miles later, you possibly can doubtlessly convert the money again into transferable journey foreign money that can be utilized with one in all Capital One’s 15-plus switch companions.
Why it is nice for freshmen: If you happen to’re new to bank cards, it would not get a lot simpler than this no-annual-fee card that earns a flat 1.5% money again on each buy with no limits.
You will not have to fret about memorizing bonus classes or managing Capital One miles for those who choose to earn easy money again with the Capital One Quicksilver Money Rewards Credit score Card, that means all of your purchases are robotically maximized with out shuffling round a number of playing cards or activating quarterly classes.
For extra particulars, learn our full assessment of the Capital One Quicksilver Money Rewards Credit score Card.
Study extra: Capital One Quicksilver Money Rewards Credit score Card
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit score Card
Welcome supply: Earn 20,000 bonus miles after spending $500 on purchases inside three months of account opening.
Annual payment: $0.
Standout advantages: The incomes charges on the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit score Card are strong, particularly for a card that earns miles with no annual payment. You may earn a flat 1.25 miles per greenback spent on all of your purchases, that means you will not should memorize bonus classes or activate quarterly bonus awards.
You may additionally earn 5 miles per greenback spent whenever you reserve accommodations or rental automobiles by Capital One’s journey reserving web site, making the cardboard higher to carry for those who’re fascinated by reserving by a portal. And, incomes Capital One miles with the Capital One VentureOne is limitless.
Different perks of the Capital One VentureOne embody journey and emergency help, auto rental insurance coverage and prolonged guarantee, which is the usual suite of World Elite Mastercard journey and procuring advantages.
Why it is nice for freshmen: The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit score Card is an effective entry level for anybody interested by transferable journey foreign money however tired of paying an annual payment. Plus, the cardboard earns miles at a flat fee throughout on a regular basis purchases, including extra simplicity since you will not should memorize bonus classes.
You may begin accumulating Capital One miles that you would be able to switch to one in all Capital One’s 15-plus airline and lodge companions or redeem as a press release credit score on eligible purchases. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards is a robust choice for first-timers who need a journey bank card however do not need to funds for an annual payment.
For extra particulars, please see our full assessment of the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit score Card.
Study extra: Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit score Card
Capital One Savor Money Rewards Credit score Card
Welcome supply: Earn a one-time $200 money bonus after spending $500 inside three months of account opening.
Annual payment: $0.
Standout advantages: Foodies and people who spend on leisure are prime candidates for the Capital One Savor Money Rewards Credit score Card, as cardholders make more money again inside these fashionable bonus classes.
The Capital One Savor additionally earns:
- 8% money again on Capital One Leisure purchases
- 5% money again on accommodations and rental automobiles booked with Capital One’s journey reserving web site
- 3% money again on eating, leisure, fashionable streaming providers and grocery shops (excluding superstores like Walmart and Goal)
- 1% on all different purchases
If most of your spending is in these classes, you may earn outsize cash-back rewards for no annual payment.
This card additionally prices no overseas transaction charges and comes with MasterRental Protection, Grasp RoadAssist Service and prolonged guarantee safety.
Why it is nice for freshmen: For freshmen who spend cash on meals and leisure, there are few higher methods to earn bonus money again than with the no-annual-fee Capital One Savor Money Rewards Credit score Card.
First-timers can unlock bonus cash-back earnings inside fashionable spending classes with out making the funds funding of an annual payment, making it a robust candidate for anybody trying to dive into bank card rewards.
For extra particulars, learn our full assessment of the Capital One Savor Money Rewards Credit score Card.
Study extra: Capital One Savor Money Rewards Credit score Card
Chase Freedom Limitless
Welcome supply: Earn $200 money again after spending $500 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
Annual payment: $0.
Standout advantages: With the Chase Freedom Limitless, you may earn money again on each buy. Inside sure bonus classes, you may earn at an elevated fee.
The classes embody incomes 5% again on journey booked by Chase Journey, 3% again on eating (together with takeout and eligible supply providers), 3% again at drugstores and 1.5% again on all different purchases.
Plus, you may obtain varied different perks that are not at all times a given on a no-annual-fee card. Chase Freedom Limitless’s perks embody rental automobile safety, journey cancellation and interruption insurance coverage, roadside dispatch, prolonged guarantee safety and buy safety.
Why it is nice for freshmen: Money-back rewards are a strong place to begin for freshmen, and the Chase Freedom Limitless earns at elevated charges throughout a number of frequent bonus classes that will help you maximize earnings on the {dollars} you spend.
The money again you may earn can be utilized as a press release credit score or a direct deposit into most U.S. checking and financial savings accounts at a price of 1 cent per level.
You can even redeem money again for present playing cards or use them to e book journey by Chase Journey for a similar worth. Whereas it’s also possible to use cash-back rewards at Amazon, you may get a decrease worth going this route.
With the Chase Freedom Limitless, you possibly can set your self up for a higher Chase bank card technique. Sooner or later, you may pair this card with one other card that earns premium Chase Final Rewards factors (such because the Chase Sapphire Most well-liked) and convert your cash-back rewards into transferable factors.
For extra particulars, learn our full assessment of the Chase Freedom Limitless.
Apply right here: Chase Freedom Limitless
Citi Double Money
Welcome supply: Earn $200 money again after you spend $1,500 within the first six months from account opening.
Annual payment: $0.
Standout advantages: The Citi Double Money stands out for its simplicity. You may earn 2% money again on each buy (1% as you purchase and 1% as you pay) and there aren’t any limits in your earnings.
You may additionally earn 5% money again on choose lodge, automobile rental and attraction bookings made by the Citi journey portal.
Citi money again is earned within the type of Citi ThankYou Rewards factors, that means you may earn 2 factors for each greenback spent on the cardboard. These factors are redeemed at a ratio of 1 cent per level, and you should utilize these factors to redeem as a direct deposit to any checking or financial savings account, as a press release credit score or as a test by mail.
Why it is nice for freshmen: That is a simple choice for these unfamiliar with bank card rewards. All you need to do to earn 2% money again on all of your purchases is swipe the Citi Double Money Card and pay your assertion steadiness.
You will not should memorize bonus classes or be involved about activating rotating classes. As a substitute, you may know you are getting 2% money again on each buy. Plus, cash-back rewards are straightforward to redeem for those who’re a real newcomer.
For extra particulars, learn our full assessment of the Citi Double Money.
Apply right here: Citi Double Money
Uncover it Money Again
Welcome supply: Uncover will robotically match all of the money again you earn on the cardboard after your first card anniversary 12 months, successfully doubling your rewards for the primary 12 months of card membership.
Annual payment: $0.
Standout advantages: With the Uncover it Money Again, you may obtain as much as 5% money again in quarterly rotating bonus classes when you activate, which can provide you some critical earnings in varied fashionable classes, similar to eating places, fuel stations and Goal.
Your earnings are successfully doubled after your first card anniversary 12 months, which suggests you may truly stand up to 10% again on quarterly bonus classes and a couple of% again on all different spending for the primary 12 months.
This card would not cost an annual payment. It is also a strong choice for those who’re searching for a card that has a 0% introductory APR interval. Eligible candidates could also be accredited for as much as 15 months with a 0% APR on purchases and steadiness transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24%-27.24% will apply after that.
Why it is nice for freshmen: This card is an effective choice for freshmen as they consider their spending habits to maximise bonus classes. The essential issue right here is to not neglect to activate the Uncover it Money Again’s rotating quarterly classes.
Nonetheless, for those who maximize the cardboard’s bonus classes every quarter and use it for all of your spending within the first 12 months, you may rack up some critical cash-back rewards — all whereas studying about your spending technique and activating bonus classes.
Study extra: Uncover it Money Again assessment
What to contemplate when selecting your first bank card
There’s no one-size-fits-all reply to the perfect first bank card. Nonetheless, there are a few components to contemplate that might assist slim down the proper newbie bank card for you.
After I was weighing what advantages had been most essential to me as I ready to use for my first bank card, I knew I needed to earn easy cash-back rewards that I might redeem for assertion credit. I wasn’t fairly able to funds for an annual payment, which was one other issue I thought of.
What you worth is all as much as your private preferences, and weighing all these components will assist you choose the precise starter bank card on your monetary technique.
Most well-liked rewards
First, what sort of rewards are you trying to earn? Do you need to accumulate factors or miles to make use of towards journey purchases, or are you interested by incomes money again on each greenback you spend?
After I was prepared to select my first bank card, I appeared for cash-back earnings on my purchases since I wasn’t but aware of the huge world of factors and miles.
Welcome bonus
You may need to take into account a card’s welcome supply, which is a rewards bonus sometimes earned after opening a card and assembly a minimal spending requirement inside a sure window.
Spending habits
Subsequent, take into account the way you spend your cash. If you happen to incessantly dine out and purchase groceries, chances are you’ll need to take into account a card that earns bonus factors, miles or money again in these classes.
Nonetheless, for those who usually have bills throughout a number of classes, making use of for a bank card that earns a easy, flat fee on all purchases might make extra sense.
Annual payment
Lastly, take into account your funds and private choice for annual charges. Many bank cards that cost annual charges supply perks, protections and credit that assist offset the annual payment.
If you happen to’re not wanting so as to add a yearly cost on your first bank card, loads of no-annual-fee choices can be found to get you began.
Associated: The entire information to bank card annual charges
Bank cards for restricted credit score historical past
It is value noting that if you’re beginning out with restricted (or no) credit score historical past, chances are you’ll need to begin less complicated than what we have included on this checklist.
You may begin like I did as a certified consumer on a bank card held by your mother and father or somebody you recognize with a very good credit score historical past. Most bank cards enable licensed customers to be added for no additional price.
Simply you’ll want to use that card responsibly so you can begin constructing wholesome credit score habits early.
If being a certified consumer is not in your plans, take into account a secured bank card. Secured playing cards are good choices for many who haven’t got a credit score historical past or are working to rebuild it.
Secured bank cards are simpler to be accredited for and require a safety deposit that turns into your credit score restrict. With accountable use of a secured bank card, you possibly can set up good credit score historical past and develop into eligible for playing cards that earn extra rewards — such because the playing cards on this checklist.
A few of our picks for a greatest first bank card even have a secured model, such because the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Money Rewards Credit score Card and the Uncover it® Secured Credit score Card.
The knowledge for the Uncover it Secured Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.
Associated: What’s a secured bank card?
How we selected the perfect first bank cards
We rated the perfect first bank cards based mostly on a number of components, together with reward incomes charges, perks and advantages related to every card and the general worth every card delivers to you, the patron.
To study how TPG evaluates and chooses playing cards for our roundups, take a look at our methodology right here.
Associated: test your credit score rating totally free
Redemption choices for first bank cards
Whereas most of the playing cards listed earn money again, you are not restricted to redeeming these rewards for assertion credit. Money-back playing cards can nonetheless be used as journey playing cards that assist offset journey prices.
A few of the greatest playing cards for freshmen earn factors or miles, which can be utilized towards complimentary nights at accommodations or a seat in a premium cabin on a flight. You can even use factors and miles to improve your journey expertise.
Associated: redeem cash-back rewards out of your bank card
Backside line
Selecting your first bank card is a giant resolution. It is most essential to select a card that fits your spending habits, life-style and funds, as there is not any one good bank card for all freshmen.
As soon as you have utilized on your first bank card, you are prepared to start out having fun with rewards and perks to set your monetary future in movement.
Associated: 7 issues to grasp about credit score earlier than making use of for a brand new card
For Capital One merchandise listed on this web page, a few of the advantages could also be offered by Visa® or Mastercard® and will fluctuate by product. See the respective Information to Advantages for particulars, as phrases and exclusions apply.
