Best Credit Cards for Building Credit in 2025: Our Top Picks for Beginners
Establishing credit is among the most crucial financial steps when starting one’s financial journey in the United States. Whether you’re a young adult, new to the country or just someone who never established credit early on and — with the exception of perhaps your mortgage — never really borrowed money successfully, finding that loan (or credit card) can seem impossible.
Even in 2025, lenders keep making great options with beginners trying to build good credit habits in mind. This guide summarizes the best ways to build credit with a credit card this year, and why each of them is preferable to others. The idea here is to help you make an informed decision — even if you haven’t applied for a credit card before.
A lot of individuals feel that you need to spend a lot or put one’s financial well-being at risk to form credit, but with some help, it really is easy. Beginner credit cards typically come with less stringent approval conditions, minimal fees and useful features like credit-building trackers or automatic quarterly reviews of your credit line. These resources can help you get off on the right foot. Before we dive into the best credit cards of 2025, it’s critical to know how credit cards contribute to building your credit. When you use your card responsibly — by making on-time payments and keeping a low balance, among other things — your card issuer reports that behavior to the credit bureaus. Over time, as you perform more of these positive behaviors, they boost your credit score which in turn opens access to better financial opportunities.
The other major piece of information that beginners need to know is that credit card issuers look at more than just your credit score. Alternative data is now used to evaluate applicants by many banks and fintech companies in 2025. That is, as long as you have income or some form of bank activity (or can prove a history of on-time payments with rent and utilities), it doesn’t necessarily matter if you don’t have any credit at all. Now, with more lenient requirements first-time applicants have access to better and safer credit-building resources.
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Among the best credit cards for beginners, Discover it® Secured card still stands out in seven years from now. This card is secured, which means you have to put down a refundable security deposit, but it comes with features you won’t find on many unsecured beginner cards. Cardholders receive cash back on all spending, with one bonus category that includes gas and dining. Discover also matches all the cash back you earn in your first year, which is a terrific intro perk for anyone just getting started.
What makes this a good credit card for building credit is Discover’s automatic account review. If you’ve used your card responsibly for seven months, the company will review your profile to see if you can be moved up to an unsecured card and get your deposit back. It’s a feature that helps rookies feel assured they won’t be stuck with a secured card forever. Another benefit is that Discover reports to all three of the major credit bureaus, so your good habits can make a difference wherever you are being checked out.
Good Secured Credit Card Options: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
If you’re looking for a card that is more likely to approve you, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is in play. Unlike with a lot of secured cards, though, your deposit may not need to be as high as the credit limit you’re given. Some users may be eligible for a $49 or $99 deposit for a $200 credit line based on their application information. This lower deposit may even be especially beneficial for beginners who are interested in building their credit without getting too much money locked up.
Capital One also provides access to a mobile app to manage credit on the go. You can monitor your score, set reminders for payments and get alerting that helps you manage your money. While some frequent on-time payments, Capital One can increase your credit limit automatically without a further deposit. A higher limit benefits beginners in the short term since credit utilization ratio is one of the most important factors in a credit score.
Petal® 1 “Rise” Visa® Credit Card
For full beginners who wish to eschew a security deposit entirely, the Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card is an excellent unsecured alternative. Petal uses cash-flow underwriting, so it examines your income and how you manage money in a bank account over just using your credit score. That’s what makes the card an excellent fit for those without any credit history. The application is fast, and you are more likely to get approved than a traditional bank.
The card provides low rewards and no annual fee. But its real strength is in its budgeting tools. Petal offers spending notifications, subscription trackers and financial advice to help newbies form good habits. The app also promotes responsible behavior by illustrating how specific actions can shape your credit score over time. Features like these are supremely helpful for a complete beginner trying to get a handle on credit.
Chime Credit Builder Visa® Card
The Chime Credit Builder Visa® Card is a standout option on this list because it operates differently from the usual credit card. Instead of having a specific line of credit, or interests charged, the card lets you use money you’ve already moved into that account. This saves you money and helps you avoid ever carrying a balance. Chime even reports your payments to some of the major credit bureaus, so you can build credit without taking on debt.
The card is paired with the Chime app, which has good tools for beginners. You also have the option for autopay to avoid late fees and monitor your credit progress with built-in dashboards. This card is ideal for anyone who gets a little anxious at the prospect of responsibly managing a traditional credit line, but who still wants to establish credit without falling into debt.
Features to Look for In beginner credit cards
While compelling alternatives exist, it’s worth having the card that best matches your goals. When it comes to beginners, concentrate on a few key characteristics: no or low annual fees, reporting to all three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion), automatic credit line reviews and helpful educational tools. Avoid cards with high fees or murky terms, particularly when you’re beginning to build credit. It’s also wise to look for the best interest rates, though again, you should always aim to pay your balance in full each month and not incur any interest.
Conclusion
Establishing credit in 2025 is easier than ever due to beginner-friendly credit cards with flexible approval, and robust teaching tools and room for growth. Whether you opt for a secured card like Discover or Capital One, or an unsecured offering such as Petal or Chime, these cards can lay the groundwork for good credit. By using your card responsibly — carrying low balances, paying bills on time and tracking your score — you’ll see your credit improve month after month. Here’s how you can unlock better financial oxportunities in the future with the right card and some savvy spending habits.
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Best Credit Cards for Building Credit in 2025: Our Top Picks for Beginners
