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Best credit cards for teens under 18

These credit cards allow minors to build credit under the age of 18.

To get a traditional credit card, you have to be 18 years old. However, there are two ways around this to help teens build credit before turning 18. One option is for a parent or guardian to add the teen as an authorized user on their credit card, which many banks allow. Option two is getting the teen a credit-building card that reports payment history.

Before they venture into adulthood, explore the best credit card options for teens.

Our top picks

Build credit, get cashback

Step

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  • $0 monthly fee
  • No credit check, security deposit or interest charges
  • Up to 3% cashback
  • Earn 5.00% with $500+ in direct deposits
  • Build positive credit history before 18

Unlimited 1.5% cash back

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

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Terms apply, see rates & fees..
  • $0 monthly fee
  • $200 cash bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months
  • Unlimited 1.5% cash back
  • Low intro rates on purchases and balance transfers

Debit card alternative

Finder Award

Greenlight

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  • Starts at $5.99/month after free trial
  • Earn up to 5% on savings and 1% cashback
  • Optional investing tools
  • You and a referred friend can earn $30+

7 best credit cards for teens under 18 years old

These are some of the best cards available to help teens build credit before they turn 18, either by being added as an authorized user or using a secured card like Step that accepts all ages.

Best overall

Step

4.4
★★★★★

Finder score

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Fee$0 per month
ATM withdrawal$0

Best for unlimited cash back

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

4.2
★★★★★

Finder score

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Terms apply, see rates & fees..
Read review
Welcome Offer$200
RewardsUp to 1.5% cash back
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score670

Best for low-deposit secured card

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

4.4
★★★★★

Finder score

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Terms apply, see rates & fees..
Read review
Welcome Offern/a
RewardsNone
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit scoreNew / limited credit

Best for cashback

Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

4.6
★★★★★

Finder score

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Terms apply, see rates & fees..
Read review
Welcome Offer$200
RewardsUp to 3% cash back
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score670
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers.
Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.

Best for no credit

Discover it® Chrome for Students

Welcome OfferOther
RewardsUp to 2% cash back
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score580

Best starter credit card

Discover it® Secured

4.4
★★★★★

Finder score

Welcome OfferOther
RewardsUp to 2% cash back
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score300

Best for traveling students

Bank of America® Travel Rewards for Students

4.1
★★★★★

Finder score

Welcome Offer25,000 points
RewardsUp to 1.5x points
Annual fee$0
Minimum credit score580

Methodology: How we choose the best teen credit cards

Finder’s banking experts look at over 700 credit cards to narrow down the best ones for teens. We heavily consider credit cards that accept authorized users under age 18, secured and unsecured options, cashback rewards and nationwide availability. We consider cards that meet this minimum criteria:

  • $0 annual fee
  • $0 or max $5 monthly fee, as long as there are extra perks.
  • Maximum APR of 30.50%
  • Credit scores 670 or lower

You must be 18 years old to apply for a credit card

Legally, you can’t get a credit card until you’re at least 18 years old. However, teens under 18 can become authorized users on an adult’s account, enabling them to build a strong credit history and increase their chances of qualifying for better credit card options — such as rewards or travel cards — once they’re old enough to apply. Many credit card companies require teens to be at least 13 to be added an as authorized user, but this varies by bank.

Once your teen turns 18, they can apply for a credit card on their own. However there’s a minor stipulation for those aged 18 and 20 years old: the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility Disclosure (CARD) Act requires that they must provide proof of income to show their ability to repay the card’s payments, or have a cosigner who is at least 21 years old. Once they’re 21 years old, these requirements are lifted, though many lenders may still request proof of income before approving a line of credit.

Are there credit cards for kids under 13?

There are some credit cards that have no age requirements for authorized users, making it a good it a good option for younger kids. Some banks without age requirements on authorized users include:

Authorized users age requirements

If you are looking for a credit card for teens under 18, 17 or 16, consider the minimum age for authorized users requirements to find the best fit for your situation.

ProductMinimum age for authorized userAuthorized user fee
Step Visa Card18+ to be a co-sponsorFree
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express13+Free
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card18+Free (Terms apply, see rates & fees)
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card18+Free (Terms apply, see rates & fees)
Citi® Diamond Preferred® CardNo minimumFree
Discover it® Chrome for Students15+Free
Discover it® Secured15+Free
Bank of America® Travel Rewards for StudentsNo minimumFree

Is your teen ready for a credit card?

It depends on your teen’s level of responsibility. If you’re not sure they’re ready, consider introducing them to a debit or prepaid card, such as Greenlight. These cards offer a safe way to teach teens how to manage their money while granting them some spending freedom. They often have spending limits, but they don’t typically build credit, and you may have to pay a monthly fee, depending on the provider.

Another option is to add them as an authorized user on a secured credit card or open a type of secured with more traditional banking options, such as Capital One. These cards allow teens to make purchases up to the amount available in their account, promoting responsible spending habits.

Pros and cons of getting your teen a credit card

There are many more upsides than downsides when it comes to adding your teen as an authorized user on a credit card.

Pros

  • Parents have control. You’d be the primary account holder, having control over the account and getting insight into their spending. Alternatively, you can add them to your account to help them build credit without giving them their own card.
  • Builds credit. Adding a teen as an authorized user helps them start building credit history early. This way, they’ll have better approval chances when they’re ready to borrow on their own.
  • Convenient for everyone. Instead of giving your teen cash for meals, transportation or supplies, a credit card means they always have access to funds, which is also helpful in the case of emergencies.
  • Earn rewards. With another user on your credit card account, you could earn cashback rewards or travel points from spending a lot quicker.

Cons

  • Overspending. There’s the risk that your teen goes buckwild with their new credit card and overspends. Avoid this by teaching them how their credit utilization ratio affects their credit score and how high balances make it hard to repay over time.
  • Late fees. These fees are often around $40 per late payment, which can really add up.
  • Could damage credit scores. If your teen overspends and you’re unable to repay the balance on time, it’s a surefire way to damage both yours and your teen’s credit score.
  • Theft or fraud. Although credit card fraud can happen even if you take all necessary precautions, teach your teen to recognize which sites are safe and which aren’t for online use.

What if my teen is entering college?

There are many student credit cards geared towards those exiting high school and entering college. And just because a teen is in high school doesn’t mean they can’t get a credit card. If they’re at least 18, they can apply for a credit card on their own — but they’ll need some income to prove they can repay what they’ve borrowed.

For a safer option, there are also secured credit cards and credit-debit cards that are secured by a bank account. One great example the Fizz card, which is a debit-credit card that’s designed with college students in mind. It offers cashback rewards, daily autopay to keep balances down, no interest charges and there’s no credit check.

Bottom line

Getting your teen on the path to a credit card can be a great way to help them financially prepare for the future. However, before you make them an authorized user on an account, be sure they have proper financial supervision and understand the basics of how credit cards work

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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been edited by Alexa Serrano Cruz as part of our fact-checking process.
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Written by

Editor, Banking

Bethany Hickey is the banking editor and personal finance expert at Finder, specializing in banking, lending, insurance, and crypto. Bethany’s expertise in personal finance has garnered recognition from esteemed media outlets, such as Nasdaq, MSN, Yahoo Finance, GOBankingRates, SuperMoney, AOL and Newsweek. Her articles offer practical financial strategies to Americans, empowering them to make decisions that meet their financial goals. Her past work includes articles on generational spending and saving habits, lending, budgeting and managing debt. Before joining Finder, she was a content manager where she wrote hundreds of articles and news pieces on auto financing and credit repair for CarsDirect, Auto Credit Express and The Car Connection, among others. Bethany holds a BA in English from the University of Michigan-Flint, and was poetry editor for the university’s Qua Literary and Fine Arts Magazine. See full bio

Bethany's expertise
Bethany has written 422 Finder guides across topics including:
  • Personal finance
  • Banking
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