BEST CREDIT CARDSBEST CREDIT CARDSBEST UNSECURED CARDS FOR SHORT CREDIT HISTORIES OF NOVEMBER 2024
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Best Unsecured Cards for Short Credit Histories of November 2024

Updated: Oct 23, 2024
Paul Soucy
Written by
Director
Caitlin Mims
Reviewed by
Content Management Specialist
Kenley Young
Edited by
Fact Checked
Assigning Editor
Fact Checked
Paul Soucy
Written by
Director
Caitlin Mims
Reviewed by
Content Management Specialist
Kenley Young
Edited by
Fact Checked
Assigning Editor
Fact Checked
+ 2 more
+ 2 more
Many or all of the products on this page are from partners who compensate us when you click to or take an action on their website, but this does not influence our evaluations or ratings. Our opinions are our own.

Most credit cards are "unsecured," meaning you don't have to put up any collateral in order to use them to borrow money for purchases. People with good or excellent credit don't have much trouble qualifying for unsecured cards. Those with short credit histories can have a harder time finding an unsecured card that will approve them without charging exorbitant fees. Even so, when it comes to getting approved for an unsecured credit card, a short credit history is better than none.

  • 400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)

  • 80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance

  • 27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months

  • Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)

NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.

  • 400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)

  • 80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance

  • 27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months

  • Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)

NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.

NerdWallet's Best Unsecured Cards for Short Credit Histories of November 2024

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Best Unsecured Cards for Short Credit Histories From Our Partners

Credit card
NerdWallet rating
Annual feeIntro APRRegular APRLearn more
Discover it® Student Chrome ImageDiscover it® Student Chrome
Best for College students

$0

0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months and 10.99% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 6 months

17.74%-26.74% Variable APR

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card ImageCapital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best for Cash-back rewards

$39

N/A

29.99% Variable APR

Capital One Platinum Credit Card ImageCapital One Platinum Credit Card
Best for No annual fee + boosting your credit limit

$0

N/A

29.99% Variable APR

Mission Lane Cash Back Visa® Credit Card ImageMission Lane Cash Back Visa® Credit Card
Apply Now
on Mission Lane's website
on Mission Lane's website
Best for Pre-qualification + up to 1.5% cash back

$0

N/A

26.99%-29.99% Variable APR

Apply Now
on Mission Lane's website
on Mission Lane's website
Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® ImageUpgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
Best for Cash back + flexibility

$0

N/A

14.99%-29.99% APR

AvantCard Credit Card ImageAvantCard Credit Card
Best for Pre-qualification

$39

N/A

35.99% Variable

save money

Find the right credit card for you.

Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.

Find the right credit card for you.

Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.

Our pick for

College students

Our pick for

Cash-back rewards

Our pick for

No annual fee + boosting your credit limit

Our pick for

Pre-qualification + up to 1.5% cash back

Our pick for

Cash back + flexibility

Our pick for

Pre-qualification

FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST UNSECURED CARDS FOR SHORT CREDIT HISTORY

Before applying, confirm details on the issuer’s website.

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Our pick for: Cash-back rewards

This card for people with fair or "average" credit pays the same cash-back rate as the regular Quicksilver card, which targets people with excellent credit. The key difference is that this version charges an annual fee while the regular one does not (see rates and fees). Read our review.

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Our pick for: No annual fee + boosting your credit limit

You don't get rewards with the Capital One Platinum Credit Card, or a sign-up bonus or a 0% period (see rates and fees). But if you've got fair credit and you need a card you can use to build credit without paying an annual fee, it's definitely worth a look. Read our review.

Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®

Our pick for: Cash back + flexibility

The $0-annual-fee Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® is a cross between a credit card and a personal loan, and it can offer the best of both worlds: flexibility, but with predictable terms from month to month. The card also lets you see what terms you'd qualify for before officially applying. And on top of all that, it earns cash back, too. Read our review.

Mission Lane Cash Back Visa® Credit Card

Our pick for: Pre-qualification + up to 1.5% cash back

The Mission Lane Cash Back Visa® Credit Card is a great option for people who aren't sure whether their credit is good enough to qualify for a rewards card. The issuer's prequalification process lets you see the offer you're eligible for — which could be up to 1.5% cash back — before you actually apply.

Prosper® Card

Our pick for: Help for 'less than perfect credit'

The Prosper® Card doesn't offer rewards, and it charges an annual fee, but the issuer goes out of its way to encourage people with "less than perfect credit" to apply. If you're looking to beef up your credit, it's a decent place to start. Read our review.

Discover it® Student Chrome

Our pick for: College students

Simplicity makes the Discover it® Student Chrome a standout for students searching for their first credit card. You'll earn bonus cash back at restaurants and gas stations with no activation required and no rotating categories to keep track of. Read our review.

AvantCard Credit Card

Our pick for: Pre-qualification

The AvantCard Credit Card is an option for applicants with a thin credit file who don't want to risk hurting their credit scores by applying for multiple cards in search of approval. You first go through a pre-qualification process that doesn't require a hard credit check. That will give you an idea of your likelihood of being accepted. If you'd like to proceed from there, you can complete the application process with a full credit check. Read our review.

Last updated on October 23, 2024

Methodology

NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best credit cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen as among the "best" in multiple categories. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.

About the author

Portrait of author

Paul Soucy

Paul has been the lead editor for NerdWallet's credit cards team since 2015 and for the travel rewards team since 2023. Previously, he worked at USA Today and the Des Moines Register, then built a freelance writing and editing business focused on personal finance topics. He has a bachelor's degree in journalism and an MBA. Read full profile
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