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

Updated: Nov 18, 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 December 2024

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Best Unsecured Cards for Short Credit Histories From Our Partners

Credit card
NerdWallet rating
Annual feeIntro APRRegular APRLearn more
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

Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® ImageUpgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
Best for Cash back + flexibility

$0

N/A

14.99%-29.99% 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
Prosper® Card ImageProsper® Card
Apply Now
on Prosper's website
on Prosper's website
Best for Help for 'less than perfect credit'

$39 (waived for the first year if you sign up for autopay before your first statement)

N/A

23.74%-35.24% Variable APR

Apply Now
on Prosper's website
on Prosper's website
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

AvantCard Credit Card ImageAvantCard Credit Card
Best for Pre-qualification

$39

N/A

35.99%

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

Cash-back rewards

Annual fee
$39
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
29.99% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score

The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases. When you're relatively new to credit, that kind of rewards rate is hard to find. You can also be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months.

Product 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
  • 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
  • View Rates & Fees

Pros
  • You'll get a solid flat rewards rate on all purchases, and you can redeem your rewards in any amount. If you tend to forget about your rewards, you can even set up auto-redemption, where cash back is automatically applied as a statement credit when it reaches a certain threshold. This card travels well, too, because there's no foreign transaction fee.

Cons
  • There's an annual fee of $39. That means you'd have to put at least $2,600 on this card each year to break even on rewards.

Why We Like It

The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card earns an unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases. When you're relatively new to credit, that kind of rewards rate is hard to find. You can also be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months.

Our pick for

No annual fee + boosting your credit limit

Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
29.99% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score

For anyone who wants a no-fuss way to build their credit history and eventually increase their credit limit, the $0-annual-fee Capital One Platinum Credit Card keeps it simple.

  • No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
  • Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
  • Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
  • 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
  • Pay by check, online or at a local branch, all with no fee - and pick the monthly due date that works best for you
  • View Rates & Fees

Pros
  • As with the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, you can be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months. But unlike that card, this one doesn't cost you anything to keep in your wallet (assuming you don't carry a balance). There are also no foreign transaction fees.

Cons
  • There's no sign-up bonus, and the card earns no rewards. There's also no introductory 0% APR period for purchases or balance transfers. Use this card to build credit, then move on up.

Why We Like It

For anyone who wants a no-fuss way to build their credit history and eventually increase their credit limit, the $0-annual-fee Capital One Platinum Credit Card keeps it simple.

Our pick for

Cash back + flexibility

Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
14.99%-29.99% APR
Recommended Credit Score

The $0-annual-fee Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® can be an ideal choice if you plan to carry a balance, want the convenience of equal monthly debt repayments and can pre-qualify for a favorable interest rate. It also earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

  • Earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a payment.
  • Combine the flexibility of a credit card with the predictability of a personal loan.
  • No annual fee
  • No touch payments with contactless technology built in.
  • Great for large purchases with predictable payments you can budget for.
  • Mobile app to access your account anytime, anywhere.
  • Relax knowing you’re protected against unauthorized transactions with Visa’s Zero Liability Policy
  • View Rates & Fees

Pros
  • The Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® earns rewards on par with cards for good or excellent credit. And unlike many of those cards, any unpaid balance is automatically converted into an installment loan with a fixed monthly payment. You can also borrow against your credit limit, much like a personal loan. See what terms you'd qualify for without a hard credit inquiry.

Cons
  • You may qualify for better terms with a traditional personal loan, depending on your financial situation. As of this writing, the card is unavailable to residents of Iowa, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C.

Why We Like It

The $0-annual-fee Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® can be an ideal choice if you plan to carry a balance, want the convenience of equal monthly debt repayments and can pre-qualify for a favorable interest rate. It also earns 1.5% cash back on all purchases.

Our pick for

Pre-qualification + up to 1.5% cash back

Mission Lane Cash Back Visa® Credit Card card image
Apply Now
on Mission Lane's website
on Mission Lane's website
Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
26.99%-29.99% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score

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 before you actually apply.

  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as few as 7 months.
  • Free, online credit score access for cardholders.
  • Instant decision on your application.
  • No interest on purchases when you pay in full and on time each month.
  • No security deposit required – get started today!
  • The coverage of Visa®.
  • Access your account anytime, anywhere with our mobile app.
  • If you are charged interest, the charge will be no less than $0.50.

Pros
  • Depending on which offer you qualify for, you could get as much as 1.5% cash back on purchases. The annual fee is $0. The issuer automatically reviews your account for potential credit line increases. The prequalification process allows you to check your offer without any effect on your credit score. If you like what you see, you can apply, at which point there will be a "hard" credit pull. If you don't like the offer, walk away with no harm done.

Cons
  • You might not qualify for 1.5% cash back. You might qualify for less — or no cash back at all. The only way to know exactly what you'll get is to go through prequalification.

Why We Like It

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 before you actually apply.

Our pick for

Help for 'less than perfect credit'

Prosper® Card card image
Apply Now
on Prosper's website
on Prosper's website
Annual fee
$39 (waived for the first year if you sign up for autopay before your first statement)
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
23.74%-35.24% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score

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.

  • No annual fee for the first year if you sign up for AutoPay before your first statement
  • No security deposit required
  • We don't charge fees for ATM cash withdrawals. Third party fees may apply
  • Initial credit limit up to $3,000
  • We regularly report on your credit card performance to help you establish credit history
  • Zero fraud liability (which offers protection against unauthorized purchases).
  • While you wait for your Prosper® Card to ship, use a portion of your credit line instantly through Digital Wallet, MyProsperCard App, or Prosper.com
  • Choose a monthly payment date that works for you
  • Free mobile app—MyProsperCard
  • Issued by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC pursuant to a license by Mastercard® International

Pros
  • The Prosper® Card has a prequalification process that lets you see the offer you're eligible for without a "hard" credit check that can ding your scores. (If you go through with applying, then there's a hard check.) Cardholders' accounts are reviewed for a potential credit line increase every three months. And if you're approved, you can begin using your credit line immediately — no need to wait for the physical card.

Cons
  • There's an annual fee, although you can avoid it in the first year by signing up for autopay before your first statement is issued. The fee is $39 (waived for the first year if you sign up for autopay before your first statement). Prosper also doesn't have other cards to upgrade to once your credit improves, so you either have to keep paying the fee or close the card.

Why We Like It

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.

Our pick for

College students

Annual fee
$0
Intro APR
0% intro APR on Purchases for 6 months and 10.99% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 6 months
Regular APR
17.74%-26.74% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score

The Discover it® Student Chrome shines with its no-maintenance rewards structure and student-friendly bonus categories. You also get a free FICO score, low fees, and forgiveness for your first late payment. Plus, Discover says there's no FICO history requirement for this card.

  • INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
  • Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • No credit score required to apply.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 17.74% - 26.74% applies.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
  • View Rates & Fees

Pros
  • You earn 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations, on up to $1,000 in combined purchases per quarter, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. (Unlike with Discover's other student card, you don't have to "activate" your bonus rewards.) The annual fee is $0. There's also Discover's signature bonus for new cardholders.

Cons
  • Although there's no foreign transaction fee, Discover isn’t as widely accepted abroad as other cards. If you plan to travel internationally, make sure you have a backup plan.

Why We Like It

The Discover it® Student Chrome shines with its no-maintenance rewards structure and student-friendly bonus categories. You also get a free FICO score, low fees, and forgiveness for your first late payment. Plus, Discover says there's no FICO history requirement for this card.

Our pick for

Pre-qualification

Annual fee
$39
Intro APR
N/A
Regular APR
35.99%
Recommended Credit Score

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. That's because you first complete a pre-qualification process that doesn't need a hard credit check.

  • No deposit required.
  • Reports to all three major credit bureaus.
  • No penalty APR.
  • No hidden fees.
  • We may periodically review your account for credit line increases.
  • Fast and easy application process.
  • Cash Advance Fee: 3%, Min: $10.
  • Returned Payment Fee: Up to $25
  • Disclosure: If you are charged interest, the charge will be no less than $1.00.
  • Avant branded credit products are issued by WebBank, member FDIC.
  • Checking your eligibility does not affect your credit score.
  • View Rates & Fees

Pros
  • The prequalification process gives you an idea of your likelihood of being accepted for the card, and the terms you'd be eligible for, without the ding to your credit. If you'd like to proceed from there, you can complete the application process with a hard credit pull. Avant's underwriting model takes into account other factors beyond applicants' credit histories, like income and other debt obligations. This can make it easier to qualify for the card without a long credit history.

Cons
  • The $39 annual fee, the relatively high interest rate and the lack of rewards drag down this card's rating. But it's not supposed to be a long-term solution: Get it, use it to build credit, and then move on.

Why We Like It

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. That's because you first complete a pre-qualification process that doesn't need a hard credit check.

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 November 18, 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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