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Best first credit cards

Compare student, secured, and simple no-annual-fee cards that can help a new cardholder build a clean payment history.

Credit card terms, welcome offers, APRs, credits, and eligibility rules can change without notice. BillSaver summarizes publicly available card terms for comparison only; verify rates, fees, rewards, and offer language with the issuer before applying. BillSaver may receive compensation from approved product relationships; compensation does not replace issuer terms or editorial fit. Read how BillSaver evaluates cards and handles advertising disclosures.

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5 cards shown. Use a decision chip or search box to narrow the table.

BillSaver picks

Top matches for this category

Chase Freedom Unlimited® card art

All-around cash back

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Annual fee
$0
Rewards
5% on travel through Chase Travel, 3% on dining and drugstores, 1.5% on other purchases.
Intro APR
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months.

A strong starter rewards card because the base rate is better than 1%, the bonus categories are useful, and the annual fee is zero.

Terms last checked August 5, 2026. Offers and eligibility can change.

Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card card art

Student dining and grocery rewards

Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Annual fee
$0
Rewards
3% cash back at grocery stores, dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services; 5% on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 1% on other purchases.
Intro APR
No standard intro APR offer.

A student card with useful real-life categories and no annual or foreign transaction fee.

Terms last checked August 5, 2026. Offers and eligibility can change.

Discover it® Student Cash Back card art

Student rotating cash back

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Annual fee
$0
Rewards
5% cash back in activated quarterly categories up to the quarterly cap, then 1%; 1% on other purchases.
Intro APR
0% intro APR for 6 months on purchases.

A no-fee first card with rewards and credit-bureau reporting.

Terms last checked August 5, 2026. Offers and eligibility can change.

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Shortlist up to 3 cards before leaving BillSaver. No cards selected. Use this as a fit check. Exact APRs, welcome offers, fees, credits, and eligibility rules still need issuer verification.

Rows link to issuer terms instead of application pages unless an approved relationship exists. Card details are summarized for comparison and may change.

Select cards above to see a focused three-card comparison.

Card Best for Rewards Welcome offer Annual fee Intro APR Regular APR Transfer fee Foreign transaction fee Credit profile Terms
Chase Freedom Unlimited® card art
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Chase · Good to excellent Read review
All-around cash backA strong starter rewards card because the base rate is better than 1%, the bonus categories are useful, and the annual fee is zero. 5% on travel through Chase Travel, 3% on dining and drugstores, 1.5% on other purchases. $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. $0 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. 18.24% to 27.74% variable APR. Intro transfer fee applies, then higher ongoing transfer fee. 3% Good to excellent Issuer terms
Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card card art
Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One · Students Read review
Student dining and grocery rewardsA student card with useful real-life categories and no annual or foreign transaction fee. 3% cash back at grocery stores, dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services; 5% on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 1% on other purchases. Students earn a $100 cash bonus after qualifying purchases; confirm the current spend deadline with Capital One. $0 No standard intro APR offer. 18.49% to 28.49% variable APR. Balance transfer fee applies. $0 Students Issuer terms
Discover it® Student Cash Back card art
Discover it® Student Cash Back Discover · Students Read review
Student rotating cash backA no-fee first card with rewards and credit-bureau reporting. 5% cash back in activated quarterly categories up to the quarterly cap, then 1%; 1% on other purchases. $100 statement-credit bonus after you spend $300 in the first 3 months, plus Cashback Match for first-year cash back for new cardmembers. $0 0% intro APR for 6 months on purchases. 16.49% to 25.49% variable APR. Balance transfer fee applies. $0 Students Issuer terms
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card card art
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card Capital One · Limited, poor, or rebuilding credit Read review
Low-cost secured cardA no-annual-fee secured card with a refundable $49, $99, or $200 deposit path and automatic account reviews for possible access to a higher credit line. No rewards program. No traditional welcome bonus. $0 No standard intro APR offer. 28.99% variable APR. Balance transfer fee applies. $0 Limited, poor, or rebuilding credit Issuer terms
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card card art
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card Bank of America · Limited, poor, or rebuilding credit Read review
Secured card with cash backA secured card that still offers meaningful rewards if used carefully. 3% cash back in one choice category, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and 1% on other purchases, with quarterly caps. No traditional welcome bonus. $0 No standard intro APR offer. Variable APR; see issuer terms. Balance transfer fee applies. 3% Limited, poor, or rebuilding credit Issuer terms

How to use the table

Start with the reason you want the card. Rewards cards make sense when you pay in full. Balance transfer and 0% APR cards should be judged by the transfer fee, length of the promotional window, and your payoff plan. Credit-building cards should be judged by cost, reporting, deposit rules, and the habit of on-time payments.

Do not treat the richest welcome offer as the whole decision. A card with a lower annual fee, simpler rewards, or a shorter but cheaper balance-transfer period can be the better fit for a household budget.

For the reasoning behind the fields, categories, and disclosures, read the BillSaver credit card methodology.