- Teens must be at least 18 years old to apply for their own credit card.
- Parents may need to cosign for their teen’s card or add their teen as an authorized user.
- Our top picks for the best credit cards for teens include Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card, and Chase Freedom Unlimited®, among others.
- Secured credit cards or student credit cards can be a good option for teenagers without a credit history.
- Some teen-friendly credit cards offer cash back or other rewards.
When you buy something using links found on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. This content is reviewed & supervised by The Los Angeles Times Commerce Team.
On This Page
- Key takeaways
- Our top picks for the best credit cards for teens
- Comparing the best credit cards for teens
- More info on the best credit cards for teens
- Can teens get credit cards?
- Pros and cons of credit cards for teens
- How to choose a credit card for teens
- How to get a credit card for teens
- Alternatives to teen credit cards
- FAQs: Best credit cards for teens
On This Page
- Key takeaways
- Our top picks for the best credit cards for teens
- Comparing the best credit cards for teens
- More info on the best credit cards for teens
- Can teens get credit cards?
- Pros and cons of credit cards for teens
- How to choose a credit card for teens
- How to get a credit card for teens
- Alternatives to teen credit cards
- FAQs: Best credit cards for teens
Best Credit Cards for Teens of August 2024
Elizabeth Smith - Personal Finance
+ 1 other
Reviewed By
Blake Esken - Los Angeles Times
Our top picks for the best credit cards for teens
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best for travel perks
- Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for college students
- Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for college students, runner-up
- Chase Freedom Unlimited®: Best for cash back
- Capital One Platinum Credit Card: Best for a low security deposit
- OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card: Best for no credit check
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: Best for grocery purchases
- Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express: Best for everyday spending
Our top picks for the best credit cards for teens
Advertiser Disclosure
Best for travel perks
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
Up to 10X Reward Rate
Earn 10X miles on hotel and rental car purchases made through Capital One Travel, 5X miles on airfare purchased through the portal, and 2X miles per dollar spent on all other purchases.
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Annual Fee
$395
Welcome Offer
75,000 miles
Regular APR
19.99% to 29.99% variable
Recommended Credit
Excellent (740 - 850)
Why we like it
Teens likely won’t be able to qualify for this card on their own, but if an adult is willing to add them as an authorized user, it could help them responsibly build their credit and earn travel rewards while doing so.
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Card Details
More Card Info
- Get a $300 annual credit for booking trips through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy 10,000 bonus miles every year, which is equivalent to $100 towards travel, starting on your first anniversary
- Unlimited complimentary access to over 1,300 lounges, including Capital One lounges and the partner lounge network, for you and two guests
- Use Venture X miles to cover the cost of travel expenses, such as flights, hotels and rental cars; you can even transfer miles to over 15 travel loyalty programs of your choice
- Enhance every hotel stay from the Premier or Lifestyle Collection with a range of cardholder benefits, such as experience credit, room upgrades, and more
- Up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Pros
- Miles can be redeemed for travel purchases, transfers to international airlines, and more
- Can qualify for hundreds of dollars in credits each year
- Huge welcome offer
Cons
- $395 annual fee
- Large spending requirement to earn the welcome bonus
- Excellent credit required
Best for college students
Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Up to 10% Reward Rate
Earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), plus 1% back on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. Earn 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024.
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Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
$50
Regular APR
19.99% to 29.99% variable
Recommended Credit
Limited, Fair/Good (580 - 740)
Why we like it
The SavorOne Student allows college students to earn unlimited cash back in useful bonus categories and not pay an annual fee while they build their credit.
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Card Details
More Card Info
- Have peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability meaning you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
- No foreign transaction fees or hidden fees
- Enjoy up to $500 a year when referring friends and family and they’re approved for a Capital One credit card
- Build your credit by using your card responsibly
- If you’re at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card could be an option for you
Pros
- Good cash back rewards & welcome bonus
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Highest cash back requires booking through Capital One
- Possible high APR depending on credit worthiness
Best for college students, runner-up
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Up to 5% Reward Rate
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases and 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel platform.
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Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
$50
Regular APR
19.99% to 29.99% variable
Recommended Credit
Limited, Fair/Good (580 - 740)
Why we like it
If the categories of the SavorOne Student aren’t super useful to you, the flat-rate cash-back earned by the Quicksilver Student may be more up your alley. You can earn 1.5% back on everything you buy— textbooks, late-night Waffle House runs, Amazon purchases, etc.
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Card Details
More Card Info
- Relax with $0 Fraud Liability meaning you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
- No foreign transaction fees or hidden fees
- Use the Capital One Mobile app to lock your card if it’s misplaced, lost or stolen
- Enjoy up to $500 a year when referring friends and family and they’re approved for a Capital One credit card
- Build up your credit by responsibly using your card
- If you’re at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card could be an option for you
Pros
- No annual fee / no foreign transaction fees
- No penalty APR
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases
Cons
- High APR depending on creditworthiness
- Limited cash back bonus categories
- No intro APR offer for purchases
Best for cash back
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Up to 6.5% Reward Rate
Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
Up to $300 cash back
Regular APR
20.49%-29.24% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (670 - 850)
Why we like it
Unless your teen has been an authorized user on an account of yours for a while so they have established a good credit score, they likely won’t qualify for this card on their own. However, if you have this card, you can add them as an authorized user and they can benefit from the great rewards. Even better, there’s no annual fee. This could be a great way for your teen to learn how to responsibly manage money, build their credit score, and earn some rewards in the process.
Best for a low security deposit
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
No Rewards
This card doesn’t earn any rewards.
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Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
N/A
Regular APR
29.99% variable
Recommended Credit
Fair/Good (580 - 740)
Why we like it
It can be difficult for teens to qualify for credit cards on their own if they have yet to establish a credit history. Secured credit cards are easier to qualify for, and the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card has as lower security deposit requirement than most.
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Card Details
More Card Info
- Check to see if you’re approved in seconds.
- Automatically be considered for a higher credit line within just six months
- Use this card responsibly to help build credit
- With $0 Fraud Liability, you won’t be responsible for any unauthorized charges
- Use CreditWise from Capital One to monitor your credit score. It’s free for everyone
- Access your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking either from your desktop or smartphone, using Capital One’s mobile app
- Use a contactless card to check out quickly and securely, without even touching the terminal or handing your card to a cashier. 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 fees – select the monthly due date that suits you best.
Pros
- You don’t need great credit to get approved
- No annual fee
- Backed by Capital One protections and cardholder benefits
Cons
- No rewards opportunities
- High APR
- No introductory APR offer
Best for no credit check
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
Up to 10% Reward Rate
Earn up to 10% cash back on everyday purchases. OpenSky Rewards links offers from merchants directly to your card, allowing you to automatically earn cash back.
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Annual Fee
$35
Welcome Offer
N/A
Regular APR
25.64% variable
Recommended Credit
No Credit History
Why we like it
It’s easy to qualify for the OpenSky Secured Visa as it doesn’t require a credit check to open an account. This means that as long as a teen can fund the deposit, they have a good chance of qualifying.
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Card Details
More Card Info
- Earn up to 10% cash back on everyday purchases
- Find out instantly if you are approved, with no credit check required!
- Build your credit with OpenSky. 2 out of 3 OpenSky cardholders increase their credit score by an average of 48+ points in 3 on-time payments
- You can access your FICO score for free to monitor your credit progress.
- Reports to all 3 major credit bureaus.
- Easily add your card to your mobile wallet to make purchases using Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay
- Put down as little as $200 to secure your credit line with a refundable security deposit
- Apply for OpenSky in less than 5 minutes right from your mobile device
- Flexible payment due dates allow you to choose any available due date that fits your payment schedule
- Fund your security deposit over 60 days with smaller partial payments
Pros
- High approval rating
- Doesn’t require a credit check
- No bank account required
Cons
- Has an annual fee
- Minimum $200 security deposit required
Best for grocery purchases
Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
Up to 6% Reward Rate
Earn 6% cash back on up to $6,000 spent at U.S. supermarkets each year (then 1% back), 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming services, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations and on transit, and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
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Annual Fee
$0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95
Welcome Offer
$250
Regular APR
19.24% to 29.99% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (670 - 850)
Why we like it
Teens can start building credit from age 13 by being added as an authorized user on a Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, so they can have a nicely established credit score by the time they can qualify for their own card.
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Card Details
More Card Info
- 0% Intro APR for purchases and balance transfers for the first 12 months, then 19.24% to 29.99% variable applies.
- Cash Back is received as Reward Dollars which can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get $7/month back in the form of a statement credit when you spend $9.99 or more per month on an eligible Disney Bundle subscription (Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+). Subject to auto-renewal. Only valid in the U.S. Enrollment required.
- Terms Apply.
Pros
- Excellent rewards on spending at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, transit and more
- 0% APR on purchases for a limited time
- Don’t need to activate categories
Cons
- Rewards can only be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com
- Charges foreign transaction fees
- Has an annual fee
Best for everyday spending
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Up to 3% Reward Rate
Earn 3% cash back on up to $6,000/year spent at U.S. supermarkets (then 1%), 3% cash back on up to $6,000/year at U.S. gas stations (then 1%), 3% cash back on up to $6,000/year on online retail purchases (then 1%), and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases. Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
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Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
$200
Regular APR
19.24% to 29.99% variable
Recommended Credit
Good/Excellent (670 - 850)
Why we like it
Similar to the Blue Cash Preferred® Card, you can add authorized users to the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express as young as 13. Your teen can have some solid credit built before they can even qualify for their own card.
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Card Details
More Card Info
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months after opening the account, then 19.24% to 29.99% variable APR applies.
- Cash Back is received as Reward Dollars which can be redeemed as a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get $7/month back in the form of a statement credit when you spend $9.99 or more per month on an eligible Disney Bundle subscription (Disney+, Hulu, and ESPN+). Subject to auto-renewal. Enrollment required.
- Receive up to $15 back per month when you purchase a Home Chef meal kit subscription. Subject to auto-renewal. Enrollment required.
- Terms Apply.
Pros
- No annual fee
- Various partner benefits
- Generous rewards at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations & online shopping
Cons
- Rewards cap on spending at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and online retail purchases
- 2.7% foreign transaction fee
- Low rewards rate outside of bonus categories
Comparing the best credit cards for teens
Card name
Best for
Welcome bonus
Reward rate
Learn more
Best for travel perks
75,000 miles
2X-10X miles
Best for college students
$50
1%-10% cash back
Best for college students, runner-up
$50
1.5%-5% cash back
Best for cash back
Up to $300 cash back
1.5%-6.5% cash back
Best for a low security deposit
N/A
N/A
Best for no credit check
N/A
New! Up to 10% back
Best for grocery purchases
$250
1%-6% cash back
Best for everyday spending
$200
1%-3% cash back
Can teens get credit cards?
Teenagers can get credit cards, but the process varies based on the teen’s age and situation.
Teens can apply for their own credit cards if they’re at least 18 years old, but under the Credit CARD Act of 2009, they either need a cosigner who’s 21 or older or proof of sufficient income.
If you decide to cosign your teen’s credit card, it’s important to note that payment activity will appear on your credit report as well as your child’s. If your teen doesn’t use the card responsibly, it could harm your credit resulting in a bad credit score.
Pros and cons of credit cards for teens
Pros
- They can learn to manage credit
- They can establish a credit history
- There’s a potential to earn rewards
Cons
- There’s a potential for overspending
- It may require a security deposit
- Cosigning for a card could affect your credit
How to choose a credit card for teens
As you check out the best credit cards for a teenager, follow these steps:
- Determine if the card is available to teenagers. Every card has different rules, which will impact your choices.
- Consider the teen’s spending habits. What do they tend to buy? Look for cards that maximize rewards such as rewards cards or cards with sign-up bonuses.
- Assess their responsibility level. Reckless spending with a credit card as a teenager can impact your child’s credit for many years to come.
- Decide if you want to cosign or add an authorized user. Keep in mind that if your teen is irresponsible, it impacts your credit. You can also look for cards with parental controls and alerts that allow you to track and manage their spending. Some cards also offer educational materials to help teens learn how credit cards work and how to use credit wisely.
How to get a credit card for teens
In many cases, the easiest way to get a credit card for your teen is to add them as an authorized user on your own card.
The process is usually quick and easy; it requires contact information and a Social Security number. Make sure to check whether the bank charges an annual fee for each authorized user. Your teen will have access to your available credit, so it’s important to discuss responsible use and the potential consequences of overspending.
Teenagers who are at least 18 also have the option to apply for their own credit card. They can do so by filling out a traditional application, which will require information about identity, income and employment.
Student credit cards are often the most accessible; their credit requirements are often much lower than traditional cards. If your teen isn’t employed but has cash savings, a secured credit card can be an effective way to access credit and build a credit history.
Alternatives to teen credit cards
Credit cards are only right for some teenagers, but if you still want to teach money management skills, there are a few other options to consider.
Debit card
A debit card connects to a checking account, enabling your teen to shop online or make purchases. However, they’re limited by the amount of money in the account. Most cards have online management systems that help your child track their balance and monitor their spending.
Prepaid card
A prepaid card works like a credit card or debit card — your teenager can use it to make purchases. The best part? You set the balance in advance, so there’s no chance of overdrawing the account. This can be a good way to help kids stick to a budget with no risk to your credit or theirs.
Virtual wallet
A virtual wallet, such as Apple Wallet, allows teenagers to make purchases by tapping their phones on a terminal. You’ll need to connect a credit card or bank account, but you can often set up controls and alerts to help keep kids’ spending in check. It’s a convenient way to provide teens with the money they need without worrying about cash.
Allowance management app
These apps let you deposit a set amount of money into an account for your teen. They can use the interface to manage their money and learn about online banking.
• • • • •
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, please visit this page.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, please visit this page.
FAQs: Best credit cards for teens
What is the best credit card for teens?
The best credit card for teens is usually a card that’s connected to a parent’s card. By adding your teenager as an authorized user, they can use your credit to build their own credit profile without worrying about meeting eligibility criteria.
For teens over 18, consider a student credit card or a secured card that requires a cash deposit. The latter doesn’t always need a credit check, which is useful for teenagers who are looking for starter credit cards with no credit history.
Can 17-year-olds get a credit card?
A 17-year-old can only get a credit card as an authorized user. U.S. law prohibits banks from issuing cards to anyone under the age of 18.
How do you start building credit?
Getting access to credit — usually with a credit card or a loan — is one of the best ways to start building credit. You should make payments on time and avoid carrying a balance.
How old do you need to be to get a secured credit card?
You must be 18 or older to get a secured credit card.
Do teen credit cards need a cosigner?
Teens aged 18 and over may need a cosigner if they don’t qualify for a credit card on their own.
About the Author
Elizabeth Smith is an experienced travel and finance writer who specializes in topics including credit cards, travel insurance, and personal finance. Travel insurance, in particular, has both professional and personal significance for Smith. She’s traveled to 73 countries, and has extensive experience choosing and using various policies — she understands how valuable the right plan can be in an emergency, and loves to help readers find the perfect fit.
Smith comes to the world of finance from a scientific and technical background. She spent more than 10 years writing about engineering, science, and technology for universities and private companies. When she’s not writing or traveling, Smith can usually be found hiking or Nordic skiing.
About the Reviewer
Blake Esken has over 15 years of experience in product management and has been a member of the Los Angeles Times staff for over five years.
As part of his role at the Los Angeles Times Commerce Team, Blake acts as the in-house reviewer and fact checker for LA Times Compare. He supervises all content for compliance and accuracy and puts to use skills he has honed through years of experience managing high-stakes projects for a range of industry-leading companies.
He has a strong background in data analysis, compliance, and communication, which allows him to support LA Times Compare through fact-checking in an effort to provide up-to-date and factual information across our content.
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* Opinions expressed here are those of the LA Times Compare Cards Team and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser or entities included within this content. See our editorial policy for more details.
All products or services are presented in this content without warranty. The information, including card details such as rates and fees, is accurate at the time of publish. Please visit each bank's website directly for the most current information.