Ultimate Guide to Best Credit Cards for Young People (2024)

Time has changed and young people might not want the same credit card that the older generation wants. Young adults have different spending habits, and limited credit history and their lives revolve around college.

The Best Credit Cards for Young People are more likely to fit young adults’ lifestyles. The best credit cards for young adults help them manage credit easily with basic features and low fees.

The best credit card for young adults has simple features, low to no annual fees, and demands no to limited credit history. These credit cards give you the chance to improve your credit. A good credit card for young people offers a good reward rate, low interest rate, and cashback benefits.

However, there are a lot of best credit cards for young people, and choosing one of them is difficult. If you are a young professional who already built good credit, then you should get a solid reward card or one that comes with 0% intro APR.

If you are not sure which card to choose, check our list of the best credit cards for young adults.

Compare the Best Credit Cards for Young People

Credit Card	Annual Fee	Regular Annual APR	Welcome Bonus
Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card	$0	20.49% – 29.24% (Variable)	$200
Chase Freedom Flex℠ Card	$0	20.49% – 29.24% (Variable)	$200
Discover it® Cash Back Credit Card	$0	17.24% – 28.24% (variable)	Matched Cashback
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card	$0	20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% (variable)	$200
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card	$0	19.99% – 29.99% (variable)	$200
Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card	$0	21.49%, 24.49%, or 29.49% (variable)	N/A
Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card	$0	19.99% – 29.99% (variable)	$200

Explore the Best Credit Card for Young Adults

These credit cards are ideal for young people or college-going students. If you’re a student you can build your credit, get benefits, and improve your financial flexibility. The best credit cards for young people are easy to get due to their simple features and low annual fees.

1. Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card

• Best Overall Credit Card for Young People

The Chase Freedom Unlimited® Credit Card is a great reward credit card for both young people and travel enthusiasts. The credit card welcomes you with a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months of card activation plus 5% cash back on gas and grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year with $0 annual fee.

You earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, delivery services, drugstore purchases, and 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, and 1.5% cash back on all other purchases. The cash-back reward will not expire until your account is open.

You can redeem your rewards for a variety if gift cards and certificates and shopping, dining, entertainment, and much more. Get Service and protection benefits also.

Annual fee: $0.

Welcome Bonus: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months of account activation, plus 5% cash back on gas station and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.

Credit score: Excellent, Good

Key Benefits

• Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on all purchases in the first 3 months of card activation, plus 5% cashback on gas and grocery stores on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.
• Earn unlimited 3% cashback on dining at restaurants including takeout and delivery services.
• Earn unlimited 5% cashback on travel purchases through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
• Earn unlimited 3% cashback on drugstore purchases.
• Enjoy unlimited 1.5% cashback on all other purchases.
• 0% intro APR for 15 months and then a variable APR of 0.49%–29.24% will apply.
• Cashback rewards will not expire as soon as your account is open.
• No annual fee. You don’t have to pay an annual fee for these benefits.
• Contactless credit card for safe and secure transactions.

» MORE: Best Credit Cards for Truck Drivers

2. Chase Freedom Flex℠ Credit Card

• Best Overall Credit Card for Young People

The Chase Freedom Flex card is a unique and popular cashback credit card. You earn 5% cashback in bonus categories that rotate quarterly. As a welcome bonus, you earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months of card activation on to $12,000 in the first year.

Talking about cashback benefits, you earn 5% cash back on various categories like gas stations, grocery stores (excluding Target and Walmart), and 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back on dining, drugstore, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Other than reward benefits, the card offers 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening. There is no minimum limit to redeem for cash back. Also, the cash-back rewards do not expire as long as your account.

The 5% cashback bonus categories with no annual fee make this credit card stand out from other credit cards.

Annual fee: $0.

Welcome bonus: You earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening, plus earn 5% cashback on gas and grocery stores on up to $12,000 spent in the first anniversary year (excluding Target & Walmart).

Credit score: Excellent, Good.

Key Benefits

• As a welcome bonus, you earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months of card activation, plus 5% cash back on gas and grocery stores.
• Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards through which you can redeem your cash rewards back, travel, gift cards, and much more.
• Enjoy 3% cash back dining at restaurants, eligible delivery services, and drugstores.
• Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• There is no minimum to redeem rewards for cash back and cash back rewards do not expire as long as your account.
• Get 0% intro APR for 15 months and then a variable APR of 20.49% – 29.25% will apply.
• There is no annual fee for this credit card.
• Get benefits like Zero Liability Protection, Purchase Protection, Cell Phone Protection, and other types of protection.
• Get 5% cash back on Lyft Rydes.

3. Discover it® Cash Back Credit Card

• Best Cashback Credit Card for Everyone

The Discover it® Cash Back Credit Card is one of the best reward and cash back credit card for everyday expenses without an annual fee. This credit card offers solid rewards in various categories.

You earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places and shops like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more in each quarter and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

The credit card also comes with 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. After that, a standard rate of 17.24% – 28.24% will be charged. The Discover it® Cash Back is a good jump into reward-earning credit cards. The card will also match all your cashback needs.

Annual Fee: $0.

Welcome Bonus: Matched Cashback.

Credit Score: Excellent, Good.

Key Benefits

• Intro Offer: Get Unlimited Cashback Match. The Discover will automatically match all the cashback you have earned at the end of the year and there is no minimum spending on reward points.
• Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places and shops in each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more.
• Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• You can redeem your cash rewards back at any time.
• 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. After that, a variable APR of 17.24% to 28.24% will be charged.
• There is no annual fee.
• Discover helps you regularly by removing your personal information from popular search websites that could sell your data.
• You get $0 fraud liability means you will be never responsible for any fraudulent transaction.

5% cash back on quarterly rotating spending categories throughout the year (activation required)
Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year
No minimum cashback redemption

» MORE: Best Credit Card for Large Purchases 

4. Wells Fargo Active Cash® Credit Card

• Best Credit Card for Young People With Good Credit

The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is a great flat-rate cash-back credit card as it offers unlimited 2% cash back on purchases with no annual fee.

As a welcome bonus, you earn $200 cash rewards after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening. The credit card not only offers great reward points, but it’s one of the best well-rounded credit cards of its kind.

The card also offers 0% intro APR for 15 months and after that a variable APR of 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% will apply. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is an idle credit card for you if you are looking for a simple and easy-to-manage credit card.

Annual fee: $0.

Welcome bonus: Earn $200 as a cash reward bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

Credit score: Excellent/Good.

Key Benefits

• As a welcome bonus, earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
• Enjoy unlimited 2% cash back on all purchases.
• 0% intro APR for the first 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, and then a variable APR of 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% will be charged.
• $0 annual fee.
• Various ways to redeem cash reward points.
• Get $600 of cell protection against damage or theft.
• Zero liability protection.

5. Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

• Best Credit Card for Reward Points

The Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the best no-annual-fee cashback reward credit cards for earning cash rewards in different categories. The card welcomes you with $200 if you spend $500 within the first 3 months of card activation.

The card offers unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and grocery stores, 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars, and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Thus, the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card offers the highest reward rate in various bonus categories compared to other top rewards credit cards.

Annual Fee: $0.

Welcome Bonus: Earn a $200 one-time cash bonus if you spend $500 within the first 3 months of card activation.

Credit Score: Excellent/Good.

Key Benefits

• Earn a $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.
• You earn unlimited 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®).
• Enjoy 1% unlimited cash back on other purchases.
• You on 8% cash back on Capital One entertainment and 10% cashback on Uber and Uber Eats.
• Enjoy unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
• 0% intro apr for the first 15 months after that a variable APR will apply.
• There is no foreign transaction fee for this credit card.
• Cardholders can enjoy a 50% discount on all handicraft beverages every day at Capital One Cafe nationwide.
• The reward points will never expire until your account is open and there is no limit to how many reward points you earn.
• You can shop on amazon.com with your Capital One reward points.

It has no annual fee, so you won’t need to offset recurring costs with rewards.

It offers an intro APR period for purchases and balance transfers, a combo that allows you to avoid interest while paying down your balance.

You can earn this card’s welcome offer with relatively minimal spending.

6. Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card

• Best Credit Card to Pay Rent

The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® Credit Card is a great and versatile credit card for earning reward points. The no-annual-fee card allows you to earn reward points on rent payments, travel, and dining. The stand-out feature of this card is that it earns points on rent payments which is one of the biggest monthly expenses for young adults.

However, there is no welcome bonus with this credit card, but you will 2X points on travel 3X points on dining, and 1X points on all other purchases. To earn points, you have to use the card 5 times in each statement. You can transfer the reward points with the partners at a 1:1 ratio.

With this card, you earn more reward points on rent day with 6X points on dining, 4X on travel, and 2X points on other purchases.

Annual fee: $0.

Welcome bonus: N/A.

Credit Score: Excellent/Good.

Key Benefits

• The Bilt Mastercard World Elite allows cardholders to earn up to 100,000 points in each calendar year on rent payments without a transaction fee.
• You earn 1X points on rent payments without the transaction fee.
• Enjoy 2X points on travel.
• You earn 3X points on dining and 1X points on all other purchases.
• Earn double points on Rent Day with the BILT World Elite Mastercard.
• You should use the card 5 times in each statement to earn the reward points.
• No foreign transaction fee.
• You get a $5 Lyft credit with your Bilt World Mastercard if you take 3 rides in one calendar month.
• Get $800 for cell phone protection, against damage, and theft.

» MORE: Best Cash Advance Credit Card

7. Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

• Best Credit Cards for Young Adults Who Travel

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the best flat-rate credit cards for young people. You earn 1.5% cash back on everyday purchases. As a welcome bonus, you earn a $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

The card’s 1.5% flat reward rate is one of the best reward rates compared to other cards. Also, you earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. The card has no annual fee making it affordable for young people.

Annual fee: $0.

Welcome Bonus: You earn $200 after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months of account opening.

Credit Score: Excellent/Good.

Key Benefits

• As a welcome bonus, you earn $200 after you spend $500 on all purchases within the first 3 months of card activation.
• You earn unlimited 1.5% cashback on everyday purchases.
• Enjoy unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Trave.
• You get 6 months of Uber One Membership Statement credits through 11/14/2024.
• The card has a $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fee.
• 0% intro APR for the 15 months on the purchases and balance transfer.
• Reward points will never expire until your account is open and you can redeem reward points for cashback at any time.
• Travel accident insurance.

No spending category enrollment
No cash-back rewards limits
No foreign transaction fees
Low spending requirement to earn a welcome bonus

Benefits of Having a Credit Card for Young People

Having credit as a young adult is one of the best ways to help build credit. If you have a good credit history, it helps you to get a mortgage, car loan, or an apartment lease. If you start earlier, the sooner you start building your credit. Other than this, you can make purchases from credit cards and earn reward points.

However, you should consider getting a credit card if you could use its credit responsibly. If your temptation for purchasing things is very high, then you are not ready for a credit card.

Which Type of Credit Cards Should Young People Choose?

If you a getting a credit card, then you should consider your income and credit history. Although most of the student’s cards come with low eligibility criteria and basic benefits, a $0 annual fee credit card might be the best credit card for you.

If you have a good credit history, there are more options to consider such as credit cards with lounge access or the ability to earn rewards on various categories.

FAQs: