Best Credit Cards for Young Adults for 2024

To make our list of best credit cards for young adults, we looked for cards with no unnecessary fees, that offer rewards on your spending, and that have tools to help you track your credit score.

Everyone's needs are a little different here. If you're in college, your best bet is probably a quality student credit card. If you've just joined the working world, you might need a card for building credit. And if you've already built a solid credit history, you could be ready for a top rewards card.

That's why we've included all those types of cards on our list, so you can find the one that's the best young adult credit card for you.

How to pick the best credit card as a young adult

For young adults trying to choose the best credit card, the features to closely compare are usually the requirements to get the card, the fees, and the rewards a card offers.

The best place to start is the requirements to get the card. You don't want to waste time applying for credit cards you won't qualify for. The cards you can get depend on your credit score, which is basically a measure of how likely you are to repay money you borrow. Credit card companies check this score when you apply for a card with them.

Most young adults are new to credit, so their card options are more limited. If you've never had a credit card or loan before, or you've had one for less than a year, we've got you covered.

Petal credit cards

Petal is a young upstart in the world of credit, and it's my personal favorite choice for young adults who need to build credit. Most credit card companies use your credit report to decide if they'll approve you for a card, which makes it tough if you don't have any credit history yet. Petal is unique, because it gives you an alternative option.

When you apply for a Petal card, you link your bank account to show Petal your financial situation. Even if you don't have any sort of credit history yet, Petal can look at the bills you've paid with your bank account to create what it calls a "Cash Score." It can then use your Cash Score to potentially approve you for a card. And here's another nice perk -- the Petal card below has absolutely no fees.

CHECK OUT THE TOP PETAL CARD: Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card Review

Student credit cards

Student credit cards are specifically designed for college students. They usually have student-friendly benefits, like free credit score tracking and educational content to learn about credit, if you don't mind a little extra studying. Since these cards are made for students, they don't require a credit history to open.

You'll need to be enrolled in college to apply for a student card. If you are, we'd recommend checking out this type of credit card first.

Secured credit cards

Secured credit cards require a refundable security deposit to open, like the deposit you'd provide to rent an apartment. The deposit is often equal to the credit limit, which is the maximum amount you can spend on the card. For example, you could pay a $200 deposit to get a card with a $200 credit limit. The card issuer isn't at risk if you don't pay your bill, so it can be more flexible about who it approves.

With some secured cards, the only way to get your deposit back is by closing the card. Others give you the option of "graduating" to an unsecured card after enough on-time payments. That means you get your deposit refunded and you get to keep the card open. We prefer secured cards with that graduation option available, because you can get your money back without closing the account.

What's the minimum age to get a credit card?

The minimum age for a credit card is 18 to open your own account. If you're not 18 yet, the only way to get a credit card is if a parent or another relative adds you as an authorized user on their account. You need to be 18 before you can be the primary cardholder on a credit card account.

For applicants who are under 21, credit card issuers often require proof of income. If you're in the 18-20 age range and you're going to apply for a credit card, be prepared to verify how much you make. In some cases, it's also possible for college students to find a credit card with no income or little income.

Tips on building credit as a young adult

A credit card can help you build credit, but that depends on how you use your card. If you follow credit-friendly habits, your credit score will go up. But if you miss payments or spend too much, your credit could take a hit.

The good news is that it's not difficult to build credit fast. If you follow a few tips consistently, you'll work up to an excellent credit score, and avoid credit card debt along the way.

Don't overspend.

Credit cards make it easy to spend more than you can afford. You could be tempted to make more impulse purchases and pay them back later, but if you do that, you'll be charged interest every month. If you only spend what you can afford and always pay your bill in full, you'll avoid interest charges.

Pay your credit card bill on time.

The most important part of building credit is your payment history. On-time credit card payments are good. Late payments are bad, although they don't count against your credit score until they're 30 days past due. As weird as it sounds, that's the earliest a credit card company can report that you're late on your payment.

Stick with it.

There's no secret formula for building credit. It's really just about building a few good financial habits.

All you need to do is pay your credit card on time and avoid overspending. After six months to a year of this, you'll start to see positive results. Within two to three years, you'll most likely be at or near a good credit score.

LEARN MORE: What First-Time Credit Card Users Need to Know

Our credit card methodology

At The Motley Fool Ascent, we rate credit cards on a five-star scale (1 = poor, 5 = best). Our rating criteria includes rewards rates, welcome bonuses, fees, and perks like travel credits and 0% intro APR offers to evaluate our ratings.

Our highest-rated credit cards have:

• A rewards rate above 2% (or 2x points or miles) with average spending, or competitive 0% intro APR balance transfer and purchase offers
• Attainable welcome bonuses that make up for any annual fees
• Low annual fees or a balance transfer fee of 3%
• Top perks such as purchase and travel protections, no foreign transaction fees, travel credits, and status upgrades

We combine these factors with an evaluation of brand reputation and customer satisfaction to ensure you're getting the best card recommendations. Learn more about how The Ascent rates credit cards.