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With responsible use, credit cards can help teens build credit and learn good credit card habits. If your teen is at least 18, they can apply for their own credit card. I like the Discover it® Student Cash Back(Rates and fees) and Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card for students because they could qualify on their own and earn rewards while learning to manage credit. For non-students, the Chase Freedom Rise® and Discover it® Secured Credit Card are definitely worth considering.
If your teen is under 18, you can add them as an authorized user on one of your credit cards. I chose the Chase Freedom Unlimited®(Rates and fees) for my teens because there's a $0 annual fee, and their spending earns rewards we can put towards family travel.
The most important thing, regardless of which card you choose, is to teach your teens about credit, debt, and interest while they're young. That will set them up for success much better than launching them into the world of credit cards without guidance.
How we rate products
To choose the best credit cards for teens, we compiled a list of credit cards that support teenage authorized users or that offer applications to 18- and 19-year-olds. We evaluated each credit card based on several factors, including annual fees, rewards rates, authorized user fees, and additional benefits such as welcome offers and features suitable for the teenage crowd. Keeping in mind that every family has unique needs and preferences, we made sure to include a variety of credit cards for different use cases.
Our recommendations don’t follow a certain order and aren’t meant to be a complete list of all available options. Instead, we aim to provide a useful starting point for families looking for a suitable credit card for teens.
Compare the best credit cards for teens
| Credit Card | Rewards Rate | Welcome Bonus | Intro APR | Regular APR | Annual Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2025 award winner
Best for Dining Out
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Chase Freedom Unlimited® 4.7
|
1.5% - 5%
Cash Back
|
$300
Bonus
|
Purchases:
0%, 15 months
Balance Transfer:
0%, 15 months
|
18.49% - 27.99% Variable
|
$0
|
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Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express 4.9
|
1% - 3%
Cash back
|
$200
Statement credit
|
Purchases:
0%, 15 months
Balance Transfer:
0%, 15 months
|
19.49% - 28.49% Variable
|
$0
|
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Discover it® Student Cash Back 4.75
|
1% - 5%
Cash back
|
Cashback Match™
|
Purchases:
0%, 6 months
Balance Transfer:
10.99%, 6 months
|
16.74% - 25.74% Variable
|
$0
|
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Discover it® Secured Credit Card 5.0
|
1% - 2%
Cash back
|
Cashback Match™
|
Purchases:
N/A, N/A
Balance Transfer:
10.99%, 6 months
|
26.74% Variable
|
$0
|
|
2025 award winner
Best Student Credit Card
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Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card 4.75
|
1.5% - 5%
Cash Back
|
$50
Cash Bonus
|
Purchases:
N/A, N/A
Balance Transfer:
N/A, N/A
|
18.74% - 28.74% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Best cards for teens under 18
If your teen is under age 18, they're not old enough to apply for a card on their own. But you can add them as an authorized user on your credit card account. I added my teens to my credit card account when they each got their driver's license; it made it easy to send them out to pick up some groceries for the family, because they could pay with a credit card linked to my account.
Not only that, but everyone who is an authorized user on my card earns rewards that go directly to one "pot" of points, making it easier (and quicker) to earn enough for award travel or other perks. If you'd like to add a teen to a credit card account in your name, the picks below are an excellent place to start.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
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- Limited Time Offer: Earn a $300 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.49% - 27.99%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
The Chase Freedom Unlimited is an all-around great card for everyday spending because of its simple rewards rate and useful spending categories. Plus, new cardholders can earn a $300 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening (limited-time offer).
It's easy to add your teen as an authorized user on this card since there's no age requirement and no authorized user fee. Keep in mind, though, you have to pay a foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars on purchases made abroad or from foreign merchants, so it's not a good fit for international travel.
If you also have the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card or Chase Sapphire Reserve®, you can transfer your Freedom Unlimited points to your Sapphire card, and you could receive additional value when booking eligible travel in the Chase Travel portal.
- $0 annual fee
- Simple rewards rate
- No authorized user fee
- Foreign transaction fee of 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Apply now | Read our Chase Freedom Unlimited review
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
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- $0 annual fee, but still pays healthy bonus rewards
- Makes gas purchases more affordable
- Great welcome offer that you can earn with everyday spending
I would recommend the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express to younger teens, especially 16- and 17-year-olds who drive, because it offers rewards on spending categories likely to appeal to this group. I love the Amex Blue Cash Everyday Card for its high rewards rate on everyday spending — the kinds of purchases we're most likely to make as a family. As a new card member, you can earn a $200 statement credit after spending $2,000 in purchases in the first 6 months.
The Blue Cash Everyday also offers benefits my family is likely to use, including a statement credit of up to $7 monthly (up to $84 back annually) on an eligible subscription to the Disney Bundle using your enrolled card.
I'd say leave this card at home for international travel, however, since there is a foreign transaction fee of 2.7% on applicable purchases.
Teens under 18 won't be able to qualify for this card on their own, so you'll need to add them as an authorized user, even if they're 17. Although there's no fee to add authorized users to the Amex Blue Cash Everyday, your child must be at least 13 years old to be an authorized user.
- $0 annual fee
- Excellent everyday rewards rate
- No authorized user fee
- 2.7% foreign transaction fee
Learn how to apply | Read our Blue Cash Everyday review
Best credit cards for teens over 18
If your child is 18 or older, they can apply for their own credit card.
However, card issuers can only grant new accounts to anyone under 21 if they have an eligible cosigner (such as a parent or guardian) or enough independent income to afford credit card payments, thanks to the Credit CARD Act of 2009. That – plus financial guidance from their family – can help teens in this age range avoid getting in over their heads with credit.
Discover it® Student Cash Back
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- 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! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Redeem cash back for any amount
- No credit score required to apply.
- No annual fee and build credit with responsible use.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 16.74% - 25.74% applies.
- Terms and conditions apply.
The Discover it Student Cash Back is a great credit card for teens who are just beginning to build their credit. You must be a student to qualify for this card, which typically means being enrolled in a four-year college or university (or something similar). Student cards typically have more flexible credit requirements than regular credit cards. Plus, for new cardmembers, Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
You'll want to remind your teen to pay off their Discover it Student Cash Back credit card bill every month so they don't get stuck paying finance charges for their purchases.
- $0 annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- No credit score required to apply
- Must be a student to qualify for this card
Apply now | Read our Discover it Student Cash Back review
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
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- No credit score required to apply. No Annual Fee.
- Your secured credit card requires a refundable security deposit, and your credit line will equal your deposit amount, starting at $200. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.
- Automatic reviews starting at 7 months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. You'll still earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- 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! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards.
- Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on the dark web. Activate for free.
- Terms and conditions apply.
For young adults moving directly into their careers, there's the Discover it Secured Credit Card. There's no credit score needed to apply. If approved, your teen will need to make a security deposit, which then becomes their credit limit. The security deposit is a minimum of $200 but can go up to $2,500.
As a new cardholder, Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
- $0 annual fee
- Useful everyday rewards rate
- No credit score required to apply
- Security deposit requirement
Apply now | Read our Discover it Secured Credit Card review
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
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- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
- Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it's misplaced, lost or stolen
- Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card
- Build your credit with responsible card use
- Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
- Top rated mobile app
The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great option for eligible teens who want a simple student card for earning cash back.
As a new cardholder, they can earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months.
This student version of the popular Capital One Quicksilver card is only available if you're attending a four-year university, community college, or another eligible institution.
- $0 annual fee
- Simple rewards rate
- No foreign transaction fees
- Must be a student
Read our Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards review.
Choosing a credit card for teens
Your child can't legally apply for their own credit card until they're at least 18 years old, but you can typically add your teen as an authorized user to one of your cards. This lets them start building their credit history as long as the account is active and used responsibly.
Consider these factors to help you choose among the best first credit cards for your teen.
Card requirements
Secured credit cards tend to have lower credit requirements than unsecured cards, making them a viable option for anyone with little or no credit history.
Choosing one of the best credit cards for students instead could make sense if your teen is 18 or older and a student. Your teen would have to prove they have an independent income, but some credit card companies are more lenient with student credit cards. For example, financial support from a parent that is regularly deposited into a bank account could count as personal income.
Authorized user age and fees
If you want to add your teen as an authorized user on one of your credit cards, consider whether the card issuer has age limits or fees for authorized users. Many card issuers have no minimum age requirements for authorized users, while a few require the authorized user to be a certain age.
Authorized user fees depend on the card. In most cases, you shouldn't have to worry about an authorized user fee if the credit card itself doesn't have an annual fee. Premium cards with annual fees, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve® and the American Express Platinum Card®, tend to have authorized user fees.
Card management tools
If you're planning to add your teen as an authorized user, you might want a card that offers certain management features.
For example, Capital One lets you add an account user in the form of an account manager (full access) or an authorized user (limited access). A Capital One authorized user can access funds and make purchases with their own card. But you can lock the card at any time.
A Capital One account manager receives their own card and login and has near-equal access to the whole card account.
Rewards
Credit card rewards and benefits aren't quite as important as building a credit history and learning about responsible credit usage. However, we always recommend getting as much value as possible from your credit cards.
So if you already have a plan to add your teen as an authorized user or have them apply for their own credit card, it doesn't hurt to see if a credit card also offers valuable rewards and benefits. After all, if you're building a credit history, earning cash back or travel rewards too is a great bonus.
5 tips for building your teen's credit (even while they're a minor)
1. Open a bank account first
Before you venture into credit cards, open a checking account for your teen and get them a debit card or prepaid card so they can get comfortable with paying for, tracking, and reviewing their transactions.
2. Consider making them an authorized user on your credit card
While your teen is under 18, adding them as an authorized user to your credit card account may help them build credit. As long as they use the card responsibly, holding a credit card as an authorized user can help minors build a positive credit history. It's important to check whether your credit card issuer reports credit information for authorized users under 18; not all do. My teen has been an authorized user on my credit card since he was 16, but it didn't create a credit history for him.
3. Look into secured credit card offers
Unlike regular cards, secured cards use a security deposit as collateral. If your teen misses payments, the card issuer will cover their balance using the security deposit.
Once your teen is old enough, you might consider looking into a secured credit card that reports payment history to the big three credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and Transunion. The right secured credit card could also help your teen build credit with responsible card use.
4. Teach your teen the dos and don'ts of credit card use
Talk to your teen about responsible card usage, the importance of building credit, how credit utilization and credit limits work, and how to establish a good credit score. Walk them through the issuer's mobile app to ensure they know how to review their credit card bill and make payments or set up automatic payments.
Once they understand the basics, consider discussing more advanced concepts like points and other rewards programs. Also discuss important things to avoid with a credit card, like overspending or making late payments.
5. Check in with them about their finances
Once your teen has a credit card, checking in with them regularly about their finances can help ensure they stay on track. This will give them an opportunity to ask questions, learn from you, and discuss progress toward their financial goals.
FAQs
What is the best credit card for a teenager?
The best card for a teenager is one that will help them learn how to establish healthy financial habits for their future, like making on-time payments. Certain credit cards make this easier than others. For example, American Express credit cards allow you to add authorized users to your account once they're at least 13 years old. They can benefit from being added to your account and may earn cashback rewards or travel rewards, but you can track their purchases and set spending limits for them.
How old does your teenager need to be to get a credit card?
You typically have to be 18 years of age to apply for your own credit card. However, you'll need a cosigner who's over 21 years old if you're younger than 21 years old, per the Credit Card Act of 2009.
Still, many credit card companies make it easy for young people and children under 18 years old to get a credit card as an authorized user on someone else's account. This allows teenagers an opportunity to use credit cards and learn important financial habits, but the primary account holder is still responsible for the credit card account.
How do you build credit for your teenager?
Your teenager won't have the option to apply for their own credit card before they're 18 years old, but you can add them as an authorized user on one of your credit card accounts. As you responsibly manage your account and don't have late payments, your teen's credit score could improve – as long as the card reports their information to one of the three credit bureaus.
You don't have to give your teen a physical credit card to use, but it can be helpful for them to learn how building credit works. In addition, if your teen uses a rewards credit card to make purchases, you'll earn those rewards on your account.
Should you give your teenager a credit card?
You should be able to trust your teen before giving them a credit card. Not every teen is ready for the responsibility; they may need more maturity before they're prepared to use the card responsibly.
If you don't feel comfortable giving your teen a credit card, you can still add them as an authorized user but keep their card in your physical possession. Your responsible use of the account can still count as activity on your teen's credit report and can help them build credit.
Bottom line
The best credit card for a teen depends on multiple factors, including the age and responsibility level of your child, whether they're enrolled in a four-year educational institution, and whether they earn their own income. We think student cards and secured cards are good choices for teens, and so is becoming an authorized user on their parent or guardian's account. The key is to teach your teen responsible card usage.
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Chase Freedom® Student credit card
Current Offer
Rewards Rate
1% cash back on all purchases