You can get a credit card with no credit by using a secured card, becoming an authorized user, or explore with a co-signer
A credit card company has no record of how you handle borrowed money if you have never had credit before. Secured credit cards solve this by requiring a cash deposit that becomes your credit limit — you borrow against your own money while the card issuer reports your payments to the credit bureaus. Alternatively, you can ask someone with established credit to add you as an authorized user on their account, which puts their payment history on your credit report. A third path is finding a co-signer who takes legal responsibility if you do not pay.
Each route has different costs, different timelines, and different risks for the person helping you. The choice depends on what you can afford upfront, how quickly you need credit, and whether you have someone willing to co-sign.
Key Takeaways
- Secured cards require a deposit (usually $200 to $2,500) that serves as your credit limit, and most issuers graduate you to an unsecured card after 12 to 18 months of on-time payments.
- Becoming an authorized user on someone else's account takes effect when ready and costs you nothing, but it only works if that person has good payment history and low balances.
- A co-signer makes you responsible for the debt but lets you borrow at a regular credit limit without a deposit; the co-signer's credit can suffer if you miss payments.
- Your first card should have a low annual fee or no annual fee, because you are building history, not paying for perks.
- Reporting to credit bureaus takes 30 to 45 days after your first statement closes, so your credit score will not move when ready.
Secured Credit Cards: Borrowing Against Your Own Money
A secured credit card requires you to deposit cash with the card issuer. That deposit becomes your credit limit. If you deposit $500, you get a $500 credit limit. You then use the card like any other — make purchases, receive a monthly bill, and pay it back. The card issuer reports your payments to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, the three major credit bureaus.
The deposit stays in a separate account and earns a small amount of interest (usually 0.01% to 0.50% annually, depending on the issuer). You cannot touch it while the account is open, but you do get it back when you close the card or graduate to an unsecured card. Most issuers automatically convert your account to a regular credit card after 12 to 18 months if you make all payments on time and keep your balance low.
Secured cards typically charge an annual fee of $0 to $95. Some have no annual fee at all. Compare the fee against how long you plan to hold the card — if you expect to graduate in 18 months, a $95 fee costs about $5 per month. Look for cards that report to all three credit bureaus, because some secured cards report to only one or two, which slows your credit-building.
Becoming an Authorized User: Using Someone Else's Credit
An authorized user is someone added to another person's credit card account. You receive your own card linked to that account and can make purchases, but the primary cardholder is legally responsible for the bill. The account history — including the credit limit, payment history, and balance — appears on your credit report.
This works fastest if the primary cardholder has a long history of on-time payments and keeps their balance below 30% of their credit limit. Their good behavior becomes part of your credit record. You do not need to pay anything out of pocket, and the primary cardholder does not need to give you the card or let you make purchases — some people add family members just to boost their credit report.
The risk is entirely on the primary cardholder. If they miss a payment or run up a high balance, both of your credit scores drop. If they close the account, the history may stay on your report for seven to ten years, but the benefit stops when ready. Some card issuers also allow the primary cardholder to remove you at any time without notice.
Co-Signers: Sharing Responsibility for the Debt
A co-signer is someone who signs the credit card agreement alongside you and agrees to pay the debt if you do not. Unlike an authorized user, a co-signer does not receive a card or make purchases — they are purely a backup. The card issuer can pursue the co-signer for the full balance if you default.
Co-signing lets you borrow at a regular credit limit without a deposit. You might receive $1,000 to $5,000 in credit instead of the $200 to $500 typical of secured cards. The co-signer's credit score and income help you may have access to, and the account appears on both of your credit reports.
The downside is severe for the co-signer. Any missed payment damages their credit score as much as yours. The debt counts against their debt-to-income ratio, which can lower their own borrowing power. Many co-signers do not realize this until they try to refinance a mortgage or take out a car loan and find their approval odds have dropped. Before asking someone to co-sign, be honest about the risk you are asking them to take.
Building Credit After You Get Your First Card
Getting the card is the first step; using it correctly is what builds your credit score. The credit bureaus track five main factors: payment history (35%), amounts owed (30%), length of credit history (15%), credit mix (10%), and new credit inquiries (10%). Your first card affects all five.
Make small purchases and pay the full balance every month. You do not need to carry a balance to build credit — that is a common myth. Paying in full actually helps more, because it keeps your utilization (the percentage of your limit you use) low. Aim to use no more than 10% to 30% of your limit. If your limit is $500, keep your balance below $150.
Set up automatic payments to your card from your bank account on the due date. Missing even one payment by 30 days damages your credit score and stays on your report for seven years. After six to twelve months of perfect payments, you will have enough history to open a second card or graduate to an unsecured card.
Comparing Your Three Routes
Each path to your first credit card has different trade-offs. A secured card costs money upfront but puts you in complete control. Becoming an authorized user costs nothing but depends on someone else's financial behavior. A co-signer gives you the highest credit limit but puts another person at serious financial risk.
The table below shows how these routes compare across the factors that matter most when you are starting from zero credit history.
| Route | Upfront Cost | Credit Limit | Time to Build Credit | Risk to Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secured Card | $200–$2,500 deposit + $0–$95 annual fee | Equals your deposit | 12–18 months to graduate | None |
| Authorized User | $0 | Depends on primary cardholder's limit | when ready, but depends on their history | High — their missed payments hurt you both |
| Co-Signer | $0 | $1,000–$5,000 typical | 12–18 months | Very high — they are legally liable |
What Happens to Your Credit Score
Your credit score does not exist until you have credit activity to report. The three bureaus do not create a score for someone with no history. When you open your first card, it takes 30 to 45 days after your first statement closes for the bureaus to receive the data and calculate a score.
Your first score is usually in the 300 to 500 range, depending on how much you borrowed and whether you paid on time. This is normal and expected. As you make on-time payments and keep your balance low, your score climbs. Most people with one card and perfect payment history reach 650 to 700 within 12 months. Reaching 750 or higher typically requires two to three years of clean history and a mix of credit types (card, installment loan, etc.).
Do not explore for multiple cards at once. Each process triggers a hard inquiry, which temporarily lowers your score by a few points. Space applications at least three to six months apart while you are building history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a secured card hurt my credit score?
No. A secured card reports to the credit bureaus the same way a regular card does. The only difference is the deposit. Your score will not move for 30 to 45 days after your first statement, then it will begin climbing with each on-time payment.
Can I use a secured card forever, or do I have to graduate?
You do not have to graduate. Some people keep secured cards open indefinitely because they have no annual fee and help maintain a long credit history. However, most issuers convert you to an unsecured card automatically after 12 to 18 months of on-time payments, at which point your deposit is returned.
What if the authorized user route does not work because the primary cardholder has bad credit?
Being added to an account with late payments or high balances will hurt your credit score instead of helping it. In that case, a secured card is your better option. You build credit on your own terms without depending on someone else's behavior.
Can I remove a co-signer after I build credit?
Yes, but it depends on the card issuer. Some allow you to request removal after 12 months of on-time payments. Others require you to close the account or refinance with a new card in your name alone. Contact your issuer to ask about their policy.
How much should I spend on my first card to build credit fastest?
Spend enough to show activity — at least one small purchase per month — but keep your total balance well below your limit. Spending $50 and paying it off in full is better than spending $500 and carrying a balance. The goal is consistent, on-time payments, not high spending.