7 Best Credit Cards for Teens [2024]

With responsible use, credit cards can help teens build credit and learn good credit card habits. 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^® for my teens because there’s a $0 annual fee, and their spending earns rewards we can put towards family travel.

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) in this age range because they can qualify on their own and earn rewards while learning to manage credit.

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.

7 of the best credit cards for teens

Our recommendations depend on the age of your teen. For teens under 18, I recommend adding them as an authorized user on a credit card in your name. When they’re 18 or older, they can apply on their own for a card suited to their age.

Under 18

• Chase Freedom Unlimited^®
• Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express
• Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

Over 18

• Discover it^® Student Cash Back
• Discover it^® Secured Credit Card
• Chase Freedom Rise^®
• Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Compare the best credit cards for teens

	Best for	Rewards rate	Annual fee
Chase Freedom Unlimited® 4.7 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Flat-rate rewards	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 service and 3% cash back on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year). After your first year or $20,000 spent, earn 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 unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases	$0
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express 4.9 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Bonus rewards categories	3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations, and U.S. online retail purchases (up to $6,000 per year on purchases in each category, then 1%); and 1% cash back on other eligible purchases	$0
Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card 4.9 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Luxury travel benefits	2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day; 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel, and 5 miles per dollar on Capital One Entertainment purchases through 12/31/25	$395
Discover it® Student Cash Back(Rates and fees) 4.75 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	College students	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.	$0
Discover it® Secured Credit Card(Rates and fees) 5.0 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Non-students	Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.	$0
Chase Freedom Rise® 5.0 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Chase account holders	1.5% cash back on all purchases	$0
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card 4.75 FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.	Everyday purchases	Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day; plus unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel	$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^®

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 an extra 1.5% on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).

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 for additional value when booking travel in the Chase Travel portal. Since most Freedom Unlimited categories earn 1.5% cash back per dollar, you can maximize your travel rewards this way.

Apply now | Read our Chase Freedom Unlimited review

Blue Cash Everyday^® Card from American Express

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 cardmember, 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 $7 monthly (up to $84 back annually) after spending at least $9.99 each month on an eligible subscription to the Disney Bundle using your enrolled card
• Up to $15 per month in statement credits when you purchase an auto-renewing subscription for Home Chef meal kits with 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.

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.

Learn how to apply | Read our Blue Cash Everyday review

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

For families who plan to travel together a lot while the kids are still teens, the Capital One Venture X is one of our top travel card picks because of its premium perks like lounge access and annual travel credits.

One of our favorite parts about the Venture X is that you can add your teen as an authorized user for free with no age requirement, and they can take advantage of many of the same benefits as the primary cardholder, including:

• Access to Capital One and Priority Pass Lounges (note that you might have to be a certain age to enroll in some lounge benefits)
• Travel and purchase protections
• No foreign transaction fees

Although you have to pay a $395 annual fee as the primary cardholder, there’s no fee for authorized users, and the $300 annual travel credit for bookings through Capital One Travel (and up to $120 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck) offset most of the cost.

Additionally, as a new cardholder, you can earn 75,000 miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Read our Capital One Venture X 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

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, which means it could be easier for your student to qualify. 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 credit card bill every month so they don’t get stuck paying finance charges for their purchases.

Apply now | Read our Discover it Student Cash Back review

Discover it^® Secured Credit Card

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.

Apply now | Read our Discover it Secured Credit Card review

Chase Freedom Rise^®

The Chase Freedom Rise makes sense if your teen is already a Chase customer or plans to be. According to Chase, having a Chase checking account with a balance of at least $250 will increase your chances of getting approved for the Freedom Rise.

Be aware that if your teen plans to travel, they’ll have to pay 3% foreign transaction fees on purchases made while traveling abroad.

Read our Chase Freedom Rise review

Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards is a great option for 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.

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 Platinum Card^® from American Express, 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

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.

Double Rewards on Gas and Dining

Discover it^® Student Chrome

4.55

FinanceBuzz writers and editors score cards based on a number of objective features as well as our expert editorial assessment. Our partners do not influence how we rate products.

Discover it^® Student Chrome

Apply Now

Rates and fees

Current Offer

Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.

Annual Fee

$0

Rewards Rate

Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Benefits and Drawbacks

Benefits

• Lucrative welcome offer
• Introductory low APR offer on purchases
• No foreign transaction fees

Drawbacks

• Limited international acceptance
• Spending cap on earnings
• Limited bonus categories

Card Details

• 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! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
• Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
• Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
• No credit score required to apply.
• Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
• No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
• 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 17.49% - 26.49% applies. Rates as of December 12, 2024.
• Terms and conditions apply.