15 Best Credit Cards For Beginners In 2023

No single credit card is the best choice for each family, each purchase, or each budget. As a result, we have decided to curate the best credit cards for beginners in a way that will be most useful to the widest range of readers.

In this article, we tackle questions like ‘what are the best credit cards to start with?’ ‘where should I get my first credit card’ and ‘how can I apply for my first credit card’.

We also weighed the expenses and benefits of each credit card to select the best credit cards for beginners for each category.

The annual charge, foreign transaction fee, and needed expenditure to qualify for the welcome promotion are all included in the price of each credit card. The welcome offer, cash rewards or other incentives, bonus category offers, balance transfer offers, status advantages, and other perks are all included in the benefits.

15 Best Credit Cards for Beginners

If you want to get your first credit card, some of the best options you can go for include:

1. Citi® Double Cash Card

If you’re looking to get your first credit card, this is one of the best starter credit cards for beginners. The Citi® Double Cash Card is a wonderful option if you want a straightforward cashback card. There are no limits or categories to keep track of, so you will get a flat amount of cashback on each purchase. If you also have a Citi Premier® Card or Citi Prestige® Card, you can convert your rewards to ThankYou points, which can then be transferred to airline miles.

Earn 2% cashback on all transactions—1% when you make the purchase and 1% when you pay your credit card bill—on all purchases. There is no welcome offer. This is the best credit card to start with.

Fee: $0 per year

2. The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

If you’re looking to get your first credit card, this is one of the best starter credit cards for beginners. This is one of the best credit cards for international travel and among the best credit card for travel miles. (naijanews.com) The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card may be an excellent place to start if you want to enter into the Chase ecosystem but the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card’s annual fee scares you away. 

Cardholders get 5 points for each dollar spent on travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3 points for each dollar spent on dining, 2 points for each dollar spent on all other travel purchases, and one point for each dollar spent on all other qualified transactions. You will also get 5 points for each dollar spent on Lyft rides until March 2022.

Welcome Offer: After spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening an account, new cardholders can earn 100,000 bonus points.

Fee: $95 per year

3. Chase Freedom Flex℠

This is one of the best credit cards for international travel and among the best credit card for travel miles. The Chase Freedom FlexSM, which debuted in late 2020, is a relative newcomer to the field.

It can earn significant Chase Ultimate Rewards points when linked with a premium Chase Ultimate Rewards-earning card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card. It isn’t easy to top even as a stand-alone cash back card.

Rewards: Each quarter you activate, get 5% cashback on up to $1,500 in rotating categories, 5% cashback on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, 3% cash back at restaurants and drugstores, and 1% cashback on all other transactions.

Earn a $200 bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months after opening your account. Plus, on up to $12,000 spent in the first year, get 5% cashback on grocery store purchases (excluding Target® and Walmart® purchases).

Fee: $0 per year

Read Also: 10 Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards in Canada | 2023

4. The American Express® Gold Card 

If you want your first credit card, this is one of the best starter credit cards for beginners. Look no further than the American Express® Gold Card if you are a foodie.

This card gives you extra Membership Rewards points when you shop at restaurants and supermarkets in the United States. This is great news for foodies who want to boost their points balance rapidly. 

Earn 4 Membership Rewards points for each dollar spent at restaurants and up to $25,000 in annual supermarket spending in the United States, 3 points for each dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or through Amextravel.com, and 1 point for each dollar spent on all other purchases.

Spend $4,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card during the first 6 months to earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points.

Fee: $250 per year (rates & fees)

5. Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card

This is one of the best credit cards for international travel and among the best for travel miles. Non-refundable parts of many trips, such as a hotel or prepayment tour arrangements, are tied to specific dates.

You could lose a lot of money if your trip is disrupted or canceled. The Chase Sapphire Reserve® card includes trip cancellation and interruption insurance for covered scenarios, trip delay insurance, lost baggage and baggage delay insurance, primary rental car insurance, and more, and the chance to earn valuable points on transactions. 

This card topped the list of the best credit cards for beginners in terms of travel because of all of these best-in-class features.

When you purchase travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, you get 5 points for each on air travel and 10 points for each on hotels and auto rentals after spending the first $300 on travel purchases per year.

Earn 3 points for each dollar spent on other travel and dining and 1 point for each dollar spent on everything else.

New cardholders can get up to 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of opening their account.

Fee: $550 per year

6. The Platinum Card® from American Express

This is one of the best credit cards for international travel and among the best credit card for travel miles. The Platinum Card® from American Express is a good choice if you want a luxury travel experience, especially if you want access to various airport lounges. It also comes with a slew of other benefits and perks.

Earn 5 Membership Rewards points for each dollar spent on booking flights directly with airlines or through American Express Travel on up to $500,000 each year, 5 Membership Rewards points for each dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked through American Express Travel, and 1 point for each dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 on purchases with the Platinum Card in the first 6 months of your membership. Plus, during your first 6 months of Card Membership, earn 10x points on eligible purchases made with the Card at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the United States, on up to $25,000 in combined purchases. Terms and Conditions apply.

Annual Cost: $695 (rates & fees)

7. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card

If you want your first credit card, this is one of the best starter credit cards for beginners. Reserve American Express Card is not the best option for booking all flights, it is one of the best credit cards for beginners in terms of flights due to the welcome bonus and its comprehensive set of additional benefits.

Rewards: 3 miles for each dollar spent on Delta Card purchases and 1 mile for each dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

After spending $5,000 in purchases in the first three months as a cardholder, you will receive 80,000 bonus miles and 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs). This offer will expire on November 10, 2022.

Fee: $550 per year

Read Also:10 Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards in Canada | 2023

8. The United ClubSM Infinite Card

This is one of the best credit cards for international travel and among the best for travel miles. If you are a frequent United flyer, especially if you value access to United Club lounges, the United ClubSM Infinite Card maybe your card.

Even if you don’t value any of the card’s other perks, this card is an excellent way to gain access to United Club lounges. Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

Earn 4 MileagePlus miles for each dollar spent with United, 2 miles for each dollar spent on all other travel purchases, 2 miles for each dollar spent at restaurants and eligible delivery services (Caviar, Seamless, GrubHub, and Doordash), and 1 mile for each dollar spent on everything else.

Fee per year: $525

9. The World of Hyatt Credit Card   

If you want your first credit card, this is one of the best starter credit cards for beginners. If you want to get more perks at hotels but don’t want to spend the money on the Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express, the World of Hyatt Credit Card is a good option. This card does not have a high annual fee and still provides a free night certificate for a category 1-4 hotel and a basic level of Hyatt status each year.

Earn 4 World of Hyatt points for each dollar spent at Hyatt properties, 2 points for each dollar spent at restaurants, on plane tickets purchased directly from the airline, local transit and commuting, gym memberships, and fitness clubs, and 1 point for each dollar spent on all other purchases.

Earn 30,000 Bonus Points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months after opening your account. Plus, earn 2 Bonus Points for each $1 spent in the first 6 months from account opening on purchases of up to $15,000.

Fee: $95 per year

10. Hilton Honors Aspire Card from American Express  

This is among the best credit cards for international travel and among the best for travel miles. The American Express Hilton Honors Aspire Card provides top-tier elite status in the Hilton program.

The Aspire Card comes with free Hilton Diamond status, which entitles you to upgrades, breakfast at participating hotels, late checkout, and other perks. Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points after spending $4,000 on the Card in the first three months of Card Membership.

Earn 14 Hilton Honors Bonus Points for each dollar spent on card purchases at participating Hilton hotels and resorts, 7 Hilton Honors points for each dollar spent on eligible purchases for flights booked directly on American Express Travel, U.S. restaurants, and select car rental companies, and 3 Hilton Honors point for each dollar spent on all other purchases.

Fee per year: $450

11. Amex eachDay® Preferred Credit Card   

This is one of the best credit cards for international travel and among the best credit card for travel miles.

The Amex eachDay® Preferred Credit Card provides good bonus categories, particularly if you use your card at least 30 times per month, or “each day,” and is a good option if you want to try out the Membership Rewards system without committing to a high annual fee.

Earn 3 Membership Rewards points for each spent at U.S. supermarkets up to $6,000 per year, 2 points for each spent at U.S. gas stations and flights or prepaid hotels booked through Amex Travel, and 1 point for each spent on all other purchases.

If you use your card for at least 30 purchases per month, you will get a 50% bonus on all points earned that month, which works out to 4.5 points for each dollar, 3 points for each dollar, and 1.5 points for each dollar in the categories mentioned above.

Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® Points after making $1,000 purchases with your new Card in the first three months.

Fee: $95 per year

12. Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card   

If you want your first credit card, this is one of the best starter credit cards for beginners. The Amazon Prime Rewards Visa Signature Card has consistently been good. Because of the recent increase in our reliance on Amazon for daily needs, it’s a great one. If you spend most of your shopping dollars with Amazon, you might as well be rewarded for it.

Earn 5% cashback at Amazon.com and Whole Foods Market—2% at restaurants, gas stations, and drugstores; and 1% on all other purchases. Upon approval, you will receive a $100 Amazon.com gift card. With Prime Membership, there is no annual fee.

Read Also: Chase Credit Card Application Status 2023: Don’t Miss These Steps Again

13. Discover it® Secured Credit Card

If you want your first credit card, this is one of the best starter credit cards for beginners. If you are new to credit or have previously made credit mistakes, you may require a secured card to help build or rebuild your credit.

If approved, Discover will provide an equal credit line in exchange for a security deposit. Most secured credit cards do this, but Discover it® Secured goes further by including rewards.

Earn 2% cash back at restaurants and gas stations on up to $1,000 in purchases per quarter, and 1% cashback on all other purchases.

Welcome Bonus & Introductory Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match – available only from Discover. At the end of your first year, Discover will automatically match all cash back you’ve earned! There are no maximum or minimum spending requirements. It’s only a dollar-for-dollar match. There is no annual fee.

14. Bank of America® Travel Rewards Card for Students  

This is among the best credit cards for international travel and among the best for travel miles. If you are a student looking for the best credit cards for beginners, the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students is a good place to begin. It provides good rewards and a welcome bonus but does not require you to pay an annual fee.

Earn 1.5 points for each dollar you spend in rewards.

Welcome Bonus: 25,000 bonus points if you spend at least $1,000 in the first 90 days of your account opening, redeemable for a $250 statement credit toward travel purchases. There is no annual fee.

15. Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

This is one of the best credit cards for international travel and among the best credit card for travel miles. The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a good choice if you want to earn travel rewards without having to track spending categories and you want rewards that are simple to redeem. Furthermore, Venture Miles can be transferred to partners, making it a good card to carry with you if you want to learn about the more valuable redemptions available.

Earn an unlimited 2 miles for each dollar spent on all purchases.

Welcome Bonus: Earn 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within three months of opening your account, which equals $600 in travel.

Fee: $95 per year

Conclusion

Opening a credit card is an exciting and necessary step toward financial health. Establishing good financial habits and paying your credit card bills on time will lead you to loan approval and low-interest rates.

But first, you must determine which type of credit card best suits your current needs. The average age of your accounts is one of the key components of having a high credit score, so choose a credit card that you’ll be happy to have in your wallet for a long time.

This is why it’s best if your first credit card has no annual fee: You can stop using it without having to cancel it if you want to put your expenses on a different card in the future (canceling an older card can decrease your credit score).

The best first credit card isn’t the same for everyone, so you should consider your specific situation before applying. Here are some specifics to consider as you look for a beginner credit card to help you get started.

Once approved for the best first credit card available, you’ll want to be extremely cautious about how you use it. After all, while a starter credit card can help you improve your credit score, making the wrong decisions can leave you with worse credit than you started with.

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