Best Credit Cards For Young Adults Of April 2024

The Chase Freedom Flex℠* mixes and matches consistent bonus categories with rotating quarterly purchase categories to help maximize your cash back. And with no annual fee, this card is a no-brainer for someone relatively early on in their credit card journey.

Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in categories that rotate quarterly (requires activation), 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on dining and drugstores and 1% cash back on all other purchases.

Welcome Offer: Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn 5% cash back on combined gas station and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Though advertised as a cash-back card, it actually earns Chase Ultimate Rewards® for extra versatility in how you redeem points. Plus, in addition to a cash-back welcome bonus, the Freedom Flex also comes with a 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24% applies. Balance transfer fee of up to 5% (min. $5) of the amount of each transfer applies.

For young adults who want to keep things simple, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® excels. It packs flat-rate earnings with a welcome bonus and an introductory APR offer on new purchases all at no annual fee.

Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on eligible dining and drugstores and 1.5% on all other purchases, plus an additional 1.5% cash back on the first $20,000 in purchases the first year.

Welcome Offer: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on up to $20,000 spent in the first year, worth up to $300 cash back.

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: You’ll find extra protections built into your Freedom Unlimited, including purchase protection, trip cancellation/interruption insurance and secondary auto rental collision damage waiver.

You’ll need good or excellent credit to be approved for the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, but if you qualify, it has the whole package. Enjoy no annual fee, 2% cash rewards on purchases, a welcome bonus and an introductory APR offer.

Rewards: Earn 2% cash rewards on purchases.

Welcome Offer: Earn $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: A 2% cash rewards card that also offers a welcome bonus is uncommon and this one offers a few other perks, too. Cell phone protection, when you use your card to pay your mobile phone bill, is a useful benefit. There’s also an introductory APR offer: 0% intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers, then a 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% variable APR applies. Balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a fee of up to 5%, with a minimum of $5 applies. 

The Bilt World Elite Mastercard® (rates & fees) stands out for being the only credit card that earns rewards on rent payments without incurring extra transaction fees. Since rent can be one of the highest line items on a young adult’s budget, rewards add up fast.

Rewards: Earn 1 point per dollar on rent payments without the transaction fee (on up to 100,000 points each calendar year), 3 points per dollar on dining, 2 points per dollar on travel (when booked through the Bilt Travel Portal or directly with an airline, hotel, car rental or cruise company), and 1 point per dollar on other purchases.

Welcome Offer: This card does not offer a welcome bonus

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Not only is it easy to earn Bilt points, but you have many options on how to redeem them. One of the most valuable choices is transferring points to partnering hotels or airlines for travel redemptions. Cardholders also receive cell phone protection (subject to $25 deductible) and travel insurance when using their card to pay for eligible charges.

The Amex EveryDay® Credit Card* is an entry-level option to earning valuable Membership Rewards without the expensive annual fees that young adults may not wish to cover.

Rewards: Earn 2 Membership Rewards points per dollar at US supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1X), 2 points per dollar when using the card to book trips through American Express Travel and 1 point for every eligible dollar on everything else. Plus, use the card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period and earn 20% extra points on those purchases.

Welcome Offer: Earn 10,000 points after spending $2,000 in qualifying purchases in the first 6 months of account opening.

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Membership Rewards are tremendously flexible, with options to transfer points to partnering airlines or hotels to book travel at redemption rates higher than you’d get by using cash back. Plus, cardmembers who use their card 20 times or more during a billing cycle will earn bonus points. The Amex EveryDay also stands out for including an introductory APR offer.

The Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card (rates & fees) offers solid, flat-rate cash back on every purchase with another advantage. There are no foreign transaction fees, making it effective for international travel.

Rewards: Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Welcome Offer: Earn $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Like the other best cash-back cards for young adults on our list, the Quicksilver Cash Rewards also comes with a welcome bonus and introductory APR offer: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, 19.99% - 29.99% variable APR after that; 3% balance transfer fee for the first 15 months, 4% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer you.

With “wander” right in the name, it should come as no surprise that this card caters to travelers looking to earn rewards on travel (and other) purchases. The Credit One Bank Wander® Card also sets itself apart by specifically advertising to people with average credit—a rarity in travel cards.

Rewards: Earn 10 points per dollar on eligible hotels and car rentals booked through the Credit One Bank travel partner, 5 points per dollar on eligible travel, dining and gas and 1 point per dollar on all other purchases.

Welcome Offer: This card does not offer a welcome bonus.

Annual Fee: $95

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: This card, despite its advantages, isn’t perfect. For one thing, you’ll need to pay an annual fee. Interest rates are also high, with no introductory offers. If you can pay your bill in full and on time, don’t let those downsides deter you.

If you only have fair credit, you can still earn competitive cash-back rates on all purchases with the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card (rates & fees). Then, if you pay your card responsibly, you’ll be eligible for credit line reviews and potential credit line increases in as little as six months.

Rewards: Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply).

Welcome Offer: This card does not offer a welcome bonus.

Annual Fee: $39

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: With so-so credit comes so-so benefits. The rewards are the star here. Beyond that, keep an eye out for the annual fee, high APR and lack of noteworthy perks. One exception: there’s no foreign transaction fee, a plus for travelers.

The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card (rates & fees) keeps things simple with no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, no authorized user fees and unlimited flat-rate cash-back rewards.

Rewards: Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.

Welcome Offer: This card does not offer a welcome bonus

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: The Quicksilver Secured card is designed to make your life easier after responsible use. You may be eligible for a higher credit line—with no additional deposit—in as little as six months and eventually, you may be able to get your deposit back and upgrade to an unsecured version of the card.

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Secured Visa® Card* offers surprisingly good reward rates for a secured credit card. You’ll need to pre-fund the card with a deposit, but if you’re looking to build credit, it’s a great pick.

Rewards: Earn 5% cash back on the first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter in two categories of choice, 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Travel Center, 2% cash back on eligible purchases in choice of one everyday category (like gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants) and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.

Welcome Offer: This card does not offer a welcome bonus.

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: Like other secured cards, the Cash+ will report your payment history to all three major credit bureaus in an effort to start building (or rebuilding) credit. For cardholders who develop a track record of good payment behavior, you may also be able to automatically switch to an unsecured version of the card in due time.

Amazon.com Prime loyalists can make use of the Amazon Prime Secured Card*, even with poor credit. In addition to having no annual fee, Prime members will earn a generous 2% cash-back rate on Amazon and select other purchases.

Rewards: Earn 2% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh and more for eligible Prime members, non members do not currently earn rewards with this card.

Welcome Offer: This card does not offer a welcome bonus

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: While it’s best to never carry a balance, the Amazon Secured card has a more forgiving interest rate than most credit cards in case of mistakes. After a year of responsible use, you may also be eligible to optionally convert to an unsecured version of the card.

If you’re just starting out, you’ll be happy to learn that the Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card (rates & fees) considers applications from people with no credit history or only fair credit. The fact that it earns rewards on every purchase makes it an attractive solution for young adults.

Rewards: Earn 10% cash back on purchases made with Uber & Uber Eats through 11/14/2024, unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1.5% unlimited cash back on every purchase.

Welcome Offer: Earn $50 after spending $100 in the first three months.

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: The student version of the Quicksilver line includes an easy-to-earn welcome bonus on top of earning 1.5% cash back (or more) on every purchase.

Enjoy no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees and rewards good toward travel redemptions with the Bank of America® Travel Rewards credit card for Students.

Rewards: Earn 1.5 points per dollar on all purchases everywhere, every time with no expiration on points as long as your account remains open.

Welcome Offer: Earn 25,000 online bonus points after spending $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.

Annual Fee: $0

Other Benefits and Drawbacks: The welcome bonus on this card is a generous start toward redemptions reimbursing flights, hotels or other travel expenses. Points can’t be transferred to airlines or hotels, but they can be redeemed without blackout dates or other restrictions for extra flexibility.