What a good first card looks like
No annual fee, or a very low one. You're not trying to squeeze value out of a card yet. A fee you have to "earn back" just adds pressure to a card you're still learning to use.
It reports to all three credit bureaus. That's how your on-time payments turn into a credit history. Most major-issuer cards do, and it's worth confirming for any card you're unsure about.
Rewards you don't have to think about. Flat cash back beats rotating categories and point-transfer charts when you're new. You can get fancy later.
A balance you can pay in full. Set autopay for the full statement balance the day you open the card. Interest rates on credit cards are high enough that carrying a balance can wipe out any reward you earn.
How approval works, roughly
Issuers look at your credit history (or the lack of one), your income, and what you already owe. Nobody outside the issuer can tell you ahead of time whether you'll be approved, and no card is a sure thing, so be skeptical of anything that promises it.
If you have little or no history, a secured card is the usual way in. You put down a refundable deposit that typically becomes your credit limit, then use the card like any other. If the issuer offers a pre-qualification check, try it first. Those are generally soft pulls that don't touch your score, while a full application is a hard inquiry that can dip it slightly. Apply for one card, wait, and let it age before you add another.
Four starter cards
These are cards already on my referral page and in the full card breakdown. Fees and rewards change, so treat what's below as a starting point and confirm on the issuer's page.
Discover it® Secured
No annual fee, refundable deposit, and it earns cash back. Discover reviews accounts for a move to an unsecured card, which isn't guaranteed. This is the one I'd look at first with a thin file. I earn nothing if you use it.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
No annual fee. As of this writing it earns 1.5% on everything and 3% on dining and drugstores, and Chase can change that. It's also the first piece of the Chase trifecta, so the points can grow with you if you add a travel card later.
Citi Double Cash
A flat 2% cash back card with no annual fee. There are no categories to track, which is the whole appeal. I earn nothing if you use it.
Hilton Honors American Express
No annual fee, and it comes with automatic Hilton Honors Silver status. It only makes sense if you already book Hilton hotels, since the rewards stay inside that one program. Check the current offer on the Amex page.
Want the free shopping-portal side of this? The referral page also lists Rakuten, which stacks cash back on top of whatever your card earns.
A simple order of operations
Open one card and put one small recurring bill on it, like a streaming plan. Turn on autopay for the full balance. Check your statement once a month so nothing surprises you. After six months to a year of clean history, you'll have a much better idea of what else you want. If a travel card is next, the Points & Miles 101 page is the place to start.
Quick questions
Will checking if I pre-qualify hurt my credit?
Pre-qualification tools, where an issuer offers one, usually use a soft pull, which doesn't affect your score. A real application is a hard inquiry, which can dip your score slightly for a while. Pre-qualifying doesn't guarantee approval.
Is a secured card a bad sign?
No. A secured card reports to the credit bureaus like any other card, so on-time payments build the same history. Many issuers review secured accounts for a move to an unsecured card after a stretch of good behavior, though that isn't promised.
Should my first card earn travel points?
Probably not yet. A first card is about building a payment history you never miss. Once autopay in full is automatic, a points card is an easy next step.