According to data collected from Greenlight users, the average weekly allowance in 2022 ranged from about $6 a week for the average 5-year-old to more than $28 a week for 19-year-olds. Although the amount may seem laughably small to the typical working adult, it only takes a little income to start instilling the right financial behaviors in an impressionable young mind.
Financial opportunities, like allowances and part-time jobs, can help your child learn to budget and make wise spending decisions, but it’s also a good idea to start teaching them about building and using credit responsibly (before the potential consequences grow).
While the types of credit available to those under the age of 21 are limited, you have options for helping your teen start off on the right credit foot.
Best Credit Cards for Teens Ages 13 to 17
Despite the onslaught of hormones that make them tempestuous at times, our teenage years are some of the most significant of our lives. It’s during this time that we learn many of the key skills we’ll need to survive the Real World outside the hallowed halls of grade school. It’s also an ideal time to start teaching your child about credit.
Of course, teenagers aren’t legally able to obtain their own credit card until the age of 18 — and there are some restrictions even then. That doesn’t mean you can’t help your teenager learn how to manage plastic; you can make your teen an authorized user on one of your credit cards or, if that sounds like trouble, get them their very own prepaid card.
Authorized Users | Prepaid Cards
Best Cards for Adding Teens as Authorized Users
One of the easiest ways to help your teen start building credit is to make them an authorized user on a credit card in your name. Most major credit card companies — with the exception of Citi — will allow you to add authorized users under the age of 18, though Amex and Discover require them to be at least 15 years of age, and Barclays at least 13 years of age.
As an authorized user, your teen will be issued a credit card in their name that is connected to your account and will report to the credit bureaus to establish your teen’s credit. With the card, your teen can charge purchases to your account as if it were their own. Authorized users can also enjoy most of the card’s perks, like purchase rewards and fraud protection.
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
- 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.
- Every $1 you earn in cash back is $1 you can redeem.
- Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 16.99% to 27.99% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- No annual fee.
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
|
16.99% - 27.99% Variable APR
|
$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
- $200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
- If you're a Preferred Rewards member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
- No annual fee and no expiration on rewards.
- 0% Introductory APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the intro APR offer ends, 17.99% - 27.99% Variable APR will apply. A 3% fee applies to all balance transfers.
- Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
- This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for purchases
|
0% Intro APR for 18 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days
|
17.99% - 27.99% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
|
$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% for 15 months
|
0% for 15 months
|
19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Excellent, Good
|
If you’re considering adding your teen as an authorized user, be sure to lay out clear rules before handing over the proverbial keys to the kingdom. Your teen should have a set spending limit so they can learn to budget, and you should encourage them to track each purchase (perhaps through a spending app or online banking account).
You may also want to include them in making the card payment each month so they learn the importance of paying on time — and the potential perils of interest. While the account and its balance will both likely show up on your teen’s credit reports, they won’t actually be legally liable for any of the debt — no matter how much they rack up.
Best Prepaid Cards to Teach Teens About Finances
If the idea of handing your teenager an actual line of credit is scarier than teaching them to drive, then a prepaid card may be the way to go. Prepaid cards that operate on a credit card network — think Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express — can be used to make purchases anywhere that network is accepted, just like a credit card.
Unlike a credit card, however, prepaid cards are just that: prepaid. You (or your teen) can “load” money onto the card, and it’s those funds that are used to make purchases. Once the funds run out, more money can be loaded to continue making purchases. Many prepaid cards, like our expert-rated picks below, also accept direct deposits.
- Get a $25 bonus when you direct deposit your federal or state tax refund to your WalMart MoneyCard account and receive a qualifying new direct deposit of $500+ by 6/30/23.*
- Waive your monthly fee when you direct deposit $500+ in previous monthly period. Otherwise, $5.94 a month.*
- Earn 3% cash back at Walmart.com, 2% cash back at Walmart fuel stations, & 1% cash back at Walmart stores, up to $75 each year.*
- Earn 2% interest rate on up to $1,000 balance in your savings account. Plus, get chances to win cash prizes each month!*
- Get peace of mind with three coverage levels, up to $200, for purchase transactions with opt-in & eligible direct deposit.*
*Please see site for full terms and conditions.
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Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
Additional Disclosure: Walmart MoneyCard® is a debit card offer.
- Earn points on swipes: Earn up to 7x the points on card swipes at over 14,000 participating merchants, then redeem them for cash back in your account.
- Get paid up to 2 days faster with direct deposit
- Qualifying direct deposits receive fee-free overdrafts
- No minimum balance fees, no overdraft fees, no bank transfer fees
- Access to more than 40,000 fee-free ATMs
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
6. GO2bank
- Overdraft protection up to $200 with opt-in and eligible direct deposit*
- No monthly fees with eligible direct deposit, otherwise $5 per month
- Earn up to 7% cash back when you buy eGift Cards in the app
- Get your pay up to 2 days early - Get your government benefits up to 4 days early.*
- High-yield savings account, 4.50% APY paid quarterly on savings up to $5,000.*
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
N/A
|
All Credit Types Considered
|
Since prepaid cards aren’t associated with a line of credit, they won’t help establish or build your teen’s credit history — which can be both good and bad. On the one hand, your teen won’t be building good credit with their good financial behaviors; on the other hand, your teen won’t be building bad credit when they make the (inevitable) mistakes.
While prepaid cards won’t build credit, they can be used to help build good credit behaviors. You should have your teen budget and track their card purchases to learn how to spend wisely. You may even consider having them make regular monthly “payments” on the same day each month to reload the card, which can help instill the on-time payment habits they will need with a credit card later in life.
Best Credit Cards for Teens Ages 18 to 20
Once your teenager has hit the wise old age of 18, they’ll have options for obtaining their own credit card account. But it’s hardly the free-for-all buffet of credit card offers that you may have received on your own 18th birthday. In fact, your new 18-year-old will likely not receive any mailed offers at all.
Why? The CARD Act of 2009 laid down strict rules that prevent those under the age of 21 from obtaining their own credit card unless they have an individual income. And here’s the kicker. Your teenager can’t claim the household income as their own, meaning they’ll need their own source of funds.
Best Cards for Students
Your teen must show an individual income to qualify for a card on their own. While there are no hard-and-fast rules on how much is enough, they’ll need at least enough income to cover their potential credit card debt in the eyes of the lender.
As a student, your teen likely has a form of income that can legitimately be declared on a credit card application. That’s because, while they need to report individual income, this can often include regular allowances as well as extra income from scholarships or grants. Student credit cards in particular, like our picks below, may be more flexible on exact income requirements.
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – 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 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
- 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 17.99% - 26.99% applies.
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 6 months
|
10.99% Intro APR for 6 months
|
17.99% - 26.99% Variable APR
|
$0
|
Fair/New to Credit
|
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
- Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
- Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it's misplaced, lost or stolen
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
|
N/A
|
19.74% - 29.74% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Average, Fair, Limited
|
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match – 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 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. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
- 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 17.99% - 26.99% applies.
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
0% Intro APR for 6 months
|
10.99% Intro APR for 6 months
|
17.99% - 26.99% Variable APR
|
$0
|
Fair/New to Credit
|
In many cases, student credit cards will have more flexible credit requirements than other unsecured cards, meaning your teen’s lack of a credit history may not stop them from qualifying. And, with responsible card use over their college years, your teen can graduate with a healthy credit profile already established.
Additionally, many student cards come with the same perks and rewards enjoyed by adult cardholders, including some options for earning cash back rewards on purchases. Plus, student cards may also have student-specific benefits, like a statement credit for earning good grades, as well as low or no annual fees.
Best Secured Cards for Teens
Secured credit cards can be an excellent option for teens who want to build credit but have trouble qualifying for an unsecured credit card. While they are used just like any other credit card, secured cards are secured by the required deposit (deposit amount will vary by card).
The size of the deposit will typically dictate the size of the credit line. The deposit reduces the risk to the credit card issuer — which is typically passed onto the cardholder through lower fees and interest rates. In fact, many of our favorite secured credit cards have no annual fee at all, with some even offering cash back rewards for card purchases.
- No annual or hidden fees, and you can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day. See if you're approved in seconds
- Put down a refundable $200 security deposit to get a $200 initial credit line
- Building your credit? Using a card like this responsibly could help
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
|
N/A
|
29.99% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Limited, Bad
|
- No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
- Building your credit? Using the Capital One Platinum Secured card responsibly could help
- Put down a refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get a $200 initial credit line
- You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
|
N/A
|
29.99% (Variable)
|
$0
|
Limited, Bad
|
- No credit score required to apply.
- No Annual Fee, earn cash back, and build your credit history
- Your secured credit card requires a refundable security deposit, and your credit line will equal your deposit amount, starting at $200. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.
- Automatic reviews starting at 7 months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically.
- 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.
|
Intro (Purchases)
|
Intro (Transfers)
|
Regular APR
|
Annual Fee
|
Credit Needed
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A
|
10.99% Intro APR for 6 months
|
27.99% Variable APR
|
$0
|
New/Rebuilding
|
The deposit made for a secured credit card is placed in a locked savings account where it resides until the account is closed. Provided the credit card account is kept in good standing, secured card deposits are fully refundable, and some issuers may offer the ability to earn interest on the deposit, as well.
Some secured credit cards can also be upgraded after your teen’s credit has improved. A handful of secured card issuers will regularly check the cardholder’s credit score and payment history to determine eligibility to be upgraded to an unsecured product. If upgraded, the deposit is automatically returned to the cardholder.
Help Your Teen Start Building Credit the Right Way
For many parents, the time between their child’s first weekly allowance to their very first credit card can seem to flash by in a blink. Before long, thoughts of candy and toys will be replaced by car insurance and fuel — and then with the needs of their own homes and families.
Given how quickly it can all go by, it’s important to take the time out to teach your teens how to manage money and credit while they’re still young enough to avoid major financial mistakes. A little bit of education in their teens can save them from a lifetime of bad credit and debt.
While this doesn’t mean you have to give your 5-year-old a lesson in macroeconomics, you should start talking about money and budgeting whenever the situation lends itself to it. For example, a request for a pricey toy can lead to a talk about the difference between needs and wants and how to save for both types of purchases.
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CardRates.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation for referrals for many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across CardRates.com (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CardRates.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.
Editorial Note: Our site content is not provided or commissioned by any credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed on CardRates.com are the author's alone, not those of any credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by credit card issuers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information; however, all credit card offer details, including information about rewards, signup bonuses, introductory offers, and other terms and conditions, is presented without warranty. Clicking on any offer on CardRates.com will direct you to the issuer's website, where you can review the current terms and conditions of the offer.
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