Best Credit Tools for Teens to Build Credit Early
Published by Speed Credit
Table of Contents
- Why Credit Tools Matter for Teens
- Top Apps to Start Early Credit Habits (Ages 13–17)
- Best Starter Credit Cards for Teens 18+
- Credit Builder Loans That Help Teens Win
- Bonus: Credit Monitoring Tools for Teens
- Next Up: How Teens Can Budget and Save Without Feeling Broke
Why Credit Tools Matter for Teens
Building credit early is one of the smartest moves a teen can make—but you need the right tools. The best ones are:
- Safe: Low or no risk of debt
- Simple: Easy to manage, even without income
- Strategic: Report to major credit bureaus and build history
Let’s break down what works best by age and credit-readiness.
Top Apps to Start Early Credit Habits (Ages 13–17)
1. Step
- Visa card that functions like debit—but builds credit
- Reports to Experian with parental consent
- No fees, no interest, and no credit checks
2. Greenlight Max
- Chores + savings goals + investing + debit
- Offers credit building with parental oversight
- Monthly fee, but loaded with teen money tools
3. Current Teen Banking
- Smartphone banking for teens with spending limits
- No credit building yet—but great pre-credit habits
Best Starter Credit Cards for Teens 18+
1. Discover it® Secured
- Secured card with cashback and no annual fee
- Graduates to unsecured with good behavior
2. Capital One Platinum Secured
- Deposit as low as $49 to get a $200 credit line
- Great approval odds for first-time users
3. Chime Credit Builder Card
- No credit check, no interest
- Teens need income + Chime account
- Budget-based—teaches healthy usage
Credit Builder Loans That Help Teens Win
1. Self
- Make small monthly payments ($25+)
- Builds credit and savings at the same time
2. Credit Strong
- Flexible loan terms + real credit reporting
- Ideal for 18+ teens ready to start slow and steady
Bonus: Credit Monitoring Tools for Teens
- Experian: Free FICO® score tracking, with Boost options
- Credit Karma: Easy-to-use, mobile-friendly, free reports + score
- MyFICO: Most accurate—but costs a monthly fee
Pro Tip: Use alerts to monitor any changes or drops as soon as they happen.
Next Up: How Teens Can Budget and Save Without Feeling Broke
Now that we’ve covered credit, let’s talk about what makes credit work: **budgeting and saving**. In the next article, we’ll show teens how to manage their money without sacrificing all the fun in How Teens Can Budget and Save Without Feeling Broke.
