Credit cards for first timers
Just getting started with credit cards and have no idea where to begin? Compare credit cards for first timers with low fees and rates, giving you a good starting point to build your credit history.
Comparing of 16 credit cards for first timers
On website
Neo Credit Card
Balance transfer
N/A
Purchase rate
From 19.99% p.a. ongoing
Interest-free days
N/A
Annual fee
$0.00 p.a. ongoing
Highlights
- Earn up to 15% cashback on your first purchase at participating partners.
- Earn enormous bonuses — like 15% cashback — on your first purchase at most partners. Plus an average 5% cashback at Neo partners.
- Boost your cashback by choosing a flexible, monthly rewards plan.
- No annual fee.
Bank promo
Pros
Cons
On website
Refresh Secured Card
Balance transfer
N/A
Purchase rate
17.99% p.a. ongoing
Interest-free days
N/A
Annual fee
$12.95 p.a. ongoing
Highlights
- Low annual fee of $12.95 p.a. (with $3 monthly maintenance fee).
- Get a credit limit starting at $200 up to $10,000. Secure your credit limit with a required deposit then build your credit by making the same everyday purchase you already make.
- No credit check is required.
Pros
Cons
National Bank ECHO Cashback Mastercard
Please read the following disclaimer before applying.
National Bank ECHO Cashback Mastercard
Balance transfer
N/A
Purchase rate
20.99% p.a. ongoing
Interest-free days
N/A
Annual fee
$30.00 p.a. ongoing
Highlights
- Earn 1.5% cashback on most online purchases, in grocery stores, and on gas. Terms and Conditions apply.
- Get unlimited 1% cashback on all other purchases.
- Apply your cashback as soon as you accumulate $10. You can even access your cashback on the go from any tablet or mobile device.
Pros
Cons
National Bank Mycredit Mastercard
Please read the following disclaimer before applying.
National Bank Mycredit Mastercard
Balance transfer
N/A
Purchase rate
20.99% p.a. ongoing
Interest-free days
N/A
Annual fee
$0.00 p.a. ongoing
Highlights
- $0 ongoing annual fee.
- Earn 1% cashback on restaurant transactions and recurring automatic transfers. Terms and Conditions apply.
- Get 0.5% cashback on all other purchases.
Pros
Cons
On website
Neo Card™ (Secured)
Balance transfer
N/A
Purchase rate
19.99% p.a. ongoing
Interest-free days
N/A
Annual fee
$0.00 p.a. ongoing
Highlights
- Earn up to 15% cashback on your first purchase at participating partners.
- No annual fee to pay — ever.
- Decide your own credit limit to meet your needs. $50 minimum.
- Get a 0.5% guaranteed cashback and an average of 5% cashback at partner retailers.
Bank promo
Pros
Cons
On website
KOHO Easy Prepaid Mastercard
Balance transfer
N/A
Purchase rate
N/A
Interest-free days
N/A
Annual fee
$0.00 p.a. ongoing
Highlights
- $0 annual fee.
- 0% interest rate.
- Earn 1% cashback on groceries, billing, and services.
Pros
Cons
National Bank World Mastercard
Please read the following disclaimer before applying.
National Bank World Mastercard
Balance transfer
N/A
Purchase rate
20.99% p.a. ongoing
Interest-free days
N/A
Annual fee
$115.00 p.a. ongoing
Highlights
- Earn 2 reward points per $1 spent on all transactions. Terms and Conditions apply.
- Enjoy up to 60 days of comprehensive travel insurance.
- Includes extended warranty on your purchases.
Pros
Cons
On website
KOHO Essential Prepaid Mastercard
Balance transfer
N/A
Purchase rate
N/A
Interest-free days
N/A
Annual fee
$48.00 p.a. ongoing
Highlights
- 0% interest rate.
- Enjoy an affordable $48 annual fee (comes with a 30-day free trial).
- Earn 1% cashback on groceries, bills & services, eating & drinking.
Pros
Cons
On website
KOHO Extra Prepaid Mastercard
Balance transfer
N/A
Purchase rate
N/A
Interest-free days
N/A
Annual fee
$84.00 p.a. ongoing
Highlights
- 0% interest rate.
- Enjoy an affordable $84 annual fee (comes with a 30-day free trial).
- Earn 2% cashback on groceries, bills & services, eating & drinking.
Pros
Cons
Plastk Secured Credit Card
Balance transfer
N/A
Purchase rate
3 months at 0% p.a.
Interest-free days
N/A
Annual fee
$48.00 p.a. ongoing
Highlights
- Upon sign-up, new customers get 5,000 Reward Points ≈ $20.00 redeemable after 3 months. Terms & Conditions apply.
- Enjoy 0% on purchases for the first 3 months (17.99% p.a. thereafter).
- Get a 25-day interest-free grace period on purchases.
Pros
Cons
Tangerine Money-Back Credit Card
Balance transfer
6 months at 1.95% p.a.
Purchase rate
19.95% p.a. ongoing
Interest-free days
N/A
Annual fee
$0.00 p.a. ongoing
Highlights
- 1.95% p.a. for 6 months on balance transfers (3% balance transfer fee applies). Reverts to cash advance rate of 19.95% p.a.
- Earn 2% Money-Back Rewards on your everyday purchases in two 2% Money-Back Categories of your choice, and 0.50% Money-Back Rewards on all your other everyday purchases.
- Get your Rewards deposited into your Tangerine Savings Account and get a 3rd 2% Money-Back Category.
- No limit on the amount of Money-Back Rewards you can earn on your everyday purchases. Conditions apply.
Pros
Cons
Scotiabank SCENE+ Visa Card
Balance transfer
N/A
Purchase rate
19.99% p.a. ongoing
Interest-free days
N/A
Annual fee
$0.00 p.a. ongoing
Highlights
- Earn up to 7,500 bonus SCENE+ points. Earn 2,500 bonus Scene+ points by making at least $250 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months. Get an additional 5,000 Scene+ point bonus when you spend at least $1,000 in everyday eligible purchases in your first 3 months Terms and Conditions apply.
- No annual fee.
- Earn 1 SCENE point for every $1 you spend on your everyday credit card purchases.
Pros
Cons
Student BMO CashBack Mastercard
Balance transfer
N/A
Purchase rate
20.99% p.a. ongoing
Interest-free days
N/A
Annual fee
$0.00 p.a. ongoing
Highlights
- Get up to 5% cashback on eligible purchases in the first 3 months. Terms and Conditions apply.
- No annual fee.
- Earn 3% cashback on grocery purchases, 1% recurring bill payments and 0.5% cashback on all other purchases.
Pros
Cons
Student BMO AIR MILES Mastercard
Balance transfer
N/A
Purchase rate
20.99% p.a. ongoing
Interest-free days
N/A
Annual fee
$0.00 p.a. ongoing
Highlights
- Earn 800 Bonus Miles when you spend $1,000 on eligible purchases in the first 3 months from the Credit Card open date. Terms and Conditions apply.
- No annual fee.
- Earn 3 AIR MILES Reward Miles for every $25 in purchases at participating AIR MILES Partners and 1 Reward Mile for every other $25 you spend on eligible credit card purchases.
Pros
Cons
On website
SimplyCash Card from American Express
Balance transfer
N/A
Purchase rate
21.99% p.a. ongoing
Interest-free days
N/A
Annual fee
$0.00 p.a. ongoing
Highlights
- Earn a bonus 5% cashback on all purchases (up to $2,000 in spending) and receive up to $100 in Statement Credits within the first 3 months of Cardmembership. Terms and Conditions apply.
- Earn 2% cashback on gas and grocery.
- Earn 1.25% cashback on other eligible transactions.
