Build credit from nothing, one on-time payment at a time.
Plain-language guides for anyone starting out, new to the U.S., or rebuilding. What works, what it costs, and what to skip.
Start with the basicsGuides
Start with the first one if you have no credit history at all.
How to build credit from zero
What a lender needs to see before you get a score, and the cheapest ways to give it to them.
Read the guideDo tradelines actually work?
When being an authorized user raises a score, when lenders ignore it, and what paid slots cost.
Read the guideSecured cards compared
Deposits, fees and upgrade paths for the starter cards worth applying for this year.
Compare cardsWhat we will never tell you
Nobody can legally promise you a score, delete accurate late payments, or give you a "new" credit identity. Anyone who charges up front to do that is breaking the law.
Your free credit reports are at AnnualCreditReport.com. Check them before you pay anyone for anything.