Credit tip: You need both types of credit to build a strong profile.
There are two main types of credit accounts—and your credit won’t be fully established without both:
Installment accounts – These are fixed monthly payments, like auto loans, personal loans, or mortgage loans.
Revolving accounts – These are accounts you can use over and over, like credit cards, as long as you pay them back on time.
Each of the recommended accounts below will be clearly labeled as either installment or revolving so you know exactly what you're adding to your credit mix!
For people who want to maximize rewards in everyday essential categories, avoid annual fees, and still build credit with structured payments.
Unlimited cash back on payments: 3% on Home, Auto, and Health categories and 1% on everything else
No annual fee
Spend confidently with monthly installment payments and a clear plan to pay
Extra Perks:
Access to a credit line up to $25,000 (based on creditworthiness)
Autopay discount available
Gives you unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase with no annual fee. It’s not a traditional credit card—it combines the flexibility of a card with the structure of a personal loan. Apply in minutes with no impact on your credit score.
Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase
No annual fee
No hard credit check to apply
Fast, 1-minute application
Monthly installment payments for easy budgeting
Works like a credit card but structured as personal loans
Those looking for a flexible card with high cash back potential, easy-to-earn bonuses, and the simplicity of fixed monthly payments.
$200 welcome bonus after 3 qualifying debit card transactions*
Up to 10% cash back with Upgrade Shopping
No hard credit check to apply
Combines the flexibility of a credit card with the structure of a personal loan
Use anywhere VISA® is accepted
Contactless payments + mobile app for easy access
Clear monthly installment payment plans
Visa Zero Liability protection against unauthorized transactions
Offers both Installment and Revolving accounts
No large deposit required
Reports to all 3 major credit bureaus
Build credit by saving — not spending
Backed by Austin Capital Bank (FDIC-insured)
Magnum – Maximum long-term impact
Revolv – Fastest way to build credit and savings
Instal – Simple starter plan for new credit builders
Anyone looking to build or improve credit fast — especially first-time borrowers, renters, or people with limited credit history — can benefit from Experian Boost. Instantly raise your FICO® Score by getting credit for bills you're already paying. It's a quick, free way to take control of your credit.
Instantly increase your FICO® Score — for free
Get credit for utility, phone & streaming payments
Includes free Experian Credit Report & FICO® Score
No credit card or hard inquiry required
Score updates take effect immediately
With a Credit Builder Account, you make on-time monthly payments to create positive payment history that Self then reports to three major credit bureaus. At the end of your plan, you unlock your savings — minus interest and fees.
No credit score needed
No hard credit check
Reports to all 3 major credit bureaus
On-time payments help build positive credit history
Get your savings back at the end of the term
(minus interest & fees)
Product Type: Credit Building Loan
Sample Plan: $48/month for 12 months
(based on a $545 account)
Minimum Age: 18+
Rated the best college student credit card of March 2025 by Forbes, Time, and NerdWallet, Firstcard has made a splash on the credit-building scene. People love Firstcard because they:
Accept immigrants and international residents living without an SSN
Help users build credit faster
Require no credit check or hard inquiry
Offer up to 15% cashback at selected merchants
Offer up to 4.00% APY
Offer 0% APR
Additional Info:
On-time payments can boost credit scores by an average of 52 points in 3 months
Includes mobile app access and bank-level encryption for privacy and control
Best For:
Students and international users who want a secure, low-risk way to build credit while earning cash back and savings interest.
GO2Bank is the ultimate digital and mobile-fist bank designed to make safe, seamless and useful banking affordable for everyone!
Prepaid Card Details:
No monthly fees with eligible direct deposit, otherwise $5 per month.
The Ultimate Mobile Bank Account.
Get your government benefits up to 4 days early. Plus, direct deposit unlocks exclusive perks!
Get your pay up to 2 days early with eligible direct deposit.
No monthly fees with eligible direct deposit, otherwise $5 per month.
No hidden fees.
Product Type: eBanking Credit Building
Credit Care Advantage
Raise your FICO Score by an average of 19 points by
Paying your bills from a GO2bankTM account and you could give your FICO® Score a lift
Build business credit on autopilot with the Nav Prime Bill Pay Card — no credit check, security deposit, or personal guarantee required. This charge card reports monthly tradelines to help boost your business credit while avoiding revolving debt. Linked to your checking account, it uses daily autopay to keep spending low and payments seamless. A smart, low-risk tool for entrepreneurs and small business owners.
No credit check, security deposit, or personal guarantee during your application process
A convenient second tradeline from Nav
A charge card with no risk of carrying a balance
Looking for a loan? UpGrade personal loans are built to support your financial success. Apply in minutes, sign on for your loan, and enjoy affordable monthly payment schedule that's tailored to your needs.
UpGrade personal loans also offer:
Fixed rates and payments with a clear pay off date.
Flexible loan options: explore multiple options and pick the loan amount and term that best fits your budget and timeline.
Fast Funding: Money is sent to your bank account within 1 day of clearing any verifications.*
Automatic payments and ability to customize the due date: manage your account online or via the mobile app
No prepayment penalties.
Borrowers looking for fast funding, flexible terms, and predictable payments — with the freedom to pay off early at no extra cost.
Loan amounts from $1,000 to $50,000
APRs from 11.69% to 35.99%
Fixed interest rates and monthly payments
Choose terms from 36 to 60 months
Fast funding — money can be sent within 1 business day
No prepayment penalties
Easy online and mobile account management
Customize your due date and set up autopay
Additional Info:
Origination fee: 5.25% – 9.99%, deducted from the loan proceeds
Applying won’t affect your credit score until you accept an offer
Ideal for debt consolidation, home improvements, or major purchases
The OpenSky® credit card is designed for people with no credit, bad credit, or those rebuilding. There’s no credit check required to apply, and it reports to all three major bureaus to help build credit history. Users can earn cashback on everyday purchases while tracking their credit progress via the mobile app.
No annual fee and no credit check to apply
No credit check required - 89% approval rate with zero credit risk to apply!|
Earn up to 10% cash back on everyday purchases
Reports your FICO® score progress via mobile app
Start with a refundable deposit as low as $300
The Upgrade Premier Savings account offers a high-yield savings option with no monthly maintenance fees, making it an attractive choice for savers looking to grow their money without extra costs. You’ll earn a competitive 4.14% APY, but only on days when your balance stays above $1,000. It’s a secure option as deposits are eligible for FDIC or NCUA insurance through partner institutions. While it's not a bank itself, Upgrade gives you banking peace of mind through its financial partnerships and protections.
Earn 4.14% APY on balances of $1,000 or more
No monthly account fees
FDIC/NCUA insurance up to $1 million through Cross River Bank
6 MONTHS Time in Business
$15,000+ in monthly revenue
No more than 4 negative days/overdrafts in a month
No auto dealers, strip clubs, gambling, Trucking needs to be 25k+ monthly revenue
Can Fund up to $15 million+ if revenue supports it
Need 1 page application and 4 months of business bank statements for approval
680+ Personal credit
2+ years' time in business
$250,000 in annual revenue
Rates start at 9.99% and terms up to 5+ years
Takes 1-3 weeks for a term loan to Fund
We need 6 months of statements, 2 years of tax returns, P&L and balance sheet for approval
This is an unsecured type of line of credit product in which we base their approval solely off their credit.
They can access between $50k-$250,000 in unsecured business credit at 0% introductory APR.
They need the following:
700+ PERSONAL CREDIT SCORE
3+ years of credit history
At least 2 personal credit cards with $10,000+ credit limits
No more than 3 credit inquiries in the last 12 months
Business should be 1+ year old, but we can help brand new businesses as well!
Business should be 1+ year old, but we can help brand new businesses as well!
You can’t build what you don’t track.
Credit monitoring is essential if you’re serious about improving your credit. It keeps you informed of every change — from score updates to new accounts and inquiries — so you’re never in the dark.
Our credit monitoring service tracks all 3 major credit bureaus and gives you free updated credit reports every 30 days.
Unlike most apps that only show data from 1 or 2 bureaus (and rarely offer full reports), we provide complete, accurate insights — so you can monitor your progress the right way.
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