Introduction

When you have no credit history or a “thin file,” applying for your first credit card can feel like a catch-22: You need credit to get approved for a card, but you need a card to build credit in the first place.

Chase recently updated its flagship entry-level credit card, the Chase Freedom Rise®, adding a limited-time 3% cash back on dining (on up to $6,000 spent in the first six months) alongside its existing $25 statement credit for enrolling in automatic payments within the first three months.

While cash-back perks on an unsecured starter card are rare, rewards shouldn’t be your main criteria when starting from scratch. Approval odds, deposit requirements, fee structures, and credit-building rules matter far more.

Here is an honest breakdown of whether the Chase Freedom Rise is your best starter card option, or if a zero-deposit secured alternative makes more sense for your credit journey.

Chase Freedom Rise: At a Glance

The Chase Freedom Rise is explicitly designed for beginners and students. Unlike secured cards, it is an unsecured card, meaning you don’t have to put down a $200 security deposit to open your credit line.

The Big Catch: How to Realistically Get Approved

While Chase markets the Freedom Rise as a card for people with “no credit history”, big-bank underwriting can still be tough on thin files.

To maximize your approval odds without getting denied, Chase uses a specific relationship rule: Having a Chase checking or savings account with a minimum balance of $250 prior to applying may significantly increase your approval chances.

If you already bank with Chase or are willing to open a Chase checking account first, the Freedom Rise is easily one of the strongest unsecured starter cards available. If you don’t want to open a Chase checking account, applying cold with zero credit history still carries a risk of rejection.

How Chase Freedom Rise Compares to Alternative Starter Cards

If you aren’t sure you can qualify for an unsecured Chase card, several alternative starter cards offer flexible pathways to building credit:

Note: Starter-card approval is not guaranteed unless the issuer explicitly says so. Secured-card applications can still be declined based on identity verification, banking history, income, fraud screening, or other issuer rules.

3 Rules for Using Your First Credit Card Safely

Regardless of which starter card you choose, how you use the card during your first 12 months dictates how fast your credit score rises:

1. Always Pay Your Statement Balance in Full

Starter credit cards carry high interest rates (often 20% to 28% APR). To avoid paying a single cent in interest, set up AutoPay to pay off your full statement balance every single month. As a bonus, doing this on the Freedom Rise can net you a $25 statement credit if you meet Chase’s AutoPay offer requirements.

2. Keep Your Credit Utilization Below 10%

Your credit utilization ratio is part of the broader “amounts owed” category, which FICO says determines 30% of a FICO Score. If your starter card gives you a $500 limit, keeping your reported balance under $50 (10%) can help you avoid looking maxed out while your file is still young.

3. Track Your Upgrade Timeline

After 6 months of on-time payments, Chase automatically evaluates Freedom Rise cardholders for a credit line increase. After 12 months, cardholders who meet Chase’s criteria may be evaluated for an automatic upgrade to the premium Chase Freedom Unlimited®, opening up higher cash-back tiers without closing your oldest account.