Equifax®, Experian® and TransUnion® are the three major credit bureaus. Sometimes called credit reporting agencies or consumer reporting companies, they compile credit reports. These companies differ from credit-scoring companies, such as FICO® and VantageScore®.

It could be a little confusing to think you might need credit in order to build credit. But that doesn’t mean you don’t have options. When doing so responsibly, you might be able to build credit by: 

• Using a secured credit card
• Taking out a credit-builder loan
• Becoming an authorized user

Having no credit doesn’t mean your credit score is zero. There’s a difference between having no credit and having bad credit.

There aren’t any quick fixes. But using credit responsibly can help you start. That means making on-time payments every month and not maxing out your card. 

If you don’t have a credit card, there are other ways you might build credit. Learn more about how people build credit by becoming authorized users or self-reporting to credit bureaus.

If you want an idea of where you stand, you can use a tool like CreditWise from Capital One. It’s free, whether you’re a Capital One customer or not. And using it to check your credit won’t hurt your scores. So it could be helpful for tracking your progress.

You can also get free copies of your credit reports by visiting AnnualCreditReport.com.

While you’re working on building your credit, you might find trustworthy credit counselors who can help. But beware of credit repair scams and companies that promise to boost your credit overnight.

There aren’t any shortcuts for building credit. But these proactive steps from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) could help you build good habits and improve your credit: 

• Pay your bills by their due date.
• Pay off your credit card balances in full each month.
• Keep your credit utilization low.
• Avoid too many credit applications in a short period of time. 
• Regularly monitor your credit reports and check for errors.