Robinhood does not currently offer a credit card
Robinhood, the investment and trading app, has not launched a credit card product as of now. The company has explored financial products beyond trading — including cash management and debit card features — but a traditional credit card is not among them.
If you are looking for a credit card and came across Robinhood while researching, you may have seen outdated articles or rumors about a planned card. The company has not announced a timeline for one. Your best path forward is to look at credit cards from banks and card issuers that actually offer them today.
This guide explains what Robinhood does offer, why you might have heard about a Robinhood card, and how to find a credit card that fits your situation instead.
Key Takeaways
- Robinhood has not released a credit card and has not announced plans to do so.
- Robinhood does offer a debit card tied to its cash management account, which is different from a credit card.
- If you are building credit or rebuilding after damage, a credit card from a traditional issuer will report to credit bureaus; a debit card will not.
- You can open a credit card account with most banks and card issuers online in minutes, without needing an investment account.
What Robinhood actually offers instead of a credit card
Robinhood's cash management account comes with a debit card. This card draws directly from cash you hold in your Robinhood account — it does not borrow money, and it does not build credit history. The debit card is useful if you want to spend money you already have while keeping it in the Robinhood ecosystem, but it serves a completely different purpose than a credit card.
A credit card borrows money from the card issuer and requires you to pay it back. When you use it responsibly, the issuer reports your payment history to credit bureaus, which builds your credit score. A debit card spends money you already own and does not report to credit bureaus at all.
If your goal is to build credit, a debit card — even from Robinhood — will not help. You need an actual credit card from a bank or card company.
Why you might have heard about a Robinhood credit card
In 2021 and 2022, Robinhood announced plans to expand into financial services beyond trading. The company launched a cash management account and discussed the possibility of a credit card as part of a broader financial platform. However, those plans did not move forward into an actual product launch.
Articles and forum posts from that period still appear in search results, which is why you may have found references to a Robinhood card. The company's focus has remained on trading, investing, and cash management rather than credit products.
How to find a credit card that works for your situation
Credit cards come in different types depending on your credit history. If you have no credit history or are rebuilding after missed payments or high debt, you have options that do not require perfect credit.
Secured credit cards require a cash deposit (usually $200 to $2,500) that becomes your credit limit. You use the card like a normal credit card, and after 6 to 18 months of on-time payments, many issuers convert it to an unsecured card and return your deposit. Secured cards report to all three credit bureaus and are one of the fastest ways to build credit from scratch.
Unsecured cards for fair credit are available from issuers like Capital One, Discover, and others if your credit score is between 580 and 669. These cards have higher interest rates and annual fees than premium cards, but they still build credit when you pay on time.
Premium cards require a credit score of 670 or higher and offer rewards, lower interest rates, and no annual fees. You can compare these on any major card comparison site.
Steps to open a credit card account
Most credit cards can be opened entirely online. Here is the typical process:
- Choose a card type based on your credit situation (secured, fair-credit, or premium).
- Go to the card issuer's website and click the link to open an account.
- Enter your personal information: name, address, date of birth, Social Security number, and income.
- Review the terms, including the interest rate (APR), annual fee, and credit limit offer.
- Accept the terms and submit your application.
- Wait for a decision, which usually comes within minutes to a few days.
- If approved, the card ships to your address within 7 to 10 business days.
You do not need an investment account, a Robinhood account, or any other financial product to open a credit card. Each application is independent.
The difference between building credit with a card versus a debit card
Using a debit card — including Robinhood's — does not build credit because there is no loan involved. Credit bureaus only track borrowed money that you repay. When you use a debit card, you are spending your own money, so there is nothing to report.
A credit card, by contrast, is a small loan every time you swipe it. When you pay the bill on time, that payment history goes to the credit bureaus and raises your score. This is why credit cards are the primary tool for building credit, even though they carry more risk if you miss a payment.
If you are trying to build or repair your credit, you need a credit card — not a debit card, not a prepaid card, and not a Robinhood account.
Where to look for credit cards right now
Major banks like Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo offer credit cards online. Card-specific issuers like Capital One, Discover, and American Express also have their own websites where you can compare and open accounts.
Comparison sites like NerdWallet, The Points Guy, and Bankrate let you filter by credit score range, annual fee, and rewards type. These sites do not open accounts for you — you still go directly to the card issuer — but they make it easier to see what is available for your situation.
If you are starting from scratch or rebuilding, search for "secured credit card" or "credit card for fair credit" on any of these sites. You will see real options with real terms, not rumors about products that do not exist yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Robinhood planning to release a credit card in the future?
Robinhood has not announced any plans to launch a credit card. The company explored the idea several years ago but shifted focus to other financial products. There is no public timeline or confirmation that a card is in development.
Can I use my Robinhood debit card to build credit?
No. Debit cards do not build credit because they do not involve borrowing. Credit bureaus only track credit accounts — credit cards, loans, and lines of credit. If building credit is your goal, you need a credit card from a bank or card issuer.
What credit card should I get if I have no credit history?
A secured credit card is the fastest path. You deposit $200 to $2,500, receive that amount as your credit limit, and use the card normally. After 6 to 18 months of on-time payments, most issuers convert it to a regular card and return your deposit. Capital One, Discover, and Chase all offer secured cards.
How long does it take to open a credit card?
Most applications are decided within minutes to a few days. If approved, the physical card arrives in 7 to 10 business days. You can sometimes use a temporary card number online before the physical card arrives.
Do I need a Robinhood account to get a credit card?
No. Credit cards are separate products from investment or trading accounts. You can open a credit card with any bank or issuer without having any other account with them.