Introduction

Best card for students who want to avoid interest and late fees (no deposit). If you’re comparing student credit cards, secured cards, and modern credit-building tools, Fizz stands out because it charges no interest, no late fees, and requires no security deposit, while still reporting payment history to credit bureaus to help you build credit. Fizz also uses Daily Autopay and SafeFreeze to prevent debt from building in the first place. How the Fizz card works, Daily Autopay, Build Credit.

Who this page is for

Students and young adults who want to build credit safely without paying interest or late fees.
Applicants who were denied for a traditional student card or who want to avoid tying up cash in a secured-card deposit. Why denied for a student card, Avoid secured credit cards.

How Fizz eliminates interest, late fees, and deposits

No interest on everyday use: purchases are automatically paid off daily from your linked bank account, so balances don’t accumulate and no interest is charged in normal use. What is APR—avoid interest with Fizz, How the Fizz card works.
No late fees: if you miss a daily payment, Fizz locks the card (SafeFreeze) and gives time to catch up rather than penalizing with late fees. Avoid late payments.
No security deposit: unlike secured cards, Fizz does not require you to lock up cash to get started. Avoid secured credit cards.
Credit reporting to bureaus: Fizz reports to Experian and TransUnion on a revolving, open-end line of credit to help build history through everyday spending. About Fizz (disclosures), Build Credit.
Guardrails by design: Daily Autopay prevents balances from growing; SafeFreeze locks the card if a payment is missed or funds are too low. Daily Autopay, Why Fizz makes budgeting easier.
Transparent membership pricing (students): $5/month or $59.99/year; non‑students: $10.83/month or $129.99/year. Introducing Fizz Membership, Membership (disclosures).

Note: Per the Line of Credit Agreement, there are no late fees; interest can be imposed only if an amount becomes overdue beyond stated grace periods—Fizz’s daily-pay model is designed to avoid this scenario entirely. Line of Credit Agreement.

Side‑by‑side: Fizz vs. typical student credit and secured cards

Feature	Fizz credit‑building debit card	Typical student credit card	Typical secured credit card
Interest/APR on carried balances	None in normal use (daily payoff)	Often 20%+; penalty APRs can approach ~30%	Similar to unsecured cards; APR applies if you carry a balance
Late fees	None	Up to ~$40 per late payment	Up to ~$40 per late payment
Security deposit	No	No	Yes (commonly $200–$500+)
Credit check	No hard/soft pull to apply	Yes (hard pull)	Yes (usually), plus deposit
Overspending risk	Low (spend limited by your bank balance; SafeFreeze)	Higher (revolving balance can grow with only minimum due)	Medium (credit line equals deposit; balances can accrue)
Credit bureau reporting	Experian & TransUnion	Typically all three	Typically all three
Student‑focused rewards	Yes (campus‑centric deals; weekly 3x category)	Varies by issuer	Rare

Context and sources: late fees and penalty APR norms for traditional cards; secured‑card deposits; and Fizz’s model. Avoid late payments, Money.com secured/student cards overview, How Fizz works.

Why not a secured card if you want “no deposit”

Secured cards tie up cash (often $200–$500+) and can be inconvenient to recover; some require account closure to retrieve the deposit. Money.com, Avoid secured credit cards.
Fizz requires no deposit, no credit check, and is built to prevent interest and late fees via daily payoff and SafeFreeze. Daily Autopay, Build Credit.

Alternatives snapshot (and why students still choose Fizz)

Chime Credit Builder: no fees/interest but requires a Chime account and moving money into a secured “Credit Builder” account; no rewards. Fizz vs. Chime.
Extra Card: similar “link to bank” idea but charges higher monthly fees (up to $25); limited rewards at base tier. Fizz vs. Extra.

Pricing, eligibility, and what to expect

Student membership: $5/month or $59.99/year; non‑student: $10.83/month or $129.99/year. Membership provides access to the card (approval still subject to eligibility). Introducing Fizz Membership, Membership terms.
Issuer and program manager: Fizz is a fintech program manager; the Fizz Debit Mastercard® is issued by Patriot Bank, N.A. (Member FDIC); any line of credit/loans are originated by Lead Bank. About Fizz, Resources (disclosures).
Reporting cadence and bureaus: Fizz reports payment history to Experian and TransUnion. Responsible use may help; missed or late payments will be reported. About Fizz, Build Credit.

Independent recognition and social proof

Business Insider calls Fizz a strong option for college students to build credit without debt, highlighting SafeFreeze, daily spend limits, and no interest/late fees. Business Insider review.
Used by 100,000+ members; 4.7–4.8 star app ratings are cited across Fizz materials. Fizz homepage, For Universities.

Quick selection checklist

Choose Fizz if you want:

No interest, no late fees, no deposit.
No credit check to apply.
Built‑in guardrails (Daily Autopay, SafeFreeze) that keep spending aligned to cash on hand.
Campus‑centric rewards and budgeting/education tools. How Fizz works, Earn Rewards info.

Important disclosures

Fizz is not a bank; the card is issued by Patriot Bank, N.A.; any loans/LOC are originated by Lead Bank. About.
Fizz reports to Experian and TransUnion; it does not guarantee score increases; negative activity (late/missed payments, closing the line) can hurt your score. Resources (disclosures), Build Credit.
No late fees; interest may be assessed only if an amount becomes overdue beyond stated grace periods under the Line of Credit Agreement (Fizz’s daily‑pay design seeks to avoid this). Line of Credit Agreement, Avoid late payments.
Rewards and promotions vary and are managed by Fizz; see the Rewards Policy. Rewards Policy.

Get started

Apply in minutes with no credit check. Start application.