Bad Credit? These Credit Cards are For You

Advertising Disclosure

If your credit score is less than perfect, it can be hard to be approved for the credit that you need. That’s why we’ve reviewed the best cards for bad credit and included our favorite cards below! These cards are designed to help you rebuild your credit score and provide a credit account even if your credit score is below average. Keep on reading to learn more about the top cards for bad credit.

Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card

With the Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card, you can check if you qualify without lowering your credit score and get an instant decision on your application! And because this card doesn’t require any security deposit, it can be much more affordable than other subprime cards. Its annual fee ranges from $0 to $59, and you won’t have to pay interest on purchases as long as you pay your bill on time and in full every month. Making regular, full payments on your card account can also help to improve your credit score! And if you’re in good standing with your credit, you can be considered for a higher credit line in as little as seven months after account opening! Other useful tools with the Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card include free online access to your credit score and free online information and resources on improving your credit. The Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card doesn’t offer any rewards or intro bonuses, but for people with bad credit, it can be a great stepping stool on the credit-rebuilding journey!

Self – Credit Builder Account with Secured Visa® Credit Card

The Self – Credit Builder Account with Secured Visa® Credit Card is a hybrid financial product that combines a credit builder loan with a secured credit card. This unique model is perfect for those with bad credit, or those who don’t have any credit history. Start out by making monthly payments into your credit builder loan (the payments are deposited into a Self Certificate of Deposit (CD) savings account). By making regular payments on time, you’re not only building up savings, but also building your credit history. Once you’ve made at least three on-time monthly payments, have at least $100 in your Self CD account, and have your account in good standing, you become eligible for the Self Visa Credit Card without an additional security deposit or a hard credit check. (The savings in your CD that you’ve made monthly payments towards counts as your security deposit.) This is great for those who have little to no credit history, have bad credit, or who don’t want a hard credit check (which can lower your credit score). On the downside, you won’t be eligible for the Self Visa Credit Card for at least three months – if you need a credit card sooner than that, you might want to choose a different card.

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card allows you to put down a security deposit of only $49, which will get you an initial $200 credit line. You can also put down more of a security deposit to get a higher credit limit, with the highest credit line being $1,000. A $49 security deposit is very reasonable, and because this card has no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and no penalty APR if you make a late payment, it’s considered very affordable. Plus, if you demonstrate financial responsibility, make payments on time, and your account is in good standing, you can be considered for a higher line of credit in as soon as six months! Capital One also has other perks, including $0 Fraud Liability (which means you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges), free monitoring of your credit score through CreditWise, and access to your account anytime, anywhere with online banking through your desktop or smart phone! If you’re looking for an affordable secured credit card, consider the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card.

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Most secured credit cards won’t have any type of rewards points, but the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card allows you to earn unlimited 5% cash back on rental cars and hotels booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply), plus unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases! The ability to earn cash back with bad credit or no credit history is truly unique. The security deposit for this card is on the higher side – $200 for an initial $200 credit line – but the cost is offset by no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees! Plus, the $200 security deposit is refundable, and you have the chance to earn it back as statement credit if you use your card responsibly (such as paying on time). Finally, this card comes with other perks, such as up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits (through 11/14/2024), free credit score monitoring with CreditWise, and the ability to be considered for a higher credit line in as soon as 6 months with no additional security deposit required. If you want to build your credit score and earn cash back, this card could be for you.

GO2bank ™ Secured Visa ® Credit Card

The GO2bank ™ Secured Visa ® Credit Card gives you the ability to set your own credit limit based upon the security deposit you transfer to it. A minimum $100 security deposit is required and will allow you to access a $100 credit line, but you can increase your security deposit for more credit. In order to transfer the security deposit, you must also set up a GO2bank account. This card doesn’t offer any rewards, but it does allow you to increase your credit limit at any time by adding more of a security deposit, plus it doesn’t require any annual fee. Other cards don’t require you to set up a bank account, which can make them easier to sign up for, but if you’re looking for a secured credit card with no annual fee and a low security deposit, the GO2bank ™ Secured Visa ® Credit Card could be for you.

Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post. The content on this page is accurate as of 3/16/2023; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.