March 31, 2023
*Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It may not have been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.
This article was last updated March 31, 2023 . Terms and conditions may have changed. For the most accurate information, please consult the issuer website.
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card‘s great features make it our top pick for an easy card to get approved for. It’s geared toward those with poor/limited credit, charges a $0 annual fee and requires a $200 minimum security deposit — with monthly account reviews after seven months to see if you qualify to get your deposit refunded. Plus, it earns cash back at an elevated rate at gas stations and restaurants.
Whether you’re new to credit, recovering from bad credit or just don’t want to risk a hard inquiry on your credit report only to get a rejection notice, you have options.
LendingTree evaluated the credit cards that are easiest to get approved for and come with the most straightforward terms, so you won’t be smacked with expensive and often unexpected fees issuers of subprime credit cards usually charge you.
Typically, subprime cards are marketed to those with bad credit and often come with a variety of fees, including annual fees, monthly account servicing fees and more. They also tend to have very high interest rates, making them very expensive tools to help rebuild your credit. If you’re trying to rebuild credit, we recommend avoiding subprime cards and applying for a secured card instead.
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card offers a rewards program, which many secured credit cards do not — earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
Having the Discover it® Secured Credit Card also makes it easy to upgrade to an unsecured credit card. After you’ve used your card for seven months, Discover will start conducting monthly reviews of your account to see if you’re eligible to upgrade and get your deposit back.
There’s also an excellent sign-up bonus for new cardmembers: Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
The annual fee is $0. Note that there’s a high 27.74% Variable APR if you carry a balance.
Whether you’ve struggled with credit in the past, or you’re completely new to credit and want to get off to a great start, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card can help you on your journey.
It’s a secured credit card, meaning you must submit a security deposit (a minimum of $200 up to $2,500) equal to the amount of your credit line. In the event you don’t pay off what you charge to the card, Discover will use the deposit to recoup that loss. Still, in other respects, secured cards function just like regular credit cards (also known as unsecured cards).
A great feature of the Discover it® Secured Credit Card is that it earns cash back. Plus, unlike some unsecured cards for bad credit, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card doesn’t hit applicants with expensive fees and confusing terms. It’s consistently one of our top credit card choices for building credit.
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card offers a rewards program, which many secured credit cards do not — earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
Having the Discover it® Secured Credit Card also makes it easy to upgrade to an unsecured credit card. After you’ve used your card for seven months, Discover will start conducting monthly reviews of your account to see if you’re eligible to upgrade and get your deposit back.
There’s also an excellent sign-up bonus for new cardmembers: Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
The annual fee is $0. Note that there’s a high 27.74% Variable APR if you carry a balance.
Whether you’ve struggled with credit in the past, or you’re completely new to credit and want to get off to a great start, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card can help you on your journey.
It’s a secured credit card, meaning you must submit a security deposit (a minimum of $200 up to $2,500) equal to the amount of your credit line. In the event you don’t pay off what you charge to the card, Discover will use the deposit to recoup that loss. Still, in other respects, secured cards function just like regular credit cards (also known as unsecured cards).
A great feature of the Discover it® Secured Credit Card is that it earns cash back. Plus, unlike some unsecured cards for bad credit, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card doesn’t hit applicants with expensive fees and confusing terms. It’s consistently one of our top credit card choices for building credit.
The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card — issued by Capital Bank — is a no-frills card that doesn’t require a credit check when you apply.
This is a secured credit card, meaning you must submit a security deposit of a minimum of $200 to the issuer that will be equal to your credit limit (with a maximum security deposit of $3,000). In other respects, though, it works the same as an unsecured credit card. It’s aimed at consumers with poor/limited credit who want to improve their credit score and reports account and payment activity to all three credit bureaus.
If you’re worried about incurring a hard inquiry on your next card application (which can temporarily knock down your credit score), consider the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card. It’s unique, in that it doesn’t run a credit check when considering your application (though other financial factors will also be considered). It’s a secured card, meaning you’ll have to submit a security deposit that will serve as your credit limit. You can get the deposit back if you pay off and close the card.
The downside to this card is that it charges an annual fee of $35 without offering any rewards. In addition, the issuer doesn’t give you an opportunity to upgrade to an unsecured card, as some competing secured cards do after you show responsible usage. However, if you want to avoid a hard inquiry, this card could allow you to improve your score and eventually get approved for a card without an annual fee or one that offers cash back or travel rewards.
This card’s regular purchase APR is 21.89% (variable).
The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card — issued by Capital Bank — is a no-frills card that doesn’t require a credit check when you apply.
This is a secured credit card, meaning you must submit a security deposit of a minimum of $200 to the issuer that will be equal to your credit limit (with a maximum security deposit of $3,000). In other respects, though, it works the same as an unsecured credit card. It’s aimed at consumers with poor/limited credit who want to improve their credit score and reports account and payment activity to all three credit bureaus.
If you’re worried about incurring a hard inquiry on your next card application (which can temporarily knock down your credit score), consider the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card. It’s unique, in that it doesn’t run a credit check when considering your application (though other financial factors will also be considered). It’s a secured card, meaning you’ll have to submit a security deposit that will serve as your credit limit. You can get the deposit back if you pay off and close the card.
The downside to this card is that it charges an annual fee of $35 without offering any rewards. In addition, the issuer doesn’t give you an opportunity to upgrade to an unsecured card, as some competing secured cards do after you show responsible usage. However, if you want to avoid a hard inquiry, this card could allow you to improve your score and eventually get approved for a card without an annual fee or one that offers cash back or travel rewards.
This card’s regular purchase APR is 21.89% (variable).
Since secured cards are often aimed at people with bad credit or little credit history, many of them come with high APRs. The DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card is an exception — the APR is a very reasonable 15.75% Variable.
The annual fee is $0 and the foreign transaction fee is $0, too.
Note that the minimum security deposit is $500, which is higher than the $200 minimum many other secured cards require.
We recommend paying your credit card bill in full every month. Typically, thanks to a grace period, this allows you to avoid being charged interest. But if you have to roll over a balance once in a while, a low interest credit card like the DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card can help you save money.
Note that you’ll have to join Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) and open a savings account to be able to qualify for this card. Membership can be based on where you live, work or worship, via a participating employer, through a family member who already banks with DCU or by joining a partner organization. For example, you can qualify by joining the nonprofit Reach Out for Schools, which offers memberships starting at $10.
Since secured cards are often aimed at people with bad credit or little credit history, many of them come with high APRs. The DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card is an exception — the APR is a very reasonable 15.75% Variable.
The annual fee is $0 and the foreign transaction fee is $0, too.
Note that the minimum security deposit is $500, which is higher than the $200 minimum many other secured cards require.
We recommend paying your credit card bill in full every month. Typically, thanks to a grace period, this allows you to avoid being charged interest. But if you have to roll over a balance once in a while, a low interest credit card like the DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card can help you save money.
Note that you’ll have to join Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) and open a savings account to be able to qualify for this card. Membership can be based on where you live, work or worship, via a participating employer, through a family member who already banks with DCU or by joining a partner organization. For example, you can qualify by joining the nonprofit Reach Out for Schools, which offers memberships starting at $10.
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is pretty much a no-frills credit card. It doesn’t offer a rewards program, but it is available to those whose credit is fair/limited.
It’s an unsecured card, meaning you don’t have to submit a security deposit — and you’re likely to get a higher credit limit than the standard $200 security deposit that you would be required to submit for a secured card. After demonstrating responsible usage on this card, you might be able to upgrade to another Capital One card offering cash back or miles.
If you carry a balance from month to month on your Capital One Platinum Credit Card, you will be subject to a high purchase APR of 29.99% (variable). That said, high interest rates are relatively common for credit cards designed to help you build or establish credit.
If you’re looking for a credit card that doesn’t require a security deposit, is designed for consumers with fair/limited credit and could be used to improve your credit score, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card could help.
In addition to offering unlimited access to your credit score, the $0 annual fee card automatically reviews your credit line after six months to see if you qualify for a higher credit limit. Know that your initial credit limit may be low, which is typical for cards marketed to individuals looking to rebuild their credit profiles.
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is pretty much a no-frills credit card. It doesn’t offer a rewards program, but it is available to those whose credit is fair/limited.
It’s an unsecured card, meaning you don’t have to submit a security deposit — and you’re likely to get a higher credit limit than the standard $200 security deposit that you would be required to submit for a secured card. After demonstrating responsible usage on this card, you might be able to upgrade to another Capital One card offering cash back or miles.
If you carry a balance from month to month on your Capital One Platinum Credit Card, you will be subject to a high purchase APR of 29.99% (variable). That said, high interest rates are relatively common for credit cards designed to help you build or establish credit.
If you’re looking for a credit card that doesn’t require a security deposit, is designed for consumers with fair/limited credit and could be used to improve your credit score, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card could help.
In addition to offering unlimited access to your credit score, the $0 annual fee card automatically reviews your credit line after six months to see if you qualify for a higher credit limit. Know that your initial credit limit may be low, which is typical for cards marketed to individuals looking to rebuild their credit profiles.
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is available to consumers with fair/limited credit and earns 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply).
You’ll pay a $39 annual fee to carry the card, but you don’t have to worry about a foreign transaction fee, as there is none. The APR is high at 29.99% (variable).
If you have fair/limited credit and don’t want to have to submit a security deposit, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card might be the right card for you. There is a $39 annual fee, but spending $2,600 on purchases per year will allow you to recoup that amount in cash back.
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is available to consumers with fair/limited credit and earns 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply).
You’ll pay a $39 annual fee to carry the card, but you don’t have to worry about a foreign transaction fee, as there is none. The APR is high at 29.99% (variable).
If you have fair/limited credit and don’t want to have to submit a security deposit, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card might be the right card for you. There is a $39 annual fee, but spending $2,600 on purchases per year will allow you to recoup that amount in cash back.
If you’re a college student over the age of 18 with a steady source of income, the Discover it® Student Cash Back has a lot to offer.
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically Note that there’s a $1,500 spending cap on the elevated rewards rate each quarter. After you hit that spend, your earning rate will drop to 1% on all purchases, meaning you can earn a maximum of $75 in cash back per quarter at the 5% rate.
The sign-up bonus also offers a great value if you put most of your spend on this card the first year you have it: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
This card also offers a 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases, after which a 17.74% - 26.74% Variable APR will apply.
Students willing to keep track of bonus categories can maximize their cash back with the Discover it® Student Cash Back, while also building credit through responsible credit practices, such as keeping a low balance and paying on time.
The Discover it® Student Cash Back offers a higher cash back rate on purchases that fall into specific categories (such as Amazon, grocery stores and restaurants) that change every quarter. Cardholders are required to activate those categories in order to earn the higher cash back rate.
Despite the effort required to activate a new category every quarter, the Discover it® Student Cash Back’s rewards program along with its $0 annual fee make it hard to beat.
If you’re a college student over the age of 18 with a steady source of income, the Discover it® Student Cash Back has a lot to offer.
Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically Note that there’s a $1,500 spending cap on the elevated rewards rate each quarter. After you hit that spend, your earning rate will drop to 1% on all purchases, meaning you can earn a maximum of $75 in cash back per quarter at the 5% rate.
The sign-up bonus also offers a great value if you put most of your spend on this card the first year you have it: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
This card also offers a 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases, after which a 17.74% - 26.74% Variable APR will apply.
Students willing to keep track of bonus categories can maximize their cash back with the Discover it® Student Cash Back, while also building credit through responsible credit practices, such as keeping a low balance and paying on time.
The Discover it® Student Cash Back offers a higher cash back rate on purchases that fall into specific categories (such as Amazon, grocery stores and restaurants) that change every quarter. Cardholders are required to activate those categories in order to earn the higher cash back rate.
Despite the effort required to activate a new category every quarter, the Discover it® Student Cash Back’s rewards program along with its $0 annual fee make it hard to beat.
The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card earns cash back in spending categories college students are likely to appreciate: 3% Cash Back on dining and entertainment; 3% Cash Back on popular streaming services; 3% Cash Back at grocery stores; 1% Cash Back on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases.
Plus, there’s a $0 annual fee — and if you travel outside the United States for a study abroad, you can rest easy knowing the foreign transaction fee is none.
The card’s APR is 19.74% - 29.74% (variable).
If you’re a college student with fair/limited credit and you spend frequently on groceries, dining or entertainment, the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for your wallet. Your spending and payment activity will be reported to the credit bureaus, so you’ll build credit history, and you’ll earn cash back at a competitive rate, too.
The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card earns cash back in spending categories college students are likely to appreciate: 3% Cash Back on dining and entertainment; 3% Cash Back on popular streaming services; 3% Cash Back at grocery stores; 1% Cash Back on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases.
Plus, there’s a $0 annual fee — and if you travel outside the United States for a study abroad, you can rest easy knowing the foreign transaction fee is none.
The card’s APR is 19.74% - 29.74% (variable).
If you’re a college student with fair/limited credit and you spend frequently on groceries, dining or entertainment, the Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is an excellent choice for your wallet. Your spending and payment activity will be reported to the credit bureaus, so you’ll build credit history, and you’ll earn cash back at a competitive rate, too.
Store cards are generally much easier to qualify for than other credit cards, as they tend to have lower credit limits and higher APRs.
If you regularly shop at Target or Target.com, you may want to consider the Target REDcard™ Credit Card.
This $0 annual fee card offers 5% off at Target in-store and online. Plus, cardholders have access to exclusive perks, such as free two-day shipping and extended returns.
The Target REDcard™ Credit Card is best for Target shoppers, since the card cannot be used outside of Target and Target.com. The ongoing discount is also easy since it’s instantly applied at checkout.
But since your initial credit line may be low, it’s important to keep your balance to below 30% of your credit limit when trying to build up your credit score. For example, if your credit limit is $300, then don’t charge more than $90 to your card every month, and make sure to pay off the entire balance when the statement is due since the APR is high.
The Target REDcard™ Credit Card is geared toward applicants with good credit, which is typically considered credit scores starting from 670-850.
Store cards are generally much easier to qualify for than other credit cards, as they tend to have lower credit limits and higher APRs.
If you regularly shop at Target or Target.com, you may want to consider the Target REDcard™ Credit Card.
This $0 annual fee card offers 5% off at Target in-store and online. Plus, cardholders have access to exclusive perks, such as free two-day shipping and extended returns.
The Target REDcard™ Credit Card is best for Target shoppers, since the card cannot be used outside of Target and Target.com. The ongoing discount is also easy since it’s instantly applied at checkout.
But since your initial credit line may be low, it’s important to keep your balance to below 30% of your credit limit when trying to build up your credit score. For example, if your credit limit is $300, then don’t charge more than $90 to your card every month, and make sure to pay off the entire balance when the statement is due since the APR is high.
The Target REDcard™ Credit Card is geared toward applicants with good credit, which is typically considered credit scores starting from 670-850.
With the Amazon Prime Store Card, Prime cardholders can earn 5% back at Amazon.com.
Plus, get a $60 Amazon Gift Card upon approval.
The annual fee is $0. However, note that you must have an Amazon Prime membership, otherwise you won’t earn any cash back. If you have the annual subscription, Prime costs $139 (or $69 for college students). With the monthly membership, it’s $14.99 (or $7.49 for college students).
This card also comes with promotional financing offers on purchases of $150 or more. But cardholders should beware of two things: First, you can’t earn cash back if you opt for a promotional financing deal. And second, you run the risk of being charged deferred interest on the entire purchase from the purchase date if you don’t pay off the full amount before the financing period ends.
The APR is 29.99%.
If you do the bulk of your online shopping at Amazon.com, and are already a Prime member, getting the Amazon Prime Store Card makes good sense. Especially for a store card, 5% back is a generous rate.
To justify the membership cost based on what you earn with the card, you’d need to spend at least $2,780 per year (or $1,380 for the annual student membership) on purchases earning 5% cash back.
With the Amazon Prime Store Card, Prime cardholders can earn 5% back at Amazon.com.
Plus, get a $60 Amazon Gift Card upon approval.
The annual fee is $0. However, note that you must have an Amazon Prime membership, otherwise you won’t earn any cash back. If you have the annual subscription, Prime costs $139 (or $69 for college students). With the monthly membership, it’s $14.99 (or $7.49 for college students).
This card also comes with promotional financing offers on purchases of $150 or more. But cardholders should beware of two things: First, you can’t earn cash back if you opt for a promotional financing deal. And second, you run the risk of being charged deferred interest on the entire purchase from the purchase date if you don’t pay off the full amount before the financing period ends.
The APR is 29.99%.
If you do the bulk of your online shopping at Amazon.com, and are already a Prime member, getting the Amazon Prime Store Card makes good sense. Especially for a store card, 5% back is a generous rate.
To justify the membership cost based on what you earn with the card, you’d need to spend at least $2,780 per year (or $1,380 for the annual student membership) on purchases earning 5% cash back.
Business owners with less-than-stellar credit can build credit history and earn cash back with the Capital One Spark Classic for Business. It’s a flat-rate, $0-annual-fee card that’s worthy of consideration if you think you’ll struggle to qualify for other business credit cards.
Cardholders earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through capital one travel. Rewards don’t expire as long as the account is open, and there’s no cap on how much cash back you can earn. However, there is no sign-up bonus that comes with this card.
Redemption options include:
This card’s APR is 29.74% (variable), so make sure you pay off your balance in full every month.
While some business credit cards require good or excellent credit to be approved, the Capital One Spark Classic for Business is designed for business owners with fair credit. Use it responsibly and as your credit score rises, you can apply for a card with more lucrative rewards.
If you don’t know where your credit score stands, it’s wise to check it before applying. Note that both personal and business credit can be considered when applying for a small business card. Typically, a fair personal credit score is considered a FICO Score between 580 and 669.
If business requires you to travel abroad, don’t worry about paying a foreign transaction fee on each purchase – there is none.
Plus, there’s no charge for extra cards to issue to your employees, and you’ll earn cash back on the purchases they make.
Business owners with less-than-stellar credit can build credit history and earn cash back with the Capital One Spark Classic for Business. It’s a flat-rate, $0-annual-fee card that’s worthy of consideration if you think you’ll struggle to qualify for other business credit cards.
Cardholders earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through capital one travel. Rewards don’t expire as long as the account is open, and there’s no cap on how much cash back you can earn. However, there is no sign-up bonus that comes with this card.
Redemption options include:
This card’s APR is 29.74% (variable), so make sure you pay off your balance in full every month.
While some business credit cards require good or excellent credit to be approved, the Capital One Spark Classic for Business is designed for business owners with fair credit. Use it responsibly and as your credit score rises, you can apply for a card with more lucrative rewards.
If you don’t know where your credit score stands, it’s wise to check it before applying. Note that both personal and business credit can be considered when applying for a small business card. Typically, a fair personal credit score is considered a FICO Score between 580 and 669.
If business requires you to travel abroad, don’t worry about paying a foreign transaction fee on each purchase – there is none.
Plus, there’s no charge for extra cards to issue to your employees, and you’ll earn cash back on the purchases they make.
The Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card is a good choice for a business owner who wants a rewards card because you can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
As a secured credit card, a deposit is required to begin using the card. Bank of America periodically reviews accounts to see if you’re eligible to move to an unsecured card. At this point your deposit is returned to you.
The annual fee is $0. Cash advances cost $10 or 4% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater, and there is a foreign transaction fee of 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction.
The Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card is a good choice for a business owner with a low credit score who wants a rewards credit card with no annual fee.
You will need at least $1,000 to put down as a deposit on the credit card, but with regular use and on-time payments, over time, you may be considered to transition to an unsecured card. A strong history of on-time payments will help your credit score which may then increase your eligibility for cards with more lucrative benefits.
The card offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases which can be used in a variety of ways including paying off purchases made with the Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card.
Due to the 26.74% variable APR, this card is a poor choice if you need to carry a balance from month to month.
The Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card is a good choice for a business owner who wants a rewards card because you can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
As a secured credit card, a deposit is required to begin using the card. Bank of America periodically reviews accounts to see if you’re eligible to move to an unsecured card. At this point your deposit is returned to you.
The annual fee is $0. Cash advances cost $10 or 4% of the amount of each transaction, whichever is greater, and there is a foreign transaction fee of 3% of the U.S. dollar amount of each transaction.
The Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card is a good choice for a business owner with a low credit score who wants a rewards credit card with no annual fee.
You will need at least $1,000 to put down as a deposit on the credit card, but with regular use and on-time payments, over time, you may be considered to transition to an unsecured card. A strong history of on-time payments will help your credit score which may then increase your eligibility for cards with more lucrative benefits.
The card offers unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases which can be used in a variety of ways including paying off purchases made with the Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card.
Due to the 26.74% variable APR, this card is a poor choice if you need to carry a balance from month to month.
| Credit Card | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | Annual Fee | Intro Purchase APR | Regular APR | Intro Balance Transfer Rate | Regular Balance Transfer Rate | Balance Transfer Fee | Recommended Credit | Card Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
|
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. | 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically | $0 | N/A | 27.74% Variable APR | 10.99% Intro APR for 6 months | 27.74% Variable APR | 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)* | Poor/Limited | Discover it® Secured Credit Card Review |
|
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
|
N/A | None | $35 | N/A | 21.89% (variable) | N/A | N/A | N/A | Poor/Limited | OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card Review |
|
DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card
|
N/A | N/A | $0 | N/A | 15.75% Variable | N/A | 15.75% Variable | None | Poor | DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card Review |
|
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
|
No bonus | Non-rewards Card | $0 | N/A | 29.99% (Variable) | N/A | 29.99% (Variable) | $0 at this Transfer APR | Fair/Limited | Capital One Platinum Credit Card Review |
|
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
|
No bonus | 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply) | $39 | N/A | 29.99% (Variable) | N/A | 29.99% (Variable) | $0 at this Transfer APR | Fair/Limited | Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Review |
|
Discover it® Student Cash Back
|
Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match. | 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically | $0 | 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases | 17.74% - 26.74% Variable APR | 10.99% Intro APR for 6 months | 17.74% - 26.74% Variable APR | 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)* | Fair/Limited | Discover it® Student Cash Back Review |
|
Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
|
Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months | 3% Cash Back on dining and entertainment; 3% Cash Back on popular streaming services; 3% Cash Back at grocery stores; 1% Cash Back on all other purchases. Earn 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases | $0 | N/A | 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable) | N/A | 19.74% - 29.74% (Variable) | $0 at this Transfer APR | Fair/Limited | Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Review |
|
Target REDcard™ Credit Card
|
N/A | 5% off at Target in-store and online | $0 | N/A | 25.90% (variable) | N/A | N/A | N/A | Good | Target REDcard™ Credit Card Review |
|
Amazon Prime Store Card
|
$60 Amazon Gift Card upon approval | Prime cardholders can earn 5% back at Amazon.com | $0 | N/A | 29.99% | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Amazon Prime Store Card Review |
|
Capital One Spark Classic for Business
|
N/A | Unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | $0 | N/A | 29.74% (Variable) | N/A | 29.74% (Variable) | N/A | Fair | Capital One Spark Classic for Business Review |
|
Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card
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N/A | unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases | $0 | N/A | 26.74% variable | N/A | 26.74% variable | N/A | N/A | Review Coming Soon |
If you’re just starting out on your credit journey, we often recommend the Discover it® Secured Credit Card. It requires a minimum security deposit of $200, reports to all three major consumer credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion), charges a $0 annual fee, earns cash back and provides clear criteria for when your account is evaluated for a possible refund of your deposit.
For consumers with poor/limited credit, we recommend the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card. Unlike most credit cards, this one doesn’t require a credit check when you apply (though you will have to provide some information about your finances). The minimum security deposit is $200 and the annual fee is $35.
If you have fair/limited credit and are looking for an unsecured credit card (one that doesn’t require a security deposit), the Capital One Platinum Credit Card is worth considering. It’s a no-frills credit card with a $0 annual fee that can be a good tool with which to build credit history.
There are different types of credit scores, but the scoring model lenders typically use when deciding whether or not to extend credit to someone is the FICO® Score. Your FICO® Score can range from 300 to 850, and anything from 300 to 579 is considered poor credit. If your score is between 580 or 669, that’s considered fair credit.
Your FICO® Score, which is the credit scoring model lenders typically rely on, can range from 300 to 850. A credit score between 670 and 850 will fall into one of the following tiers — good, very good or exceptional.
While no credit card guarantees that you’ll be approved, you should have a better shot at getting one of the cards on this list. Some provide opportunities to upgrade to better cards after demonstrating responsible spending and payment behavior. And while others may not have an option to upgrade, they can still help you increase your credit score with responsible usage, which can help you qualify for a better card down the road.
Once approved, make sure to pay your balance in full each month and keep your utilization ratio low. A good rule of thumb is to never use more than 30% of your credit limit — so if you have a card with a $500 limit, don’t charge more than $150 to it at any time.
You should also keep an eye on your credit score to make sure your credit card usage is having the desired effect. There are resources where you can do this for free, such as the LendingTree app.
Finally, for tips on smart credit usage, take a look at how it might be possible to raise your score by as much as 100 points in 30 days.
In evaluating the easiest credit cards to get approved for, we selected cards meant for consumers who need to build or rebuild credit. Our picks include a variety of unsecured cards, such as those aimed at college students and Target customers, as well as secured cards, which require a security deposit in the amount of your desired credit limit.
Most of the cards on this list charge no annual fee. The selections that do charge an annual fee make up for it; one by not requiring a credit check when you apply, the other through cash back rewards and accessibility to consumers with fair credit.
We avoided unsecured cards meant for people with subprime credit: While such cards might be easy to get approved for, they often come laden with fees and opaque terms.
Finally, all of the cards on this list report to the credit bureaus — with the exception of the Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card — which is a key factor for anyone wishing to build a good credit score.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
The above offers and/or promotions may have since changed, expired, or is no longer available. Check the Issuers’ website for more details.
