5+ Best credit cards for bad credit

Best credit cards for bad credit

The best credit card for bad credit is often the one you can get approval for and can help you in rebuilding credit. To help you navigate to the right card, our credit card experts spend hundreds of hours each week comparing and reviewing credit cards, including those that aren’t partnered with our site. This ensures you’re receiving an unbiased assessment of which cards for bad credit can best serve your needs.

The seven cards we ranked as our top 2023 picks offer the most-needed benefits for bad credit including, low credit score requirements, reporting to major credit bureaus and low fees.

Best for no annual fee

Petal® 1 "No Annual Fee" Visa® Credit Card

Finder Rating: 4.5 / 5 ★★★★★

Terms apply, see rates & fees

The new Petal® 1 "No Annual Fee" Visa® Credit Card is a premier credit-building choice for those with poor credit for two big reasons: It's not a secured card and it requires no annual fee. This means you can apply and start rebuilding your credit without worrying about a security deposit or yearly fee. Other secured cards on the market may charge anywhere from $35 to $200 to use each year, which can cut into your credit-building goals.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Build your credit. The card reports to all three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. This means you can quickly build your credit if you keep your utilization low and pay your balance on time.
  • No annual fee. You won't pay an annual fee to use this card.
  • Rewards. Earn 2% to 10% back at select merchants when you use this card for purchases.

  Cons

  • High APR. The Petal 1's APR ranges from 25.24% to 34.74% variable.
  • Fees. Unlike the Petal 2, this card carries fees, including late payment fees.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	25.24% to 34.74% variable
  Balance transfer APR	N/A
  Welcome Offer	N/A
  Rewards	Up to 10% cash back

Partner terms and conditions

Petal credit cards are issued by WebBank, Member FDIC

Welcome Offer	n/a
Rewards	Up to 10% cash back
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	550

Terms apply, see rates & fees

Best for low APR

OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

Finder Rating: 4 / 5 ★★★★★

Go to site on Capital Bank N.A.'s secure site

If your credit score is especially weak, you might consider the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card. It doesn't require a credit check for qualification — a rarity among credit-building cards — and you don't even need a bank account to use it. The $35 annual fee is a rather small tradeoff for the card's generous application requirements.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • No credit check. OpenSky uses your ID to confirm your identity and it won't do a credit pull.
  • Build your credit. The card reports to all three major credit bureaus, which can help strengthen your credit. All you have to do is keep your utilization low and make timely payments.
  • Credit line. You have full control over your credit line, as it's the sum of your security deposit. You can make a deposit from $200 up to $3,000.

  Cons

  • Annual fee. The card comes with a $35 annual fee. A small price to pay for no credit check.
  • Foreign transaction fee. Every transaction made abroad or online with foreign merchants will cost you 3% of the amount.
  • No rewards. You won't earn rewards on your purchases.

• More details

  Annual fee	$35
  Purchase APR	22.64% variable
  Balance transfer APR	N/A
  Welcome Offer	N/A
  Rewards	None

Welcome Offer	n/a
Rewards	None
Annual fee	$35
Minimum credit score	300

Go to site on Capital Bank N.A.'s secure site

Best prequalification card

Indigo® Mastercard® Credit Card

Finder Rating: 3.8 / 5 ★★★★★

The Indigo® Mastercard® Credit Card is a solid unsecured card for bad credit, though recently usurped by the Petal 1 when it comes to ideal unsecured credit-building. However, the Indigo® Mastercard® Credit Card does allow you to see your approval chances before you apply. This can help you determine if the card is right for you without the burden of a hard credit pull on your score.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Unsecured card. You don't need to make a secured deposit to start building your credit.
  • Prequalification. Request prequalification to see your chances of approval without a hard pull on your credit.
  • No cash-advance fees.> For the first year, you get to save money on cash-advance fees. But after that a fee of either $5 or 5% of the transaction, whichever is greater, applies.

  Cons

  • You may pay an annual fee. Depending on your creditworthiness, you could pay , $59 or $75 for the first year and thereafter.
  • Foreign transaction fees. Purchases made abroad or online with foreign merchants will cost you a 1% fee of the amount.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0 to $99
  Purchase APR	24.9% variable
  Balance transfer APR	N/A
  Welcome Offer	N/A
  Rewards	None

Welcome Offer	n/a
Rewards	None
Annual fee	$0 to $99
Minimum credit score	510

Best for no credit check required

Sable ONE Secured Credit Card

The Sable ONE Secured Credit Card makes it easy for those just entering the US to apply, as it requires no Social Security Number or prior credit history during application. Of course, US citizens can apply as well and can enjoy the card's solid rewards, strong welcome offer and unique path to graduating to an unsecured card.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Check credit history. You can apply for the Sable ONE Secured Credit Card with poor credit or even no credit history at all.
  • Cash match signup bonus. Sable will match all cash back you earn during your first year at the end of the year. This is like the bonus offered by Discover cards, though you need to open an account by December 31, 2022 for eligibility.
  • Potential graduation in four months. Sable offers a series of spending milestones you can monitor on the Sable app. Complete all of the milestones each month and Sable may consider your graduation to an unsecured account.

  Cons

  • Sable account required. You must have a Sable account to apply for the Sable ONE Secured Credit Card. The Sable account is required to fund your card’s security deposit. You can deposit a maximum of $10,000 to your Sable ONE Secured Credit Card.
  • No introductory APR. You won’t find an intro APR on purchases or balance transfers with this card.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	11.74% variable
  Balance transfer APR	N/A
  Rewards	Up to 2% cash back

Welcome Offer
Rewards	Up to 2% cash back
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	New to credit

Best for motorheads

Harley-Davidson® Visa® Secured Card

Terms apply, see rates & fees

The Harley-Davidson® Visa® Secured Card is, curiously, a solid secured card for bad credit thanks to it's no annual fee and the ability to earn rewards on purchases. Granted, these rewards aren't as diverse as the Petal's offerings, but a majority of secured cards don't offer any sort of rewards at all — especially for no annual fee.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Build your credit. The card reports to all three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. This means you could quickly build your credit if you keep your utilization low and pay your balance on time.
  • No annual fee. You won't have to pay an annual fee to use this card.
  • Rewards. Sure, you're earning Harley Davidson points, but it's more than most secured cards offer.

  Cons

  • Big minimum security deposit. You'll need to put down at least $300 to get started with this card.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	27.49% variable
  Balance transfer APR	27.49% variable
  Welcome Offer	N/A
  Rewards	Up to 1x points

Welcome Offer	n/a
Rewards	Up to 1x points
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	300

Terms apply, see rates & fees

Best for rewards

Discover it® Secured

Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5 ★★★★★

The Discover it® Secured is one of the most rewarding credit cards for bad credit. This secured card not only earns 2% back on dining and fuel on up to $1,000 each quarter, but Discover will match all the cash back you earned during your first year. This makes it one of the rare secured cards with a signup bonus, and a powerful one at that. To sweeten the deal, you won't pay an annual fee for the card.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Signup bonus. At the end of your first year, Discover will match all of the cash back you’ve earned without any limits.
  • Cash back. Earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on the first $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. After that, and on all other purchases, earn 1% cash back.
  • Credit reporting to the three major bureaus. Discover will report your payment history to the three major credit bureaus — TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. With consistent on-time payments, you’ll build your credit score.
  • Possible security deposit return after eight months. After eight months, Discover will review your account every month. If they deem you’ve been a responsible cardholder, they may return your security deposit while you continue using your card. This effectively turns your secured card into an unsecured card.

  Cons

  • It hurts to pay late. Your first late fee is waived, but making subsequent late or returned payments could result in fees as high as $41.
  • Time limit for balance transfers. If you want to take advantage of the intro balance transfer APR, your transfers must post to your account within the first months.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	28.24% variable
  Balance transfer APR	10.99% intro for the first 6 months (then 27.99% variable) Balance transfer fee of 3%
  Welcome Offer	Discover will match cash back earned at the end of your first card year
  Rewards	Up to 2% cash back

Welcome Offer	Other
Rewards	Up to 2% cash back
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	300

Best card for Amazon purchases

Amazon Prime Store Card Credit Builder

Terms apply, see rates & fees

The Amazon Prime Store Card Credit Builder is a credit-building option offered to those who apply for the Amazon Prime Store Card but may not qualify based on credit. Even as a secured card, if offers some great value plays for Amazon fans, as you get to choose to either earn 5% cash back on your Amazon purchases or get between six and 24 months of deferred interest if paid in full. The only tradeoff is this card doesn't earn rewards elsewhere.

• Pros and cons

  Pros

  • Cash back. Earn 5% cash back on all Amazon purchases.
  • Promotional financing. Buy now and pay later for items $150 or more purchased on Amazon.com. This gives you a 0% promo APR if you pay in full before the promotional period expires.
  • Build credit. Get your credit activity reported to the three major credit bureaus, TransUnion, Experian and Equifax. This means that with responsible credit you get to build your credit score. As a bonus, you may get upgraded to an unsecured card.

  Cons

  • No intro APR offer. You won't find an intro APR on purchases or balance transfers with this card.

• More details

  Annual fee	$0
  Purchase APR	29.99% variable
  Balance transfer APR	N/A
  Welcome Offer	$10 Amazon.com gift card upon account opening
  Rewards	Up to 5% cash back

Welcome Offer	$10
Rewards	Up to 5% cash back
Annual fee	$0
Minimum credit score	300

Terms apply, see rates & fees

How to apply for a credit card with bad credit

The application process for cards for bad credit is usually the same as with any other card:

1. Visit the card’s website and select the card you want to apply for.
2. Select Apply Now and fill out the application form.
3. Review the form and submit.

What if my credit card application is rejected?

Try calling your card provider and ask for reconsideration. Another alternative is to apply for credit cards with no credit check. This way your credit score won’t take a hit and your card application will most likely be approved.

4 tips for getting a credit card for bad credit

There are a few ways to maximize your chances of approval for a credit card for bad credit.

1. Pick based on your score. Knowing your credit score before you apply can prevent you from choosing cards that are out of your range. Remember, applying for a credit card often results in a credit check, which can put a small, temporary dent in your score.
2. Pay off existing debts. If you have any small debts hanging overhead, try paying those off first. This can help boost your credit score, which will improve your chances of getting approved for a card.
3. Search among reputable credit card issuers. If you can help it, find a credit card for bad credit from a trusted major provider, such as Capital One or Discover. “Bad credit” cards from lesser-known credit card issuers may have especially harsh or unusual fees attached to them, such as activation fees or monthly fees you won’t find on most cards.
4. Look at secured and unsecured cards. Unsecured cards aren’t your only option for bad credit. Secured cards are a great tool for building credit when you have a poor credit history. But mind the secured and unsecured card differences.

What are the types of credit cards for bad credit?

Here are the two main options available to you if you have poor credit.

• Secured credit cards. Secured credit cards for bad credit operate like regular credit cards but require a security deposit to determine the limit of your card. Say you make a $500 security deposit, then you have a $500 card limit. This tells the issuer you have enough money to pay off the card. This is a great way to rebuild your credit history provided the issuer reports to the three major bureaus — and most secured cards do — and provided you pay off your card on time.
• Unsecured cards for building credit. These are standard credit cards specifically designed for those with poor credit. While you can build your credit with unsecured cards for bad credit, they often have low credit limits, punishing rates and fees. This could make them an expensive credit-building option. But if you can’t afford to make an upfront deposit for a secured card, an unsecured card for bad credit is your next option.

If none of these credit card types are right for you, Sam Greenspan, head of content for Demand.io, suggests an alternative. He tells Finder:

“If you have subpar credit, look into the rising number of buy now, pay later services. Often they are more generous with approvals than credit cards and their loans are interest-free. Plus, they will only do a soft credit check — or no credit check — during the approval process, helping you avoid a ding on your credit report or a potential rejection. Some of the buy now, pay later services, like Klarna and Afterpay, offer perks and rewards that are comparable to cash back or points on a credit card. And other services, including Sezzle and Perpay, even specialize in working with people who have a lower credit score or no credit: They’ll make positive reports to credit bureaus as you make your payments which can help boost up your credit score.”

Credit card for bad credit red flags

Although you can build your credit with this type of card, there are some card features to watch, as they may hinder your credit-building efforts. For example:

• Doesn’t report to credit bureaus. You may find the perfect card for your current financial situation. But if it doesn’t report to the three main credit bureaus, it’s useless for building credit. Whichever card you choose, make sure it reports to all three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
• Hidden or unusual fees. Keep an eye for fees that aren’t openly advertised. This is often the case with unsecured credit cards for bad credit where you may be charged program fees of up to $25 each month for services you may likely never need. Other fees include monthly maintenance fees, additional card fees and higher-than-average late-payment fees.
• Interest rates. Credit cards for bad credit aren’t known for their low-interest rates, although there are some cards that’ll surprise you. Either way, if you’re looking to build your credit, you should try to pay your full balance on time and avoid paying any interest altogether.

Bottom line

Ultimately, a bad credit rating can significantly impact your lifestyle, making it difficult to get a car, a home loan or other forms of credit. If you find yourself in such a position, don’t despair. With responsible use, a secured card can help you rebuild your credit score. Compare secured credit cards for one that best fits your current financial situation.