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Compare secured credit cards with low APRs

Avoid big APRs when you carry a balance on these secured cards.

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Kevin Joey Chen
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Compare secured credit cards with low APRs using our table. You can select up to four products and click "Compare" to see how their features stack up side by side. You can also click "Show filters" to narrow your search.

Name Product Filter values Minimum deposit required Purchase APR Annual fee Minimum Credit Score
Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card
Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card
Starting at $200
9.99% fixed
$48
300
No credit check is required for this secured card. Make a deposit of at least $200 to open this card and get a low 9.99% fixed APR on purchases.
Apply now
View details
First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
Starting at $200
9.99% variable
$49
300
Build or rebuild your credit with this secured card.
Apply now
View details
Assent Platinum 0% Intro Rate Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
Assent Platinum 0% Intro Rate Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
Starting at $200
0% intro for the first 6 months (then 12.99% variable)
$49
300
A rare secured card with a 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, followed by 12.99% variable.
Apply now
View details
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Consumers who apply for secured cards often have lower credit scores, so they’re viewed as riskier borrowers. Of course, greater risk usually means higher APRs. While you should pay off your balance in full each month, a low APR can prove useful if you need to carry a balance during unforeseen financial events.

Take a look and pick a low APR secured credit card that’s best for you.

Our top picks

For a secured card, consider the SDFCU Savings Secured Visa Platinum Card or the DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card.

Not only do they have low APRs, but they’re also excellent secured cards in general. Neither card has an annual fee, and it’s relatively easy to be approved for both cards.

Lowest APR with no annual fee:
SDFCU Savings Secured Visa Platinum Card

SDFCU Savings Secured Visa Platinum Card logo
Credit recommended (300-579)
Read review
300
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to1x
Points
n/a
Welcome offer
If you're looking for a low-APR card, you could end your search with the SDFCU Savings Secured Visa Platinum Card. It offers a very low 13.74% variable APR for purchases, balance transfers and cash advances. It's also less expensive than its competitors, charging no annual fee.

To get this card, you need to become a member of the State Department Federal Credit Union (SDFCU). To do that, you can join the American Consumer Council for $5. You also need to open a SDFCU savings account with a minimum of $1. Learn more about how to join SDFCU.

  • Minimum deposit. $250 in an SDFCU savings account.
  • No annual fee.
  • Low interest rate. 13.74% variable APR for purchases, balance transfers and cash advances.
  • Rewards. Earn 1 Flexpoint &mdash
  • SDFCU's reward points &mdash
  • for every dollar you spend and Flexpoints when you pay through bill pay.
  • Fewer fees. No balance transfer or foreign transaction fees.
Annual Fee $0
Purchase APR 13.74% variable
Balance transfer APR 13.74% variable
Welcome offerN/A
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards1x points on all purchases

No annual fee and low minimum deposit:
DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card

DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card logo
Credit recommended (300-579)
Read review
300
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
n/a
Rewards
n/a
Welcome offer
While the DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card has an average interest rate for a secured card, it does have one of the lowest minimum deposits - $500. It offers a respectable 11.5% variable APR across the board and has no annual fee. You can get this card by joining the Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU). To do that, just join Reach Out for Schools for $10 when you open a DCU account. Then fund your DCU savings account with a minimum of $5. In total, it'll cost as little as $15 to open your secured card. Learn more about joining the DCU.
  • Minimum deposit. $500.
  • No annual fee.
  • Low interest rate. 11.5% variable APR for purchases, balance transfers and cash advances.
  • Light on fees. No balance transfer, cash advance or foreign transaction fees.
Annual Fee $0
Purchase APR 11.5% variable
Balance transfer APR 11.5% variable
Welcome offerN/A
Estimated welcome offer value
RewardsN/A

Other options

These secured cards have low APRs but are held back by significant weaknesses. Before considering these cards, look into the two cards we list above.

Low fixed APR:
Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card

Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card logo
Finder Rating: 4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (300-669)
Apply now
on Applied Bank's secure site
300
Min. credit score
$48
Annual fee
n/a
Rewards
n/a
Welcome offer
Like the Green Dot primor Visa Gold Secured Credit Card, the Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card comes with a low fixed APR of 9.99%. However, it has a $48 annual fee. The card also doesn't offer a grace period on interest — which is an enormous disadvantage —which means you'll accrue interest as soon as you swipe your card.
  • Minimum deposit. $200.
  • Fixed interest rate.
  • No penalty APR.
Annual Fee $48
Purchase APR 9.99% fixed
Balance transfer APR N/A
Welcome offerN/A
Estimated welcome offer value
RewardsN/A

Low variable APR with easy application:
First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card

First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card logo
Finder Rating: 3.6 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (300-579)
Apply now
on Synovus Bank's secure site
300
Min. credit score
$49
Annual fee
n/a
Rewards
n/a
Welcome offer
The First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card comes with an APR that can be as low as 9.99% variable depending on your credit history. The card has an annual fee of $49 and offers a 25-day grace period at the end of each billing cycle.

You can apply for the First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card either over the phone or online. Most online reviews harp on the poor customer service.

  • Minimum deposit. Maintain a minimum deposit of $200 with Synovus Bank.
  • Backed by Mastercard.
  • $2,000 maximum limit.
Annual Fee $49
Purchase APR 9.99% variable
Balance transfer APR N/A
Welcome offerN/A
Estimated welcome offer value
RewardsN/A

Low variable APR:
nRewards® Secured Credit Card

nRewards® Secured Credit Card logo
Finder Rating: 4.4 / 5

★★★★★

Credit recommended (300-579)
Read review
300
Min. credit score
$0
Annual fee
Up to1x
Points
n/a
Welcome offer
With the nRewards® Secured Credit Card, you may receive a purchase and balance transfer APR as low as 18% variable.

You need to deposit at least $200 to open the card. On the plus side, however, you won't have to pay an annual fee.

You can apply for this card if you're a member of the Navy Federal Credit Union. To join, you must be affiliated with the military.

  • Minimum deposit. $200 into a Navy Federal savings account.
  • No annual fee.
  • Rewards. Earn 1 nRewards point for every dollar you spend.
  • No cash advance fees at Navy Federal branches or ATMs.
  • No foreign transaction fees.
Annual Fee $0
Purchase APR 18% variable
Balance transfer APR 18% variable
Welcome offerN/A
Estimated welcome offer value
Rewards1x points on all purchases

How we selected our top cards

We selected our top picks of secured credit cards by narrowing them down based on the APR. After that, we compared additional perks, such as the annual fee, minimum deposit and extra fees. We picked cards that stood out based on those factors.

What’s changed in 2021

Our top picks from last year remain our favorites, so there are not many changes to look out for this year.

Bottom line

While you should always strive to pay your balance in full each month, the low APRs on these secured credit cards can help lower your interest if you ever need to carry a balance.

Compare secured credit cards to find one that best suits your financial needs. And once you start building your credit score you’ll be able to graduate to an unsecured card before long.

Common questions about secured cards

  • When I make a security deposit, will it earn interest?
    Most of the time, your provider won’t pay interest on your security deposit.
  • Is a secured credit card a “normal” credit card?
    While you can use this card just like any other credit card, there a still a few differences between a secured and unsecured card. The main difference is that you’ll need to put down a security deposit in order to use a secured card.
  • Will card providers check my credit?
    Many secured-card providers will check your credit. For that reason, you may be declined if your credit score is too low. If you’re declined for a secured card, consider applying with a provider that doesn’t check your credit history.

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