If you have poor, limited or fair credit, you might be struggling to find a credit card. The easiest credit cards to get approved for are typically secured credit cards that require a refundable cash deposit as collateral.
There are also some standard, unsecured credit cards designed to help you build credit that have low or no credit requirements. However, these types of cards tend to come with high fees and interest rates.
Types of credit building credit cards
All credit cards fall into one of two categories -- secured or unsecured. While both types of cards build credit by reporting your credit card balances and payment history to the credit bureaus, these cards have different requirements to qualify.
Secured credit cards
Secured credit cards require a refundable cash deposit to get started, which typically ranges from $200 to $2,000, but there are some exceptions. You usually get a credit limit that’s equal to the amount of collateral you put down.
You use a secured card for purchases just like you would any other credit card. You then pay off those purchases, and your positive payment history is reported to the three major credit bureaus.
Many secured credit cards also give you the chance to qualify for a higher credit limit or upgrade to an unsecured version of the card after you have a proven history of responsible use, which typically means using and paying off your card regularly.
Either way, you can get your security deposit back from a secured credit card when you close or upgrade your card in good standing with a $0 balance. The best secured credit cards also come with no annual fee, and some even offer rewards.
Unsecured credit cards
There are also unsecured credit cards for fair credit or poor credit that are easier to qualify for than other cards. These cards don’t require a cash deposit as collateral, but they tend to charge high interest rates and -- in some cases -- more fees. An unsecured credit card is your standard credit card.
Unsecured credit cards for fair credit can offer rewards, but their rates tend to be less than you’ll get with rewards credit cards for good credit. You might also get a relatively low credit limit with unsecured cards for fair credit (usually $500 to $750). However, you might see a credit limit increase once you get the chance to prove your creditworthiness by keeping debt levels low and making on-time payments.
How do credit card issuers decide whether to approve your credit card application?
When you apply for a credit card, credit card issuers use the financial information you supplied on the application to determine your creditworthiness. This means they look at your:
- Credit score
- Length of credit history
- Payment history
- Household income
- Employment situation
When it comes to your credit score specifically, card issuers are more likely to approve consumers with scores that are considered “fair” or better. This includes FICO scores of at least 580 to 669. According to the Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO), a score in this range is “below the average score of US consumers, though many lenders will approve loans with this score.”
Ways to increase your chances of approval
If you’re interested in a credit card but you’re unsure about your chances of approval, there are steps you can take to improve your credit before you apply:
- Pay all your bills on time. Payment history is the most important factor that makes up FICO scores. By paying every bill -- whether it’s your car payment, mortgage or student loan -- early or on time each month, your score will likely improve. You can even set up autopayments or create calendar reminders so you don’t forget.
- Monitor your credit score and credit reports. Keep tabs on your credit score over time and watch out for changes. Also, check your credit reports from all three credit bureaus for free at AnnualCreditReport.com. If you find incorrect reporting on your credit reports that could be harming your score, dispute the incorrect information so you can get it removed.
- Consider secured credit cards. If you’re willing to put down a refundable cash deposit as collateral for a secured credit card, you’re much more likely to be approved. Since these cards require members to secure their own credit limit upfront, they are available to people with fair credit, poor credit and even no credit history.
- Get preapproved online. Some secured and unsecured credit cards for imperfect credit offer the chance to get preapproved online. This step won’t impact your credit score, and it lets you gauge your approval odds before you apply. However, even if you’re preapproved, it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be approved for the card.
Easiest credit cards to be approved for
When it comes to finding a credit card for building credit, you should consider both secured credit cards and unsecured credit cards. Here’s a rundown of some of the easiest credit cards to be approved for in both categories.
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card* lets new cardholders start building credit with a cash security deposit as low as $49 and a starting credit limit of at least $200.
You can even see if you’re preapproved online before you apply, which can help you avoid unnecessary hard inquiries on your credit reports. But again, preapproval doesn’t guarantee you’ll be accepted for the card.
This card doesn’t earn rewards, but it doesn’t charge an annual fee, either. Capital One says that, with on-time payments and responsible use, you can qualify for a higher credit limit in as little as six months.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card* lets new cardholders start building credit with a cash security deposit as low as $49 and a starting credit limit of at least $200.
You can even see if you’re preapproved online before you apply, which can help you avoid unnecessary hard inquiries on your credit reports. But again, preapproval doesn’t guarantee you’ll be accepted for the card.
This card doesn’t earn rewards, but it doesn’t charge an annual fee, either. Capital One says that, with on-time payments and responsible use, you can qualify for a higher credit limit in as little as six months.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card* is a secured credit card that comes with no annual fee and lets you start building credit through responsible use after a refundable deposit of at least $200.
Cardholders also earn 2% cash back on up to $1,000 spent at gas stations and restaurants each quarter (then 1% cash back) and 1% cash back on other purchases. At the end of your first year with the card, Discover will also essentially double all rewards you earned with it. It’s rare to find a credit-building card with a welcome offer.
You can get preapproved for this card online with no credit score impact before you apply. Discover also says you can get your deposit back after “six consecutive on-time payments and six months of good status on all your credit accounts.”
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 10.99% for 6 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 28.24% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card* is a secured credit card that comes with no annual fee and lets you start building credit through responsible use after a refundable deposit of at least $200.
Cardholders also earn 2% cash back on up to $1,000 spent at gas stations and restaurants each quarter (then 1% cash back) and 1% cash back on other purchases. At the end of your first year with the card, Discover will also essentially double all rewards you earned with it. It’s rare to find a credit-building card with a welcome offer.
You can get preapproved for this card online with no credit score impact before you apply. Discover also says you can get your deposit back after “six consecutive on-time payments and six months of good status on all your credit accounts.”
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- 10.99% for 6 months
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 28.24% Variable APR
- Balance Transfer Fee
- 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*
Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card
The Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card, issued by WebBank, is a credit building card for consumers with fair credit, and it comes with no annual fee, no late fees and no hidden fees. Cardholders also earn 1% cash back on all eligible purchases, which can increase to 1.25% cash back after six on-time monthly payments and 1.5% after 12 on-time payments.
Cardholders with the Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card can also use something called the Leap program to get a higher credit limit in as little as six months, by making qualifying on-time payments. This card also makes it possible to get preapproved without any credit score impact.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 18.24% – 32.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
The Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card, issued by WebBank, is a credit building card for consumers with fair credit, and it comes with no annual fee, no late fees and no hidden fees. Cardholders also earn 1% cash back on all eligible purchases, which can increase to 1.25% cash back after six on-time monthly payments and 1.5% after 12 on-time payments.
Cardholders with the Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card can also use something called the Leap program to get a higher credit limit in as little as six months, by making qualifying on-time payments. This card also makes it possible to get preapproved without any credit score impact.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 18.24% – 32.24% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- N/A
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card* is for people with “fair credit,” and it comes with no annual fee and no security deposit requirement. There aren’t any rewards offered, but you can see if you’re preapproved online before you apply.
Capital One also says you can qualify for a higher credit limit in as little as six months thanks to its automatic credit line reviews.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card* is for people with “fair credit,” and it comes with no annual fee and no security deposit requirement. There aren’t any rewards offered, but you can see if you’re preapproved online before you apply.
Capital One also says you can qualify for a higher credit limit in as little as six months thanks to its automatic credit line reviews.
- Intro Balance Transfer APR
- N/A
- Intro Purchase APR
- N/A
- Regular APR
- 29.99% (Variable)
- Balance Transfer Fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
How to get the most out of your credit card
No matter which type of credit card you get (secured or unsecured) or the exact card you end up with, the steps required to maximize your card’s benefits are mostly the same. Consider these tips to use your credit card to its full potential.
Treat your credit card like a debit card
One step that helps you ease into using credit is treating your credit card as a debit card. This means charging only purchases you can afford to pay off right away.
This strategy can help your credit in more than one way. Making regular payments means you are much less likely to miss a payment. Regular payments can also help keep your credit utilization ratio low, which is an important factor that help boost your FICO scores. It’ll also ensure you’ll avoid any interest charges, which can add up quickly.
Pay your balance in full each month
Whether you decide to treat your credit card as a debit card or not, you should always make sure you pay your credit card’s statement balance in full each month before your due date. You’ll not only build a history of positive payments, but you won’t have to worry about interest charges too.
Don’t overspend to earn rewards or to reach a welcome offer
If you opt for a credit card that earns rewards or has a welcome offer, make sure you don’t fall into the habit of overspending to boost your cash back. If you wind up buying stuff you don’t need to earn more rewards or to qualify for a spending threshold, the cash back you earn won’t be worth it.
The bottom line
The easiest credit cards to get are secured credit cards by far, but some unsecured credit cards are easier to qualify for than others. Either way, you should compare credit cards based on the perks and features they offer to find the right fit.
Ideally, you can find a credit card that helps build credit and has some of the benefits you want. From there, you can use your card to learn positive credit habits and build your credit score so you can qualify for the best credit cards on the market in the future.
*All information about the Discover it Secured Credit Card, Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card and the Capital One Platinum Credit Card has been collected independently by CNET and has not been reviewed by the issuer.
The editorial content on this page is based solely on objective, independent assessments by our writers and is not influenced by advertising or partnerships. It has not been provided or commissioned by any third party. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products or services offered by our partners.
