Bianca Smith, WalletHub Credit Cards Analyst
@bianca_stoian
The best credit card for bad credit with no deposit and nearly guaranteed approval is the Indigo Credit Card because it accepts applicants with a credit score as low as 500 and comes with a starting credit limit of $700. You can also check for pre-approval, which lets you know how likely you are to get the Indigo Card.
No credit card offers 100% guaranteed approval, as there is always some criteria that applicants must meet. At a minimum, they must be at least 18 years old and have enough income to afford monthly credit card payments.
Credit Cards for Bad Credit with No Deposit & Good Approval Odds
- Rates & Fees Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect CreditLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Rates & Fees Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect CreditLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect CreditLearn MoreLearn More
Ongoing Rewards: N/A
Annual Fee: $175 1st yr, $49 after
Min. Credit Required: Bad
- Rates & Fees Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding CreditLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Rates & Fees Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding CreditLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding CreditLearn MoreLearn More
Ongoing Rewards: 1% cash back on gas and grocery purchases, as well as 1% back on mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services
Annual Fee: $75 intro 1st yr, $99 after
Min. Credit Required: Bad
- Fingerhut Credit AccountLearn MoreLearn More
- Fingerhut Credit AccountLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Fingerhut Credit AccountLearn MoreLearn More
Ongoing Rewards: N/A
Annual Fee: $0
Min. Credit Required: Bad
- Rates & Fees OneMain Financial BrightWay® CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Rates & Fees OneMain Financial BrightWay® CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- OneMain Financial BrightWay® CardLearn MoreLearn More
Ongoing Rewards: 1% cash back on all purchases
Annual Fee: $0 - $89
Min. Credit Required: Bad
- Merrick Bank Credit CardLearn MoreLearn More
- Merrick Bank Credit CardLearn MoreLearn Moreon issuer's website
- Merrick Bank Credit CardLearn MoreLearn More
Ongoing Rewards: N/A
Annual Fee: $0 - $72 1st yr, $0 after
Min. Credit Required: Bad
Even if you’ve had credit trouble in the past, there are plenty of credit cards with no deposit that offer high approval odds. You can compare the best unsecured credit cards for bad credit of 2025 on WalletHub.
Popular Credit Cards for Bad Credit from Our Partners
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No Deposit
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Partially Secured
Aaron Sanders, Member
@asanders_tech
No such thing. Closest you’ll get are Credit One Platinum Visa and Mission Lane Visa - both specifically designed for rebuilding credit. They're unsecured, so no security deposit needed, but watch for annual fees.
I started with a $500 limit on a similar card years ago while working remotely, and consistent payments got me gradual increases. Just avoid maxing them out - keeping utilization below 30% helps your score climb faster.
Sofia MM, Member
@sofia_mor
I agree with Aaron. You need to choose between the combo of a high likelihood of approval/low fees/security deposit and lower approval odds/higher costs/no deposit. I’d go the secured route.
Mia Collins, Member
@miacollins
If at all possible, try to wait on a new credit card until you get to 640. A fair score will give you much better options.
Emma Rodriguez, Member
@emmarod
Been there! Mission Lane and Merrick Bank are solid for bad credit. Not technically guaranteed, but approvals are way easier than most.
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