What are the best credit cards to boost my credit score?

The best credit card to boost your credit score is the Capital One Quicksilver Secured card because it is available to applicants with bad credit, has a $0 annual fee, and reports to the credit bureaus on a monthly basis. The Capital One Quicksilver Secured card also gives 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Just bear in mind that Capital One Quicksilver Secured applicants must put down a refundable security deposit of at least $200 to get the card.

To estimate the potential credit boost you can expect after opening this type of card and using it responsibly, try the Credit Score Simulator in your WalletHub account.

Best Credit Cards to Boost Your Credit Score

In general, the best credit cards to boost your credit score report to the credit bureaus monthly, charge low fees, and accept applicants with less-than-good credit. Many of the cards designed for building credit are secured credit cards, which means they require a security deposit and offer great approval odds, though there are several good unsecured options available, too. To boost your credit score with any credit card, you must use the card responsibly and build a history of on-time payments.

5 Tips for Boosting Your Credit Score with a Credit Card

1. Do your research before applying for a credit card.

Each credit card application you submit will likely cause a small temporary drop in your credit score. To speed up credit growth, don’t reach for cards you’re unlikely to get approved for. Instead, take some time to compare credit card offers and go for the best one with a credit score requirement you can meet.

2. Don’t overspend.

Maintaining a low credit utilization ratio helps grow your credit score faster. Try to use only a modest amount of your credit limit, ideally between 1% and 10%.

3. Don’t skip payments.

By making regular on-time credit card payments, you feed your credit history a constant stream of positive information. By contrast, having even one late payment reported to the credit bureaus could leave a stain on your credit report for up to 7 years.

4. Pay your credit card bill in full.

Some people think it’s beneficial for your credit score to have a balance left over at the end of the billing cycle, but that is just a myth. Paying your credit card bill in full every month is the surest way to keep your debt in check and ensure you won’t have to pay interest on purchases.

5. Track your credit journey.

Boosting your credit score requires time and consistency. It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months of using a credit card responsibly to see improvement in your score. You can monitor your credit score progress for free on WalletHub.

Any major credit card will do. It’s more about how you use it than what card you get.

Kinda depends on how bad your credit score is to begin with. If it’s really really bad, go with opensky because they won’t check your credit history. If it’s just sorta bad, try for a Discover/Cap1 card.

You need an easy-to-get card that reports to all three credit bureaus and doesn’t screw you with fees.  

• Discover it® Secured: Best for rewards + credit building.  
• Capital One Platinum Secured: Lowest deposit option.  
• Opensky Secured: No credit check, but limited rewards.  

I put my kid’s daycare on a secured card and paid it off monthly. Two years later, I qualified for a mortgage. It’s a grind, but it works.

Discover Secured if you want rewards, or Open Sky if you’re nervous about getting approved. They have no annual fee and both report to the credit bureaus, so they’ll do the trick.

When in doubt, go with a secured card. When I needed to rebuild after my divorce, the Discover it Secured Card was my lifesaver. Put down $200, used it for gas and groceries, paid it off each month - got my deposit back after 10 months with a limit increase! Now it's my oldest card and still gives me 2% cashback at restaurants.