What are the best instant approval credit cards for bad credit that are unsecured?

Yes, you can get an unsecured credit card with a 500 credit score, but you will likely end up with high fees, high interest rates, and a low credit limit. The best unsecured credit card to get with a 500 credit score is the Credit One Visa card.

The Credit One Visa offers a $300 starting credit limit, the potential for automatic credit line increases, and an annual fee of $75 intro 1st yr, $99 after. Cardholders earn rewards on select purchases, too.… read full answer

Still, the odds of getting approved for a decent unsecured credit card are higher with a credit score of at least 640. And the higher your credit score is, the better your chances of getting an unsecured card with good terms will be.

Unsecured Credit Cards to Get with a 500 Credit Score

While Credit One Visa may be the best unsecured credit card for people with a 500 credit score, it’s still not the most attractive option overall. People with bad credit who are in the market for a credit card should look into applying for a secured card instead. Most secured cards come with $0 annual fees, and some cards, such as the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card, give rewards on purchases.

Secured cards are also easier to get than unsecured cards because you’ll have to pay a security deposit, usually $200 at a minimum, to open the account. The amount of your deposit determines your credit limit in most cases, and you can increase your limit by adding more money to your deposit. Your deposit is fully refundable when you close the account in good standing.

One of the easiest unsecured cards to get approved for is the Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit. You can get approved for it even with bad credit. This card offers a $300 starting spending limit. And you can use it wherever Visa is accepted.

Easiest Unsecured Credit Cards to Get Approved For

The easiest unsecured credit cards to get generally work best for minor emergencies. You will only receive a small amount of spending power, after all.… read full answer

Unsecured credit cards for people with bad credit also tend to be very expensive, charging lots of fees and high interest rates. So, if you don’t need a small emergency loan, the best course of action is to improve your credit inexpensively with a secured card. Secured cards are cheaper than unsecured cards, build credit just as effectively, and offer the closest thing you’ll find to guaranteed approval.

To learn more, check out WalletHub's complete list of the year’s easiest credit cards to get approved for​.