Credit Cards for Bad Credit
WalletHub makes it easy to find the best credit card for bad credit
The right credit card for most people with bad credit is going to be a secured card. Secured credit cards charge the lowest fees and offer the best approval odds. But if you need a small emergency loan, you’ll have to compare unsecured cards for people with bad credit, which tend to be pretty expensive. If you’re not sure which card to get, you can’t go wrong with one of our editors’ best credit cards for bad credit, which were selected from 1,000+ offers.
Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit of 2021:
- Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit. Bad to Fair Credit
- OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card. Bad or No Credit
- Secured Mastercard® from Capital One. No Annual Fee
- Credit One Bank® Visa® Credit Card. No Deposit
- Discover it® Secured. Secured … show more
Secured Mastercard® from Capital One Secured Mastercard® from Capital One

- No annual fee
- Unlike a prepaid card, there is regular reporting to the 3 major credit bureaus
- Accepted at millions of locations worldwide
- Make the minimum required security deposit and you'll get an initial credit line of $200. Plus, deposit more money before your account opens to get a higher credit line
- Access to an authorized bank account is required to make your $49, $99 or $200 refundable security deposit
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
- We will monitor your account, and as you use it responsibly by doing things like making on-time payments, you may be able to earn back your deposit as a statement credit
- Easily manage your account 24/7 with online access, by phone or using our mobile app
- See More Details & Reviews About TheSecured Mastercard® from Capital One
Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit

- Pre-qualify for a card today and it will not impact your credit score
- Less than perfect credit is okay
- Mobile account access at any time
- Fraud protection for stolen or lost cards
- Account history is reported to the three major credit bureaus in the U.S.
- See More Details & Reviews About TheIndigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

- No credit check necessary to apply. OpenSky believes in giving an opportunity to everyone.
- The refundable* deposit you provide becomes your credit line limit on your Visa card. Choose it yourself, from as low as $200.
- Build credit quickly. OpenSky reports to all 3 major credit bureaus.
- 99% of our customers who started without a credit score earned a credit score record with the credit bureaus in as little as 6 months.
- We have a Facebook community of people just like you; there is a forum for shared experiences, and insights from others on our Facebook Fan page. (Search “OpenSky Card” in Facebook.)
- *View our Cardholder Agreement located at the bottom of the application page for details of the card
- See More Details & Reviews About TheOpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
Surge Mastercard® Credit Card Surge Mastercard® Credit Card

- See if you’re Pre-Qualified with no impact to your credit score
- All credit types welcome to apply
- Free access to your Vantage 3.0 score from TransUnion* (When you sign up for e-statements)
- Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
- Fast and easy application process; results in seconds
- Use your card at locations everywhere Mastercard® is accepted
- Checking Account Required
- $0 monthly fee for the first 12 months. $10.00 per month starting the second year, waived for those with a $750 credit limit
- See More Details & Reviews About TheSurge Mastercard® Credit Card
Milestone® Mastercard® - Less Than Perfect Credit Considered Milestone® Mastercard® - Less Than Perfect Credit Considered

- Prequalify for a card today and it will not impact your credit score
- Less than perfect credit is okay
- Mobile account access at any time
- Protection from fraud if your card is stolen
- Account history is reported to the three major credit bureaus in the U.S.
- Disclaimers: *Dependent on credit worthiness
- See More Details & Reviews About TheMilestone® Mastercard® - Less Than Perfect Credit Considered
Destiny Mastercard® Destiny Mastercard®

- All the benefits of a Mastercard, without a security deposit
- Keeping your account in good standing may help establish and/or improve your credit history
- Less than perfect credit is okay, even with a prior bankruptcy!
- Prequalify for a card today and it will not impact your credit score
- Reports to all three major credit bureaus
- See More Details & Reviews About TheDestiny Mastercard®
Credit One Bank® Visa® Credit Card Credit One Bank® Visa® Credit Card

- Earn 1% cash back rewards on eligible gas, grocery purchases and mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services. Terms apply.
- See if you Pre-Qualify without harming your credit score
- Track your progress with free online access to your Experian credit score, terms apply
- Looking to rebuild credit? We report to the major credit bureaus monthly
- Accounts are automatically reviewed for credit line increase opportunities
- Make paying your bill easier with the ability to choose your payment due date, terms apply
- Stay in-the-know with customizable account alerts via email and text
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability
- See More Details & Reviews About TheCredit One Bank® Visa® Credit Card
Applied Bank® Unsecured Classic Visa® Card Applied Bank® Unsecured Classic Visa® Card

- Fast and Easy Application and Approval Process! Click “Apply Now” to apply online
- Reports to All Three Major Credit Bureaus
- Access Additional Credit with On-Time Payments and Responsible Usage
- Fixed APR and Manageable Monthly Payments
- A true Unsecured EMV enabled (chip) Visa Credit card that does not require perfect credit for approval.
- See More Details & Reviews About TheApplied Bank® Unsecured Classic Visa® Card
Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card Applied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card

- Better than Prepaid...Go with a Secured Card! Load One Time - Keep On Using
- Absolutely No Credit Check or Minimum Credit Score Required
- Automatic Reporting to All Three National Credit Bureaus
- 9.99% Low Fixed APR - Your Rate Won’t Go Up Even if You Are Late
- Activate Today with a $200 Minimum Deposit - Maximum $1,000. Increase Your Credit Limit up to $5,000 by Adding Additional Deposits Anytime
- See More Details & Reviews About TheApplied Bank® Secured Visa® Gold Preferred® Credit Card
First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card

- Receive Your Card More Quickly with New Expedited Processing Option
- No Credit History or Minimum Credit Score Required for Approval
- Quick and Complete Online Application
- Full-Feature Platinum Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
- Good for Car Rental, Hotels; Anywhere Credit Cards Are Accepted!
- Monthly Reporting to all 3 Major Credit Bureaus to Establish Credit History
- Credit Line Secured by Your Fully-Refundable Deposit of $200 -- $2,000 Submitted with Application
- Just Pay Off Your Balance and Receive Your Deposit Back at Any Time
- 24/7 Online Access to Your Account
- Nationwide Program though not yet available in NY, IA, AR, or WI *See Card Terms.
- Apply in just a few moments with no negative impact to your credit score; no credit inquiry will be recorded in your credit bureau file
- See More Details & Reviews About TheFirst Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
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7 Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit in 2021

Discover it® Secured
The best credit card for bad credit is the Discover it® Secured card (Discover offers are not currently available on WalletHub and may be out of date). This secured credit card has a $0 annual fee and gives up to 2% cash back on purchases. Cardholders earn 2% cash back on up to $1,000 spent at gas stations and restaurants each quarter, plus 1% back on all other purchases. Discover also doubles all the rewards earned the first year. The Discover it Secured card does require a $200+ security deposit. But all of the very best bad-credit credit cards require a deposit, and very few credit cards for people with poor credit scores offer both rewards and no annual fee.
Credit One Bank® Visa® Credit Card
The best credit card for bad credit with no deposit is the Credit One Bank® Visa® Credit Card. It charges an annual fee of $0 - $99, depending on an applicant’s creditworthiness, in return for a $300 starting credit limit. It’s actually the cheapest unsecured credit card for bad credit available right now.
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
Credit card shoppers who want a credit card for bad credit with no credit check should get the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card. With no credit check, even applicants with a very bad track record borrowing should have high approval odds. The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card has a $35 annual fee and requires a refundable security deposit of at least $200.
Secured Mastercard® from Capital One
People with poor credit who want low fees and a low deposit requirement should strongly consider the Secured Mastercard® from Capital One. In return for a $200 starting credit limit, approved applicants will be required to place a refundable deposit of $49, $99 or $200. The Capital One Secured Card has no annual fee.
Citi® Secured Mastercard®
If you want a no annual fee secured credit card to rebuild your credit with, one of the best options is Citi® Secured Mastercard®. It does not charge any annual fees, monthly fees or application processing fees. Your refundable security deposit can also be as low as $200.
Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit
People whose poor credit really isn’t so bad should consider the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit. The card’s annual fee is $0 - $99, depending on creditworthiness. That means the better your credit is, the lower the fee is likely to be. Plus, the Indigo Mastercard is unsecured, so you don’t have to place a deposit.
In general, the best credit cards for bad credit are secured cards with no annual fee. That’s true for everyone with poor credit, except people who need a modest emergency loan. Even the best unsecured credit cards still charge an arm and a leg for a very small amount of borrowing power
To help you find the right card for your needs, WalletHub’s editors compared hundreds of offers – both secured and unsecured – and selected the best credit cards for people with bad credit in the most popular categories. Below, you can see how the top cards compare as well as what each is best for.
Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
Best For | Credit Card | Annual Fee |
Bad to Fair Credit | Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit | $0 - $99 |
Bad or No Credit | OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card | $35 |
No Deposit | Credit One Bank® Visa® Credit Card | $0 - $99 |
No Fee | Secured Mastercard® from Capital One | $0 |
High Approval Odds | OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card | $35 |
No Processing Fee | Citi® Secured Mastercard® | $0 |
Below, you can learn more about the dos and don’ts of choosing a credit card at this important stage of your credit career.
How to Get a Credit Card with Bad Credit:
- Catch up on late payments. Many credit cards for bad credit won’t approve applicants with recent delinquencies. And there's no point in adding to your obligations if you don’t have your ducks in a row.
- Compare credit card fees. Low-cost credit improvement should be your top priority. One way to keep costs down is to find a card with low (or no) annual fees, monthly fees and one-time fees. Another is to always pay your bill in full, which will allow you to avoid interest charges.
- Focus on secured cards for high approval odds and low fees. Secured credit cards offer the highest chances of approval because they require you to place a security deposit that acts as your credit line. This deposit also prevents the need to charge fees, making secured cards the cheapest way to rebuild credit.
- Don’t assume secured means guaranteed approval. Secured cards offer the closest thing you can get to guaranteed approval, but most will still perform a credit check. And certain items on your credit report could disqualify you. If you want a secured card that doesn’t do a credit check, the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is a good option.
You won’t have to wonder how long it will take for your credit score to improve, either. You can actually watch it happen – likely in 12-18 months – on WalletHub.
Finally, if you’re still not sure which credit card will best meet your needs and ultimately take your credit to the next level at the lowest cost, we’ll highlight a notable option from each major credit card company below. That way, you won’t have to worry about missing out because you’ll know what all the big players bring to the table.
Credit Cards for Bad Credit by Issuer & Network
Credit Card Company | Card Name |
Visa | OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card |
Mastercard | Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit |
First Premier | First PREMIER® Bank Mastercard Credit Card |
Bank of America | Bank of America® Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card |
Capital One | Secured Mastercard® from Capital One |
Citi | Citi® Secured Mastercard® |
Discover | Discover it® Secured |
Wells Fargo | Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card |
Chase | None Available |
American Express | None Available |
Barclays | None Available |
U.S. Bank | Harley-Davidson® Secured Credit Card |
Questions & Answers
Comparing credit cards for bad credit can be tough. But you’ve got the knowledgeable WalletHub community on your side. We encourage everyone to share their knowledge while respecting our content guidelines. Please keep in mind that editorial and user-generated content on this page is not reviewed or otherwise endorsed by any financial institution. In addition, it is not the financial institution’s responsibility to ensure all posts and questions are answered....show moreshow less
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Featured Credit Cards
Ask the Experts
- How can people improve their credit scores using a credit card for bad credit?
- How should people decide between a secured and an unsecured credit card for bad credit?
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Latha Ramchand
Dean and Professor of Finance in the C.T. Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston
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Mike McGonigle
Director of Insurance and Financial Services Center and Assistant Professor in the College of Business at the New Mexico State University
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Derek D. Klock
Associate Professor of Practice and Coordinator of the CFP Program in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
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Robert G. Murphy
Associate Professor of Economics and Director of the International Studies Program at Boston College
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Kennie L. Edwards
Assistant Professor of Business and Entrepreneurial Studies at Lincoln University of Pennsylvania
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Neil L. Sobol
Professor of Law, Texas A&M University School of Law
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We work hard to show you up-to-date product terms, however, this information does not originate from us and thus, we do not guarantee its accuracy. Actual terms may vary. Before submitting an application, always verify all terms and conditions with the offering institution. Please let us know if you notice any differences.
† Approval Odds are WalletHub estimates intended to gauge your likelihood of approval for a particular product. Approval Odds are based on WalletHub data and are not provided or endorsed by the lender. Approval Odds are not meant to imply or guarantee that you will be approved by the lender or that credit will be extended.
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