Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit

Yes, you can get an unsecured credit card with a 500 credit score, though it’s probably not the best idea. It’s harder to get approved for such a card, and it typically involves high fees, high interest rates, and little spending power.

Unsecured credit cards for a 500 credit score are for people with bad credit, and they’re only recommended for emergencies. It’s much easier and cheaper to apply for a secured card.

The easiest credit cards to get approved for with no credit or bad credit are secured credit cards. These cards have annual fees as low as $0 and report monthly to the 3 major credit bureaus. Some even give rewards of 1% or more. To help people with no credit or bad credit maximize their odds of approval for a credit card, WalletHub’s editors compared the approval requirements for more than 1,500 credit card offers, along with their fees, rates and rewards.

Easiest Credit Cards to Get Approved For

This content is not provided or commissioned by any issuer. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of an issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by an issuer. Please keep in mind that while some offers may come from WalletHub advertising partners, sponsorship status played no role in card selection. 

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It’s going to be difficult to get an unsecured credit card with a $1,000 credit limit when you have bad credit. Most unsecured credit cards for bad credit start out with low limits in the $200-$300 range.

Some store credit cards, such as the Fingerhut Credit Account, will start out with a low credit limit but could increase your credit limit after you make a few on-time, above-minimum payments. You can get approved for a Fingerhut Credit Account with bad credit, and it has a $0 annual fee.

But many unsecured credit cards for bad credit also come with high annual, one-time, and monthly fees – it’s rarely worth all the money you spend just to keep the account open. That said, if you’re not in need of emergency money, and your focus is more on building your credit, get a secured credit card. Your limit on a secured card is as high as your initial deposit in most cases.

The best credit card for bad credit with no deposit and instant approval is the Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit. The Credit One Visa comes with a credit line of at least $300 and offers 1% cash back on gas and grocery purchases, as well as 1% back on mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services. It charges an annual fee of $75 intro 1st yr, $99 after and is available to people with bad credit. You can apply online, after checking to see if you're pre-qualified.

Keep in mind that while there is a possibility of instant approval with most cards you can apply for online, it’s never guaranteed. Instant approval tends to happen when your credit and income are better than the card’s requirements. Sometimes, issuers may take longer to review a credit card application. There are a few other credit cards for bad credit with no deposit (known as unsecured cards) with instant approval, that are worth considering.

Best credit cards for bad credit with no deposit and instant approval:

• Credit One Visa: 1% cash back on gas and grocery purchases, as well as 1% back on mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services. $75 intro 1st yr, $99 after annual fee. Minimum credit limit of $300. Requires pre-qualification before applying.
• Milestone® Mastercard® - Less Than Perfect Credit Considered: No rewards. $35 - $99* annual fee, depending on your credit. Minimum credit limit of $300. Requires pre-qualification before applying.
• Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit: No rewards. $0 - $99 annual fee, depending on your credit. Minimum credit limit of $300. Requires pre-qualification before applying.
• Fingerhut Credit Account: No rewards. $0 annual fee. Minimum credit limit varies based on the specifics of your credit. Can only be used on shopping from the Fingerhut catalog.

Keep in mind that unsecured credit cards for bad credit tend to be more costly and less rewarding than their secured counterparts. Make sure you keep your account in good standing by paying your balance on time and preferably in full, every month. This will allow you to improve your credit score and gain access to some of the best unsecured credit cards over time.

Some of the best instant approval unsecured credit cards for people with bad credit are the Fingerhut Credit Account, the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit, and the Total Visa® Card; all 3 of these unsecured cards approve people with bad credit and offer instant approval most of the times.

The only thing you’d have to worry about with unsecured cards and bad credit are the fees. Most unsecured cards for bad credit charge high fees - annual fees, monthly fees, and account opening fees. The Fingerhut Credit Card, however, doesn’t charge those fees because it’s a store credit card, meaning you can only use it at Fingerhut.com. But it’s unsecured, and it will still build your credit.

Lastly, you might want to check out several other credit cards for bad credit, that offer high instant approval odds for some applicants.

There is no secret for how to get a credit card with bad credit, other than choosing the right kind of card. There are two types of credit cards that you can get with a poor credit score: secured credit cards and unsecured credit cards for people with bad credit. Both types report account information to the major credit bureaus each month, which means either can help you rebuild your credit if used responsibly. But they’re far from equal in terms of accessibility and cost.

Secured cards are the easiest credit cards for anyone to get, offering good approval odds even to people with bad credit. Some don’t even check applicants’ credit history, which means there’s no hard pull to hurt your score more. Secured cards also charge much lower fees than unsecured cards for bad credit.

All of that, from the good approval odds to the low fees, is thanks to the fact that you have to place a refundable security deposit to get a secured credit card. The amount of this deposit, which you typically have to place when you apply, usually serves as your spending limit. This prevents you from spending more than the card’s issuer knows for sure you can afford to repay. And without the risk of being left with an unpaid balance, the issuer can afford to approve more people as well as offer more attractive terms.

Now that you know the lay of the land, the path to plastic despite poor credit should be clear. But for your convenience, we’ll lay out step-by-step instructions below.

How to get a credit card with bad credit:

1. Compare secured credit card offers. Shopping around will help you find the card with the lowest fees, lowest deposit requirement and highest approval odds.
2. Fill out an application. Applying online is best because you get a decision soonest.
3. Place your security deposit. You’ll have to submit your deposit either when you apply or after approval but before opening an account. You can usually fund the deposit with a transfer from a bank account or prepaid card. The funds will be returned if you don’t get approved or when you close your account (minus any unpaid balance).
4. Get approved. It’s possible to get rejected for a secured credit card, but not likely.

Getting a credit card with bad credit can be tricky. But it’s crucial to open an account as soon as possible in order to begin repairing your credit reputation. A secured card allows you to do that. And it has the added benefit of helping you avoid being rejected repeatedly, which would only make matters worse.

When it comes to specific cards to consider, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card and Discover it® Secured Credit Card are two of the best options available. And they’re generally available to people with bad credit. Alternatively, the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card, First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card and First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card won’t check your credit when you apply.

No matter which secured card you choose, paying your bill on time every month will add positive information to your credit reports, which will help cover up past mistakes. But sometimes that’s not enough. Some people with bad credit need a credit card with no security deposit to cover emergency expenses. In that case, an unsecured credit card for bad credit is your only option.

You won’t have much of a selection when shopping for an unsecured card with bad credit, unfortunately. You won’t get too much extra spending power, either, because high fees will initially consume much of your credit line. But it’s definitely possible to get approved for such a card. Just compare your options and double-check the eligibility requirements in their terms and conditions to make sure nothing in your background rules you out.

So, to recap, a secured credit card is your best bet if getting approved and beginning to rebuild your credit as soon as possible is your top priority. But if you need an emergency loan, you’ll have to make do with a costly unsecured card for bad credit.

The best gas credit card for bad credit is the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card, which gives cardholders 3% cash back in the category of their choice, including gas. Bank of America Custom Cash Secured Card has a $0 annual fee, but you need to place a security deposit of at least $300.

Gas credit cards for bad credit are hard to come by because fair credit or better is usually required. So the best choice for you will depend on whether you’re willing to compromise on a security deposit or an annual fee. Keep reading to learn more.

Here are the best gas credit cards for bad credit:

• Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card: Get 3% cash back in a category of your choice, 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 spent quarterly in the 3% and 2% categories combined), and 1% back on all other purchases. One of the categories you can choose from is gas. A $300+ security deposit is required, and your credit limit will equal the amount you put down. There is a $0 annual fee. Open to applicants with bad credit.
• Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card: Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as 1.5% cash back on all other purchases, including gas. $200+ deposit required. $0 annual fee. Open to applicants with bad credit.
• Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit: You’ll earn 1% cash back on gas and grocery purchases, as well as 1% back on mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services. The annual fee is $75 intro 1st yr, $99 after. Credit One may apply the annual fee as equal charges each month. Open to applicants with bad credit.
• Harley-Davidson® Secured Credit Card: Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all purchases. So if you want to put your gas spending toward Harley savings, all while building credit, then this is your card. You’ll need a $300 annual fee. Open to applicants with bad credit.

The biggest things to watch out for on these gas credit cards for bad credit are high interest rates and annual fees. That’s just the price of bad credit. But you can minimize the cost, and your credit can get better by paying on time and in full each month.

Gas cards can be a great way to build credit history since they are easy to get approved for. Plus, the best part of a routine purchase like gas is that you can pump your credit report full of on-time payments. Once you improve your credit score, feel free to also take a look at some of the best gas credit cards on the market.

The best secured credit card for bad credit is Discover it® Secured Credit Card because it has a $0 annual fee, rewards you with 1 - 2% cash back on purchases, doubles the rewards you’ve earned after the first year, and accepts people with bad credit. The Discover it Secured Credit Card’s main approval requirements are being 18+ years old and having enough income to afford monthly bill payments, plus a refundable security deposit of $200 or more.

Most secured credit cards are open to applicants with bad credit. The more lenient approval requirements are due to the fact that your security deposit will act as collateral for your credit limit. There are several secured credit cards that people with bad credit might want to consider.

Best Secured Credit Cards for Bad Credit:

• Best Overall: Discover it® Secured Credit Card
  $0 annual fee. Earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $1,000 spent each quarter combined), and 1% back on all other purchases. Minimum deposit of $200.
• No Credit Check: OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
  $35 annual fee. Minimum deposit of $200.
• Low Deposit: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
  $0 annual fee. Minimum deposit of $49, $99 or $200 (depending on factors such as income, debt, and creditworthiness) in exchange for a starting credit line of $200.
• Cash Back: U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card
  $0 annual fee. Earn 5% cash back on two categories of your choice (up to $2,000 each quarter), 5% back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked in the Rewards Travel Center, 2% back on your choice of one everyday category (like gas stations, grocery stores or restaurants) and 1% back on all other purchases. Minimum deposit of $300.

In general, secured credit cards are the best type of credit card for people with bad credit. Secured cards offer the highest approval odds of any credit cards, and they tend to be a lot cheaper in the long run than unsecured cards for bad credit.

You just have to make sure to pay your bill on time and preferably in full, every month. If you do that, your credit should steadily improve. And that should help you qualify for a credit card upgrade sooner than you might think.

The best high limit credit card for bad credit is the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card ($300+ limit). “High limits” for bad credit will be very different from high limits for better credit scores, though. Most people with high credit scores looking for high-limit credit cards want $10,000+. That’s not going to be possible with credit cards for bad credit, unless you place a deposit of $10,000+ too. 

You can aim for a limit of a few hundred dollars with poor credit. But just getting approved usually is the biggest priority for people with bad scores.

Best High Limit Credit Cards for Bad Credit

With secured cards, you have to put down a security deposit. This security deposit then acts as your credit line. Secured credit cards are a popular choice for individuals with bad credit since it’s easy to get approved. In addition to easier approval, secured cards usually have lower fees as well. 

In general, you likely won’t get a very high credit limit with bad credit. However, these cards are a great place to start and you can always request a credit limit increase once you’ve had your account open for at least six months.

One of the easiest credit cards to get with bad credit is the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card because there’s no credit check required for approval. As long as you have a U.S. mailing address, proof of your identity and some income, you can get an OpenSky. This card has an annual fee of $35 and requires a refundable deposit of at least $200 to “secure” the credit line. The deposit amount becomes your credit limit.

If you’re looking for an unsecured credit card for bad credit, one of the easiest to get is the Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit. This card gives you 1% cash back on gas and grocery purchases, as well as 1% back on mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services. The card has an annual fee of $75 intro 1st yr, $99 after.

Easiest Credit Cards to Get with Bad Credit

You should be wary of credit card companies that offer unsecured credit cards to people with bad credit, though. They can give you an unsecured line of credit, but most come with big fees and high interest rates. Unless you need an emergency loan, it’s better to get a secured credit card and build up your score enough to qualify for a good unsecured card.