Most major credit card companies allow you to prequalify for at least some of their credit card offers. This is a convenience that lets people gauge their approval odds without triggering a hard inquiry, which could lead to credit score damage. In many cases, the credit card issuer will make the first move by mailing you a preapproved credit card offer and providing a special code or website to use when submitting your application. Other times, issuers will let you check which of their cards you prequalify for directly from their website.
In either case, credit card preapproval does not guarantee actual approval for an account. But it does give you dramatically higher odds than the average applicant. You can learn more about how the process works from our guide on preapproved credit card offers (some cards are from WalletHub partners). If you have a WalletHub account, you can also get personalized credit card recommendations, tailored for your needs (and high approval odds).
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Below, we’ll break down which of the top 10 credit card issuers offer preapproval and reveal our experts’ picks for the best cards available.
Which Top Issuers Offer Credit Card Preapproval?
| Credit Card Company | Lets You Check for Preapproved Offers? | Mails Preapproved Offers? | Min. Credit Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express | Yes | Yes | Good |
| Bank of America | Yes | Yes | Bad |
| Barclays | No | Yes | Limited |
| Capital One | Yes | Yes | Bad |
| Chase | Yes | Yes | Good |
| Citibank | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Discover | Yes | Yes | Bad |
| PNC | No | Yes | Excellent |
| Synchrony Bank | No | Yes | Fair |
| USAA | Yes (members only) | Yes | Bad |
| U.S. Bank | Yes (existing customers only) | Yes | Bad |
| Wells Fargo | Yes | Yes | Bad |
Note: Min. Credit Required refers to the easiest credit card to get from each issuer.
As you can see above, credit card companies offer different types of preapproved credit cards. All major issuers pre-screen consumers and mail preapproved offers to those who seem to meet the exact criteria they’re looking for. This is essentially an invitation to apply and a sign that you have very good odds of approval.
Credit card companies that allow you to take preapproval into your own hands are less common. But not by much. Seven of the 12 largest issuers allow anyone to check which cards they’re preapproved for online.
2020’s Best Preapproved Credit Cards
The best preapproved credit cards are simply the best overall credit cards that happen to offer preapproval. So they differ based on your credit standing as well as your spending and payment habits. WalletHub’s editors compared 1,000+ offers to find the best cards for people at each credit level. You can check out their picks below.
Here are 2020’s best credit cards with preapproval:
| Best For… | Card Name | Offers Preapproval? | Min. Credit Required | Editor’s Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% Purchases | Citi Simplicity® Card - No Late Fees Ever | Yes | Excellent | 3.7 / 5 |
| Fair Credit | Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | Yes | Limited History | 4.7 / 5 |
| Newcomers | Capital One Platinum Credit Card | Yes | Limited History | 5.0 / 5 |
| Students | Journey Student Rewards from Capital One | Yes | Limited History | 5.0 / 5 |
| Bad Credit | Discover it® Secured | Yes | Limited History | 5.0 / 5 |
| Business | Capital One® Spark® Cash for Business | Yes | Good | 5.0 / 5 |
For a personalized recommendation, sign up for a free WalletHub account. We’ll tell you which credit cards offer the highest approval odds, based on your latest credit score and report. Only WalletHub offers free credit scores and reports that are updated on a daily basis.