Credit cards for bad credit
We recommend these cards from our partners.
CK Editors’ Tips††: If you have bad credit, the right credit card can help you improve your financial situation while it provides crucial access to credit. Look for cards that can help set you up for success over the short and long terms.Read more
What to consider when choosing a credit card for bad credit
Ideally, a credit card for bad credit serves as a stepping stone to more and better features on a future credit card. Try to find the card with features that can set you up for credit success — low fees, relatively high minimum credit limits, and bonuses for on-time payments like automatic reviews for credit limit increases. Also, while rewards can be nice to have on these cards, you probably shouldn’t look at them as the main draw.
Ideally, a credit card for bad credit serves as a stepping stone to more and better features on a future credit card. Try to find the card with features that can set you up for credit success — low fees, relatively high minimum credit limits, and bonuses for on-time payments like automatic reviews for credit limit increases. Also, while rewards can be nice to have on these cards, you probably shouldn’t look at them as the main draw.
How we picked the best credit cards for bad credit
Our picks for the best credit cards for bad credit all offer chances to build credit and set yourself up for financial success. First, we focused on cards that offered flexible requirements for approval. From there, we zeroed in on useful features when building credit, like high minimum credit limits, opportunities to graduate from a secured card to an unsecured card, and rewards that don’t come with high annual fees. Read more about our methodology for picking the best credit cards.
Jump to editors’ picksOur picks for the best credit cards for bad credit all offer chances to build credit and set yourself up for financial success. First, we focused on cards that offered flexible requirements for approval. From there, we zeroed in on useful features when building credit, like high minimum credit limits, opportunities to graduate from a secured card to an unsecured card, and rewards that don’t come with high annual fees. Read more about our methodology for picking the best credit cards.
Great for automatic credit limit increases††
Great for automatic credit limit increases††
Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit
Rewards rate
1%Cash backAnnual fee
$75 for the first year, $99 thereafter (billed at $8.25 per month)
Rewards rate
1% Cash back
Annual fee
$75 for the first year, $99 thereafter (billed at $8.25 per month)
- Earn 1% cash back rewards on eligible gas, grocery purchases and mobile phone service, internet, cable and satellite TV services, terms apply
- With $0 Fraud Liability, you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
Great for access to unsecured credit††
Great for access to unsecured credit††
Milestone® Mastercard®
Regular purchase APR
24.90%Annual fee
$75 the first year; $99 thereafter
Regular purchase APR
24.90%
Annual fee
$75 the first year; $99 thereafter
- Apply with Confidence! There is no impact to your credit score if you’re not approved. If your application is not approved, a hard inquiry will not appear on your credit report, which means your credit score will not be impacted.
- Bad credit history? Milestone Mastercard could be for you. With reporting to all three credit bureaus, you can get credit for all of your hard work
Great for a low purchase APR††
Great for a low purchase APR††
First Progress Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
Min. deposit
$200RefundableRegular purchase APR
18.49%* VariableAnnual fee
$39Rewards rate
1%Cash back
Min. deposit
$200 Refundable
Regular purchase APR
18.49%* Variable
Annual fee
$39
Rewards rate
1% Cash back
- Choose the First Progress Select Card for a lower annual fee!
- Get a First Progress Select Card and Earn 1% Cash Back Rewards!
Great for no credit check††
Great for no credit check††
OpenSky® Secured Credit Visa® Card
Min. deposit
$200RefundableRegular purchase APR
24.89%* VariableAnnual fee
$35Rewards rate
10%Cash back
Min. deposit
$200 Refundable
Regular purchase APR
24.89%* Variable
Annual fee
$35
Rewards rate
10% Cash back
- New feature! Earn up to 10% cash back on everyday purchases
- No credit check to apply. Zero credit risk to apply!
Great for access to unsecured credit††
Great for access to unsecured credit††
Indigo® Mastercard®
Regular purchase APR
35.90%Annual fee
$75 the first year; $99 thereafter
Regular purchase APR
35.90%
Annual fee
$75 the first year; $99 thereafter
- Apply with Confidence! There is no impact to your credit score if you’re not approved. If your application is not approved, a hard inquiry will not appear on your credit report, which means your credit score will not be impacted.
- Less than perfect credit? Indigo Mastercard is a great choice! Indigo Card reports to all three major credit bureaus and gives you the chance to establish a consistent payment record!
Great for a lower security deposit††
Great for a lower security deposit††
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Min. deposit
$49, $99 or $200RefundableRegular purchase APR
29.99% (Variable)Annual fee
$0
Min. deposit
$49, $99 or $200 Refundable
Regular purchase APR
29.99% (Variable)
Annual fee
$0
- No credit score required to apply, but may be used if available
- No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
Great for automatic credit limit increases††
Great for automatic credit limit increases††
Merrick Bank Double Your Line® Mastercard®
Regular purchase APR
29.95%* VariableAnnual fee
$0
Regular purchase APR
29.95%* Variable
Annual fee
$0
- See if you are Pre-Qualified in less than 60 seconds without harming your credit score.
- Initial Credit Line $750 - $1,500, Doubling to $1,500 - $3,000
Great for a low purchase APR††
Great for a low purchase APR††
First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
Min. deposit
$200RefundableRegular purchase APR
14.49%* VariableAnnual fee
$49Rewards rate
1%Cash back
Min. deposit
$200 Refundable
Regular purchase APR
14.49%* Variable
Annual fee
$49
Rewards rate
1% Cash back
- You Aren't Stuck with Bad Credit. Start Rebuilding with a First Progress Prestige Credit Card!¹
- Earn 1% Cash Back Rewards with First Progress Prestige!
Great for access to credit††
Great for access to credit††
Merrick Bank Secured Credit Card
Regular purchase APR
22.95%* VariableAnnual fee
$36 the first year. Billed $3 per month thereafter
Regular purchase APR
22.95%* Variable
Annual fee
$36 the first year. Billed $3 per month thereafter
- Choose your own credit line based on how much money you want to put down as a security deposit.
- Initial deposits can be from $200 to $3,000. You can increase your credit line at any time by adding additional money to your security deposit, up to $3,000.
Great for automatic credit limit increases††
Great for automatic credit limit increases††
Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa®
Rewards rate
1%Cash backAnnual fee
$39
Rewards rate
1% Cash back
Annual fee
$39
- Earn 1% cash back rewards on eligible gas, grocery purchases and mobile phone service, internet, cable and satellite TV services, terms apply
- With $0 Fraud Liability, you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
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†† The opinions you read here come from our editorial team. Intuit Credit Karma receives compensation from third-party advertisers, but that doesn’t affect our editors' opinions. Our marketing partners don’t review, approve or endorse our editorial content. It’s accurate to the best of our knowledge when it’s posted.