In a Nutshell
Some unsecured credit cards are designed specifically for people with bad credit or limited credit histories. But you’ll need to be careful. Some unsecured credit cards for bad credit are better than others. We’ve rounded up our picks.If your credit isn’t great, it might be difficult to qualify for unsecured credit cards. And that, in turn, can make it difficult to build credit. So what are your options when it comes to unsecured credit cards for bad credit?
The good news is that there are unsecured credit cards designed specifically for people with bad credit or limited credit histories. But you’ll need to be careful. Some unsecured credit cards for bad credit are better than others.
Before you apply for a card, check the terms carefully to make sure the card makes sense for your situation. To help you narrow your search, we’ve put together a list of our picks for some of the best options out there.
| Card | Best for |
|---|---|
| Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card | Low fees |
| Petal® 1 Visa® Credit Card | Potential credit limit increase |
| Capital One Platinum Credit Card | Building credit |
| Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | Unlimited cash back |
| Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit | Prequalification |
- How we picked these unsecured credit cards
- Should you consider applying for an unsecured credit card now?
- How to make the most of unsecured credit cards for bad credit
- Next steps: Consider secured credit card options
Best for low fees: Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card
Here’s why: The Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card doesn’t charge any fees. None.
Petal has kicked annual fees, late-payment fees, returned-payment fees, and every other fee to the curb. That’s impressive for any card, but especially for an unsecured card that considers people who have limited credit.
Important note: There might not be any fees, but the card still charges interest.
Petal has designed a credit approval algorithm that looks at your entire financial picture, not just your credit scores. In fact, Petal says you could be approved for the Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card without any credit scores or credit history whatsoever.
And as an extra perk, the Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card offers its cardholders 1% to 1.5% in cash back rewards. You start out earning 1% cash back on all purchases. Then you’ll graduate to earning 1.25% cash back after making 6 on-time monthly payments. After 6 more on-time monthly payments, you’ll earn 1.5% cash back.
Check out reviews of the Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card to learn more.
Best for potential credit limit increase: Petal® 1 Visa® Credit Card
Here’s why: The Petal® 1 Visa® Credit Card offers the opportunity to earn a credit line increase in six months by making on-time payments and maintaining a personalized “healthy” level of credit.
You’ll also pay a $0 annual fee, and prequalification is available before you formally apply. But the card doesn’t offer rewards on all purchases, and you’ll be charged late and returned payment fees.
For more details, read reviews of the Petal® 1 Visa® Credit Card.
Best for building credit: Capital One Platinum Credit Card
Here’s why: Cardholders can get access to higher credit limits in as little as six months.
If you’re able to keep your spending rate the same after earning that higher credit limit, your credit utilization rate could improve, which could help your credit scores too.
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card has no annual fee or foreign transaction fees. But you won’t earn any rewards.
Learn more by reading reviews of the Capital One Platinum Credit Card.
Best for unlimited cash back: Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Here’s why: With the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, you’ll earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases.
That’s right: With the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, there are no reward caps. You simply get 1.5% back on everything that you buy with the card. That’s impressive for a card that considers applicants who have what Capital One considers fair credit.
This card has a $39 annual fee. But with a 1.5% cash back return, you’ll need to spend only $2,600 to earn that much in rewards with this card, which comes out to spending about $217 a month for a year. If you plan on spending more than that each month, then this card could be a good option.
Get more details about the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.
Best for prequalification: Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit
Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit
Here’s why: If you shop for the Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit card directly through the Credit One Bank website, the issuer offers the chance to see if you prequalify for the card before you apply. This is a soft credit check — meaning it won’t affect your scores — and you can find out if you prequalify in less than a minute. Just keep in mind that prequalification doesn’t guarantee the terms and eventual approval.
We also like that the Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit lets you earn rewards while you build your credit. You’ll earn 1% cash back rewards on gas and grocery purchases, as well as internet, mobile phone, cable and satellite TV services.
In addition, the card comes with regular, automatic reviews of your account to see if you’re eligible for a credit line increase.
While credit prequalification, rewards and automatic credit line reviews are the shining features of the Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit with Cash Back Rewards, it does lag in other areas.
You will pay an annual fee of $75 for the first year, $99 thereafter (billed at $8.25 per month) (you might see different terms on Credit Karma). And it comes with other expensive fees (for cash advances and late or returned payments, for example) as well as a high purchase APR of 29.49%* Variable (you might see different terms on Credit Karma).
How we picked these unsecured credit cards
When choosing the best unsecured credit cards, we looked for card issuers that said they would consider applicants with average, damaged or limited credit histories.
We also looked for cards that minimized fees. If you’re looking for unsecured cards for bad credit, you’re probably trying to avoid having to pay the deposits that secured cards require. But if an unsecured card has a high annual fee, that kind of defeats the whole purpose.
Some secured cards will refund the deposit you paid after a certain number of on-time payments. So you’d eventually get that money back. But that’s not the case with annual fees.
Finally, we looked for unsecured credit cards that offered rewards. We believe that you shouldn’t be left out in the cold when it comes to earning cash back or points while you’re working to build your credit. And, thankfully, most of the card issuers on this list agree.
Should you consider applying for an unsecured credit card now?
Depending on your situation, it may be possible for you to skip a secured credit card, which would require you to deposit money as a collateral, and go with an unsecured one. Here are a few examples of when this might work for you.
- You have no credit history at all. Not all cards require a credit history. For example, the Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card uses info like your banking information to determine whether you qualify.
- You’re a college student. There are several unsecured student credit cards that can help you build credit — some even offer rewards. You can compare student credit card offers on Credit Karma.
- You’ve had a bankruptcy. It’s possible to qualify for certain credit cards even if you have a bankruptcy on your credit reports.
While each of these credit cards is targeted at people with limited or bad credit, you’re not guaranteed approval. Check where you’re at with your credit by taking a look at your credit scores, and then carefully consider your options before deciding to apply.
How to make the most of unsecured credit cards for bad credit
Here are a few pointers to make the most of the cards on this list.
Pay your bill on time every month.
One of the most important factors in your credit scores is your payment history, so make sure you always pay on time. To do this, set up a reminder each month or request automatic payments from your checking account. If you want to go an extra step and avoid interest, pay your entire bill (on time) instead of making only the minimum payment.
Keep your balance relatively low.
Another key factor in your credit scores is the amount of credit you use. One way to calculate this is through your credit utilization rate, which is all your balances divided by your credit limits. The lower your rate, the better it can be for your credit scores. Most experts recommend keeping your overall credit card utilization below 30%.
Avoid multiple credit applications in a short period.
It may be tempting to apply for multiple credit cards, but it’s best to give it some time first. Each individual hard credit inquiry that accompanies an application won’t do too much to your credit scores. But too many in a short period can lower your scores and signal that you’re a risky borrower, which can hurt your chances of getting approved.
Once your credit scores have gone up, you can apply for more-attractive credit cards that offer better terms or rewards. If you’re looking for more ideas to improve your credit scores, check out our Guide to Building Credit.
Next steps: Consider secured credit card options
If you’re unable to be approved for an unsecured card with your current credit history, don’t worry. You may be able to qualify for a secured credit card to help build your credit.
By their very nature, secured credit cards require a deposit of around $200 or more as collateral to “secure” the card in case you don’t make your payments. It makes sense, then, that there’s no such thing as a secured credit card with no deposit so keep that in mind when looking into secured credit cards.
If you’re interested in trying out a secured credit card while you work on your credit, here are some that might work for you.
- Discover it® Secured Credit Card: This card is good for somebody looking for a secured card that offers rewards.
- Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card: Consider this card if you don’t have a lot of cash to put down for a security deposit.
- OpenSky® Secured Credit Visa® Card: This card doesn’t require a credit check, so consider applying for it if you’re worried about something like a previous bankruptcy or foreclosure preventing you from getting a card.