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- No credit score required to apply. No Annual Fee.
- Your secured credit card requires a refundable security deposit, and your credit line will equal your deposit amount, starting at $200. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.
- Automatic reviews starting at 7 months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. You'll still earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers—only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards.
- Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on the dark web. Activate for free.
- Terms and conditions apply.
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- Increase your approval chances - Having a Chase checking or savings account with a balance of at least $250 will increase your chances of getting approved for Chase Freedom Rise®
- Earn Cash Back - With Chase Freedom Rise®, you can establish credit while earning 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open and there is no minimum to redeem for cash back.
- Earn a $25 statement credit after signing up for automatic payments within the first three months of opening your account. With automatic payments, just pick a date and dollar amount to make sure your Credit Card gets paid on time.
- Credit Limit Increase - As a Freedom Rise® cardmember, you'll be evaluated for a credit line increase in as soon as 6 months. Your credit line is the maximum amount of money you can spend on your Freedom Rise® Card
- Free Credit Score - Track your credit score and learn how to build it with Chase Credit Journey.
- No Annual Fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Rise® Card.
- Member FDIC
/images/2022/12/28/self-secured-visa-credit-card.jpg)
- $0 Intro annual fee for the first year, $25 thereafter 1 <p class="">*Intro Offer - $0 annual fee for new customers for the first year only; $25 annually thereafter. Other fees apply. Variable APR of 27.49% based on the Prime Rate. Rate may vary.</p>
- No hard credit check or credit score required
- Reports to all 3 major credit bureaus to build credit history
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in just 6 months—no extra deposit needed
- Monitor your credit progress with free access to your Credit Score. Secure your credit line with a refundable security deposit - as low as $100.
- Use the secured Self Visa® Credit Card2 <p element-id="429" class="">Self is not a bank. The secured Self Visa® Credit Card is issued by Lead Bank, Sunrise Banks, N.A., or First Century Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC. Security deposit is returned upon account closure after settling outstanding balances. Qualification for the secured Self Visa Credit Card is based on meeting eligibility, including income and expense requirements and establishment of minimum $100 security interest. Criteria subject to change</p> anywhere Visa is accepted-in the US
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability Guarantee for Lost/Stolen Cards with Visa’s Zero Liability Policy
- Add to your mobile wallet and make purchases using Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay
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Compare Today's Best Credit Cards For Bad Credit
| Credit Card | Rewards Rate | Annual Fee | Regular APR | Welcome Bonus | Minimum Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Apply Now
Discover it® Secured Credit Card 5.0
|
1% - 2%
Cash back
|
$0
|
26.49% Variable
|
Cashback Match™
|
$200 |
|
2026 AWARD WINNER
Best for No Credit
/images/2024/12/16/chase-freedom-rise-12162024.png)
Apply Now
Chase Freedom Rise® 5.0
|
1.5%
Cash back
|
$0
|
25.24%
|
$25 statement credit
|
N/A |
/images/2022/12/28/self-secured-visa-credit-card.jpg)
Apply Now
Secured Self Visa® Credit Card 4.1
|
N/A
|
$25 (waived first year)
|
27.49% (variable)
|
N/A
|
$100 |
/images/2023/10/17/current-build-card.jpg)
Apply Now
Current Build Visa® Credit Card 4.1
|
1X
Points
|
$0
|
0.00%
|
N/A
|
$0 |
5-Star Favorites
Not all credit cards are created equal. FinanceBuzz's credit card experts have reviewed hundreds of cards, ranking them on various criteria including length of intro APR period, fees, and bonus offers. These 5-star cards offer exceptional value, innovation, and customer experience — so you can skip the research and apply for a card you can trust.
- No credit score required to apply. No Annual Fee.
- Your secured credit card requires a refundable security deposit, and your credit line will equal your deposit amount, starting at $200. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.
- Automatic reviews starting at 7 months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. You'll still earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers—only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards.
- Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on the dark web. Activate for free.
- Terms and conditions apply.
- Increase your approval chances - Having a Chase checking or savings account with a balance of at least $250 will increase your chances of getting approved for Chase Freedom Rise®
- Earn Cash Back - With Chase Freedom Rise®, you can establish credit while earning 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open and there is no minimum to redeem for cash back.
- Earn a $25 statement credit after signing up for automatic payments within the first three months of opening your account. With automatic payments, just pick a date and dollar amount to make sure your Credit Card gets paid on time.
- Credit Limit Increase - As a Freedom Rise® cardmember, you'll be evaluated for a credit line increase in as soon as 6 months. Your credit line is the maximum amount of money you can spend on your Freedom Rise® Card
- Free Credit Score - Track your credit score and learn how to build it with Chase Credit Journey.
- No Annual Fee - You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Rise® Card.
- Member FDIC
Credit Cards for Bad Credit: What You Need to Know
Can a credit card help rebuild your credit?
Yes — using the right credit card responsibly can help rebuild your credit over time.
The best way to rebuild credit is to pay every bill on time and keep your balance low. Payment history and credit utilization are two of the biggest factors that affect your credit score. Since payment history makes up about 35% of your FICO score, making on-time payments can help improve your credit profile and open the door to better financial products.
Apply for the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, FinanceBuzz's 5-star pick for bad credit
What credit cards can you get with bad credit?
If you have bad credit, you may still qualify for secured cards or unsecured cards designed for credit rebuilding. These cards may have lower credit limits or higher fees, but they can help you establish a positive payment history and improve your credit over time.
Apply for the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, FinanceBuzz's 5-star pick for bad credit
What’s the difference between secured and unsecured credit cards?
A secured credit card requires a refundable security deposit that typically becomes your credit limit. This makes them easier to qualify for if you have bad credit.
An unsecured credit card doesn’t require a deposit, but approval depends more on your credit history.
Both types can help build credit when used responsibly, and some secured cards allow you to upgrade to an unsecured card later.
Apply for the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, FinanceBuzz's 5-star pick for bad credit
Do credit cards for bad credit require a deposit?
Some do, but not all. Secured credit cards require a refundable deposit, which typically becomes your credit limit. However, there are also unsecured credit cards for bad credit that don’t require a deposit.
Apply for the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, FinanceBuzz's 5-star pick for bad credit
Will applying for a credit card hurt your credit score?
Applying for a credit card usually triggers a hard credit inquiry, which can temporarily lower your score by a few points. Some issuers offer prequalification with a soft credit check, which won’t impact your credit score.
Responsible use afterward — like paying on time — can help your score improve over time.
Apply for the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, FinanceBuzz's 5-star pick for bad credit
How fast can a credit card improve your credit score?
It depends on how you use the card. Paying on time and keeping your balance low can start helping your credit within a few months. Credit scores also factor in credit utilization, so experts often recommend using less than 30% of your available credit limit.
Apply for the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, FinanceBuzz's 5-star pick for bad credit
What credit score do you need to get a credit card?
Many traditional credit cards require good or excellent credit, but cards designed for rebuilding credit may approve applicants with fair, poor, or limited credit history. Your approval odds depend on factors like income, credit history, and existing debt.
Apply for the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, FinanceBuzz's 5-star pick for bad credit
How we chose these cards
FinanceBuzz evaluated a selection of cards from our partners, looking at various criteria including length of intro APR period, fees, and bonus offers. We did not review all cards in the category and compensation was considered when evaluating and ordering the cards.