- No security deposit required.
- $0 annual fee if you qualify based on your credit.
- Reports to all three credit bureaus.
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Unsecured credit cards don’t require the payment of a security deposit, but they do have other costs. Because of the higher risk associated with borrowers who have bad credit, most of these cards will have a higher interest rate and higher annual fees compared to cards marketed towards those with higher credit scores. However, if you have a fair credit score (typically ranging from 580 to 669) or no credit history at all, you may have a wider range of credit cards available to you, with more favorable terms, such as lower interest rates and lower fees.
The card_name is available to people with bad credit without having to provide a security deposit. Plus, Mission Lane has a pre-application process which can give you a good idea as to whether you will be approved without having a hard inquiry on your credit report if you end up not applying. Mission Lane reports to all three credit bureaus, which can help rebuild your credit.
If you have bad credit and you’re looking for a credit card that doesn’t require a security deposit, then the Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card could be for you. It offers lines of credit starting at $300, with annual fees ranging of $0. So if your credit isn’t as bad as you might have thought, you could potentially avoid having to pay an annual fee.
But, as an unsecured card, you’ll never be asked to pay a security deposit. Otherwise, this is a pretty basic card that offers no rewards and has a 3% foreign transaction fee.
If you have fair or bad credit, you may be worried about wasting a hard inquiry on your credit report to only get denied for the card. Thankfully, the card_name lets you see if you pre-qualify without affecting your credit. Plus, the card comes with a minimum credit limit of $300 and up to $3,000, without a security deposit.
The card_name is designed for those with bad or fair credit, and you can see if you pre-qualify without it affecting your credit. Being prequalified doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be accepted, but it gives you a good idea if it’s likely. This card has a annual_fees annual fee, and it doesn’t offer any rewards or balance transfers.
The Capital One Quicksilver One Credit Card is one of the few cards that offers competitive cash back, but doesn’t require good or excellent credit. And Capital One doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. Which is great for those who travel internationally or make purchases from foreign companies.
The card_name is a great card for those who have already made some progress rebuilding their credit. This card offers you unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases, as well as valuable benefits. For example, you receive six months of complimentary Uber One membership, which includes no-fee delivery on eligible food and groceries, and up to 10% off eligible orders with Uber Eats. There’s a annual_fees annual fee for this card, and no foreign transaction fees.
Card Rewards:
Additional Benefits:
Member FDIC
The card_name is a credit card for bad credit that doesn’t require a minimum deposit and also doesn’t charge an annual fee for the first year. Your first year’s annual fee wil be waived as long as you sign up for AutoPay, which is helpful for paying your credit card bill on time anyway. The card also comes with an initial credit limit of between $500 and $3,000, which is on the high side for a card for bad credit.
Prosper offers the card_name for those with bad credit that doesn’t require a security deposit. It has a low, annual_fees annual fee. Other benefits include instant access to 50% of your available credit while waiting for your card to ship to you. Prosper also regularly reviews your credit for potential credit line increases.
The card_name is available to applicants with bad credit, even those who have had a prior bankruptcy. Plus, it reports to all three credit bureaus, which can help improve your credit score with responsible use.
The Destiny Mastercard® is available to applicants with bad credit, even those who have had a prior bankruptcy. However, the Destiny Mastercard® comes with a high annual fee and other fees. It charges an annual fee of annual_fees, making the total for the second year $199.
The Tomo Credit Card is unique but offers a lot of positive features for those who have bad credit or no credit. Since Tomo links to your bank account for autopay and you don’t carry a balance on the card, it is impossible to get into debt trouble. This means that holding this card will have a much higher likelihood of increasing your credit score. Even though Tomo doesn’t perform credit checks, it does report to the three credit bureaus, which will help your credit score. Plus, it is one of the few credit cards on this list that provides additional benefits and credits like $5 off DoorDash each month, free ShopRunner membership and cell phone protection for stolen or damaged phones.
Tomo Credit is another card issuer that approves applicants based on information other than a traditional credit score. That’s one of the reasons it's able to offer a credit card with no annual fee for applicants with bad credit. However, Tomo requires you to link your bank account and set up autopay, and it doesn’t charge interest rates. So it’s not a card for those who need to borrow money. There’s no annual fee for this card.
The Tomo Credit Card can offer limits of up to $10,000 because it approves applicants based on information other than a traditional credit score. Just keep in mind that Tomo requires you to link your bank account and set up autopay and doesn’t charge interest rates. But if you have a high balance in your bank account, then you might receive a high credit limit from this card. There’s no annual fee for this card.
It is difficult to find an unsecured credit card that offers cash back rewards for those who have bad credit, but the Credit One Platinum Visa does. The card earns 1% cash back on qualifying purchases like gas, groceries and phone, internet and cable services.
CreditOne Bank specializes in offering unsecured credit cards to applicants with bad credit, and its Platinum Visa For Rebuilding Credit offers 1% cash back rewards on eligible purchases. Qualifying purchases can include gas, groceries, mobile phone and internet service, as well as cable and satellite TV services. However this card does have a $75 annual fee the first year, which becomes $99 the after that, billed at $8.25 a month. But with on-time payments and little debt, you may qualify for a card for those with fair credit within a year.
Card name | Annual fees | Credit score needed | Bonus rewards |
---|---|---|---|
$0 | Fair, Poor, Bad | bonus_miles | |
annual_fees | credit_score_needed | bonus_miles | |
annual_fees | credit_score_needed | bonus_miles | |
annual_fees | credit_score_needed | bonus_miles | |
annual_fees | credit_score_needed | bonus_miles | |
$2.99 per month | No credit, Poor | N/A | |
$75 for the first year. After that, $99 annually (billed as $8.25 monthly) | Bad Credit | N/A |
To find the best unsecured credit cards for people with bad credit, we looked through all of the credit cards of this type on the market. A review of the top cards was then conducted by one of the nation’s leading credit card experts with more than 15 years of experience. After review, the top cards for each category were selected.
When selecting the best unsecured credit card for bad credit, it's important to consider a few key factors.
Make sure the card is specifically designed for individuals whose credit matches yours. If your credit is considered bad, a card for people with fair or no credit may not work for you.
Pay attention to the card's standard interest rate. This can significantly impact your finances if you need to carry a balance. Look for a card with a reasonable interest rate, keeping in mind that qualifying for a low interest rate may be a challenge if your credit score is low.
Likewise, carefully examine the card's fees, including annual, application, foreign transaction, additional cardholder, and balance transfer fees. You may be unable to avoid all these fees, but the fewer fees there are, the better.
Consider your priorities and preferences. Whether you're seeking a card for travel, cash-back rewards, or simply aiming for the lowest possible annual fee, aligning the card's features with your financial needs and goals is essential.
To apply for an unsecured credit card for bad credit, follow these steps:
Check your credit score to determine whether you meet the minimum eligibility criteria for an unsecured credit card designed for those with bad credit.
Look for unsecured credit cards specifically tailored for individuals with bad credit. Compare credit score requirements, features, and fees to find a card that best fits your financial situation.
Collect the necessary documents—including ID, proof of income, and alternative data, if permitted—based on the credit card issuer's requirements.
Visit the website of the chosen credit card issuer or apply through other designated channels. Complete the application form with accurate personal and financial information.
After submitting your application, wait for the credit card issuer to review your application. Approval timelines vary, but some issuers provide instant approval decisions.
If approved, carefully review the terms and conditions of the credit card, including the interest rate, fees, and credit limit. Make sure they match the terms you originally expected.
Once you receive the card, activate it as per the issuer's instructions and use it responsibly to improve your credit score over time.
It’s important to understand what an unsecured credit card is and what it isn’t, as well as what it takes to qualify before you make the effort to secure one.
An unsecured credit card is a type of credit card that does not require you to provide a security deposit to open or maintain the account. Unsecured credit cards are issued based on your creditworthiness and financial history. They typically have higher interest rates and fees for individuals with bad credit, but they offer the convenience of not having to tie up funds in a security deposit and can help you build or rebuild your credit when used responsibly.
Unsecured credit cards can come in various types to cater to different financial needs and credit profiles. Some common types of unsecured credit cards include:
These traditional credit cards do not require a security deposit and are issued based on your creditworthiness. The higher your credit rating, the lower the interest rate, and vice versa.
Unsecured credit cards designed for those with bad credit include traditional credit cards with higher interest rates, annual fees, and penalties, as well as cards that utilize alternative credit data such as rent payments, spending patterns—even social network data—to determine creditworthiness.
Designed for college students or individuals with limited credit history, student credit cards are unsecured cards that often come with lower credit limits and may offer incentives tailored to student needs, such as rewards for good grades or credit education resources.
These unsecured credit cards are issued by specific retail stores and can only be used for purchases at the issuing retailer. They often come with special discounts, rewards, or financing options for store purchases.
Some unsecured credit cards offer low ongoing interest rates or introductory 0% APR periods on purchases or balance transfers, making them suitable for individuals looking to save on interest costs.
These unsecured cards offer rewards programs, such as cash back, travel rewards, or points for purchases, providing cardholders with benefits for using the card for everyday spending.
When considering credit cards for people with bad credit, there are several pros and cons to remember.
Secured and unsecured credit cards differ in how they are backed and who can qualify for them.
Secured credit cards require a security deposit, which serves as collateral and determines the credit limit. These cards are usually available to individuals with poor or no credit history. On the other hand, unsecured credit cards do not require a security deposit but are typically designed for individuals with fair to excellent credit scores.
Unsecured cards rely solely on the borrower's promise to pay, and the credit limit is based on the cardholder's creditworthiness. Secured credit cards often have lower fees and interest rates than unsecured cards, as they pose less risk to the issuer.
An unsecured credit card might make more sense than a secured credit card when you have bad credit but want to build or rebuild your credit history without tying up a significant amount of funds in a security deposit. Additionally, if you are looking for a credit card with rewards, perks, and lower annual fees, an unsecured credit card might be a more attractive option than a secured card.
If your credit score is bad, your primary goal should be to improve it. The best way to raise your credit score is by responsible use of an unsecured credit card. If you can qualify for an unsecured card, you will likely face higher interest rates, fees, and potential penalties than someone with a higher score. Provided you use the card responsibly, these “costs of bad credit” will do little harm and will eventually help qualify you for lower rates and fees, and better rewards because the issuer will want to keep you as a customer.
Yes, there are several unsecured credit cards that are offered to those with credit scores of 500 or less.
These are cards thatare designed for people with bad credit. While many credit cards for those with bad credit, most require the payment of a refundable security deposit. Unsecured cards for people with bad credit may not charge a refundable security deposit, however many have significant annual fees.
Both types of credit cards can help you to rebuild your credit, so long as you use them responsibly. This means paying your bills on-time and carrying very little, if any debt. The difference is that secured credit cards require the payment of a refundable security deposit before your account can be opened, and are less likely to charge an annual fee.
Yes. Some secured credit cards will offer cardholders a refund of their deposit after consistently making their payments on-time, and avoiding debt.
Yes. You will have to qualify for a credit card designed for people with bad credit, like the ones mentioned in this article.
It’s important to only apply for credit cards that are designed for applicants with bad credit. While these cards may require a security deposit, or charge a significant annual fee, you can still be approved.
Some credit cards for people with bad credit offer a prequalification process, which is sometimes called pre-approval. You can typically prequalify for a credit card without it having any effect on your credit.
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