We used an objective rating system to evaluate dozens of the best unsecured credit cards for bad or limited credit. We’ve identified the best cards to help you take control of your finances and avoid expensive fees that unsecured cards for bad credit often charge. Our top picks have low or no annual fees, offer credit-building tools and provide an avenue to build credit through responsible use. Some even earn rewards for spending.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Free credit monitoring tools
The best unsecured credit card for limited credit is the Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card. It offers an unrivaled combination of cash back on every purchase and access to top-notch credit-monitoring tools to build your credit. Plus, you may be eligible to increase your credit limit in as little as six months.
Not what you’re looking for? Check out the best credit cards for limited credit.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.See if you’re preapproved without impacting credit score
The Petal® 1 No Annual Fee Visa® Credit Card tops our list of the best unsecured credit cards for bad credit because it’s light on fees and heavy on credit-building features. You won’t have to pay an annual fee, foreign transaction fee or security deposit, and you can easily check your credit score and track payments in the Petal app.
Not what you’re looking for? Check out the best credit cards for bad credit.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Prequalify without impacting your credit score
If you’re looking for the easiest credit card to get with bad credit, your best bet is the AvantCard Credit Card. It’s designed for consumers with limited / Poor / Fair credit who want access to tools that will help them improve their credit score and take charge of their finances.
Note that despite being easier to get, the AvantCard Credit Card earns a lower score on the LendingTree rating system because it charges an annual fee, high interest rates and late payment fees.
Not what you’re looking for? Check out the easiest credit cards to get.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.The Petal® 2 Cash Back, No Fees Visa® Credit Card offers the best combination of credit-building features and rewards out of all credit cards for consumers with no credit history. Credit cards often charge late payment fees and penalty interest rates when you miss a payment, but you won’t be on the hook for either of these with this card. Plus, you’ll access key credit-building features that will help you improve your credit score so you can qualify for a card with even better benefits.
Not what you’re looking for? Check out the best credit cards for no credit history.
How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?
Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.Earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a payment
The Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® is the best unsecured card for cash back because it offers the most potential rewards earnings of any unsecured card for limited credit. You’ll also get key credit-building features like free access to your credit score and regular reporting to all three credit bureaus.
Note that this card operates like a personal loan – your balance will be divided into equal monthly payments that you’ll make over a set period of time. You’ll owe this fixed monthly payment every month, so if you’re strapped for cash, you won’t be able to make a minimum payment and remain in good standing.
Not what you’re looking for? Check out the best cash back credit cards.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card*
Learn More
on Chase's secure site |
Winner, best unsecured card for limited credit
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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. | With Chase Freedom Rise℠, you can start building 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. |
Learn More
on Chase's secure site |
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Petal® 1 No Annual Fee Visa® Credit Card*
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Best unsecured credit card for bad credit
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N/A | Earn 2% to 10% cash back at select merchants | |
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AvantCard Credit Card*
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Easiest unsecured credit card to get
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None | Non-rewards card | |
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Petal® 2 Cash Back, No Fees Visa® Credit Card*
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Best unsecured credit card for no credit
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N/A | Earn 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away, and 2% to 10% cash back at select merchants | |
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Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®*
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High credit limit
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$200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking Plus account and making 3 debit card transactions* | 1.5% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a payment |
An unsecured credit card is a credit card that doesn’t require a security deposit. Typically, the credit card company (or issuer) will perform a hard credit inquiry to decide whether to approve you for the card.
The primary difference between unsecured and secured credit cards is that secured cards require a security deposit. Because of this, secured credit cards often have lower credit requirements because they can use your security deposit to offset the loss if you don’t make payments on your card.
Aside from the security deposit, the benefits offered by unsecured and secured credit cards are similar. Both card types can help you build credit through responsible use. You can earn rewards with both types of cards, although unsecured credit cards generally offer better rewards and perks.
| Unsecured credit cards for bad/limited credit | Secured credit cards | |
|---|---|---|
| Require a security deposit | ||
| Often come with high fees | ||
| Credit limit based on your deposit | ||
| Credit limit based on your credit history | ||
| Can earn rewards | ||
| Report payment history to credit bureaus |
Whether you want to rebuild your credit or just need a card that’s easy to get, we’ve broken down the different types of credit cards for bad credit and limited credit below.
| What do you want? | We recommend | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Higher approval odds | Easiest credit cards to get |
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| Improve your credit score | Credit cards to build credit |
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| Build credit from scratch | Credit cards for no credit |
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| Higher approval odds and better terms | Secured credit cards |
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| Avoid a credit check/hard credit pull | No-credit-check credit cards | Applying does not affect your credit score |
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| Rebuild credit after an event like bankruptcy | Credit cards to rebuild credit |
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| Know in advance if you’re likely to get the card | Preapproved credit cards |
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Depending on your credit, you may not qualify for an unsecured credit card right now. Consider the following tips to improve your chances of approval for an unsecured card.
Start with a secured credit card
Open a secured card first and use it responsibly, making on-time payments each month to improve your credit score.
Apply through a bank, credit union or store
Applying for a credit card through a financial institution or business you already have a working relationship with may increase your chances of approval. Plus, many store cards come with lower credit requirements (beware, though, as they often have high interest rates).
Pay your bills on time
Few factors affect your credit as much as payment history. By paying your bills on time, you can build up a strong credit history and qualify for a good unsecured credit card.
Pay off debt
One of the best ways to boost your credit score is to pay off credit card debt. Your credit utilization ratio — how much you owe divided by your total credit limit — makes up a significant part of your credit score.
Prequalify
Some card issuers allow you to check eligibility for a card before officially applying for it. Prequalification relies on a soft credit inquiry, which doesn’t affect your credit score, and lets you know whether your credit is good enough to get an unsecured credit card.
Whether you apply for a secured or an unsecured card, it’s important to use it responsibly in order to build a positive credit history. This includes:
To bring you the list of credit cards for building credit, we use an objective rating and ranking system that compares features across a large set of credit cards (over 200 of them from over 50 issuers). We use calculations to estimate the value of each card for the average cardholder, based on LendingTree and U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics.
For credit-building cards, we devote a large part of the score to features that help build credit — we want to help you locate cards that don’t cost a lot to own and get help you upgrade to better card offers.
Note, that our ratings are a starting point for comparing and choosing the best credit card for building credit. However, your needs may be different from the average cardholder. You should consider the amount you’re likely to spend in a card’s bonus categories and which benefits you value to choose the best card for you.
A 500 credit score limits your options considerably, but it’s still possible to qualify for an unsecured credit with a score this low. Look for cards that allow you to prequalify for approval without affecting your credit score.
Yes. Some credit card issuers allow you to upgrade from a secured credit card to an unsecured card after meeting specific account milestones, like a number of consecutive on-time monthly payments.
You can still qualify for some unsecured credit cards with bad credit. These cards typically come with higher interest rates and fewer benefits and perks.
You can build credit at the same rate whether you have a secured or unsecured credit card by spending responsibly and paying off your card balance on time each month. Both card types report monthly payments to the three major credit bureaus.
The information related to the Chase Freedom Rise℠ Credit Card, Petal® 1 No Annual Fee Visa® Credit Card, AvantCard Credit Card, Petal® 2 Cash Back, No Fees Visa® Credit Card and Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
The content above is not provided by any issuer. Any opinions expressed are those of LendingTree alone and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any issuer. The offers and/or promotions mentioned above may have changed, expired, or are no longer available. Check the issuer's website for more details.
