5 best credit cards for bad credit in April 2023

Written by
Ashley Parks
Edited by
Courtney Mihocik
Reviewed by
Sally Herigstad
Edited by
Courtney Mihocik
Reviewed by
Sally Herigstad
Updated March 31, 2023

People with bad credit scores (in the 300 to 579 FICO score range) can benefit from using a card designed specifically for them. Building or repairing your credit can make it easier to open doors with lenders, landlords and even potential employers. To make it easier to find a card that fits your needs, we’ve compiled the best credit cards for bad credit available from our partners.

Image of Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card

BEST UNSECURED CARD FOR BAD CREDIT

Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card
Apply now Lock
on Mission Lane's secure site
3.4 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

N/A

Annual fee

$0 - $59

Regular APR

26.99% - 29.99% (Variable)

Recommended credit

Bad to Fair (300 – 670)
Info
Image of Self - Credit Builder Account with Secured Visa® Credit Card

Best for building credit with savings

Self - Credit Builder Account with Secured Visa® Credit Card
Apply now Lock
on Self's secure site
3.1 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

N/A

Annual fee

$25

Regular APR

26.99% (Variable)

Recommended credit

No Credit History
Info
Image of Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Best for rebuilding credit

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Apply now Lock
on Capital One's secure site
4.2 Bankrate review
Info

Intro offer

N/A

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

29.99% (Variable)

Recommended credit

No Credit History
Info
Image of Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Best secured card with rewards

Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Apply now Lock
on Discover's secure site
5.0 Bankrate review
Info
See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

Cashback Match™
Info

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

27.74% Variable APR

Recommended credit

No Credit History
Info
Image of Zolve Azpire Credit Builder Card + Checking Account

Best for building credit with no interest

Zolve Azpire Credit Builder Card + Checking Account
Apply now Lock
on Zolve's secure site
4.0 Bankrate review
Info
See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

N/A

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

0% APR

Recommended credit

No Credit History
Info
On This Page

Compare Bankrate’s best cards for bad credit

Card Name Our pick for Recommended Credit Score Bankrate Review Score
Mission Lane Visa Credit Card Unsecured card for bad credit Bad to fair (300–670) 3.4 / 5
(Read full card review)
Self – Credit Builder Account with Secured Visa Credit Card Building credit with savings No credit history 3.1 / 5
(Read full card review)
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card Rebuilding credit No credit history 4.2 / 5
(Read full card review)
Discover it® Secured Credit Card Secured card with rewards No credit history 5 / 5
(Read full card review)
Zolve Azpire Credit Builder Card + Checking Account Building credit with no interest No credit history 3.5 / 5 
(Read full card review)

A closer look at top credit cards for bad credit

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Best unsecured card for bad credit

Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card

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This card is a straightforward credit-building tool. It doesn’t come with a lot of the bells and whistles of traditional credit cards, but it makes up for it by being an accessible, inexpensive option for building credit.
People who want an unsecured card to start their credit-building journey. The annual fee is reasonable, and there is no need to tie up your funds in a security deposit.
If you’re looking for a card that will give you a higher credit limit to work with, it may be worth it to consider other options. The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card  matches your credit limit with your security deposit, so your credit limit can be as high or low as you’d like.
Image of

Best for building credit with savings

Self - Credit Builder Account with Secured Visa® Credit Card

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When you’re approved for the Self Visa card, you’re granted a loan that’s placed into an interest-bearing account. Repayments of that loan are reported to the credit bureaus, helping you boost your credit score. Once you’ve repaid the loan, the principal and interest can be used as a security deposit for your credit card.
People who want to build their credit and their savings simultaneously.
If you’re looking for access to a line of credit immediately, a secured card like the Citi® Secured Mastercard® could be the right choice. The $200 minimum security deposit could be refunded after 18 months of using the card responsibly.
Image of

Best for rebuilding credit

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

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With its automatic credit line review after six months of responsible use and a relatively low security deposit, the Capital One Platinum Secured is a cost-efficient credit-building tool.
Simplicity-lovers building their credit scores. There’s not a lot of fluff that comes with this card — you won’t earn cash back or points.
If you’re not willing to tie up money in a security deposit, you may be eligible for an unsecured credit card like the Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card
Image of

Best secured card with rewards

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

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It’s rare to find a secured credit card with features and benefits that mimic those of a top rewards card. This card not only earns rewards but also touts notable features like Cashback Match™ and no annual fee.
Credit-builders who want to avoid annual fees, earn rewards and lay the foundation for responsible credit use. Its minimal fees and rewards structure gives it a leg up over other secured cards.
If paying a security deposit isn’t an option for you, there are unsecured credit cards that are open to people with low credit scores. The Mission Lane Visa Credit Card is a relatively low-cost — if bare-bones — option for people who have bad credit.
Image of

Best for building credit with no interest

Zolve Azpire Credit Builder Card + Checking Account

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It doesn’t require any credit history or credit check to apply, making it a low-barrier option for people who need to start building credit. The Azpire also accepts alternate identification, like a passport or ITIN to apply.
People who don’t want — or can’t qualify for — a traditional card for bad credit, as it uses a deposit account to fund purchases with the card.
It’s hard to find a true alternative, but the Self - Credit Builder Account with Secured Visa helps people improve their credit mix by including a credit-builder loan. The loan account acts as the security deposit and credit limit for the Visa card.
Jump back to offer details.

What is a bad credit score?

A bad credit score — a FICO score under 579 — can happen for a number of reasons and negatively impact your finances. Defaulting on loans, missing credit card payments or even opening too many credit cards can negatively impact your credit score. If you’re a victim of credit card fraud or identity theft, your credit score could also take a hit, making it more difficult to qualify for the financial products and services you need. Renting an apartment, getting a credit card or applying for a mortgage all become more difficult with poor credit. Thankfully, there are ways to build your credit with a credit card. 

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Bankrate Insight

Checking your credit score regularly is a good financial practice that can help you spot inaccuracies. Spotting inaccuracies on your credit report can help you keep your credit report tidy, making it easier to get and keep your credit score where it needs to be. Luckily “cleaning” your credit report is a fairly easy five-step process.

Types of credit cards for bad credit

When to use a credit card for bad credit

Even with bad credit, a credit card can still be a useful tool. You can use a card to help you establish credit and boost your credit file or to begin fixing past credit mistakes. Here’s when it’s smart to use a credit card for bad credit: 

  • Credit Fair

    When your credit score is under 579

    It goes without saying that if you have bad credit, your chances of getting many of the best credit cards are slim. If you’re set on getting a credit card, getting one made for people with bad credit is one of your best options. 
  • Ribbon

    When you’re ready to repair your credit

    If you’ve made mistakes in the past and are ready to give credit-building another try, using a credit card for bad credit can help get you back on track. As long as you’re ready to make on-time payments, keep your credit utilization ratio under 30 percent and practice other responsible credit habits, then you can get on the right path to a good or excellent credit score and better card options. 
  • Credit Card

    When you’re getting your first credit card

    While you may not necessarily have bad credit, not having any credit is just as limiting. Many credit cards for bad credit are also some of the best for no credit history. People who are new to credit can try starter credit cards and first-generation credit users can find cards that meet their needs in many of our featured cards.

How to build your credit score with a credit card

Responsible credit card use is one of the best ways to build a positive credit history and move on to the next stage of your credit journey: Finding a credit card for fair credit. Here are five tips to follow to help you improve a bad credit score:

  1. Apply for a card that best fits your needs

    Once you’ve established a budget and you know where you spend the most, apply for a credit card that aligns best with your financial needs and lifestyle. Opening a card, especially if it's your first credit account, will establish your credit and get the ball rolling on building a good score.

  2. Practice good credit habits

    To increase your credit score, you need to pay your bills on time, keep a healthy amount of available credit, maintain low balances when possible and not spend beyond your means. Credit monitoring systems will reward you as enough time passes and errors fall off your credit report.

  3. Keep accounts open

    As time goes on, you may outgrow your starter credit card. While it may make sense to close a secured credit card or an unused card with an annual fee, there are consequences to closing a credit card. To protect your credit score, you should consider keeping your accounts open. The longer your accounts are open, the more available credit you have, and you’ll maintain the length of your credit history. Both of these factors greatly affect your credit score. However, if you feel enticed to overspend on a card or there’s too many fees, it’s best to close the account to avoid undoing any hard work.
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Bankrate Insight

While your first priority should be building up your credit if you have a low score, having bad credit won’t necessarily stop you from getting a rewards credit card. Travel rewards credit cards are some of the most popular, and there are travel credit cards for people with bad or fair credit available, though approval is not guaranteed. 

Credit-building alternatives to credit cards

Although responsible use of a credit card is a great way to build credit, it’s not the only way. In many cases you’re better off building your credit without using a credit card — perhaps your credit score isn’t in the right place (many credit cards aimed at people with low scores are predatory in nature) or because you’re simply not ready to carry the responsibility of using a credit card wisely. In either case, there are plenty of suitable options for people looking to build their credit without using a credit card.

Get a credit-builder loan

A credit-builder loan is a great tool for someone who doesn’t have strong enough credit to be approved for a credit card, but still hopes to build their credit score. With a credit-builder loan, you’ll receive the loan amount (usually between $300 to $1,000 dollars) to a secure account that you won’t have access to right away. You’ll make a fixed monthly payment until you’ve paid off the entire amount of the loan and then get the full amount back. All of your payments will be reported to the three credit bureaus, which boosts your credit score over time.

Repay an existing loan

Repaying an existing loan — like a car or student loan — can help you improve your credit score if you pay on time and pay your entire balance each month. All loan payments are reported to the credit bureaus by the lender. Conversely, defaulting on a loan, or not making payments in a timely manner can negatively affect your credit score.

Report existing bills

A tool like Experian Boost can help you build your credit score quickly by adding alternative data to your credit report. The Experian Boost service lets users add cell phone bills, cable and internet bills, gas bills, electric bills and bills for streaming services to their credit reports. Traditionally these types of bills had no impact on your credit report because they weren’t reported to the three credit bureaus, but with Experian Boost these payments are used by FICO to calculate your score. Other services similar to Experian Boost are Experian Go, UltraFICO and eCredable Lift. Experian Go in particular doesn’t require an existing credit score to use.

Video guide: What to do if your credit card application is denied


How we chose our list of top cards for bad credit

Bankrate uses a 5-star scoring system that evaluates credit cards based on annual fees, APR , sign-up bonuses, rewards programs and other features. For credit cards tailored to people with poor or bad credit, we focus on the attributes you might be most concerned about when selecting a new credit card.
  • Checkmark
    Annual fee
    Getting charged a fee every year for being a cardholder can eat into the value you’re getting from your card. We look for benefits that help make up for the cost of an annual fee or skip it altogether.
  • Checkmark
    0% introductory APR offer
    The annual percentage rate is the rate of interest you’ll have to pay on your outstanding balance. The longer the period with a 0 percent APR, the better.
  • Checkmark
    Balance transfer offer
    When you move part or all of the outstanding balance you owe from one lender to another, for a small fee, this is called a balance transfer. Transferring a balance can be a tool to consolidate debt, pay down what you owe at a lower rate and improve your credit score.
  • Checkmark
    Rewards
    Even if your credit score isn’t perfect, there are cards that offer fantastic rewards that help you earn cash back, points, or miles on what you’re spending every day. We evaluate the rewards and identify which card is a good fit for different types of spenders.
  • Checkmark
    Path to upgrade
    One of the key features of a good credit card for bad credit is a clear path to an upgrade as you practice good credit habits and build your score. This upgrade could be in the form of a credit line increase or an easier application process for another card from the same issuer.

Further reading on bad credit credit cards

Having bad credit is an uphill battle, but being informed and armed with research is the best tool in your arsenal. Here’s more information on credit cards and bad credit:

Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.
 
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply. 

Frequently asked questions about credit cards for bad credit

Ashley Parks Arrow Right Credit Cards Editor
As a Bankrate credit cards editor, Ashley Parks is fascinated by the ways people can make credit cards work for them when armed with the right knowledge.
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Courtney Mihocik Arrow Right Credit Cards Editor
Courtney Mihocik is an editor at Bankrate Credit Cards and CreditCards.com specializing in credit card news and personal finance advice. Previously, she led insurance content at…

* See the online application for details about terms and conditions for these offers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information. However all credit card information is presented without warranty. After you click on the offer you desire you will be directed to the credit card issuer's web site where you can review the terms and conditions for your selected offer.

Editorial Disclosure: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. The information, including card rates and fees, is accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information.