Credit Cards
Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit in 2026
Seven cards that actually approve bad credit applicants — ranked by fees, approval odds, and how fast they rebuild your score.
Quick answer
The best credit card for bad credit is the Discover it® Secured — it has no annual fee, earns 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants, and automatically reviews you for an upgrade to an unsecured card after 7 months of on-time payments. For applicants who want no credit check at all, the OpenSky® Secured Visa® is the easiest to get approved for.
Quick comparison: best credit cards for bad credit
Bad credit is typically defined as a FICO score below 580. Every card on this list is designed to approve applicants in that range. Here's how they compare side by side.
Table: All figures current as of May 2026
| Card | Annual fee | APR | Min. deposit | Credit check | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discover it® Secured Best overall | $0 | 27.74% | $200 | Yes | Cash back + upgrade path |
| Capital One Platinum Secured | $0 | 29.99% | $49–$200 | Yes | Low initial deposit |
| OpenSky® Secured Visa® No check | $35 | 25.64% | $200 | None | Guaranteed approval |
| Chime Credit Builder No fee | $0 | None | Any amount | None | No fees, no interest |
| Petal® 1 Visa® | $0 | 25.24–34.74% | None | Soft pull | No deposit needed |
| Credit One Bank® Platinum | $75 (yr 1), $99 after | 29.74% | None | Yes | No deposit, easy approval |
| Indigo® Mastercard® | $0–$99 | 24.9–29.9% | None | Yes | Bankruptcy OK |
No. 1 — Best overall
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
The only secured card that earns real cash back
★★★★★
Annual fee$0
APR27.74%
Min. deposit$200
Cash back2% gas & dining
Upgrade review7 months
Credit checkHard pull
Pros
- No annual fee
- 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants (up to $1,000/quarter)
- 1% cash back on everything else
- Discover matches all cash back earned in year one
- Automatic upgrade review at 7 months
- Free FICO score monitoring
Cons
- Requires $200 minimum deposit
- Hard credit inquiry on application
- Not accepted everywhere (less coverage than Visa/Mastercard)
Our verdict: The Discover it Secured is the best secured credit card for bad credit by a clear margin. No other secured card offers cash back rewards, a cash back match in year one, and a clear upgrade path to an unsecured card — all with zero annual fee. If you can put together the $200 deposit, start here.
Apply for Discover it Secured →
No. 2
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Lower deposit options for tight budgets
★★★★☆
Annual fee$0
APR29.99%
Min. deposit$49–$200
Upgrade review6 months
Pros
- Some applicants qualify for just $49 deposit
- No annual fee
- Automatic credit line review after 6 months
- Reports to all three bureaus
Cons
- No cash back rewards
- Higher APR than Discover
- Most applicants still need $200
Our verdict: Capital One's lower minimum deposit requirement ($49 for qualifying applicants) makes this card worth considering if cash is tight. The lack of rewards is a real downside compared to Discover, but the upgrade path is solid and Capital One's app is one of the best in the industry.
Apply for Capital One Platinum Secured →
No. 3 — No credit check
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
No credit check required — guaranteed approval with deposit
★★★★☆
Annual fee$35
APR25.64%
Min. deposit$200
Credit checkNone
Pros
- No credit check — anyone with $200 can get approved
- Lower APR than most bad credit cards
- Reports to all three major bureaus
Cons
- $35 annual fee
- No upgrade path to unsecured card
- No rewards program
Our verdict: The OpenSky is the right choice if you've been denied everywhere else or if you have a bankruptcy, collections, or no credit history at all. There is no credit check — if you have $200 for the deposit, you get the card. The $35 annual fee is the cost of that guarantee.
Apply for OpenSky Secured →
How we chose the best credit cards for bad credit
We evaluated over 30 credit cards specifically marketed to applicants with bad credit (FICO scores below 580). Our scoring methodology weighted the following factors:
- Annual fees — Scored 0–25 points. Cards with no annual fee scored highest.
- Upgrade path — Cards with automatic review for unsecured status received up to 20 points.
- Approval odds — Cards that approved the widest range of scores received up to 20 points.
- Deposit requirement — Lower deposits scored higher, with no-deposit cards receiving maximum points.
- Rewards — Bonus points for cash back or other rewards programs.
- APR — Lower APRs scored higher, though we weight this less than fees since credit-building cardholders should pay in full monthly.
Editorial independence
ApprovedCard does not accept payment for positive reviews. Cards are evaluated independently. We may earn a commission when you apply through our links, but this does not influence rankings or scores. Our team reviews and updates this page monthly.
Frequently asked questions
What credit score do you need for a credit card for bad credit?
Most credit cards designed for bad credit accept scores between 300 and 579. Secured cards like the Discover it Secured and OpenSky Secured Visa often approve applicants with scores as low as 300, sometimes with no credit check at all. A score of 500–579 gives you the best chances across the widest range of options.
How long does it take to rebuild credit with a secured card?
Most people see meaningful credit score improvement within 6 to 12 months of responsible use. This means paying on time every month and keeping your utilization below 30%. Some issuers like Discover will automatically review your account for an upgrade to an unsecured card after 7 months of on-time payments.
What is the difference between a secured and unsecured credit card for bad credit?
A secured credit card requires a cash deposit that becomes your credit limit — if you deposit $300, your credit limit is $300. An unsecured card does not require a deposit but typically charges higher fees and interest rates. For bad credit, secured cards are usually easier to get approved for and better for rebuilding credit because the deposit reduces the issuer's risk.
Can you get a credit card with bad credit and no deposit?
Yes. Unsecured credit cards for bad credit like the Petal 1 Visa, Credit One Bank Platinum, and Indigo Mastercard do not require a security deposit. However, they typically have higher APRs and annual fees than secured options. The Petal 1 stands out because it uses a soft credit inquiry and evaluates your banking history, giving people with thin files a better shot at approval.
What is the easiest credit card to get approved for with bad credit?
The OpenSky Secured Visa is the easiest credit card to get with bad credit because it requires no credit check at all — anyone who can fund the $200 minimum deposit will be approved. The Chime Credit Builder is also easy to get and has no annual fee or interest, though it requires an active Chime spending account.
Advertiser disclosure: ApprovedCard is an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. The offers that appear on this site may be from companies from which ApprovedCard receives compensation. This compensation may impact how, where, and in what order products appear. ApprovedCard does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Card terms, rates, and fees are accurate as of the date published and are subject to change. Always verify terms on the issuer's website before applying.