About ApprovedCard
Independent credit card comparison for people rebuilding their financial life.
Who we are
ApprovedCard is an independent financial comparison site focused exclusively on credit products for people with bad credit (FICO scores below 580). Our editorial team includes certified credit counselors and financial writers with over a decade of experience. Every card on our site is reviewed by a human analyst, scored against our published methodology, and updated on the first of every month.
Our team
Senior Credit Analyst · AFC® Certified · 11 years experience in consumer credit
Lead Researcher · 8 years covering credit card products and personal finance
How we rate cards
Every card is scored on six factors. No issuer can pay to improve their score.
- Annual fees (25 pts) — No annual fee scores highest.
- Upgrade path (20 pts) — Clear route to unsecured card or higher limit.
- Approval odds (20 pts) — How wide a range of scores and histories are accepted.
- Deposit requirement (15 pts) — Lower deposits score higher.
- Rewards (10 pts) — Any cash back or points is a bonus.
- APR (10 pts) — Weighted lower since responsible users pay in full monthly.
How we make money
ApprovedCard earns a commission when you are approved for a credit card through our links. This is paid by the card issuer, not by you. Our commissions do not influence rankings — we have declined partnerships with issuers whose cards did not meet our standards. See our full affiliate disclosure.
Contact
Editorial: editorial@approvedcard.guide
Partnerships: partners@approvedcard.guide