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Best credit cards

Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit

Research secured and credit-building cards with lower eligibility barriers.

How to compare best credit cards for bad credit

Credit-building cards should be evaluated primarily by fees, deposit requirements, credit checks, reporting, and upgrade paths. Rewards are secondary when the main goal is establishing a positive payment history.

Cards in this category

42 cards
Best for cash back
Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard Celtic Bank
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4.6 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard

Celtic Bank · Mastercard

Annual fee
$85
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
1%
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Celtic Bank's site
Why we like it
  • Fraud-liability protection
  • Cash-back earning focus
Best for no annual fee
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card Bank of America
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card

Bank of America · Visa

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
200 points
Rewards rate
1%
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Bank of America's site
Why we like it
  • Fraud-liability protection
  • No yearly card fee
Best for no annual fee
Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card Bank of America
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card

Bank of America · Visa

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
1.5%
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Bank of America's site
Why we like it
  • No yearly card fee
Best for no annual fee
Brex Card Brex
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Brex Card

Brex · Mastercard

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
75,000 points
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Brex's site
Why we like it
  • No yearly card fee
  • Business spending features
Best for no annual fee
Capital One Platinum Credit Card Capital One
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Capital One · Mastercard

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Capital One's site
Why we like it
  • No yearly card fee
Best for no annual fee
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card Capital One
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Capital One · Mastercard

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Capital One's site
Why we like it
  • Fraud-liability protection
  • No yearly card fee
Best for no annual fee
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One · Mastercard

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Capital One's site
Why we like it
  • Fraud-liability protection
  • No yearly card fee
Best for no annual fee
Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Capital One Quicksilver Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One · Visa

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
100 points
Rewards rate
1.5%
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Capital One's site
Why we like it
  • Fraud-liability protection
  • No yearly card fee
Best for general
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One
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4.6 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One · Mastercard

Annual fee
$39
Welcome bonus
200 points
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Capital One's site
Why we like it
  • Issuer terms and applicant profile determine available benefits
Best for no annual fee
Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One · Visa

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
100 points
Rewards rate
1%
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Capital One's site
Why we like it
  • Fraud-liability protection
  • No yearly card fee
Best for cash back
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One
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4.6 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Capital One · Mastercard

Annual fee
$39
Welcome bonus
200 points
Rewards rate
1%
Intro APR
0% · 12mo
See rates & apply on Capital One's site
Why we like it
  • Intro APR or transfer-focused terms
  • Extended warranty coverage may be included
  • Cash-back earning focus
Best for no annual fee
Capital One Spark 1% Classic for Business Credit Card Capital One
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Capital One Spark 1% Classic for Business Credit Card

Capital One · Visa

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
1%
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Capital One's site
Why we like it
  • Employee card controls may be available
  • No yearly card fee
  • Business spending features
Best for no annual fee
Chime Visa® Credit Card Chime
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Chime Visa® Credit Card

Chime · Visa

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Chime's site
Why we like it
  • Partner status benefits may apply
  • No yearly card fee
Best for no annual fee
Citi® Secured Mastercard® Citi
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Citi® Secured Mastercard®

Citi · Mastercard

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Citi's site
Why we like it
  • Fraud-liability protection
  • No yearly card fee
Best for general
Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit Credit One Bank
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4.6 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit

Credit One Bank · Visa

Annual fee
$99
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Credit One Bank's site
Why we like it
  • Fraud-liability protection
Best for travel
Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card Credit One Bank
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4.6 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card

Credit One Bank · American Express

Annual fee
$95
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Credit One Bank's site
Why we like it
  • Travel-focused card positioning
Best for no annual fee
Current Build Visa® Credit Card Current
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Current Build Visa® Credit Card

Current · Visa

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Current's site
Why we like it
  • No yearly card fee
Best for no annual fee
Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students Deserve
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students

Deserve · Mastercard

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
59 points
Rewards rate
1%
Intro APR
0% · 6mo
See rates & apply on Deserve's site
Why we like it
  • Intro APR or transfer-focused terms
  • Cell phone protection may be available
  • No yearly card fee
Best for no annual fee
Discover it® Secured Credit Card Discover
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Discover · Discover

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
2 points
Rewards rate
1%
Intro APR
0% · 15mo
See rates & apply on Discover's site
Why we like it
  • Intro APR or transfer-focused terms
  • No yearly card fee
Best for no annual fee
Discover it® Student Cash Back Credit Card Discover
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Discover it® Student Cash Back Credit Card

Discover · Discover

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
2 points
Rewards rate
1%
Intro APR
0% · 6mo
See rates & apply on Discover's site
Why we like it
  • Intro APR or transfer-focused terms
  • No yearly card fee
Best for no annual fee
Discover it® Student Chrome Credit Card Discover
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Discover it® Student Chrome Credit Card

Discover · Discover

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
2 points
Rewards rate
1%
Intro APR
0% · 6mo
See rates & apply on Discover's site
Why we like it
  • Intro APR or transfer-focused terms
  • No yearly card fee
Best for secured
Fifth Third Secured Credit Card Fifth Third Bank
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4.6 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Fifth Third Secured Credit Card

Fifth Third Bank · Mastercard

Annual fee
$24
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Fifth Third Bank's site
Why we like it
  • Fraud-liability protection
Best for secured
First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard Secured Credit Card First Progress
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4.6 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard Secured Credit Card

First Progress · Mastercard

Annual fee
$49
Welcome bonus
30 points
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on First Progress' site
Why we like it
  • Issuer terms and applicant profile determine available benefits
Best for no annual fee
Grow Credit Mastercard Grow Credit
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Grow Credit Mastercard

Grow Credit · Mastercard

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
0% intro
See rates & apply on Grow Credit's site
Why we like it
  • No yearly card fee
Best for general
Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit Celtic Bank
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4.6 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit

Celtic Bank · Mastercard

Annual fee
$75
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Celtic Bank's site
Why we like it
  • Fraud-liability protection
Best for secured
Merrick Bank Double Your Line® Secured Credit Card Merrick Bank
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4.6 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Merrick Bank Double Your Line® Secured Credit Card

Merrick Bank · Mastercard

Annual fee
$36
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Merrick Bank's site
Why we like it
  • Fraud-liability protection
Best for no annual fee
Mission Lane Cash Back Visa® Credit Card Mission Lane LLC
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Mission Lane Cash Back Visa® Credit Card

Mission Lane LLC · Visa

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
1.5%
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Mission Lane LLC's site
Why we like it
  • No yearly card fee
Best for no annual fee
Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards® Secured Credit Card Navy Federal Credit Union
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Navy Federal Credit Union cashRewards® Secured Credit Card

Navy Federal Credit Union · Visa or Mastercard

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
1%
Intro APR
0% · 12mo
See rates & apply on Navy Federal Credit Union's site
Why we like it
  • Intro APR or transfer-focused terms
  • No yearly card fee
Best for no annual fee
Navy Federal GO REWARDS® Credit Card Navy Federal
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Navy Federal GO REWARDS® Credit Card

Navy Federal · Visa

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
0% · 6mo
See rates & apply on Navy Federal's site
Why we like it
  • Intro APR or transfer-focused terms
  • No yearly card fee
Best for secured
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card OpenSky
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4.6 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

OpenSky · Visa

Annual fee
$35
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
Merchant offers only
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on OpenSky's site
Why we like it
  • Issuer terms and applicant profile determine available benefits
Best for no annual fee
Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card WebBank
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card

WebBank · Visa

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
1%
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on WebBank's site
Why we like it
  • No yearly card fee
Best for no annual fee
PNC Secured Visa Credit Card PNC
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

PNC Secured Visa Credit Card

PNC · Visa

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
0% · 15mo
See rates & apply on PNC's site
Why we like it
  • Intro APR or transfer-focused terms
  • Fraud-liability protection
  • No yearly card fee
Best for no annual fee
Secured Chime Visa® Credit Card Chime
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Secured Chime Visa® Credit Card

Chime · Visa

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Chime's site
Why we like it
  • Partner status benefits may apply
  • No yearly card fee
Best for secured
Secured Self Visa® Credit Card Self
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4.6 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Secured Self Visa® Credit Card

Self · Visa

Annual fee
$25
Welcome bonus
20 points
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Self's site
Why we like it
  • Issuer terms and applicant profile determine available benefits
Best for no annual fee
Stripe Corporate Card Stripe
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Stripe Corporate Card

Stripe · Visa

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
1.5%
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Stripe's site
Why we like it
  • No yearly card fee
  • Business spending features
Best for no annual fee
The Home Depot® Consumer Credit Card Citi
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

The Home Depot® Consumer Credit Card

Citi · Other

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
100 points
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
0% · 12mo
See rates & apply on Citi's site
Why we like it
  • No yearly card fee
Best for no annual fee
Tomo Charge Card Tomo
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Tomo Charge Card

Tomo · Mastercard

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
1%
Intro APR
0% intro
See rates & apply on Tomo's site
Why we like it
  • No yearly card fee
Best for no annual fee
Truist Enjoy Cash Secured Visa credit card Truist
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Truist Enjoy Cash Secured Visa credit card

Truist · Visa

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
1%
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Truist's site
Why we like it
  • Fraud-liability protection
  • No yearly card fee
Best for no annual fee
Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® Upgrade
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®

Upgrade · Visa

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
200 points
Rewards rate
1.5%
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Upgrade's site
Why we like it
  • Fraud-liability protection
  • No yearly card fee
  • Cash-back earning focus
Best for no annual fee
Upgrade Secured OneCard Upgrade
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Upgrade Secured OneCard

Upgrade · Visa

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
$200
Rewards rate
2%
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Upgrade's site
Why we like it
  • Fraud-liability protection
  • No yearly card fee
Best for no annual fee
Varo Believe Secured Credit Card Varo
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4.7 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Varo Believe Secured Credit Card

Varo · Visa

Annual fee
$0
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Varo's site
Why we like it
  • No yearly card fee
Best for secured
Wells Fargo Secured Credit Card Wells Fargo
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4.6 ★★★★★
Wafa rating

Wells Fargo Secured Credit Card

Wells Fargo · Visa

Annual fee
$25
Welcome bonus
Check terms
Rewards rate
See reward details
Intro APR
Check terms
See rates & apply on Wells Fargo's site
Why we like it
  • Cell phone protection may be available