Credit Cards That Offer Pre-Qual or Preapproval Without a Hard Pull
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When you apply for a credit card, the card issuer usually conducts what's known as a hard inquiry or "hard pull" on your credit report to determine your creditworthiness. Hard inquiries can knock points off your credit scores temporarily.
However, many of the biggest credit card issuers offer a pre-qualification or preapproval process that lets you avoid that hit to your scores, at least initially. These screening processes look at your basic credit information and run a "soft" credit check to determine your likelihood of approval. Soft inquiries don't affect your scores.
Then, if you decide to formally apply for the card, the hard pull will still happen (although not always). But the prescreening process will have given you a good sense of where you stand — whether the hard pull is going to be worth it. A few credit cards will even show you your specific offer, including credit limit and APR, before you accept the hard pull.
Unlike with mortgages, the distinction between credit card "pre-qualification" and "preapproval" isn't as clear, and some card issuers even use the terms interchangeably. Generally, preapproved offers are a bit more official in terms of your odds, but in either case, issuers try to match you with cards that best fit your credit. The most reliable offers are preapprovals from a bank you have a relationship with. That bank already has the information it needs to make a decision.
Issuer pre-qualification pages
Each issuer requires different information to process a pre-qualification request. The table below provides links to issuer pre-qualification pages, as well as what's required from you.
Issuer | Required Information |
|---|---|
Full name, address, last 4 digits of your Social Security number, income (optional) | |
Full name, address, date of birth, last 4 digits of your Social Security number, what kind of card you want | |
Full name, address, date of birth, your full Social Security number, what kind of card you want | |
Full name, address, last 4 digits of your Social Security number | |
Full name, address, last 4 digits of your Social Security number, what kind of card you want. | |
Full name, address, birth date, full Social Security number, whether you’re a student, whether you have bank accounts, housing status, income, what kind of card you want | |
* If you currently have an American Express card that you manage online, you may have to clear your browser cookies or use an "incognito" browser window to see the pre-qualification page. | |
Issuers don't necessarily make all cards available for pre-qualification at all times. In April 2021, for example, Capital One was offering "pre-qual" for only a handful of cards, and Citi was offering it on no cards at that time.
» MORE: Pre-qualify through NerdWallet
Top credit cards that offer preapproval without a hard pull
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
Our pick for: No credit check at all
WHY WE LIKE IT
The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is a rarity even among secured credit cards, in that it allows you to qualify without a bank account or any kind of credit check. It requires a minimum $200 security deposit, which sets the amount of your credit limit. With a good payment history, you'll get this money back once you move on to a different credit card and close the account. Payments are reported to all three major credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. These companies gather the information used to calculate your credit scores. The card has a $35 annual fee.
Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students
Our pick for: Student-friendly features
WHY WE LIKE IT
International and domestic students can build credit and earn rewards with the Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students. The card offers a pre-qualification process, but because of Deserve’s alternative underwriting standards, it's possible to qualify for the card with no credit history. (International students may even qualify without a Social Security number.) It has a $0 annual fee.
Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card
Our pick for: Beginner-friendly features
WHY WE LIKE IT
The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card offers a preapproval process, but the card's issuer (WebBank) can look at more than just traditional FICO scores to determine creditworthiness, potentially making it easier for those new to credit to qualify based on income, savings and spending, for example. The card earns rewards and has a $0 annual fee.
Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
Our pick for: Fixed monthly payments
WHY WE LIKE IT
The Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® combines features of both a credit card and a personal loan, making budgeting easier with fixed monthly payments when you don’t pay off your monthly bill in full. The issuer charges a fixed interest rate on any balance remaining. Depending on your creditworthiness, you’ll have 24 to 60 months to pay off the amount in installments, though you can also prepay without penalty. You’ll see your potential credit limit when you go through the preapproval process, before you officially apply and accept the terms of the card — visibility that isn't generally offered in a standard application process. The card reports to the three major credit bureaus, and the annual fee is $0.
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Average credit and rewards
NOTE: Preapproval for this card is available only by going through the preapproval page on Capital One's website.
WHY WE LIKE IT
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is available to those with average credit (FICO scores of at least 630), and you can determine your odds of eligibility with the card's pre-qualification process. It earns a solid 1.5% cash back on purchases, and cardholders may be considered for a potential credit limit increase in as little as six months with on-time payments. You won't get a shot at earning a sign-up bonus or a 0% intro APR period, though, and there's an annual fee.
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
Our pick for: Average credit and no annual fee
NOTE: Preapproval for this card is available only by going through the preapproval page on Capital One's website.
WHY WE LIKE IT
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is a low-maintenance option ideal for those with average credit. As with the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, you can pre-qualify quickly and know where you stand and, if approved, you might potentially qualify for a higher credit limit within six months. It doesn’t offer rewards like that other card does, but it doesn't charge the annual fee, either.
AvantCard Credit Card
Our pick for: Limited credit
WHY WE LIKE IT
The AvantCard Credit Card offers a chance to build credit without a security deposit. You can determine your odds of approval through the card's pre-qualification process. Over time, you may also qualify for a higher credit limit. The issuer periodically reviews accounts for potential credit limit increases. Payments are reported to all three major credit bureaus. It has a $39 annual fee.
BlockFi Rewards Visa® Signature Credit Card
Our pick for: Earning crypto
WHY WE LIKE IT
The defining characteristic of the BlockFi Rewards Visa® Signature Credit Card is earning bitcoin as a reward. It offers 1.5% back in bitcoin on all spending and 2% back after spending $30,000 in a year. When you apply, you first seek preapproval, which involves only a soft inquiry on your credit. If you accept the card offer, the issuer will do a hard pull. Preapproval also will note your proposed credit limit and interest rate. You’ll need good to excellent credit. The annual fee is $0.
Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
Our pick for: Good credit
NOTE: Pre-qualification for this card is available only by going through the pre-qualification page on the American Express website.
WHY WE LIKE IT
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express offers a pre-qualification process, though you'll need at least good credit to get this product (FICO scores of 690 and up). It earns 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000 spent per year, then 1%); 3% back at U.S. gas stations (on up to $6,000 spent per year); 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases (on up to $6,000 spent per year); and 1% on all other purchases. It has a $0 annual fee. Terms apply (see rates and fees).
Apple Card
Our pick for: Instant gratification
WHY WE LIKE IT
If it’s your priority to have the latest Apple gadget and you’re an avid Apple Pay user, you can get good value from the Apple Card. It earns 3% cash back on qualifying Apple Pay purchases made at Apple and at a handful of other select merchants. All other purchases with the card via Apple Pay earn 2% cash back. (You earn only 1% back when you use the physical card.) The Apple Card also offers instant gratification, both when it comes to the approval process and receiving rewards. You can use the card instantly upon approval and redeem rewards more or less immediately after earning them, no waiting period required. A pre-qualification process allows you to see your terms — including credit limit and APR — before accepting the offer and officially applying. It has a $0 annual fee.
HMBradley Credit Card
Our pick for: HMBradley customers
WHY WE LIKE IT
HMBradley bank account holders with good credit may receive an offer link in their account dashboards for the HMBradley credit card, which offers automatic rewards that you can customize in frequent spending categories. You’ll earn 3% cash back in your highest spending category per statement cycle, 2% back on the second-highest spending category and 1% on all other purchases. As with the Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® and the Apple Card, you'll be able to see some of the terms you qualify for before you accept the offer. The card costs $5 per month to carry ($60 per year), but that fee is waived in the first year.
To view rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, see this page.
