Easiest Credit Cards to Get of December 2025
Updated: Dec 5, 2025
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Some credit cards are easier to get approved for than others. Some require a security deposit. Some use a special process to evaluate applications that doesn't rely so much on established credit history. And some charge fees to compensate for the risk of extending credit to consumers whom other issuers won't serve. Approval is never guaranteed for any card, however. Even if the issuer has a fairly low bar for approval, your income and other factors can affect your application.
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400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
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Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards.
Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today,
The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America"
and many other national, regional and local media outlets.
Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
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Some credit cards are easier to get approved for than others. Some require a security deposit. Some use a special process to evaluate applications that doesn't rely so much on established credit history. And some charge fees to compensate for the risk of extending credit to consumers whom other issuers won't serve. Approval is never guaranteed for any card, however. Even if the issuer has a fairly low bar for approval, your income and other factors can affect your application.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Some credit cards are easier to get approved for than others. Some require a security deposit. Some use a special process to evaluate applications that doesn't rely so much on established credit history. And some charge fees to compensate for the risk of extending credit to consumers whom other issuers won't serve. Approval is never guaranteed for any card, however. Even if the issuer has a fairly low bar for approval, your income and other factors can affect your application.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Some credit cards are easier to get approved for than others. Some require a security deposit. Some use a special process to evaluate applications that doesn't rely so much on established credit history. And some charge fees to compensate for the risk of extending credit to consumers whom other issuers won't serve. Approval is never guaranteed for any card, however. Even if the issuer has a fairly low bar for approval, your income and other factors can affect your application.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
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NerdWallet's Easiest Credit Cards to Get of December 2025
opensky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card: Best for No credit check and no bank account required
Chime Card™: Best for No credit check + flexibility and guardrails
The secured Self Visa® Credit Card: Best for No upfront deposit or hard credit check
Discover it® Student Chrome: Best for College students
Grow Credit Mastercard: Best for Building credit with subscriptions
Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card: Best for International students and immigrants
Current Build Card: Best for No credit check and no minimum security deposit
Zolve Classic Credit Card: Best for Unsecured cards: International students and immigrants
Easiest Credit Cards to Get
| Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Intro APR | Regular APR | Learn more |
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FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: EASIEST CREDIT CARDS TO GET
Before applying, verify details on issuer's website.
opensky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card
Our pick for: No credit check and no bank account required
Like the regular opensky card, the opensky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card doesn't require a credit check or a bank account. This card, however, charges an annual fee of $0 — at the cost of a higher minimum deposit and a higher interest rate. Read our review.
Chime Card™
Our pick for: No credit check + flexibility and guardrails
This card has no minimum deposit requirement, charges neither an annual fee nor interest, and doesn't require a credit check, and you can automate your payments so you're never late. But to get it, you must be a Chime® banking customer, which is an extra hoop to jump through — and which comes with its own considerations when it comes to customer service. Read our review.
See more from Chime®
Chime says the following:
The Chime Card™ is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your card for its issuing bank.
Based on a representative study conducted by Experian® in January 2024, members who made their first purchase with Credit Builder, an earlier version of the Chime Card™, between June 2022 and October 2022 observed an average FICO® Score 8 increase of 30 points after approximately 8 months. A credit score improvement is not guaranteed. On-time payment history can have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score. Activity on other credit accounts may also impact your score.
On-time payment history may have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score. Chime will report your activities to Transunion®, Experian®, and Equifax®. Impact on your credit may vary, as Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations.
Money added to the Chime Card™ will be held in a secured deposit account as collateral for your Chime Card™, and you can spend up to this amount. You can use money deposited in your Secured Deposit Account to pay off your charges at the end of every month.
Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and over the counter advance fees may apply.
SpotMe® on the card is an optional, no interest / no fee overdraft line of credit tied to the Secured Deposit Account available to qualifying members with an active Chime Card™. To qualify for the SpotMe service, you must receive $200 or more in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account each month and have activated your physical secured Chime Card™ or Chime Visa® Debit Card. Qualifying members will be allowed to overdraw their Secured Deposit Account up to $20, but may later be eligible for a higher limit of up to $200 or more based on Chime account history, direct deposit frequency and amount, spending activity and other risk-based factors. The SpotMe Limit will be displayed within the Chime mobile app and is subject to change at any time, at Chime’s or its banking partners’ discretion. Although Chime does not charge any overdraft fees for SpotMe, there may be out-of-network or third-party fees associated with ATM transactions and fees associated with OTC cash withdrawals. SpotMe won’t cover non-card transactions. SpotMe Terms and Conditions.
With a qualifying direct deposit, earn 1.5% cash back on eligible secured Chime Visa® Credit Card purchases.
Current Build Card
Our pick for: No credit check and no minimum security deposit
The Current Build Card has an annual fee of $0 (see terms). It doesn't require a credit check, making it a solid option for those with bad or no credit. Other perks include no APR and no minimum security deposit. On top of all that, the card also earns rewards. Read our review.
Discover it® Student Chrome
Our pick for: College students
Simplicity makes the Discover it® Student Chrome a standout for students searching for their first credit card. You'll earn bonus cash back at restaurants and gas stations with no activation required and no rotating categories to keep track of. Read our review.
The secured Self Visa® Credit Card
Our pick for: No upfront deposit or credit check
The secured Self Visa® Credit Card offers a unique path to building credit. Unlike typical secured cards, it doesn't require an upfront security deposit or a hard credit check. But it does make you jump through some hoops that other secured cards don't. You start by making payments on a secured loan, which become savings that you can use for your deposit. It's complicated, but for those struggling to establish a credit history, it can be efficient and effective. Read our review.
Grow Credit Mastercard
Our pick for: Building credit with subscription payments
The Grow Credit Mastercard doesn’t require a security deposit or a hard credit check. It allows you to establish a credit history by paying for qualifying subscriptions like Netflix or Spotify, and it doesn’t charge any interest because you can't carry a balance on the card. You will owe a membership fee, however. Read our review.
Zolve Classic Credit Card
Our pick for: Unsecured card for international students and immigrants
The Zolve Classic Credit Card packs a lot of desirable features into one solid option for beginners, especially those who are new to the U.S. For starters, it's possible to qualify without a Social Security number. In addition, the card doesn't require a credit history or a security deposit, the annual fee is $0, and it reports to all three major credit bureaus. It even earns modest rewards. Read our review.
Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card
Our pick for: International students and immigrants
The Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card doesn't require a credit check, doesn't charge interest, and even pays interest on your deposit. You can earn cash back on purchases. International students can even apply without a Social Security number (though they must provide visa or passport information). The only drawback: an annual fee. Read our review.
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OTHER RESOURCES
Unsecured credit cards from subprime specialist issuers
There's a segment of the credit card industry that specializes in unsecured credit cards for people with bad credit. "Unsecured" means there is no security deposit. Cards from these so-called subprime specialist issuers are famously easy to get, but the fees on them are often outrageous. It's not uncommon to see an annual fee of, say, $99 for a $300 credit line, with monthly maintenance fees of up to $10 on top of that — and maybe a $75 "program fee" just for applying.
The fees on subprime specialist cards can easily (and quickly) add up to more than the cost of a deposit on a traditional secured card. And unlike a security deposit, which is refunded to you when you close or upgrade your secured card, you never get these fees back. This is why NerdWallet generally recommends secured cards for building credit and recommends avoiding the subprime specialists.
That said, if you're interested in exploring these cards, here are some options.
Reflex® Platinum Mastercard®. (You can apply for this card through NerdWallet at the link.)
Surge® Platinum Mastercard®. (You can apply for this card through NerdWallet at the link.)
Revel Credit Card.
Verve Mastercard.
Cerulean Credit Card.
Fit Credit Card.
Milestone cards.
Destiny Credit Card.
Indigo Platinum Mastercard.
Fortiva Credit Card.
First Digital Credit Card.
• • •
Learn more: What’s the easiest credit card to get?
The easiest credit card to get will depend largely on your credit scores and history.
If you have excellent credit (FICO scores of 720 or higher), you needn't worry much. Your credit history shows card issuers that you're a trustworthy and responsible borrower, so you'll have a wide variety of rewarding and easy-to-get credit card options.
But if you have bad credit (FICO scores of 629 or below), thin credit or no credit at all, getting your first credit card can prove to be a much greater challenge. Here's where to start your search for easy credit cards to get.
» MORE: NerdWallet's guide to your first credit card
Several credit cards offer a preapproval process, in which the issuer can look at some of your basic credit data and perform a "soft" check to determine your general approval odds.
Secured credit cards
Secured credit cards will likely be the easiest cards to get for those with either poor credit or no credit who want to avoid outlandish fees. That's because they require collateral upfront in the form of a security deposit, which is typically equal to the amount of your credit line and reduces the risk to the card issuer if you fail to pay your bill.
Scraping together a deposit can be its own hurdle, but that deposit is refundable when you close the account in good standing or upgrade to a regular "unsecured" product from that same issuer. The best secured credit cards feature such an upgrade path, while also reporting to all three credit bureaus. Ideally, they also skip an annual fee.
» MORE: NerdWallet's best starter credit cards for no credit
Student credit cards
Student credit cards are generally aimed at 18- to 21-year-olds who have little or no credit history. Being a student isn't enough by itself to qualify, though. You do have to meet certain other requirements.
For instance, if you're under 21, you'll either have to show proof that you have an independent income or find a co-signer. These can still be difficult barriers to overcome — for one, it's rare these days to even find credit card issuers that allow co-signers. And if you already have poor credit, you may still not be approved.
But the point is that many student cards are specifically designed for those who are just starting out with credit, meaning there may be no FICO history requirement at all, as is the case with the Discover it® Student Chrome card above.
» MORE: How to choose a student credit card
Store credit cards
Store credit cards can be a bit of a double-edged sword: They tend to have lower credit rating requirements, which makes them among the best credit cards for fair credit or limited credit. But they also typically feature lower credit limits and higher interest rates, and some can be used only within the physical or virtual walls of that particular merchant.
Still, these co-branded store cards can help you build a credit history, and many have seriously upped their game in recent years in an attempt to become top-of-wallet options, with richer rewards and perks even on everyday spending outside of the brand.
» MORE: NerdWallet's best store credit cards
Alternative credit cards
What if you can't afford a security deposit or annual fee and aren't sure whether you have a sufficient credit history? The good news is that certain alternative credit cards may require none of the above.
Instead of relying entirely on the traditional FICO scoring model, these alternative products can often use their own proprietary underwriting standards to help determine your creditworthiness. They may, for instance, evaluate things like your income, your employer, your bank account balances and more.
» MORE: Best credit cards with no credit check
Authorized-user credit cards
Ultimately, if what you want is a credit card with your name on it that you can use, then becoming an authorized user of someone else's account is perhaps the easiest route.
That's because you don't need to open an account yourself. You just need to have a primary account holder add you to their existing account. If a parent, spouse or another loved one agrees to do so, you'll get your own card to use. Assuming that the primary user already has a good credit history — and assuming the card issuer reports authorized users' activity to the credit bureaus — your own credit scores may benefit as a result.
Just be aware that while you'll be authorized to make charges on the account, you are not liable for paying off those charges. That responsibility falls to the primary cardholder, regardless of how much debt you rack up.
» MORE: 7 options for your first credit card
• • •
NerdWallet's Kenley Young contributed to this article.
Last updated on December 5, 2025
Methodology
NerdWallet's credit cards team selects the best credit cards in each category based on overall consumer value. Factors in our evaluation include fees, promotional and ongoing APRs, and sign-up bonuses; for rewards cards, we consider earning and redemption rates, redemption options and redemption difficulty. A single card is eligible to be chosen as among the "best" in multiple categories. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
