Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit of September 2026

The Current Build Card doesn't have flashy features. Instead, it quietly stacks up one strong benefit after another until suddenly it's one of the best credit-building cards available. It has an annual fee of $0 (see terms). It doesn't require a hard credit check. It's a secured card, but there's no minimum deposit, because your spending power is dictated by the balance in a linked account (which has the secondary benefit of preventing you from spending more money than you currently have available). It doesn't charge interest because you literally can't carry a balance from month to month. On top of all that, the card earns modest rewards. If there's a catch, it's the lack of an upgrade option. When you've improved your credit and are ready to move onto a more traditional card, you'll have to apply with a different issuer and possibly close your account with Current. The card also has some hidden fees baked in, but they're mostly avoidable if you use your card in a straightforward manner and pay your bill on time. Read our review of the Current Build Card.

» For a card with upgrade potential: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Offered by one of the most popular financial technology platforms, the Secured Chime Visa® Credit Card boasts an array of features that make it attractive to those looking to build or rebuild their credit. There's no annual fee, no credit check is required, and you can automate your payments so you're never late. Unlike typical secured cards, which require a deposit that locks in your credit limit at a certain amount, this one is secured by your balance in a linked account. It doesn't let you spend more than you have available, and it doesn't let you carry a balance from month to month, so it puts up pretty strong guardrails against getting into debt (as well as avoiding interest). In fact, the card does such a good job of getting in the way of the negative consequences of credit mismanagement that one could argue that it doesn't teach you how to use credit without a safety net. There's also the possibility of earning rewards, depending on what level of status you have with your Chime® Checking Account, which is required to get the card. There isn't an upgrade path, though, so when you're ready to move up to a better card, you'll have to do it somewhere else. Read our review of the Secured Chime Visa® Credit Card.

» For a card with upgrade potential: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

For building credit as quickly and efficiently as possible, a secured card from a major issuer is often the way to go, and the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the best available. It earns the same 1.5% cash back as the regular Quicksilver card, and the annual fee is $0 (see rates and fees). If you're financially stressed, the biggest obstacle might be pulling together the security deposit, which determines your initial credit limit on the card. The minimum is $200. But Capital One does let you pay that in increments and gives you 35 days from card approval to fully fund it. Admittedly, $200 isn’t a ton of spending power, but if you demonstrate responsible credit habits, you could be considered for a credit limit increase, without depositing any additional money, within six months. (You also have the option of simply depositing more money, and getting a higher initial credit line, when you open the card.) As with all secured cards, you can get your deposit back if you close the account in good standing or if Capital One upgrades you to an unsecured card. Read our review of the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card.

A secured credit card is one of the quickest ways to build credit, but pulling together hundreds of dollars for a security deposit can be a tall order for some people. The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card offers a potential solution. Depending on your credit profile, you could get a $200 credit limit with a deposit of only $49 or $99 (see rates and fees). With most other secured cards, your initial credit limit is equal to whatever deposit you put down. Capital One also gives you 35 days from card approval to fully fund the security deposit, and you can pay it in increments of at least $20. If you show good credit habits, you could be automatically considered for a higher credit limit without needed to deposit more money. As with all secured cards, the deposit is fully refundable if you close the account in good standing, or if Capital One upgrades you to an unsecured card. The main downside of this card is that it doesn't earn any rewards, unlike many competing cards (including from Capital One). But keep in mind that a secured card isn't a long-term proposition, so the rewards you'd ultimately earn would likely be small. The goal is to use it to boost your credit, then move on to better cards. Read our review of the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card.

The AvantCard Credit Card is an ideal unsecured option for those with poor or thin credit. It doesn't require a deposit as collateral, and when evaluating your application, it can take into account factors beyond just your credit scores, such as your bank account balance. The card reports to all three major U.S. credit bureaus, which means using it responsibly — paying in full and on time each month — can help your credit. Plus, if you apply through NerdWallet and are approved, you'll get a $0-annual-fee card that also earns modest rewards: a flat 1% cash back on all purchases. On top of all that, your account is periodically reviewed to determine whether you're eligible for an increased credit limit, which might ultimately help your credit utilization ratio, a key factor in your credit scores. Still, there are two caveats to keep in mind: The card isn't available in every state, and once you've used it to improve your credit, there's no upgrade path to a better card from the company. Read our review of the AvantCard Credit Card.

The strength of the Arro Card is its accessibility for those with poor, thin or no credit. It doesn't require a security deposit, and there's no credit check. Instead, the card considers other data points like your income and bank account information. (As such, you'll have to connect a bank account to apply.) The card reports to all three major U.S. credit bureaus, which is a must-have for those seeking to build or rebuild credit. It's not free to hold, though. There's technically no annual fee, but to get the card you'll need an Arro membership, which comes at a yearly cost of Up to $60 — not as pricey as some other unsecured credit cards, but also not refundable, as a security deposit would be. The good news is that you may be able to offset that cost thanks to the Arro Card's modest rewards on gas and groceries, two major line items in most household budgets. The card even offers ways to increase your credit limit over time, if you don't mind taking part in certain gamified tasks. Just note that as with many other "alternative cards," there's no upgrade path to a better product from Arro once you're ready. Read our review of the Arro Card.

Although we give it a middling 2.6-star rating, which is lower than what we typically require for inclusion on our roundups of the best credit cards, we also cut the Tilt Engage some slack. It offers people with bad credit the relatively rare opportunity to qualify for a credit card without having to provide a security deposit or pay outlandish fees. To be clear, the $59 annual fee is not optimal, especially for a card with a meager rewards program, but it's good in comparison with fee-harvester cards that can charge hundreds of dollars. The standout feature is an alternative underwriting process that can evaluate your eligibility using factors beyond just credit scores. Unfortunately, while Tilt does offer credit cards with no annual fee, you can't upgrade this card to one of those once your credit improves. Read our review of the Tilt Engage.

The opensky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card works pretty much just like the non-"Plus" secured card from opensky. The key differences are that the Plus card has a $0 annual fee (as opposed to $35 for the regular card), a higher minimum deposit ($500, compared with $200 for the regular card), and a higher ongoing interest rate. No credit check is required to get the card, which removes one of the most significant obstacles for people with bad credit. Then again, the $500 deposit minimum presents a different kind of obstacle. You also don't need a bank account, making this one of the few credit cards accessible to the "unbanked"; you can fund the card or pay your bill with a money order or Western Union payment. As with the regular card, there's a lack of good upgrade options, meaning that when you've improved your credit and want to move on to a better card, you'll either have to close this account or keep it open with your $500-or-more deposit tied up indefinitely. Read our review of the opensky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card.

The fact that the opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card charges an annual fee might be a turn-off. After all, there's a fairly long list of secured cards that don't cost anything to carry (aside from the refundable deposit). But a lot of people will still want to take a look at it for two reasons. First, there's no credit check required. Anyone with bad credit or no credit who has struggled to qualify for a credit card can tell you what an obstacle the credit check can be; paying $35 a year to go around that barrier might well be worth it. Second, unlike with most credit cards, you don't need to have a traditional bank account, making this a decent option for the "unbanked." You can fund the deposit or pay your bill with a money order or Western Union payment. As for drawbacks beyond the annual fee, this card doesn't present you with good upgrade options. If you want a better card down the road, you'll probably have to move on. Read our review of the opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card.

The secured Self Visa® Credit Card is an interesting option for people who want to build credit but aren't a good fit for more traditional secured cards. It doesn't require a hard credit check, and the $100 minimum security deposit requirement is lower than the industry standard of $200 to $300. You also have the option of funding the deposit by making payments on a secured loan. It's more complicated than the usual secured card, there are no rewards, and there's an annual fee after the first year. But for those struggling to establish a credit history, it can be efficient and effective. Read our review of The secured Self Visa® Credit Card.

The Grow Credit Mastercard is a less risky (but also less flexible) option for credit beginners worried about overspending or debt. It limits spending to eligible subscription services like Netflix and Spotify, and you can't carry a balance month to month, so there's no interest to worry about. As you pay your bill each month, you build credit. Depending on your eligibility, it offers three different subscription plan options that charge a monthly fee, and you may need a security deposit. Those costs can make it more expensive to hold than other credit cards for beginners. It also lacks a path to upgrade to a better credit card with the same issuer once you’ve established a credit history. Read our review of the Grow Credit Mastercard.