4 Excellent Secured Credit Cards of 2024
Whether you're looking to build credit from scratch or rebuild credit after a bad setback, a secured credit card can be an invaluable tool. Secured cards require you to provide a cash security deposit, usually equal to your credit line. The issuer holds the deposit in case you don't pay your bill; you get the deposit back when you upgrade to a regular "unsecured" card or close the account in good standing. Because the deposit protects the issuer from losing money, secured cards are easier for people with bad credit or no credit to qualify for.
As you use the card, the issuer reports your activity to the credit bureaus — the companies that compile the credit reports that form the basis of credit scores. Keep your balance relatively low and pay your bill on time every month, and you can begin to strengthen your credit.
Some of our selections for the best secured credit cards can be applied for through NerdWallet, and some cannot. Below, you'll find application links for some of the credit cards from our partners that are available through NerdWallet.
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NerdWallet's Excellent Secured Credit Cards of 2024
Chime Secured Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card: Best for Easy Account Management
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for No Annual or Hidden Fees
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card: Best for Low Deposit
Current Build Card: Best for Plenty of Perks for Credit Newbies
Excellent Secured Credit Cards From Our Partners
Credit card | NerdWallet rating | Annual fee | Intro APR | Regular APR | Learn more |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent for Easy Account Management | $0 | N/A | N/A | Apply Now on Chime's website on Chime's website | |
 Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website | Excellent for No Annual or Hidden Fees | $0 | N/A | 29.99% Variable APR | Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website |
| Excellent for Low Deposit | $0 | N/A | 29.99% Variable APR | Apply Now on Capital One's website on Capital One's website | |
| Excellent for Plenty of Perks for Credit Newbies | $0 | N/A | N/A | Apply Now on Current's website on Current's website |
Excellent for: Easy Account Management
- The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, 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.
- No credit check to apply, no annual fees or interest⁴, and no minimum security deposit required.³ No stress! Additional terms apply.
- Use your secured Credit Builder card everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted, including on everyday purchases, such as gas and groceries.
- Help build your credit history with your own money. The money you move into the Credit Builder secured account is the amount you can spend on your card (no minimum deposit required!).³ Turn on Safer Credit Building² and have your monthly balance automatically paid on time. Chime will report your activities to Transunion®, Experian®, and Equifax®.
- Increase your credit scores by an average of 30 points, with regular, on-time payments.¹
- Turn on transaction notifications to receive real-time transaction alerts. Then, use Chime’s instant in-app disable card feature to help prevent unauthorized activities.
- Live support 24/7 to assist you around the clock.
- Now you can use your Credit Builder card fee-free at over 60K+ in-network ATMs at retailers like Walgreens®, CVS®, and more! Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply except at Moneypass ATMs in 7-Eleven® locations, or any Allpoint® or Visa Plus Alliance ATMs.
- Apply for a secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card once you sign up for a Chime Checking Account and receive a qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more. See www.chime.com to learn more.
Excellent for: No Annual or Hidden Fees
- No annual or hidden fees, and you can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day. See if you're approved in seconds
- Put down a refundable $200 security deposit to get a $200 initial credit line
- Building your credit? Using a card like this responsibly could help
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
- Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
- View Rates & Fees
Excellent for: Low Deposit
- No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
- Building your credit? Using the Capital One Platinum Secured card responsibly could help
- Put down a refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get a $200 initial credit line
- You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
- Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking to access your account from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
- View Rates & Fees
Excellent for: Plenty of Perks for Credit Newbies
- Get credit for every swipe - Just use your card, even at the ATM, to build credit with every swipe, earn points, and more.
- Build credit not debt - Build credit using only the money in your account and enable AutoPay so you never miss a payment.
- Credit for everyone - No matter what your credit history, there are no credit checks required to apply and build credit.
- Get paid up to 2 days faster - With direct deposit get your paycheck up to 2 days faster, so you get the money you need exactly when you need it.
- Earn points on swipes - Earn up to 7x the points on card swipes at over 14,000 participating merchants, then redeem them for cash back.
