Instant-Approval Credit Cards for Bad Credit
Credit Card | Best For | Credit Score | Annual Fee | Welcome Bonus |
---|---|---|---|---|
300–669 | $75–$99 the first year, then $99 annually | |||
300–669 | $0 | |||
300–669 | $35 | |||
300–669 | $49 |
Table of Contents
When you have bad credit, getting a credit card is stressful. When you’re more likely to have your credit card application rejected, waiting hours, days, even weeks for your approval can feel daunting.
Fortunately, there are credit cards aimed at bad-credit borrowers—some of the best cards, in fact—that let you skip the nail-biting and get approved for your new card right away.
Are there credit cards for bad credit with instant approval?
Yes, there are credit cards for bad credit that offer instant approval. There are tons of credit cards for bad credit on the market, many of which offer different perks, borrowing terms, and qualification requirements.
Some credit cards for bad-credit borrowers are easier to get than others, and many of the easiest credit cards to get offer on-the-spot approval and high approval odds.
How do I get an instant-approval credit card when I have bad credit?
There are two ways to get an instant-approval credit card for bad credit:
- Apply for a secured credit card: Credit cards that require security deposits are considered “secured.” Secured credit cards are easier to get when you have bad credit, as the money you put down acts as collateral in case you don’t pay your bills. Because they’re easier to get approved for, many secured credit cards offer on-the-spot approval.
- Apply for an unsecured credit card: Your other option is to apply for an unsecured card (one that doesn’t require a security deposit) and try to get approved. Look for cards that advertise instant approval, high approval odds, or no credit checks. These are the easiest unsecured cards to get, particularly the no-credit-check cards, which will likely give instant approval if none of your personal information requires verification.
Best credit cards for bad credit with instant approval
Here are the best instant-approval credit cards for borrowers with bad credit.
Best unsecured credit card for bad credit with instant approval
Rating Breakdown
Fees
3.0The fees on the Surge Mastercard® aren’t the absolute highest you’ll find among credit cards, but they’re quite steep considering you won’t get any rewards in exchange.
APR
2.4The higher-than-average APR on this card isn’t a surprise considering that it’s geared toward people with poor or fair credit, but it makes this card expensive to carry a balance on.
Rewards
1.0The Surge Mastercard® offers no rewards of any kind, netting it the lowest possible rating in this category.
Credit Reporting
5.0Surge Mastercard® accounts are reported to all three major credit bureaus, which makes this card suitable for building or repairing your credit.
Credit Limit
3.5The Surge Mastercard®’s initial credit limits are low, but you have the chance to increase (and even double) your credit line after you’ve had the card for 6 months.
Other
We manually boosted this card’s score in recognition of its high approval odds, free access to credit scores, and accessibility to people with bad credit without requiring a security deposit.
Annual
Fee
$75–$99 the first year, then $99 annually |
Credit
Score
300–669 |
Purchase
APR
24.99%–29.99% (variable) |
Why It's Great
The Surge Mastercard® is an unsecured credit card that offers instant approval for applicants with bad credit. Unsecured cards with instant approval are incredibly rare, making this one worth consideration if you’re not willing to pay a deposit.
Additionally, the Surge Mastercard® offers credit limits as high as $1,000, with the potential to double that limit in as little as 6 months. Most unsecured credit cards for bad credit offer limits closer to $200–$300, so the Surge Mastercard® is well ahead of the competition in this respect. While it has fees you should consider, it doesn’t require any money upfront, so it might be a good short-term solution if you need money fast and want to be approved right away.
The fees are something to be wary of, as they can add up fast in the second year when the card’s monthly fees kick in. But if you’re looking for an instant-approval credit card with no deposit required, this one is worth considering.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No security deposit required
- Pre-qualification
- Free monthly credit score check
- Major credit bureau reporting monthly
- Credit limit increase after 6 months
- Online account management
Cons
- High APR
- Monthly maintenance fee
- Expensive annual fee
- No perks or rewards
- No upgrade option
Best credit card for bad credit with instant approval & no annual fee
Annual
Fee
$0 |
Credit
Score
300–669 |
Deposit
$200–$2,500 |
Purchase
APR
26.24% (variable) |
Why It's Great
The Citi® Secured Mastercard® is a secured credit card with incredibly high approval odds and a good shot at instant approval when you apply. It also boasts:
- A flexible credit limit of up to $2,500
- Credit reporting to the major credit bureaus
- Citibank benefits
- No annual fee
The lack of an annual fee makes this a low-cost card, especially if you choose to put down a security deposit closer to $200 (the minimum). Citi’s credit bureau reporting also means you can use this card to establish or rebuild your credit, although as Citi only reports to one of the three credit bureaus, it’s not the best card for this purpose—it would be even better to get a card that reported to all three.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Available to limited credit borrowers
- $0 annual fee
Cons
- High APR
- Requires a security deposit
- No rewards
- Only reports to Equifax, not TransUnion or Experian
Best credit card for bad credit with instant approval & no credit check
Rating Breakdown
Fees
4.6The OpenSky® Secured Visa® does well in the fees category thanks to the low annual fees.
APR
3.3The OpenSky® Secured Visa® has reasonable interest rates on purchases and cash advances, especially compared to other cards for this credit range.
Rewards
1.0Because this card doesn’t give you any returns for your spending, it gets the lowest possible score in the rewards category.
Credit Reporting
5.0The OpenSky® Secured Visa® reports to all three credit bureaus, so it gets top marks for credit reporting.
Security Deposit
4.0The OpenSky® Secured Visa® allows you to put down as little as $200 or as much as $3,000, so there’s a reasonable amount of flexibility about how much security deposit you pay (and credit limit you get in return).
Other
We bumped up the score a bit for this card because of its good accessibility, since it has high approval odds and is available to borrowers with no credit history.
Annual
Fee
$35 |
Credit
Score
300–669 |
Deposit
$200–$3,000 |
Purchase
APR
21.14% (variable) |
Why It's Great
The OpenSky® Secured Visa® is a rare gem in the world of instant-approval credit cards for bad credit. Not only will your approval come in quickly, but it’s also as close to guaranteed as you can get with a credit card. That’s because the OpenSky® Secured Visa®:
- Is secured: Secured credit cards are easier to get, since the deposit you put down acts as collateral.
- Doesn’t do a credit check: The issuer won’t even check your credit when you apply, meaning your negative borrowing history won’t matter. Better yet, you won’t get a hard inquiry from a credit check, which takes points off your credit score.
- Doesn’t require a checking account: One of the most unique features of the OpenSky® Secured Visa® is that it doesn’t even require borrowers to have a checking account, meaning those just getting financially started can still get a credit card.
Getting an OpenSky® Secured Visa® is as easy as submitting your application and putting down your deposit.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Helps build credit
- Low APR
- No checking account required
- High approval odds
Cons
- Requires a security deposit
- Charges an annual fee
- Can’t upgrade to an unsecured card
- No rewards
Best credit card for bad credit with instant approval & low APR
Annual
Fee
$49 |
Credit
Score
300–669 |
Deposit
$200–$2,000 |
Purchase
APR
13.74% (variable) |
Why It's Great
The First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured credit card is one of three First Progress secured credit cards, all of which are likely to offer instant approval when you apply. However, the First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® is our top pick of the three cards, as it offers:
- Credit limits between $200–$2,000
- No credit check needed to qualify
- Low APR
- Credit reporting to the three major credit bureaus
As another card that doesn’t require a credit check, the First Progress Platinum Prestige helps you avoid a hard inquiry and won’t deny your application based on bad credit. It’s secured, though, so the credit limit you receive will be equivalent to your security deposit.
Best of all, the First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® boasts incredibly low APR, especially when compared to other guaranteed approval credit cards for bad credit. Its APR is only 13.74% (variable), which is less than half of what comparable cards charge in interest. This means that even if you carry a credit card balance from month to month on the Platinum Prestige, you won’t get buried in interest charges.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Low APR
- No credit inquiry required
- The security deposit is refundable
- A discharged bankruptcy in your credit report will not cause you to be declined
Cons
- $49 annual fee
- Requires a security deposit
- Requires a Synovus bank account
- The card can’t be upgraded to an unsecured card
How we rate our credit cards
Getting a new credit card is a big decision. That's why we heavily weighted the following factors when determining the best instant-approval credit cards for bad credit:
- Fees
- Rewards
- Qualification requirements
- Interest rates
- Benefits
- Borrowing terms
These factors, among many others, are part of our 5-star credit card rating methodology for all card categories. Our star ratings are unbiased and independent of our affiliates and advertisers.