Easiest Credit Cards to Get
Credit Card | Best For | Credit Score | Annual Fee | Welcome Bonus | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bad Credit | 300–669 | $75 for the first year ($48 after) | |||
No Credit | 300–669 | $0 | |||
No Annual Fee | 300–669 | $0 | |||
No Credit Check | 300–669 | $35 | |||
Students | 580–739 | $0 | |||
No US ID Required | 300–669 | $0–$49 | |||
Table of Contents
If you’re looking for your first credit card or recovering from financial difficulties, you’re probably realizing how difficult it can be to get a credit card. When your credit file is relatively thin—or when it has a lot of black marks—it’s hard to find cards that you can qualify for, and finding a card with decent borrowing terms can feel nearly impossible.
Don’t give up yet. We’ve put together a list of the easiest credit cards to get approved for. Read on to learn about getting approved for a credit card when you have bad credit and what the 6 easiest cards are to get in December 2024.
What are the easiest credit cards to get approved for?
The easiest credit cards to get approved for are secured credit cards.
Secured credit cards require a security deposit when you open the card account. The security deposit usually determines your credit limit. For example, if a secured credit card advertises a deposit between $200–$1,000, you could put down a security deposit of $500 and have a $500 line of credit on that card.
These credit cards are easy to get because the security deposit is used as collateral against borrowers who are less likely to pay their bills (e.g., people with bad credit).
What are the easiest unsecured credit cards to get?
Unsecured credit cards for bad credit are generally more difficult to get, as they don’t have security deposits as collateral. However, there are still credit cards out there that don’t require a security deposit and are still easy to get. Look for cards that:
- Don’t perform credit checks when you apply
- Advertise high approval odds
- Label themselves as “for rebuilding credit”
Some credit cards even market to bad-credit borrowers by claiming to approve 98%+ of applicants. These cards are as close to guaranteed approval credit cards that you can get, and should be your first stop if you’re worried about your credit card application being rejected.
What are the easiest store credit cards to get?
The easiest store credit cards to get are those that can only be used at the issuing franchise (e.g., a Target credit card that can only be used for purchases at Target). Some of the easiest store cards to get include the:
- Amazon Secured Card
- Target RedCard
- Walmart Rewards® Card
- Sam’s Club Credit Card
- Victoria’s Secret Credit Card
Store cards can be applied for online or at the physical store location, and usually offer instant approval.
6 easiest credit cards to get in December 2024
Easiest credit card to get with bad credit
Total Visa® Card
Rating Breakdown
Fees
3.1This card comes with high fees, which makes it an expensive card to maintain. You also don’t get many benefits in exchange for your money.
APR
1.2This card comes with one of the highest APRs you’ll find on a standard credit card, putting cardholders at very high risk of accumulating credit card debt.
Rewards
1.0The Total Visa® Card doesn’t come with any credit card rewards, earning it the lowest rating in the rewards category.
Credit Reporting
5.0Total Visa® accounts are reported to all three major credit bureaus, making it suitable for building or rebuilding your credit.
Credit Limit
2.5The initial credit limit on this card is relatively low at just $300. However, credit limit increases are available.
Other
We made adjustments for factors like high approval odds, program fees, and the availability of credit limit increases.
Annual
Fee
$75 for the first year ($48 after) |
Purchase
APR
34.99% (fixed) |
Credit
Score
300–669 |
Credit
Limit
$300 |
Why It's Great
While the Total Visa® Card isn’t the best credit card on this list, it is perhaps the easiest credit card to get approved for that’s currently on the market.
Almost everyone who applies for this card is instantly approved. This may be especially appealing for anyone who’s unwilling to put down a security deposit, as the Total Visa® Card is an unsecured credit card offering an initial credit limit of $300 with the potential to raise this eventually.
Although you can quickly lock down credit with this card, it does come with multiple fees, which when added up can be quite expensive. So while the Total Visa® Card may be the easiest credit card to get, it isn’t the best overall. We suggest you check out the other options here to find a better all-around option.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No deposit required
- Helps build credit
- Potential credit limit increases
Cons
- High APR
- Expensive annual fee
- Monthly servicing fee
Easiest credit card to get with no credit
Petal 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa®
Rating Breakdown
Fees
4.7Because the Petal 2 Visa® stays true to its “no fees” name, it scores very highly in this category.
APR
2.2The Petal 2 Visa® has a wide range of interest rates, and less creditworthy borrowers could be hit with high APR.
Rewards
2.5This card has a fairly complicated rewards program, although it’s still one that’s worth having.
Credit Reporting
5.0Petal cards report to all three of the major credit bureaus, so the Petal 2 Visa® ticks all the boxes for building credit.
Credit Limit
5.0The Petal 2 Visa® gives you a credit line of up to $10,000, which is very generous.
Other
We gave the Petal 2 Visa® extra credit for its accessibility, since it accepts applicants with no credit score and applicants without a Social Security number.
Annual
Fee
$0 |
Credit
Score
300–669 |
Purchase
APR
15.99%–29.99% (variable) |
Rewards
-
All Purchases
1%–1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases (your rate increases to 1.25% after 6 on-time payments, 1.5% after 12 on-time payments)
Why It's Great
The Petal® 2 credit card is an accessible and lucrative borrowing option for people without credit histories. It boasts zero fees, cashback rewards, and high approval odds. If you’re a non-citizen (e.g., an international worker or expatriate), this is an especially appealing card, as you don’t need a Social Security number (SSN) to apply.
The Petal® 2 offers the following rewards:
- 1% cash back on all of your purchases
- 1.25% cash back on all purchases after 6 on-time monthly payments
- 1.5% cash back on all purchases after 12 on-time monthly payments
- 2%–10% cash back on purchases made with select merchants
While this is one of the easier cards to qualify for given its no-credit requirement, not everyone will be automatically approved for the Petal® 2. When you apply, you’ll first go through a Petal® credit card pre-approval process, which will determine whether you’re eligible for the Petal® 2, just the Petal® 1, both cards, or neither card.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- No late payment fees
- Cashback rewards
- Available to people with no SSN
Cons
- Complicated rewards
- Potentially high APR
- No introductory APR
- No balance transfers or cash advances
Easiest credit card to get with no annual fee
Capital One® Platinum Secured Credit Card
Rating Breakdown
Fees
5.0The card boasts no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and standard fees for functions like cash advances.
APR
2.6The card has a relatively high purchase APR, making it expensive to carry a balance on.
Rewards
1.0Unfortunately, there are no cashback rewards on the Capital One® Platinum Secured.
Credit Reporting
5.0Capital One reports to the three major credit bureaus, making this card a good option for building credit.
Security Deposit
4.6This card has one of the best security deposit offers available, as you actually can put less money down then you get as a credit limit.
Other
We manually adjusted the card’s rating for factors like free credit scores and a fully refundable security deposit.
Annual
Fee
$0 |
Credit
Score
300–669 |
Deposit
$49–$200 |
Purchase
APR
26.49% (variable) |
Why It's Great
Getting easily approved for a credit card tends to come at a cost. Widely accessible cards that have instant approval often charge high annual fees and require expensive security deposits.
The Capital One Platinum Secured, however, has no annual fee and offers a flexible security deposit. It also offers:
- No foreign transaction fees
- Flexible due dates
- A flexible security deposit
- Credit limit increases
- Eno, a virtual credit assistant
- CreditWise, a virtual credit monitoring service
Secured credit cards usually match your initial credit limit to your security deposit. In contrast, with the Capital One Platinum Secured, you can put down as little as $49 and still be offered a $200–$1,000 initial credit limit with potential for credit limit increases, making it a uniquely cheap secured card option.
Even so, this card is still easy to apply for and boasts high approval odds, including for people with no prior borrowing history. Additionally, Capital One offers a variety of credit tracking perks, including free credit scores and monitoring services, so you can build your credit and track your progress.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- No annual fee
- Potential for increased credit limit after six months
- Credit monitoring
- Flexible deposit
Cons
- No rewards or sign-on bonuses
- High APR
Easiest credit card to get with no credit check
OpenSky® Secured Visa®
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® offers nearly guaranteed approval. Even if you have an insufficient credit history or serious negative marks on your credit report (such as a bankruptcy), you can probably qualify for an OpenSky® Secured Visa® credit card.
The OpenSky® Secured Visa® is one of the only cards that won’t perform a hard inquiry (a type of credit check) when you apply for it. Not only will this raise your chances of approval, it will also prevent the hard inquiry from taking several points off your credit score.
Additionally, the OpenSky® credit card will report your borrowing activities to all three major credit bureaus and will allow you to set your own payment due date, which makes it easier to pay your bills on time. This makes it a great credit card for building credit.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Low APR
- No checking account required
- High approval odds
- Flexible due dates
Cons
- Requires a security deposit
- $35 annual fee
- Can’t upgrade to an unsecured card
- No rewards
Easiest student credit card to get
Deserve® EDU Mastercard®
Annual
Fee
$0 |
Credit
Score
580–739 |
Purchase
APR
22.49% (variable) |
Rewards
-
All purchases
1% cash back on all eligible purchases
Why It's Great
The Deserve® EDU Mastercard® is an incredibly accessible credit card for students that’s easy to apply and be approved for. Not only is it available to borrowers with no credit or borrowing history, but international students without Social Security numbers are also eligible for the card.
Additionally, it doesn’t charge an annual fee or any foriegn transaction fees, making it great for non-citizens who frequently travel home or US students seeking study abroad.
Perhaps most notable of its perks is its 1% cashback rewards rate. While this isn’t the highest rewards rate you’ll see in a credit card (including those for students), it’s still an appealing bonus for such an easy-to-get credit card, as many accessible cards have no rewards at all. The rewards on this card apply to all purchases without caps or category limitations.
Lastly, the card offers unique benefits, such as a free Amazon Prime Student membership for a year and mobile phone insurance.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- $0 annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- 1% cashback rewards
- Free Amazon Prime Student membership
- Available to students with no credit report and/or no Social Security number
Cons
- No balance transfers or cash advances
- No introductory APR offers
- Low cashback rewards
- Only available to current students
Easiest credit card to get with no US ID
Oportun® Visa®
Annual
Fee
$0–$49 |
Credit
Score
300–669 |
Purchase
APR
24.90%–29.90% (variable) |
Why It's Great
The Oportun® Visa® is extremely widely available, as it’s even offered to borrowers with no form of US identification (e.g., no passport, driver’s license, or even SSN). It’s an unsecured credit card, meaning it doesn’t require a security deposit, as many other similarly accessible cards do.
While this card does sometimes charge an annual fee, it only goes as high as $49, and some borrowers will be offered a lower fee or no fee at all.
Along with its availability to people without US IDs (like Social Security numbers or ITINs), it doesn’t require a credit score or borrowing history to qualify. However, you will need to provide proof of income to be approved for the card.
Additionally, the Oportun® Visa® doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees. This makes it a great borrowing choice for non-citizens who frequently go abroad, or for other regular travelers.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Cash advances available
- No foreign transaction fees
- No credit score required
- No social security number or US ID required
Cons
- Annual fees usually apply
- No cashback rewards
- High APR
- Residents in some states are excluded
- No introductory offers
- No balance transfers
How we rate our credit cards
Finding the right credit card when you don't have established credit is tough. That's why we heavily weighted the following factors when determining the easiest credit cards to get:
- Qualification requirements
- Fees
- Interest rates
- Security deposits
- Rewards and bonuses
- 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.