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Home Credit Cards Unsecured Credit Cards for Bad Credit

Best Unsecured Credit Cards for Bad Credit in August, 2022

Unsecured credit card with a credit score gauge showing bad credit

At a glance

Having bad credit limits your borrowing options. If you don’t want to pay a security deposit, you have even fewer cards to choose from. Luckily, there are unsecured credit cards for bad credit—you just need to find the right one.

Written by Kari Dearie

Reviewed by Robert Jellison

Jul 17, 2022

Fresh advice you can trust

We promise to always deliver the best financial advice that we can. That's our first priority, and we take it seriously. Our writers and editors follow strict editorial standards and operate independently from our advertisers and affiliates. Learn more about how we make money.

Unsecured Credit Cards for Bad Credit

Credit Card Best For Credit Score Annual Fee Welcome Bonus Apply Now
Petal 2 cash back no fees visa credit card Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card Overall 500–850 $0 N/A Apply
Total Visa credit card Total Visa® Credit Card Guaranteed Approval 300–850 $48–$75 No cash advance fee for the first year Apply
Petal 1 Visa credit card Petal 1® Visa® Credit Card No SSN Requirement 300–850 $0 N/A Apply
Prosper Card Prosper® Card High Credit Limit 300–850 $0–$39 N/A Apply
Credit One Platinum Visa credit card Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit Credit Building 300–850 $75 N/A Apply

Table of Contents

  1. Best unsecured credit cards for bad credit
  2. What is an unsecured credit card for bad credit?
  3. What’s the difference between a secured and unsecured credit card?
  4. Can I get an unsecured credit card with bad credit?
  5. What should I look for in an unsecured credit card for bad credit?

While many credit cards for borrowers with poor or limited credit are secured cards, not everyone is willing or able to put down a security deposit up front. Unsecured credit cards don’t have this requirement, meaning no deposit is needed and your credit limit won’t be determined by the amount you pay.

Unfortunately, when issuing cards for people with bad credit, issuers tend to make up for a lack of a security deposit elsewhere, often with expensive fees or bad borrowing terms. To find the right unsecured credit card for your financial needs, check out our top five picks.

Best unsecured credit cards for bad credit

Here are the best credit cards for bad credit that don’t require a security deposit.

Overall best unsecured credit card for bad credit

Petal 2 cash back no fees visa credit card Apply Now

on Petal's secure site
or call (855) 697-3825

Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card

4.4

Authority

Rates & Fees

Minimum Deposit
$0
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
15.24%–29.24% (variable)
Rewards Rate
1% - 1.5%
Recommended Credit Score
500–850
Poor Fair Good Excellent
300 850

Why It's Great

The Petal® 2 Visa® is a unique unsecured credit card for bad credit. If you’re trying to avoid paying a security deposit but have less-than-perfect credit, your first stop should be at this card’s pre-approval process.

This card doesn’t charge annual, monthly, late payment, foreign transaction, or program fees. Furthermore, it offers cashback rewards—an extreme rarity among credit cards for no credit or poor credit.

With this card’s rewards program, you can earn:

  • 1% cash back on all purchases
  • 25% cash back on all purchases after making 6 on-time monthly payments
  • 5% cash back on all purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments
  • 2%–10% cash back on purchases with select merchants

Among its other advantages, the Petal® 2 Visa® credit card reports your activity to the credit bureau every month (making it a good option for building credit) and offers the ability to open a card without a Social Security number, meaning it’s available to non-citizens.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • No deposit required
  • No fees
  • 1%–10% cashback rewards rate
  • Pre-approval process
  • Credit reporting

Cons:

  • Potentially high APR
  • No introductory APR
  • No balance transfers or cash advances
  • Some borrowers may not qualify

Card Details

  • Issuer: WebBank
  • Annual fee: $0
  • Regular APR: 12.99%–26.99% (variable)
  • Credit limit: $300–$10,000
  • Rewards rate: 1%–10%
  • Credit score lookup: Free VantageScore credit scores

No-deposit credit card for bad credit with guaranteed approval

Total Visa credit card Apply Now

on Total Visa's secure site
or call (877) 480-6988

Total Visa® Credit Card

3.4

Authority

Rates & Fees

Minimum Deposit
$0
Annual Fee
$48–$75
Regular APR
34.99%
Rewards Rate
N/A
Recommended Credit Score
300–850
Poor Fair Good Excellent
300 850

Why It's Great

There’s no such thing as a fully guaranteed approval credit card, but the Total Visa® credit card is as close as it gets for unsecured cards. It offers incredibly high approval odds and instant approval in almost all cases, making it a quickly accessible credit card with no security deposit.

The application process is easy, and only requires the following information:

  • Name
  • Email address
  • Physical address (no P.O. boxes)
  • Phone number
  • Date of birth
  • Social Security number
  • Employment status
  • Net monthly income
  • Estimated monthly expenses

If the bank has trouble verifying any of the information above, it may take a few days to process your application. However, this is rare, and you’ll most likely be approved instantly for the card with an initial credit limit of $300.

Although you’ll be able to access your line of credit quickly without needing to put down a security deposit, you’ll be charged an $89 program fee upon account opening. This will be the first of many fees the Total Visa® charges. So while it can give you immediate funds at a low cost, it may cost you a lot of money in the long run.

Additionally, the Total Visa® reports your payment activity to all three major credit bureaus, making it a good option for borrowers with no credit or bad credit looking to improve their scores.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • No deposit required
  • Reports to three credit bureaus
  • Potential credit limit increase
  • Easy application
  • Instant approval

Cons:

  • High APR
  • Program fee
  • Annual fee
  • Monthly servicing fee

Card Details

  • Issuer: The Bank of Missouri
  • Program fee: $89 (one-time fee)
  • Annual fee: $75 for first year; $48 after that
  • Monthly fee: $0 for first year; $6.25/month after that
  • Regular APR: 34.99% (variable)
  • Cash advance APR: 34.99% (variable)
  • Cash advance fee: $0 for first year, then $10 or 3% (whichever is greater)
  • Initial credit limit: $300
  • Credit limit increase fee: 20% of the amount of increase

Unsecured credit card for bad credit and no SSN

Petal 1 Visa credit card Apply Now

on WebBank's secure website
or call (855) 697-3825

Petal 1® Visa® Credit Card

4.0

Authority

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
20.74% –30.24% (variable)
Rewards Rate
2%–10%
Recommended Credit Score
300–850
Poor Fair Good Excellent
300 850

Why It's Great

Getting an unsecured credit card with poor or limited credit is hard enough. Getting an unsecured credit card when you don’t have a Social Security number (SSN) can feel impossible. Luckily, there’s an accessible option for non-citizen borrowers with bad credit: the Petal® 1 Visa® credit card (as well as its sister card, the Petal® 2).

When applying for the Petal® 1 Visa®, you’ll first go through the Petal® credit card pre-approval process. The issuer will then let you know whether you’re eligible to submit an official application for:

  • Both the Petal® 1 and Petal® 2 credit cards
  • Only the Petal® 1 credit card
  • Neither card

You should apply for the Petal® 2 if given the option, but it’s a more exclusive card, and you may only be allowed to apply for a Petal® 1 Visa®. Don’t be discouraged, though, as the Petal® 1 is a great unsecured credit card.

It doesn’t charge an annual fee, offers a flexible credit limit, and gives you the chance to earn cashback rewards by shopping with specific merchants. Additionally, the card offers an Uber credits program, which helps you earn rewards towards Uber trips when you pay with your Petal® 1 credit card.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • No deposit required
  • $0 annual fee
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • Up to 10% cashback rewards
  • Available to people with no credit score

Cons:

  • Cashback rewards are limited to select merchants
  • High APR
  • No introductory offers
  • Balance transfers and cash advances not available

Card Details

  • Issuer: WebBank
  • Annual fee: $0
  • Regular APR: 19.99%–29.49% (variable)
  • Credit limit: $500–$5,000
  • Late fee: Up to $40
  • Returned payment fee: $29
  • Free VantageScore credit scores

High credit limit unsecured credit card for bad credit

Prosper Card Apply Now

on Prosper's secure site
or call (866) 615-6319

Prosper® Card

4.1

Authority

Rates & Fees

Annual Fee
$0–$39
Regular APR
19.74%–30.74% (variable)
Rewards Rate
N/A
Recommended Credit Score
300–850
Poor Fair Good Excellent
300 850

Why It's Great

The Prosper® Card offers a high credit limit for an unsecured credit card for bad credit. You can qualify for an initial credit line of $500–$3,000 with the potential for automatic credit limit increases.

Other credit cards available to borrowers with less-than-ideal credit tend to offer credit limits of $200–$300, meaning the Prosper® Card gives a lot of spending power to people who can’t easily qualify for traditional credit cards.

While you won’t need to pay a security deposit, the Prosper® Card does come at a cost, as there are multiple fees. However, the annual fee is only $39—less than the fee for most unsecured credit cards for bad credit—and you can get it waived for the first year as an incentive for setting up autopay.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • No deposit required
  • No cash advance fees
  • Fast application
  • Credit limit increases available after 3 months
  • Foreign transactions are available

Cons:

  • High APR
  • $39 annual fee
  • No rewards
  • No welcome bonus or intro offers
  • Balance transfers not available

Card Details

  • Issuer: Coastal Community Bank
  • Annual fee: $0–$39
  • Regular APR: 19.74%–30.74% (variable)
  • Cash advance APR: 30.74% (variable)
  • Cash advance fee: None
  • Initial credit limit: $500–$3,000
  • Foreign transaction fee: 1%
  • Late payment fee: Up to $40

Credit-building card with no deposit

Credit One Platinum Visa credit card Apply Now

on Credit One Bank's secure site
or call (800) 752-5493

Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit

3.6

Authority

Rates & Fees

Minimum Deposit
$0
Annual Fee
$75
Regular APR
24.74% (variable)
Rewards Rate
1%
Recommended Credit Score
300–850
Poor Fair Good Excellent
300 850

Why It's Great

The Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® is one of the best unsecured credit cards available—especially for borrowers trying to establish or rebuild credit. It offers high approval odds (often with instant approval as well), no deposit requirement, and 1% cashback rewards on select purchases.

You’ll enjoy the 1% cashback rate on:

  • Gas
  • Groceries
  • Your monthly mobile phone, internet, cable, and satellite TV services bills

Along with cashback rewards, the card offers credit building resources, including monthly credit reporting, Experian credit report monitoring, flexible due dates, and customizable account notifications.

However, you may be put off by the high annual fee on the Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa®, which is $75 the first year, and $99 after that.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

  • No deposit required
  • Cashback rewards
  • Free credit reports
  • Credit reporting

Cons:

  • High annual fee
  • Limited rewards
  • Low credit limit
  • Balance transfers not available

Card Details

  • Issuer: Credit One Bank
  • Annual fee: $75 for the first year; $99 after that
  • Regular APR: 23.99% (variable)
  • Rewards rate: 1%
  • Cash advance APR: 23.99% (variable)
  • Cash advance fee: $5 or 8% of the amount (whichever is greater)
  • Initial credit limit: $300
  • Foreign transaction fee: 3% or $1 (whichever is greater)
  • Late fee: Up to $39
  • Returned payment fee: Up to $39
  • Authorized user fee: $19 annually

What is an unsecured credit card for bad credit?

A unsecured credit card for bad credit is a credit card that doesn’t require a security deposit, but is still available to borrowers with bad credit or no credit.

As many credit cards are only available to applicants with good credit histories, it can be difficult to qualify for a credit card if your credit is less-than-perfect or even nonexistent. Luckily, such cards still exist, like all the ones mentioned above.

Unsecured credit cards for bad credit achieve two goals:

  1. They give you money through short-term loans that you pay back each month.
  2. They help you build credit through responsible borrowing that’s reported to the major credit bureaus. Improving your credit score is important if you want to qualify for even better credit cards or other loans in the future.

What’s the difference between a secured and unsecured credit card?

A secured credit card requires a security deposit. An unsecured credit card has no security deposit, so it can be opened without needing to pay money upfront.

Secured credit cards tend to be easier to qualify for, as the security deposit acts as collateral against risky borrowers. The credit limits on secured cards are usually the same amount as the deposit paid, so the lender can keep the security deposit if the borrower doesn’t pay their credit card bill.

Unsecured credit cards have credit limits determined by a borrower’s “creditworthiness” rather than a security deposit. Creditworthiness is a loose term that varies by lender. It’s usually determined by a borrower’s credit history and/or their current financial status.

Can I get an unsecured credit card with bad credit?

Yes, you can get an unsecured credit card with bad credit. While options are more limited for borrowers with bad credit, there are still credit cards available to people with bad credit, no credit, limited credit, or even black marks like bankruptcies on their credit reports.

What should I look for in an unsecured credit card for bad credit?

You should look for the following features in an unsecured credit card for bad credit:

  • No security deposit required
  • High approval odds
  • No annual fee or an annual fee under $50
  • APR under 25%
  • Credit reporting to the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion)
  • Credit services (e.g., credit monitoring or free credit scores)

How we rate our credit cards

Applying for a new credit card is a big decision. That's why FinanceJar's card experts carefully studied the following details of unsecured credit cards for bad-credit holders to determine which are the best options:

  • Fees
  • Interest Rates
  • Rewards
  • Benefits
  • Borrowing Terms
  • Approval Odds

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.

Kari Dearie

Editor

View Author

Kari Dearie is an editor for FinanceJar specializing in credit and personal finance. She previously managed a B2B website in the data privacy and digital compliance industry.

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