Best credit cards for bad credit in December 2024

The two types of credit cards most commonly available to people with bad credit are secured cards and unsecured cards. Both options have notable advantages and disadvantages, primarily surrounding affordability, and deciding which one is best for you may come down to a few key differences.

A secured credit card usually requires a security deposit for your credit limit, which determines the limit and often matches it. Credit-building features can also include reporting your credit activities to credit bureaus, late fee forgiveness and credit monitoring. 

These cards are ideal when you’re starting to build or need to repair your credit. Many of these cards offer preapproval, so it won’t hurt your credit to check your approval odds. Some don’t charge an annual fee, so you can focus on building credit without gaining any unnecessary debt.

Unsecured credit cards for bad credit differ slightly from secured cards. They do not require a security deposit but sometimes charge annual fees. If you don’t want to — or can’t — provide the funds for a security deposit, unsecured cards for bad credit are available, though they usually aren’t as common and don’t always have the best terms.

Generally, we advise people to avoid unsecured credit cards for bad credit whenever possible because they tend to have high APRs (even higher than on some secured cards) and can include various fees — some even charge annual fees. It’s also rare that these cards come with benefits like rewards despite being unsecured.

Tips on choosing a credit card for bad credit

A card for bad credit can be useful in providing credit if you can’t qualify for better options. However, it’s important to choose the best one that will help you reach your financial goals. Here are some tips to keep in mind as you shop around:

1. Look for credit-building features: If you want to upgrade your card sooner than later, features like credit monitoring and automatic credit line reviews can come in handy for boosting your credit score.
2. Check the fees: Be aware of more than the annual fee. The card can also be expensive due to ATM fees, late fees, and penalty fees.
3. See if there are upgrade opportunities. Some cards allow you to upgrade from a secured card to an unsecured card or increase your credit limit after you show good credit habits.
4. Look for preapproval offers: Too many hard inquiries can cause your credit score to dip. Preapprovals show you your chances of being approved for a card so you can apply for cards with confidence.

Perks to look out for on cards with bad credit

While cards for bad credit have fewer perks benefits are usually different on secured and unsecured cards. Here’s what you should look out for: 

A credit card can still be a helpful tool in building credit, even with bad credit.  You can use a card to help you establish credit, boost your credit file or begin fixing past credit mistakes. Here’s when it’s smart to use a credit card for bad credit: 

• When you’re ready to repair your credit. If you’re ready to rebuild credit, a credit card for bad credit can help get you back on track. As long as you make on-time payments, keep your credit utilization ratio under 30 percent and practice other responsible credit habits, you can work toward a better credit score and card options. 
• When you have a limited credit history. While you may not necessarily have bad credit, not having any credit can be just as restrictive. Many credit cards for bad credit are also some of the best for no credit history. People new to credit can try starter credit cards, and first-generation credit users can find cards that meet their needs in many of our featured cards.
• When you want options for an emergency. Credit cards for bad credit often don’t have a high credit limit. However, a little can go a long way when it comes to a last-minute expense or emergency. While it won’t replace an emergency fund, it can be useful when you’re in a bind. 
• When you need to make purchases without cash. Some expenses can’t be paid with cash or check. Having a credit card can simplify and automate payments. It can also be a good payment alternative if you don’t have a bank account.

While improving your credit score can feel like an uphill battle, good credit habits and patience will pay off. Here are a few tips to remember when trying to boost your credit.

One of the most effective ways to build credit is with a credit card. While a few factors are more important than others when calculating your score, consistent and positive credit management over time is the key to seeing results. Once you apply for a credit card, establish a budget so you don’t overspend and risk further damaging your credit score. Take advantage of free credit management tools and keep a close eye on your progress. 

If using a credit card to build credit isn’t the best option for you and your needs, you can explore alternative ways to build credit without a credit card. Other financial tools like credit-builder loans and alternative reporting data are two of the most popular ways to build credit without a credit card. If you need more help, you could explore credit repair options or pursue credit counseling.

But do your research while exploring credit repair or counseling. Some bad actors do exist, and scammers may be more inclined to target people with bad credit. Check with the National Foundation for Credit Counseling or your local Financial Empowerment Center for help identifying legitimate credit counseling and repair services.

Having bad credit can be a burden and seem like a hopeless situation. People with bad credit turn to communities like r/PersonalFinance and r/PovertyFinance on Reddit and MyFICO Forums to find solutions, which isn’t a bad idea. Crowd-sourcing encouragement and advice may help you find the strategy you need to get your credit back on track.

And while it’s not impossible to improve your score, it takes patience and being realistic about the root cause of your credit. “It takes a while, usually best case scenario about a full year to get your score solidly in a higher bracket [sic],” one user commented in the r/PovertyFinance subreddit.*

Bankrate and credit cards expert Nouri Zarrugh agrees — this is the same advice he gives friends when they ask how to raise their credit scores.

“Bad credit is just a starting point,” he says. “Whenever friends ask me for advice on improving their score, my go-to advice is ‘slow and steady wins the race.’”

Depending on what’s affecting your score, it can take months or years for derogatory marks to fall off your reports and stop bringing down your score. But don’t lose hope. One regular contributor on MyFICOForums recently shared their story of how online communities helped them improve their score from the mid-500s to mid-800s over 12 years.

“I didn’t have hope for a long time but found solace reading about other’s situations and learning tremendously from them and the collective knowledge here. I found addressing issues instead of ignoring them is imperative. Cutting spending and being honest about the situation is critical. Sucking up your pride and doing things you may not want to … dramatically improves your future.”

— MTSN, MyFICO Forum user*

If you’ve determined a credit card is your next best step for fixing your credit, users also suggest using prequalification and preapproval tools to help you identify which issuers will accept your bad credit.

“Start with a low-cost card, only use it for small purchases and pay it off on time and in full, every time,” Zarrugh says. “Just stick to that, and you can see your score rise considerably.”

*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Be sure to check the issuer's website/terms and conditions for all up to date content. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.

Still unsure if a credit card is right for you even if you have bad credit? Check out our Credit Card Spender Type Tool, where you can get personalized credit card recommendations based on your credit score, spending habits and daily needs.

Have more questions for our credit cards editors? Feel free to send us an email, find us on Facebook, or Tweet us @Bankrate.

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

*The information about the Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

How we assess the best credit cards for people with bad credit

When evaluating the best cards for building credit, we consider a mix of factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether cards offer features that make it easy to build credit history while minimizing costs.

We analyzed over 50 of the most popular cards designed for people with no credit history, bad credit or a fair credit score and rated each based on its cost, APR, credit-building features and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup.

Here are some of the key factors that we considered and how they’re factored into our card ratings: