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It’s the old catch-22. A credit card can help you build credit, but if you have a low (or no) credit score, qualifying for a new card is tough.
Luckily, some cards are easier to qualify for than others. A few credit card issuers even offer instant approval if you qualify, so you don’t have to wait for a decision.
While you may not access the perks that come with many top credit cards (which typically require excellent credit), you may be able to earn some rewards. Plus, after using your card responsibly over time, you may be able to upgrade.
8 of the easiest credit cards to qualify for
- Capital One Platinum Credit Card: Best unsecured card with easy approval
- Capital One QuickSilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for rewards
- Citi® Secured Mastercard®: Best secured card
- Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students: Best for students
- Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card: Best for no fees
- OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card: Best for those with low credit
- Apple Card: Best for Apple purchases
- Amazon Store Card: Best for Amazon purchases
Capital One Platinum Credit Card: Best unsecured card with easy approval
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The Capital One Platinum card is good for those looking to build or rebuild their credit history. It’s specifically designed for people with fair credit scores, making it one of the easier unsecured cards to qualify for.
This card offers you the chance to show responsible credit behavior and improve your creditworthiness over time. You’ll also get benefits like fraud protection, extended warranty coverage, and automatic credit increase reviews after six months.
You’ll also have access to Capital One’s CreditWise tool, which allows you to monitor your credit score and get helpful tips on improving it.
This card does not offer a rewards program, so if you’re looking for cash back or travel rewards, consider other options.
Capital One QuickSilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for rewards
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The QuickSilverOne Cash Rewards Card is one of the few rewards cards available to those with fair credit. This card offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases, making it a straightforward way to earn rewards. You’ll also earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
This card also offers the ability to increase your credit limit in six months after responsible use. Plus, you’ll get food membership benefits and no foreign transaction fees.
This card does come with a $39 annual fee — which may be a drawback for some. Plus, there’s no welcome bonus or 0% intro APR offer.
Citi® Secured Mastercard®: Best secured card
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If you have no credit history (or a sparse one), consider a secured card like the Citi Secured Mastercard. You’ll need to provide a security deposit that serves as your credit limit. But this deposit is fully refundable if you close your account and pay off your balance.
This card reports your payment history to the major credit bureaus, helping you build credit over time. After demonstrating responsible credit behavior, you may be eligible for an upgrade to an unsecured card.
The Citi Secured Mastercard doesn’t offer any rewards program, as its primary focus is to help you establish or rebuild your credit.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Credit Card for Students: Best for students
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If you’re a student looking to build credit, this card is a solid way to do so while earning rewards.
With this card, you can enjoy the benefits of a student card without compromising on rewards.
You can earn up to 3% back on a category of your choosing, which includes online shopping, dining, travel, and more. You’ll also earn 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs and 1% back on all other purchases.
The 3% and 2% categories are capped at a combined $2,500 each quarter. After that, you’ll earn 1%.
Remember that you can only redeem rewards as a statement credit or direct deposit into a Bank of America or eligible Merrill account.
Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card: Best for no fees
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The Petal 2 card doesn’t require a credit score for approval, and you’ll know whether you’re approved in minutes.
Many cards offset the benefit of instant eligibility with excessive fees. That’s not the case with the Pedal 2 credit card, which stands out for its simple rewards and lack of fees.
The Petal 2 doesn’t charge any fees, including annual fees or late fees. You can earn 1% back on eligible purchases or up to 1.5% back when you make 12 on-time payments. In addition, you can earn between 2%-10% back at select retailers.
Plus, you’ll be able to increase your credit limit in six months. This makes the Petal 2 card a valuable starter card for building credit while earning cash back.
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card: Best for those with low credit
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The OneSky Secured Visa card is worth considering if you want to rebuild your credit or establish credit for the first time. You can apply without a credit check, and responsible card use can help you boost your score over time.
This secured card requires a refundable security deposit (between $200 and $3,000). This makes qualifying easier, even if you have a poor credit history. You can set your own credit limit (with a maximum of $3,000), depending on how much you deposit.
Keep in mind there is an annual fee of $35 — you also won’t get the ability to earn rewards on your spending.
Apple Card: Best for Apple purchases
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Apple enthusiasts should consider the Apple Card, which offers 3% back on Apple purchases and other select retailers. You’ll also get 2% back on spending made with Apple Pay and 1% back on all other purchases.
The Apple Card has no annual fees, late payment fees, or foreign transaction fees. Plus, you can earn interest on cash rewards if you transfer them to a high-yield savings account through Goldman Sachs.
The Apple Card typically requires a credit score of 600 or higher to be accepted. If you’re declined, you may have a chance to enroll in an Apple program called Path to Apple Card. After successfully completing the program, you’ll receive an invitation to reapply for the Apple Card.
Amazon Store Card: Best for Amazon purchases
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Amazon offers a few unsecured and store card options. Their store card, offered in partnership with Synchrony Bank, caters to Amazon shoppers. It provides various benefits and financing options for purchases made on Amazon.com.
Prime members can enjoy extra discounts and exclusive offers when using the Amazon Store Card.
Like most retail cards, the Amazon Store Card has a relatively high APR, so it’s essential to pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges.
You can also only use this card on Amazon.com and affiliated websites. If you’re not a regular Amazon user, this card likely isn’t a good fit for you.
What’s the easiest credit card to get?
Many credit cards are relatively easy to qualify for and often issue approval decisions instantly.
But when looking for a card, it’s smart to base your decision on whether the card is right for you rather than how quickly you can get approved.
If you’re concerned about your ability to get approved, these cards typically offer the easiest path forward.
- Secured credit cards: These cards require you to pay a cash deposit upfront, which serves as your credit line. The deposit minimizes the credit card issuer’s risk since they can use it to cover their loss if you don’t pay your bill. For this reason, secured credit cards are usually available to applicants with poor or limited credit.
- Student credit cards: Credit card issuers offer student credit cards to college students. Since students are often new to credit, these cards usually have low credit limits. But these cards may offer rewards for good grades or cash back on typical student expenses.
- Retail credit cards: Retail credit cards are tied to a specific store, chain, or retailer and are meant to be used exclusively at the associated store. These cards are easier to get, and they often offer store discounts and rewards.
The bottom line
If you’re new to credit or your credit score is less than ideal, the card options above may help you build your credit. You may not need a credit score to apply for a secured credit card, and some card issuers are willing to work with applicants with bad credit.
Still, choosing the best credit card should be about matching the card to your needs.
No matter what card you choose, aim to establish healthy credit habits like keeping your balance low and paying your monthly bill in full and on time. This will help you build your credit over time.
In time, you may even qualify for the best travel credit cards and rewards credit cards available.
Opinions expressed are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.