If you have poor to average credit there are still plenty of great options for you to consider. Most of the cards we have rounded up below are focused on helping you build your credit and some even offer rewards and other useful card features.
Annual Fee
$99 annual membership fee, automatically renewed each year
Recommended Credit Score
Poor – Fair
How It Works
CreditStrong Revolv helps you build credit fast without a credit card. For $99 a year Revolv adds a minimum of $1,000 revolving credit line to your credit profile in order to improve your credit utilization ratio which can improve your credit score. You then have the option to make monthly deposits into your account to unlock a better credit utilization rate and generate monthly payment reporting to the credit bureaus. It is essentially like opening a secured credit card, but you do not have access to the money. You can cancel your account at any time with no fees or penalties charged or you can change you saving commitment to $0 to continue to help your revolving credit utilization.
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Critics' Overview
Start building your credit without a credit card with CreditStrong Revolv. Once opened, the account is immediately reported as a $1,000 line of revolving credit to all 3 major credit bureaus. You will set up a monthly payment amount/monthly savings commitment within a recommended range to help keep your utilization low and to optimize building your credit. You also automatically get a $250 increase to your line of credit with three on-time, consecutive payments. Total maximum line of credit is $3,000.
Purchase & Balance Transfer APR
N/A
Recommended Credit Score
Poor – Fair
Annual Fee
$99 annual membership fee, automatically renewed each year
Card Details From Issuer
- No credit check
- Credit building product that will help build revolving credit with zero interest without a credit card
- $99 annual membership fee, automatically renewed each year
- Low monthly payment options – your savings are your payment, so it’s like you’re paying yourself.
- Once opened, the account is immediately reported as a $1,000 line of revolving credit to all 3 major credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, Experian)
- 14-day grace period
Apply Now
On CreditStrong's Secure site
Purchase APR
25.64% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
Poor – Fair
300 – 607
Rewards
Up to 10%
Up to 10% back on select purchases
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Critics' Overview
The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is a good secured credit card because it doesn’t require a credit check or a bank account. You will fund your card with a low $200 refundable security deposit to get a $200 credit line. There is a $35 but it can be worth it for the chance to rebuild your credit.
Purchase APR
25.64% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
Poor – Fair (300 – 607)
Card Details From Issuer
- New feature! Earn up to 10% cash back on everyday purchases
- No credit check to apply. Zero credit risk to apply!
- Looking to build or rebuild your credit? 2 out of 3 OpenSky cardholders increase their credit score by an average of 41 points in just 3 months
- Get free monthly access to your FICO score in our mobile application
- Build your credit history across 3 major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion
- Add to your mobile wallet and make purchases using Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay
- Fund your card with a low $200 refundable security deposit to get a $200 credit line
- Apply in less than 5 minutes with our mobile first application
- Choose the due date that fits your schedule with flexible payment dates
- Fund your security deposit over 60 days with the option to make partial payments
- Over 1.4 Million Cardholders Have Used OpenSky Secured Credit Card To Improve Their Credit
Apply Now
On OpenSky's Secure site
Purchase APR
29.99% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
Poor – Fair
300 – 607
Rewards
Up to 10%
Up to 10% back on select purchases
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Critics' Overview
The OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card is a good secured credit card because it doesn’t require a credit check or a bank account. This no annual fee credit card allows you to rebuild your credit as it provides reporting to all 3 major credit bureaus and credit monitoring. Secure your credit line with a refundable security deposit – as low as $300.
Purchase APR
29.99% Variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
Poor – Fair (300 – 607)
Card Details From Issuer
- New feature! Earn up to 10% cash back on everyday purchases
- No annual fee
- No credit check to apply. Find out instantly if you are approved- Zero credit risk to apply!
- Looking to build or rebuild your credit? 2 out of 3 OpenSky cardholders increase their credit score by an average of 41 points in just 3 months
- Monitor your credit progress with free access to your FICO Credit Score.
- Build your credit history across 3 major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion
- Add to your mobile wallet and make purchases using Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay
- Secure your credit line with a refundable security deposit – as low as $300.
- Easy application, apply in less than 5 minutes right from your mobile device
- Offers flexible payment due dates which allow you to choose any available due date that fits your payment schedule
- Now you can make smaller partial payments towards funding your security deposit over 60 days
- Over 1.4 Million Cardholders Have Used OpenSky Secured Credit Card To Improve Their Credit
Apply Now
On OpenSky's Secure site
Apply Now
on The Bank of Missouri’s secure site
Purchase APR
29.9% or 36% variable
Recommended Credit Score
Fair – Poor
520 – 680
Rewards
1% – 3%
Earn a 3% cash back reward on eligible gas, grocery, and utility bill payments
Earn a 1% cash back reward on all other eligible purchases of goods and services and payments minus returns and other credits
Credit Check Required
Yes
View All Card Details
Apply Now
on The Bank of Missouri's secure site
Critics' Overview
The Aspire® Cashback Rewards Credit Card allows you to earn cash back while building your credit score. It offers a simple pre-qualification process to check your suitability for the card with no impact on your credit score. There are no program fees or initial deposits needed to open an account but there is an annual fee as low as $85.
Purchase APR
29.9% or 36% variable
Balance Transfer APR
32.99% or 36% variable
Recommended Credit Score
Fair – Poor (520 – 680)
Card Details From Issuer
- Earn a 3% Cash Back Reward on Gas, Groceries and Utilities‡
- Earn a 1% Cash Back Reward on all other eligible purchases‡
- Up to $1,000 credit limit subject to credit approval*
- Pre-qualify without affecting your credit score
- No security deposit
- Good anywhere Mastercard® is accepted
- Free access to your credit score †
- $0 fraud liability**
- *Pre-qualified means that information in your credit report indicated that you met certain pre-established credit criteria. Final approval is not guaranteed if you do not meet all applicable criteria (including adequate proof of ability to repay). Income verification through access to your bank account information may be required.
- † Your credit score will be available in your online account 60 days after your account is opened. (Registration required) The free VantageScore 4.0 credit score – provided by TransUnion® is for educational purposes only and may not be used by The Bank of Missouri (the issuer of this card) or other creditors to make credit decisions.
- ‡You will earn a 3% cash back reward on eligible gas, grocery, and utility purchases/payments and you will earn a 1% cash back reward on all other eligible purchases, which are for goods and services minus returns and other credits. Rewards will be earned when the transaction posts to your account and will remain as long as the purchase is not returned. Purchases do not include fees or interest charges, balance transfers, cash advances, or purchases of other cash equivalents. Rewards are not earned for pending transactions
- **Fraud liability subject to Mastercard® rules
Apply Now
On The Bank of Missouri's Secure site
Apply Now
on The Bank of Missouri’s secure site
Purchase APR
29.9% or 36% variable
Annual Fee
$49 to $175 the first year; up to $49 thereafter
Recommended Credit Score
Fair – Poor
520 – 680
Rewards
1% – 3%
Earn a 3% cash back reward on eligible gas, grocery, and utility bill payments
Earn a 1% cash back reward on all other eligible purchases of goods and services and payments minus returns and other credits
Credit Check Required
Yes
View All Card Details
Apply Now
on The Bank of Missouri's secure site
Critics' Overview
The Fortiva® Mastercard® Credit Card is suitable for people who want to improve their credit or have low credit scores that do not allow them to qualify for secured credit cards. This card does not require a security deposit but it does have an annual fee of $49-$175 the first year and then up to $49 from the second year on. Since this card reports to all three major credit bureaus each month, it can help you improve your credit score through responsibly use.
Purchase APR
29.9% or 36% variable
Balance Transfer APR
32.99% or 36% variable
Recommended Credit Score
Fair – Poor (520 – 680)
Annual Fee
$49 to $175 the first year; up to $49 thereafter
Card Details From Issuer
- Free VantageScore 4.0 (provided by TransUnion®)
- Reports to all three major credit bureaus
- Earn a 3% cash back reward on eligible gas, grocery, and utility bill payments
- Earn a 1% cash back reward on all other eligible purchases of goods and services and payments minus returns and other credits
- Mobile app available in Apple Store and Google Play
- Good anywhere Mastercard® is accepted
- No security deposit
- $0 fraud liability
Apply Now
On The Bank of Missouri's Secure site
Purchase APR
29.99% (Variable)
Recommended Credit Score
Average, Fair, Limited
580 – 740
Rewards
N/A
N/A
Credit Check Required
Yes
View All Card Details
Critics' Overview
This uncomplicated card is a great option for those working on their credit. For no annual fee, it allows you to boost your credit through responsible behavior. You can even earn a chance to increase your credit limit after making on-time payments in as little as six months.
Purchase APR
29.99% (Variable)
Balance Transfer APR
29.99% (Variable)
Recommended Credit Score
Average, Fair, Limited (580 – 740)
Card Details From Issuer
- No annual or hidden fees. See if you’re approved in seconds
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It’s free for everyone
- Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One’s mobile app
- Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you’re all set
- Pay by check, online or at a local branch, all with no fee – and pick the monthly due date that works best for you
Apply Now
On Capital One's Secure site
Purchase APR
29.99% (Variable)
Recommended Credit Score
Average, Fair, Limited
580 – 740
Rewards
1.5% – 5%
Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
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Critics' Overview
This card is a solid pick for those with fair credit looking to improve their scores and earn cash-back rewards in the process. You earn unlimited 1.5% cash back and you get an elevated cash back rate on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. This card does come with a $39 annual fee, but the rewards quickly justify this fee.
Purchase APR
29.99% (Variable)
Balance Transfer APR
29.99% (Variable)
Recommended Credit Score
Average, Fair, Limited (580 – 740)
Card Details From Issuer
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn’t expire for the life of the account. It’s that simple
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
- Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It’s free for everyone
- Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you’re all set
Apply Now
On Capital One's Secure site
Purchase APR
28.74% variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
Poor – Fair
300 – 607
View All Card Details
Critics' Overview
The secured Self Visa® Credit Card* does not require a hard credit check and provides a way to build up the required security deposit. You’ll start with the Self Credit Builder Account** and then after three months of on-time payments and a minimum of $100 in savings progress you can become eligible to open the secured Self Visa® Credit Card* by using money from your account as your deposit.**** This card helps build your credit history with your own money.
Purchase APR
28.74% variable APR
Recommended Credit Score
Poor – Fair (300 – 607)
Card Details From Issuer
- Open a path to a secured credit card
- No hard credit pull
- No credit score required
- Establish credit with 3 major bureaus
- Create positive payment history with 3 major credit bureaus
- Funded by your savings progress in your Credit Builder Account
- Start with a Credit Builder Account
- Stay on track with credit utilization monitoring, autopay, account reminders, an app, and dedicated customer support
- *Self Visa® Credit Card issued by Lead Bank or SouthState Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC. See self.inc for details.
- **Credit Builder Accounts & Certificates of Deposit made/held by Lead Bank, Sunrise Banks, N.A., SouthState Bank, N.A., First Century Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC. Subject to credit approval.
- ****Card eligibility: Active Credit Builder Account in good standing, 3 on time payments, $100 or more in savings progress and satisfying income requirements. Criteria subject to change.
Apply Now
On Self's Secure site
Editorial Note: Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer.
*CardCritics references a FICO® 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. A financial institution may use a different score when evaluating your application.