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Compare Credit Cards for Poor Credit

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Choosing a credit card has never been easier. Browse cards based on credit bands, quickly compare offers, and find the right fit for you.

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Cards for Poor Credit

Poor Credit? Choices are limited and tend to have relatively high APRs and charge fees. A secured card may be a good option if your score is in this range. With a secured card, you make a deposit with the issuing bank. Secured cards also typically report to the three credit bureaus. After having a secured card and showing good payment history, some banks will then issue an unsecured card, some of which are fee based, (also to be thought of as a “regular” credit card). Compare offers from our partners.

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

3.8
276 Reviews
Learn More
Regular APR
29.99% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Limited, Bad
Highlights
  • No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
  • Building your credit? Using the Capital One Platinum Secured card responsibly could help
  • Put down a refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get a $200 initial credit line
  • You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
  • 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 to access your account from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
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Rates & Fees
See If I'm Pre-Approved
Regular APRAnnual FeeCredit Needed
29.99% (Variable)$0Limited, Bad

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

4.7
37 Reviews
Learn More
Regular APR
29.99% (Variable)
Annual Fee
$0
Credit Needed
Limited, Bad
Highlights
  • No annual or hidden fees, and you can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day. See if you're approved in seconds
  • Put down a refundable $200 security deposit to get a $200 initial credit line
  • Building your credit? Using a card like this responsibly could help
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
  • 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
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Rates & Fees
See If I'm Pre-Approved
Regular APRAnnual FeeCredit Needed
29.99% (Variable)$0Limited, Bad

Credit One Bank® Unsecured Visa® with Cash Back Rewards

3.3
209 Reviews
Learn More
Regular APR
29.49% Variable
Annual Fee
$0 - $99
Credit Needed
Bad, Fair or Good Credit
Highlights
  • See if you Pre-Qualify without harming your credit score
  • Earn 1% cash back rewards on eligible gas, grocery purchases and mobile phone service, internet, cable and satellite TV services, terms apply
  • With $0 Fraud Liability, you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Automatic reviews for credit line increase opportunities
  • Looking to rebuild credit? We report to the major credit bureaus monthly
  • Free Online Credit Score and Credit Report summary, terms apply
  • This unsecured card requires no deposit and can help build your credit
  • Choose your monthly payment due date for added convenience, terms apply
  • Never miss an account update with customizable text and email alerts
  • Manage your account on-the-go with the Credit One Bank mobile app
  • Show off your personality by selecting from a variety of card designs, a fee may apply
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Regular APRAnnual FeeCredit Needed
29.49% Variable$0 - $99Bad, Fair or Good Credit

First Access Visa® Card

3.6
51 Reviews
Learn More
Regular APR
35.99%*
Annual Fee
See Terms*
Credit Needed
Fair
Highlights
  • Earn 1% cash back rewards on payments made to your First Access Credit Card
  • Checking Account Required
  • $300 credit limit (subject to available credit)
  • No security deposit, simply pay a one-time $95 program fee to open your account.*
  • User friendly Mobile App.
  • *See Rates, Fees, Costs & Limitations for complete offer details https://www.firstaccesscard.com/pdf/firstaccess_rates_fees_costs_and_limitations.pdf
  • See First Access Rewards Programs Terms & Conditions for details https://images.totalcardinc.com/documents/TBOMrewards.pdf
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Regular APRAnnual FeeCredit Needed
35.99%*See Terms*Fair

Reflex® Platinum Mastercard®

4.2
28 Reviews
Learn More
Regular APR
35.90% Fixed
Annual Fee
$75 - $125
Credit Needed
Fair/Poor/Bad/Limited
Highlights
  • Up to $1,000 Initial Credit Limit
  • See if you Pre-Qualify with No Impact to your Credit Score
  • Less than perfect credit? We understand. The Reflex Mastercard is ideal for people looking to rebuild their credit.
  • Unsecured credit card requires No Security Deposit
  • Perfect card for everyday purchases and unexpected expenses
  • Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
  • Access to your Vantage 3.0 Score from Experian (when you sign up for e-statements)
  • Use your card everywhere Mastercard is accepted at millions of locations
  • Enjoy peace of mind with Mastercard Zero Liability Protection for unauthorized purchases (subject to Mastercard guidelines)
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Regular APRAnnual FeeCredit Needed
35.90% Fixed$75 - $125Fair/Poor/Bad/Limited

PREMIER Bankcard® Mastercard® Credit Card

3.4
93 Reviews
Learn More
Regular APR
See Provider Website
Annual Fee
See Provider Website
Credit Needed
Fair/Bad Credit
Highlights
  • Helping people build* credit is our first priority – start your credit-building journey today.
  • Don’t let a low credit score stop you from pre-qualifying – we’ve helped millions build credit, now it’s your turn.
  • *Build credit by keeping your balance low and paying all your bills on time every month.
  • Credit scores are used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any PREMIER Bankcard® product.
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Regular APRAnnual FeeCredit Needed
See Provider WebsiteSee Provider WebsiteFair/Bad Credit

About Poor Credit Cards

Based on a VantageScore 3.0 model provided by TransUnion—which is used by Credit Sesame—a poor credit score falls between the range of 500 – 549. Your credit score may vary from what you see elsewhere based on the credit bureau, date of the credit report, and credit scoring model. Credit card issuers and other financial institutions use a variety of different types of credit scores and other criteria to make credit and lending decisions so, having a credit score in a particular range is not a guarantee that you will be approved for a credit card or approved for the terms you applied for.

Having poor credit limits your credit card choices but there are issuers who cater to individuals who have lower credit scores. Many of these credit cards are basic, no-frills offerings, but some do offer rewards and other perks.
One of the most important considerations is the cost of owning the credit card. People with low credit scores frequently pay higher interest rates because the credit card issuer is assuming more risk by extending credit to a person who has not demonstrated responsible credit habits. These may also charge more in the form of annual fees and even maintenance fees.

Traditional credit cards are unsecured, some of which are fee based, and individuals with poor credit may not qualify. A secured card can be easier to get but requires a cash deposit as a security deposit from you (held by the credit card issuer) to open the account.

The credit line is usually equal to the amount of the cash deposit. But the deposit is not applied to purchases. Similar to a traditional credit card, you’ll still need to pay the bill each month. The Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on a secured card is usually higher in comparison to a traditional (unsecured) credit card. With responsible use by you a secured card can be a stepping stone to better credit and better credit products.

Check your credit report and credit score before you apply for a new credit card so you know what you’re working with. If you apply for a credit card that is only available to individuals with better credit scores, chances are that you’ll take a hit to your credit score with nothing to show for it. In addition you will want to review the fee schedule carefully. You may find some credit cards for individuals with poor credit that offer a low or no annual fee. Review the APR so that you know what you’ll pay if you carry a balance (but try not to carry a balance). If all else is equal, choose a rewards card.

Don’t apply for several credit cards all at once because that is likely to hurt your score. Do take advantage of tools that, if properly utilized, can help you work towards increasing your credit score, such as free credit monitoring, credit education and due date reminders.

If your goal is to rebuild or build positive credit, make sure the issuer reports your credit card activity to the three major credit bureaus. Once you use a credit card responsibly for six to 12 months, your credit standing is likely to improve and you can consider requesting one that is not secured or one that has more features and perks.

Helpful Resources

Ask the Expert: Should I Close the Retail Store Card I Opened?

Dummies Guide to Disputing Credit Card Charges

When You Should Opt for Credit Over Debit

Ask the Expert: Should I Close the Retail Store Card I Opened?

Dummies Guide to Disputing Credit Card Charges

When You Should Opt for Credit Over Debit

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Advertiser Disclosure: Many of the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Credit Sesame receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Credit Sesame provides a variety of offers, but these offers do not include all financial services companies or all products available.

Credit Sesame is an independent comparison service provider. Reasonable efforts have been made to maintain accurate information throughout our website, mobile apps, and communication methods; however, all information is presented without warranty or guarantee. All images and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Editorial Content Disclosure: The editorial content on this page (including, but not limited to, Pros and Cons) is not provided by any credit card issuer. Any opinions, analysis, reviews, or recommendations expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any credit card issuer.

† Approval Odds: Credit Sesame calculates your approval odds by comparing your credit profile to other Credit Sesame members who were approved for this product. These approval odds are estimates only and do not guarantee approval. Lenders, credit card issuers, and other financial institutions use a variety of different types of credit scores and criteria to make credit and lending decisions. The TransUnion credit score we provide is based on the VantageScore 3.0 model and may not be the credit scoring model used by financial institutions presenting offers on our website.

†† Average and Lowest Scores: “Average” and “Lowest” scores refer to the scores of Credit Sesame members who were approved for this product. These scores are estimates only and do not guarantee approval. Lenders, credit card issuers, and other financial institutions use a variety of different types of credit scores and other criteria to make credit and lending decisions. The TransUnion credit score Credit Sesame provides you is based on the VantageScore 3.0 model and may not be the credit scoring model used by the financial institutions presenting offers on the Credit Sesame website.

Provider’s Terms: *See the online provider’s application for details about terms and conditions. Reasonable efforts have been made to maintain accurate information, however, all information is presented without warranty or guarantee. When you click to apply, you can review the terms and conditions on the provider’s website. Offers are subject to change and the terms displayed may not be available to all consumers.

Loan APR Estimates: Annual Percentage Rates, loan terms and monthly payments shown are estimated based upon analysis of your credit profile, information you entered, and/or rate information provided by lenders. While efforts have been made to maintain accurate information, the loan information is presented without warranty and the estimated APR or other terms shown do not bind any lender. All loans are subject to credit review and approval. When evaluating offers, please review the lender’s terms and conditions for additional details.

Reviews: User reviews and responses are not provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the banks, issuers and credit card advertisers. It is not the banks, issuers, and credit card advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts are answered. The Credit Sesame website star ratings are an average based on contributions from independent users not affiliated with Credit Sesame. Banks, issuers and credit card advertisers are not responsible for star ratings, nor do they endorse or guarantee any posted comments or reviews.

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444 Castro St., Ste 500, Mountain View, CA 94041
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Advertiser Disclosure

Many of the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Credit Sesame receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear (including, for example, the order in which they appear). Credit Sesame provides a variety of offers, but these offers do not include all financial services companies or all products available.

Credit Sesame is an independent comparison service provider. Reasonable efforts have been made to maintain accurate information throughout our website, mobile apps, and communication methods; however, all information is presented without warranty or guarantee. All images and trademarks are the property of their respective owners.