Quick & easy. Here are the best cards for bad credit.
- Credit NeededFair/Bad Credit
- ApprovalEasy Online Application
- Regular APRSee Terms
Highlights
- A genuine Visa credit card accepted by merchants nationwide across the USA and online
- Fast and easy application process; response provided in seconds
- Manageable monthly payments
- Checking Account Required
- If approved, simply pay a Program Fee to open your account and access your available credit
- Reports monthly to all three major credit bureaus
- Credit NeededPoor/Bad
- ApprovalEasy Online Application
- Regular APR24.9%
Highlights
- Pre-qualify for a card today and it will not impact your credit score
- Less than perfect credit is okay
- Mobile account access at any time
- Fraud protection for stolen or lost cards
- Account history is reported to the three major credit bureaus in the U.S.
- Credit NeededPoor/Bad
- ApprovalEasy Online Application
- Regular APR24.9%
Highlights
- Prequalify for a card today and it will not impact your credit score
- Less than perfect credit is okay
- Mobile account access at any time
- Protection from fraud if your card is stolen
- Account history is reported to the three major credit bureaus in the U.S.
- Credit NeededBad/Fair
- ApprovalEasy Online Application
- Regular APRSee Terms
Highlights
- All credit types welcome to apply
- Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
- Checking Account Required
- Initial Credit Limit of $500.00* (Subject to available credit)
- Fast and easy application process; results in seconds
- Use your card at locations everywhere Mastercard® is accepted
- Free access to your Vantage 3.0 score from TransUnion* (When you sign up for e-statements)
- Credit NeededBad/Fair
- ApprovalEasy Online Application
- Regular APRSee Terms
Highlights
- All credit types welcome to apply
- Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
- Checking Account Required
- Initial Credit Limit of $400.00* (Subject to available credit)
- Fast and easy application process; results in seconds
- Use your card at locations everywhere Mastercard® is accepted
- Free access to your Vantage 3.0 score from TransUnion* (When you sign up for e-statements)
Cards for Very Bad Credit or No Credit at All
Horizon Gold Card is the best choice for a credit card with bad credit in 2019. Approval is instant. With on-time payments, this card will improve your credit score over time. The only downside is it can only be used on the Horizon Store Website (it’s an online shopping site like Amazon).
- Credit Check?No Credit Check
- ApprovalInstant Approval
- Credit LimitGuaranteed $500 Credit Line*
- Credit NeededBad Credit, No Credit – OK
- ApprovalInstant Approval
- Credit Limit$500 Credit Line!
Typical Credit Card Approval Process
How to Apply
What You’ll Need
Getting Your Card
What Are Credit Cards?
Credit cards, also sometimes called “charge cards” allow users to spend money before they actually have it. This is the main difference between credit cards and debit cards.
For example, if you need to make a $250 purchase today, and you don’t have the $250 in cash to make the purchase, a credit card will allow you to make the purchase and pay the $250 later. For those of us that depend on receiving our paychecks every two weeks, credit cards can be a lifesaver.
We spent 200+ hours searching for the best credit cards of 2019, because not all credit cards are made equal. Many shady online credit issuers have high variable rates and lots of hidden fees. None of the issuers on this page have hidden fees, and virtually all are highly rated and respected.
What Can I use Credit Cards For?
Credit cards can be used for everyday purchases, or just about anything! Some of the most popular uses include:
- Everyday expenses, i.e. groceries, gas, coffee, etc.
- Large, unplanned expenses
- Pay for a wedding
- Automobile expenses
- Medical bills
According to research by Finder, roughly 70.02% of all Americans have credit cards. Typically, the better your credit score, the more perks you’ll get with a credit card.
Credit Card Myths
One of the most common misconceptions about credit cards is that they somehow negatively effect your credit score.
For most cases, this is not true. There’s often no impact on your personal credit score to see if you qualify for a credit card. If applying for a specific card will negatively impact your credit, we’ll be sure to make a note on our page.
The only way a credit card can hurt your credit score is if you fail to make your minimum/full monthly payments. Ideally, you’ll want to pay off your credit card in full each month to avoid interest charges. However, even if you only make the minimum statement balance payment, your credit score will actually not take a hit; in many cases, it could improve due to regularly, timely payments. Issuers view timely payments very positively, so you should always aim to pay off your credit card on time every month.