The Difference Between Secured And Unsecured Credit Cards
Secured credit cards require an initial deposit, which serves as a layer of protection for the card issuer in case you miss payments. The deposit you make often becomes your credit limit. But you may receive a credit line that is greater than the initial deposit.
A secured credit card otherwise operates in a way that is similar to a regular, unsecured credit card. Youll be able to purchase items with the card and then make payments. Interest is charged on balances carried month-to-month.
If youre curious to learn more about these options, check out our picks for the best secured credit cards available from our partners.
Unlike secured credit cards, unsecured credit cards dont require a deposit. They allow you to buy items, charge them to the account, and then pay off the balance. However, unsecured credit cards for bad credit tend to include additional fees and higher-than-average interest rates.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Best Credit Cards For Bad Credit
Q. Can you use credit cards to improve your credit? A credit card designed specifically for those with bad credit can be a great option to help improve your credit and get you back on track financially. The fact is, you can be approved for a credit card designed for people with bad credit when others wont, giving you a chance to prove you can use credit responsibly as well as pay your bills on time.
Q. Do credit cards for bad credit offer terms that are competitive with other cards?While these credit cards dont offer the best rates and terms, keep in mind that you dont have to use these kinds of credit cards forever. The whole point of applying for a credit card created for applicants with poor credit is to give yourself the chance to improve your credit score so you can switch to a card with better rates and rewards later on. With enough time and responsible credit use under your belt, you could even upgrade to a cash back or travel rewards credit card.
Q. What is bad credit?If yourFICO credit score is in the poor range at 579 or lower, or even if your score is considered fair at 580 to 669, you might consider utilizing a bad credit credit card to turn your situation around.For the purpose of this guide, we took the time to compare all the best credit cards for bad credit to see how they stack up.
What Is The Easiest Credit Card To Get With Bad Credit
The easiest credit card to get when you have bad credit is a card that is marketed towards people with bad credit. These cards have less strict requirements in place for applicants. You’ll be more likely to get approved for a credit card for bad credit if you have a lower credit score, poor credit history, or limited credit.
Some bad credit cards have easier approval odds than others. Here is one option:
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card: While this is a secured credit card and will require you to make a deposit before using it, this card has a low annual fee and is a good choice for people who are rebuilding their credit or who have very limited credit. There is no credit check requirement when going through the application process — making it a good option for many.
If you’ve unsuccessfully tried to get other secured cards with no annual fee or any other credit card for bad credit, this one may be an easier and better option for you to consider.
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Hdfc Money Back Credit Card
The HDFC Money Back Credit Card can be availed on your salary. The ease of obtaining this card makes it a good option for people trying to improve their credit scores. Some of the details of the card are mentioned below.
Key features of the HDFC Money Back Card
- Earn 2 reward points for every Rs.150 spent.
- Convert spend to EMIs using SmartEMI.
- No lost card liability after reporting loss of the card.
Fees and charges
- Minimum amount due: 5% of total outstanding
- Late payment fee: Up to Rs.750
- Over limit charge: Rs.500 minimum
Getting A Credit Card With Bad Credit

You can apply for a credit card if you have bad credit, but you should make sure its the right card for your circumstances.
There are many different types of available, each with different uses. These can include 0% balance transfer cards, interest-free purchase cards, and even cards with cashback. However, these cards are usually only available to people with good or excellent credit scores. If you want to be considered for these cards in the future, you should look at improving your credit score. This is where a credit card for people with a bad credit score could help.
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Know More Before You Apply
See your FICO® ScoreΠfor free
Get your FICO® Score and Experian Credit Report along with the positive and negative factors impacting your credit.
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Weâll help analyze your individual credit situation and match you to the best offers specifically for you.
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ÎCredit score calculated based on FICO® Score 8 model. Your lender or insurer may use a different FICO® Score than FICO® Score 8, or another type of credit score altogether. Learn more.
Best Credit Cards For Poor Credit
There’s no such thing as a best credit card because what makes the best credit card for you will depend on your own financial situation.
But you can help improve your credit rating by using the right type of credit card in the right way.
There are credit cards available that are specifically designed for people who have a poor credit rating. Or who have little or no credit history.
But you need to make sure you’re able to make your monthly repayments in full before taking out a credit card. If not, you could end up in debt, damaging your credit rating even more.
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Guaranteed Easy To Get Credit Cards With Instant Approval In Canada
There are finance companies and establishments that feature easy to get cards with no credit checks and instant approval. They are ideal for Canadians with a history of late and missed payments, excessive borrowing, and delinquencies. Such customers are considered high risk by traditional providers.
Can You Transfer Balances With Bad Credit
Unfortunately, few, if any, credit cards designed for people with bad credit allow balance transfers, especially at interest rates that would prove advantageous. If you find one that does, it might make sense to transfer your balance if your current card is charging penalty rates of 36%, for example, and you can move the funds to a card that charges a rate in the mid-20% range. While that rate would still be high, it could save you money in interest charges , if the new issuer can provide a large enough credit line to absorb the transfer. Before you consider a balance transfer, however, it would be worth contacting your current card issuer to see if you can simply negotiate a lower rate.
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How To Improve Your Credit Score:
Get on the electoral roll – Registering to vote is one of the easiest ways to boost your rating. It provides proof of address to credit reference agencies, making you seem like a more reliable candidate.
Limit your applications – Each time you apply for credit, this leaves a mark on your report. If you do this too much in a short space of time, it can knock your rating and make you look risky to lenders – meaning they’re less likely to accept you.
Use eligibility checkers – This is a ‘soft search’ tool, which means the credit check won’t impact your score, but gives you the confidence of how likely you are to be approved.
Don’t miss any payments – This shows the credit reference agencies – and therefore lenders – that you have a track record of being a reliable borrower. You can set up Direct Debits as an easy way to make sure you stay on track of your payments.
Check for mistakes – Having incorrect details on your credit report could have an unfair impact on your credit score. You can check your credit score for free with our partner, CredAbility.
Improving your credit score takes time and dedication, but there are many ways you can ensure it’s as good as can be. Find out 45 ways you can boost your credit score.
What Shops Accept People With Poor Credit
For Bad Credit, the Best Department Store Credit Cards
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How Can I Check My Eligibility Before I Apply For A Credit Card
It’s important to apply for the right credit card for your credit rating. If you apply for a credit card that’s not suited to your financial situation, the lender might reject your application.
If your application is rejected, this will negatively impact your credit score. And you’ll reduce your chances of getting credit in the future.
You can check how likely you are to get a card before you apply using our eligibility checker.
The eligibility checker works by running a soft credit check. This means you can check your eligibility without impacting your credit rating.
Best For Students New To Credit: Discover It Student Cash Back

Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year, automatically.
$0 | |
Rewards Earning Rate | Earn 5% cash back on rotating quarterly categories, each time you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically. |
INTRO PURCHASE APR | |
5% of the amount of each transfer. | |
Foreign transaction fee |
- Why We Chose This Card
- Pros & Cons
We chose the Discover it Student Cash Back as the best card option for students just starting out with credit who haven’t had an opportunity to establish a credit history while in college. With excellent acceptance, no annual fee, and relatively low interest rates, it’s a natural fit for the student market. Plus, in addition to helping build credit, the Discover it Student Cash Back card allows students to earn 5% cash back in rotating categories each quarter and 1% cash back on all other spending.
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High rewards on rotating spending categories, such as groceries and restaurants
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Potential for a large bonus the first year with cash back match
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Introductory 0% APR for six months on purchases
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Reward for maintaining good grades
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Rotating-category rate requires quarterly registration
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Questions To Ask Before You Apply
Before you get a new credit card, you should make sure you have a clear understanding of what you hope to accomplish. While getting a credit card gives you the chance to improve your credit, you could make your credit worse if youre not ready for the responsibility. So before you apply, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I plan to carry a balance? If you want a credit card so you have the option to carry a balance, you should know that credit cards for bad credit come with high interest rates. Not only that, but secured credit cards require you to put down cash as collateral, so they arent a good option if you need a loan.
- Am I interested in rewards? Some credit cards for people with bad credit offer the opportunity to earn rewards on your spending. While rewards can be lucrative, keep in mind they often entice people to spend more than they planned.
- Do I want to pay an annual fee? Not all credit cards for people with bad credit charge annual fees, but some of them do. If you decide to pay an annual fee, you should make sure that any benefits youre getting in exchange are worth it.
- Am I ready to take my credit seriously? A new credit card gives you the chance to improve your credit, but it wont happen automatically. For the most part, getting a new credit card will only help your situation if you keep your balance low and always pay your bill on time.
Develop Responsible Credit Habits
There are a number of good credit habits that you can start to develop before you apply for a credit card.
Paying something like your utility or phone bill on time may not directly improve your credit, but not doing so could be harmful, especially if you are reported to a collection agency.
If your goal is to get a credit card, paying on time is an especially important habit to develop. If you need help keeping track of bills, you could consider automatic payments or electronic reminders.
Once youâve compared credit cards, consider how many applications you plan to submit. Credit scoring formulas account for your recent activity. And multiple hard inquiries could reflect negatively on your situation.
If youâre approved for a credit card, itâs a good idea to be mindful of how close you are to your credit limit. Experts say not to use more than 30% of your total credit limit. For a $500 credit limit, that means no more than $150.
We hope you found this helpful. Our content is not intended to provide legal, investment or financial advice or to indicate the Capital One product or service is available or right for you. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, consider talking with a qualified professional.
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Who Should Get A Credit Card For Bad Credit
Bad credit is typically defined by FICO® as a credit score lower than 579. So if your credit score falls within that range, your best bet may be a credit card for bad credit.
People who have made financial mistakes, like defaulting on a loan, will often have poor credit. Unfortunately, a lack of credit history can also contribute to a poor score. For this reason, many young consumers start out with bad credit.
Its important to keep in mind that credit scores are flexible and can change often depending on your individual credit activity.
Best No Fee Card For Bad Credit
- 19.99% interest rate on purchases
- Not available to residents of Quebec
The Home Trust Secured Visa Card is one of the few secured credit cards in Canada with no monthly or annual fees. So, not only are you virtually guaranteed to be approved for the card upon your credit check you also wont have to pay anything just for carrying it either.
As is customary with secured credit cards, you will have to put forward a security deposit. The minimum deposit for this card starts at just $500. Its worth noting, this credit card isnt available in Quebec and may charge an additional fee in the case you spend over your credit limit.
Also Check: Apply For Best Buy Credit Card
What Kind Of Credit Cards Can I Qualify For With Bad Credit
If you have poor credit, there are two different types of credit cards you can qualify for secured credit cards and unsecured credit cards.
Secured credit cards are typically the easiest to get if you have bad credit. However, secured credit cards require a cash deposit to get started. This means you may be required to put down $200, $500 or more as collateral, and youll typically get a low credit limit thats equal or close to your deposit.
The biggest benefit of secured credit cards is that theyre typically reported to the major credit bureaus. This means all your on-time payments get added to your credit report, which can help boost your credit over time. And even though you have to put down a cash deposit to open a secured card, if you later close the account or upgrade in good standing and with a $0 balance, your deposit will be refunded.
In addition to secured credit cards, you may also be able to qualify for an unsecured credit card with bad credit. These cards tend to come with fees, low credit limits and few benefits, but they can help you build credit just the same.
The Best Instant Approval Credit Cards In Canada
By Winston Sih on June 8, 2021
If waiting stresses you out, consider one of these credit card options. In some cases, you can be approved on the spot and even start purchasing with your card right away.
The approval process for a new credit card can feel punishingespecially if you have to wait several days for confirmation and for your card to be mailed to your home. Luckily, many credit cards now offer instant approval, making the application process much quicker and much less stressful. After filling out an application with details on your personal background, the card providers website runs its checks and lets you know within minutes if your application has been approved or rejected.
If youre approved with the information youve provided, your application is expedited for credit checks, card printing and mailing. And you can expect to receive a welcome package containing your card in five to seven business days.
As a safeguard against fraud, at times an application may go under manual review, in which case the file gets forwarded for verification, sometimes taking an additional two to three business days before a final decision is made.
As banking processes become increasingly digital, more credit-card applications are moving online, and more issuers are offering cards with applications that can be quickly approved.
Here are the best instant-approval credit cards you can apply for right now.
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