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Easiest Cards to get Approved (2021 Update)
With imperfect credit or without a credit history at all, people try to avoid a hassle of applying for a credit card and look for easier solutions.
Let’s have a look at the most popular options. You can jump to the article section using quick links below or read the full article:
Editor's top picks
Best cards are the ones that are easy to get approved for, provide a credit line with no security deposit and doesn't charge excessive fees. If you have a Poor or Bad credit rating - the best unsecured credit cards available today is Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit
If you are in post-bankruptcy or a bad credit situation - the best 'real credit card' options for you (neither secured nor prepaid) are Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit or a Milestone® Mastercard® - Bad Credit Considered.
All these options are perfect credit building or credit rebuilding solutions.
Store credit cards
There are two types of retail credit cards: private-label cards like a Target card or a Macy’s card, and co-branded cards like Costco True Earnings AmEx (replaced by Costco Anywhere card recently) or Barnes & Noble MasterCard.
Private-label credit cards are not accepted anywhere outside the store chain that issued the card. These cards usually offer good in-store deals, but what matters more is that approval is easier if you have credit problems. Most of these cards in the US are issued by either GE Capital Retail Bank or Comenity bank, so if you were declined by one of them you still have a chance with the other bank.
Note: Too many applications within a small period of time can damage your credit score.
Any cards from the list below will be a safe bet in terms of easy application. Many of them are instant approval – that means you can get a card immediately.
| regular APR | |
- 3% back on Walmart purchases
- 2% on Murphy USA and Walmart gas
- 1% on all other purchases
bad credit required
no annual fee
$25 bonus
Here’s a short list of our top picks for bad credit or no credit by GE Capital Retail bank:
- Walmart card
- J.C. Penney
- Lowes
- Old Navy
- Amazon
- and many others
Comenity bank issued retail credit cards:
- Express Next credit card
- Pottery Barn
- Sports Authority
- Victoria's Secret
- and many others
Other retail cards with easy approval:
- Kohls (Capital One Bank)
- Target card (TD Bank)
Co-branded cards are simply regular credit cards with maximum rewards on a particular store chain purchase and special in-store perks. These cards are usually not as easy on the approval.
- See also: Best store credit cards
Aside from a credit score, there are many other parameters involved with every application. For example, you have lower chances of approval with an annual income lower than $10,000 - $14,000.
| regular APR | |
- earn 3% back on Amazon purchases
- 2% on gas, dining out and drugstores
- 1% on everything else
- get $50 on your Amazon account upon cards approval
fair credit required
no annual fee
3% back on Amazon
2% back on gas, dining and drugstores
Gas credit cards
There are many private label and co-branded gas cards that are similar to store cards and easy to get. Some of our favorites for easy approval are Marathon VISA card (by Comenity bank), BP Gas card (Chase), Chevron and Texaco card (GE bank), and Shell credit card.
- See also: Instant credit cards for bad credit
The idea with gas cards is similar to retail cards.
| regular APR | |
bad credit required
no annual fee
can be used at 76, Conoco or Phillips only
| regular APR | |
fair credit required
no annual fee
not a major card
Chevron and Texaco gas stations use only
- See also: Gas cards for bad credit
Prepaid credit cards
Prepaid cards are easiest to get but they are mostly useless for building a credit history. These cards do not extend a line of credit and therefore do not report to credit agencies; similar to using a debit card or checking account.
Secured credit cards
Secured cards are one of the last resorts if you are turned down for a credit card. Secured cards work perfectly fine for building or rebuilding a credit history and they are very easy to get. The only real drawbacks are that you usually do not get any rewards or bonuses with these cards, you will usually pay an annual fee, and they typically charge a high APR. Another inconvenience is that you are not using your bank’s money (even with 20-25 days grace period) because your credit limit generally equals the amount of the security deposit you put in the bank.
A Digital Credit Union Secured credit card is our favorite in this category with its 11.5% APR. You can qualify for membership with DCU if you are eligible through employment, or you can easily make a small $10-$15 to one of nine participating non-profits to become a DCU member.
Another good secured card is a USAA if you are eligible through a military connection.
| regular APR | |
bad credit / no credit required
Best for members rebuilding or establishing credit
It's a real credit card — not a debit or prepaid card.
Determine your own credit limit ($250 to $5,000) with an interest-earning CD.
- See also: Best unsecured cards for bad credit
Student offers
If you are a student, you may not have enough credit established to qualify for many cards.
Student cards are offered by almost all major banks and have decent rewards, normal APR’s, and are covered by the CARD Act for your protection. You can find our best picks in the student's category.
- See also: Credit cards with no credit
Unsecured subprime cards
Several banks offer credit cards designed specifically for people with no credit, bad credit, or bad to fair credit. Our favorites are Total Visa® Card, Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit and Capital One Platinum.
| regular APR | |
fair credit / bad credit required
Earn 1% cash back rewards on payments made to your Total 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
See Total Card Visa Rewards Programs Terms & Conditions for details
Pre-qualified options
- See also: What is a pre-approved offer?
Most banks will offer to check if you are pre-qualified for a card offer without affecting your credit score. It also helps to see the APR and an annual fee that the bank can offer for your situation (because usually credit card APR will vary widely depending on your creditworthiness). Pre-qualification does not pull your credit score and usually requires no more than your name and four digits of your Social Security Number. Be aware that pre-qualification it is not an application, but rather, checking if you meet certain criteria.
After you are prequalified for an offer, you need to submit an application and still have a chance to be turned down. Experts say that in low credit categories only about 80% of prequalified applications are finally approved.
Review Summary
Below you can find some of the best easy to get credit cards for every situation: for bad credit, after previous bankruptcy, secured or prepaid cards, gas and store cards.
Here are the easiest to get credit cards in 2021 (both secured and unsecured) picked by our editors
| Best for | Card | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| store credit | Walmart Credit card | easy to get, instant card | accepted at Walmart stores only |
| no credit check | AccountNow Prepaid | no credit check | activation fee, $1 transaction fee |
| building credit with secured card | DCU Platinum Secured | low APR, low fees | $500 minimum deposit |
| building credit | Total Visa® Card | unsecured credit card to rebuild bad credit | program fees |
| rebuilding credit | Indigo® Unsecured Mastercard® | previous bankruptcy or bad credit is ok, good for rebuilding credit, pre-qualification available | low initial credit limit |
| first credit card | Capital One Platinum | good for no credit/average credit, no annual fee | high APR, low limit |
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Comments
Denied
Nicole, 09/07/16
Maybe I don't know what bad is, but I just got denied for the Emporium Black Card and it's supposed to be for bad credit. Exactly how are people supposed to build their credit when it's getting hit for even being looked at whether soft or hard? How do you fight inquiries when the amount was out of your knowledge and basically consent? Where are the credit cards for people with POOR CREDIT then that are trying to build their credit? I just had a 570 credit score worked up, applied for SECURED...read in full
Maybe I don't know what bad is, but I just got denied for the Emporium Black Card and it's supposed to be for bad credit. Exactly how are people supposed to build their credit when it's getting hit for even being looked at whether soft or hard? How do you fight inquiries when the amount was out of your knowledge and basically consent? Where are the credit cards for people with POOR CREDIT then that are trying to build their credit? I just had a 570 credit score worked up, applied for SECURED credit card and my score is now a 520. How do I compete with that and I all I did was apply; haven't even taken them up on their offer. How do people win all this foolery?
in the past
brandon, 02/06/17
When i was 18 years of age i got every credit card i could and maxed them all out and failed to pay them. Just about a year ago i realized that i will eventually need credit so i got a secured card from Navy federal for 500.00 after about a year my deposit was returned to me and i was given a limit of 2,000 i also applied for another card with them and was approved for 4,000. I also have a credit one card with a 550.00 limit and a merrick bank with 550.00. Both my credit one and merrick back cards have annual fees and both had a processing fee to get the card, but it is a small price to pay to rebuild your credit, Now since i have grown credit smart. if i dont have the money i dont buy it. i pay all my cards in full at the end of the month to avoid interest. Also i took the 500.00 navy federal gave me back and opened a discover it secured card. My suggestion to you all is start with a secured card. but only secured card that will graduate you for you work in rebuilding your credit.
Try the Discover It secured
smileee2, 01/23/17
Try the Discover It secured card. My FICO was 534 (Experian) when I applied. They gave me a $500 secured card (I sent them $500) and about 5-6 months later, they returned my $500 to me and gave me a credit limit of $1250 - no longer secured. My Experian Fico is currently now 640, so it's definitely helping, although I still have a ways to go.
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