Writer: Eric Bank
Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Reviewer: Ashley Fricker
Disclosure: When you apply through links on our site, we may earn a referral fee from our partners. For more, see our ad disclosure and review policy.
You’re approved! Doesn’t that have a nice ring to it?
Qualifying for a credit card is one of life’s little victories. To help you achieve that triumphant feeling, we’ve identified some of the easiest cards to get approved for.
These cards offer you your best shot at approval, whether your credit is fair, bad, or non-existent. If you’d like to establish or build your credit, one of these cards may be the perfect answer to your credit needs.
Unsecured | Students | No/Limited Credit | Secured | Prepaid
Easiest Unsecured Card to Get Approved For
The Surge® Platinum Mastercard® is designed to help you rebuild credit by reporting your payments to each major credit bureau. You can prequalify for this unsecured credit card in less than 60 seconds by filling out a short form that includes your Social Security number and total monthly income.
- 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 Surge 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
- 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)
- Apply with Confidence! There is no impact to your credit score if you’re not approved. See terms.
Easiest Student Card to Get Approved For
To qualify for the Discover it® Student Cash Back card, you must be a college student, at least 18 years old, and enrolled in a two- or four-year college or university.
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Redeem cash back for any amount
- No credit score required to apply.
- No annual fee and build credit with responsible use.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 16.49% - 25.49% applies.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Easiest Card to Get Approved For With No Credit History
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is our top choice for an easy-to-get card when you have no credit history.
You can make a larger initial deposit of up to $1,000 if you want a higher credit limit. You must have a bank account from which you can fund your deposit.
- 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 at least 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
- Top rated mobile app
To be approved, your credit card application must be verified by Capital One, and you must reside in the United States or a U.S. military location (excluding correctional institutions). Your monthly income must exceed your mortgage or rent payment by at least $425. In addition, you must be age 18 or older and possess a valid Social Security number.
You won’t be approved if you have an unresolved bankruptcy, already have two or more Capital One credit cards, or have a Capital One card that is past due, over its limit, or has been charged off within the past year.
Easiest Secured Card to Get Approved For
The opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card bends over backward to make approval easy. For starters, it does not subject applicants to credit checks, so your credit score will not be negatively affected. The card reports your payments to the three major credit bureaus to help you build credit.
- Earn up to 10% cash back on everyday purchases
- No credit check required – 89% approval rate with zero credit risk to apply!
- Boost your credit score fast—2 out of 3 opensky® cardholders see an average increase of 47 points after 6 months
- Track your progress with free access to your FICO® score in our mobile app
- Build your credit history with reporting to all three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion
- Seamless payments—add your card to Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay
- Start with just $200—secure your credit line with a refundable deposit
- Fast and easy application—apply in minutes with our mobile-first experience
- Flexible payment options—pick a due date that works for you
- More time to fund—spread your security deposit over 60 days with layaway
- Join 1.6 million+ cardholders who have used opensky® to build better credit!
Qualified applicants must be US citizens or permanent residents, at least 18, with a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. You must have sufficient monthly income to cover all expenses, including card payments.
You’re not eligible if you’ve applied four or more times in the last 60 days for a Capital Bank credit card. Also, you can’t have more than one Capital Bank credit card.
Easiest Prepaid Card to Get Approved For
Let it be known that all prepaid cards are easy to get. There’s no credit check or income requirement to get a card, and they’re free to sign up for online.
The NetSpend® Visa® Prepaid Card is a cinch to obtain because you don’t need a bank account or to maintain a minimum balance. It costs $9.95 to buy the card at a retail location, but it’s free to apply for online:
- With Direct Deposit, you can get paid faster than a paper check.
- No late fees or interest charges because this is not a credit card.
- Use the Netspend Mobile App to manage your Card Account on the go and enroll to get text messages or email alerts (Message & data rates may apply).
- Card use is subject to activation and ID verification. Terms and Costs apply.
- Card issued by Pathward N.A., Member FDIC. Card may be used everywhere Visa debit card is accepted.
- See additional NetSpend® Prepaid Visa® details.
As a prepaid account, you need not worry about overdraft fees, as you can only spend the amount on deposit. To qualify, you must be 18 or older, be able to prove your identity, and be able to lawfully enter into contracts in your state of residence.
Your deposited funds are maintained in an FDIC-insured account at Pathward.
What is the Easiest Credit Card to Get Approved For?
Without a doubt, secured credit cards are the easiest to obtain. By depositing cash collateral, you reduce the issuer’s credit risk.
This facilitates easy approval and relatively low APRs. We’ve recommended two secured cards in this article.
The opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card doesn’t require a credit check to obtain. Your credit limit will be equal to the amount you deposit.
These cards are great for building credit because they report your payments to all three credit bureaus — Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.
We also recommend the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card if you have no credit history. Your initial card limit will be $200, requiring a deposit of $49, $99, or $200. You can subsequently increase your deposit and credit line to $1,000.
To qualify for this card, you must be a US resident, age 18+, with sufficient monthly income and a valid Social Security number. You may be disqualified due to previous experiences with the issuer.
What is the Minimum Credit Score Needed to Get Approved For a Credit Card?
There is no set minimum score to obtain a credit card. Instead, cards are categorized by credit rating — excellent, good, fair, bad, and no/limited credit — and options exist across all levels.
FICO credit scores range from 300 to 850, with scores below 580 considered to be bad.
However, certain card types bypass credit scores entirely:
Secured cards require a refundable cash deposit that serves as your credit line, making them accessible to applicants with bad or no credit. Some secured cards skip the credit check altogether.
Student cards are designed for those with no credit history. Applicants typically just need to be 18+, have some income, and be enrolled in an accredited school.
Prepaid cards aren’t technically credit cards — you load cash onto them and spend from that balance. No credit check, no bank account required, just proof of identity and age.
What Type of Credit Card Is Issued to Someone With Bad Credit?
People with poor credit are likely to be approved for cards with low credit limits and high fees. But not all cards for bad credit are “bad.”
The secured cards reviewed in this article have lower interest rates and fees than their unsecured counterparts.
While you won’t yet qualify for an American Express card, you can inch your way closer to one by using any credit card you qualify for now responsibly. Always pay your bill on time and keep your balance low to build credit.
You may also qualify for a store credit card, which is usually a closed-loop card issued by a bank that partners with a store, such as Target, Old Navy, or Amazon. Closed-loop means the store card can only be used for purchases made at that store, whether online or in person.
Store cards usually issue reward points or cash back that can be redeemed for merchandise from the retailer or as a statement credit to cover your balance.
Ranking Methodology
Our rankings of the easiest credit cards to get approved for evaluated the approval criteria of more than 130 credit cards to determine the top 10. We looked at the ease of approval in each respective category and payment reporting to the credit bureaus to help applicants improve their credit scores with responsible card use.
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