15 Easiest Credit Cards to Get Approved For in May 2026 (Bad Credit OK)

The easiest credit cards to get approved for typically require fair credit or less and may include student cards, secured cards, or unsecured cards designed for rebuilding credit. Many issuers also allow you to prequalify without affecting your credit score, making it easier to check your approval odds before applying.

The easiest credit card to get will vary based on your credit profile and financial situation. For example, the easiest credit card to get as a student may differ from the best option for someone with bad credit. These are the easiest credit cards to get approved for based on approval odds, minimum credit score, and starting credit limits.

According to Experian’s consumer credit research, the average new credit card account opened in 2025 had a credit limit of $5,923.

Whether you’re building your credit for the first time or rebuilding credit after a few mistakes, most consumers will have fair credit at some point in their lives. While the options aren’t quite as limited with fair credit as they would be if your credit score were lower, they’re not the bells-and-whistles cards you’d get with better credit, either.

In general, the easiest cards to get with fair credit will be the bare-bones starter cards; the ones without annual fees can be great for building credit, though, if you’re able to pay an annual fee, you can also likely find a card with purchase rewards. Just make sure the rewards are worth the fee before applying.

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Although obtaining a credit card without a credit history can be difficult, students tend to have an edge here; many issuers offer student cards specifically designed to help young people establish and build their credit profiles.

These cards have flexible credit requirements that allow for the limited credit history typical of a college student. This allows applicants to obtain a student credit card with lower fees and better perks than they may otherwise qualify for without a credit history.

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Secured credit cards are by far the easiest type of credit card to obtain, particularly if you have a poor or limited credit history. That’s because secured credit cards require a cash deposit that acts as collateral for the account, meaning the credit card issuer doesn’t have to risk its own money to approve your credit line.

With less risk, issuers are more willing to be flexible about credit scores and income, often offering better rates, lower fees, and higher credit limits than other cards for the same credit demographic. What’s more, your secured credit card deposit is fully refundable when you close your account with a $0 balance.

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While the exact scores that qualify as bad vary based on the specific scoring model, typically, a credit score that falls below 600 will land you in the bad credit score category. At this point, most mainstream credit card companies will be wary of offering you an unsecured credit card, limiting your choices quite a bit.

That said, options still exist, particularly if you’re willing to put up with a few limitations. For instance, if you want an unsecured card, a pricey subprime card or a closed-loop store card will be your options.

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A frequently recommended route for finding easy-to-get credit cards is to go with a store credit card. Most major retailers now offer their own co-branded cards, many of which offer purchase rewards or store discounts.

At the same time, many store credit cards are closed-loop, meaning they can only be used to make purchases with the specific brand that co-issued the card. This also applies to the rewards you earn with these cards — they can typically only be used toward branded purchases.

13. Target Circle™ Card

The Target Circle™ Card is a solid option for Target shoppers, and reports indicate that consumers with scores as low as 580 have been approved for the card. Unlike typical rewards cards, you can earn 5% off at the register instead of earning cash back to be later redeemed.

• Get 5% off your total purchase at checkout for eligible in-store or online Target purchases
• Receive exclusive deals & discounts
• Pay no annual fee

Keep in mind that the discount does not apply to prescriptions or over-the-counter items located behind the pharmacy counter, Target Optical™ eye exams, or gift card purchases. However, the 5% discount does apply to all in-store Starbucks locations.

14. Amazon.com Store Card

The Amazon Store Card is reported to be fairly easy to obtain for a variety of credit types. You’ll get the best value out of this card if you’re also an Amazon Prime member, as Prime members earn cash back at a higher rate on Amazon.com and Whole Foods purchases.

• Receive special financing on eligible Amazon.com orders of $149 or more made with your card
• Amazon Prime members also get 5% cash back at Amazon.com
• Pay no annual card fee (Prime fee may apply)

Watch out for this card’s special financing offers; while they seem like a good deal, they use deferred interest, which means you’ll need to pay off every last financed cent or else you’ll be on the hook for interest on the entire financed amount.

15. Old Navy Credit Card

The Old Navy Credit Card offers rewards at Old Navy stores and online, as well as with other Gap Inc.-brand stores. It takes 500 points to earn a $5 Reward.

• Earn 5X points per dollar on purchases at Old Navy and other Gap Inc.-brand purchases
• Reach Navyist status by earning 5,000 points
• Pay no annual fee

One thing to keep in mind with this card is that rewards are capped at $250 per billing cycle. Rewards earned beyond the monthly cap will be rolled over into the next billing cycle.

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If you’re on the hunt for a card that’s easy to get, chances are you are dealing with some credit issues that make approval questionable with most prime issuers. As such, choosing a card may come down more to what’s available than what you really want out of your card.

That being said, even in the limited- and bad-credit card markets, you’ll likely have some options. Here are a few things to investigate when comparing credit cards:

• Application/Processing Fees: Some cards, especially cards from subprime issuers, may charge a fee simply to apply for the card or to open the account.
• Annual Fees: Some cards can be worth the annual fee, but others won’t be — do the math before you apply.
• Maintenance Fees: Many subprime cards will charge monthly maintenance fees on top of the annual fee.
• Grace Period: Most cards should provide a grace period on interest for new purchases of at least 21 days; check the terms and conditions to be sure.
• Interest Rates: If you ever carry a balance, you should know what it’ll cost you. Check the new purchase, balance transfer, cash advance, and penalty APRs before applying.
• Purchase Rewards: Even consumers with bad credit can find cards with purchase rewards, but make sure the rewards are worth any annual fees.
• Cardholder Benefits: Most credit cards come with additional cardholder benefits that can include things like extended warranty coverage and purchase protection.

In the end, if you’re only looking for a card to build your credit so you can apply for better and more valuable cards in the future, then you don’t need a card with a lot of bells and whistles. Simply choose the least expensive option and use it responsibly for six months or so, then graduate to a better card.

The easiest credit cards to get approved for typically require fair credit or less. In many cases, consumers with limited or poor credit can qualify for secured cards, student cards, or starter unsecured cards designed for rebuilding credit.

Credit Score Range	Easiest Type of Credit Card
300–579 (Bad)	Secured credit cards
580–669 (Fair)	Starter unsecured credit cards
670+ (Good)	Standard rewards credit cards

For many folks, a credit card is simply a convenient way to make purchases in-store and online — and, perhaps, a way to earn some rewards while they’re at it. But, when used responsibly, credit cards can be a great tool for building credit for consumers with poor or limited credit histories (and anyone else, too).

Credit bureaus keep a record of your card account, including your total credit limit, balance, when the card account was opened, and whether you paid on time.

The basics of building credit with a credit card consist of just using the card to make your normal purchases, then paying the balance in full and — most importantly — on time every month. If you pay in full each month, you typically won’t be charged interest, and the positive payment history will boost your score.

At the very least, make the minimum required payment (but, ideally, more) before the due date each month. While not the best strategy for saving money, it will build your payment history.

If your sole credit card goal is to build credit, then you can take this method and set it on autopilot. Essentially, all you need to do is use the card to automatically pay a monthly recurring charge, such as a streaming service or your cellphone bill.

Then, set up automatic payments for the card through your bank account so that the bill is paid each month without you needing to do a thing. Automatic payments mean you won’t have to worry about making late payments, as the bank makes the transaction for you each month. (Of course, you’ll still want to double-check your accounts to ensure nothing went wrong with the payment.)

Given that any credit card can be easy to get if your credit is good enough, it’s sometimes hard to tell which cards are actually attainable. Preapproved or prequalified credit card offers can be an easy way to get an idea as to whether you’ll be approved for a certain card before you apply — and before the hard inquiry hits your credit reports.

Pre-approval or pre-qualification is a credit card issuer’s way of getting an idea of your qualifications without going through a full hard credit inquiry. Instead, pre-qualification uses a soft credit pull that won’t hurt your credit scores.

At the same time, being preapproved for a credit card offer doesn’t guarantee you’ll be accepted when you apply. That’s because the process doesn’t include an in-depth look at your credit report as a full application does.

Other factors, including your income and your history with the bank, can impact your chances of being approved.

In today’s digital economy, credit cards are a big part of how millions of Americans make purchases. But some folks have a harder time than their neighbors when it comes to getting new credit cards. Consumers with poor or limited credit histories can find getting a new card to be a challenging experience.

The easiest credit card to get will depend on your specific creditworthiness, so knowing where you stand can go a long way in finding the right card. You can get a free copy of each of your credit reports once per year through AnnualCreditReport.com.