The Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards
Friday, December 13, 2024

15 Easiest Credit Cards to Get (Dec. 2024)

Easiest Credit Card To Get
Brittney Mayer

Writer: Brittney Mayer

Brittney Mayer

Brittney Mayer, Credit Analyst

Brittney is a Credit Strategist and Finance Expert who has spent years honing her knowledge of the credit industry both personally and professionally. Brittney applies her more than a decade of research experience to crafting in-depth consumer guides designed to help CardRates readers make better, more informed financial decisions.

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Lillian Guevara-Castro

Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro, Senior Editor

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to the CardRates team. She has worked at The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Gwinnett Daily News, Gainesville Sun, and The New York Times, where she covered demographics, consumer issues, and the business and financial sectors. Lillian has a degree in journalism and communications from Georgia State University and brings her fact-checking expertise to ensure Digital Brands content is accurate and engaging.

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Ashley Fricker

Reviewer: Ashley Fricker

Ashley Fricker

Ashley Fricker, Senior Editor

Ashley Fricker has more than a decade of experience as a finance contributor and editor, and has specialized in the credit card industry since 2015. Her credit card commentary is featured on national media outlets that include CNBC, MarketWatch, Investopedia, and Reader's Digest, among many others. She has worked closely with the world’s largest banks and financial institutions, up-and-coming fintech companies, and press and news outlets to curate comprehensive content and media. Ashley holds a bachelor's degree in multimedia journalism from Florida Atlantic University.

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Advertiser Disclosure

Asking the question, “What is the easiest credit card to get?” is a bit like asking, “What’s the best diet to lose weight?” Both questions will return a huge number of responses, most of which will be starkly different — and few of which will be the right advice for everyone.

Instead, the easiest credit card for any given consumer to get will vary based on each individual’s specific credit profile and personal needs. For example, the easiest credit card to get as a student will be very different from the easiest credit card to get when you have bad credit.

In this article, we’ll look at the potentially easiest cards to get for those with fair credit and bad credit, as well as secured cards, student cards, and store credit cards.

Easy Credit Cards to Get With Fair Credit

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.

FAIR CREDIT RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.5/5.0
  • No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
  • Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
  • 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 from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
29.99% (Variable)
$0
Average, Fair, Limited
Discover it® Student Cash Back Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

FAIR CREDIT RATING

★★★★★
4.8

OVERALL RATING

4.5/5.0
  • 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! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
  • 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 your rewards for cash at any time.
  • No credit score required to apply.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 17.49% - 26.49% applies. Rates as of December 12, 2024.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 6 months
10.99% Intro APR for 6 months
17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR Rates as of December 12, 2024.
$0
Fair/New to Credit

FAIR CREDIT RATING

★★★★★
4.8

OVERALL RATING

4.5/5.0
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account. It's that simple
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
  • Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
29.99% (Variable)
$39
Average, Fair, Limited

+See More Cards for Fair Credit

Easy Student Cards to Get Approved For

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.

Discover it® Student Cash Back Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

STUDENT RATING

★★★★★
4.8

OVERALL RATING

4.5/5.0
  • 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! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
  • 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 your rewards for cash at any time.
  • No credit score required to apply.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 17.49% - 26.49% applies. Rates as of December 12, 2024.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 6 months
10.99% Intro APR for 6 months
17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR Rates as of December 12, 2024.
$0
Fair/New to Credit

STUDENT RATING

★★★★★
4.7

OVERALL RATING

4.6/5.0
  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
  • Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it's misplaced, lost or stolen
  • Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
19.49% - 29.49% (Variable)
$0
Average, Fair, Limited
Discover it® Student Chrome Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

STUDENT RATING

★★★★★
4.7

OVERALL RATING

4.0/5.0
  • 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! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
  • Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • No credit score required to apply.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 17.49% - 26.49% applies. Rates as of December 12, 2024.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 6 months
10.99% Intro APR for 6 months
17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR Rates as of December 12, 2024.
$0
Fair/New to Credit

+See More Student Credit Cards

Easy Secured Cards to Get Approved For

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.

Secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card Review

at the issuer'ssecure website

SECURED RATING

★★★★★
4.9

OVERALL RATING

4.5/5.0
  • No credit check to apply
  • Adjustable credit limit based on what you transfer from your Chime Checking account to the secured deposit account
  • No interest* or annual fees
  • To apply for Credit Builder, you must have an active Chime® Checking Account. See official application, terms, and details link below.
  • The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Card is issued by The Bankcorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted.
  • *Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and OTC advance fees may apply. View The Bancorp agreement or Stride agreement for details; see back of card for issuer.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
N/A
$0
None
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card Review

at Capital Bank N.A.'ssecure website

SECURED RATING

★★★★★
4.8

OVERALL RATING

4.0/5.0
  • New feature! Earn up to 10% cash back* on everyday purchases
  • No credit check to apply. Zero credit risk to apply!
  • Looking to build or rebuild your credit? 2 out of 3 OpenSky cardholders increase their credit score by an average of 41 points in just 3 months
  • Get free monthly access to your FICO score in our mobile application
  • Build your credit history across 3 major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion
  • Add to your mobile wallet and make purchases using Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay
  • Fund your card with a low $200 refundable security deposit to get a $200 credit line
  • Apply in less than 5 minutes with our mobile first application
  • Choose the due date that fits your schedule with flexible payment dates
  • Fund your security deposit over 60 days with the option to make partial payments
  • Over 1.4 Million Cardholders Have Used OpenSky Secured Credit Card To Improve Their Credit
  • *See Rewards Terms and Conditions for more information
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
24.89% (variable)
$35
No credit, Poor, Fair
Discover it® Secured Credit Card Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

SECURED RATING

★★★★★
4.7

OVERALL RATING

4.0/5.0
  • No credit score required to apply. No Annual Fee.
  • Your secured credit card requires a refundable security deposit, and your credit line will equal your deposit amount, starting at $200. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.
  • Raise your credit score by 30+ points.
  • Automatic reviews starting at 7 months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
  • Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites. Activate for free.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
10.99% Intro APR for 6 months
27.49% Variable APR Rates as of December 12, 2024.
$0
New/Rebuilding

+See More Secured Credit Cards

Easy Credit Cards to Get With Bad Credit

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.

Fortiva® Mastercard® Credit Card Review

at Fortiva'ssecure website

UNSECURED RATING

★★★★★
4.7

OVERALL RATING

4.5/5.0
  • Earn 3% Cash Back Rewards* on Gas, Groceries and Utility Bill Payments
  • Earn 1% Cash Back Rewards* on all other eligible purchases
  • Good anywhere Mastercard® is accepted
  • $0 fraud liability**
  • Free access to your VantageScore 4.0 credit score from TransUnion®†
    *See Program Terms for important information about the cash back rewards program.
    **Fraud liability subject to Mastercard® rules.
    † Your credit score will be available in your online account starting 60 days after your account is opened. (Registration required.) The free VantageScore 4.0 credit score provided by TransUnion® is for educational purposes only. This score may not be used by The Bank of Missouri (the issuer of this card) or other creditors to make credit decisions.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
29.99% or 36% Fixed
See Terms
Fair
Aspire® Cash Back Reward Card Review

at Aspire Card'ssecure website

UNSECURED RATING

★★★★★
4.7

OVERALL RATING

4.5/5.0
  • Earn 3% Cash Back Rewards* on Gas, Groceries and Utility Bill Payments
  • Earn 1% Cash Back Rewards* on all other eligible purchases
  • Up to $1,000 credit limit subject to credit approval
  • Prequalify** without affecting your credit score
  • No security deposit
  • Free access to your VantageScore 4.0 score from TransUnion®†
    *See Program Terms for important information about the cash back rewards program.
    ** Prequalify means that you authorize us to make a soft inquiry (that will not affect your credit) to create an offer. If you accept an offer a hard inquiry will be made. Final approval is not guaranteed if you do not meet all applicable criteria (including adequate proof of ability to repay). Income verification through access to your bank account information may be required.
    † Your credit score will be available in your online account starting 60 days after your account is opened. (Registration required.) The free VantageScore 4.0 credit score provided by TransUnion® is for educational purposes only. This score may not be used by The Bank of Missouri (the issuer of this card) or other creditors to make credit decisions.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
29.99% or 36% Fixed
See Terms
Fair

12. Arro Card

Arro Card Review

at the issuer'ssecure website

UNSECURED RATING

★★★★★
4.7

OVERALL RATING

4.0/5.0
  • All credit types accepted.
  • Arro's soft credit pull does not impact your credit score.
  • Through in-app personal finance activities, members receive real time credit limit increases and other rewards.
  • Opportunities to decrease your interest rate.
  • Use your Arro Card anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
  • Application takes as little as 5 minutes.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
16% Variable
$36 (discounted in Year 1 for starting credit lines under $200)
All Credit Types Accepted

+See More Cards for Bad Credit

Easy Retail Cards to Get Approved For

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 indicated 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.

Target Circle™ Card

  • 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.

Amazon Store Card

  • 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.

Old Navy Credit Card

  • 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.

+See More Store Credit Cards

How Do You Choose a Credit Card?

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.

How Do You Build Credit with a Credit Card?

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.

How to Build Credit with a Credit Card

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.)

What is Credit Card Pre-Approval or Pre-Qualification?

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. Pre-approved or pre-qualified 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.

Capital One preapproval screenshot
Many issuers will let you prequalify so you can get an idea of your approval chances.

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, because pre-approval applications don’t look at your credit report as deeply as a regular application, being pre-approved for a credit card offer doesn’t guarantee you’ll be accepted when you apply.

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

Credit Cards Don’t Have to Be Hard to Get

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.

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