After extensive searching, countless comparisons, and laborious decision-making, you finally did it. You finally chose a credit card. It took work — there are dozens of options simply for cash back cards alone — but you’re confident you made the right choice.
Now, all you need to do is apply and wait for your shiny new card to show up. But after so much agonizing over just the right card, it’s hard to remain patient. When is it going to come? Just how long does it take to get a credit card?
Not that long ago, when paper applications were the norm, the whole process — from application to card activation — could take weeks. Today, thanks to the wonder of the internet and digital applications, getting your credit card can be quicker than you think. In the following article, we’ll dive into the modern application and approval process as well as look at some of our top choices for credit cards for a wide range of credit scores.
Approval | Shipping
While you can still use an old-school paper application to apply for a credit card, online applications are the name of the game these days. Almost every credit card issuer offers online applications, which can be reached through the issuer’s website. Most online applications take only a few minutes to fill out and can provide a response in less than a minute.
Of course, near-instant responses aren’t always the case, as anyone who has received a “pending” notice knows all too well. Reasons for a pending application can be as varied as the applicants themselves, but often occur if your credit profile is on the borderline of acceptance for the card and needs a manual overview.
Depending on the reason your application decision couldn’t be made by the computer when you applied, responses can take days, up to weeks, to come in the mail. You can limit the chance of a pending application by being sure you fit the general credit requirements of the card you select.
Good Credit | Fair Credit | Poor Credit | No/Limited Credit
Best Cards for Good Credit
Consumers with good credit are the least likely to experience a credit-related “pending” application, but it can still happen if you apply for a credit card that expects excellent credit instead. Other reasons your application response may be delayed include too many recent accounts (think Chase’s 5/24 Rule) or too little credit history.
In many cases, calling the card’s application customer service line can help you determine the reason your application didn’t receive an immediate response. In the case your credit profile just didn’t quite make the cut, don’t worry; there are plenty of other options for good-credit consumers who want a solid credit card.
GOOD CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.9
- 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 $150 cash back into $300.
- 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—automatically.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- 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 a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- No annual fee.
- Terms and conditions apply.
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0% Intro APR for 15 months
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0% Intro APR for 15 months
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17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
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$0
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Excellent/Good
|
GOOD CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.9
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
- Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
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0% for 15 months
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0% for 15 months
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19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
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$0
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Excellent, Good
|
GOOD CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.9
- Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
- Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
- 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
- No rotating categories or sign-ups needed to earn cash rewards; plus, cash back won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how much you can earn
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0% for 15 months
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0% for 15 months
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19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
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$0
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Excellent, Good
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+See More Cards for Good Credit
Best Cards for Fair Credit
Those with fair credit are some of the most likely to wind up with a “pending” notice, particularly when applying for prime credit cards that usually cater to good credit or better. A low credit score, too much existing debt, a very limited credit history, or a too-recent negative mark could all contribute to an applicant needing to wait longer to receive a decision.
In addition to being sure to apply for cards that are friendly to fair-credit applicants, like those below, you can also check for pre-qualification offers to judge your chances of approval. While pre-qualifying for a credit card won’t guarantee acceptance (let alone immediate acceptance), it can be a good indicator of whether you’ll be approved when you apply.
FAIR CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.9
- 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
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N/A
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N/A
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30.74% (Variable)
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$0
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Average, Fair, Limited
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FAIR CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.8
- 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—automatically.
- 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 18.24% - 27.24% applies.
- Terms and conditions apply.
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0% Intro APR for 6 months
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10.99% Intro APR for 6 months
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18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
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$0
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Fair/New to Credit
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FAIR CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.8
- 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
- Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
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N/A
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N/A
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30.74% (Variable)
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$39
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Average, Fair, Limited
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+See More Cards for Fair Credit
Best Cards for Poor Credit
At the bottom of the credit score totem pole, poor-credit consumers aren’t necessarily the most likely to get a pending application — but they are the most likely to be flat-out rejected. With poor credit, your credit card options are generally going to be restricted to subprime unsecured credit cards and secured credit cards.
Which card you select when you have bad credit will likely depend on your means at the time. If you can put forward a decent deposit, a secured credit card will typically offer much lower fees and interest rates than a subprime card, and deposits are fully refundable. That said, subprime unsecured credit cards will often require less money up front.
BAD CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.8
- No credit check to apply
- Adjustable credit limit based on what you transfer from your Chime Checking account to the secured account
- No interest* or annual fees
- Chime Checking Account and qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more required to apply. See official application, terms, and details link below.
- The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Card is issued by Stride Bank, N.A., Member 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 fees may apply. See here for details.
BAD CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.7
- $400 credit limit doubles to $800! (Simply make your first 6 monthly minimum payments on time)
- All credit types welcome to apply
- Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
- Initial Credit Limit of $400.00 (Subject to available credit)
- Fast and easy application process; results in seconds
- Use your card at locations everywhere Mastercard® is accepted
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N/A
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N/A
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29.99%
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$99
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Fair/Poor/Bad
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BAD CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.7
- Earn 1% cash back rewards^^ on payments made to your Revvi Credit Card
- Perfect credit not required
- $300 credit limit (subject to available credit)
- Checking account required
- Opportunity to request credit limit increase after twelve months, fee applies
- *See Rates, Fees, Costs & Limitations for complete offer details
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See website for Details
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N/A
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35.99%
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$75.00 1st year, $48.00 after
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Fair
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+See More Cards for Poor Credit
Best Cards for No/Limited Credit
Consumers who have yet to establish a credit history will have many of the same issues faced by those with fair credit, especially when applying for unsecured cards in the prime market. If you’re not worried about rewards, then no-frills entry-level credit cards are the best bet to establish credit.
If you’re in the market for rewards, however, there are some good secured credit card options, as well as several student cards that offer cash back rewards with no (or small) annual fees. Don’t expect rock-bottom APRs or big-dollar signup bonuses at this point; focus on building your credit the right way to unlock better cards down the road.
NO/LIMITED CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.7
- No credit check to apply
- Adjustable credit limit based on what you transfer from your Chime Checking account to the secured account
- No interest* or annual fees
- Chime Checking Account and qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more required to apply. See official application, terms, and details link below.
- The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Card is issued by Stride Bank, N.A., Member 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 fees may apply. See here for details.
NO/LIMITED CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.7
- 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
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N/A
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N/A
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30.74% (Variable)
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$0
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Average, Fair, Limited
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NO/LIMITED CREDIT RATING
★★★★★
4.7
- 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
- Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
- 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
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N/A
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N/A
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19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
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$0
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Average, Fair, Limited
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+See More Cards for No/Limited Credit
Once your application has officially been approved, the real wait begins as your card makes it way to your mailbox. And that wait can last more than a week — between seven and 10 days, to be specific.
That’s because your approved application not only has to travel through the bank’s system so a new account can be created, but also because, well, your actual card has to be created. The EMV chip needs to be programmed with your information and inserted into the plastic (or, in some cases, metal) card, and your name imprinted or etched into the surface. After that, you still have to wait for the card to be prepared for shipping and sent through the U.S. Postal Service or another carrier of the card issuer’s choice.
In the case that you simply can’t wait a week for your new card to arrive, you may have the option to request expedited shipping — but it will likely cost you, as the majority of issuers will charge a fee for expedited shipping. Want your card lickety-split without the fee? These issuers will quick-time your card without charging a premium for the privilege.
Chase | Discover
Best Chase Credit Cards
A popular purveyor of consumer credit cards, Chase’s catalog of card options includes a range of rewards cards and a collection of co-branded options. And you can have any of those cards expedited for free simply by submitting a request, either through a secure online message or by calling Chase customer service at 1-800-432-3117.
EXPERT'S RATING
★★★★★
4.9
- INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
- Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
- After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
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0% Intro APR on Purchases 15 months
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0% Intro APR on Balance Transfers 15 months
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20.49% - 29.24% Variable
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$0
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Good/Excellent
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EXPERT'S RATING
★★★★★
4.8
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2024.
- Member FDIC
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N/A
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N/A
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21.49%-28.49% Variable
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$95
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Good/Excellent
|
EXPERT'S RATING
★★★★★
4.8
- Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.
- $300 Annual Travel Credit as reimbursement for travel purchases charged to your card each account anniversary year.
- Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- Get 50% more value when you redeem your points for travel through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $900 toward travel.
- 1:1 point transfer to leading airline and hotel loyalty programs
- Access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide after an easy, one-time enrollment in Priority Pass™; Select and up to $100 application fee credit every four years for Global Entry, NEXUS, or TSA PreCheck®
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N/A
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N/A
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22.49%-29.49% Variable
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$550
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Good/Excellent
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+See More Chase Credit Cards
Best Discover Credit Cards
The Discover it® cards are hugely popular for its quarterly rotating cash back bonus categories that can help cardholders earn tons of rewards in useful purchase categories. And getting your new Discover card is the quickest of all, as Discover expedites new cards as a matter of course, no fees required.
EXPERT'S RATING
★★★★★
4.9
- 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 $150 cash back into $300.
- 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—automatically.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- 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 a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
- No annual fee.
- Terms and conditions apply.
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|
|
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0% Intro APR for 15 months
|
0% Intro APR for 15 months
|
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
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$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
EXPERT'S RATING
★★★★★
4.9
- 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 $150 cash back into $300.
- 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—automatically.
- Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
- Your account may not always be eligible for balance transfers. Balance transfer eligibility is determined at Discover’s discretion.
- 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.
- Terms and conditions apply.
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0% Intro APR for 6 months
|
0% Intro APR for 18 months
|
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
|
$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
EXPERT'S RATING
★★★★★
4.8
- UNLIMITED BONUS: Unlimited Mile-for-Mile match for all new cardmembers - only from Discover. Discover gives you an unlimited match of all the Miles you’ve earned at the end of your first year. For example, if you earn 35,000 Miles, you get 70,000 Miles. There’s no signing up, no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a Miles-for-Miles match.
- Automatically earn unlimited 1.5x Miles on every dollar of every purchase
- No annual fee
- Turn Miles into cash. Or redeem as a statement credit for your travel purchases like airfare, hotels, rideshares, gas stations, restaurants and more.
- 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 17.24% - 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR will 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.
- Discover is accepted nationwide by 99% of the places that take credit cards.
- Terms and conditions apply.
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0% Intro APR for 15 months
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0% Intro APR for 15 months
|
17.24% - 28.24% Variable APR
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$0
|
Excellent/Good
|
+See More Discover Credit Cards
Waiting sucks. After all the time and effort we tend to put into making decisions, the wait for the results can feel interminable. But, as with most things in life, patience can go a long way in the credit card process, whether it’s patience with a pending application or simply being patient as you wait for your card to arrive.
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