Surge Credit Card: Review & 5 Alternatives (Dec. 2023)

Our Surge credit card review will fill you in on who the card was made for, card details, how to apply for the card, and how to use it to build or rebuild credit. Additionally, we offer some fine alternatives to the Surge card.

Some things in life are absolute; that carton of milk is either good, or it’s really bad. Other things are less binary — like your credit. The FICO credit score can range anywhere from 300 to 850, and everyone seems to have a different definition of “bad credit.”

In general, though, if you have bad credit you tend to know it — particularly when applications for financing get rejected. Being turned down for credit can be a blow, but there are options for obtaining credit and rebuilding your score.

One such option is the Surge Mastercard® credit card. A subprime card with flexible credit requirements, the Surge credit card is an unsecured card available to consumers with bad credit, no matter how you define it.

Review | Application | Check Status | How to Use | More Options (5)

For most people, the best thing about the Surge card is that it will report to all three major credit bureaus. This means that you can use the Surge card to improve damaged credit, provided you maintain your card in good standing.

The Surge card is also unsecured, meaning you won’t need to put down a deposit or pre-load the card to use it. Those at the very low end of the FICO score spectrum who have trouble getting approved for other unsecured cards may have better luck with a Surge card.

Surge® Platinum Mastercard®

at Continental Finance'ssecure website

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★

4.1

OVERALL RATING

4.1/5.0

Our Review »

• Up to $1,000 credit limit doubles up to $2,000! (Simply make your first 6 monthly minimum payments on time)
• All credit types welcome to apply!
• Monthly Credit Score – Sign up for electronic statements, and get your Vantage 3.0 Score Credit Score From Experian
• Initial Credit Limit of $300 – $1,000 (subject to available credit)
• Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
• See if you’re Pre-Qualified without impacting your credit score

• See application, terms and details.

See Rates & Fees

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
See website for Details	See website for Details	29.99% APR (Variable)	$75 - $125	See website for Details*

Additionally, the credit line should be manageable for most people; the maximum spending limit on the card is $500, and what portion of that maximum you are approved for will depend on your credit score.

You’ll want to be sure to completely pay off your Surge card every month. This is good advice for any credit card, but it’s especially important when you consider the super high APR that comes with the Surge card.

You can also expect to see a hefty annual fee show up shortly after you open the card. While the annual fee drops slightly after the first year, you’ll start to see an additional monthly maintenance fee after the first 12 months that more than makes up for the decreased annual fee.

Applying for the Surge credit card is quick and easy, and can be completed entirely online through the link below.

• Apply for the Surge Mastercard®

If you can’t apply online for any reason, you can call the Surge Customer Service team at: 1-866-449-4514. Customer Care Specialists are available Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

When applying for a Surge credit card online, most users can expect a decision almost immediately right through the website, with a letter to follow within a few days. If you have an issue with your application, or need to check the status of it for some reason, you can call customer service at:

1-866-449-4514

To check the status of your account at any time, you can use the Continental Finance sign-in portal. The portal is also where you can make online payments on your account as well as choose to receive electronic statements.

To get the most out of your Surge card, you should use it to make a small purchase during the month, then pay your balance in full when your statement arrives. Over time, as you make on-time payments and never miss payments, your credit report should start to reflect your good financial behavior.

Never carry a balance on your Surge card. The sky-high APR on the card means carrying a balance will be very expensive, and should always be avoided. Use your Surge credit card solely to improve your poor credit, not as a way to make purchases you cannot pay off right away.

If it turns out the Surge card is not for you, or you just want to see other options, check out our picks for the top five credit cards for bad credit. Comparison shopping is the best way to ensure you get the best rates — and the lowest fees — for which you can qualify.

PREMIER Bankcard® Mastercard® Credit Card

at PREMIER Bankcard®'ssecure website

BAD CREDIT RATING

★★★★★

4.7

OVERALL RATING

4.0/5.0

Our Review »

• Don’t let a low FICO score stop you from applying – we approve applications others may not.
• You don’t need good credit to apply.
• Just complete the short application and receive a response in 60 seconds.
• When you need assistance our award-winning US-based Customer Service agents are there to help.
• FICO scores are used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any PREMIER Bankcard® product.

• See application, terms and details.

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
N/A	N/A	See Provider Website	See Provider Website	Fair/Poor

Arro Card

at the issuer'ssecure website

BAD CREDIT RATING

★★★★★

4.7

OVERALL RATING

4.0/5.0

Our Review »

• 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.

• See application, terms and details.

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
N/A	N/A	16% Variable	N/A	All Credit Types Accepted

PREMIER Bankcard® Grey Credit Card

at PREMIER Bankcard®'ssecure website

BAD CREDIT RATING

★★★★★

4.7

OVERALL RATING

4.6/5.0

Our Review »

• You don’t need good credit to apply.
• We help people with bad credit, every day.
• Just complete the short application and receive a response in 60 seconds.
• You can build or rebuild your credit: apply for a PREMIER Bankcard credit card, keep your balance low, and pay all your monthly bills on time.
• Don’t let a low FICO score stop you from applying – we approve applications others may not.
• FICO scores are used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any PREMIER Bankcard® product.

• See application, terms and details.

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
N/A	N/A	See Provider Website	See Provider Website	Fair/Poor

Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card

at Mission Lane'ssecure website

BAD CREDIT RATING

★★★★★

4.7

OVERALL RATING

4.2/5.0

Our Review »

• $0 Annual Fee. Clear terms and transparent pricing.
• See if you qualify instantly without harming your credit score.
• Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as few as 7 months.
• Free, online credit score access for cardholders.
• No interest on purchases when you pay in full and on time each month.
• No security deposit required – get started today!
• Enjoy coverage from Visa®.
• Access your account anytime, anywhere with our mobile app.
• If you are charged interest, the charge will be no less than $0.50.

• See application, terms and details.

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
N/A	N/A	29.99-33.99% Variable	$0	Fair

Revvi Card

at Revvi'ssecure website

BAD CREDIT RATING

★★★★★

4.7

OVERALL RATING

4.1/5.0

Our Review »

• 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

• See application, terms and details.

Intro (Purchases)	Intro (Transfers)	Regular APR	Annual Fee	Credit Needed
See website for Details	N/A	35.99%	$75.00 1st year, $48.00 after	Fair

+See All Credit Card Reviews for Bad Credit

When your milk goes sour, your breakfast options often sour with it; few people really enjoy dry cereal. The same thing can be said of your credit; when your score sours, so too do your credit options. That said, there are options, including the Surge Mastercard®, which can be used to build your credit and improve your score.

Just remember that rebuilding your credit is a journey; it can’t be accomplished overnight. It takes months, or even years, of dedicated work to rebuild a bad credit score — but it is possible. Be diligent, and your score will grow.