The Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards
Thursday, June 4, 2026

7 Unsecured Credit Cards For Bad Credit (Jun. 2026)

These cards come with higher fees and lower limits, but for borrowers with bad credit, they offer something more valuable: a fresh start.

Unsecured Credit Cards Bad Credit
Eric Bank

Writer: Eric Bank

Eric Bank

Eric Bank, Finance Writer

Eric Bank is an M.B.A. who has covered financial and business topics since 1985, appearing regularly on Credible, eHow, WiseBread, The Nest, Zacks, Chron, BadCredit.org and dozens of other outlets. Eric specializes in taking complex subject matters and explaining them in simple terms for consumer audiences, particularly in the world of personal finance. Eric holds a Master's in Business Administration from New York University and a Master's in Finance from DePaul University.

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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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If you have bad credit and don’t want to tie up cash in a security deposit, an unsecured credit card may be your best option. Unlike secured cards, unsecured cards don’t require collateral — you get a credit line based on your credit profile, no deposit needed.

The tradeoff is real: these cards typically come with high APRs, low credit limits, and more fees than cards for good credit. But used responsibly, they can be a genuine stepping stone to better credit. Most report to all three major credit bureaus, meaning on-time payments will count toward rebuilding your score.

A FICO score of 580 or below is generally considered bad credit. The cards below are specifically designed for borrowers in that range, and many let you check if you’re approved without any impact to your credit score.

The Best Unsecured Cards For Poor Credit

The cards below are our top picks for borrowers with bad or limited credit who want access to a credit line without putting down a deposit. Many let you prequalify in minutes without any impact to your credit score, so you can check your odds before committing to a hard inquiry.

1

Milestone® Mastercard®

CardRates Expert Rating ★★★★ 3.8/5.0
Milestone® Mastercard® Review

at Milestone Mastercard®'ssecure website

Our Review »
  • Guaranteed $700 credit limit if approved.
  • Apply with Confidence! There is no impact to your credit score if you’re not approved. See terms.
  • Don't Have Perfect Credit? No Problem!
  • Join over a million consumers who are working on building their access to credit.
  • Zero Fraud Liability - Peace of mind that comes with having a Mastercard.
  • Get the credit you deserve, even with less-than-perfect history.
  • No security deposit, and a path to better credit.
Intro (Purchases) N/A
Intro (Transfers) N/A
Regular APR See terms
Annual Fee See terms
Credit Needed Bad/Limited/Fair

The Milestone® Mastercard® from the Bank of Missouri will consider your application despite your less-than-perfect credit. You can apply for this card in a few steps, and the issuer may direct you toward another bank’s card if it can’t match you to one of its own cards.

The card charges an annual fee and a foreign transaction fee, but no monthly maintenance fee for the first year. There are also fees for cash advances, over-limit transactions, and late or returned payments. You can enjoy mobile access with the accompanying app, and the card automatically protects you if your card is lost or stolen.

2

Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard

CardRates Expert Rating ★★★★★ 4.5/5.0
  • Earn Cash Back Rewards* – 3% on Eligible Gas, Groceries, and Utilities, and 1% 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 Credit Score†
    *See Program Terms for important information about the cash back rewards program.
    ** Prequalify means that you authorize us to make a soft inquiry into your credit history (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) N/A
Intro (Transfers) N/A
Regular APR 36% Fixed
Annual Fee $85-$175 first year, $229 thereafter
Credit Needed Poor, Fair, or No Credit

The Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard will let you prequalify before you apply, so you don’t have to worry about an unnecessary credit score ding. And, you can earn cash back with this card, a nice perk not often found on unsecured cards for bad credit.

Once you’re approved for the card, you can sign up to get your free VantageScore 4.0 credit score from TransUnion. This way, you’ll see where your credit stands and how this new card is impacting it. By making on-time payments regularly, you can gradually build a strong credit history.

3

Surge® Platinum Mastercard®

CardRates Expert Rating ★★★★ 4.1/5.0
Surge® Platinum Mastercard® Review

at Continental Finance'ssecure website

Our Review »
  • 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.
Intro (Purchases) See website for Details
Intro (Transfers) See website for Details
Regular APR 35.90% Fixed
Annual Fee $75 - $125
Credit Needed Bad, Limited, Fair

The Surge® Platinum Mastercard® offers you $0 fraud liability and other basic benefits that come with all Mastercards. You can manage the card online and via a mobile app to view balances and make timely payments, among other things.

For a fee, you can purchase credit protection for this card that will waive your outstanding credit card debt if you die. You also get protection in the event of job loss, hospitalization, or disability. The card assists in building credit and tracking your credit score for free.

4

Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit

CardRates Expert Rating ★★★★ 3.8/5.0
Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit Review

at Indigo® Mastercard®’ssecure website

Our Review »
  • Get the credit limit you deserve—$700 guaranteed if approved
  • Apply with Confidence! There is no impact to your credit score if you’re not approved. See terms.
  • Get the credit you deserve, even with less-than-perfect history.
  • Trusted by more than a million customers with reporting to all three major credit bureaus so you get credit for all of your hard work.
  • Zero Fraud Liability – Peace of mind that comes with having a Mastercard.
  • Don’t Have Perfect Credit? No Problem!
  • No security deposit, just purchasing power.
Intro (Purchases) N/A
Intro (Transfers) N/A
Regular APR 35.9%
Annual Fee $175 the first year; $49 thereafter
Credit Needed Bad, Poor Credit

The Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit offers credit access to those who have bad or poor credit and doesn’t require a deposit. The issuer also reports your payments to all three credit bureaus.

You can prequalify without impacting your credit score and receive a decision promptly. However, only apply for this card if you can handle the high APR and fees.

5

FIT™ Platinum Mastercard®

CardRates Expert Rating ★★★★ 3.5/5.0
FIT™ Platinum Mastercard® Review

at Continental Finance'ssecure website

Our Review »
  • $400 Initial Credit Limit
  • Less than perfect credit? We understand. The FIT 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)
  • If approved, you must pay a $95 fee to open your account. Please see the terms and conditions for when you apply.
Intro (Purchases) N/A
Intro (Transfers) N/A
Regular APR 35.90% Fixed
Annual Fee See terms
Credit Needed Fair/Poor/Bad

You can use the FIT™ Platinum Mastercard® to whip your credit into better shape because it reports your transactions to all three credit bureaus. The card charges a one-time processing fee, an annual fee, and fees for cash advances, foreign transactions, late or returned payments, and additional cards. You don’t pay the monthly maintenance fee during the first 12 months after opening the account.

Cardholders receive $0 fraud liability, and you can purchase optional credit protection against loss of life, job loss, disability, or hospitalization. Continental Finance services this card.

6

OneMain BrightWay® Card

CardRates Expert Rating ★★★★ 3.5/5.0
OneMain BrightWay® Card Review

at OneMain Financial®’ssecure website

Our Review »
  • See if you’re pre-approved with no impact to your credit score.
  • Qualify for rewards like a credit limit increase (subject to credit approval) or APR decrease in as little as six months.
  • Earn unlimited 1% cash back on purchases.
  • Building your credit? We report to the major credit bureaus and good payment habits can pay off.
  • Easily manage your account and make payments using BrightWay App.
  • BrightWay cards are issued by WebBank.
  • See the OneMain BrightWay® Card rates and fees.*
Intro (Purchases) N/A
Intro (Transfers) N/A
Regular APR 35.99%
Annual Fee $0 – $89
Credit Needed N/A

The OneMain BrightWay® Card offers access to those who are building their credit, and it even provides a flat 1% cash back on purchases. You can also qualify for rewards like lower APR and credit limit increases in as few as six months with on-time payments.

Be prepared to pay a high interest rate and possibly an annual fee, which ranges from $0 to $89. This card can be great for building credit, and if you lower your APR and increase your credit line, you could hang onto it for a while.

7

Reflex® Platinum Mastercard®

CardRates Expert Rating ★★★★ 3.9/5.0
Reflex® Platinum Mastercard® Review

at Continental Finance'ssecure website

Our Review »
  • 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 Reflex 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.
Intro (Purchases) N/A
Intro (Transfers) N/A
Regular APR 35.90% Fixed
Annual Fee $75 - $125
Credit Needed Bad, Fair, or No Credit

The Reflex® Platinum Mastercard® lets you prequalify in less than a minute without affecting your low credit score. This card offers a credit limit range that’s wider than those offered by some competitors. It comes with an annual fee but provides $0 fraud liability.

A monthly maintenance fee will kick in after your first year. Other fees include a foreign transaction fee and fees for additional cards, cash advances, late payments, and returned payments.

What Is an Unsecured Credit Card?

An unsecured card is what most folks think of as a normal credit card. You can use it to charge purchases at stores and online and stretch out payments over multiple months. An unsecured card does not require a cash deposit to qualify for the card.

In contrast, a secured credit card is collateralized by your cash deposit into a special locked account maintained by the credit card company. The amount of your deposit may be less than or equal to your credit limit, depending on the card and your credit score.

We regularly review secured cards with deposit requirements ranging from $49 to $3,000 or more. This chart shows some of the main differences between secured and unsecured credit cards:

Unsecured Credit CardsSecured Credit Cards
No deposit or collateral required to open an accountRefundable deposit required to open an account
High risk to the issuerLow risk to the issuer
Low-fee cards require at least fair creditLow-fee cards available to most credit types
Credit limit is based on your credit profile and incomeCredit limit is based on the size of the deposit

Your secured card’s cash deposit stays with the issuer (in a non-interest-bearing, FDIC-insured account) as long as your credit card account is open. If you decide to close the account, you’ll get a full refund minus any outstanding balance you owe.

The cash deposit will be used if you fail to pay your bill on time or if you exceed your credit limit. This will reduce your credit limit until you restore the funds. If you need to tap into the deposit often, the issuer may decide to close the account.

You may be able to upgrade to an unsecured credit card from the same issuer if you show creditworthy behavior over a period of time. If you do receive an upgrade, you’ll get your deposit back, and you’ll have to properly dispose of your secured credit card.

How Does an Unsecured Credit Card Work?

An unsecured credit card allows you to charge purchases for products and services at retail locations or online stores. Unsecured credit cards operate as follows:

  • You apply for the card online or over the phone by supplying personal information about your income and expenses. If you are approved, you will be mailed the credit card right away and should receive it within a week or two.
  • The card will feature your name, account number, expiration date, and a security code. There is usually a place to sign the back of the card.
  • Modern credit cards contain an embedded microchip that encrypts important information, including transaction history and your current balance, among other things. They also have magnetic swipe strips for backward compatibility with older card-reading devices.
  • Your unsecured credit card comes with a credit limit, an interest rate (called the annual percentage rate or APR), and a schedule of fees. Different cards have different fees and APRs. CardRates reviews and compares credit cards to help you find the perfect one for your purposes.
  • Credit cards divide the year into billing cycles, usually one per month. The period between the end of the billing cycle and the payment due date is the grace period, which is usually in the 21- to 25-day range.
  • You charge purchases on your credit card up to the credit limit. You can pay off your balance in full by the next payment due date and avoid paying any interest. Any unpaid balance from the previous billing cycle that remains unpaid after the grace period expires will incur interest every day until you fully repay your balance.
  • Your card may also offer cash advances, which are like instant loans. There is no grace period for a cash advance — you accrue interest every day until you repay the advance.
  • While rewards aren’t common with unsecured credit cards for bad credit, many credit cards for good credit offer rewards in the form of cash back, miles, or points. You earn rewards when you charge purchases on a rewards card, and you can redeem these rewards in various ways. Cards may offer simple or complex reward schemes — you’ll have to read all the fine print to understand the details.
  • Most credit cards report your activity to one or more of the three major credit bureaus. The bureaus compile your credit history and calculate a credit score that depicts your creditworthiness in a single number. Your credit score helps determine which credit cards you can obtain and how much interest you’ll pay for credit and loans.
  • Credit cards offer various benefits, such as free insurance, discounts on purchases, security and purchase protections, and free access to airport lounges, among several other lesser-known perks.

Many consumers hold multiple credit cards. That’s usually a good idea in case one card is stolen, or you utilize the full credit limit on a card.

If your card is lost or stolen, you should immediately report it to the card issuer. The issuer will close the credit card account and send you a new credit card with a different account number.

What Is Considered a Bad Credit Score?

Your credit score defines your credit profile. 90% of top U.S. lenders use the FICO credit score system, which has a range from 300 (worst credit) to 850 (perfect credit).

A score below 580 is generally considered bad credit, whereas fair credit scores range from 580 to 669.

FICO Score® Ranges

Some credit cards, including those reviewed here, are especially suited for consumers with bad to fair credit. Although secured cards for bad credit are fairly easy to get, you can also get an unsecured card despite a bad score. These cards all share certain characteristics:

  • They offer low credit limits, as low as $200.
  • APRs are usually as high as 36%, the highest legal APR allowable on a card.
  • Fees are plentiful and can include signup fees, annual fees, and fees for cash advances, foreign transactions, and late payments.
  • Rewards, if available, are typically limited to 1% cash back.
  • Typically, these cards report your card activity to all three credit bureaus. This allows you to rebuild your credit score if you pay your bills on time and maintain a credit utilization ratio below 30%.
  • Derogatory items such as missed payments, delinquencies, defaults, collections, foreclosures, and bankruptcies remain on your credit history for up to 10 years. These items can devastate your credit score, but the impact will begin to wear off after a couple of years.

The cards in this review can help you raise your credit score if you maintain good financial habits. The higher your score, the bigger the credit limit, the lower the APR, and the greater the rewards and benefits.

What Is the Minimum Credit Score Needed For an Unsecured Card?

We’ve found that credit cards aimed at consumers with bad credit generally consider FICO scores as low as 550. They can do so by requiring you to show proof of income and own a checking account in your name. While there are no guarantees, these cards offer you your best chance of obtaining an unsecured card.

Some credit cards do not require a credit check, meaning they may approve applications from consumers with scores as low as 300 or with no score at all. A student credit card may fall into this category, as does a secured card. We have seen reviews on credit cards that perform credit checks and yet are willing to accept any credit score, but we cannot confirm these claims.

Unsecured cards that accept low credit scores are not to be confused with the high-quality rewards cards you see advertised on TV. Cards for low credit scores seldom offer rewards and usually come with high APRs, high (and plenty of) fees, and low credit limits. These cards are truly aimed at consumers with credit so bad that their only other alternatives are secured or prepaid credit cards.

Can I Get a Credit Card With a 500 Credit Score?

Your best bet if you have a 500 credit score is to apply for a secured credit card. Your cash deposit serves as collateral for a secured card, making your credit score irrelevant. When comparing secured credit cards, check the fees, rewards, APR, and whether your deposit will earn interest.

If you are philosophically opposed to annual fees, check out the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card.

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card Review

The card may allow you to semi-secure the account by putting down a deposit that’s smaller than your credit line. You may also be rewarded with a higher credit limit after six months of on-time payments without the need to increase your deposit.

For those who want to avoid credit altogether while they rebuild, a debit card or bank account with overdraft protection can cover everyday purchases without the risk of accumulating debt. Unlike prepaid cards, a checking account with a debit card won’t help your credit score — but it also won’t hurt it, and it keeps your spending tied to money you actually have.

As we mentioned before, student credit cards typically overlook credit scores as long as you can prove enrollment and meet other requirements.

Do Unsecured Credit Cards Build Credit?

You can use most unsecured cards to build credit, but only if you use your cards responsibly.

Your credit journey begins with the payment details collected by the three major credit bureaus. Almost all credit cards report your payment activity to at least one bureau, but cards specifically for bad credit often report to all three.

The bureaus keep track of your payment activity and credit history, including:

  • Your credit card payments, including dates and amounts
  • Late payments
  • Card balances
  • Approved credit limits
  • Start and end dates for credit accounts
  • Credit inquiries
  • Collections
  • Written-off accounts
  • Foreclosures
  • Bankruptcies

The credit bureaus compile all this information into the consumer’s credit history and generate an updated credit report each month. The bureaus also use this information to calculate your FICO credit score as well as their own proprietary scores.

Because the credit bureaus may not collect the same information about a consumer, they each may calculate slightly different credit scores for the same person. FICO credit scores range from 300 to 850 and are based on five different factors. Credit cards can impact all five factors, as follows:

1. Payment history (35% of your FICO score)

Credit card companies expect you to make at least the minimum payment on time each monthly billing cycle. If you miss the payment due date or if you pay less than the minimum, you’re subject to a late fee and perhaps a penalty APR.

FICO Credit Score Factors

If your payment is 30 or more days delinquent, the credit card company will probably report you to a credit bureau, causing your credit score to suffer. The damage gets worse the later the payment, and those over 90 days late are marked as defaulted. Your credit history will also note any accounts turned over to a collection agency.

These unfortunate events remain on your credit report for seven years. However, the bulk of the damage to your credit score is immediate and only begins to dissipate after a couple of years.

On the other hand, always paying on time will help your credit score. If you realize you uncharacteristically forgot a payment for 30+ days, send the payment in right away and then contact the card issuer, asking them to remove the item from your credit report. If you have a good payment record, the issuer may oblige and remove the derogatory item.

Many credit cards let you set up auto payments so you won’t have to worry about missing a payment. Alternatively, you can arrange for your checking account to send automatic payments to your card issuer each month.

2. Amounts owed (30%)

Revolving credit accounts, such as credit cards and home equity lines of credit, authorize a credit limit. Your credit utilization ratio (CUR) is the amount of revolving credit used divided by the amount available.

To help improve your credit score, you want to keep your CUR under 30%.

If your CUR gets too high, it signals financial stress to credit bureaus, which could hurt your score. The trick is to pay down your balances and keep your CUR under 30%. This tactic can quickly lift your score.

3. Length of Credit History (15%)

The FICO scoring system rewards consumers for having long-standing accounts. The system looks at the average age of your accounts, as well as the age of the oldest and newest accounts. It also takes into consideration the age of each specific account and how long an account has been dormant.

When you get a new credit card, it reduces the age of your average and newest accounts, which is generally bad for your credit scores. Closing an old account is not helpful either because it may lower the average account age.

The general rule is to not close your credit card accounts and to use each card at least once a year.

The thinking behind this is that creditors want to know whether you have experience managing your credit accounts and loans. If you have old, active accounts, creditors infer that you’ve learned how to manage your finances responsibly. You lose this advantage if your old accounts are riddled with late payments and other derogatory information.

4. Credit mix (10%)

Lenders appreciate when you manage a variety of credit accounts and loans. Having experience with a diverse mix of revolving accounts, installment loans, mortgages, student loans, and more is seen as a positive by creditors. It shows you have a good handle on managing your finances.

This is a minor factor. It may be important if you have a scant credit history, with few accounts on your credit reports. Generally, it’s not worthwhile to open an account simply to enhance your credit score.

5. New credit (10%)

Your credit file tracks whenever a creditor performs a hard inquiry in response to an account application. Hard inquiries are visible to viewers of your credit reports and remain on your reports for two years (although they lose impact after one year). Too many hard inquiries within a short period will hurt your score, as it may indicate that you are in financial need.

A hard inquiry can drop your score by five to 10 points, but very frequent ones may be even more costly. However, there is an exception for comparison shopping. For example, if you are shopping for a mortgage, multiple hard inquiries from local banks and mortgage providers occurring within the same 45 to 60 days will count as only one hard pull.

The first two factors significantly affect your credit score. You can leverage them to boost your credit by consistently paying your bills on time and keeping your credit balances under 30% of your available credit.

Another way you can boost your credit score is by checking each of your three credit reports for any errors. Disputing and removing these mistakes is a crucial step to ensure your scores aren’t being unfairly affected.

You can get free copies of your credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com, the sole source authorized by Federal law for free credit reports.

How to Check Your Credit Reports

You can dispute credit report errors on your own, but many consumers with bad credit choose to hire a credit repair company. These companies know all the tricks of the trade and can help you identify potential mistakes you may otherwise miss.

Considering their modest cost, it may be well worth having a credit repair company help you get your reports as clean as possible.

Can I Get a Business Credit Card With Poor Credit?

Secured business credit cards make the most sense for business owners with poor or thin credit. These cards are available to almost anyone who can post the required cash deposit. You can use these cards to earn rewards on purchases made by you and your employees.

If you’d prefer an unsecured business card, we recommend the Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business. The card charges no annual fee and gives you unlimited cash back rewards on all purchases. You also get a variety of benefits for your business, including roadside assistance, no foreign transaction fees, and various security/purchase protections.

When you need a business credit card despite having poor credit, consider these four strategies:

  1. Build your business credit: Even if your personal credit is bad, you may be able to build up your business credit by satisfying certain metrics important to the credit bureaus. These include your transaction volume, outstanding balances, demographics, and more. You’ll need to obtain an EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the IRS before you can open business bank accounts that will be used to build your business credit. It’s also helpful to establish credit lines with your business suppliers and vendors. After creating three credit lines, you’ll be able to get a Paydex credit score from Dun & Bradstreet. As always, make sure you pay your bills on time (or even better, early) and keep tight control of your credit balances. Another factor in building strong business credit is to maintain clean public records — no late payments, adverse court judgments, or bankruptcies.
  2. Use a cosigner: You can speed up the time it takes to build good credit by recruiting a qualified cosigner. That’s someone with good credit who is willing to be responsible for your credit card balances. With a good cosigner, you may be able to obtain a top-rated business credit card.
  3. Get a secured card: We’ve already seen how a secured card can be obtained by business owners with poor credit. You can get a secured card in the business’s name to help build its credit. The usefulness of a secured business credit card depends on its credit limit — some cards will allow you to deposit as much as $25,000 or as little as $500. As your business builds its credit, you may be able to replace your secured card with an unsecured one. This will free up your deposit for use elsewhere. By ensuring you pay on time, you’ll have the best chance to upgrade to an unsecured card within a reasonable time frame.
  4. Exploit banking relationships: As mentioned, you’ll need to get an EIN to establish a business checking account. A good strategic decision is to use a local community bank or credit union, where you have the opportunity to build a business relationship. The two-way loyalty of this relationship may help you arrange financing in return for your purchase of the institution’s financial products, such as a credit-builder account.

Business credit cards with cash back rewards can reduce your net expenditures and preserve more of your cash. For a startup or growing business, this is an important benefit that improves the chances of survival.

How Do I Choose the Right Card For Me?

If you have bad credit, your options for unsecured credit cards might be limited. Picking the right card involves comparing them to find the ones that are the least problematic.

This review is a good starting place for making your choice. Some of the cards we’ve reviewed allow you to prequalify without hurting your credit score. This gives you the opportunity to pre-apply for multiple cards and eliminate the issuers that turn you down while pursuing the cards for which you successfully prequalify.

While most of these cards share a lot of similarities, there are a few factors for you to evaluate when choosing a card:

  • Annual fee: Most cards here charge one, ranging from $0 to $229, depending on the card and year. Compare carefully before applying, and avoid cards with both a high annual fee and a processing fee.
  • Processing fee: This is a one-time fee charged when you open the account. It is typically $89 more or less. This fee exists because the issuer is willing to approve the riskiest applicants. Avoid it if you can.
  • Maintenance fee: This is another nuisance fee, charged monthly starting in the second year after opening the account. It’s one more fee you should try to avoid.
  • Credit limit increase fee: On the one hand, it’s nice when the issuer is willing to increase your credit limit after you demonstrate your ability to pay on time. But then some issuers ruin the party by charging a fee for the increase.
  • Rewards: Some of the cards rated above provide rewards, but you may find better rewards with a secured card, such as the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card. Rewards don’t matter if you don’t pay off your balance to avoid hefty interest charges, though.

Any of the cards above can help you get the credit you need and will approve applicants with bad credit. It doesn’t hurt to try and prequalify for a card, so give it a go.

Finding the Right Unsecured Credit Card For Bad Credit

An unsecured credit card won’t fix bad credit overnight, but it can be a meaningful first step. The cards reviewed here are designed for borrowers who need access to credit without a deposit, and most give you a path to better terms over time through responsible use.

The key is to treat the card as a tool, not a lifeline. Pay your balance in full each month if you can, keep your utilization below 30%, and let the bureaus do the rest. Within 12 to 24 months of consistent on-time payments, you may find yourself qualifying for cards with lower APRs, higher limits, and real rewards.

If none of the cards above feel like the right fit, consider starting with a secured card to build your score first, then revisit unsecured options once you’ve crossed the 580 threshold.

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