Our picks for the best credit cards for bad credit in 2022

 

 

Why We Like It: The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is the best credit card for bad credit because it has a $0 annual fee and gives up to 2% cash back on purchases. Cardholders earn 2% cash back on up to $1,000 spent at gas stations and restaurants each quarter, plus 1% back on all other purchases. Discover also doubles all the rewards earned the first year.

 

What We Don’t Like: The Discover it Secured Credit Card requires a $200+ security deposit, and the amount you put down becomes your spending limit. But all of the very best bad-credit credit cards require a deposit, and very few credit cards for people with poor credit scores offer both rewards and no annual fee.

 

Who Should Get It: Apply for Discover it Secured Credit Card if you have bad credit and plan to use the card consistently for at least a year.

 

Alternatives to Consider: The Secured Sable ONE Credit Card has similar rewards but isn’t quite as good for building credit. There are several other secured cards with attractive rewards, too.

   

Why We Like It: The Secured Sable ONE Credit Card won’t check your credit history when you apply, so even applicants with a very bad track record borrowing should have high approval odds. The Secured Sable ONE Credit Card also has a $0 annual fee and gives 1 – 2% cash back on purchases. Plus, cardholders receive a bonus equal to the rewards they earn the first year.

 

What We Don’t Like: Your credit limit will equal the amount of your refundable security deposit.

 

Who Should Get It: Credit card shoppers who want a credit card for bad credit with no credit check should get the Secured Sable ONE Credit Card.

 

Alternatives to Consider: The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is another option with no credit check, but it’s a bit more expensive to own. 

   

Why We Like It: The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card has a $0 annual fee and rewards cardholders with 1.5 – 5% cash back on purchases.

 

What We Don’t Like: Approved applicants will be required to place a refundable deposit of $200+, which will become their credit limit.

 

Who Should Get It: People with poor credit who want low fees and cash back rewards should strongly consider the Capital One Quicksilver Secured card.

 

Alternatives to Consider: The Discover it® Secured Credit Card and the Secured Sable ONE Credit Card are both low-cost secured cards with good rewards. 

   

Why We Like It: The Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit is one of the best unsecured credit cards for bad credit, as cardholders get a $300 starting credit limit without placing a security deposit. They also earn 1% cash back on gas and grocery purchases, as well as 1% back on mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services.  

 

What We Don’t Like: This card charges an annual fee of $75 intro 1st yr, $99 after. Still, it’s one of the cheapest unsecured credit cards for bad credit available right now.

 

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for Credit One Visa if you have bad credit and need to borrow a small amount of money for an emergency expense.

 

Alternatives to Consider: The Credit One Bank® NASCAR® Credit Card is another unsecured option with good rewards. 

   

Why We Like It: The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card is one of the best credit cards for bad credit because it has a $0 annual fee and rewards cardholders with 1 – 5% cash back on purchases. More specifically, you get 5% cash back on up to $2,000 spent each quarter in two categories combined. You get to choose the 5% categories from a list, which includes things like gas and groceries. You also get to choose a category for unlimited 2% cash back. And all other purchases get you 1% back.

 

What We Don’t Like: You have to activate new bonus categories each quarter in order to earn the bonus rewards. Plus, this card requires a refundable security deposit of at least $300.

 

Who Should Get It: Consider applying for the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card if you have bad credit and its rewards match up well with your spending habits.

 

Alternatives to Consider: The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card and the Discover it® Secured Credit Card both have good rewards for people with bad credit.

   
In general, the best credit cards for bad credit are secured cards with no annual fee. That’s true for everyone with poor credit, except people who need a modest emergency loan. Even the best unsecured credit cards for bad credit still charge an arm and a leg for a very small amount of borrowing power.

To help you find the right card for your needs, WalletHub’s editors compared hundreds of offers – both secured and unsecured – and selected the
 

Credit Cards for Bad Credit Comparison

Below, you can learn more about the dos and don’ts of choosing a credit card at this important stage of your credit career.
 

Even the best unsecured credit cards for bad credit still charge an arm and a leg for a very small amount of borrowing power.To help you find the right card for your needs, WalletHub’s editors compared hundreds of offers – both secured and unsecured – and selected the best credit cards for people with bad credit in the most popular categories. Below, you can see how the top cards compare as well as what each is best for.Below, you can learn more about the dos and don’ts of choosing a credit card at this important stage of your credit career.