Yes, you can get an unsecured credit card with a 500 credit score. The best unsecured credit card to get with a 500 credit score is the Credit One Visa card because it offers a $300 starting credit limit, the potential for automatic credit line increases, and an annual fee of $75 intro 1st yr, $99 after. Cardholders earn rewards on select purchases, too.… read full answer

The downside of applying for an unsecured credit card with a 500 credit score is that you will likely end up with high fees, high interest rates, and a low credit limit. The odds of getting approved for a decent unsecured credit card are higher with a credit score of at least 640. And the higher your credit score is, the better your chances of getting an unsecured card with good terms will be.

Unsecured Credit Cards to Get with a 500 Credit Score

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  Best for Credit Line Increases: 

  Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit

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  Best for No Upfront Fees: 

  Milestone® Mastercard® – Less Than Perfect Credit Considered

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  Best for Pre-Approval: 

  Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit

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While Credit One Visa may be the best unsecured credit card for people with a 500 credit score, it’s still not the most attractive option overall. People with bad credit who are in the market for a credit card should look into applying for a secured card instead. Most secured cards come with $0 annual fees, and some cards, such as the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card, give rewards on purchases.

Secured cards are also easier to get than unsecured cards because you’ll have to pay a security deposit, usually $200 at a minimum, to open the account. The amount of your deposit determines your credit limit in most cases, and you can increase your limit by adding more money to your deposit. Your deposit is fully refundable when you close the account in good standing.

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