Bad Credit CREDIT CARDS
There’s nothing more frustrating than learning that you have bad credit, as this can bring a number of financial challenges into your life. Rather than give up, it’s time to begin your search for credit cards for bad credit. There are secured and unsecured offers to choose from, both of which are available through a variety of credit card issuers. If you have bad credit and need to make a change for the better, search through our list of credit cards for bad credit.
APPLY NOWReflex Mastercard®
See if you’re Pre-Qualified with no impact to your credit score
Intro Purchase APR See Terms*
Intro Balance Transfer APR n/a
Annual Fee See Terms*
Credit Recommended Good/Fair/Bad Credit
Regular Purchase APR See Terms*
Full Details Card Page
Highlights
- Initial Credit Limit of $300 – $750* (subject to available credit)
- See if you’re Pre-Qualified with no impact to your credit score
- All credit types welcome to apply
- Free access to your Vantage 3.0 score from TransUnion* (When you sign up for e-statements)
- Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
- Fast and easy application process; results in seconds
- Use your card at locations everywhere Mastercard® is accepted
- Checking Account Required
Highlights
- Initial Credit Limit of $300 – $750* (subject to available credit)
- See if you’re Pre-Qualified with no impact to your credit score
- All credit types welcome to apply
- Free access to your Vantage 3.0 score from TransUnion* (When you sign up for e-statements)
- Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
- Fast and easy application process; results in seconds
- Use your card at locations everywhere Mastercard® is accepted
- Checking Account Required
Specifications
| Intro (Purchases) | n/a |
|---|---|
| Intro (Transfers) | n/a |
| Regular APR | See Terms* |
| Annual Fee | See Terms* |
| Credit Recommended | Good/Fair/Bad Credit |
| Cash Advance APR | n/a |
| Cash Advance Fee | n/a |
| Cash Grace Period | n/a |
| Late Payment Fee | n/a |
| Overlimit Fee | |
| Return Check Fee | n/a |
| Foreign Trans Fee | n/a |
| Balance Transfer Fee | n/a |
Indigo® Platinum Mastercard® Credit Card
Unsecured credit card, no security deposit required
Intro Purchase APR n/a
Intro Balance Transfer APR n/a
Annual Fee $0 - $99
Credit Recommended Fair/Good
Regular Purchase APR 24.9%
Full Details Card Page
Highlights
- Easy pre-qualification process with fast response
- Less than perfect credit is okay
- Online servicing available 24/7 at no additional cost
- Unsecured credit card, no security deposit required
- Account history is reported to the three major credit bureaus in the U.S.
Highlights
- Easy pre-qualification process with fast response
- Less than perfect credit is okay
- Online servicing available 24/7 at no additional cost
- Unsecured credit card, no security deposit required
- Account history is reported to the three major credit bureaus in the U.S.
Specifications
| Intro (Purchases) | n/a |
|---|---|
| Intro (Transfers) | n/a |
| Regular APR | 24.9% |
| Annual Fee | $0 - $99 |
| Credit Recommended | Fair/Good |
| Cash Advance APR | n/a |
| Cash Advance Fee | n/a |
| Cash Grace Period | n/a |
| Late Payment Fee | Up to $40.00 |
| Overlimit Fee | Up to $40.00 |
| Return Check Fee | Up to $40.00 |
| Foreign Trans Fee | n/a |
| Balance Transfer Fee | n/a |
Surge Mastercard® Credit Card
See if you’re Pre-Qualified without impacting your credit score
Intro Purchase APR N/A
Intro Balance Transfer APR n/a
Annual Fee See Terms*
Credit Recommended Good/Fair/Bad
Regular Purchase APR See Terms*
Full Details Card Page
Highlights
- Initial Credit Limit of $300 – $750* (subject to available credit)
- All credit types welcome to apply!
- Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
- See if you’re Pre-Qualified without impacting your credit score
- Fast and easy application process; results in seconds
- Use your card at locations everywhere that Mastercard® is accepted
- Free online account access 24/7
- Checking Account Required
Give Your Credit a Surge
It is easy to complete our online application. The Surge Mastercard® is designed for people with less than perfect credit. If you make on-time minimum payments and maintain your balances under the credit limits, you may be able to build, rebuild, or reestablish your credit!
How it Works
The Surge credit card is designed for people with less than perfect credit who want to get back on track. After you complete our short and easy online application, your results will be ready in a matter of seconds! Don’t miss this chance to Surge!
Why Choose the Surge Card?
If you have poor credit and are trying to improve your credit score, using a credit card responsibly may help. The Surge Mastercard® will report your payment activity to the three major credit bureaus on a monthly basis. Maintaining a low balance and paying your bill on time every month are two of the best practices for positive credit.
Get Approved Today!
It is easy to complete our online application. The Surge Mastercard® is designed for people with less than perfect credit. If you make on-time minimum payments and maintain your balances under the credit limits, you may be able to build, rebuild, or reestablish your credit!
Highlights
- Initial Credit Limit of $300 – $750* (subject to available credit)
- All credit types welcome to apply!
- Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
- See if you’re Pre-Qualified without impacting your credit score
- Fast and easy application process; results in seconds
- Use your card at locations everywhere that Mastercard® is accepted
- Free online account access 24/7
- Checking Account Required
Give Your Credit a Surge
It is easy to complete our online application. The Surge Mastercard® is designed for people with less than perfect credit. If you make on-time minimum payments and maintain your balances under the credit limits, you may be able to build, rebuild, or reestablish your credit!
How it Works
The Surge credit card is designed for people with less than perfect credit who want to get back on track. After you complete our short and easy online application, your results will be ready in a matter of seconds! Don’t miss this chance to Surge!
Why Choose the Surge Card?
If you have poor credit and are trying to improve your credit score, using a credit card responsibly may help. The Surge Mastercard® will report your payment activity to the three major credit bureaus on a monthly basis. Maintaining a low balance and paying your bill on time every month are two of the best practices for positive credit.
Get Approved Today!
It is easy to complete our online application. The Surge Mastercard® is designed for people with less than perfect credit. If you make on-time minimum payments and maintain your balances under the credit limits, you may be able to build, rebuild, or reestablish your credit!
Specifications
| Intro (Purchases) | n/a |
|---|---|
| Intro (Transfers) | n/a |
| Regular APR | See Terms* |
| Annual Fee | See Terms* |
| Credit Recommended | Good/Fair/Bad |
| Cash Advance APR | See Terms* |
| Cash Advance Fee | n/a |
| Cash Grace Period | n/a |
| Late Payment Fee | n/a |
| Overlimit Fee | |
| Return Check Fee | n/a |
| Foreign Trans Fee | n/a |
| Balance Transfer Fee | n/a |
Destiny Mastercard®
All the benefits of a Mastercard, without a security deposit
Intro Purchase APR n/a
Intro Balance Transfer APR n/a
Annual Fee $59-$99
Credit Recommended Poor to Good
Regular Purchase APR 24.9%
Full Details Card Page
Highlights
- All the benefits of a Mastercard, without a security deposit
- Keeping your account in good standing may help establish and/or improve your credit history
- Less than perfect credit is okay, even with a prior bankruptcy!
- Prequalify for a card today and it will not impact your credit score
- Reports to all three major credit bureaus
Highlights
- All the benefits of a Mastercard, without a security deposit
- Keeping your account in good standing may help establish and/or improve your credit history
- Less than perfect credit is okay, even with a prior bankruptcy!
- Prequalify for a card today and it will not impact your credit score
- Reports to all three major credit bureaus
Specifications
| Intro (Purchases) | n/a |
|---|---|
| Intro (Transfers) | n/a |
| Regular APR | 24.9% |
| Annual Fee | $59-$99 |
| Credit Recommended | Poor to Good |
| Cash Advance APR | n/a |
| Cash Advance Fee | n/a |
| Cash Grace Period | n/a |
| Late Payment Fee | n/a |
| Overlimit Fee | n/a |
| Return Check Fee | n/a |
| Foreign Trans Fee | n/a |
| Balance Transfer Fee | n/a |
Net First Platinum
Instant Approval / $500 Credit Line!
Intro Purchase APR 0.00%
Intro Balance Transfer APR N/A
Annual Fee See website for Details*
Credit Recommended Fair to Damaged
Regular Purchase APR 0.00%
Full Details Card Page
Highlights
- Instant Approval / $500 Credit Line!
- No Employment or Credit Check
- Reports to Major Bureau
- Bad Credit, No Credit – OK
- Always 0.0% APR
- Fast Online Applications
Have you been denied credit in the past? Net First Platinum is available to help people meet their financial needs. Our fast and easy application could be just what you need. A $500 credit line could be available to you faster than you ever thought possible.
The Net First Platinum card could be the perfect card for you.
*See Terms & Conditions for Details
Highlights
- Instant Approval / $500 Credit Line!
- No Employment or Credit Check
- Reports to Major Bureau
- Bad Credit, No Credit – OK
- Always 0.0% APR
- Fast Online Applications
Have you been denied credit in the past? Net First Platinum is available to help people meet their financial needs. Our fast and easy application could be just what you need. A $500 credit line could be available to you faster than you ever thought possible.
The Net First Platinum card could be the perfect card for you.
*See Terms & Conditions for Details
Specifications
| Intro (Purchases) | 0.00% |
|---|---|
| Intro (Transfers) | n/a |
| Regular APR | 0.00% |
| Annual Fee | See website for Details* |
| Credit Recommended | Fair to Damaged |
| Cash Advance APR | n/a |
| Cash Advance Fee | n/a |
| Cash Grace Period | n/a |
| Late Payment Fee | n/a |
| Overlimit Fee | |
| Return Check Fee | n/a |
| Foreign Trans Fee | n/a |
| Balance Transfer Fee | n/a |
Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card
$500 - $5,000 credit limits
Intro Purchase APR n/a
Intro Balance Transfer APR n/a
Annual Fee 0.00
Credit Recommended Fair/Bad/Limited/No Credit
Regular Purchase APR 19.99 - 29.49% Variable
Full Details Card Page
Highlights
- $0 Annual Fee
- 2% – 10% cash back from select merchants
- $500 – $5,000 credit limits
- Variable APRs 19.99 – 29.49% APR
- No annual or international transaction fees. Late and returned payment fees may apply
- Build credit alongside tens of thousands of Petal Card members
- Cash flow technology may help applicants without credit history get approved
- Petal’s technology may analyze your bank account info (using read-only access) to provide a better look at your full financial picture
- Petal’s mobile app makes it easy to manage your money, track your spending, and automate payments
- See if you’re pre-approved within minutes without impacting your credit score
- Petal reports to all 3 major credit bureaus
- No deposits required
- Card issued by WebBank, Member FDIC
Highlights
- $0 Annual Fee
- 2% – 10% cash back from select merchants
- $500 – $5,000 credit limits
- Variable APRs 19.99 – 29.49% APR
- No annual or international transaction fees. Late and returned payment fees may apply
- Build credit alongside tens of thousands of Petal Card members
- Cash flow technology may help applicants without credit history get approved
- Petal’s technology may analyze your bank account info (using read-only access) to provide a better look at your full financial picture
- Petal’s mobile app makes it easy to manage your money, track your spending, and automate payments
- See if you’re pre-approved within minutes without impacting your credit score
- Petal reports to all 3 major credit bureaus
- No deposits required
- Card issued by WebBank, Member FDIC
Specifications
| Intro (Purchases) | n/a |
|---|---|
| Intro (Transfers) | n/a |
| Regular APR | 19.99 - 29.49% Variable |
| Annual Fee | 0.00 |
| Credit Recommended | Fair/Bad/Limited/No Credit |
| Cash Advance APR | n/a |
| Cash Advance Fee | n/a |
| Cash Grace Period | n/a |
| Late Payment Fee | Late fees up to $29 for first late payment, $40 for second late payment. |
| Overlimit Fee | n/a |
| Return Check Fee | n/a |
| Foreign Trans Fee | n/a |
| Balance Transfer Fee | n/a |
Applied Bank® Unsecured Classic Visa® Card
Fast and Easy Application and Approval Process!
Intro Purchase APR n/a
Intro Balance Transfer APR n/a
Annual Fee *See Terms
Credit Recommended Poor Credit, Bad Credit
Regular Purchase APR *See Terms
Full Details Card Page
Highlights
- Fast and Easy Application and Approval Process! Click “Apply Now” to apply online
- Reports to All Three Major Credit Bureaus
- Access Additional Credit with On-Time Payments and Responsible Usage
- Fixed APR and Manageable Monthly Payments
- A true Unsecured EMV enabled (chip) Visa Credit card that does not require perfect credit for approval.
Highlights
- Fast and Easy Application and Approval Process! Click “Apply Now” to apply online
- Reports to All Three Major Credit Bureaus
- Access Additional Credit with On-Time Payments and Responsible Usage
- Fixed APR and Manageable Monthly Payments
- A true Unsecured EMV enabled (chip) Visa Credit card that does not require perfect credit for approval.
Specifications
| Intro (Purchases) | n/a |
|---|---|
| Intro (Transfers) | n/a |
| Regular APR | *See Terms |
| Annual Fee | *See Terms |
| Credit Recommended | Poor Credit, Bad Credit |
| Cash Advance APR | *See Terms |
| Cash Advance Fee | *See Terms |
| Cash Grace Period | n/a |
| Late Payment Fee | *See Terms |
| Overlimit Fee | n/a |
| Return Check Fee | n/a |
| Foreign Trans Fee | *See Terms |
| Balance Transfer Fee | n/a |
Intro Purchase APR n/a
Intro Balance Transfer APR n/a
Annual Fee See Terms*
Credit Recommended Fair/Bad Credit
Regular Purchase APR See Terms*
Full Details Card Page
Highlights
- Checking Account Required
- Fast and easy application process; response provided in seconds
- A genuine Visa credit card accepted by merchants nationwide across the USA and online
- Manageable monthly payments
- $300 credit limit (subject to available credit)
- Reports monthly to all three major credit bureaus
Highlights
- Checking Account Required
- Fast and easy application process; response provided in seconds
- A genuine Visa credit card accepted by merchants nationwide across the USA and online
- Manageable monthly payments
- $300 credit limit (subject to available credit)
- Reports monthly to all three major credit bureaus
Specifications
| Intro (Purchases) | n/a |
|---|---|
| Intro (Transfers) | n/a |
| Regular APR | See Terms* |
| Annual Fee | See Terms* |
| Credit Recommended | Fair/Bad Credit |
| Cash Advance APR | n/a |
| Cash Advance Fee | n/a |
| Cash Grace Period | n/a |
| Late Payment Fee | n/a |
| Overlimit Fee | |
| Return Check Fee | n/a |
| Foreign Trans Fee | n/a |
| Balance Transfer Fee | n/a |
First Digital Mastercard®
Get a result in as little as 60 seconds upon completion of the online application.
Intro Purchase APR n/a
Intro Balance Transfer APR n/a
Annual Fee $75.00 for first year. After that, $48.00 annually.
Credit Recommended Bad/Poor/Limited
Regular Purchase APR 35.99%
Full Details Card Page
Highlights
- Get the security and convenience of a full-feature, unsecured MasterCard® Credit Card – accepted at millions of merchant and ATM locations worldwide and online.
- Build up your credit history with a card that reports to all three major credit bureaus every month.
- Perfect credit not required for approval; we may approve you when others won’t.
- Designed to help overcome credit issues; you may be approved even if you’ve been declined elsewhere.
- You may be eligible for a Credit Line Increase after 12 months.
- Easy and secure online application – It takes just moments to apply.
- Checking account required.
- If approved, just pay the one-time Program Fee to gain access to your new account and credit line (subject to available credit).
- Receive your card more quickly with optional Expedited Processing (additional fee applies).
- Get a result in as little as 60 seconds upon completion of the online application.
- Online Customer Center available 24 x 7.
- Issued by Synovus Bank, Member: FDIC
Highlights
- Get the security and convenience of a full-feature, unsecured MasterCard® Credit Card – accepted at millions of merchant and ATM locations worldwide and online.
- Build up your credit history with a card that reports to all three major credit bureaus every month.
- Perfect credit not required for approval; we may approve you when others won’t.
- Designed to help overcome credit issues; you may be approved even if you’ve been declined elsewhere.
- You may be eligible for a Credit Line Increase after 12 months.
- Easy and secure online application – It takes just moments to apply.
- Checking account required.
- If approved, just pay the one-time Program Fee to gain access to your new account and credit line (subject to available credit).
- Receive your card more quickly with optional Expedited Processing (additional fee applies).
- Get a result in as little as 60 seconds upon completion of the online application.
- Online Customer Center available 24 x 7.
- Issued by Synovus Bank, Member: FDIC
Specifications
| Intro (Purchases) | n/a |
|---|---|
| Intro (Transfers) | n/a |
| Regular APR | 35.99% |
| Annual Fee | $75.00 for first year. After that, $48.00 annually. |
| Credit Recommended | Bad/Poor/Limited |
| Cash Advance APR | See website for Details* |
| Cash Advance Fee | Either $10, or 3% of the amount of the Cash Advance, whichever is greater. |
| Cash Grace Period | See website for Details* |
| Late Payment Fee | $40.00 |
| Overlimit Fee | n/a |
| Return Check Fee | $40.00 |
| Foreign Trans Fee | See website for Details* |
| Balance Transfer Fee | See website for Details* |
Intro Purchase APR n/a
Intro Balance Transfer APR n/a
Annual Fee See Terms
Credit Recommended Fair/Bad Credit
Regular Purchase APR See Terms
Full Details Card Page
Highlights
Get the security and convenience of a full-feature, unsecured VISA® Credit Card – accepted at millions of merchant and ATM locations nationwide and online.
- Reporting monthly to all three major credit reporting agencies
- Perfect credit not required for approval; we may approve you when others won’t
- Easy and secure online application
- $300 credit limit (subject to available credit)
- Receive your card more quickly with optional Expedited Processing (additional fee applies)
- Get a result in as little as 60 seconds upon completion of the online application
- Online Customer Center available 24 x 7
- Checking account required
- The First Access Visa Card is issued by The Bank of Missouri pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.
Highlights
Get the security and convenience of a full-feature, unsecured VISA® Credit Card – accepted at millions of merchant and ATM locations nationwide and online.
- Reporting monthly to all three major credit reporting agencies
- Perfect credit not required for approval; we may approve you when others won’t
- Easy and secure online application
- $300 credit limit (subject to available credit)
- Receive your card more quickly with optional Expedited Processing (additional fee applies)
- Get a result in as little as 60 seconds upon completion of the online application
- Online Customer Center available 24 x 7
- Checking account required
- The First Access Visa Card is issued by The Bank of Missouri pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc.
Specifications
| Intro (Purchases) | n/a |
|---|---|
| Intro (Transfers) | n/a |
| Regular APR | See Terms |
| Annual Fee | See Terms |
| Credit Recommended | Fair/Bad Credit |
| Cash Advance APR | n/a |
| Cash Advance Fee | n/a |
| Cash Grace Period | n/a |
| Late Payment Fee | n/a |
| Overlimit Fee | |
| Return Check Fee | n/a |
| Foreign Trans Fee | n/a |
| Balance Transfer Fee | n/a |
Zebit – Buy Now & Pay Over Time
No FICO score pulled
Intro Purchase APR n/a
Intro Balance Transfer APR n/a
Annual Fee 0.00
Credit Recommended Poor to Good
Regular Purchase APR See website for Details*
Full Details Card Page
Highlights
- Get up $2,500 of credit to shop Zebit.
- No membership fees. No FICO score pulled. Easy and secure online application.
- Buy now and pay over time for electronics, furniture, appliances, toys, jewelry, apparel, eGift cards and more.
- Shop name brands including Apple, Nintendo, Samsung, LG, Fitbit, and more.
- Regular APR: See website for Details*
- Credit Line: Up to $2,500
- Monthly Fee: $0
- Credit Recommended: Poor to Good
Highlights
- Get up $2,500 of credit to shop Zebit.
- No membership fees. No FICO score pulled. Easy and secure online application.
- Buy now and pay over time for electronics, furniture, appliances, toys, jewelry, apparel, eGift cards and more.
- Shop name brands including Apple, Nintendo, Samsung, LG, Fitbit, and more.
- Regular APR: See website for Details*
- Credit Line: Up to $2,500
- Monthly Fee: $0
- Credit Recommended: Poor to Good
Specifications
| Intro (Purchases) | n/a |
|---|---|
| Intro (Transfers) | n/a |
| Regular APR | See website for Details* |
| Annual Fee | 0.00 |
| Credit Recommended | Poor to Good |
| Cash Advance APR | n/a |
| Cash Advance Fee | n/a |
| Cash Grace Period | n/a |
| Late Payment Fee | n/a |
| Overlimit Fee | n/a |
| Return Check Fee | n/a |
| Foreign Trans Fee | n/a |
| Balance Transfer Fee | n/a |
Bad Credit
Most people who have bad credit are well aware of their situation. As frustrating as it may be, there’s a bright side: there’s plenty of room for improvement.
If you have bad credit and find yourself in need of a credit card, there are both unsecured and secured offers to consider. Best yet, responsible use of a credit card in the future will help boost your score.
Note: if you have bad credit, search through our comprehensive list of offers for consumers in your position.
How to Boost Your Bad Credit Score
Just because you have bad credit now doesn’t mean you’ll have bad credit for the rest of your life. There are a few simple steps you can take to boost your credit score in the months to come:
1. Make Note of Your Past Mistakes
Why do you have bad credit? Once you understand the mistakes you’ve made in the past, you can avoid going down the same path in the future. For example, if you defaulted on several loans in the past, create a budget that will help you prevent a similar situation in the future. You won’t know how to improve on your past mistakes until you identify them. This is job number one!
2. Review Your Credit Report for Errors
Don’t assume that the information on your credit report is accurate. It’s possible that there’s at least one error on your credit report that’s pulling down your score.
If you come across an error, contact the appropriate credit bureau to file a dispute. It’s often a time consuming process, but fixing the error can do wonders for your credit score.
3. Create a Budget
It’s critical to know how much money you earn each month, as well as how much you spend. This is where a detailed budget comes into play. At the very least, you need to earn enough money to cover your expenses. If you don’t, you’ll quickly slip behind on your obligations, which will harm your credit score.
Tip: you can create your budget with nothing more than a pen and paper. Of course, if you’re more technologically advanced, there are apps and software programs to assist you.
4. Don’t Stop Using Credit
It’s natural to stop using credit if you have bad credit. You assume that this will keep you out of trouble, and you may be right. However, you should still use credit when possible, as this actually helps boost your
score. Don’t bite off more than you can chew, but get into the habit of using your credit card and paying the balance in full each month. You can also raise your score by paying on installment loans.
5. Remain Patient
You want to put your bad credit in the past as soon as possible, but it’s likely to take several months or longer to make real progress. Don’t get frustrated if your score isn’t rising as quickly as you would like. If you stay the course, you’ll like where you end up.
Final Thoughts
Don’t let bad credit affect your finances for the rest of your life. When you follow the steps above, it won’t be long before your credit score begins to move in the right direction.
Advertiser Disclosure * Advertisements which display guaranteed credit lines or credit limits of $500.00 are exclusively for usage through online retail stores, online marketplace websites and/or online auctions. Credit limit offers displayed on advertisements are contingent on getting approved by the credit institution issuing the credit card or issuing the line of credit. When searching for the best credit card for you, there are several factors that you ought to consider. A few cards have APR rates that you need to review before you sign on with a bank or lender. Financing costs will influence your decision if you anticipate using the card for single purchases or if you intend to carry a monthly balance. If you don’t make your timely required payments by the due date, financing costs increase and you’ll have to pay the credit card organization those fees plus your current balance. Interest fees can shift from as low as 0% to as high as 35% for various periods. Please review the credit card applications for specifics into the terms and conditions. We strive to display current and up-to-date information. Nonetheless, all credit card offers are displayed without guarantee. To affirm terms and conditions, tap the "Apply Now" to learn more about the credit offer on a secure page provided by the card issuer(s). Please review full terms and conditions prior to applying for any credit card.
General Disclaimer Please review the credit card applications for specifics into the terms and conditions. We strive to display current and up-to-date information. Nonetheless, all credit card offers are displayed without guarantee. To affirm terms and conditions, tap the "Apply Now" to learn more about the credit offer on a secure page provided by the card issuer(s)
Editorial Note Our team of editors rate credit card offers unbiasedly in light of the components the credit card offers purchasers, expenses, financing costs, and how a credit card is related by category. The evaluations are the master supposition of our editors, and not affected by any compensation this site gets from the credit card issuer(s).