Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit
8 cards whose issuers name rebuilding or bad credit as the credit level they are meant for, ranked by score.
“Bad credit” is a credit level issuers use to describe who a card is meant for, usually a FICO score below about 580 or a history with late payments, collections or a default. This page lists the cards whose issuer pages name rebuilding or bad credit as the audience. The wording is the issuer’s, not ours, and each issuer decides who it approves: a card being listed here does not mean you will be approved, and no card can promise a particular outcome.
Most cards for bad credit are secured, which means a refundable deposit that usually sets your credit limit. Fees and the minimum deposit are the main differences between them.
Cards for bad credit ranked
Ranked from our card database on October 9, 2026. Confirm the terms on the issuer’s site before you apply.
| # | Card | Type | Annual fee | Security deposit | All 3 bureaus | Ongoing APR | Score | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | opensky Plus Secured Visa®Capital Bank N.A. | Secured | $0 | $300 minimum, refundable | — | — | 81 | View card → |
| #2 | Platinum Secured Credit Card from Capital OneCapital One | Secured | $0 | Refundable deposit | — | — | 81 | View card → |
| #3 | cashRewards SecuredNavy FCU1% cash back on all purchases | Secured | $0 | Refundable deposit | — | — | 81 | View card → |
| #4 | Petal® 1 'No Annual Fee' Visa® Credit CardWebBank1% – 10% cash back at select national merchants. Cash back merchants and offers vary throughout the year and…Leap program: earn credit limit increase by completing credit health challenges | No deposit | $0 | None | Yes | 28.24%-33.24% Variable APR | 80 | View card → |
| #5 | Soar Secured CardTruliant Federal Credit Union | Secured | $0 | $1000–$5000 refundable | — | — | 80 | View card → |
| #6 | TD Cash Secured Credit CardTD BankChoose your top two spend categories to earn unlimited 3% and 2% Cash Back and 1% cash back on all other… | Secured | $29 | Refundable deposit | — | — | 79 | View card → |
| #7 | OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit CardCapital Bank N.A. | Secured | $35 | $200 minimum, refundable | — | — | 78 | View card → |
| #8 | Petal® 1 Rise Visa® Credit CardWebBank1% – 10% cash back at select national merchants. Cash back merchants and offers vary throughout the year and…Leap program: earn credit limit increase by completing credit health challenges | No deposit | $59 | None | Yes | 28.24%-33.24% Variable APR | 75 | View card → |
How this list is ranked. Cards are placed on this page by the credit level the issuer itself states (its own “credit level” or “best for” wording), then sorted by our card score (0–100), the same score used on our other ranking pages. We do not assign the tier ourselves, and a dash in the table means our data doesn’t state it. Partner links never change the order. Full methodology →
What to check before you apply
- Start with the fee. Most cards here charge nothing; a fee on a small credit line is a poor trade.
- Check the deposit. Put down only what you can leave untouched for a year or more.
- Look for an upgrade path. Some issuers review secured accounts for an unsecured card and a deposit refund.
- Make sure it reports to the bureaus. A card only builds credit with the bureaus it reports to.
Better credit than this? See cards for fair credit. Starting from scratch? See cards for no credit.
FAQ
What counts as bad credit?
These are cards whose issuer pages name rebuilding or bad credit as the intended audience. Bad credit is commonly a FICO score below about 580, but each issuer sets its own cutoffs and looks at more than a score. We list a card on this page only when the issuer’s own wording places it at this credit level; we do not infer it from our scores.
Will I be approved for these bad credit cards?
Not necessarily. Each issuer decides who is approved, based on your full credit report, income and other factors, and a card’s listed credit level is only a guide. Applying can trigger a hard inquiry, so check the issuer’s requirements first.
Which bad credit card ranks first?
By our score, the opensky Plus Secured Visa® ranks first on this page (score 81, $0 annual fee). Of the 8 cards listed, 5 have a $0 annual fee. Cards that charge a fee: TD Cash Secured Credit Card ($29), OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card ($35), Petal® 1 Rise Visa® Credit Card ($59). The order is by score only; partner links never change it.
Keep going
- Best cards for fair credit →
- Best cards for no credit →
- Best cards to build credit (secured vs. no deposit) →
- Best secured credit cards →
- Secured, student & starter cards compared →
- Best credit-builder loans & accounts →
- How long it takes to rebuild credit →
- Credit score ranges (FICO and VantageScore) →
- Credit utilization guide and calculator →
- Authorized-user strategy →
- Rent and utility reporting →
Card details come from our card database, the same one YourBestCards uses. Verify terms with each issuer before applying. · Advertiser disclosure