A credit score around 500 is considered poor or bad credit, and is unlikely to qualify for most traditional (unsecured) credit cards. If you find yourself in this credit score bracket you can still qualify for a secured credit card, which is an excellent tool for gradually rebuilding your credit score.

Most credit cards available to those with poor credit offer very basic features, and some may charge a number of fees. But there are a select few credit-building cards with cardholder-friendly features that really stand out from the pack.

We’ve chosen a few of the very best credit cards if your credit score is in the 500 range. Using these responsibly and consistently will help you rebuild your damaged credit score, and one day qualify for more lucrative credit card offers designed for consumers with good credit.

⁺Credit Score requirements are based on Money Under 30’s own research of approval rates; meeting the minimum score will give you the best chance to be approved for the credit card of your choice. If you don’t know your credit score, use our free credit score estimator tool to get a better idea of which cards you’ll qualify for.

Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit

Petal® 1 "No Annual Fee" Visa® Credit Card

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In A Nutshell

The Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card (issued by WebBank) is a great no-annual-fee card with a solid rewards system for people with limited or no credit. It reports to all three major credit card bureaus and you can possibly score a higher credit limit between $300- $5,000 — just make sure to use your card responsibly.

Read review
Credit Score Requirements: Credit Score requirements are based on Money Under 30’s own research of approval rates; meeting the minimum score will give you the best chance to be approved for the credit card of your choice. If you don’t know your credit score, use our free credit score estimator tool to get a better idea of which cards you’ll qualify for. *Money Under 30 uses a FICO 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. *A creditor may use a different score when deciding whether to approve you for credit.
Poor 500-599
Fair 600-699
Good 700-749
Excellent 750-850

What We Like:

  • No credit history required, making it perfect for beginners.

  • No annual fee, and no over-limit or foreign transaction fees, either.

  • 2% – 10% cash back at select merchants.

  • $0 Annual Fee
  • Variable APRs range from 24.74% - 34.24%
  • $300 - $5,000 credit limits
  • Earn a credit limit increase in as little as 6 months. Terms and conditions apply.
  • No credit score? No problem. If eligible, we'll create your Cash Score instead.
  • 2% - 10% cash back at select merchants
  • See if you're pre-approved within minutes without impacting your credit score.
  • No annual or foreign transaction fees.
  • Build credit alongside hundreds of thousands of Petal card members.
  • Petal's mobile app makes it easy to manage your money, track your spending, and automate payments.
  • Petal reports to all 3 major credit bureaus
  • No deposits required
  • Card issued by WebBank
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
24.74% - 34.24% Variable
Intro APR
Intro APR Purchases N/A ,
Intro APR Balance Transfers N/A ,

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Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

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In A Nutshell

If you are worried that you will not get approved for a conventional credit card or have been rejected in the past, the Capital One Platinum Secured is an excellent option. It’s rare to find one that doesn’t charge an annual fee and Capital One will automatically review your credit limit in as little as six months.

Read review
Credit Score Requirements: Credit Score requirements are based on Money Under 30’s own research of approval rates; meeting the minimum score will give you the best chance to be approved for the credit card of your choice. If you don’t know your credit score, use our free credit score estimator tool to get a better idea of which cards you’ll qualify for. *Money Under 30 uses a FICO 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. *A creditor may use a different score when deciding whether to approve you for credit.
Poor 500-599
Fair 600-699
Good 700-749
Excellent 750-850

What We Like:

  • Put down a refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get a $200 initial credit line.

  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months with no additional deposit needed.

  • No annual fee and no foreign transaction fees.

  • No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
  • Building your credit? Using the Capital One Platinum Secured card responsibly could help
  • Put down a refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get a $200 initial credit line
  • You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
  • Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking to access your account from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
Annual Fee
$0
Regular APR
29.99% (Variable)
Intro APR
Intro APR Purchases N/A , N/A
Intro APR Balance Transfers N/A , N/A

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OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

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In A Nutshell

The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is a secured credit card that doesn’t require a credit check to apply. Whether you have poor credit or no credit at all, OpenSky is an opportunity to improve your credit history.

Read review
Credit Score Requirements: Credit Score requirements are based on Money Under 30’s own research of approval rates; meeting the minimum score will give you the best chance to be approved for the credit card of your choice. If you don’t know your credit score, use our free credit score estimator tool to get a better idea of which cards you’ll qualify for. *Money Under 30 uses a FICO 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. *A creditor may use a different score when deciding whether to approve you for credit.
Poor 500-599
Fair 600-699
Good 700-749
Excellent 750-850

What We Like:

  • No credit check needed to get approved for this card.

  • Choose your own security deposit between $200 – $3,000 and that becomes your credit line.

  • On-time payments will be reported to all three credit bureaus, so you can start building credit responsibly.

  • The annual fee is just $35, and OpenSky® does not charge any application, servicing, or processing fees.

  • No credit check to apply. Zero credit risk to apply!
  • Looking to build or rebuild your credit? 2/3 of cardholders receive a 48+ point improvement after making 3 on-time payments
  • With an 87% average approval rate for the past 6 months, OpenSky gives everyone an opportunity to improve their credit
  • Extend your $200 credit line by getting considered for an unsecured credit line increase after 6 months - no additional deposit required!
  • Get free monthly access to your FICO score in our mobile application
  • Build your credit history across 3 major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax, and Transunion
  • Fund your card with a low $200 refundable security deposit to get a $200 credit line
  • Apply in less than 5 minutes with our mobile first application
  • Choose the due date that fits your schedule with flexible payment dates
  • Fund your security deposit over 60 days with the option to make partial payments
  • Join over 1.2 million cardholders who've used OpenSky to build their credit
Annual Fee
$35
Regular APR
22.14% (Variable)
Intro APR
Intro APR Purchases N/A ,
Intro APR Balance Transfers N/A ,

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Milestone® Mastercard®

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In A Nutshell

If you have lousy credit and are looking for a way to build it back; the Milestone Mastercard® is a strong option. There’s a quick application process, modest interest rate and an annual fee of $175 the first year, and $49 thereafter.

Read review
Credit Score Requirements: Credit Score requirements are based on Money Under 30’s own research of approval rates; meeting the minimum score will give you the best chance to be approved for the credit card of your choice. If you don’t know your credit score, use our free credit score estimator tool to get a better idea of which cards you’ll qualify for. *Money Under 30 uses a FICO 8 score, which is one of many different types of credit scores. *A creditor may use a different score when deciding whether to approve you for credit.
Poor 500-599
Fair 600-699
Good 700-749
Excellent 750-850

What We Like:

  • Access to credit line up to $700

  • Previous bankruptcy is OK

  • Build credit with responsible card use

  • Greater access to credit than before - $700 credit limit
  • Get a Mastercard accepted online, in store and in app
  • Account history is reported to the three major credit bureaus in the U.S.
  • $0 liability for unauthorized use
  • Access your account online or from your mobile device 24/7
Annual Fee
$175 the first year; $49 thereafter
Regular APR
35.9%
Intro APR
Intro APR Purchases N/A , N/A
Intro APR Balance Transfers N/A ,

Apply Now >>

Best for Rebuilding Credit: Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card

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  • Annual fee: $0.
  • APR range: 24.74% - 34.24% Variable.
  • Rewards: 2%-10% cash back at select merchants.
  • Other features: ideal for individuals with limited or no credit.

Why the Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card is a good option for those with poor credit

The Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card is perfect for those with low credit because the issuer of the card looks beyond your credit score to qualify you. They look at your overall banking history, and, if you’re qualified, you can get a credit limit between $300-$5,000. And you won’t need to pay a deposit to get this line of credit. 

Plus, you can easily start building your credit with on-time monthly payments, because your payment history gets reported to all three credit bureaus.

How to use the Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card

The Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card is incredibly easy to use. To start building your credit using the card, simply pay your balance on time each month, and gradually, your score should improve.

In addition, Petal’s mobile app is very intuitive, so you can easily manage your money, track your spending, and automate payments, all with a few clicks.

Why you might not want to consider the Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card

Although you can qualify with a low credit score, your interest rate will be higher than you’d get with other credit cards at 24.74% - 34.24% Variable.

You’ll also find that you get better cash back rewards with the Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card, which issues 1%-1.5% on all purchases, as well as the same 2%-10% cash back from certain merchants.

Learn more about the Petal® 1 “No Annual Fee” Visa® Credit Card or read our full review.

Best Low Deposit Credit Card: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

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  • Annual fee: $0.
  • APR range: 29.99% (Variable).
  • Rewards: N/A.
  • Other features: Access to Credit Wise, a free credit monitoring service.

Why the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is a good option for those with poor credit

With the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card, you will get an initial credit line of $200, with the security deposit of $49, $99, or $200.

How to use the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Cardholders will be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months.

No additional deposit will be required if your credit line is increased.

Why you might not want to consider the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

The increasing credit line might tempt you to also increase your indebtedness. If you have poor credit, getting deeper into debt is the last thing you need. Take this card only if you are able to pay off the balance each month.

Learn more about the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card or read our full review.

Best for No Credit Check: OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

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  • Annual fee$35.
  • Regular APR: 22.14% (Variable).
  • Rewards: N/A.
  • Other features: There’s no credit check or bank account required to apply for the card.

Why the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is a good option for those with bad credit

The great thing about the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is that there is no credit check. So you don’t have to worry if you have bad credit: OpenSky is not going to pull your credit report.

Plus, you can set your own credit limit. So, if you’d like to reduce temptation and keep your credit limit low, just put down a security deposit of $200 (their minimum required deposit) while you get acclimated to the card.

How to use the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

When using the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card, you will put down a security deposit of your choice (between $200 and $3,000), which will serve as your credit limit.

Use the card to make purchases — small, everyday purchases are best — and then pay your bill off in full every month by the due date. If you can’t pay it in full, at least pay the minimum amount due, and pay it on time to avoid penalties. Those payments will be reported to the three credit bureaus, which can then boost your score. 

Why you shouldn’t use the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

If you’re still struggling to manage your credit and the temptation of a credit card is too much, even the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card might not be a good fit. Managing credit wisely is a learned skill, so be sure you’re ready to handle credit again before signing up for a card.

Learn more about the OpenSky® Secured Visa® or read our full review.

Best for Recent Bankruptcy: Indigo® Mastercard® Credit Card

  • Annual fee: $0 - $99.
  • APR range: 24.9%.
  • Rewards: N/A.
  • Other features: You won’t need to pay a security deposit.

Why the Indigo® Mastercard® is a good option for those with poor credit

If a recent bankruptcy is the reason for your poor credit score, the Indigo® Mastercard® Credit Card is the card to start your rebuilding effort with. They report to all three major credit bureaus, so you’ll be able to begin building a new credit reference quickly.

The card is also unsecured, so you won’t have to worry about a security deposit.

How to use the Indigo® Mastercard® Credit Card

Make your payments on time each month, and you’ll begin to develop a good credit reference with each of the three major credit bureaus.

Even better, pay off your balance each month to avoid any chance of either owing more than you can pay, or risking a late payment.

Why you might not want to consider the Indigo® Mastercard® Credit Card

This is another credit card with a steep annual fee. It can go all the way up to $99.

Learn more about the Indigo® Mastercard® Credit Card or read our full review.

Best for No Credit: Milestone® Mastercard®

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  • Annual fee: $175 the first year; $49 thereafter.
  • APR range: 35.9%.
  • Rewards: N/A.
  • Other features: No security deposit required.

Why the Milestone Mastercard® is a good option for those with poor credit

The Milestone Mastercard® reports to all three major credit bureaus. Your initial credit line will be no less than $700, with no security deposit required.

How to use the Milestone Mastercard®

As is the case with all credit cards for people with bad credit, it’s critical to make your monthly payments on time. You should also make every effort to pay your balance in full each month.

Why you might not want to consider the Milestone® Mastercard®

The annual fee will be $175 the first year; $49 thereafter.

Learn more about the Milestone Mastercard® or read our full review.

How We Came Up with This List

Credit cards for FICO scores below 500 is a very specialized credit card category. We started by identifying those cards that do service this market sector. We then looked for certain specific factors we felt made these cards particularly suitable for this credit score range.

Those factors include:

  • Cards that are available to those with the lowest credit scores.
  • The issuer reports to all three major credit bureaus — TransUnion, Experian and Equifax — giving you an opportunity raise your credit score with all three.
  • Secured or unsecured credit cards — secured may be necessary for those with the worst credit profiles.
  • Cards with small, but reasonable initial credit limits. They must be high enough to be usable, but not so high as to put you deep in debt.
  • Low or no annual fee (maximum under $100).
  • Offering the ability to increase your credit line as your payment history warrants.
  • Card features, like rewards and other benefits, if offered.

What Is a Bad Credit Score?

The definition of bad credit depends on the lending institution. There are general credit score ranges that are considered to represent excellent, good, fair, and bad credit. But each lending institution sets its own standards.

For example, one lender may consider bad credit to be a score of less than 580. Another may see it as beginning at 620 and below. But in the vast majority of cases, a credit score of 500 or below will be considered very bad credit. That will severely limit your options as to where you can apply for credit and the types of credit you can apply for.

The specific issue with credit cards is that they are generally unsecured loans. If you’re unable to pay your debt, there’s no collateral the lender can go after to satisfy the unpaid balance. This is the reason lenders are so selective when issuing credit cards, and especially with those cards that have the best terms and benefits.

How to Get a Credit Card with Bad Credit 

If your credit score is 500 or below, you won’t be able to find credit cards in the places people typically look. A credit score that low is determined to be bad credit. Options for credit cards will be extremely limited.

To find a credit card for you, you’ll have to do two things:

  • Ignore the many advertisements for low interest rate cards, with perks like rewards and 0% introductory APR’s. You won’t qualify for those, but you can get seriously distracted trying.
  • Focus on the card providers who specifically offer cards for people with bad credit. They are available, and we have them listed in this article.

The Most Important Features of Credit Cards If Your Score Is 500

Searching for a credit card when your credit score is in the 500 zone is different than shopping for credit cards for good credit. The emphasis is far less on factors like rewards points or cash back, travel perks, or a 0% introductory balance transfer offer.

With a score below 500, your main objective is to just get a credit card with the most basic features. The primary purpose is to enable you to either establish or improve your credit score. Only when you can do that will the more attractive credit cards be available to you.

When shopping for a credit card when your FICO score is below 500, the following features are most relevant:

Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

If you have bad credit, a high interest rate will be a fact of life. You can easily be assigned an APR of 30% or higher.

Since your interest rate will be high, you’ll need to focus on paying off your balance every month. That will lower the cost of keeping the card, since you’ll at least remove interest expense from the equation.

Annual Fee

It might make sense to pay an annual fee for a high-end, unsecured travel or cash back card, which will probably earn enough in rewards to make up for its annual fee and then some.

But it’s harder to justify paying an annual fee for a secured, credit rebuilding card, which will likely offer very basic features.

Try to cut costs where you can by going for a secured card with no annual fee. We’ve got a few no annual fee cards included on our list. But keep in mind that since your primary motivation is to improve your credit score, a card with a small annual fee will still help you accomplish that goal — though at a higher cost.

Read more: Should You Ever Pay a Credit Card Annual Fee?

Additional Card Benefits

On the bright side, it is possible (albeit rare) to find credit cards for bad credit that offer benefits like cash back rewards, or $0 liability for unauthorized charges. Some of the cards on our list do offer these benefits.

Collision damage waivers on rental cars may also be available, but credit limits are usually too low to take advantage of this benefit.

How Do Secured Credit Cards Work?

Credit cards for bad credit will typically be secured cards, though there are few unsecured credit cards that may also be available to those with a low credit score. There are benefits in each case.

Secured Cards

A secured credit card will usually provide a credit limit equal to the amount of its security deposit. For example, if you place a deposit for $500, your credit limit will typically be $500.

Even though your card is secured, you’ll still have to make timely monthly payments on the balance owed, just as you would for an unsecured card. And of course, that payment performance is what will be reported to the credit bureaus.

The obvious disadvantage of a secured card is that your credit limit is determined by the amount of cash you have available for the deposit. And if you have no cash at all, you won’t be able to open a secured card.

But there are several advantages to having a secured card:

  • Secured cards work just like regular credit cards, and can be used in the same way.
  • They provide you with a credit card for those circumstances where they may be required over cash or some other payment method.
  • If the card’s issuer reports to all three credit bureaus, that will enable you to improve your credit score.
  • Because they’re secured with a deposit, secured credit cards may come with either a very low annual fee, or none at all.
  • Most secured card issuers will automatically increase your credit limit after a few months of favorable payment history.
  • Most card issuers will convert your account to unsecured once you develop a favorable payment history.

Unsecured Cards

Unsecured cards offer all the benefits of secured cards, but an unsecured card is typically preferred for the obvious reason that cardholders are not required to put up a security deposit. This keeps more of your cash free.

The biggest downside to unsecured cards is that they often charge high annual fees. The annual fee is treated like any other card charge/purchase. If you don’t pay the fee off, you’ll pay interest on the amount you owe.

But the annual fee might be worthwhile if:

  1. You pay the annual fee charge off immediately and thus avoid interest charges.
  2. You take full advantage of the card’s overall benefit package, or earn rewards points or cash back valued in excess of the card’s annual fee.

The table below summarizes the difference between secured and unsecured credit cards:

 Secured cardsUnsecured cards
Make purchases on creditYesYes
Report to all 3 credit bureausYesYes
Annual feeUsually very low (≤$35) Can be as high as $500+
Interest rateUsually 18%-30%Usually 15%-25%
Automatic credit line increasesYesOn some only
Convert to unsecuredGenerally, yes N/A

Read more: What’s the Difference Between a Secured and Unsecured Credit Card? (and Which Should You Get?)

How to Properly Use a Credit Card for Bad Credit

If you get approved for a credit card for bad credit — great! But please understand the card can either help you or hurt you.

Here are some best use practices to implement for these cards:

Pay Off Your Balance Quickly and Regularly

There are three basic problems with carrying a balance:

  • Balances incur interest, and that raises the cost of having the card.
  • Carrying a balance further reduces an already low credit limit.
  • Carrying a balance increases the chance of you defaulting on your debt.

All three of those complications can be avoided by living within your means, not overspending, and paying off your balance in full every month.

Don’t Get a Card with an Annual Fee

A large annual fee will eat into your expendable income and increase the likelihood of you carrying a balance and incurring interest charges.

You want to use a credit card to improve your credit. But a very high annual fee could make the cost of doing so too high.

Put Small Charges on Your Card

No matter what type of card you get, this is probably the single most important practice. Be sure any charges you incur can be easily repaid when the credit card bill comes in next month. Those should be small, routine charges.

A $10 charge here, and a $20 charge there — and no more than one or two per month — will enable you to improve your credit through small monthly payments. But at the same time, it won’t put you into a position where you’ll have a balance you can’t pay off completely.

How to Improve Bad Credit

We’ve already pointed out that the specific type of card you can get will depend on your creditworthiness. You’ll get a better card if your credit score is 585, versus 500. For that reason, you should take steps in advance to maximize your credit score before applying.

In addition to paying your bills on time and keeping your credit card balances low, you can also use a service like Experian Boost to achieve the score required to get the card you want. Experian customers, on average, boosted their score by 13 points. So while it won’t completely transform your credit, it can be a great way to start moving those numbers in an upward direction.

Start Out By Getting Your Free Credit Score

As we noted earlier, this is the most important step. You need to know exactly where your credit score is at before applying. You also need to be aware of the factors causing the score that you have.

Read more: How to Get a (Really) Free Credit Report & Credit Score

Dispute Any Errors

If there is any information contained in your credit report that’s not accurate, you’ll have an opportunity to fix it. Contact the creditor, report the error, and provide written documentation proving it’s wrong.

Get written notification from the creditor acknowledging the error. Also, request the creditor report corrected information to all three credit bureaus. If they don’t, you’ll have to send the notification from the creditor acknowledging the error to all three bureaus yourself.

Allow at least 30 days after the successful dispute before pulling your credit score again, and making an application for a credit card.

Pay ALL Your Bills on Time from Now On

Whether you’re about to apply for a credit card, or you just got a brand new one, resolve to pay all your bills on time from now on.

That applies not just to your credit card, but to all obligations. Though landlords and utility companies don’t report your good payment history to the credit bureaus, they will report delinquencies. This is particularly true of unpaid balances.

Make sure that doesn’t happen. Unpaid balances, like collections and judgments, will drive your credit score even lower.

Pay Off Any Past Due Balances

If your credit report shows any unpaid balances, you should settle them as soon as possible. This includes collections, charge-offs, and judgments. Paying them off won’t remove the delinquency from your credit report, but a paid account always works better on your credit report than an open one.

Plan to Open a New Credit Card Every Six Months or So

We said earlier you shouldn’t apply for several credit cards at once. But once you have a credit card open, and you have a good payment history, it will then be time to apply for a second.

New applications should be at least six months apart. The purpose is so that you can begin building multiple positive credit references. Those will improve your credit score much more quickly than a single credit line.

But apply all the other rules we recommended. Keep your charges low, and pay off your balance each month. That’ll make sure your credit rebuilding efforts work exactly as they’re supposed to.

Alternative Cards for People with Credit Scores Around 500

Credit cards aren’t the only payment methods for people with credit scores under 500. There are several other payment types you can investigate.

Should I Just Use a Debit Card?

Debit cards have evolved to the point where they function very much like credit cards. You can generally use them anywhere credit cards are accepted.

But there are some factors you need to be aware of…

Read moreThe 5 Biggest Debit Card Dangers

A Debit Card Can’t Help You Build Credit

A debit card doesn’t involve monthly payments. For that reason, the issuer doesn’t report your account information to the credit bureaus. That removes any possibility the debit card will help you to rebuild your credit.

A Debit Card Can Help You Control Spending

One of the big advantages of a debit card is that you can’t spend any more money than you have in the account it’s connected to. The account balance serves the same function as a credit limit on a credit card.

But it doesn’t actually provide you with credit — you won’t be able to spend money you don’t have. That’s a major positive if you’ve had trouble managing your finances in the past, and ended up spending more than you actually had.

Should I Use a Prepaid Card?

Prepaid cards serve a purpose, but they’re even more limited than debit cards.

How Do Prepaid Cards Work?

Prepaid cards work similarly to debit cards, except you don’t have a bank account connected to the card. Instead, you purchase the card, and the amount you pay for it serves as the credit limit. They often work just like credit and debit cards, except you have to pay the spending limit in advance.

After you purchase the card, you can “recharge it” by adding more money to it. You can continue using the card as long as it has money on it.

Are Prepaid Cards a Good Idea?

The basic purpose of prepaid cards is so that you’ll have a card to use in those situations where it’s required. There is an increasing number of merchants and vendors who don’t accept cash. A prepaid card can enable you to transact in such places.

This can be especially important if you want to make online purchases. You’ll absolutely need a card to do that, and a prepaid card will work in that situation.

On the downside, prepaid cards don’t provide a credit reference. If your goal is to increase your credit score, they’ll have zero effect.

Another negative is fees. You’ll have to pay a fee to purchase the card, and even a fee each time you recharge it. It’s an expensive way to gain use of a card for financial transactions.

Read more: Best Prepaid Credit Cards

What About Store Credit Cards?

Store cards are best described as limited-use credit cards.

How Do Store Cards Work?

Store cards are actually credit cards issued by specific merchants. You’re provided with a credit limit, you’ll pay interest on any outstanding balance, and the merchant will generally report your payment history to the credit bureaus.

So far so good.

Are Store Cards a Good Idea?

Store cards have several downsides:

  • They’re not general usage credit cards — they can only be used with the issuing merchant.
  • They generally charge very high interest rates.
  • If you have bad credit, you probably won’t be approved.
  • Store cards are established to encourage you to spend money with the merchant. If you have bad credit, going deeper into debt is the last thing you need to do.

There’s one other factor you need to be aware of with store cards. Credit card operations are not a main line of business for merchants. For that reason, store credit card operations can be disorganized. That can lead to erroneous credit reporting, which will usually work against you.

For those reasons, they’re not recommended if you’re trying to rebuild credit.

Read more: Is a Store Card a Good First Credit Card?

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Debit, Prepaid, and Store Cards

 Debit cardsPrepaid cardsStore cards
Require credit approval?LimitedNoYes
Report to credit bureaus?NoNoYes
Will improve your credit score?NoNoPossibly
Purchases subject to interest charges?NoNo Yes

Types of Cards to Avoid If You Have Bad Credit

If you have bad credit, you may assume getting approved for any card is a step in the right direction. While that might sometimes be true, there are situations you’ll definitely want to avoid.

Cards with High Annual Fees

You certainly don’t want to get into a situation where you’ll have to pay $150 for a $400 credit line. On a percentage basis, that annual fee is just too high.

Even worse, it increases the likelihood you’ll be carrying a balance on the card. And with interest rates in excess of 20% per month, that will make the annual fee even higher. It will be interest on a charge that provided absolutely no benefit to you either.

Cards with High Fees in General

The annual fee isn’t the only fee you need to be concerned with. There are others, and while they may be infrequent, they can really add up.

Some examples include:

Late payment fees. These are generally in the $35-$40 range, even on credit cards with good credit. But since your credit limit will be much lower, they’ll have a much bigger impact. Late payments must be avoided since you’re trying to improve your credit score.

Balance transfer fees. These are generally in the 3% to 5% range, but they often have flat fee minimums of $10. Again, these will eat into a small credit limit.

Cash advance fees. You may be tempted to take cash advances, but they’re costly. They can amount to 3% to 8%.

All credit cards charge these fees, but it should be your plan to avoid having to pay any of them. Also, you should completely avoid any card that has fees in excess of those listed above.

High-Spend Credit Cards

Yes, everyone wants a credit card with a high credit limit and generous rewards. But if your credit score is below 500, these are the exact types of cards you need to avoid!

High credit limits and generous rewards — which are specifically designed to get you to use the card more frequently — are a one-way ticket to a high credit card balance. If you struggled with credit in the past, this can leave you with a debt you can’t afford to pay. That will lead to late payments, and a further deterioration of your credit score.

Never forget that your primary purpose in taking a credit card when your score is below 500 is to improve that score. You should specifically avoid doing anything that holds the potential to make matters worse. 

FAQs

What Happens If I Miss a Credit Card Payment?

If you miss a credit card payment you’ll likely be charged a late payment fee of between $35 and $40. Most cards will also increase your interest rate, perhaps to as high as 29.99% APR. Even worse, your effort to rebuild your credit will be stalled. Not only will the late payment be reported to the major credit bureaus, but the likelihood of having your credit limit increased or moved from secured to unsecured status will be jeopardized.

How Do You Prequalify for a Credit Card?

To prequalify for a credit card you’ll fill out a brief online application, and you’ll typically receive an immediate response letting you know if you’re eligible. Once you have confirmation of eligibility you can then complete a full application.

Can I Make Balance Transfers with a Secured Credit Card?

On most credit cards for people with bad credit, you are able to make balance transfers. Those transfers are complicated by very low credit limits, and the higher interest rates that are typically charged on such transactions. In addition, there is usually a balance transfer fee of at least 3% of the amount transferred.

How Long Will It Take Before I Can Apply for a Better Credit Card?

That depends on two things: how bad your credit situation is now and how well you manage your current credit card. If your low credit score is mainly the result of very little credit in combination with a couple of late payments, you may see your score rise considerably after just a few months. But if you have a history of late payments, or a recent bankruptcy, you may need to use one of these cards for at least a couple of years before trading up.

How Much Use Can I Get Out of a Credit Limit of Just $200 or $300?

In truth, not much. But that’s not the point of credit rebuilding cards. The idea is to use them to make small charges, and then repay promptly. Your whole strategy needs to be to develop the kind of credit payment history that will increase your credit score, and make you eligible for better card offers. For this reason, the small size of the available credit limit isn’t a major factor.

Summary

It’s easy to feel discouraged by what seems like a limited number of card options available to those with bad credit scores. But the cards that are available to you can serve as a serious stepping stone in your journey to greener financial pastures.

You should typically start to see significant improvements to your credit score after you’ve made on-time, in-full payments with your secured card for about a year. Then you can find a more valuable credit card for your new and improved credit score via these articles:

Petal credit cards are issued by WebBank, Member FDIC.

About the author

Total Articles: 84
David Weliver is the founder of Money Under 30. He's a cited authority on personal finance and the unique money issues he faced during his first two decades as an adult. He lives in Maine with his wife and two children.