By credit score · Under 580 · 3 cards ranked

Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit 2026

Cards that approve scores under 580 without fee-harvesting — secured, unsecured and credit-builder options ranked on cost, reporting and the path back to mainstream cards.

See the ranking Read the guide
Score rangeUnder 580
Deposit (secured)$49 – $300
Annual fee (ranked cards)$0 – $39
Typical time to rebuild6 – 12 months
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The guide

How to choose: Credit Cards for Bad Credit

Bad credit attracts the worst cards on the market — monthly fees, setup fees, 36% rates and $300 limits. This ranking includes only cards that report to all bureaus, charge no more than a modest annual fee, and give you a route to an unsecured or mainstream card within a year.

Secured first, if you have the deposit

A secured card (Discover it Secured, Capital One Platinum Secured) requires a refundable deposit that becomes your limit. Approval is near-certain, fees are zero, and the best of them pay cash back and graduate you to unsecured automatically. If you can spare $200–$500, this is the top of the list.

Unsecured options that are not traps

Capital One Platinum, Mission Lane and Petal approve some sub-580 applicants without a deposit. Their limits are small and one (QuicksilverOne) carries a $39 fee, but they report properly and review limits within months.

Outside the US

In the UK, Aqua, Capital One Classic and Vanquis are the credit-builder standard; in Canada, Capital One Guaranteed Secured and Home Trust Secured; in Australia, low-limit cards from the big banks under responsible-lending rules; in India, secured cards against a fixed deposit (SBI Unnati, Axis Insta Easy).

The plan that actually rebuilds a score

  1. One small recurring charge a month, paid in full by autopay.
  2. Reported balance under 30% of the limit — under 10% is better.
  3. No new applications for six months.
  4. Dispute errors on all three credit reports.
  5. At month 6–12, accept graduation or apply for a fair-credit rewards card.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a credit card with a 500 credit score?

Yes. Secured cards from Discover and Capital One approve almost anyone who can fund the deposit, and some unsecured cards (Capital One Platinum, Mission Lane) approve scores in the 500s. Avoid any card with monthly or setup fees.

Secured or unsecured for bad credit?

Secured if you have $200–$500 for a deposit: it is free, pays rewards on the best cards and graduates to unsecured. Unsecured if you cannot lock up the cash, accepting a lower limit.

How fast can bad credit improve with a card?

With on-time payments and low utilisation most people move from the low 500s to the mid 600s within 9–12 months.

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