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There’s no universal minimum credit score required to get approved for a credit card. Many credit card issuers specialize in working with borrowers with bad credit or no credit history.
However, a limited or troubled credit history can limit your options, particularly if you’re looking for a card that offers rewards, a welcome bonus, a 0% APR promotion and other valuable benefits.
Whether you’re getting a credit card for the first time or you want to rebuild your credit history, here are some easy credit cards to get approved for.
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Depending on your situation and goals, there are five different types of credit cards that may be easier to get than others:
Starter credit cards are designed primarily for people who are new to credit or have a limited credit history.
Benefits and costs can vary from card to card, but the best starter cards don’t charge an annual fee — if they do, it’s a modest one — and they offer rewards and other benefits to incentivize regular and responsible use, which can help you establish a good credit history.
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One such card is the Petal 1 Visa® Credit Card. When you apply, the card issuer will review your credit history if you have one. If you don’t have a credit score, you can link your bank account and Petal will use info like your income and expenses to develop a “Cash Score”. This information will be used to determine your eligibility. The card doesn’t charge an annual fee and offers up to 10% cash back at select merchants that vary throughout the year.
Another option is the Chase Freedom Rise®*, which offers a flat 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make and no annual fee. This card is designed for credit-building, but you can increase your chances of approval if you have a Chase checking or savings account with a balance of $250 or more.
*All information about Chase Freedom Rise has been collected independently by and is no longer available through Yahoo Finance
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If you shop regularly with a major retailer, it could make sense to apply for its store credit card. In particular, you’ll want to apply for a closed-loop card, which you can only use for purchases with that retailer. Some may also offer Visa or Mastercard credit cards that you can use anywhere, but these options typically require good credit.
True store credit cards often have less stringent credit requirements — you may be able to qualify with bad credit or a limited credit history — and many also offer great rewards and other perks with the retailer. At the same time, there are downsides like a low credit limit and high interest rate.
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The Target Circle™ Card is one option, offering a 5% discount on all eligible Target and Target.com purchases. It also comes with free two-day shipping on eligible online orders, an extended window for returns and exchanges, and other exclusive benefits. There’s no annual fee.
You may also consider the Amazon Store Card, which you can use to earn 5% cash back on Amazon purchases (with your Prime membership). On select purchases, you can opt for special financing for up to 24 months in lieu of rewards. The card doesn’t charge an annual fee, but you will need an eligible Prime membership to qualify, which costs $139 annually.
If you have poor credit, a secured credit card may be your best option. For the most part, secured credit cards function similarly to standard unsecured credit cards. The difference is that secured cards require an upfront security deposit to get approved. The minimum deposit is usually $200 or $300, and it often acts as your credit limit.
In many cases, secured card issuers won’t return your deposit until you close your account — something that can potentially damage your credit score. But some major card issuers will periodically review your account and even return your deposit without requiring account closure, essentially converting it to an unsecured card.
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The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is one example of this, offering a deposit refund as early as seven months after account opening. The card also offers 2% cash back on up to $1,000 spent quarterly at gas stations and restaurants and 1% back on everything else. Discover will even match all the cash back you earn during your first year as a cardholder. Deposits start at $200, and there’s no annual fee.
The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card is another option. The card offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make, and there’s no annual fee. You’ll need a refundable security deposit of at least $200, but as you build your credit over time you can earn the deposit back and upgrade to an unsecured version of the card. You can also get automatically considered for a credit line increase (without any additional deposit) as soon as six months after opening.
If you’re a college student, a student credit card can be a great way to start building your credit history.
Some student credit cards do require fair or even good credit, but some don’t require a credit history at all. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll typically need independent income to qualify, especially if you’re under the age of 21.
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The Discover it® Student Cash Back is one option to consider. It offers 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent quarterly in rotating categories when you activate and 1% back on all other purchases. Plus, Discover will match all the cash back you earn during the first year. New cardholders can even enjoy a short 0% APR promotion on purchases. There’s no annual fee and no credit score requirement.
If you have some credit history, you may consider the , which offers 1.5% cash back on every purchase you make, plus a $50 welcome bonus when you spend $100 in the first three months. The card doesn’t charge an annual fee.
These newer options can be worth considering because they often don’t require a credit check at all. This is because debit-credit hybrids aren’t technically credit cards, so there’s no credit relationship between you and the card issuer.
Instead, the card will be linked to your checking account or a separate prepaid account, with your “credit limit” based on your account balance. Payments are taken from your account automatically, and there’s no interest involved. Even though they aren’t credit cards, providers still report your payments to the credit bureaus, which can help you build credit.
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The Super Card is one option to consider. You can either load money onto a Super Pay Deposit account or link your existing debit card. Then, when you make a purchase, Super will pull the money from the linked account and report your payments to the credit bureaus. You’ll also earn 10% cash back on Super Travel hotel purchases, 5% back at select retailers in the Super mobile app and 1% back on everything else. There’s no annual fee.
If your credit score needs some work or you don’t yet have an established credit history, your credit card options are limited. That said, there may still be some easy credit cards to get approved for.
It’s important to note, however, that easy approval doesn’t mean guaranteed approval. These cards may have less stringent eligibility requirements, but you may still have a hard time getting approved if you have some serious negative items on your credit reports or insufficient income.
Take your time to research and compare these and other credit cards to determine the right fit for you. If possible, get pre-qualified before you apply to gauge your approval odds. Once you get approved, use your new card regularly and responsibly — keeping your balance low and paying your bill on time and in full every month — to establish a positive credit history going forward.
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This article was edited by Kendall Little
Editorial Disclosure: The information in this article has not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser. All opinions belong solely to Yahoo Finance and are not those of any other entity. The details on financial products, including card rates and fees, are accurate as of the publish date. All products or services are presented without warranty. Check the bank’s website for the most current information. This site doesn’t include all currently available offers. Credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any financial product.