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

Yes. Secured credit cards are available to nearly anyone regardless of credit score. You'll need to put down a refundable deposit (typically $200-$500) which becomes your credit limit. Some unsecured cards for bad credit are also available but often come with high fees.

What is the easiest credit card to get approved for?

Secured credit cards have the highest approval rates since your deposit eliminates the bank's risk. Some store credit cards and credit-builder cards also have lower approval thresholds, typically requiring a score of 500+.

How long does it take to rebuild credit with a secured card?

Most people see meaningful improvement in 6-12 months of responsible use. Paying on time and keeping utilization below 30% are the key factors. After 12-18 months, many secured card issuers will upgrade you to an unsecured card and refund your deposit.

Best Credit Cards for Bad Credit in 2026: Secured & Unsecured Options

Having bad credit doesn’t mean you can’t get a credit card. Secured cards and certain unsecured cards are designed to help you rebuild. Here’s how they compare and what to watch out for.

Best Cards for Bad Credit at a Glance

Card Type	Credit Score Needed	Deposit Required	Annual Fee	Best For
Secured (basic)	Any (no minimum)	$200-$500	$0-$35	Rebuilding credit from scratch
Secured (rewards)	500+	$200+	$0	Rebuilding + earning rewards
Unsecured (bad credit)	550+	None	$75-$99	No deposit available
Credit-builder loan + card	Any	Loan payments	Varies	Building credit + savings
Store credit card	550+	None	$0	Easier approval, limited use
Authorized user	None	None	$0	Piggyback on someone else’s credit

Secured vs. Unsecured Cards for Bad Credit

Feature	Secured Card	Unsecured (Bad Credit) Card
Deposit required	Yes ($200-$2,500)	No
Annual fee	$0-$35	$75-$99+
APR	22-28%	28-36%
Credit limit	Equal to deposit	$300-$1,000
Upgrade path	Often auto-upgrades in 12-18 months	May upgrade after 12+ months
Rewards	Some offer 1-2% cash back	Rare
Approval odds	Very high (near guaranteed)	Moderate
Total first-year cost	$0-$35 (deposit is refundable)	$75-$99 (fees are not refundable)

Secured cards are almost always the better choice—lower fees, better terms, and your deposit is refundable.

What to Look for in a Bad Credit Card

Green Flags

Feature	Why It Matters
Reports to all 3 bureaus	Your on-time payments build credit everywhere
No annual fee (or low fee)	Saves money while rebuilding
Upgrade path to unsecured	Get your deposit back eventually
Low deposit requirement	$200 minimum is standard
Mobile app for monitoring	Track payments and utilization easily

Red Flags to Avoid

Feature	Why It’s Bad
Annual fee over $50	Eats into a small credit limit
Monthly maintenance fees	Extra cost on top of annual fee
Processing or application fees	One-time fees just to open the card
No upgrade path	Stuck with a secured card forever
Reports to only 1 bureau	Slows your credit-building progress
Very high APR (35%+)	Dangerous if you carry a balance

How to Rebuild Credit Fast

Month-by-Month Timeline

Month	Action	Expected Score Impact
1	Open secured card, set up autopay	Score may dip slightly (new account)
2-3	Use card for small purchases, pay in full	Positive payment history begins
4-6	Keep utilization under 10% of limit	Score starts climbing (+20-40 points)
7-9	Continue perfect payments	Score continues rising
10-12	Request credit limit increase or second card	More available credit, lower utilization
13-18	Request upgrade to unsecured card	Deposit refunded, score solidifying

The Optimal Usage Strategy

Rule	What to Do	Why
Use for 1-2 small purchases per month	$20-$50 in charges	Shows active, responsible use
Pay in full before statement closes	$0 balance reported	Keeps utilization at 0-1%
Or pay after statement, before due date	Low balance reported	Shows some utilization (1-9% is ideal)
Never exceed 30% of limit	On a $300 limit, keep under $90	Utilization above 30% hurts your score
Set up autopay for minimum payment	Safety net	Never miss a payment even if you forget

Credit Score Recovery Timeline

How Long It Takes to Reach “Good” Credit (670+)

Starting Point	Typical Timeline	Key Actions
No credit history	6-12 months	Secured card + on-time payments
Score 500-579 (poor)	12-18 months	Secured card, dispute errors, lower utilization
Score 580-669 (fair)	6-12 months	On-time payments, lower utilization
After bankruptcy	2-4 years	Secured card immediately after discharge
After foreclosure	2-3 years	Secured card + rebuilding other accounts
After collections	1-2 years	Pay/settle collections, build new positive history

Authorized User Strategy

Adding yourself as an authorized user on someone else’s account is the fastest way to boost a thin credit file:

Factor	Details
How it works	Someone with good credit adds you to their card
What gets reported	Their account history appears on your report
Score impact	Can add +30-50 points if the account has long positive history
Your risk	None—you don’t have to use the card
Their risk	They’re responsible for any charges you make
Best candidate	Parent, spouse, or trusted family member with old, low-utilization card

Ideal Authorized User Account

Feature	Why It Helps
5+ years old	Increases your average account age
Low utilization (under 10%)	Lowers your overall utilization
Perfect payment history	Adds to your positive payment record
High credit limit	Improves your total available credit

Costs Comparison: First Year

Card Type	Deposit	Annual Fee	Monthly Fees	Total First-Year Cost	Deposit Refunded?
Good secured card	$200	$0	$0	$0 (deposit held)	Yes, after upgrade
Average secured card	$200	$35	$0	$35	Yes
Bad unsecured card	$0	$99	$10	$219	N/A
Credit-builder loan	$0	$0	$0	$0 (interest on loan)	N/A

When to Move Beyond a Bad-Credit Card

Signal	What to Do
Score reaches 670+	Apply for a mid-tier rewards card
Score reaches 700+	Apply for better cash back or travel cards
12+ months of perfect payments	Request upgrade from secured to unsecured
Secured deposit refunded	Consider a card with no annual fee and better rewards
Multiple positive accounts	You’ve outgrown bad-credit products