Easiest Credit Cards To Get Approved For In July 2025
If you’re in the market for a new credit card and struggling to get approved, you’ve come to the right place.
Below, CNBC Select rounded up the easiest credit cards to get — whether you want no annual fee, low interest, cash back or more. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best easy-to-get credit cards.
Easiest credit cards to get approved for
Easiest to get for unsecured credit
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is a credit-builder card that offers a path to upgrading to a more rewarding credit card in as little as six months.
- No annual fee
- No security deposit required
- No rewards on purchases
- No welcome offer
- High APR
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- No annual or hidden fees. See if you’re approved in seconds
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
- 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 from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One’s mobile app
- Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you’re all set
- Pay by check, online or at a local branch, all with no fee – and pick the monthly due date that works best for you
Balance transfer fee
- 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Easiest to get for students
The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a card designed for students with rewards rates that match many of the top cash-back credit cards.
- High cash-back rates for common student expenses, such as groceries, dining and entertainment
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $100 when you spend $300 in the first three months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
- Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they’re approved for a Capital One credit card
- Earn 8% cash back on entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal
- Build your credit with responsible card use
- Whether you’re at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
Balance transfer fee
4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Easiest to get with no annual fee
The Citi Double Cash® Card is one of the best no-annual-fee cash-back cards thanks to its straightforward rewards structure.
- Long intro-APR for balance transfers
- High flat-rate cash-back rewards structure
- No annual fee
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- Intro APR doesn’t apply to purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select’s editorial staff.
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% – 28.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Balance transfer fee
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
Foreign transaction fee
Easiest to get with custom categories
- Flexible bonus cash-back categories
- Qualifies for Preferred Rewards, which can boost your rewards
- 3% foreign transaction fee
Information about Bank of America cards has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication.
Easiest to get for low interest
First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
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Rewards
1% cash back rewards on payments
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Welcome bonus
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Annual fee
-
Intro APR
-
Regular APR
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Foreign transaction fee
-
Credit needed
Pros
- Earns cash back rewards
- Low credit score requirement
Cons
- No welcome bonus
- Has an annual fee
Easiest to get for 0% APR
Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card
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Rewards
Earn up to 10% random cashback on all qualifying purchases; Up to 15% merchant cashback at 29,000+ partner merchants; Earn an additional 0.1% unlimited cashback on all eligible credit card purchases with Firstcard Standard; an additional 0.5% unlimited cashback on all eligible credit card purchases with Firstcard+; or an additional 1% unlimited cashback on all eligible credit card purchases.
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Welcome bonus
-
Annual fee
$4/month or $48/year for Firstcard Standard; $7/month or $84/year for Firstcard+; or $10/month or $120/year for Firstcard Premium
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Intro APR
-
Regular APR
-
Balance transfer fee
-
Foreign transaction fee
3% with Firstcard Standard; 1.5% with Firstcard+; or 0% with Firstcard Premium
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Credit needed
Pros
- No credit check or Social Security Number needed
- Earn interest and cash back
Cons
- There’s no free membership plan
Who’s this for? The Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card is a secured credit card that earns rewards, charges no interest and allows you to earn interest on your deposits.
Standout benefits: The Firstcard has three subscription tiers, and you can earn up to 1% cash back on every purchase and up to 4% APY on your deposits.
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Easiest to get for cash back
The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Credit Card is an unusually rewarding card because you earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase.
- Simple rewards structure with no caps or categories to track
- Available if you have fair credit
- High APR
- Has an annual fee
Easiest to get with no credit
Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card
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Rewards
1% cash back on eligible purchases right away and up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments; 2% to 10% cash back at select merchants
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Welcome bonus
-
Annual fee
-
Intro APR
-
Regular APR
-
Balance transfer fee
-
Foreign transaction fee
-
Credit needed
Pros
- No credit history required (if you do have a credit history, that does factor into the credit decision)
- No fees
- Generous cash-back rewards of up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments
Cons
- No special financing offers
- No welcome bonus
Who’s this for? The Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card is open to applicants with no credit history, including those without a Social Security number. Instead of requiring a credit score, your banking activity and other financial data can determine your eligibility for the card.
Standout benefits: You can boost your cash back by making on-time payments. You’ll start earning 1% cash back and can earn up to 1.5% back after making 12 on-time monthly payments.
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More on our easiest credit cards to get
Comparison of the best easy-to-get credit cards
| Credit card | CNBC Select’s pick for | Credit needed | Minimum security deposit | Annual fee | Rewards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Platinum Credit Card | Unsecured card | Fair to good | None | $0 | None |
| Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card | Students | Fair | None | $0 | Cash back |
| Citi Double Cash® Card | No annual fee | Fair to excellent | None | $0 | Cash back |
| Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Card | Custom categories | Poor/No credit history | $200 | $0 | Cash back |
| First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card | Low interest | Poor, limited or no credit | $200 | $49 | Cash back |
| Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card | 0% APR | No credit needed | None | $0 | Cash back |
| Capital One Quicksilver Secured Credit Card | Cash back | Fair | $200 | $0 | Cash back |
| Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card | No credit | Fair, good or no credit | None | $0 | Cash back |
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
Easiest to get for unsecured credit
Rewards
None
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
To help you avoid an unnecessary hard pull on your credit report, Capital One offers pre-approval for this card. Capital One automatically considers you for a higher credit line or upgrade to a rewards card in as little as six months.
[ Return to card summary ]
Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
Easiest to get for students
Rewards
- 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
- 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
- 3% cash back on dining
- 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®)
- 3% cash back on popular streaming services
- 3% cash back on entertainment
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn a $100 cash bonus after spending $300 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Card has no foreign transaction fees and provides access to Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment. When you need to get off campus to study, you can take advantage of 50% off handcrafted beverages at all Capital One Cafés.
Capital One also offers complimentary access to CreditWise®, its credit monitoring service.
[ Return to card summary ]
Citi Double Cash Card
Easiest to get with no annual fee
Rewards
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time
- 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel
Welcome bonus
Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
[ Return to card summary ]
Check out CNBC Select’s best cash-back credit cards
Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured Card
Easiest to get with custom categories
Rewards
- Earn 6% cash back (for the first year, then 3%) in one of six categories you can choose from: gas and EV charging stations; online shopping, including cable, internet, phone plans and streaming; dining; travel; drug stores and pharmacies; or home improvement and furnishings
- Earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs
- 1% cash back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn 3% cash back + 3% first-year cash back bonus in the category of your choice.
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
You can redeem your cash back earned for statement credits, deposit it into a Bank of America account, put it towards a qualifying 529 account or get a check.
[ Return to card summary ]
First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard Secured Credit Card
Firstcard Secured Credit Builder Card
Easiest to get for 0% APR
Rewards
- Up to 15% merchant cash back at 29,000+ partner merchants
- Earn up to 10% random cash back on all qualifying purchases
- Earn an additional 0.1% unlimited cash back on all eligible credit card purchases with Firstcard Standard; an additional 0.5% unlimited cash back on all eligible credit card purchases with Firstcard+; or an additional 1% unlimited cash back on all eligible credit card purchases
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
- Firstcard Standard: $4/month or $48/year
- Firstcard+: $7/month or $84/year
- Firstcard Premium: $10/month or $120/year
Notable perks
The best benefits of the Firstcard Secured Credit Builder Card are its ability to earn interest and rewards while building your credit. Keep in mind, you’ll need an SSN or ITIN to receive an APY on your deposits.
[ Return to card summary ]
Check out CNBC Select’s best cards for building credit.
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Credit Card
Easiest to get for cash back
Rewards
- 1.5% cash back on all purchases
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
[ Return to card summary ]
Petal 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa Credit Card
Easiest to get with no credit
Rewards
- 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away, which can increase up to 1.5% cash back after you make 12 on-time monthly payments
- 2% to 10% cash back at select merchants
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0
Notable perks
[ Return to card summary ]
Check out CNBC Select’s best credit cards for bad credit
Compare subprime credit cards
Credit cards that offer pre-approval
Receiving a pre-qualified or pre-approved credit card offer doesn’t guarantee eligibility, but it can help you hone in on cards you’re more likely to be approved for. If you’re not pre-approved, then it’s a card you probably don’t want to consider applying for.
Many credit card issuers offer pre-approvals, including Discover, OpenSky, American Express and more.
How to compare credit cards
You’ll also want to carefully consider the costs and benefits before applying.
Credit card benefits
Aside from providing a way to build your credit, credit also comes with a huge range of benefits and perks.
Big welcome bonuses and rewards rates are a big part of the value you receive from any card. Knowing what you want to use the rewards for and where you spend the most, can help you hone on the best card for you. Cash-back rewards are easy to use, but travel rewards can have a higher potential value if you jump through a few hoops. Some cards are especially rewarding for groceries, gas, dining or travel. Other cards are great for everyday purchases because they offer a higher flat-rate return on every dollar you spend.
Credit card costs
Most credit cards have interest and fees that are extremely important to understand. One of the most common fees is the annual fee, which you pay every year just to keep the card. If you’re building or rebuilding your credit, it’s typically best to focus on credit cards without annual fees.
Credit cards also tend to have high APRs. When you carry a balance on your card, the interest you pay can easily offset any value you receive from that card’s benefits. If you’re working to pay off card debt, you may be able to benefit from a card that offers an intro 0% APR, just remember that if you don’t pay off the balance before the intro APR expires, you’ll start paying interest again.
Different types of credit cards
Secured credit cards
Secured credit cards are a good option if you have no credit history or have a weak credit score because they are easy to get approved for. This type of credit card requires an upfront refundable deposit and your credit line is based on your deposit. Secured cards tend to have few rewards, but you may be able to upgrade to an unsecured card after making regular on-time payments.
Unsecured credit cards
An unsecured credit card doesn’t require you to make a deposit and the credit line you receive is based on factors such as your income and credit history. You’ll typically need a credit score to open this type of card and the most rewarding unsecured cards require the highest credit scores. Most types of credit cards are unsecured, including travel credit cards, cash-back cards, business credit cards and many more.
Rewards credit cards
Cash back cards, airline cards, hotel cards and travel cards are all different types of rewards credit cards. With a rewards credit card, you can earn points with a specific merchant or brand or earn general rewards that can be redeemed in various ways. These cards may also offer additional benefits such as purchase protections, elite status perks or additional bonuses when you spend a certain amount on your card.
Student credit cards
You’re usually eligible to open a credit card when you turn 18. However, it can be difficult to qualify for a card if you have no credit history. Student credit cards are a solution to this problem. To be eligible, you generally need to be 18 years old and enrolled in a qualifying college. These cards allow you to establish your credit history, and some even offer basic rewards.
How to get approved for a credit card
When you apply for a credit card, the issuer will usually check your credit and verify your identity. To complete an application, you’ll typically need your Social Security Number (although some cards are available without an SSN), address, income, employment status and contact information. You can save yourself the heartache of applying for a card and being denied, by researching a few key factors before hitting submit on an application.
Know your credit score
Most of the top credit cards have minimum credit score requirements. By knowing your credit score ahead of time, you can hone in on just the cards you have the best chance of qualifying for. If your credit score isn’t where it needs to be, it may be better to wait and work on boosting your score before applying.
Understand the card’s requirements
In addition to a certain credit score, credit cards also have other guidelines. These restrictions vary by card, card issuer and type of card. For example, secured credit cards require an upfront deposit and business credit cards require you to have a business or side hustle. Other rules depend on the card issuer, American Express typically limits you to earning the intro bonus from a specific card once per lifetime.
See if you’re pre-approved
Some banks or cards offer pre-approval or pre-qualification. Getting pre-qualified for a credit card doesn’t guarantee your approval. However, if you aren’t pre-approved, you can avoid applying for a card if you’re likely to be denied. This can save you from adding an unnecessary hard inquiry to your credit report, which is useful because hard pulls temporarily lower your credit score.
How to build your credit score
While there are different credit scoring models, the most commonly used versions rely on similar information to create your credit score. However, your payment history and debt are typically weighted more heavily. So these are the two areas to focus on the most if you want to give your credit a helping hand.
Payment history
When you open a consumer credit card or take out a personal loan, the activity from these accounts is tracked by the agencies that create your credit report. When you make an on-time payment, that reflects positively on your credit score. Over time, consistently paying your bills on time is one of the best ways to increase your credit score.
One thing to keep in mind is that not all bill payments are tracked on your credit report. When you pay your utility bill or streaming subscription, it usually won’t impact your credit score. However, there are services, such as *Experian Boost™ and eCredable Lift®, that allow you to link additional types of accounts to specific credit reports.
Experian Boost®
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Cost
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Average credit score increase
13 points, though results vary
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Credit report affected
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Credit scoring model used
Results will vary. See website for details.
These types of tools can give your credit a boost, but there are limitations. You may need to pay a fee, they typically only affect one of the three major credit reports and some services could hurt your score if you add negative payment histories.
Debt
Your total debt is usually a big part of your credit score. Being debt-free or having a plan to pay down your debt, is vital to building your credit.
Paying your balance in full each month is important for revolving accounts such as credit cards because it lowers your credit utilization ratio. Your credit utilization ratio shows how much of your available credit you are using. Keeping this number low will help improve your credit score.
Pros and cons of credit cards that are easy to get
Pros
- Build credit: Opening a credit card can help you establish a credit history or rebuild your credit score, as long as you pay your monthly statement on time and in full.
- Path to upgrades: Some easier-to-get credit cards provide a path for you to upgrade to an unsecured or more rewarding card as you build your credit and relationship with the card issuer.
Cons
- Few rewards: Credit cards that are easier to qualify for, typically offer fewer rewards and other benefits.
- High APRs: In general, credit cards designed for those with lower credit scores have higher interest rates, which makes carrying a balance more expensive.
FAQs
What is the easiest credit card to get with bad credit?
If you have bad credit, the Petal 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card is one of the easiest cards to get because the issuer considers other factors, such as banking activity, in addition to your credit score.
What credit card can I get with a 500 credit score?
If you have a credit score of 500, the easiest credit cards to get will be secured credit cards that require a deposit.
How can I get an authorized user credit card?
Are store credit cards easy to get?
Store credit cards are typically easier to qualify for, but can have limited rewards or other limitations. Many store cards can only be used with that particular retailer or have fewer useful benefits than other types of credit cards.
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Our methodology
To determine which cards offer the best value for cards that are easy to be approved for, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.
We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back).
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
For the cards that offered a rewards program, we considered consumer spending data forecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. Since the value of a point or mile varies based on what they can be redeemed for, we also considered things like transferability and the ability to redeem for cash-back.
When choosing the best easy-to-get credit cards, we focused on cards that are available to consumers with no credit or poor credit.
Catch up on CNBC Select’s in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay up to date.
*For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
*Results may vary. Some may not see improved scores or approval odds. Not all lenders use Experian credit files, and not all lenders use scores impacted by Experian Boost.
Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card is issued by WebBank.
Editorial Note: Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Select editorial staff’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any third party.
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