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LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products.
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
August 1, 2022
*Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It may not have been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.
This article was last updated August 1, 2022 . Terms and conditions may have changed. For the most accurate information, please consult the issuer website.
Along with providing the opportunity for credit line increases, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card is the best credit card to build credit because because it comes with a $0 annual fee and access to Capital One benefits.
If you’re looking to establish or boost your credit profile, history and scores, signing up for a credit card and using it responsibly — meaning paying your bill on time each month and staying well below your credit limit — is perhaps one of the best ways to do so.
Based on our research of cards available through LendingTree, as well as top cards offered by issuers, here are our picks for the best credit cards to help build or establish credit for the following categories:
Credit needed: Fair/Limited
Sign-up bonus: No bonus
Earning rate: Non-rewards Card
Why we picked this card: The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is a solid, no-frills credit card with a $0 annual fee. Along with reporting your credit usage to the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion), the card will automatically consider you for a credit limit increase in as little as six months.
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If you’re looking to boost your credit profile with the help of a credit card, you should consider the Capital One Platinum Credit Card. The card is intended for individuals with fair/limited credit, which Capital One describes as those who have either defaulted on a loan in the past five years or have had a credit card or other credit for less than three years.
Notably, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card doesn’t offer a rewards program. However, sometimes the possibility of earning rewards on a credit card can cause a cardholder to overspend — which isn’t ideal when trying to build credit. In addition, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card has a regular APR of 26.99% (variable).
However, while the Capital One Platinum Credit Card doesn’t earn rewards, after demonstrating responsible usage, you may be able to request a product change to a Capital One card that does — such as the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.
Credit needed: Fair/Limited
Sign-up bonus: No bonus
Earning rate: Non-rewards Card
Why we picked this card: The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is a solid, no-frills credit card with a $0 annual fee. Along with reporting your credit usage to the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion), the card will automatically consider you for a credit limit increase in as little as six months.
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If you’re looking to boost your credit profile with the help of a credit card, you should consider the Capital One Platinum Credit Card. The card is intended for individuals with fair/limited credit, which Capital One describes as those who have either defaulted on a loan in the past five years or have had a credit card or other credit for less than three years.
Notably, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card doesn’t offer a rewards program. However, sometimes the possibility of earning rewards on a credit card can cause a cardholder to overspend — which isn’t ideal when trying to build credit. In addition, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card has a regular APR of 26.99% (variable).
However, while the Capital One Platinum Credit Card doesn’t earn rewards, after demonstrating responsible usage, you may be able to request a product change to a Capital One card that does — such as the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.
Read our Capital One Platinum Credit Card review.
Credit needed: Fair/Limited
Sign-up bonus: No bonus
Earning rate: 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
Why we picked this card: With the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, cardholders earn an elevated cash back rate on every purchase they make using the card. Rewards can be redeemed for checks, statement credits or gift cards, or used to directly cover a recent purchase.
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If you want a simple approach to earning rewards while building your credit, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card could be a great fit, since it offers a flat cash back rate on general purchases.
Just know, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card charges a $39 annual fee, and comes with an APR of 26.99% (variable). As for foreign transaction fees — there are none.
That said, after demonstrating responsible card usage and building a relationship with Capital One, you may be able to request a product change to the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. This card earns cash back at the same flat rate on general purchase as the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, but charges a $0 annual fee.
Credit needed: Fair/Limited
Sign-up bonus: No bonus
Earning rate: 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
Why we picked this card: With the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, cardholders earn an elevated cash back rate on every purchase they make using the card. Rewards can be redeemed for checks, statement credits or gift cards, or used to directly cover a recent purchase.
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If you want a simple approach to earning rewards while building your credit, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card could be a great fit, since it offers a flat cash back rate on general purchases.
Just know, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card charges a $39 annual fee, and comes with an APR of 26.99% (variable). As for foreign transaction fees — there are none.
That said, after demonstrating responsible card usage and building a relationship with Capital One, you may be able to request a product change to the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card. This card earns cash back at the same flat rate on general purchase as the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, but charges a $0 annual fee.
Check out our Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card review.
Credit needed: Poor/Limited
Sign-up bonus: Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Earning rate: 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically
Why we picked this card: The Discover it® Secured Credit Card offers a 10.99% Intro APR for 6 months on balance transfers — that’s rare for a card designed for individuals with poor/limited credit. After the intro period ends, a 24.49% Variable APR applies.
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If you have a large amount of high interest credit card debt, you can transfer it to the Discover it® Secured Credit Card and receive a low APR on balance transfers for half a year. This allows you to save on interest charges while paying down your debt.
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is a secured credit card that requires a refundable security deposit ranging from $200 to $2,500, which will serve as your line of credit.
After you’ve had the Discover it® Secured Credit Card for seven months, Discover will begin conducting monthly account reviews to see if you’re eligible to graduate to an unsecured card and get your deposit refunded. Note that Discover will evaluate your behavior across your credit cards and loans from Discover, as well as other issuers or lenders. You can also get your deposit back if you choose to close your account and pay any remaining balance.
Along with offering a $0 annual fee, the card doesn’t charge a fee the first time you pay late; after that, the late fee will be up to $41. That said, it’s important to pay your bill on time when trying to build credit. Plus, if you carry a balance on your card from month to month from purchases, you will be subject to interest charges of 24.49% Variable APR.
Credit needed: Poor/Limited
Sign-up bonus: Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year.
Earning rate: 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically
Why we picked this card: The Discover it® Secured Credit Card offers a 10.99% Intro APR for 6 months on balance transfers — that’s rare for a card designed for individuals with poor/limited credit. After the intro period ends, a 24.49% Variable APR applies.
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If you have a large amount of high interest credit card debt, you can transfer it to the Discover it® Secured Credit Card and receive a low APR on balance transfers for half a year. This allows you to save on interest charges while paying down your debt.
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is a secured credit card that requires a refundable security deposit ranging from $200 to $2,500, which will serve as your line of credit.
After you’ve had the Discover it® Secured Credit Card for seven months, Discover will begin conducting monthly account reviews to see if you’re eligible to graduate to an unsecured card and get your deposit refunded. Note that Discover will evaluate your behavior across your credit cards and loans from Discover, as well as other issuers or lenders. You can also get your deposit back if you choose to close your account and pay any remaining balance.
Along with offering a $0 annual fee, the card doesn’t charge a fee the first time you pay late; after that, the late fee will be up to $41. That said, it’s important to pay your bill on time when trying to build credit. Plus, if you carry a balance on your card from month to month from purchases, you will be subject to interest charges of 24.49% Variable APR.
Read our Discover it® Secured Credit Card review.
Credit needed: N/A
Sign-up bonus: N/A
Earning rate: Earn 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away, and 2% to 10% cash back at select merchants
Why we picked this card: The Petal 2 Credit Card — issued by WebBank, Member FDIC — offers a very reasonable Variable APR between 14.49% - 28.49%. In addition, cardholders have the opportunity to receive a relatively high credit line that ranges from $300 to $10,000.
Note, the APR and credit line are determined by your creditworthiness.
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If you think you may need to carry a balance on your card from month to month from purchases, the Petal 2 Credit Card may be ideal — as long as you qualify for the lowest interest rate.
The Petal 2 Credit Card differs from competing credit cards by using a “Cash Score” to potentially determine your eligibility. If you have no credit history, you may be asked to link a bank account so that an algorithm can be used to analyze factors such as transaction history, money earned and spent each month and bills paid.
This makes it easier for consumers who have responsible financial habits, but haven’t had credit before, to qualify for a card.
The Petal 2 Credit Card lets cardholders earn 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away, and 2% to 10% cash back at select merchants.
The Petal 2 Credit Card comes with a $0 annual fee card and does not charge late payment fees — but you should always pay your bill on time, to make sure you don’t negatively affect your credit score.
Credit needed: N/A
Sign-up bonus: N/A
Earning rate: Earn 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away, and 2% to 10% cash back at select merchants
Why we picked this card: The Petal 2 Credit Card — issued by WebBank, Member FDIC — offers a very reasonable Variable APR between 14.49% - 28.49%. In addition, cardholders have the opportunity to receive a relatively high credit line that ranges from $300 to $10,000.
Note, the APR and credit line are determined by your creditworthiness.
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If you think you may need to carry a balance on your card from month to month from purchases, the Petal 2 Credit Card may be ideal — as long as you qualify for the lowest interest rate.
The Petal 2 Credit Card differs from competing credit cards by using a “Cash Score” to potentially determine your eligibility. If you have no credit history, you may be asked to link a bank account so that an algorithm can be used to analyze factors such as transaction history, money earned and spent each month and bills paid.
This makes it easier for consumers who have responsible financial habits, but haven’t had credit before, to qualify for a card.
The Petal 2 Credit Card lets cardholders earn 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away, and 2% to 10% cash back at select merchants.
The Petal 2 Credit Card comes with a $0 annual fee card and does not charge late payment fees — but you should always pay your bill on time, to make sure you don’t negatively affect your credit score.
Check out our Petal 2 Credit Card review.
Credit needed: Poor
Sign-up bonus: N/A
Earning rate: N/A
Why we picked this card: It’s common for secured credit cards to charge interest rates upwards of 26.99% (variable); however, the DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card offers a low ongoing APR of just 12.25% variable on purchases.
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If you plan to carry a balance on your card from month to month and don’t mind submitting a security deposit, the DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card could be a good fit.
Along with offering a reasonable APR, the card comes with a $0 annual fee and $0 foreign transaction fee. As for balance transfer fees — there are none.
That said, the card does require a high minimum security deposit of $500.
You should also know that to apply for this card, you must be a member of Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU). To be eligible, you must be related to a current DCU member, employed by or retired from a participating company, belong to an eligible organization or live, work, worship or attend school in an eligible community. You can also join a participating nonprofit for a nominal fee.
Credit needed: Poor
Sign-up bonus: N/A
Earning rate: N/A
Why we picked this card: It’s common for secured credit cards to charge interest rates upwards of 26.99% (variable); however, the DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card offers a low ongoing APR of just 12.25% variable on purchases.
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If you plan to carry a balance on your card from month to month and don’t mind submitting a security deposit, the DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card could be a good fit.
Along with offering a reasonable APR, the card comes with a $0 annual fee and $0 foreign transaction fee. As for balance transfer fees — there are none.
That said, the card does require a high minimum security deposit of $500.
You should also know that to apply for this card, you must be a member of Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU). To be eligible, you must be related to a current DCU member, employed by or retired from a participating company, belong to an eligible organization or live, work, worship or attend school in an eligible community. You can also join a participating nonprofit for a nominal fee.
Credit needed: Poor/Limited
Sign-up bonus: No bonus
Earning rate: Non-rewards Card
Why we picked this card: Typically, a secured credit card offers a credit line equal to the amount of your security deposit. However, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card provides the opportunity to qualify for a higher credit line than your initial security deposit: The card requires a minimum refundable deposit of $49, $99 or $200 — which will get you an initial credit line of $200. In addition, you can get a higher credit line if you deposit more money before your account opens, up to a maximum limit of $1,000.
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If you have poor/limited credit and want to use a secured credit card to help boost your credit — but don’t want to put down a large deposit — the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is a good option.
Just know that you’ll have to apply and be approved before your minimum deposit is determined, and you’re not guaranteed to get one of the lower deposit amounts.
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card doesn’t offer a rewards program; however, after six months of demonstrating responsible card usage, Capital One will review your eligibility for an increased credit limit.
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card charges a $0 annual fee and comes with an APR of 26.99% (variable).
Credit needed: Poor/Limited
Sign-up bonus: No bonus
Earning rate: Non-rewards Card
Why we picked this card: Typically, a secured credit card offers a credit line equal to the amount of your security deposit. However, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card provides the opportunity to qualify for a higher credit line than your initial security deposit: The card requires a minimum refundable deposit of $49, $99 or $200 — which will get you an initial credit line of $200. In addition, you can get a higher credit line if you deposit more money before your account opens, up to a maximum limit of $1,000.
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If you have poor/limited credit and want to use a secured credit card to help boost your credit — but don’t want to put down a large deposit — the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is a good option.
Just know that you’ll have to apply and be approved before your minimum deposit is determined, and you’re not guaranteed to get one of the lower deposit amounts.
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card doesn’t offer a rewards program; however, after six months of demonstrating responsible card usage, Capital One will review your eligibility for an increased credit limit.
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card charges a $0 annual fee and comes with an APR of 26.99% (variable).
Check out our Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card review.
Credit needed: Fair/Limited
Sign-up bonus: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
Earning rate: 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically
Why we picked this card: Along with a generous sign-up bonus and cash back rewards rate, the $0-annual-fee Discover it® Student Cash Back offers an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.
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When in college, it’s a good idea to get a head start on building a positive credit history. A $0 annual fee student credit card, such as the Discover it® Student Cash Back, can help you do that while earning rewards in popular spending categories.
If you need to finance a large purchase, like school books or a laptop, you can do so interest-free for half a year with the Discover it® Student Cash Back. The card offers a 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases, then an ongoing 14.49% - 23.49% Variable APR applies. Plus, receive a 10.99% Intro APR for 6 months on balance transfers, after which a 14.49% - 23.49% Variable APR will apply.
Just know, to apply for this card, you’ll need to be at least 18 years old, have a U.S. address, have a Social Security number and show proof of education.
Credit needed: Fair/Limited
Sign-up bonus: Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
Earning rate: 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically
Why we picked this card: Along with a generous sign-up bonus and cash back rewards rate, the $0-annual-fee Discover it® Student Cash Back offers an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.
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When in college, it’s a good idea to get a head start on building a positive credit history. A $0 annual fee student credit card, such as the Discover it® Student Cash Back, can help you do that while earning rewards in popular spending categories.
If you need to finance a large purchase, like school books or a laptop, you can do so interest-free for half a year with the Discover it® Student Cash Back. The card offers a 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases, then an ongoing 14.49% - 23.49% Variable APR applies. Plus, receive a 10.99% Intro APR for 6 months on balance transfers, after which a 14.49% - 23.49% Variable APR will apply.
Just know, to apply for this card, you’ll need to be at least 18 years old, have a U.S. address, have a Social Security number and show proof of education.
Read our Discover it® Student Cash Back review.
Credit card | Best for | Rewards rate | Annual fee |
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Capital One Platinum Credit Card | Overall card | Non-rewards Card | $0 |
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card | Cash back rewards | 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply) | $39 |
Discover it® Secured Credit Card | Balance transfers | 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically | $0 |
Petal® 2 Cash Back, No Fees Visa® Credit Card | Low ongoing APR | Earn 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away, and 2% to 10% cash back at select merchants | $0 |
DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card | Low APR secured card | N/A | $0 |
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card | Secured card with a low deposit | Non-rewards Card | $0 |
Discover it® Student Cash Back | Student credit card | 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations and when you pay using PayPal, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically | $0 |
Whether using a traditional credit card, secured credit card, store credit card or student credit card, a key factor in building your credit is to use the card responsibly. That includes:
Paying your balance on time and in full each month. Since payment history is the most important factor of your credit score, you should always pay your credit card bill on time each month. It’s also a good habit to pay in full so that you avoid incurring interest charges that get applied to any remaining balance (as well as the next month’s purchases).
Maintaining a low credit utilization ratio. It’s generally recommended that you keep your credit utilization ratio — the amount of credit you use divided by the total amount of available credit you have — below 30%. For example, if you have a credit card limit of $500, you should keep your card balance under $150.
Only applying for a credit card when it’s truly needed. Each time you apply for a major loan or credit card, a hard inquiry appears on your credit when the lender reviews your credit profile — which lowers your credit score by a few points each time one occurs and stays on your credit report for two years. If you have too many hard inquiries in a short period of time, it may signal to lenders that you’re a high-risk consumer.
When selecting the best credit card to help you build credit, you should start with one that reports your account and payment activity to the three major credit bureaus, accepts individuals with poor, fair or limited credit and charges limited fees.
You can then make your choice based on how you plan to use the card. For example, if you’re a student just starting out on your credit journey, the Discover it® Student Cash Back may be your best option. But if you want to transfer high interest credit card debt to a card with an intro APR, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card will be a better fit.
To select the best card for each of these categories, our credit card experts compared secured and unsecured credit cards designed for individuals with poor, limited and average credit on LendingTree.com and issuer sites.
We chose our top picks based on a variety of factors, including the value of the card’s rewards program, the annual fee and the interest rate.
Other factors that came into play when making our selections include the benefits offered by the card, as well as the opportunity to increase your credit line or improve your credit score.
A credit score is a three-digit number used by lenders to help predict how likely you are to repay debts. Credit scores generally range from 300 to 850, and are calculated using information that’s been reported to the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion) from previous or existing credit accounts.
While the ranges vary depending on the credit scoring model, generally scores ranging from 300 to 579 are considered poor, 580 to 669 are fair, 670 to 739 are good, 740 to 799 are very good and 800 and above are considered excellent.
You can check your credit score in a variety of ways without generating a hard inquiry, which won’t negatively affect it. For example, you can request a free copy of your FICO Score every 30 days through Experian, or sign up for a free credit score through My LendingTree.
In addition, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the three major credit bureaus to provide individuals with one free credit report each year through AnnualCreditReport.com (they are currently available weekly), as well as any time that a company takes adverse action against you, such as rejecting you for a credit card or loan.
The best secured credit card to build credit is one that reports to the major credit bureaus, charges a $0 annual fee, has a reasonable APR and provides the opportunity to graduate to an unsecured card and have your deposit refunded.
Tracy Brackman is a senior editor and credit card expert at LendingTree, where she writes and edits educational pieces on credit card-related topics and personal finance using her 12+ years of experience in the field.
Before joining LendingTree in 2019, Tracy worked as a products editor for CreditCards.com, where she developed the credit card products section and created content focused on breaking credit card news.
Prior to that, she worked as a product information manager for Bankrate, where she managed the financial and credit card product details and maintained compliance for two affiliate networks, as well as Bankrate-owned and operated sites.
She began working in the credit card space in 2009 as the editorial department manager for FlexOffers, an affiliate marketing company.
Tracy studied marketing at the Ohio State University and Florida International University.
Read MoreThe above offers and/or promotions may have since changed, expired, or is no longer available. Check the Issuers’ website for more details.