10 easiest credit cards to get approved for in July 2026

The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card is no longer available to new applicants.

If you've been turned down for a card, you're not alone: Credit card rejection rates are at roughly 16% as of June 2026, according to data from the New York Fed.

The good news is that not every credit card requires an excellent credit score. Many issuers offer cards designed for applicants with fair, limited or even bad credit.

CNBC Select has rounded up the easiest credit cards to get approved for with bad credit, including options with low interest rates, travel rewards, balance transfer offers and more.

Who's this for? The Capital One Platinum Credit Card doesn't offer rewards, but it doesn't require a security deposit, either. And it's available to applicants with fair credit or a limited credit history.

Standout benefits: The Capital One Platinum could be a good way to improve your credit score without a security deposit and work toward a rewarding credit card. After six months, Capital One will automatically review your account for a potential credit line increase.

Who's this for? The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards is geared toward students who spend a significant amount on dining, entertainment, streaming services and groceries, with rewards rates that compare favorably to non-student credit cards.

Standout benefits: In addition to the rewards categories listed above, you can earn 8% back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 5% back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Plus, eligible purchases made with the Savor Student qualify for protections such as travel accident insurance and extended warranty protection*.

Who's this for? The Credit One Bank Wander American Express Card earns generous rewards on all types of travel purchases, and it's available to those with at least fair credit or better.

Standout benefits: The Credit One Bank Wander earns 5X points on eligible travel, including flights, dining and gas purchases, plus a massive 10X points on eligible hotels and rental cars you book through the Credit One Bank travel partner site. You can redeem points for 1 cent each toward statement credits.

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: The Petal 2 Visa lets you boost your cash back by making on-time payments. You'll start earning 1% cash back on purchases and can earn up to 1.5% back after making 12 on-time monthly payments.

Who's this for? You can qualify for the Chase Freedom Rise® with limited to fair credit — and you can increase your chances of approval by having at least $250 in a Chase checking or savings account.

Standout benefits: Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase. Plus, after 12 months of responsible credit card usage, your account will be evaluated to see if you qualify to upgrade to the Chase Freedom Unlimited® (see rates and fees).

Who's this for? This secured card doesn't require a credit check for approval, and there's no minimum security deposit required. Most notably, you can earn heightened rewards on two categories you choose each month.

Standout benefits: Earn 5% cash back on the category you choose each month when you make qualifying direct deposits. Plus, earn 2% back on the category you choose each month when you make qualifying direct deposits. Categories include groceries, gas, utilities and bills and "travel and more."

Who's this for? The First Progress Prestige Secured Mastercard is ideal if you're seeking an unusually low starting variable APR.

Standout benefits: The First Progress Prestige is a secured card that lets you earn rewards while you work to raise your credit score. Earn up to 10% cash back at select merchants and 1% cash back on all purchases when you make payments.

Who's this for? The Firstcard Secured Credit Builder Card earns rewards, doesn't charge interest or late fees and even allows you to earn a return on your deposits.

Standout benefits: You can earn up to 1% cash back on every purchase with the Firstcard premium subscription tier and up to 4.00% APY on your deposits. Applicants don't need a Social Security number to be approved.

Who's this for? The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Credit Card is great if you're looking for a secured option that earns flat-rate cash-back rewards that rival some of the top unsecured cards.

Standout benefits: Secured credit cards typically earn 1% or less on purchases. But with the Quicksilver Secured, you earn 1.5% cash back on every dollar you spend.

Who's this for? The Capital One Spark 1% Classic* is available to those with limited to fair credit, making it a great option for small-business owners who don't yet have a top-notch credit score.

Standout benefits: For no annual fee, earn an unlimited 1% cash back on every purchase, plus 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel.

Not all credit cards require great credit. Regardless of where you are in your credit journey, there's likely a good fit for you.

Apply for a secured credit card

Secured credit cards are a good option if you have a weak credit score or no credit history. You'll have to provide a refundable deposit, which determines your credit line. Secured cards have limited rewards, but you may be able to upgrade to an unsecured card after making regular on-time payments.

Get a student credit card

You can usually open a credit card after you turn 18, but it can be difficult to qualify if you're still in school and have little or no credit history. Student credit cards build your credit history and may even offer basic rewards. Most student cards require applicants to be 18 years old and enrolled in a qualifying educational institution.

Be an authorized user

If you can't qualify for a card on your own, you can become an authorized user on someone else's credit card account and build your credit based on the account's history.

You'll have your own card, but points, miles and other rewards are accrued by the primary cardholder. At the same time, they are responsible for all charges. Note, there may be a fee for adding authorized users.

When shopping for a credit card, start by thinking about why you want one. If you're hoping to build your credit, any card can help, as long as you pay your balance in full and on time each month.

Benefits

Welcome bonuses and rewards are a major reason people apply for an unsecured card. These perks are less common with secured cards, but they do exist. The Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Card offers cash back, and the State Department Federal Credit Union (SDFCU) Savings Secured Visa Platinum Card is good for travel rewards, which can have a higher potential value if you jump through a few hoops.

Some cards are especially rewarding for groceries, gas, dining or travel. Others, like the Capital One Quicksilver Secured, offer a higher flat-rate return on every dollar you spend, making them better for everyday purchases.

Fees and interest rates

One of the most common credit card fees is the annual fee, which you pay every year just to keep the card. If you're focused on building or rebuilding credit, look for secured credit cards with no annual fee.

When you carry a balance, 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 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.

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 one), address, income, employment status and contact information.

You can save yourself time and energy researching a few key factors before submitting an application:

1. 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 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.

2. Understand the card's requirements

In addition to a minimum credit score, credit cards also have other eligibility requirements. These restrictions vary by card, card issuer and card type. For example, secured credit cards require an upfront deposit, and business credit cards require you to have a business or side hustle.

3. See if you're preapproved

Some credit cards offer preapproval or prequalification, which involves a soft credit check rather than a hard inquiry on your credit report. Getting prequalified doesn't guarantee approval, but it can save you the trouble (and credit hit) of applying for a card if you're likely to be denied.

While there are different credit scoring models, your payment history and credit utilization are typically weighted more heavily. If you want to boost your number, focus on these categories.

Payment history

When you open or use a credit card or take out a loan, it's added to your credit report. Payment history represents 35% of your total credit score — the largest chunk. Missed payments will significantly lower your score, while on-time payments will reflect positively.

Not all payments are reported to the credit bureaus, however. Services like *Experian Boost™ and eCredible Lift® link utilities, cell phone, and other bills to your credit report and reward you for on-time payments.

Typically, they send information to only one or two of the three major credit reports. In addition, some send negative payment reports, which can lower your credit score.

Credit utilization

Accounting for 30% of your score, your credit utilization ratio is the amount of credit you use compared to your total available credit limit across all your accounts. Paying your balance in full each month will lower your ratio, or you can ask your card issuer for a credit limit increase. So long as you don't increase your spending, you'll automatically lower your credit utilization ratio.

Credit history

Lenders want to see members with a long history of creditworthiness. How long you've had credit, the age of your oldest and newest accounts and the average age of all your accounts represent 15% of your credit score. So, If you're think you have too many credit cards, consider canceling a newer one.

Credit mix and new credit inquiries

These two categories each account for 10% of your score: Your credit mix is the variety of accounts you've opened, including revolving lines of credit (credit cards) and installment loans (car loans, personal loans). Lenders also want to know how often you're applying for new accounts. Opening many new accounts in a short period can signal financial problems. 

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice to help them make informed financial decisions. Every credit card list is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards.

CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards to determine which were the easiest to get while still offering great value.

Focusing on cards that are available to consumers with poor credit (or no credit), we compared each on a range of features, including rewards, annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees.

We reviewed cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection and travel insurance), additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), the application process and how easy it is to redeem rewards. We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.

Catch up on CNBC Select's in-depth coverage of credit cards, banking and money, and follow us on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X 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.

*Information about the Capital One Spark 1% Classic Credit Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

*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.