The Best Credit Cards for Rebuilding Credit of June 2023

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Getting approved for the best credit cards can be challenging if you have a bad credit score. However, getting a credit card and making regular payments is also a vital step toward repairing damaged credit or even building credit from scratch.

You can build credit with credit cards if you use them responsibly; that is, make all your payments on time (and ideally in full), and don’t go over your credit limit

If you’re digging yourself out from past credit problems or looking to establish a credit history, secured credit cards and other entry-level cards can help. Read on to see our picks for the best credit cards you can get to rebuild credit.

We’re focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won’t be worth it if you’re paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it’s important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

Best Credit Cards to Rebuild Credit

Best credit cards to rebuild credit in 2023

Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card – Product Name Only: Best overallU.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card – Product Name Only: Best for flexible bonus categoriesCapital One Platinum Secured Credit Card – Product Name Only: Best for a low security depositPetal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card – Product Name Only: Best for no feesU.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Card – Product Name Only: Best for dining rewardsCapital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card – Product Name Only: Best for travelDiscover it® Student Cash Back – Product Name Only: Best for establishing credit

Methodology: How we chose the best credit cards to rebuild credit

Insider’s credit card experts considered dozens of credit cards for bad credit that are geared to those who want to rebuild their credit score. We narrowed down our list to include the best of the bunch, focusing primarily on cards that earn rewards or offer a unique feature not seen on other credit cards for rebuilding credit.

 We evaluated the cards based on several factors, including:

Credit score requirement — While none of the cards we considered require a good credit score, are there restrictions that would prevent you from qualifying, like having a recent bankruptcy or being a member of a particular bank?Rewards earning potential — If the card earns rewards, are the earning rates competitive with similar cards? Are the bonus categories useful, and are any of them capped at a certain spending amount? Fees — None of the cards we included charge an annual fee, but are there other fees or a high APR to be aware of?Benefits — Most credit cards for rebuilding credit are light on benefits, but does the card offer perks that make it stand out from similar cards, such as statement credits or waived foreign transaction fees?

You can read our guide to how we rate credit cards at Insider for a full breakdown of our methodology.

Credit Card to Rebuild Credit Frequently Asked Questions

How do I rebuild credit with a credit card?

Opening and using a credit card responsibly can help you rebuild your credit history. As long as you use your card regularly (even by putting a couple of small charges on it each month) and pay it off on time and in full, you should see an improvement in your credit score over time. 

How do I get approved for a credit card to rebuild credit?

If you have a low credit score and want a credit card to help rebuild your credit, you’ll want to stick to applying for cards that you’re likely to qualify for (that is, avoid credit cards that require good credit or better). Secured credit cards, which require a security deposit for approval, are typically the easiest to get approved for. You might also want to check credit cards with preapproval; these are where the bank shows you if you’re likely to be approved for a card before doing a hard inquiry on your credit (which can decrease your credit score). 

Can I rebuild credit without a credit card?

Yes, it’s possible to rebuild your credit without a credit card, although opening a credit card and using it responsibly is one of the faster ways to improve your credit score. One way is to become an authorized user on someone else’s credit card — as long as they have good credit, your score should see a boost. That’s why many parents add their children as authorized users to give them a head start on building credit. 

Other options include opening a credit-builder loan or a secured loan, using one of the best rent reporting services so that your rent payments are reported to the credit bureaus, or using a free credit-building product like Experian Boost.

Best overall

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card

Like most secured credit cards, the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card – Product Name Only is light on benefits. However, it earns rewards at rates that compete with unsecured starter credit cards, including some that charge an annual fee.

You’ll earn 3% cash back on purchases in one category of your choice, which you can change each calendar month. The options include gas, online shopping, dining, travel, drug stores, and home improvement purchases, altogether covering a lot of bases. You’ll also earn 2% cash back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, with a cap of $2,500 in combined spending per quarter applied to the 3% and 2% categories. All other purchases earn 1% cash back.

You can redeem cash back rewards in any amount as a statement credit to your card account or a deposit to an eligible Bank of America or Merrill account. Rewards can also be redeemed by check, but only in amounts of $25 or more.

As a secured credit card, your account requires a security deposit of at least $200 and up to $5,000; how much you deposit influences the credit limit you receive. Secured card issuers typically hold deposits as collateral while the account is open, but Bank of America may refund your deposit after a periodic review based on factors like your credit history and banking relationship.

The card has no annual fee, and rewards don’t expire so long as your account remains open and in good standing. However, the card charges a foreign transaction fee of Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card – Foreign Transaction Fee, so it’s not ideal for travel abroad.

Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card Review

Best for flexible bonus categories

US Bank Cash+ Secured Credit Card

The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card – Product Name Only is another that lets you choose your own bonus categories. Each quarter, you can earn 5% cash back on up to $2,000 of combined spending in two categories you select from a list. Options include home utilities, cell phone providers, TV/internet/streaming services, department stores, and more. You’ll also earn uncapped 5% cash back on prepaid airfare, hotels, and car rentals booked through the US Bank travel portal, 2% back on your choice of groceries, restaurants, or gas stations and EV charging stations, and 1% back on all other purchases.

You can redeem rewards as a statement credit to your card account, as a deposit into a US Bank checking or savings account, or as a prepaid US Bank debit card. Rewards have a minimum redemption threshold of $25, and they expire 36 months after the billing cycle in which they were earned. Since there’s no advantage to stockpiling rewards, it’s best to redeem them as you earn them.

This card has no annual fee, but does charge foreign transaction fees and has a minimum security deposit of $300. To help rebuild your credit, US Bank regularly reports your card status to the three major credit bureaus. With on-time payments, cardholders can get the security deposit returned and graduate to the non-secured version of the card (the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card – Product Name Only), which offers similar rewards with superior benefits and a lower APR.

US Bank Cash Plus Secured Credit Card Review

Best for a low security deposit

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card – Product Name Only is a bare-bones option with no rewards and few benefits, but it offers cardholders the functionality of a credit card account at what may be a relatively low upfront cost. 

The minimum security deposit can be as low as $49 depending on your creditworthiness, though it may instead be $99 or $200, which puts it in line with other secured cards. Those initial deposits yield a credit limit of $200. You can provide a larger deposit (up to $1,000) for an equivalent higher credit limit, but in that case, you’d be better off choosing one of the more rewarding cards on this list. The security deposit is refundable regardless of the amount if your account is upgraded or closed in good standing. 

Capital One reports your account to all three major credit bureaus, and automatically considers you for credit line increases or a switch to the unsecured version of the card (the Capital One Platinum Credit Card – Product Name Only) after six months of on-time payments. The card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and allows you to add authorized users at no cost.

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card Review

Best for no fees

Petal 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa Credit Card 

The Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card – Product Name Only is another good option for avoiding a security deposit, since it requires no deposit at all. Unlike the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card – Product Name Only, however, you have no opportunity to secure a higher initial credit line by paying a higher deposit. Instead, you’ll receive an initial credit line of $300 or more based on your creditworthiness. You can then increase that credit line by making on-time payments and maintaining your credit score.

The card has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, and goes a step further by charging no late fees and no returned payment fees. You’ll still want to pay your bill in full and on time to avoid interest charges, but at least the fee won’t be tacked on if you do miss a payment.

Rewards on the Petal® 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa® Credit Card – Product Name Only are structured to incentivize timely payments. You’ll start by earning 1% cash back on all purchases, but that rate increases to 1.25% after you make six on-time monthly payments, and increases further to 1.5% after you make 12 on-time monthly payments. Petal also partners with select merchants to offer higher cashback rates ranging from 2-10%, but those merchants are only disclosed once you already have the card.

You can redeem cash back for a statement credit in any amount up to your current rewards balance. Alternately, you can request a check or ACH transfer by phone with a minimum redemption of $20.

Petal 2 Visa Credit Card Review

Best for dining rewards

US Bank Altitude Go Secured Card 

The U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Card – Product Name Only offers an excellent return for a secured product. You’ll earn 4 points per dollar on dining purchases (including takeout and delivery), plus 2 points per dollar at grocery stores, gas stations and EV charging stations, and on a long list of streaming services like Amazon Prime, Netflix, and Hulu. The bonus categories are uncapped, so you’ll earn at those rates for every dollar you spend on eligible purchases, plus 1 point per dollar elsewhere.

Points are worth 1 cent apiece when you redeem for statement credits to your account, with a minimum redemption of 2,500 points. You can also redeem for travel and gift cards at the same rate, but with a lower threshold of 1,000 points. Unlike the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card – Product Name Only, these rewards don’t expire, so there’s no rush to use them. 

On top of competitive rewards, the U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Card – Product Name Only offers a $15 annual streaming credit valid on the same services that earn 2 points per dollar spent. The credit is applied automatically following 11 consecutive months of eligible streaming service purchases.

In other respects, this card is similar to the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card – Product Name Only discussed above. There’s no annual fee, but you will be charged foreign transaction fees. The minimum security deposit is $300, and US Bank will periodically assess your eligibility for an upgrade to the unsecured version of the card (U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa Signature® Card – Product Name Only).

US Bank Altitude Go Secured Credit Card Review

Best for travel

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card – Product Name Only is a great fit for those who prefer a simple rewards structure. You’ll earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One travel portal, plus unlimited 1.5% cash back on other purchases. Earning at a consistent rate means there’s no need to keep track of bonus categories or calendars.

You can redeem rewards for statement credits to your card account or cash back by check, as well as for gift cards and travel. You can set up automatic redemptions for a certain threshold or date, but rewards don’t expire as long as your account is open and in good standing, so there’s no pressure to redeem until you’re ready.

Capital One offers an initial credit line equal to your security deposit, with a minimum of $200. Your account is reported to all three major credit bureaus, and is eligible for credit line increases and a transition to the unsecured version of the card (Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card – Product Name Only) after six months of on-time payments. The security deposit is refundable if your account is upgraded or closed with a fully paid balance.

In addition to the high earning rate for select travel purchases, the card doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees, making it a good option among secured cards for international travel. The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card – Product Name Only also has no annual fee and allows free authorized users, so it’s useful for adding additional cardholders. 

Capital One Quicksilver Secured Card Review

Best for establishing credit

Discover it Student Cash Back 

The Discover it® Student Cash Back – Product Name Only is one of the easiest credit cards to get to establish credit. It doesn’t require a security deposit and has no annual fee, making it ideal for college students looking to build (or rebuild) credit. 

The card earns 5% cash back on up to $1,500 spent each quarter when you activate (then 1% back), and 1% back everywhere else with no limits Discover It Cashback rotation. The card doesn’t offer a conventional welcome bonus, but it comes with Discover’s Cashback Match that matches all the rewards you earn in your first year as a cardholder.

You can redeem cash-back rewards in any amount as a statement credit to your card account or a direct deposit to a linked bank account. You can also redeem rewards for a variety of retail gift cards, which sometimes offer bonus value of up to 25%, or use rewards as payment on Amazon and PayPal. Cash-back rewards don’t expire, so there’s no rush to redeem until you’re ready.

The Discover it® Student Cash Back – Product Name Only is light on other benefits, although it offers a Discover it® Student Cash Back – Intro APR (then a Discover it® Student Cash Back – Regular APR APR), as well as late payment forgiveness that waives the fee for your first late payment. The card also has no foreign transaction fees, though Discover has lower acceptance abroad than in the US.

Discover it Student Cash Back Card Review

 

 

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