11 Best “Credit Repair” Credit Cards (Feb. 2024)

Credit Repair Credit Cards

Maybe you’ve made some mistakes with money in the past that have left your credit score lower than you want it to be. The good news is that reading this article shows you understand the importance of having good credit, and you’re seeking ways to improve it. You may have heard that using a credit card can help repair your credit, so you’re now in search of a list of credit repair credit cards. Now for the bad news: that’s not exactly true.

There aren’t credit cards that “repair” your credit, per se, but rather help to rebuild your credit score slowly with responsible use. Basically, this means that if you’re looking for a quicker fix, you’re better off going with a credit repair company, which we’ll help explain in more detail later. But if you’re looking for a loan that can help improve your score over time as long as you follow a few basic rules, then a credit card for bad credit can be a great solution. We’ll take a look at both options and explain why we like each.

First, Decide Between Unsecured & Secured Credit

First things first — there are two different credit card options for people with poor credit, and those are unsecured and secured. Unsecured is what the majority of cardholders carry, and does not require any money down to get a line of credit. Secured, on the other hand, does require a deposit to secure a line of credit, hence its name.

Oftentimes, the amount you’re able to put down as a deposit is the credit limit you’ll be issued, and most issuers have minimums for this amount, usually ranging between $300 and $500. Secured credit cards are generally for people on the lower-end of the credit score spectrum (less than 620), as the deposit is the issuer’s way of protecting itself in the event a payment is missed, in which case it’s then deducted from the deposit.

Best Unsecured Credit Cards for Rebuilding Credit

Unsecured cards are just traditional credit cards — you’re offered a credit limit, which is your designated spending limit for the card. You then make payments to pay off what you spend, and are charged interest on purchases that aren’t paid off each month.

We’ve bulleted out the highlights of each card below for you to evaluate based on what you’re looking for:

  • $400 credit limit doubles to $800! (Simply make your first 6 monthly minimum payments on time)
  • All credit types welcome to apply
  • Monthly reporting to the three major credit bureaus
  • Initial Credit Limit of $400.00 (Subject to available credit)
  • Fast and easy application process; results in seconds
  • Use your card at locations everywhere Mastercard® is accepted
  • Access to your Vantage 3.0 score from Experian (When you sign up for e-statements)
  • Checking Account Required
★★★★★

4.7

Overall Rating

Application Length Interest Rate Reports Monthly Reputation Score
10 minutes 29.99% Yes 7.5/10
  • Earn 3% Cash Back Rewards* on Gas, Groceries and Utility Bill Payments
  • Earn 1% Cash Back Rewards* on all other eligible purchases
  • Up to $1,000 credit limit subject to credit approval
  • Prequalify** without affecting your credit score
  • No security deposit
  • Free access to your VantageScore 4.0 score from TransUnion®†
    *See Program Terms for important information about the cash back rewards program.
    ** Prequalify means that you authorize us to make a soft inquiry (that will not affect your credit) to create an offer. If you accept an offer a hard inquiry will be made. Final approval is not guaranteed if you do not meet all applicable criteria (including adequate proof of ability to repay). Income verification through access to your bank account information may be required.
    † Your credit score will be available in your online account starting 60 days after your account is opened. (Registration required.) The free VantageScore 4.0 credit score provided by TransUnion® is for educational purposes only. This score may not be used by The Bank of Missouri (the issuer of this card) or other creditors to make credit decisions.
★★★★★

4.7

Overall Rating

Application Length Interest Rate Reports Monthly Reputation Score
7 minutes 29.99% or 36% Fixed Yes 8.0/10
  • Earn 1% cash back rewards^^ on payments made to your Revvi Credit Card
  • Perfect credit not required
  • $300 credit limit (subject to available credit)
  • Checking account required
  • Opportunity to request credit limit increase after twelve months, fee applies
  • *See Rates, Fees, Costs & Limitations for complete offer details
  • ^^See Revvi Rewards Programs Terms & Conditions for details
★★★★★

4.7

Overall Rating

Application Length Interest Rate Reports Monthly Reputation Score
8 minutes 35.99%* Yes 8.0/10
  • All credit types accepted.
  • Arro's soft credit pull does not impact your credit score.
  • Through in-app personal finance activities, members receive real time credit limit increases and other rewards.
  • Opportunities to decrease your interest rate.
  • Use your Arro Card anywhere Mastercard is accepted.
  • Application takes as little as 5 minutes.
★★★★★

4.7

Overall Rating

Application Length Interest Rate Reports Monthly Reputation Score
5 minutes 16% Variable Yes 8.0/10

Something to note about credit cards for bad credit is that they usually carry high interest rates, so it’s beneficial to pay off the balance in full each month and avoid paying interest altogether. It’s in your best interest to pay zero interest, always!

7 Best Secured Credit Cards for Rebuilding Credit

Secured cards work well for those who do not need a large amount of credit (equal to the deposit), but also have the capital to put down for it. This is truly an option for someone who isn’t necessarily in need of a loan, but rather using the card to rebuild their credit. This works because payments will be reported to the credit bureaus, who keep record of your credit history, aka your credit report.

Below are three of our expert’s favorite secured credit cards:

  • No credit check to apply
  • Adjustable credit limit based on what you transfer from your Chime Checking Account to the secured account
  • No interest* or annual fees
  • Chime Checking Account and qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more required to apply. See official application, terms, and details link below.
  • The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Card is issued by Stride Bank, N.A., Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted.
  • *Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply. See here for details.
★★★★★

4.8

Overall Rating

Application Length Interest Rate Reports Monthly Reputation Score
5 minutes N/A Yes 9.5
  • New feature! Earn up to 10% cash back* on everyday purchases
  • No credit check to apply. Zero credit risk to apply!
  • Looking to build or rebuild your credit? 2 out of 3 OpenSky cardholders increase their credit score by an average of 41 points in just 3 months
  • Get free monthly access to your FICO score in our mobile application
  • Build your credit history across 3 major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion
  • Add to your mobile wallet and make purchases using Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay
  • Fund your card with a low $200 refundable security deposit to get a $200 credit line
  • Apply in less than 5 minutes with our mobile first application
  • Choose the due date that fits your schedule with flexible payment dates
  • Fund your security deposit over 60 days with the option to make partial payments
  • Over 1.4 Million Cardholders Have Used OpenSky Secured Credit Card To Improve Their Credit
  • *See Rewards Terms and Conditions for more information
★★★★★

4.6

Overall Rating

Application Length Interest Rate Reports Monthly Reputation Score
9 minutes 25.64% (variable) Yes 7.0/10
  • 1% Cash Back Rewards on payments
  • Choose your own credit line - $200 to $2000 – based on your security deposit
  • Build your credit score.¹ Reports to all 3 credit bureaus
  • No minimum credit score required for approval!
  • ¹ Cardholders who keep their balance low and pay their credit card bill on time every month typically do see an increase in their credit score.
★★★★★

4.6

Overall Rating

Application Length Interest Rate Reports Monthly Reputation Score
9 minutes 19.24% (V) Yes 7.5/10

Secured cards typically refund the deposit amount in full when the account is closed (assuming it wasn’t used to cover a missed payment), but be sure to read the fine print.

8. Discover it® Secured

The Discover it® Secured card comes with no annual fee and a competitive APR while still offering bonus rewards for gas and restaurant purchases. Additionally, approved applicants can enjoy an introductory balance transfer offer providing 10.99% on qualifying transferred balances for six months.

Discover it® Secured Card

  • Earn 2% cash back on up to $1,000 in combined gas and restaurant purchases each quarter
  • Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • Pay no annual fee

The minimum deposit amount required to open a Discover it® Secured card is $200, and the size of your deposit will determine your credit limit. Your maximum credit limit will be set by Discover based on your income and ability to pay, but will not exceed $2,500.

9. Capital One® Secured Mastercard

The Capital One Secured Mastercard is another good no-annual-fee option for building credit. What’s more, this card has a variable minimum down payment that depends on your individual credit risk, meaning well-qualified applicants may only be required to put down $49 for a $200 credit line.

Capital One Secured Mastercard

  • Get an initial $200 credit line after making a security deposit of $49, $99, or $200, determined based on your creditworthiness
  • Reports to all three major credit bureaus
  • Pay no annual fee

Cardholders who make their first five payments on time may be eligible for a credit line increase with no additional deposit. This card is also upgradable; cardholders who show responsible credit use may be automatically upgraded to an unsecured card.

10. Citi® Secured Mastercard®

This card may not have a lot of bells and whistles, but it offers a low minimum deposit requirement and charges no annual fee. Cardholders also get desktop and mobile online banking access to manage their account from anywhere.

Citi® Secured Mastercard®

  • Provide a security deposit of $200 up to $2,500 for a credit line equal to your deposit
  • Enjoy 24/7 online account access
  • Pay no annual fee

While this card’s APR isn’t the lowest around, it does offer a grace period on new purchases that allows users to avoid paying interest when they pay their balance in full each month.

11. U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card

The minimum deposit amount for this card is $300, and the size of your credit line will be equal to the size of the deposit. And while this card has a small annual fee, it allows users to put down a security deposit of up to $5,000 for a fairly high credit line.

U.S. Bank Secured Visa® Card

  • Provide a security deposit of $300 up to $5,000 for a credit line equal to your deposit
  • Deposit earns interest in a secured savings account
  • Pay $29 annual fee

The card also has several user benefits that include online banking access, automatic bill pay features, and $0 fraud liability for unauthorized card purchases.

How to Rebuild Credit Using a Credit Card

Now that you understand the difference between unsecured and secured, and have hopefully decided which is best for your credit and spending needs, the next step is learning how to use the card to achieve your credit repair goals.

First and foremost, choosing a card that reports payments to the credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax, and Transunion – is THE MOST IMPORTANT factor. Otherwise, your credit card is useless for improving your credit. A prepaid card, for example, will not have any effect on your credit score as prepaid cards do not report card activity to any of the bureaus. Some cards may only report to one or two bureaus, while others will report to all three.

Simply being approved for a card and having it won’t magically improve your score, though it can have immediate effects on your credit utilization ratio or your mix of accounts, which is just a part of the factors that determine your credit score.

Credit Score Breakdown

This chart shows how heavily each factor is weighted when determining your credit score. Photo credits: cafecredit.com

The reality is having a credit card can hurt your score the same as it can help improve it. It all comes down to responsible usage of the card, which can be done by following a few best practices:

  • Always pay your bill on time. On-time payments are the most heavily weighted factor used to determine your credit score.
  • Keep your credit utilization below 30%. This means if you have a limit of $1,000, never have a balance of more than $300 on your card. Using a high percentage of your available credit hurts your credit score.
  • Pay more than the minimum each month, if possible. Better yet, always pay your balance in full to avoid paying interest. This is especially true for cards with rewards, otherwise, the interest paid will outweigh the rewards earned.

Remember, this can be a slow rebuilding process, and only works if the card is used responsibly. Especially if you have past negative marks on your credit report, which can take a full seven years to be removed. Responsible use of one credit card will have little effect if you have multiple derogatory marks looming on your credit reports. These can have a significant impact on a credit score, but the following credit repair companies may be able to help you remove them and improve your credit history and score more quickly.

Hire a Credit Repair Company if You Need a Quick Fix

If you want to repair your credit because you have a big purchase coming up, such as a mortgage or auto loan, you’re probably better off hiring a credit repair company. Most offer free consultations and can evaluate your credit report for items they can work to have removed on your behalf.

It’s reported that as many as 1 in 5 Americans have errors on their credit reports, and a credit repair agency can help to have these errors removed for you. Here are our top three recommendations for reputable credit repair services:

  • Since 2004, Lexington Law Firm clients saw over 81 million items removed from their credit reports
  • Get started today with a free online credit report consultation
  • Cancel anytime
  • See official site, terms, and details.
★★★★★

4.9

Overall Rating

Better Business Bureau In Business Since Monthly Cost Reputation Score
See BBB Listing 2004 $99.95 8/10
  • Free online consultation
  • CreditRepair.com members saw over 8.6 million removals on their credit reports since 2012
  • Free access to your credit report summary
  • Three-step plan for checking, challenging and changing your credit report
  • Online tools to help clients track results
  • See official site, terms, and details.
★★★★★

4.6

Overall Rating

Better Business Bureau In Business Since Monthly Cost Reputation Score
See BBB Listing 2012 $69.95+ 8/10

Some credit repair agencies even offer a money-back guarantee, and our top-rated service, Lexington Law, helps its clients see 85% of negative items removed.

So, is a Credit Card or Credit Repair Really Right for You?

To recap, a credit card offers access to credit and an opportunity to rebuild credit slowly with responsible use, whereas credit repair services can remove negative items from your credit reports to have a potentially larger impact in a shorter amount of time.

It really depends on how many past “mistakes” you may have made and how they’re impacting your credit today, as well as your ability to be approved for a credit card. Credit cards can offer a great path forward if you believe your situation is reversible through good old-fashioned hard work and time. But if you need a little extra help, credit repair services can certainly give you a quicker boost back onto the right path. Credit can be a complicated subject matter, but you’re seeking ways to understand and better it, and for that alone, you’re ahead of most. Now that you’re armed with the necessary knowledge, choose a credit repair solution that works best for you, and stick to your credit repair goals.

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