What "easier to get" actually means for credit cards
An easier credit card to get is one that approves people with credit scores below 670, or people with no credit history at all. These cards exist because banks know that people rebuilding credit or starting from scratch still need to borrow responsibly — and that lending to them is profitable.
The tradeoff is real: easier approval usually means a higher interest rate, a lower credit limit, and an annual fee. But the card itself works the same way. You charge purchases, you get a bill, you pay it back. The difference is in who gets approved and what it costs.
The easiest cards to get fall into three categories: secured cards (you put down a cash deposit), cards designed for fair credit (no deposit, but higher rates), and store cards (easier approval, but only work at one retailer). Each one has a different purpose in your financial life.
Key Takeaways
- Secured cards require a cash deposit but are the easiest path if you have no credit history or a very low score.
- Fair-credit cards approve people with scores in the 550–669 range without requiring a deposit, though interest rates run 20% to 30%.
- Your deposit on a secured card becomes your credit limit, so a $500 deposit gives you a $500 limit — the bank holds the money the whole time.
- Even easier cards exist through specific retailers, but they only work at that store and do not help your credit as much as a general-purpose card.
- The real goal is to use any of these cards to build a payment history, then move to a standard card within 12 to 24 months.
How secured cards work and why they are the easiest approval
A secured credit card requires you to put cash into a savings account that the bank holds. That deposit becomes your credit limit. If you deposit $500, your limit is $500. You then use the card like any other card — charge purchases, get a monthly bill, pay it back.
The bank keeps your deposit the entire time you hold the card. They are not using it to pay your bills; it sits there as insurance. If you stop paying, they take the deposit. This is why secured cards approve almost anyone with a bank account and a pulse. The bank's risk is capped at your deposit.
After 12 to 24 months of on-time payments, the card issuer usually converts your account to a standard card and returns your deposit. Some banks do this automatically; others require you to ask. Either way, the deposit was never meant to be permanent — it was a training wheel.
Secured cards charge interest just like any other card. If you carry a balance, you pay that rate on top of your deposit sitting in the bank. This is why the real strategy is to charge small amounts and pay them off in full each month. You build credit history without paying interest, and your deposit stays untouched.
Fair-credit cards for people with some credit history
If you have a credit score between 550 and 669, you may not need a secured card. Fair-credit cards approve people in this range without requiring a deposit. The tradeoff is a higher interest rate — typically 20% to 30% — and often an annual fee of $39 to $99.
These cards work for people who have missed payments in the past but are now paying on time, or who have high credit card balances relative to their limits. The card issuer sees some risk but believes you are worth taking on.
The approval process is faster than a secured card because there is no deposit to arrange. You explore online, get an answer in minutes or hours, and the card arrives in a week or two. Your starting limit is usually $300 to $500.
Like secured cards, fair-credit cards are a stepping stone. Use one for 12 to 24 months of on-time payments, and you become may be able to access for a standard card with a lower rate and no annual fee. The goal is not to keep the fair-credit card forever — it is to prove you can handle credit responsibly, then graduate.
Store cards and retail credit options
Retail store cards are the easiest cards to get approved for, period. A store like Target, Walmart, or a furniture retailer will approve you on the spot, sometimes while you are still in the checkout line. Credit score requirements are lower, and the approval is nearly automatic.
The catch is that store cards only work at that one retailer (or a small family of related stores). You cannot use a Target card at Walmart. This limits how much you can use the card to build credit, because you are only charging at one place.
Store cards also tend to have higher interest rates than even fair-credit cards — sometimes 25% or higher. And the credit limit is usually very low, $300 to $500. They are useful if you shop at that store regularly and want to take advantage of a promotional 0% interest period, but they should not be your main credit-building tool.
If you are choosing between a store card and a secured card, the secured card is usually the better move. It works everywhere, helps your credit more broadly, and the interest rate is often lower.
What happens to your credit score when you open an easier card
Opening any new credit card triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report. This is a formal request from the bank to see your credit history. A hard inquiry lowers your score by a few points — usually 5 to 10 points — and stays on your report for 12 months.
This is temporary and normal. One hard inquiry is not a disaster. Multiple inquiries in a short time (explore for five cards in two weeks) signals to credit bureaus that you are desperate for credit, and your score drops more.
The real credit-building happens after you open the card. Each on-time payment gets reported to the credit bureaus and adds to your payment history. Payment history is 35% of your credit score — the biggest factor. So a card that is straightforward to get is only useful if you actually use it responsibly.
Within 6 to 12 months of on-time payments, your score should start climbing back up past where it was before you applied. By month 18 to 24, you will likely may have access to for a better card. That is the whole point.
Comparing secured cards, fair-credit cards, and store cards
| Card Type | Deposit Required | Typical Credit Score Range | Typical Interest Rate | Annual Fee | Where It Works |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secured Card | Yes ($300–$2,500) | No score or very low | 18%–24% | $0–$95 | Everywhere |
| Fair-Credit Card | No | 550–669 | 20%–30% | $39–$99 | Everywhere |
| Store Card | No | Any (very lenient) | 22%–29% | $0–$59 | One retailer only |
How to use an easier card without paying interest
The biggest mistake people make with easier cards is carrying a balance. If you charge $300 on a fair-credit card at 25% interest and pay only the minimum, you will pay $75 in interest before the balance is gone. That defeats the purpose of rebuilding credit.
The strategy is straightforward: charge only what you can pay off in full each month. This might mean charging your gas, your groceries, or one subscription — something small and predictable. Then pay the full balance when the bill arrives.
This accomplishes two things. First, you build payment history without paying interest. Second, you keep your credit utilization low. Credit utilization is how much of your available credit you are using. If your limit is $500 and you charge $100, your utilization is 20%. Keeping it below 30% helps your credit score.
After 12 to 24 months of this behavior, your credit score will improve enough to may have access to for a standard card. Then you can close the easier card (or keep it open with a zero balance, which actually helps your score). The deposit on a secured card gets returned to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a credit card with no credit history at all?
Yes. A secured card is designed for this situation. You put down a deposit, use the card, and build a payment history from scratch. After 12 to 24 months, you graduate to a standard card. No credit history is not a permanent barrier — it is a starting point.
What is the difference between a secured card and a debit card?
A debit card pulls money directly from your bank account. A secured credit card borrows money against your deposit and creates a bill you pay later. Only credit cards report to credit bureaus and build your credit score. Debit cards do not.
Will opening an easier card hurt my credit score?
Yes, temporarily. The hard inquiry drops your score by a few points for 12 months. But on-time payments rebuild it faster. After 6 to 12 months of paying on time, your score should be higher than it was before you applied.
Can I use a store card to build credit?
Yes, but less effectively than a general-purpose card. Store cards do report to credit bureaus, so on-time payments help your score. But because you can only use it at one store, you build credit more slowly. A secured or fair-credit card is usually the better choice.
What happens if I miss a payment on an easier card?
The same thing that happens with any credit card: the missed payment gets reported to credit bureaus and damages your score. On a secured card, the bank may take money from your deposit to cover the missed payment. Missing payments defeats the entire purpose of using the card to rebuild credit.