The cards shown on this page are paid placements, and every one is aimed at people rebuilding credit with fees to match. Use the sections below to judge them against the cheaper kinds of card.
Advertiser disclosure
Checkngocash earns money from some companies on this site, usually when you click a link or apply. That can affect which offers appear and where they appear. Paid placements are labelled Ad. We do not list every product on the market. How we make money
By Checkngocash Editorial TeamUpdated 4 sources How we make money
Credit cards: today's picks
Ads. These companies pay us, which can affect which offers appear and their order. This is not every option on the market. How we choose
A $1,000 unsecured limit with no security deposit. The annual and monthly fees apply even if you never carry a balance, so add them up before you apply.
No security deposit to find
The listed limit is higher than the $700 Destiny® offer, if approved
A larger limit makes it easier to keep your balance small relative to it
Annual fee
$250 year 1, then $99
Monthly fee
$0 year 1, then $19.25/mo
APR
35.9%
Credit limit
$1,000
Ad Partner offer. The advertiser sets its own terms, prices and who qualifies.
You will compare your actual limit with your actual fee before accepting
Skip it if
You need a particular amount of credit to rely on
A secured card or a no-annual-fee card is within reach
The cards shown on this page are paid placements, and every one is aimed at people rebuilding credit with fees to match. Use the sections below to judge them against the cheaper kinds of card.
By Checkngocash Editorial TeamUpdated 4 sources How we make money
The short version
Treat the cards above as ads, not advice. They exist for one purpose, rebuilding credit, and the companies behind them pay us when you click or apply.
Your habits decide what to look at. Paying in full each month puts fees and rewards first, and carrying a balance puts the APR first.
A deposit-backed card or a credit union card may cost less. The rebuilding guide sets the routes side by side.
Why only one kind of card appears here
Our current card list has five unsecured cards, each built for people with damaged or thin credit. They are ordered from the lowest to the highest required fees in the second year. Nothing in the list covers no-annual-fee, balance transfer or low-fee rewards cards, so those guides show no offers.
That gap reflects what our advertisers offer today. It says nothing about what is on the wider market, where cheaper cards exist and you may qualify for one.
Four lines to check on any card offer
APR. When an ad gives a range, you learn your own rate only after approval. Ask whether the card still makes sense at the top of the range.
Required fees. Add the annual, monthly and setup charges over twelve months. A few issuers spread the annual fee across monthly bills, which hides the total.
Penalty rate. The terms must say what triggers a higher rate and how long it lasts.
Credit limit. "Up to" a certain limit is a ceiling, and most people receive less.
The figure above is the Federal Reserve average across all credit card accounts. Hold it next to the APR in any offer you read.
Pick the guide that matches your goal
Goals, card types and the cost to check
If you want to
Look at
Check this cost
Guide
Open your first account
Secured card or store card
Deposit, annual fee, APR
First card
Repair a damaged record
Secured card, or an unsecured card made for rebuilding
All required fees across two years
Rebuilding credit
Get paid for everyday spending
Cash back card
The annual fee against rewards you would really earn
Cash back
Pay no yearly charge
No annual fee card
APR and fees under other names
No annual fee
Move debt off another card
Balance transfer card
Transfer fee and the rate when the offer ends
Balance transfer
What an application does to your credit
A full application usually involves a hard inquiry, and many applications close together can pull your scores down. Apply for one card you have already compared. A card also helps your record only when the issuer reports your payments, so ask before you apply.
Credit card payoff calculatorEnter a balance, an APR and a payment to see the months and the interest.Run the numbers
Questions people ask
Which credit card is best?
It depends on whether you pay in full and what you can qualify for. The choosing guide goes through the decision one step at a time.
Why are the cards on this page all high-fee?
They are the only card offers we hold right now. Because we may be paid for them, we spell out the costs and point toward cheaper routes.
How do a secured card and an unsecured card differ?
A secured card is backed by a cash deposit, often equal to the credit line. An unsecured card needs none. Either type can carry high fees and rates, so compare them.
Does applying for a card lower my score?
It can. A hard inquiry comes with most full applications, and several in a short stretch can drag a score down. Read about soft and hard checks.
Checkngocash is not a card issuer and makes no credit decisions. Approval, credit limit and terms are set by the issuer.
