Credit Building Credit Cards - Reviews
Credit building credit cards are an ideal starting point if you’re looking to build or improve your credit score and expand your purchasing power down the road. The best credit cards to build credit regularly report on-time payments to the credit bureaus and offer value-adding incentives like cash back rewards, welcome offers and low APRs on purchases.
To make the most of your credit building card, look for one that fits your spending habits and payment management needs. Cash back credit-builder cards can help you save money by paying you back on the things you buy the most. Low interest cards with flex-pay and balance transfer options help you pay off debt and save on interest. Managed correctly, any of these credit building credit cards will help boost your credit score.
Our CreditCards.com experts reviewed hundreds of credit building card offers based on several factors. Annual fees, deposit and credit score requirements, interest rates, cash back rewards, flexible payment options, late payment forgiveness and credit reporting features are the criteria we used. In the reviews below, you can compare the best credit builder credit cards for 2021 and find expert recommendations based on your specific needs.
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
Last reviewed: November 21, 2024
With a relatively low APR and annual fee, the OpenSky Secured Visa credit card is a great card for those with bad to fair credit. You won’t earn substantial rewards, but you’ll keep additional charges to a minimum, and you can qualify for the card without a credit check.
Prosper® Card
Last reviewed: November 21, 2024
The Prosper Card can help you build credit and not much else. You won’t earn rewards and you won’t have many perks to find added value. It’s a good card if you want to keep things simple when learning the ropes of credit cards while you work your way toward better cards.
Avant Credit Card
Last reviewed: November 26, 2024
If you need to build credit but don’t want to tie up hundreds of dollars in a security deposit, the Avant Credit Card could be a good fit, offering a chance to improve your score or establish a solid credit foundation at a relatively low cost.
Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa®
Last reviewed: October 30, 2024
While this isn’t the best Visa card Credit One has to offer, the Credit One Bank Platinum Visa still offers cardholders a fairly good value. With a decent cash back rewards program and modest annual fee, this card may be the best option for customers with average credit who face more limited options. See rates and fees
Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card
Last reviewed: October 30, 2024
If your primary goal is building credit (not earning rewards), there are plenty of lower-cost options available, even if you don’t want to put down a security deposit.
The Card with No Credit Check - The Secured Self Visa® Credit Card*
Last reviewed: September 30, 2024
This combination of a loan and secured credit card could prove useful as a one-two credit-building punch, but since you’ll essentially have to pay interest charges on your own money, it’s unlikely to be the most cost-effective credit-building option.
Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Rebuilding Credit
Last reviewed: October 30, 2024
Despite its high cost, the Credit One Bank Platinum Visa for Rebuilding Credit is a decent option if you want to improve your bad to fair credit without sacrificing rewards or tying up money in a security deposit.
All information about the Credit One Bank Platinum Visa for Rebuilding Credit card has been collected independently by CreditCards.com. The issuer did not provide the content, nor is it responsible for its accuracy.
Destiny Mastercard® - $700 Credit Limit
Last reviewed: July 22, 2024
This card could work well if you need time to build up your credit score, but you could find a card with better rates and fees as well as perks.
Total Visa® Card
Last reviewed: August 2, 2023
While the Total Visa doesn’t require a security deposit, cardholders will be buried in additional program fees.
Reflex® Platinum Mastercard®
Last reviewed: November 11, 2024
Riddled with fees, including an extremely high variable APR, the Reflex Platinum Mastercard is best seen as a last resort and stopgap for credit-builders.