What credit cards are the easiest to get?

Key takeaways

• Easy-to-get credit cards may have a low credit limit and higher interest rates, but they can help improve your credit score over time

• Easy-to-get credit cards are perfect for young adults without an established credit history

• Securing a credit card with low or no credit history is challenging but not impossible

• Improving your credit score and demonstrating financial responsibility can enhance your chances of credit card approval

What is an easy-to-get credit card?

Every time you apply for a credit card, the lender you’re applying to will check your credit score, which is a measure of how reliable you have been managing loans and debt in the past.

The higher your score, the more likely you are to be approved for one of the top cards.

However, if your credit history is less than stellar, you might feel like you're out of options. This is where easy-to-get credit cards come into play.

Easy-to-get credit cards are designed for individuals who may not qualify for standard credit cards due to a low credit score or limited credit history. These cards typically feature:

• Higher interest rates: To offset the risk of lending to individuals with lower credit scores, issuers often charge higher interest rates.

• Lower borrowing limits: These cards may come with lower credit limits, which can help prevent overspending and encourage responsible credit use.

What are the easiest credit cards to get?

Credit cards designed specifically for people with poor credit or no credit history are the easiest to get. These include:

• Credit cards for bad credit: These cards often come with a low credit limit and high interest or APR. But they reward careful spenders, who make their repayments on time and practice good credit habits, by improving their credit scores two or three times a year.

• Credit-builder credit cards: Credit-builder cards are designed to improve your credit rating. They offer a chance to prove to the credit agencies who manage your score that you can use credit responsibly. This means spending low amounts and paying them off in full each month.

• Student credit cards: Young people haven’t had a chance to prove they can responsibly handle credit, so their credit file often shows little financial history. Student cards can be a first option for a credit card and help teach responsible borrowing.

Am I eligible for an easy-to-get credit card?

To qualify for these more accessible cards, you'll typically need to meet certain criteria, such as being over 18 years old, a UK resident, and having an annual income over a specified threshold, often around £7,500. However, having a bad credit rating, history of bankruptcy or a County Court Judgment (CCJ) may affect your eligibility.

If you’re not sure about your credit card eligibility, MoneySuperMarket has a fast, free Eligibility Checker tool which can help you find credit cards you’re likely to be eligible for – and shows you your chances of being accepted – all without harming your credit score.

Can I get instant approval on a credit card?

The credit card provider will always run a credit check as part of the application process, but this can often take just a matter of seconds.

You can compare instant-decision credit cards here. Remember, while the approval may be instant, it can still take up to two weeks for your physical card to arrive in the mail.

Is it easy to get a credit card with low or no credit?

Securing a card when you have low or no credit history can be challenging, but it's not impossible. Providers will consider various factors, including the reasons behind your low score and your ability to repay what you borrow.

Some cards, such as rewards credit cards, balance transfer cards, cashback credit cards and cards with high credit limits, are likely to be out of reach until you’ve taken steps to improve your credit score.

If you’re frozen out by lenders due to your poor credit rating, you can take steps to improve your eligibility.

How do I improve my chances of getting a credit card?

To enhance your likelihood of approval for a credit card, focus on improving your credit score and demonstrating financial responsibility. Here are some strategies:

• Join the electoral roll: This can help verify your identity and address

• Steady income: Showing a regular income can reassure lenders

• Pay bills on time: Late payments that will further damage your eligibility for credit, but keeping up with utility bills and other financial commitments can reflect positively on your credit report

• Meet debt obligations: Paying down existing debt and ensuring you always make your monthly payments can improve your debt-to-income ratio

• Open a bank account: This applies if you’re a new UK resident

• Limit credit applications: Too many applications in a short period can signal financial distress

Alternatives to credit cards

If a credit card isn't the right fit for you, there are other borrowing options available for those with low credit scores:

• Loans for bad credit: Many providers offer personal loans for bad credit, tailored to those with less-than-perfect credit histories.

• Guarantor loans: With a guarantor loan, another individual agrees to cover your debt if you're unable to pay.

• Buy Now Pay Later: The buy now pay later option provides a short-term breathing space for payments.

If you're struggling with debt, organisations like National Debtline, StepChange, and Citizens Advice offer free, impartial advice. For those whose mental health is affected by financial concerns, Money Talks provides guidance and support.

Other helpful guides

If you want to find out more about credit cards, including understanding and cutting through the financial jargon, our following guides might help:

• What is an APR?

• What are virtual credit cards?

• How can I switch to a new credit card?

Find and compare credit cards with MoneySuperMarket

Whichever type of credit card you want to apply for, you can discover what’s on offer and compare deals on MoneySuperMarket.

All you need to do is tell us a little about your finances, including details about your income and what you want to use your new card for.

We’ll give you a tailored list of credit cards which you can sort by interest rate, any fees and charges, and how likely it is that you’ll be accepted if you apply.

Showing you cards for which you’re pre-approved can help you keep your credit intact as you can minimise the chance of being rejected and having to apply again for credit.

Once you’ve found the card you want, just click through to the provider to finalise your application.

MoneySuperMarket is a credit broker – this means we’ll show you products offered by lenders. We never take a fee from customers for this broking service. Instead we are usually paid a fee by the lenders – though the size of that payment doesn’t affect how we show products to customers.