- The best credit cards with no credit check don’t require a hard pull on your credit history.
- Our top picks for the best credit cards with no credit check are the Chime Secured Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card and the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card, among others.
- It’s easier to qualify for a credit card that doesn’t require a credit check since these cards don’t have minimum credit score requirements.
- Cards with no credit check often don’t earn rewards, have higher interest rates, and require a security deposit to open an account.
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On This Page
- Key takeaways
- Top credit cards with no credit check requirement
- Our top picks for credit cards with no credit check
- Comparing the best credit cards with no credit check
- More info on the best credit cards with no credit check
- What does no credit check mean?
- How to choose a credit card with no credit check
- FAQ: Credit cards with no credit check
On This Page
- Key takeaways
- Top credit cards with no credit check requirement
- Our top picks for credit cards with no credit check
- Comparing the best credit cards with no credit check
- More info on the best credit cards with no credit check
- What does no credit check mean?
- How to choose a credit card with no credit check
- FAQ: Credit cards with no credit check
Best Credit Cards With No Credit Check July 2024
Reviewed By
Blake Esken - Los Angeles Times
Credit cards with no credit check allow individuals to apply without the issuer requesting a hard credit inquiry. This makes these cards easier for people with bad or limited credit to qualify for.
Learn more about cards that don’t require credit checks below.
We’ll answer questions such as:
- Which credit cards don’t require a credit check?
- Why do some issuers check your credit?
- How do you choose a credit card with no credit check requirement?
Our top picks for the best credit cards with no credit check
- Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card: Best for no fees
- OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card: Best for no bank account
- OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card: Best for earning rewards
- First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card: Best for low APR
- Self - Credit Builder Account with Secured Visa® Credit Card: Best for credit mix
Top credit cards with no credit check requirement
The best credit cards with no credit check don’t require a hard inquiry on your credit to qualify. Some don’t check your credit at all while others do a soft pull, but a soft pull won’t negatively impact your credit score. Most of these cards carry high interest rates and some require a minimum security deposit to open an account. All of these cards provide a way for you to effectively build or rebuild your credit score with responsible use.
Here’s a list of our top picks for credit cards that don’t require a credit check.
Our top picks for credit cards with no credit check
Advertiser Disclosure
Best for no fees
Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card
No Rewards
This card doesn’t earn any rewards.
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Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
N/A
Regular APR
N/A
Recommended Credit
No Credit History
Why we like it
The Chime Credit Builder Visa has no annual fee, credit check, or interest. This card is essentially debt-proof, making it a great option for people looking to safely build or rebuild their credit.
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Card Details
More card info
- To apply for Credit Builder, you must have received a single qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more to your Chime® Checking Account
- The qualifying direct deposit must be from your employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, or benefits payer by Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit OR Original Credit Transaction (OCT).
- The Chime Credit Builder Card is a secured credit card that can help consumers build credit history. It has no interest*, no annual fees, no credit check to apply, and no minimum security deposit required**
- Help build your credit history with your own money. The money you move into the Credit Builder secured account is the amount you can spend on your card (no minimum deposit required). Turn on Safer Credit Building and have your monthly balance automatically paid on time. Chime will report your activities to Transunion®. Experian®. and Equifax®.
- Use your secured Credit Builder card everywhere VISA is accepted, including on everyday purchases, such as gas and groceries.
- *No Interest: Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and OTC advance fees may apply. View The Bancorp agreement or Stride agreement for details; see back of card for issuer.
- **No Minimum Security Deposit: Money added to Credit Builder will be held in a secured account as collateral for your Credit Builder Visa card, which means you can spend up to this amount on your card. This is money you can use to pay off your charges at the end of every month.
- The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your card for its issuing bank.
- To apply for Credit Builder, you must have received a single qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more to your Chime® Checking Account. The qualifying direct deposit must be from your employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, or benefits payer by Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit OR Original Credit Transaction (OCT). Bank ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, verification or trial deposits from financial institutions, peer to peer transfers from services such as PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo, mobile check deposits, cash deposits, one-time direct deposits, such as tax refunds and other similar transactions, and any deposit to which Chime deems to not be a qualifying direct deposit are not qualifying direct deposits.
- **Safer Credit Building - On-time payment history may have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score. Chime will report your activities to Transunion®, Experian®, and Equifax®. Impact on your credit may vary, as Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations.
Pros
- No annual fee
- No credit check required to apply
- No annual interest charges
Cons
- No credit limit greater than your deposit
- Need direct deposit account with Chime
- No option to upgrade
Best for no bank account
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
Up to 10% Reward Rate
Earn up to 10% cash back on everyday purchases. OpenSky Rewards links offers from merchants directly to your card, allowing you to automatically earn cash back.
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Annual Fee
$35
Welcome Offer
N/A
Regular APR
25.64% variable
Recommended Credit
No Credit History
Why we like it
The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card has one of the highest approval rates around, so if your credit score is struggling, you still have a good chance of qualifying for this card. It also earns rewards on qualifying purchases, which is pretty unheard of for a card not requiring a credit check.
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Card Details
More Card Info
- 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
Pros
- High approval rating
- Doesn’t require a credit check
- No bank account required
Cons
- Has an annual fee
- Minimum $200 security deposit required
Best for earning rewards
OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card
Up to 10% Reward Rate
Earn up to 10% cash back on everyday purchases. OpenSky Rewards links offers from merchants directly to your card, allowing you to automatically earn cash back.
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Annual Fee
$0
Welcome Offer
N/A
Regular APR
29.99% variable
Recommended Credit
No Credit History
Why we like it
OpenSky® Plus is like the regular OpenSky card, but it has no annual fee. The catch? It has a higher interest rate. If you don’t carry a balance, though, there’s no need to worry about that.
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Card Details
More card info
- New feature! Earn up to 10% cash back on everyday purchases
- No credit check to apply. Find out instantly if you are approved- 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
- Monitor your credit progress with free access to your FICO Credit Score.
- 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
- Secure your credit line with a refundable security deposit - as low as $300.
- Easy application, apply in less than 5 minutes right from your mobile device
- Offers flexible payment due dates which allow you to choose any available due date that fits your payment schedule
- Now you can make smaller partial payments towards funding your security deposit over 60 days
- Over 1.4 Million Cardholders Have Used OpenSky Secured Credit Card To Improve Their Credit
Pros
- No annual fee
- Doesn’t require a credit check
- High approval rating
Cons
- Minimum $300 security deposit required
- High APR
Best for low APR
First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card
1% Reward Rate
Earn 1% cash back on payments.
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Annual Fee
$49
Welcome Offer
N/A
Regular APR
15.24% variable
Recommended Credit
No Credit History
Why we like it
While most cards for bad or limited credit carry a high interest rate, the First Progress Platinum Prestige Card has a low rate. If you’re likely to carry a balance, this could save you a ton of money. Plus, this card earns 1% cash back on payments.
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Card Details
More card info
- Choose your own credit line – $200 to $2000 – based on your security deposit
- Build your credit score. Reports to all 3 credit bureaus
- No minimum credit score required for approval!
- 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.
Pros
- Earns cash back
- Lower APR than many cards
Cons
- Has an annual fee
- No intro APR offer
Best for credit mix
Self - Credit Builder Account with Secured Visa® Credit Card
No Rewards
This card doesn’t earn any rewards.
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Annual Fee
$25
Welcome Offer
N/A
Regular APR
28.74% variable
Recommended Credit
No Credit History
Why we like it
The Secured Self Visa® Credit Card doesn’t require you to come up with a large security deposit to open an account. You contribute monthly installments to your Self Credit Builder Account until you’ve contributed enough to cover the required security deposit amount.
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Card Details
More card info
- Start with a Credit Builder Account, make at least 3 monthly payments on time, have $100 or more in savings progress in your Credit Builder Account, and be in good standing. Then, you’ll be eligible for the Self Visa® Credit Card, without a hard credit check.
- Your savings progress from your Credit Builder Account acts as your security deposit for your secured Credit Card.
- No credit score or hard credit check is needed to get started.
- Can pay as little as $25/month
- Reports to all 3 credit bureaus.
Credit Builder Accounts & Certificates of Deposit made/held by Lead Bank, Sunrise Banks, N.A., SouthState Bank, N.A., First Century Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC. Subject to credit approval.
Self Visa® Credit Card issued by Lead Bank or SouthState Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC. See self.inc for details.
*Sample loans: $25/mo, 24 mos, $9 admin fee, 15.92% APR; $35/mo, 24 mos, $9 admin fee, 15.97% APR; $48/mo, 24 mos, $9 admin fee, 15.72% APR; $150/mo, 24 mos, $9 admin fee, 15.88% APR. See self.com/pricing
Pros
- No upfront deposit
- No credit score requirement
- Contributes to credit mix
Cons
- Can’t use the card immediately
- Have to commit to 2 years of payments
- Doesn’t earn rewards
Comparing the best credit cards with no credit check
Card name
Best for
APR
Annual fee
Learn more
Best for no fees
N/A
$0
Best for no bank account
25.64% variable
$35
Best for earning rewards
29.99% variable
$0
Best for low APR
15.24% variable
$49
Best for credit mix
28.74% variable
$25
What does no credit check mean?
A credit check is what a lender requests to check your credit history, to verify if they can trust you to be responsible with your money. This can be in the form of a soft pull or a hard inquiry. Most of the main credit card issuers do a hard inquiry, which can temporarily ding your credit score. On the other hand, a soft pull doesn’t affect your credit score.
Some credit card issuers don’t require a credit check, making their cards an ideal option for individuals with poor or limited credit. These cards often need you to fund a security deposit to open an account, though, as this can be used as collateral if you miss your payments.
Credit checks aren’t the only factor lenders use to determine whether to approve your application. They may also look at your income, employment history, and other factors.
▶︎ See our picks: Best credit cards for bad credit or best credit cards for no credit
Pros and cons of cards with no credit check requirement
Pros
- Easier to qualify for
- Can provide a way to build credit
- Do not require a credit history or minimum score
Cons
- Often have higher interest rates
- Usually require a security deposit
- Most don’t earn rewards
Why do issuers check credit?
Credit card issuers check applicants’ credit histories to determine whether to take the risk by lending them money. A higher credit score signifies the applicant has a history of on-time payments and responsible use. A lower credit score tells them the applicant may be more likely to default on payments, so they’re riskier.
Many credit card issuers, like Capital One, offer a “preapproval screening” which does a soft pull on your credit history to give a general idea of how likely you are to be approved. However, even if you get preapproved, you may still be denied if you apply, as the issuer will then do a hard inquiry.
How to choose a credit card with no credit check
When looking for a credit card that doesn’t require a credit check, it’s important to consider a few crucial factors, such as:
- Security deposit requirements. How much does the issuer require you to deposit to open an account? Can you fund that required deposit?
- Annual fee. Some credit cards with no credit check charge an annual fee while others don’t. Are you willing to pay a yearly fee?
- Income requirements. Within the fine print, some credit card companies require you to meet certain income requirements. Check to make sure you meet these requirements before applying.
- ID requirements. You’ll need to verify your identity, likely with a social security number (SSN) or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN).
- Age requirements. You can’t apply for your own credit card before the age of 18. If you’re under 18, you’ll need to get added as an authorized user to an adult’s account.
- Credit score. You won’t need to meet a minimum score requirement for a no-credit-check card, but it’s still a good idea to check your credit score. You may even discover your score is high enough to qualify for a better card!
Featured partner offers
Advertiser DisclosureChime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card
Key Information
No rewards. Works similarly to a debit card but helps to build credit. Does not require a credit check. No annual fee. Must receive a single qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more to apply (see card details).
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OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
LEARN MORE
on Capital Bank's secure site
Key Information
Earn up to 10% back. Does not require a bank account or credit check. Minimum $200 security deposit. $35 annual fee.
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OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card
LEARN MORE
on Capital Bank's secure site
Key Information
Earn up to 10% back. Does not require a bank account or credit check to apply. Minimum $300 (refundable) security deposit. No annual fee.
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FAQ: Credit cards with no credit check
What's the easiest credit card to get approved for?
Secured credit cards with no credit check requirement are the easiest credit cards to get approved for since putting down a security deposit makes you less risky to a credit card issuer.
Can you get a credit card with no credit check?
Yes! Some cards don’t require a credit check to qualify. Others require a soft pull on your credit, but this won’t affect your credit score.
What credit cards can I get if my credit is bad?
Your options tend to be limited when your credit score is bad. Secured credit cards and credit-builder cards are easier to qualify for and some don’t even require a credit check for approval.
Which credit card has no credit check and guaranteed approval?
No credit card has guaranteed approval, but the Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card and the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card are two options with very high approval rates and no credit check requirement.
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* Opinions expressed here are those of the LA Times Compare Cards Team and have not been reviewed or approved by any advertiser or entities included within this content. See our editorial policy for more details.
All products or services are presented in this content without warranty. The information, including card details such as rates and fees, is accurate at the time of publish. Please visit each bank's website directly for the most current information.