10 easiest credit cards to get approved for in May 2024

The Citi Premier® Card is no longer available for new applicants.

Many of the top travel credit cards and rewards credit cards can be difficult to qualify for as a beginner and usually require good to excellent credit. If you are unable to qualify for those cards, you still have options for earning rewards with a variety of credit cards that are easier to get. Many of these cards are available to you even if you have fair credit or no credit.

CNBC Select analyzed the most popular cards to determine the easiest credit cards to get in a variety of categories. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the easiest credit cards to get).

Who's this for? The Discover it® Student Cash Back is available to college students with fair credit or limited credit history. Not only is this card easy to get, but it also earns cash back on every purchase.

Standout benefits: You don't tend to find generous welcome bonus offers with student credit cards or other easy-to-get cards, but the Discover it® Student Cash Back card is an exception. For all new cardmembers, all of the cash back you earn in the first year will automatically be matched by Discover. There's no limit to this offer, so if you earn $300 cash back in your first year, you'll get an additional $300 at the end of that year.

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Who's this for? The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is an excellent secured credit card that not only earns rewards but also comes with a potentially lucrative welcome bonus.

Standout benefits: The cash back you earn during the first year you have the card will be matched. There's no minimum spending requirement, so you won't risk missing out on your intro bonus. Plus, this card charges no foreign transaction fees.

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Who's this for? The Capital One Platinum Credit Card doesn't offer rewards, but it may be available to you even if you have fair to good credit and don't want to make an upfront deposit.

Standout benefits: This card could be the perfect bridge to improving your credit score (without needing a security deposit) and working your way to more rewarding credit cards. After only six months Capital One will automatically review your account for a potential credit line increase or upgrade to a rewards card.

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Who's this for? The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is geared toward students who spend a significant amount on dining, entertainment, streaming services and groceries, with rewards rates that compare favorably to what you find with non-student credit cards.

Standout benefits: Cardholders earn 10% back on Uber Eats orders and Uber rides, plus receive a statement credit for the monthly Uber One fee through Nov. 14, 2024. With Uber One you can save even more on orders with reduced delivery fees and up to 10% off eligible Uber Eats orders.

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Who's this for? The Citi Double Cash Card is one of the best cash-back credit cards with no annual fee. Normally, you'd need a good to excellent credit score to be approved for the top credit cards, but you can get the Citi Double Cash Card with fair or average credit.

Standout benefits: The best part of this card is its simplicity. Cardholders earn 2% back on every purchase: 1% back when you buy and 1% back when you pay.

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Who's this for? The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card is open to applicants with no credit history, including those without a social security number. Instead of requiring a credit score, your banking activity and other financial data can determine your eligibility for the card.

Standout benefits: You can boost your cash back by making on-time payments. Cardholders start off earning 1% cash back and can earn up to 1.5% back after making 12 on-time monthly payments.

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Who's this for? The First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card is ideal for those seeking an unusually low starting variable APR.

Standout benefits: This is a secured credit card, but it earns 1% cash back on every payment. This allows you to earn rewards while you're working to rebuild or boost your credit score.

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Who's this for? The U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card is easy to get, even with poor credit or no credit, because it is a secured credit card and requires an upfront deposit. But unlike many other secured credit cards, it has a generous rewards structure.

Standout benefits: This card allows you to customize where you earn bonus cash back. You receive 5% on the first $2,000 spent in combined eligible purchases each quarter in two of 12 categories of your choice. You'll also earn 2% back in one additional category of your choice.

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Who's this for? The Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card provides an opportunity to improve your business' credit while earning rewards.

Standout benefits: This card offers a generous 1.5% cash back on all purchases, which is a higher-than-average return for everyday purchases, especially for a secured business card.

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Who's this for? The Chase Freedom Rise℠ is a credit designed for anyone new to credit and offers a great opportunity to build a relationship with Chase. According to Chase, having a Chase checking account with a balance of at least $250 will increase your chances of getting approved for this card.

Standout benefits: This card earns 1.5% back on all purchases, which is an above-average return for a regular credit card and is exceptional for a credit card designed for those who are establishing their credit history.

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The ability to earn cash back in rotating categories makes Discover it® Student Cash Back a valuable choice for students looking for a card that's easier to qualify for.

Rewards

• 5% back for up to $1,500 in purchases in rotating quarterly bonus categories you activate throughout the year (then 1%).
• 1% back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Discover will match the cash back you earn during the first year with no minimum spending requirement or cap on the match for all new card members.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

The Discover it® Student Cash Back card has no foreign transaction fees, which is helpful for anyone who is studying abroad or travels internationally during school breaks. Cardholders also receive an introductory 0% APR on new purchases for the first six months. After the introductory period, an 18.24% - 27.24% variable APR applies.

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The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is an easier credit card to get, even if you're in the process of rebuilding your credit. It allows you to earn rewards as you improve your credit score and offers a clear path to upgrading to an unsecured card.

Rewards

• 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Discover will match the cash back you earn during the first year with no minimum spending requirement or cap on the match.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

The Discover it® Secured Credit Card requires a minimum $200 refundable security deposit, but after seven months there's an automatic review to see if you can be moved to an unsecured card. This takes the guesswork out of wondering when you'll qualify for an unsecured credit card.

There are no foreign transaction fees, so you won't be charged for using the card abroad. The cashback you earn can be redeemed at any time with no minimums, including directly through PayPal.

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The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is a credit-builder card that offers a path to upgrading to a more rewarding credit card in as little as six months.

Rewards

None

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

$0 (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

This card has no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees) and grants users free access to CreditWise, which is Capital One's credit monitoring service. You can also save 50% on handcrafted beverages at Capital One Cafés when you pay with your Capital One card.

To help you avoid an unnecessary hard pull on your credit report, Capital One offers pre-approval for this card. Capital One automatically considers cardholders for a higher credit line or upgrade to a rewards card in as little as six months.

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The Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a card designed for students with rewards rates that match many of the top cash-back credit cards.

Rewards

• 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats through Nov. 14, 2024
• 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases
• 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
• 3% cash back on dining
• 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®)
• 3% cash back on popular streaming services
• 3% cash back on entertainment
• 1% cash back on all other purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn a $50 cash bonus after spending $100 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.

Annual fee

$0 (see rates and fees)

Notable perks

This card has no foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees) and provides access to Capital One Dining and Capital One Entertainment. When you need to get off campus to study, you can take advantage of 50% off handcrafted beverages at all Capital One Cafés.

Eligible purchases qualify for protections such as travel accident insurance and extended warranty protection*. Capital One also offers cardholders complimentary access to CreditWise®, its credit monitoring service.

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What makes the Citi Double Cash Card such a great no-annual-fee credit card is the uncapped 2% back you earn on all eligible purchases.

Rewards

Earn 2% cash back on all purchases: 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay. For a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel^SM portal through 12/31/24.

Welcome bonus

Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

When you complete a balance transfer with the Citi Double Cash® Card in the first four months of opening the account, that transfer receives an introductory balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount you transfer ($5 minimum). After the intro period, there's a balance transfer fee of 5% of the amount you transfer ($5 minimum). New cardmembers will receive 0% intro APR for the first 18 months (then a 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR)

While it is technically a cash-back card, it earns cash back in the form of Citi ThankYou® points. This gives you more options for redeeming your points. You can use ThankYou points to get cash back (checks, direct deposits, statement credits) and other redemptions, such as gift cards at a value of one cent per point. You can also transfer these points to three travel loyalty programs: JetBlue, Wyndham and Choice Hotels. If you pair this card with the Citi Premier® Card, you'll unlock access to even more transfer partners, including Turkish Airlines, Avianca and Singapore Airlines.

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The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card isn't just easy to get, but also has no fees, including no late payment fee. Instead of judging your creditworthiness solely based on credit history, Petal may ask you to link bank accounts during the application process. Then, WebBank, analyzes your bank statements and other data, such as bill payments and earnings, to determine your eligibility.

Rewards

• 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away, which can increase up to 1.5% cash back after you make 12 on-time monthly payments
• 2% to 10% cash back at select merchants

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

The best part of the Petal 2 card is its lack of fees, it has no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, no late payment fee and no returned payment fee. The ability to earn up to 1.5% cash back after making 12 on-time monthly payments is not only a nice perk but a great way to encourage responsible behavior. Cardholders can also take advantage of limited-time offers for 2% to 10% back at select merchants.

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The First Progress Platinum Prestige Mastercard® Secured Credit Card is a secured card that requires a minimum upfront deposit of $200.

Rewards

• 1% cash back on all payments

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

$49

Notable perks

There's no minimum credit score required to be approved for the First Progress Platinum Prestige secured card. You will need to make an upfront refundable security deposit of $200 to $2,000 and your credit limit is based on your deposit. You can redeem the cash rewards you earn as a statement credit toward your balance.

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The flexibility with what purchases earn the most rewards is what makes U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card a good choice for anyone who wants to earn cash back.

Rewards

• 5% cash back on prepaid airfare, hotels and car rentals booked through the U.S. Bank Rewards Travel Center
• 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter in two categories you choose. Eligible categories include cell phone providers; TV, internet and streaming; home utilities; fast food restaurants; gyms; ground transportation; furniture stores; sporting goods stores; select clothing stores; electronics stores; department stores; and movie theaters.
• 2% cash back on eligible purchases in your choice of one everyday category (like gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants)
• 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

The main benefit of the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card is its flexible bonus reward categories. Plus, the cash back you earn with this card is easy to redeem. You can redeem cash back for a statement credit, a deposit to a U.S. Bank account (savings, checking or money market) or a prepaid U.S. Bank Rewards card. You'll need at least $25 to make a redemption.

New cardholders must put down a deposit of between $300 and $5,000 which acts as your credit line. If you spend within your credit limit and pay your bill when it's due, U.S. Bank could eventually upgrade you to the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card, at which time your security deposit will be returned.

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The Bank of America Business Advantage Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured credit card is a secured business credit card that's designed to offer businesses with poor credit a chance to turn things around.

Rewards

• 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases

Welcome bonus

None

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

Through Bank of America's Business Advantage 360 you can view your Dun & Bradstreet business credit score for free. Eligible purchases also qualify for car rental insurance, emergency ticket replacement and lost luggage assistance.

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The Chase Freedom Rise℠ is a no-annual-fee card geared toward those just starting their credit journey. It is easier to qualify for if you're an existing Chase checking account customer with a balance of at least $250.

Rewards

• 5% cash back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025
• 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases

Welcome bonus

Earn a $25 statement credit after enrolling in automatic payments within the first three months of opening the account.

Annual fee

$0

Notable perks

You can redeem the cash back you earn with the Chase Freedom Rise for gift cards, statement credits, travel and more. And as you build your credit history, this card provides a path to upgrading to other Chase credit cards, such as the Chase Freedom Flex℠ and Chase Freedom Unlimited®.

It also provides peace of mind with perks such as purchase protection, extended warranty protection and trip cancellation/interruption insurance. Anyone who loves delivery can enroll to receive three months of complimentary DoorDash DashPass (activate by Dec. 31, 2024). After the free months, you'll be automatically enrolled in DashPass at 50% off for the next nine months.

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Just because you're a beginner or are repairing your credit doesn't mean you can't get approved for a credit card or have to sacrifice the opportunity to earn rewards. The best easy-to-get credit cards earn rewards that compete with cards with stricter credit score requirements. Even some secured credit cards can offer the opportunity to earn cash back on purchases.

After a few months of paying your bills on time and in full, you may be able to upgrade or switch to an even more generous card. The best way to know when you're ready is to keep track of your credit score using a free resource like *Experian Boost™ (FICO® Score), CreditWise from Capital One (VantageScore) or Chase Credit Journey (VantageScore).

At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best easy credit cards.

To determine which cards offer the best value for cards that are easy to be approved for, CNBC Select analyzed over 250 major credit cards issued through FDIC-insured banks and NCUA-insured credit unions that are widely available in the U.S.  

We compared each card on a range of features, including rewards (e.g., cash back, points and miles), annual fees, welcome bonuses, introductory and standard APR and balance transfer fees and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks (e.g., ongoing travel or merchant statement credits), cardholder protections (e.g., purchase protection, $0 liability protection and travel insurance), the application process when available (e.g., is there a credit pull or required credit score) and how easy it is to redeem points (e.g., are rewards are tied to a specific brand; if transferable, to how many/which partners, can you redeem for straight cash back). 
 
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.  

For the cards that offered a rewards program, we considered consumer spending data forecasts from location intelligence firm Esri to determine where U.S. consumers are spending the most money, like on dining and travel. We used this to help determine what bonus categories are most useful for consumers. Since the value of a point or mile varies based on what they can be redeemed for, we also considered things like transferability and the ability to redeem for cash-back. 

When choosing the best easy-to-get credit cards, we focused on cards that are available to consumers with no credit or poor credit. 

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*For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

*Results may vary. Some may not see improved scores or approval odds. Not all lenders use Experian credit files, and not all lenders use scores impacted by Experian Boost.

Information about the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of the card prior to publication.

Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card is issued by WebBank.

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, click here.

For rates and fees of the Discover it® Student Cash Back, click here.