The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card is no longer available to new applicants.
While income is an important factor that goes into a credit card application, having a lower income won't exclude you from opening a credit card by itself. Rather, if you have a low income, your credit limit may be lower. And you'll still need a good or excellent credit score to be eligible for the top rewards credit cards.
CNBC Select has the details on the best credit cards for low-income earners, including cards issued by a variety of banks and cards available to consumers with mixed credit scores. Plus, all of the cards mentioned in this roundup have no annual fee, so you won't have to worry about spending enough to make the card worth it. (See our methodology for more information on how we made this list.)
Best credit cards for low-income earners
- Best for bad credit: Discover it® Secured Credit Card
- Best for no annual fee: Chase Freedom Unlimited® (See rates and fees)
- Best for students: Discover it® Student Cash Back
- Best for cash back: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
- Best for 0% intro APR: Citi Simplicity® Card
- Best for building credit: Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card
Best for bad credit
Information about the Discover it® Secured Credit Card has been collected independently by CNBC Select and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer prior to publication.
Who's this for? The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is an excellent secured credit card to consider if your credit report has a few blemishes and your credit score is low.
Standout benefits: For all new cardmembers, Discover matches the cash back you earn for the first year no matter how much (or how little) you spend. Plus, automatic reviews start at 7 months to see if you can transition to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
Best for no annual fee
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is a no-annual-fee card that earns generous cash-back on everyday purchases and a lucrative welcome bonus. Plus, if you pair it with a premium Chase credit card that allows point transfers, you can convert your cash back into flexible travel rewards.
- Users get a high rewards rate and strong welcome bonus
- Purchases and balance transfers receive an intro APR
- No annual fee
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- Few rewarding ongoing benefits
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
- Enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 1.5% on all other purchases.
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can use points to redeem for cash through an account statement credit or an electronic deposit into an eligible Chase account located in the United States!
- Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.24% - 27.74%.
- No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
- Keep tabs on your credit health, Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Intro fee of either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater, in the first 60 days. After that, either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Who's this for? The Chase Freedom Unlimited® is great for anyone who likes simplicity. It provides cardholders a potentially lucrative welcome offer and the ability to earn a minimum of 1.5% cash back on every purchase without having to activate bonus categories each quarter.
Standout benefits: Cardholders enjoy an introductory APR for purchases and balance transfers.
Best for students
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 16.74% - 25.74% applies
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases
- Redeem cash back for any amount
- No annual fee
- Terms and conditions apply
Balance Transaction Fee
0% at the Transfer APR; 5% at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you at any other time
Who's this for? The Discover it® Student Cash Back is geared toward college students who want to begin earning rewards and building credit early.
Standout benefits: The Discover it® Student Cash Back card comes with the same welcome offer available with many of the best Discover cards, in which Discover will match all of the rewards you earn in the first year (for new card members in their first year only). The card also charges no foreign transaction fees.
Best for cash back
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is great if you want simplicity thanks to its flat-rate 2% unlimited cash rewards on purchases and $0 annual fee.
- High, unlimited flat-rate return on purchases
- Intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers
- Lower introductory balance transfer fee
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft (subject to a $25 deductible)
- Charges a 3% foreign transaction fee
- Balance transfer fee increases to 5% of each transfer (minimum $5) after 120 days
- Limited redemption options unless you pair it with a Wells Fargo card that allows point transfers
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $100 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.74%, 24.74%, or 28.74% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign Transaction Fee
3%
Who's this for? The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is worth considering for anyone who wants to maximize their cash rewards earnings without paying an annual fee.
Standout benefits: The Wells Fargo Active Cash Card earns a straightforward unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases. There are no bonus categories to keep track of and there is no limit to the amount of cash back you can earn. This makes it one of the best options for earning cash back on everyday purchases.
Best for 0% intro APR
The Citi Simplicity® Card has amazing intro-APR offers and is particularly valuable for balance transfers due to its lower introductory fee.
- Long intro APR offers for balance transfers
- Low intro-fee for balance transfers
- No annual fee
- No rewards
- No welcome bonus
Who's this for? The Citi Simplicity® Card can help anyone with credit card debt save on interest with its generous intro APR offer.
Standout benefits: The Citi Simplicity Card is one of the best options for transferring a credit card balance. Cardholders get a 0% intro APR for 18 months for eligible balance transfers and a 0% intro APR on purchases for 18 months from date of account opening. After the intro APR expires, a 17.74% - 28.49% variable APR applies. To qualify for the intro APR, balance transfers must be completed within the first four months of account opening. An intro balance transfer fee of 3% of the amount transferred ($5 minimum) applies, and after that, the balance transfer fee is 5% of the amount you transfer ($5 minimum).
Best for building credit
Who's this for? The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card is worth considering if you have no credit history, including those without a social security number, and are having difficulty getting approved for other credit cards. Eligibility is based on factors beyond just a credit score, such as bank statements and earnings.
Standout benefits: In addition to helping you build credit, the Petal 2 card earns 1% cash back on all purchases, and you can earn up to 1.5% back on all purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments.
More on our best credit cards for low-income earners
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is a top pick for those with bad credit (credit scores of 580 or lower). It earns rewards and offers a a clear path to upgrading to an unsecured credit card. It requires an opening deposit of at least $200 and you can secure a higher credit limit if you make a larger deposit.
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've earned at the end of your first year (for new card members in their first year only)
Annual fee
$0
Notable benefits
Cardholders enjoy a cash-back program and no foreign transaction fees. Starting seven months after opening your account, Discover will automatically review your credit card account to see if you can transition to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® has a generous intro offer that is useful for low-spenders because there is no spending requirement to meet. The card also offers a higher-than-normal return for everyday purchases that fall outside of a bonus spending category, such as groceries.
Rewards
- 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠
- 3% back at drugstores
- 3% back on dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery services)
- 1.5% on all other purchases.
Welcome bonus
Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening.
Annual fee
$0
Notable benefits
New Chase Freedom Unlimited cardholders receive an introductory APR on purchases and eligible balance transfers. Eligible purchases you make with this card qualify for purchase protection, extended warranty protection, roadside dispatch, rental car insurance (secondary) and trip cancellation/interruption insurance.
Cardholders also get six free months of DoorDash DashPass, which unlocks $0 delivery fees and reduced service fees when you activate on or after February 1, 2025 (must activate by December 31, 2027 to be eligible). Once the free membership ends, you're automatically enrolled into full-price membership at the then-current monthly rate.
Discover it® Student Cash Back
The Discover it® Student Cash Back is an easy-to-get card that gives students a chance to earn generous rewards and start building credit while they're still in college.
Rewards
- 5% back on up to $1,500 in purchases in rotating bonus categories each quarter (then 1%, activation required; See Discover's 5% cash-back calendar)
- 1% back on all other purchases
Welcome bonus
Discover will match all cash back you earn for the first year (for new card members in their first year only)
Annual fee
$0
Notable benefits
The Discover it® Student Cash Back card has no foreign transaction fees, which can save you money when studying abroad or traveling internationally. Cardholders also receive an introductory APR on new purchases. This is a helpful way to finance the purchase of books, a laptop or other school supplies. Just remember that the intro APR is only valid for a limited period, so you'll want a plan to be able to pay it back before you start paying interest.
Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
It doesn't get much simpler or more rewarding than the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card, which has no annual fee and earns unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
Rewards
- 2% cash rewards on purchases
Welcome bonus
Earn a $100 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
Annual fee
$0
Notable benefits
Cardmembers receive an intro APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. This card also comes with cell phone protection. Cardholders can be reimbursed up to $600 per claim ($25 deductible) and up to two claims per 12 months. To qualify for the coverage, you'll need to pay your monthly cell phone bill with this card.
Citi Simplicity® Card
The Citi Simplicity® Card is one of the top cards to open if you want to expedite your credit card debt payoff thanks to its intro APR offer and lower intro fee for balance transfers.
Rewards
None
Welcome bonus
None
Annual fee
$0
Notable benefits
The card's biggest benefit is its intro APR and balance transfer fee offers. And, as a Citi credit card, cardholders have access to exclusive events and experiences through Citi Entertainment.
Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card
The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card, issued by WebBank, takes a unique approach to the credit card application process, judging creditworthiness on factors beyond just credit history. It also stands out for not charging many fees associated with other cards.
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 benefits
One of the biggest benefits of this card is its lack of fees. You'll pay no annual fee, no foreign transaction fee, no late payment fee and no returned payment fee. Unlike many other credit-builder cards, it also doesn't require a security deposit.
FAQs
Can I get a credit card if my income is low?
It is possible to get a credit card if you have a low income. However, you will need enough income to show you can afford the card's monthly payments and your credit limit will likely be lower.
What are the income requirements for the best credit cards?
Most credit cards do not have an official minimum income requirement. That said, some cards have minimum credit limit requirements and your income heavily impacts your credit limit.
Can I get a credit card if I'm still in school?
There are credit cards designed for college students who are over 18. These cards typically have low or no credit score requirements and are easier for students to get approved for.
What can you include as income on a credit card application?
There are various forms of income that you can include on a credit card application beyond your salary from a job, including retirement fund distributions, social security income, scholarships allowances and gifts. You may even be able to include a spouse or other household member's income if you have a "reasonable expectation of access" to it.
Bottom line
There is no shortage of credit cards available to consumers with a lower income. If you have a good enough credit score, you still have access to cards that earn cash back or offer intro 0%-APR periods. Just be sure that the card is an affordable option for you and that you can meet the card's intro bonus spending requirement (if there is one) without carrying a balance on your card.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
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 credit cards for low-income earners.
Our methodology
To determine which credit cards are best for low-income earners, CNBC Select analyzed the most popular credit cards available to U.S. consumers. We compared each card on a range of features, including the annual fee, rewards, welcome bonus spending requirements, introductory and standard APR and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks and how easy it is to redeem points.
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For rates and fees of the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, click here.
