Best secured credit cards of September 2026

A secured credit card can enable you to establish a line of credit if you have poor credit or no credit history. While the limit is usually low (and tied to a security deposit), good payment habits will put you on the path to a higher credit score — and an unsecured card with perks.

We've chosen the best secured credit cards in a variety of categories, including deposit size, credit limit, interest rate, benefits and more. (See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best cards.)

Who's this for? You can get approved for a Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card with a $49 or $99 deposit and still have a $200 credit limit.

Standout benefits: Eligible cardholders can qualify for a higher credit limit after just six months of on-time payments. Even better, you could be upgraded to the unsecured Capital One Platinum Credit Card after a period of responsible card use.

Who's this for? Worried about being restricted by a low credit limit? The Platinum Secured Mastercard® from First Tech Federal Credit Union has a maximum credit limit of $25,000.

Standout benefits: You'll earn 1X points on all purchases and won't pay an annual fee, balance transfer fee, cash advance fee or foreign transaction fees on purchases made abroad. It also features a fairly low variable APR range.

Who's this for? The DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card doesn't charge an annual fee, balance transfer fee, foreign transaction fees or cash advance fees.

Standout benefits: This card also offers a lower-than-average 15% APR. The same APR applies to balance transfers and cash advances.

Who's this for? The U.S. Bank Cash+® Secured Visa® Card offers the opportunity to automatically graduate to the unsecured U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature Card after a period of responsible card use, which is one of the best cash-back cards on the market.

Standout benefits: This card earns cash back in categories of your choice, including internet and streaming, utilities, fast food, movies, gas, groceries and more.

Who's this for? The Chime Card¹ is a secured option for those who want to earn cash back but would prefer to choose their bonus categories. The amount of cash back you earn depends on your Chime status, or the number of qualifying direct deposits you have.

Standout benefits: As a Chime Prime⁵ member, you earn 5% cash back in an eligible category you choose each month (grocery stores, gas, travel, etc.)⁶ or 2% back on a category you choose each month as a Chime Plus⁵ member on up to $1,500 of eligible purchases. Both categories hinge on you making qualifying direct deposits.

Who's this for? The State Department Federal Credit Union (SDFCU) Savings Secured Visa Platinum Card offers travel-centric perks, like no foreign transaction fees, an auto rental collision damage waiver, emergency assistance and pay-per-use 24/7 roadside dispatch.

Standout benefits: Cardholders also earn 1X Flexpoints on all purchases, and credit lines start at a higher-than-average $500.

Who's this for? The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Credit Card is a top option if you want to earn flat-rate cash back. Its 1.5% cash-back rate rivals that of unsecured cash-back cards.

Standout benefits: With responsible card use, you may be upgraded to the unsecured Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card and have your security deposit returned. Plus, the card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees.

Who's this for? If your current credit score is making it difficult to get a credit card, the Opensky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card doesn't require a credit check to apply. The card has a minimum deposit of $300 and a maximum of $3,000, plus it doesn't charge an annual fee.

Standout benefits: It's rare for a secured card to offer a welcome bonus, even if the same-day funding requirement may be hard to meet for some people. The card reports to all three major credit bureaus, so your activity will be recorded no matter which credit score lenders will check.

Who's this for? If you're worried about carrying a balance, the First Progress Prestige Secured Mastercard charges a 13.49% regular APR, which is much lower than the current average credit card interest rate of roughly 21%.

Standout benefits: The First Progress Prestige Secured also earns 1% cash back rewards on payments (and up to 10% back at select merchants), which can help keep you accountable.

Who's this for? The Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card doesn't require a Social Security number (SSN) for approval, making it accessible for immigrants, foreigners and international students who want access to credit.

Standout benefits: This card has a few added benefits. It doesn't charge interest, and it earns up to 1% cash back on purchases if you're subscribed to Firstcard Premium. Plus, there are no late fees or overdraft fees and no minimum deposit requirement.

Aimed at consumers with poor (or no) credit, secured credit cards use a cash deposit as collateral. The amount of the deposit usually determines your credit limit.

Because they don't rely on your creditworthiness and don't have a minimum credit score requirement, secured cards are easier to get approved for than traditional unsecured cards.

While unsecured cards generally have more perks and higher credit limits, secured cards offer a pathway to building or rebuilding credit and graduating to an unsecured card.

When you're choosing a secured card, there are several factors you should consider:

• Fees: Look out for annual fees, processing fees and other charges.
• Interest rates: Secured cards have higher APRs, so check the rate of any card you're interested in to understand how much you'll pay for carrying a balance.
• Credit reporting: Ensure the card issuer reports to the three major credit bureaus to help build your credit history.
• Credit limit: While your security deposit often doubles as your credit limit, some card issuers will approve a $200 limit with a smaller deposit.
• Security deposit: See how much of a deposit you need to provide and make sure it's refundable.
• Upgrade policy: Find out if the card offers a pathway to an unsecured card after a period of responsible use.

If a secured card isn't right for you, there are more ways you can build a healthy credit history.

Become an authorized user

You can also be added as an authorized user on someone else's card without a credit check. You'll improve your credit score and help the primary holder earn rewards. The cardholder will be liable for any unpaid balance, however, regardless of who made the purchase.

Get a prepaid debit card

A prepaid debit card isn't linked to a traditional bank account, so there's no credit check, interest or overdraft fees. Keep in mind prepaid cards can come with lots of fees and won't help improve your credit history.

A card like the Walmart MoneyCard could be a good option. You'll earn between 1% and 3% cash back (up to $75 in cash back earnings each year when you shop at Walmart), and there aren't any monthly fees. Plus, you can opt into overdraft protection of up to $300.

Take out a credit builder loan

If you don't feel like a credit card would fit into your lifestyle, consider a credit builder loan. The funds from this loan are put into a savings account, then you make (usually fixed) monthly payments over the course of the loan term, typically 12 to 24 months.

Once you've repaid the full amount, you'll get your funds back, minus any interest or fees. A loan of this style could be good for people who are worried about being tempted into overspending, even with a secured card.

Self reports your payments to all three major credit bureaus and offers plans that start at just $25 a month. No credit check or credit score is required.

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 story 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 secured credit cards.

To determine which secured cards offer the best value for a range of consumers, CNBC Select analyzed the 22 most popular secured credit cards offered by the biggest banks, financial companies and credit unions that allow anyone to join.

We compared each card on a range of features, including annual fee, minimum security deposit, credit limit, rewards program, introductory and standard APR, welcome bonuses and foreign transaction fees, as well as factors such as required credit score and customer reviews when available. We also took into account how easy it is to upgrade the card from secured to unsecured and how quickly you can get your security deposit back.

Because it's unusual for secured credit cards to have robust rewards programs, we did not analyze how many reward points you can earn in the first year. For cardholders who are looking to rebuild credit, it's more important to practice good credit card habits — spending within your means and paying your balance on time and in full — than trying to optimize your points balance.

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Information about the U.S. Bank Cash+® Secured Visa® Card and 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.

¹To apply for a Chime Card™, Chime® Checking Account is required to apply.

²Money added to Chime Card™ will be held in a secured deposit account as collateral for your Chime Card, and you can spend up to this amount. You can use money deposited in your Secured Deposit Account to pay off your charges at the end of every month.

³ Chime is a financial technology company, not a bank. Banking services provided by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC. The secured Chime 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.

^₄Eligibility requirements and limits apply. See the Chime app for details.

⁵To be eligible for Chime Prime status, receive $3,000+ in qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account in the past 34 days. To be eligible for Chime Plus status, receive either 1) a single $200+ qualifying direct deposit; or 2) $400+ in cumulative qualifying direct deposits to your Chime Checking Account in the preceding 34 days. Certain products marketed as perks have additional eligibility requirements. While some perks may have associated fees, none of these fees are mandatory to access the perks or to maintain the applicable status. See the Chime Membership Tiers Terms and Conditions for details.

⁶With qualifying direct deposits, earn 5% cash back as a Chime Prime member or 2% cash back as a Chime Plus member on up to $1,500 of eligible secured Chime Visa® Credit Card purchases. See the Secured Chime Visa® Credit Card - Cash Rewards Program Addendum for limitations and details on earning cash back on your monthly selected category.