Getting a credit card when your score looks like a disaster—or when you don’t even have one yet—is a special kind of stress. You apply, you wait, and then you get that "thanks but no thanks" letter in the mail. Honestly, it’s frustrating. You need credit to build credit, but nobody wants to give you the card to start the process.
It's a "chicken and the egg" problem.
But here is the reality: some cards are literally designed for people that banks usually ignore. If you're looking for the easiest credit card to get, you have to stop looking at the shiny rewards cards with the metal frames and start looking at "secured" cards or fintech startups that use "cash-flow underwriting" instead of just a FICO score.
Why Some Cards Say "Yes" When Others Say "No"
Banks aren't being mean; they're just scared of losing money. When you have a 520 score, you're a "high-risk" bet to them. To get around this, the easiest cards to get usually use one of two tricks.
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First, there's the security deposit. You give them $200, and they give you a $200 limit. If you don't pay your bill, they keep your $200. It's basically a training-wheels credit card. Because you've already covered the risk with your own cash, they almost always say yes.
Then there's the "new-school" approach. Companies like Petal or Chime don't just look at your credit report. They look at your bank account. If they see you have a steady job and you aren't overdrawing your account every Tuesday, they might give you a card even if your credit score is non-existent.
The Heavy Hitter: OpenSky® Secured Visa®
If you want the absolute highest chance of approval, the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is the one people talk about most. Why? Because they don't even perform a credit check.
Think about that. They don't care if you had a bankruptcy yesterday or if you’ve never even seen a credit report. You just need to be 18, have a Social Security number, and have the money for the deposit.
Expert Note: OpenSky reports to all three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). This is the only reason to get the card. If a card doesn't report your on-time payments, it's not helping you build credit; it's just a glorified gift card.
The downside? There’s an annual fee. In 2026, the OpenSky® Plus version has a $0 annual fee but requires a slightly higher deposit (usually starting around $300). The standard version usually runs about $35 a year. It’s a "fee for service" basically. You’re paying for the privilege of being trusted.
The Unsecured Options (No Deposit Needed)
Maybe you don't have $200 to $500 just sitting around to tie up in a deposit. I get it. Inflation hasn't exactly been kind lately.
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In that case, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card is usually the gold standard for "fair" credit. If your score is in the low 600s, this is often the easiest unsecured credit card to get.
- No Annual Fee: This is huge.
- Automatic Increases: They usually check your account after 6 months. If you’ve been good, they bump up your limit.
- The "Pre-Approval" Tool: This is the most important part. Capital One has a tool that tells you if you’ll get the card before you actually apply. It’s a "soft pull," so it won't hurt your score just to check.
Then there’s the Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa®. This card is a bit of a rebel. It’s issued by WebBank and uses "Leap" technology to look at your banking history. If you're a student or someone starting a second act in life, Petal 2 is great because it has no annual fee, no late fees, and it actually gives you 1% to 1.5% cash back.
What About Chime?
You've probably seen the ads for the Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card. It’s technically a secured card, but it works differently. There’s no fixed deposit. You move money from your Chime Checking account to your Credit Builder account, and that’s how much you can spend.
There is no credit check. None. No interest. No annual fee.
The catch? You have to have a Chime Checking account and a qualifying direct deposit (usually $200+) to get it. It’s a "membership" ecosystem. If you’re already using Chime or willing to switch, it’s arguably the most painless way to see your score go up without the risk of getting into debt.
Easiest Credit Card to Get for Students
If you are currently in college, you are in the "VIP" lane for easy approvals. Banks love students because they want to catch you early and keep you for the next 40 years.
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The Discover it® Student Cash Back is widely considered the best in this category.
- No Credit Score Required: You can literally have a "0" score and get approved.
- Great Rewards: You get 5% cash back on rotating categories (like gas or groceries) and Discover matches all the cash back you earn in your first year.
- Good Habits: They don't charge a late fee on your very first late payment. (But seriously, don't be late.)
The "Store Card" Trap
You’re at the checkout, and the cashier offers you 20% off if you open a store card. These are often some of the easiest credit cards to get, but they come with a "high interest" warning.
The Amazon Secured Card is a solid option if you’re a Prime member. It gives you 2% back on Amazon and Whole Foods. But most store cards—like the ones from clothing retailers—have APRs that hover around 30%. If you don't pay the full balance every single month, that 20% discount you got at the register will be eaten alive by interest in about eight weeks.
Practical Steps to Get Approved Today
Don't just go out and apply for five cards at once. That’s called "shotgunning," and it makes you look desperate to the credit bureaus, which actually lowers your score.
1. Check for Pre-Approval First
Always use the pre-approval tools on sites like Capital One, Discover, or American Express. These don't affect your credit score. If they say you aren't a match, don't submit the hard application.
2. Gather Your Income Data
In 2026, lenders are stricter about verifying income. Even if you’re a student, you can count "accessible" income. This includes scholarships, grants, or money your parents regularly send you for bills. Be honest, but be thorough.
3. Fix the "Low-Hanging Fruit"
Before you apply, check your current report for errors. Sometimes a "bad" score is just a mistake. Also, if you have a current card that’s maxed out, pay it down to below 30% of the limit. Your score will often jump 20-40 points within a month, making you eligible for much better cards.
4. Start with a Secured Card if You're Sub-550
If your score is under 550, just bite the bullet and get a secured card. Use it for a small recurring subscription (like Netflix), set it to autopay, and put it in a drawer. In 6 to 12 months, you’ll likely be able to "graduate" to a real card and get your deposit back.
Building credit is a marathon, not a sprint. The easiest card today is just the stepping stone to the "best" card next year.
Next Steps for Your Credit Journey:
- Visit the Capital One or Discover website and run their "Check for Pre-approval" tool to see if you qualify for an unsecured card without a hard credit pull.
- If you have a $200 security deposit ready, look into the Discover it® Secured card first, as it offers a path to an unsecured card and earns rewards, unlike most other secured options.
- Download a free app like Credit Karma or Experian to monitor your "Credit Utilization" ratio, as keeping this under 10% is the fastest way to improve your approval odds for your next card.