How to Get a Free Credit Card (2024)

FAQs

Can a credit card be free? ›

Credit cards with no annual fee offer the flexibility of credit without the cost of a yearly fee. No annual fee credit cards help reduce your cost of credit while offering you a variety of features such as rewards, cash back on every purchase or lower interest rates.

If you have a fair credit score between 580 and 669, you may be able to qualify for credit cards that have limits up to $500, $700 or more. As an example, the Credit One Bank Wander® Card for fair credit offers credit limits that start at $500.

A secured credit card could help you build your credit history² to make more things possible tomorrow. Your credit line will equal your deposit amount, starting at $200.

The Discover it^® Secured Credit Card is our top pick for easiest credit card to get because it's geared toward those with limited / poor credit.

Credit cards that offer both rewards and no annual fee aren't common, but they do exist. For example, some high-street stores and supermarkets offer no annual fee credit cards and loyalty points to help you save on your shopping. However, cards with the best rewards will typically charge an annual fee.

A credit card with an introductory 0 percent APR can help you manage new debt or pay off old balances. However, a 0 percent intro APR card can hurt your credit if it causes you to carry a higher balance than usual or if you carry your balance beyond the introductory 0 percent APR period.

There are many starter credit cards which allow cardmembers to build up their credit without having to put money down as collateral. These include store credit cards, low-limit credit cards, and student credit cards.

First Progress Platinum Elite Secured Mastercard: The First Progress Platinum Elite Secured Mastercard requires no credit history or minimum credit score for approval. Your security deposit is refundable, and the card is accepted nationwide.

If your goal is to get or maintain a good credit score, two to three credit card accounts, in addition to other types of credit, are generally recommended. This combination may help you improve your credit mix. Lenders and creditors like to see a wide variety of credit types on your credit report.

The best credit card overall is the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card because it gives 2% cash rewards on purchases and has a $0 annual fee. For comparison purposes, the average cash rewards card gives about 1% back.

What credit cards approve you fast? ›

While there isn't a specific income requirement for a card, evaluating your access to income allows a bank to determine your credit health and whether or not they want to lend you money based on their confidence in your ability to make your payments.

If you have an income and a good credit score, you may be approved for most credit cards with no deposit, including cash back, travel, and student credit cards.

Exploring 0% introductory or promotional rates and how you can use them. A 0% credit card is a credit card with a 0% introductory/promotional interest rate available for a set duration. This means you can spread costs by paying off less than the full amount each month and still pay no interest.

Annual fee

Many credit cards charge a fee every year just for having the card. Annual fees typically range from $95 to upwards of $500. Most cards charge the same fee every year, though some cards may waive the annual fee for the first year you hold the card.

A 0% APR credit card can be useful for consolidating existing credit card debt or making a large purchase. Such cards offer interest-free periods, which typically range from six months to nearly two years, during which you're not being charged interest on your purchases, balance transfers or both.