Best Credit Cards for Building Credit of 2026
The best credit cards for building credit are designed for people with limited, poor, or no credit history. These cards report to all three major credit bureaus, helping you establish a positive payment history. Whether you prefer a secured card with a refundable deposit or an unsecured option, we've curated the top picks to help you on your credit-building journey.
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to build credit or earn rewards, the right card is out there. Answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
- Our pick for: No-deposit starter card — high accessibilityAPPLY NOWon Arro's websiteAnnual fee$60* (*discounted in Year 1 for starting credit lines under $300)Min. depositN/ARec. credit score300-850 (Poor - Excellent)Regular APR24.99% Variable APRRewards rate1%CashbackIntro offerN/A
- Our pick for: Unsecured card — bad credit acceptedAPPLY NOWon Destiny's websiteAnnual feeSee termsMin. depositN/ARec. credit score300-639 (Poor - Fair)Regular APRSee termsRewards rateN/AIntro offerN/A
- Our pick for: Secured card — automatic credit limit increaseAPPLY NOWon Merrick Bank's websiteAnnual fee$36 for first year. Billed $3 per month thereafterMin. deposit$200Rec. credit scoreSee website for Details*Regular APR22.20%Cash Advance APR27.20% VariableForeign Transaction FeeNoneRewards rateN/AIntro offerN/A
- 2026 Best secured card for no credit checkAnnual fee$24 during the first year, paid in installments of $2 per month. $36 after the first year, paid in installments of $3 per month.Min. deposit$150 - $1,000Rec. credit score300-850 (All credit types)Regular APR28.24% (variable)Rewards rateN/AIntro offerN/A
How we choose the best credit cards
Our team of credit card experts has developed a rigorous methodology to determine how much value a card delivers and how it stacks up against its competitors.
Our rating methodology
Our formula evaluates annual fees, APR, credit-building features (bureau reporting, credit limit increases), rewards potential, and accessibility for people with limited credit. We weight credit-building features most heavily for this category, as the primary goal is establishing a positive credit history.
What to look for in a credit-building cardBACK TO TOP
Reports to all three credit bureaus. This is non-negotiable. A card that only reports to one or two bureaus limits your credit-building potential. All five cards on this list report to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.
Low or no annual fee. A starter card with a high annual fee eats into any value you receive. Look for cards with $0 annual fees or modest fees that are offset by rewards or other benefits.
A path to a better card. The best credit-building cards offer a clear upgrade path — either to an unsecured version of the same card or to a better product with the same issuer. This preserves your credit history length.
Reasonable APR. While you should always pay your balance in full, a lower APR provides a safety net. Avoid cards with extremely high rates (above 30%) if possible.
Credit limit increase opportunities. Cards that offer periodic credit limit reviews or automatic increases (like the Merrick Bank Mastercard) help lower your utilization ratio faster.