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Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. SHARE: Strauss/Curtis/Getty Images June 03, 2022 Checkmark Bankrate logo How is this page expert verified? At Bankrate, we take the accuracy of our content seriously. "Expert verified" means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced. Their reviews hold us accountable for publishing high-quality and trustworthy content. Holly Johnson writes expert content on personal finance, credit cards, loyalty and insurance topics. In addition to writing for Bankrate and CreditCards.com, Johnson does ongoing work for clients that include CNN, Forbes Advisor, LendingTree, Time Magazine and more. Mariah Ackary is a personal finance editor who joined the Bankrate team in 2019, excited by the opportunity to help people make good financial decisions. Send your questions to Cathleen's stories on design, travel and business have appeared in dozens of publications including the Washington Post, Town & Country, Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Fodor’s Travel, Departures and The Writer. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate, we have a mission to demystify the credit cards industry — regardless or where you are in your journey — and make it one you can navigate with confidence. Our team is full of a diverse range of experts from credit card pros to data analysts and, most importantly, people who shop for credit cards just like you. With this combination of expertise and perspectives, we keep close tabs on the credit card industry year-round to: Meet you wherever you are in your credit card journey to guide your information search and help you understand your options. Consistently provide up-to-date, reliable market information so you're well-equipped to make confident decisions. Reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible, so you can make the right decision for you. At Bankrate, we focus on the points consumers care about most: rewards, welcome offers and bonuses, APR, and overall customer experience. Any issuers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide to consumers at each of these levels. At each step of the way, we fact-check ourselves to prioritize accuracy so we can continue to be here for your every next. Bankrate logo Editorial integrity
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You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. Rewards credit cards are hugely popular. Who wouldn’t want to earn cash back or points on every purchase? Unfortunately, the best rewards cards typically require good or excellent credit, so you’ll need to be strategic before you apply. Each application will trigger a on your credit report, which is why it’s best to minimize rejected applications. Read on to learn what you can do to prepare for a rewards card without good credit, plus some cards you might be able to get approved for right away. What is a rewards credit card
A rewards credit card is a type of credit card that gives you for each dollar you charge to your card. For example, a typical cash back credit card might offer 2 percent back on all your spending, or $2 in rewards for every $100 you charge to your credit card. Instead of cash, some cards reward spending with points you can redeem for airline miles or hotel stays. Because rewards credit cards are premium cards, they are typically geared to consumers with good to , which typically means a FICO score of 670 or higher. This may leave you feeling somewhat limited if your credit score isn’t that great. Still, it can make sense to to see where you stand before you apply. You may find that your credit score is better than you thought, but you’ll never know unless you check. Best rewards credit cards for fair credit
If you have a , any FICO score from 580 to 669, there are several rewards cards you may be able to get approved for right away. You may even be able to find a decent . Upgrade Visa Card with Cash Rewards
The is another card made for people with fair credit, and it’s a smart option to consider if you want to avoid annual fees. Cardholders earn a flat 1.5 percent cash back on everything they buy. This card also reports your payments to the three credit bureaus, so it can help you build credit over time. Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Geared to consumers with fair credit, the lets you earn 1.5 percent unlimited cash back for each dollar you spend. This card does come with a $39 annual fee. You can redeem your rewards for cash back, statement credits or gift cards. Best rewards credit cards for bad credit
If you’re looking for a rewards card and you have bad credit, you’ll probably have to go with a that requires a cash deposit as collateral. Consider these secured cards that let you earn rewards for your spending. Discover it Secured Credit Card
The requires a cash deposit as collateral, but you’ll get the chance to earn rewards without an annual fee. Specifically, you can rack up 2 percent back on up to $1,000 in combined spending at restaurants and gas stations each quarter (then 1 percent) and 1 percent back on all other purchases. Discover will also match all the rewards you earn after the first year. Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card
The comes with a minimum security deposit requirement of just $200, and cardholders get to earn 1.5 percent cash back for each dollar they spend. There is no annual fee to worry about, and you can qualify for an automatic credit line review in as little as six months. Best rewards credit cards for no credit
Finally, a handful of rewards credit cards may be available to you if you have no credit at all. By applying now and using your card responsibly, you can begin building the credit you’ll need later in life. Petal 2 Cash Back No Fees Visa Credit Card
If you are trying to , the Petal 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa Credit Card can help. The doesn’t charge an annual fee or any hidden fees, but you get the chance to build credit with a credit limit of up to $10,000. You also earn 1 percent in cash back on eligible purchases right away, up to 1.25 percent in cash back in eligible purchases after six months of on-time payments and up to 1.5 percent cash in eligible purchases back after you’ve made 12 on-time monthly payments on your credit card. Journey Student Rewards from Capital One
Students without any credit history should consider the . This card doesn’t charge an annual fee, and you’ll earn 1 percent cash back on all purchases—boosted to 1.25 percent for the month when the card is paid on time. Cardholders also earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, terms apply. How to get a rewards card without good credit
It is possible to get a rewards credit card without stellar credit. You just need to keep your mind open and know what to look for. The following tips can help you find and qualify for a card that will let you earn points or miles for each dollar you spend. Level your expectations
You need to be prepared for the fact that you won’t qualify for the best rewards cards without good or excellent credit. You can, however, qualify for some lower-tier rewards credit cards that will let you earn something. They’ll likely offer fewer perks and cardholder benefits, but they’re a good starting point. Be flexible about the type of rewards
If your credit is fair or poor, you’ll also need to be flexible in terms of the type of rewards you earn. You may not get to earn airline miles in the exact frequent flyer program you wanted, or you might not get to earn points in a top rewards program like or . Rewards credit cards for fair credit or bad credit may only let you earn cash back, which is certainly better than nothing. Choose a card you can qualify for
You may need to consider different types of credit cards, some of which may seem less than ideal. If your according to FICO standards (579 or below), then you may need to consider a secured credit card that requires a cash deposit as collateral. Meanwhile, you can also consider that let you rack up rewards with a specific retailer. Both secured credit cards and store credit cards tend to be considerably easier to qualify for when compared to traditional unsecured credit cards from issuers like Chase or American Express. Build your credit to earn better rewards
If you want access to the top rewards credit cards, it’s worth spending some time building your credit score before you apply. Some steps you can take : Become an on a family member’s credit card — as long as they have good credit and a strong credit history already. Use to build credit using rent and utility payments. Apply for a secured credit card or store card to begin building a credit history. Make sure all your bills are paid on time or early to improve your payment history. Pay down debt in order to lower your credit utilization rate. Monitor your credit reports from all three bureaus for errors, which you can do for free using . The bottom line
You can earn credit card rewards if your credit score needs some work, but you’ll need to be flexible in terms of the type of rewards you earn and the card you apply for. Your best bet is settling on a card you like and using it responsibly so you can build credit over time. With enough on-time credit card payments and the passage of time, you may be able to qualify for any credit card you want — including the . SHARE: Holly Johnson writes expert content on personal finance, credit cards, loyalty and insurance topics. In addition to writing for Bankrate and CreditCards.com, Johnson does ongoing work for clients that include CNN, Forbes Advisor, LendingTree, Time Magazine and more. Mariah Ackary is a personal finance editor who joined the Bankrate team in 2019, excited by the opportunity to help people make good financial decisions. Send your questions to Cathleen's stories on design, travel and business have appeared in dozens of publications including the Washington Post, Town & Country, Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Fodor’s Travel, Departures and The Writer. Related Articles