The best secured credit cards in the U.S. for 2027

• You can complete your deposit in multiple payments within 35 days after approval.
• You may contribute additional funds to increase your initial limit, up to the maximum allowed.
• Capital One automatically reviews your eligibility for a credit limit increase starting at six months.
• Reports to the three major credit bureaus.
• You may get your deposit back through an eligible upgrade or by closing your account with no outstanding balance.

If you have limited savings, this option may allow you to keep more money available. However, qualifying for a reduced deposit depends on an individual assessment.

What we love: The possibility of starting with a security deposit lower than your initial credit limit, which isn’t common among all secured credit cards.

Alternative: Capital One Quicksilver Secured, if you want to earn rewards on your purchases.

• Earn 1.5% cash back on all eligible purchases.
• You can redeem rewards as a statement credit, check, gift cards, or other available options.
• You don’t need to activate spending categories.

• You can fund your deposit through partial payments within the allowed period.
• You may increase your initial limit by providing additional security funds, subject to conditions.
• Automatic reviews for potential credit limit increases starting at six months.
• Reports activity to the three major credit bureaus.
• Your deposit may be refunded when you meet Capital One’s criteria.

If you use the card for everyday purchases and pay your balance in full, you can earn cash back without paying interest. This makes it appealing to people who want to build credit without giving up rewards.

What we love: Its cash back program is straightforward because all eligible purchases earn the same base rate.

Alternative: Capital One Platinum Secured, if you’d prefer to try qualifying for an initial deposit below $200.

• You can access offers at participating retailers.
• No fixed cash back rate is advertised for all purchases.
• The temporary promotion offers a $20 credit if you fund a $300 security deposit on the same day you’re approved and meet the other conditions.

• No traditional credit check is required to apply.
• Your deposit determines your available credit limit, subject to approval.
• Reports to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.
• You can use it to build credit history through responsible payments.
• Your deposit is refundable according to the account closure terms.

If you’ve been denied credit because of your history, this card may offer a different way to get started. Not requiring a traditional credit check is helpful, but you still need to meet identity verification and funding requirements.

What we love: It lets you focus on rebuilding credit without relying on a minimum credit score to apply.

Alternative: OpenSky Plus Secured Visa, if you can make a larger deposit and want to avoid an annual fee.

The welcome promotion offers:

• $30 credit: when you deposit $500 on the same day, if you meet the requirements.
• $70 credit: when you deposit $1,000 on the same day, if you meet the requirements.

These are temporary incentives, not ongoing purchase rewards.

• No traditional credit check is required to apply.
• Your initial limit corresponds to the approved security deposit.
• You can fund a larger deposit to obtain a higher credit line, within the permitted limits.
• Reports activity to the three major credit bureaus.
• The welcome promotion requires approval and same-day funding.

This option may suit you if your priority is avoiding an annual fee while rebuilding credit. However, you need more money upfront than with the standard version.

What we love: It combines no annual fee with an application process that doesn’t require a traditional credit check.

Alternative: OpenSky Secured Visa, if you have $200 to get started and can afford its annual fee.

• Earn 1% cash back on payments that qualify under the First Progress Rewards program.
• You can access promotions of up to 10% at participating merchants, subject to conditions.
• Base rewards are tied to eligible payments, not automatically to every purchase made.

• No minimum credit score is required.
• No previous credit history is needed to apply.
• May perform a soft credit inquiry that doesn’t affect your credit score.
• Reports to the three major credit bureaus.
• Variable APR for cash advances: 22.74%.
• Cash advance fee: $10 or 3%, whichever is greater.

If you usually make payments on time, this card may interest you because of its relatively low purchase APR. However, paying an annual fee only makes sense if its features outweigh that cost for you.

What we love: Its rewards program recognizes eligible payments, a feature that differs from traditional cash back on purchases.

Alternative: Capital One Quicksilver Secured, if you want direct rewards on purchases and prefer to avoid an annual fee.

• No fixed cash back percentage is advertised for purchases.
• Includes Visa benefits in categories such as travel, entertainment, and experiences.
• Its main appeal is its interest rates and fee structure rather than a rewards program.

• Credit union membership is required.
• Your credit line is backed by available funds in a savings account.
• No balance transfer fee.
• No foreign transaction fee.
• No cash advance fee, although cash advances may accrue interest.
• Includes fraud alerts and temporary card locking.

If you meet the membership requirements, this card may be appealing for keeping costs low. Before applying, check how much money you need to maintain as collateral and what interest rate you would receive.

What we love: It doesn’t charge several common fees and may offer a lower interest rate than other secured credit cards.

Alternative: First Progress Platinum Prestige Secured, if you prefer to compare another option with a relatively low APR without DCU’s membership requirement.