Bad Credit Credit Cards

Bad credit credit cards explained

Can I get a credit card with bad credit?

Its possible to get a credit card if you have a bad credit score. However, you are likely to have fewer options and less competitive deals to choose from than someone with a better credit history.

Credit builder cards and other specialist credit cards designed for those with poor credit are likely to offer the best chances of approval, but theres still no guarantee that you will be accepted for these deals. All providers will check your credit history and your overall financial situation to decide if they will approve your credit card application.

Many lenders now allow you to check your eligibility for a credit card before formally applying. This allows you to see your chances of getting a credit card from a particular provider and, because it only involves a soft credit check, it wont have any impact on your credit score.

What credit card can I get with bad credit?

The most competitive credit card offers are typically reserved for those with the best credit scores. However, there are many providers that offer specialist credit cards to those who have a poor credit score because of problems in the past, as well as those who havent yet built up a credit history as theyve never borrowed before.

These are typically very basic credit cards without many (if any) interest-free offers or rewards, and they are likely to come with higher interest rates and a lower credit limit than a more mainstream card.

How does a bad credit credit card work?

Credit cards for bad credit work in the same way as other standard credit cards as you can use them to make purchases in-store and online. You borrow money from the provider when you spend on the card and repay this sum (along with any interest charges) at a later date.

Because those with a poor credit history are perceived to be a higher risk, providers typically set stricter terms on credit builder cards.

For example, interest rates are often significantly higher and may charge an APR of 34.9% or more, compared to standard credit cards that may charge less than 24.9%.

Meanwhile, the credit limit on a credit builder card could be as little as 50, or up to 1,000, depending on the provider and your individual situation. By contrast, those with a good score could access a credit limit of several thousand pounds with a standard credit card.

Some providers may lower the interest rate or allow you to increase the credit limit on a credit builder card if you consistently make payments on time.

How are bad credit credit cards different to standard credit cards?

Although credit builder cards operate in the same way as standard credit cards overall i.e. you borrow money that youre expected to pay back there are a few key differences:

• Higher interest rates. Because youre deemed as more of a credit risk, the interest rates will typically be higher.
• Lower credit limits. You typically wont be able to borrow as much as with a standard credit card.
• Easier acceptance. Eligibility criteria is less strict, so if youve got a poor credit score youre more likely to be accepted for this kind of card.
• Fewer perks. Unlike standard credit cards which often come with 0% interest deals, rewards or cashback offers, credit builder cards will rarely offer perks (though a few have very limited interest-free periods available; check out the chart above for more details).
• Limited availability. There arent as many credit builder cards available as there are standard deals, so your options will be more limited.

Why get a credit builder card?

The main reason to get a credit builder card is to start building up your credit score. However, make sure to think carefully about why youre getting it it should only be used if youre confident you can manage it effectively, and ideally if youre going to use it for small, manageable purchases that can easily be repaid each month.

You may also consider this kind of deal if youve got a specific purchase in mind and arent eligible for a standard credit card, but in this case youll want to look for a card that has a 0% interest period to give you time to repay the balance. Those with a high enough score already will be best advised to look for a standard deal.

How to manage your credit card

Firstly, its important to stay within the specified credit limit on your card. Keep your spending small and dont get tempted to overspend and max out your card.

Ideally, you would then pay off the balance on your credit card in full each month before interest charges apply, as this can help to build and improve your credit history at no extra cost.

But, if you dont clear your balance in full, its crucial to make the minimum payment at the very least. Missing a payment or going over your credit limit is likely to be recorded on your credit history and cause your score to drop, instead of improving.

If you prove that you can responsibly manage your credit builder card (alongside any other payments and credit commitments), you could start to build up a better credit history and improve your credit score.

In turn, this can then improve your chances of being approved for a wider choice of credit cards and other forms of credit, including those with more competitive interest rates.

Top tips for using a credit builder card

• Pay off your credit card balance in full each month. This means you wont be charged any interest and proves you can stay in control of your spending.
• Dont miss any payments. If, for some reason, youre unable to clear your balance, its crucial that you make at least the minimum payment, ideally more. You can set up a direct debit to ensure you dont forget.
• Aim to use the card for your everyday, affordable expenses. These cards arent as suitable for debt consolidation or for borrowing money to spread the cost of large, expensive purchases because of their higher interest rates and their lower credit limit.
• Dont use them as a way to borrow more and build up debt. This is likely to be expensive for you and could affect your credit score.
• Never use these cards to withdraw cash. Using a credit card for cash withdrawals may come with a fee and interest is often charged daily, making it a potentially very expensive option. Furthermore, any credit card cash withdrawals are recorded on your credit file and could harm your score.

Bear in mind that, while managing a credit builder card responsibly can have a positive impact on your credit score, its important to manage the rest of your finances effectively and make any other payments in full and on-time.

Furthermore, try not to apply for any more forms of credit as you try to improve your score, as this could affect your progress.

What banks offer bad credit credit cards?

A range of providers offer credit cards to build credit, but the choice of options is likely to be more limited than for someone with a better credit history.

Some major banks offer credit builder cards but, depending on how bad your credit history is and the reasons for it, you may find that many well-known banks and brands wont be able to approve your application.

As a result, you may have to consider more specialist providers and fintech lenders, some of which can offer innovative ways to help people with less-than-perfect credit scores. For example, some lenders look at a borrowers banking history as part of the application process (as well as their credit score), while others provide additional support to help borrowers manage their card responsibly.

See our chart above to compare the credit cards that may be available to those with a less-than-perfect credit history.

Will credit cards for bad credit get cheaper?

Since August 2024, the Bank of Englands Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has been lowering the base rate. Falls in the base rate often equate to a fall in interest rates, making the cost of borrowing cheaper.

However, average credit card interest rates have actually edged higher to 36% at the start of June 2026 (compared to 35.7% one year ago), meaning the typical credit card is getting more expensive. Moreover, because credit cards for bad credit usually charge higher-than-average interest rates, you may find youre charged significantly more than this figure if you take out a card.

What do we mean by a bad credit score?

A bad credit score means your credit score is at the lower end of the scale, indicating you may have previously had problems making payments and managing your debts.

However, its important to note that there isnt one single number that signifies a bad credit score as credit reference agencies (CRAs) have different scoring systems. Each of the main CRAs class a bad or poor credit score as the following:

• Experian: 0-720 (under Experians old scoring system) or 0-640 (under Experians updated scoring system which started to be rolled out from Autumn 2025)
• Equifax: 0-438
• TransUnion: 0-565

You can check your credit report for free as many times as you want, without affecting your score. This can help you check your current creditworthiness, identify any areas for improvement and spot any errors or mistakes that could be harming your score.

Why do I have bad credit?

There are several reasons why you may have a bad credit score, including:

• too many applications for credit in a short space of time
• late or missed payments
• only paying the minimum payments on your credit card
• going over your credit limit on your credit card
• a high credit utilisation ratio (when you use too much of the credit available to you)
• having an individual voluntary arrangement (IVA), county court judgement (CCJ), debt relief order (DRO), bankruptcy or similar on your credit file.

Sometimes, a low credit score can simply mean that you have never used credit before. You need to have a history of using and paying back credit to build up a credit history and a good score. If you have never applied for credit, then there will be no data to score you.

Its also worth bearing in mind that fraudulent activity can cause your credit score to drop, which is why its so important to regularly check your credit file.

What should I look for when choosing a credit builder card?

When comparing credit builder cards, or credit cards for bad credit, some key features to look at include:

The interest rate

While you should aim to clear your balance each month to avoid paying any interest, you should know how much you could be charged if you dont pay off your card.

You can look at the annual percentage rate (APR) to help you compare the total cost of different credit cards, taking into account the interest rate and any fees. However, its important to note that youre not guaranteed to receive the advertised APR (known as the representative APR); the actual rate you receive will depend on your credit history and financial circumstances.

Any extra perks

Even though credit cards for borrowers with poor or limited credit histories may not come with as many additional benefits as more mainstream cards, some providers still offer some attractive perks.

For example, some cards may offer an introductory interest-free period on purchases or balance transfers while others may have some form of reward scheme. Some cards may also allow you to spend abroad without any foreign usage fees.

It may be possible to find credit cards that lower the interest rate after a certain period, as long as you make all your payments on time.

On the other hand, other credit cards may be much simpler and only offer some very limited, basic features.

The eligibility criteria

Its crucial to check the individual requirements of a particular card, to make sure you only apply for one that you qualify for.

For example, cards may set a minimum income requirement or require you to have a current account with the provider.

And, even though these cards may not need you to have a good credit score to apply, providers may still want to see some evidence or history of managing credit and repayments.

What if Im refused a credit card?

If your application for a credit card is refused, dont try to apply for another card straightaway. Because all applications for credit are recorded on your credit file, applying multiple times over a short period could harm your score and chances of approval.

Instead, check your credit history to see why the provider may have rejected your application. This will also help you identify any areas for improvement, which could help boost your chances of approval next time you apply for credit.

Ideally, you should only reapply for a credit card at least three to six months after your previous application. Before applying, check the requirements of the card to make sure you qualify and, if possible, check your eligibility to see your chances of approval without affecting your credit score.

What are the alternatives to a bad credit credit card?

If youre refused a credit builder card, you may be able to speak to your current account provider about setting up an arranged overdraft instead, but youll need to be certain that this wont push you into further financial difficulty.

If youre focused on improving your credit score, an alternative could be LOQBOX this is a kind of loan/savings hybrid that locks away a sum of money over a year, which you pay back in regular monthly payments. At the end of the year, you get your savings back, and LOQBOX reports your payments to credit reference agencies to help improve your credit score.

Some providers also offer credit builder prepaid cards, which is where you load the card with cash that you can use for your regular spending, and the provider adds on a years worth of fees which you repay monthly (essentially making the fees a small loan). Again, if you continue making those repayments, your credit score can begin to improve.