Credit Cards
4 Best Secured Credit Cards of October 2026
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Best for credit card perks
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
- Intro offer
- Annual fee$0
- You'll earnN/A
- Regular APR29.24% (Variable)
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
If you’re not currently eligible for a traditional credit card — due to limited credit history, a poor credit score or a host of other factors — you may want to consider one of our top picks for the best secured credit cards. A secured credit card typically requires a deposit from the cardholder when the account is opened which is then used to determine your credit limit. Your spending on the card is typically reported to the major credit bureaus, helping establish (or improve) your credit. Many even offer the ability to convert to an unsecured card after several months of responsible usage, at which point your initial deposit will be refunded.
Some secured credit cards incur an annual fee, while others offer cash back. It’s important to choose a secured credit card that suits your needs and fits your budget to help you reach your financial goals.
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Comparing the best secured credit cards
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“More details on the best secured credit cards”
How we rate
Welcome bonus
A card’s welcome bonus is an excellent way to earn a large number of points, miles or cash back. Secured credit cards typically don’t feature welcome bonuses, though some do allow you to earn rewards when you make purchases.
Annual fee
Credit cards run the gamut from no annual fee to ones that cost several hundred dollars to keep in your wallet. The same goes for secured credit cards; if you’re establishing or working to improve your credit, consider a no annual fee secured card unless you can comfortably afford a secured credit card that features an annual fee.
Earning rates
Some secured credit cards do offer the ability to earn rewards. Depending on which secured card you choose, you could earn a flat rate across all of your spending or in specific categories.
Redemption options
Your ability to redeem earned rewards on a secured credit card will depend on the card you choose. We included options that earn cash back; this way, you can get a sense of what earning rewards on a card is like while building your credit.
Added benefits
To help us rate the best secured credit cards, we considered what benefits some of these cards offer — such as the ability to earn rewards like cash back.
How to choose the best secured card
Choosing the best secured credit card varies person to person because everyone's financial situations and needs are different. Maybe you're looking to establish credit or perhaps you want to rebuild your credit in order to qualify for travel rewards credit cards and start building a repository of points, cash back or miles. At TPG, we recommend choosing a card that best suits your current financial needs.
Here are some of the main points to consider when choosing a secured credit card:
- 1Sign up bonus
Most secured credit cards do not offer a sign-up bonus but do offer the ability to earn rewards, like cash back. Knowing this, you can whittle down your options to a card that'll help you establish or build up your credit while still taking advantage of reward-earning capabilities.
- 2Annual fee
Some secured credit cards come with an annual fee; the good news is that those that require cardholders to pay this fee often charge a lower figure than what you'd pay with non-secured cards — some of which start around $95 and can cost upwards of $600 to keep.
- 3Bonus categories
If you're focused on establishing or building credit, earning rewards in bonus categories may take a backseat while you work to achieve your financial goals. Even so, there are secured credit cards that offer the ability to earn cash back in categories like travel.
What is a secured credit card? - The Points Guy
Read up on secured credit cards and how they're used to build credit
Pros + cons of secured cards
Pros
- Some secured cards do not require a credit pull
- Most secured cards do not feature an annual fee, making them ideal for budget-minded people
- Secured credit cards can help you build up your credit score
Cons
- Secured cards do not offer an immediate fix if you've got no or bad credit, the process takes time
- Some secured cards don't feature earning categories so you can't build up cash back, points or miles with them
Frequently asked questions
How does a secured credit card work?
Secured credit cards are similar to regular “unsecured” cards except they require a security deposit from cardholders, which then allows issuers to extend a line of credit that’s usually equal to your deposit. In most cases, you give a security deposit of $500 and you’ll receive a monthly credit limit of $500.
How do you apply for a secured credit card?
Same as any other card: Fill out your financial information and you’ll hear back from the issuer promptly. The good news is that secured cards have a very high approval percentage.
Do secured credit cards build credit?
Secured credit cards are designed for people with poor or limited credit history. If you pay off your secured card on time, your credit score will almost certainly go up, and in most cases you can move from a secured card to a more valuable unsecured card in a matter of months.
What is the difference between secured and unsecured credit cards?
Secured credit cards require a security deposit for use; unsecured cards don’t, but require a stronger credit score and credit history for approval. Unsecured cards also typically come with stronger earnings rates and more benefits.
What is the best secured credit card?
The question of which secured card is best depends on what you’re looking for in a card. Some secured cards offer higher earnings rates and more travel perks, while others will extend you a higher credit limit or offer more tools to track your finances. We think the cards listed above are the best options on the market.
How do you build credit with a secured credit card?
The same way you build credit with an unsecured card: Make your monthly payments in full, on time, every time. Your credit score will naturally increase, and you’ll also be building good financial habits for when you get off of your secured card and enter the brave new world of credit card points and miles.
