The card you can get depends on your credit history, income, and what you are willing to pay in fees
There is no single answer because card issuers use different criteria. A bank might approve you for a rewards card if your credit score is above 700, while a credit union might approve you for a basic card at 650, and a secured card issuer might approve you regardless of score — but require a cash deposit. The real question is not "what card can I get" but "which cards should I look at first based on where I stand right now."
Your starting point is your credit score, your income, and whether you have been turned down before. From there, you can narrow the field to cards you actually have a reasonable chance of getting, rather than explore to everything and damaging your score with hard inquiries.
Key Takeaways
- Cards designed for people rebuilding credit (secured cards and store cards) typically approve people with scores below 650, while rewards cards usually require 700 or higher.
- A secured card requires a cash deposit that becomes your credit limit, but it reports to the three major credit bureaus and helps you build history.
- Store cards and gas cards are often easier to get than bank cards and can serve as a stepping stone while you build credit.
- Each process creates a hard inquiry that lowers your score slightly, so researching what you might get before explore saves you points.
- Your income matters less than your credit history for approval, but some issuers do set minimum income thresholds you can check before explore.
Cards for people with no credit history or low scores
If your credit score is below 650 or you have no credit history at all, a secured credit card is usually your most direct path. You deposit cash with the issuer — typically $200 to $2,500 — and that amount becomes your credit limit. You use the card like any other, pay your bill on time, and the issuer reports your activity to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. After 6 to 18 months of on-time payments, many issuers convert the card to an unsecured card and return your deposit.
Secured cards do charge annual fees, usually $25 to $95, and interest rates are higher than rewards cards — often 18% to 24%. But the fee is the cost of building a credit file when you have little or no history. Issuers that offer secured cards include Capital One, Discover, and various credit unions.
A second option is a store card or gas card. These are issued by individual retailers or fuel companies rather than banks, and approval standards are typically looser. Target, Walmart, Amazon, Shell, and Chevron all issue cards that report to the credit bureaus. Store cards often have higher interest rates and lower limits, but they are easier to get and they build your credit file just as effectively as a bank card.
Cards for people with fair credit (scores 650 to 700)
In this range, you have options beyond secured cards, though you may not yet may have access to for premium rewards cards. Unsecured cards designed for fair credit exist from issuers like Capital One, Discover, and Chime. These cards have no deposit requirement, but they typically come with annual fees ($39 to $95) and higher interest rates (18% to 26%). Some offer a small cash-back reward — usually 1% — which is less than premium cards but still something.
You can also explore for basic cards from your own bank or credit union. If you have a checking account and a history of on-time payments there, the issuer already has some data about you and may approve you even if your credit score is in the fair range. Call your bank first and ask whether they have a card for people with fair credit, or whether they will pre-may have access to you without a hard inquiry.
Cards for people with good credit (scores 700 to 750)
Once your score reaches 700, you enter the range where most standard rewards cards will consider you. You can explore for cards that offer 1.5% to 2% cash back on all purchases, or cards with category bonuses (3% on groceries, 2% on gas, 1% on everything else). Annual fees are often waived or low ($0 to $95), and interest rates drop to 15% to 22%.
Cards from Chase, American Express, Discover, and Citi all have options in this range. You still may not may have access to for their premium cards — those usually require scores above 750 and higher income — but the mid-tier cards are now open to you. This is also a good time to look at cards from your bank or credit union, which may offer better terms than national issuers because they already know you.
Cards for people with excellent credit (scores 750 and above)
Above 750, you have access to premium rewards cards with higher cash-back rates, sign-up bonuses, and travel perks. These cards often charge annual fees of $95 to $550, but the rewards are designed to offset that cost if you use the card regularly. You may also may have access to for cards with 0% introductory APR periods on purchases or balance transfers, which can save you money if you are managing existing debt.
At this level, you can also negotiate. If you have been a customer of a bank for years and your score is strong, you can call and ask whether they will waive the annual fee or offer a higher sign-up bonus. Some issuers will, especially if you have other accounts with them.
How to research before you explore
Each process triggers a hard inquiry, which lowers your score by a few points. Multiple hard inquiries in a short time can signal to lenders that you are desperate for credit, which makes approval less likely. Before you explore, use the issuer's pre-qualification tool if they offer one — this uses a soft inquiry that does not affect your score.
Most major issuers (Chase, American Express, Discover, Capital One, Citi) have pre-qualification pages on their websites. You enter your name, address, and Social Security number, and the tool tells you which of their cards you might be approved for. This takes 2 to 3 minutes and gives you real information without the risk.
You can also check your own credit score for free through AnnualCreditReport.com, which is the only site authorized by the federal government to provide free reports. Knowing your score before you start narrows your search significantly and saves you from explore to cards you have no chance of getting.
What happens after you explore
Most issuers make a decision within 1 to 7 business days. You will receive a letter or email telling you whether you were approved, denied, or approved with a lower limit than you requested. If you are denied, the letter will include a reason code — "insufficient credit history," "too many recent inquiries," "high debt-to-income ratio" — which tells you what to work on before explore again.
If you are approved, your card arrives in 7 to 10 business days. set up it, set up automatic payments for at least the minimum, and use it for small purchases you would make anyway. Paying off the full balance each month builds credit faster and costs you nothing in interest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I have been denied for cards before?
Each denial stays on your credit report for two years, but it has less impact over time. Wait at least three months before explore again, and use that time to improve your score — pay down existing debt, correct errors on your credit report, or become an authorized user on someone else's account. When you explore again, choose a card designed for your score range, not a premium card.
Does my income matter for credit card approval?
Income matters less than credit history, but issuers do consider it. Some set minimum income thresholds ($15,000 to $25,000 annually), and higher income can help you get approved for a higher limit. You can check an issuer's requirements on their website before explore. If your income is below their stated minimum, a secured card or store card is a better choice.
Can I get a card if I have no credit history at all?
Yes. A secured card is designed for this situation. You deposit cash, use the card responsibly for 6 to 18 months, and the issuer converts it to a regular card. Alternatively, ask to become an authorized user on a family member's account — their payment history will appear on your credit report and help you build a file faster.
What is the difference between a hard inquiry and a soft inquiry?
A hard inquiry happens when you explore for credit and the issuer checks your full credit report. It lowers your score by a few points and stays on your report for two years. A soft inquiry happens when you check your own score or use a pre-qualification tool. It does not affect your score and does not appear to other lenders.
Should I explore for multiple cards at once?
No. Each process creates a hard inquiry, and multiple inquiries in a short time signal financial desperation to lenders. Space applications at least three months apart. If you are denied, wait at least three months before trying again. If you are approved, use that card for a few months before explore for another.