Secured and fair credit

Best credit-building credit cards

Compare secured cards, fair-credit cards, and student cards that can help establish or rebuild credit.

Credit card terms, welcome offers, APRs, credits, and eligibility rules can change without notice. BillSaver summarizes publicly available card terms for comparison only; verify rates, fees, rewards, and offer language with the issuer before applying.

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Top matches for this category

Student dining and grocery rewards

Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card

Annual fee: $0
Rewards: 3% cash back at grocery stores, dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services; 5% on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 1% on other purchases.
Intro APR: No standard intro APR offer.

A student card with useful real-life categories and no annual or foreign transaction fee.

See issuer terms

Student rotating cash back

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Annual fee: $0
Rewards: 5% cash back in activated quarterly categories up to the quarterly cap, then 1%; 1% on other purchases.
Intro APR: Intro APR offer may be available.

A no-fee first card with rewards and credit-bureau reporting.

See issuer terms

Low-cost secured card

Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card

Annual fee: $0
Rewards: No rewards program.
Intro APR: No standard intro APR offer.

A no-annual-fee secured card with automatic account reviews for possible access to a higher credit line.

See issuer terms

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Card	Best for	Rewards	Welcome offer	Annual fee	Intro APR	Regular APR	Watch out for	Terms
Compare Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One · Students	Student dining and grocery rewardsA student card with useful real-life categories and no annual or foreign transaction fee.	3% cash back at grocery stores, dining, entertainment, and popular streaming services; 5% on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 1% on other purchases.	$50 bonus after qualifying spend.	$0	No standard intro APR offer.	18.49% to 28.49% variable APR.	The APR is high, so it should be treated as a credit-building tool, not a borrowing tool.	Issuer terms
Compare Discover it® Student Cash Back Discover · Students	Student rotating cash backA no-fee first card with rewards and credit-bureau reporting.	5% cash back in activated quarterly categories up to the quarterly cap, then 1%; 1% on other purchases.	Discover Cashback Match for new cardmembers after the first year.	$0	Intro APR offer may be available.	Variable APR; see issuer terms.	Rotating categories and Discover acceptance both require a little planning.	Issuer terms
Compare Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card Capital One · Limited, poor, or rebuilding credit	Low-cost secured cardA no-annual-fee secured card with automatic account reviews for possible access to a higher credit line.	No rewards program.	No traditional welcome bonus.	$0	No standard intro APR offer.	28.99% variable APR.	The APR is high, and secured cards still require careful on-time payments.	Issuer terms
Compare Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card Bank of America · Limited, poor, or rebuilding credit	Secured card with cash backA secured card that still offers meaningful rewards if used carefully.	3% cash back in one choice category, 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs, and 1% on other purchases, with quarterly caps.	No traditional welcome bonus.	$0	No standard intro APR offer.	Variable APR; see issuer terms.	The deposit, category caps, and APR all need to fit the reader's budget.	Issuer terms
Compare Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One · Fair credit	Fair-credit cash backA rewards path for readers with fair credit who may not yet qualify for the strongest no-fee cards.	1.5% cash back on all purchases and 5% on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.	No standard welcome bonus.	$39	No standard intro APR offer.	28.99% variable APR.	The annual fee and high APR mean it only works if the balance is paid in full and rewards exceed the fee.	Issuer terms

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Start here Best cards 10 cards Everyday rewards Cash back 17 cards Points and miles Travel 6 cards Pay down debt Balance transfer 7 cards Intro financing 0% APR 9 cards Household spending Groceries & dining 5 cards First card Students 2 cards Secured and fair credit Build credit 5 cards Small business Business 2 cards Lower cost No annual fee 15 cards

How to use the table

Start with the reason you want the card. Rewards cards make sense when you pay in full. Balance transfer and 0% APR cards should be judged by the transfer fee, length of the promotional window, and your payoff plan. Credit-building cards should be judged by cost, reporting, deposit rules, and the habit of on-time payments.

Do not treat the richest welcome offer as the whole decision. A card with a lower annual fee, simpler rewards, or a shorter but cheaper balance-transfer period can be the better fit for a household budget.