Secured & Credit Building Credit Cards Compared — United States

A secured card is the most dependable way to build or rebuild credit because approval is nearly automatic: you put down a refundable deposit, usually $200 to $500, and that becomes your limit. Use it lightly, pay on time, and many issuers graduate you to an unsecured card and return the deposit within a year or so. The trade-off is that your own cash is tied up and limits stay low, so this is a stepping stone, not a destination. Skip a secured card if you can already qualify for a no-fee unsecured starter card; there's no reason to lock up a deposit. Make sure the card reports to all three bureaus and check the deposit and graduation terms with the issuer.

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