Today's Best Credit Repair Cards
<p>We found <strong>19 PRODUCTS </strong>in total, of which <strong>2 have links to providers</strong></p>
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Zable Credit Card Mastercard
118 118 Money Guaranteed Rate Card Mastercard
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DisclaimerAll credit cards are subject to the applicant’s status. The APR quoted is representative of the interest rate offered to most successful applicants. Depending on your personal circumstances the APR you are offered may be higher, or you may not be offered credit. Fees and rates subject to change without notice. Please check all rates and terms before borrowing.
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It’s 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 there’s 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 won’t have any impact on your credit score.
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 haven’t yet built up a credit history as they’ve 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.
You should only apply for a credit card if you are confident that you can manage it effectively and can afford to make the repayments. Otherwise, you risk damaging your credit score and making your financial situation worse.
If you’re struggling with debt, see our guide on how to get out of debt in five steps. It's also a good idea to speak to your existing lenders for support and get free debt advice.
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 higher 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.
Credit builder cards don’t offer a quick fix to your credit score. It could take several months of consistently making payments and managing your debt to start to see any improvements to your credit history.
Firstly, it’s important to stay within the specified credit limit on your card. Keep your spending small and don’t 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 don’t clear your balance in full, it’s 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.
Bear in mind that, while managing a credit builder card responsibly can have a positive impact on your credit score, it’s 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.
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 won’t 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 borrower’s 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.
Since August 2024, the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has been lowering the base rate, most recently to 4.00% on 7 August 2025. 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 over the past year to 35.7% at the start of August 2025, meaning the typical credit card is much more expensive than in mid-2023 or before. Moreover, because credit cards for bad credit usually charge higher-than-average interest rates, you may find you’re charged more than this figure if you take out a card.
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, it’s important to note that there isn’t 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:
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.
There are several reasons why you may have a bad credit score, including:
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.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that fraudulent activity can cause your credit score to drop, which is why it’s so important to regularly check your credit file.
Credit builder cards are just one way you could start to improve your credit score. Cutting any old financial ties, keeping your credit utilisation ratio low and even registering to vote can all have a positive impact on your credit history.
See our guide for more tips on how to improve your credit score.
When comparing credit builder cards, or credit cards for bad credit, the interest rate is one of the key factors to look at. 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 don’t 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, it’s important to note that you’re 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.
It’s also worth seeing if any cards come with any extra perks, such as an interest-free period or a reward scheme.
Crucially, you should also look at the eligibility criteria of a card to make sure you choose a card that you qualify for.
If your application for a credit card is refused, don’t 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.
Bad credit loans are another option for people with low credit scores, or who have little to no credit history. These loans typically have higher interest rates, but they can be useful if managed responsibly. Compare bad credit loan rates today.
A credit builder card is a specialist credit card designed for people with a limited credit history or a poor credit history who may struggle to get approved for a standard card. These specialist cards aim to help individuals build up or improve their credit score, to help them access more forms of credit in the future.
Potentially. When you apply for a credit card, the provider will run a hard credit check, and too many checks in a short period of time could harm your credit score. A credit card will also make your credit score worse if you fail to manage it responsibly by missing payments or building up too much debt, for example. Continually failing to make payments, or only making the minimum payments, could cause more serious, long-term damage to your credit score.
However, if you use your credit card responsibly and prove that you can be trusted to make payments on-time, this should have a positive impact on your credit score.
There isn’t a set number that your credit score needs to be to get approved for a credit card, particularly as different credit reference agencies have their own scoring systems. However, the better your credit score, the better your chances of approval.
This will depend on your current credit history and how well you manage your credit card (and other financial commitments). Some people may start to see an improvement in their credit history after a few months if they consistently make payments on time.
However, people with a worse credit score because of previous financial difficulties, such as defaults and CCJs, may need to wait longer before their score starts to improve significantly. You can check your credit history and see the progress you’re making with each individual credit reference agency without affecting your score.
This is up to you. However, if you already have a credit card, you could start to improve your credit score by managing it responsibly and making all your payments on time. As a result, it may not be necessary to apply for a specific credit builder card for this purpose.
It may be possible to get a credit card if you have a county court judgement (CCJ), but you will almost certainly have to consider specialist providers. Furthermore, if eligible for a credit card, you may be charged higher interest rates and receive a lower credit limit than individuals without a CCJ. If you have a CCJ or a bad credit history, always look at the eligibility criteria of a credit card and, if possible, see your chances of approval before formally applying.
There are many reasons why a provider may decline your application for a credit card. It generally means that you don’t meet the criteria for the particular card, whether it’s because of a less-than-perfect credit history, your income or your wider financial situation.
For example, late or missed payments, defaults, too many applications for credit or an irregular income stream could all be reasons why a provider declined an application for credit.
You may also struggle to get approved for some credit cards if you haven’t yet built up a credit history, as providers have nothing against which to assess your level of risk.
No single credit card is necessarily easier to get approved for than another as the outcome of your application will depend on your individual circumstances and the requirements of the provider.
However, if you have a bad or limited credit history, you’re likely to find it easier to get a credit card from providers that offer specialist credit cards for these borrowers, rather than standard cards that are more suitable for those with good credit scores.
Calculate what you need to know before applying.
Balance transfer calculator – calculate how much you could save by switching to a 0% balance transfer credit card.
Minimum repayment calculator – calculate how long it will take to clear your balance when only making the minimum repayments.
Repayment calculator – calculate how quickly you could pay off your credit card.