The best credit cards for people with bad credit

Annual fee: $25

Purchase APR: 18.99% (APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate).

Why it's good: You can get a high credit line — up to $10,000 if you can make a collateral deposit equal to that amount. This is rare for secured cards, and a high credit line will help to keep your credit utilization ratio low, which can help improve your score.

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Annual fee: $29

Purchase APR: 18.99% (APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate).

Why it's good: If you're hoping to upgrade to an unsecured card quickly, this card will give you that option with responsible use. After 12 months, US Bank will evaluate your account and determine whether you're eligible to upgrade, which is a faster transition than most cards offer (typically it takes 18 months or more).

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Annual fee: $0

Purchase APR: Variable rate from 8.99% to 18%.

Why it's good: You have to be a military member or department of defense employee (or one of their family members) to qualify for this card. This card earns rewards, which is rare for secured cards — especially ones with no annual fee. You'll get one point per dollar spent, and can redeem your points for merchandise and gift cards.

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Annual fee: $0

Purchase APR: 11.50% (APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate).

Why it's good: You'll have to join Digital Federal Credit Union by making a one-time donation to an eligible charity, but it could be worth it for such a cost-effective card. The zero annual fee and relatively low interest rate are hard to come by with unsecured cards.

Apply here.