Credit cards labeled as “no credit check” can be attractive to individuals with poor credit scores. These cards allow for application without affecting credit scores, but often come with high fees and interest rates, earning them the nickname fee-harvester cards. While they may help avoid hard pulls on credit reports, the long-term costs can be significant.

However, certain credit card companies, particularly newer ones in the industry, are promoting cards that require no credit check and have minimal to no fees. These alternative credit cards utilize innovative underwriting technology to assess creditworthiness based on various factors beyond traditional FICO scores and credit histories. Thus, individuals with poor credit now have more options beyond fee-harvester cards and secured credit cards.

Explore the range of low- and no-fee cards available that do not necessitate a credit check.

1. Chime Secured Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card

What it offers:

1. No annual fee or interest
2. No credit check to apply
3. No minimum security deposit required

2. Current Build Card

What it offers:

1. No credit cheks or security deposit
2. Only requirement is to have a Current account to fund the security deposit

3. Varo Believe Secured Credit Card

What it offers:

1. No fees
2. You set your own spending fee: Varo requires you to have a Varo Secure Account, the ammount you deposit in that account is your spending limit

4. Grow Credit Mastercard

What it offers:

With Grow Credit, you can build your credit score by paying for subscription services through their platform. When you sign up, you choose which subscription services (like Netflix or Spotify) to pay with Grow Credit, and these payments are reported to credit bureaus to help improve your credit profile.

Grow Credit offers multiple membership options, allowing you to select the one that best fits your budget and credit-building needs.

5. OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

What it offers:

1. It requires a $200 minimum deposit with a $35 annual fee
2. No credit check required
3. It reports payments to all three major credit bureaus

6. Cred.ai Credit Card

What it offers:

1. It doesn’t require a credit check
2. You need to link a Cred.ai deposit account to your Cred.ai Credit Card, the amount on this deposit account becomes your spending limit
3. It allows you to have a digit credit card for safe purchases

7. GO2bank Secured Credit Card

What it offers:

1. No credit check required
2. It requires a $100 minimum deposit, you need GO2bank account
3. No annual fees
4. Monthly credit bureau reporting

8. Secured Self Visa® Credit Card

What it offers:

1. It requires a Self Credit Builder Account, once you have $100 or more in savings progress you can apply for the credit card
2. Reports to all three major credit bureaus
3. Accounts in good standing cn get opportunities to increase credit limits

9. Firstcard® Secured Credit Builder Card

What it offers:

1.  You need a Firstcard deposit account to transfer money into, the ammount deposited becomes the spending limit.
2. It doesn’t require a credit check
3. No annual fees
4. Accepts international students,
 immigrants and foreigners without SSN