Best Secured Credit Cards
A secured card is a credit-building tool: you put down a refundable deposit that becomes your limit, then use the card responsibly to build history. We reward cards that report to all three bureaus, skip the annual fee, and offer a clear path to an unsecured card.
The best secured credit cards in 2026 is the Capital One Platinum Secured, which tops our ranking with a money8020 score of 94/100. We track 6 secured credit cards, 6 with rates checked against the provider and a regulator. All 6 are ranked and compared below.
Which secured card reports to all three bureaus, charges no fee, and has a path to graduate?
Top 3 in this category.
Capital One Platinum Secured
A no-annual-fee secured card with a refundable deposit as low as $49 and a path to upgrade.
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards
1.5%-5% rewards with no annual fee.
Secured Chime® Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card
No annual fee with a strong intro offer.
All 6, ranked.
Compare the numbers.
Click a column header to sort.
| Product | Annual fee | Annual fee | Score | Tier | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Platinum Secured Capital One | $0 | $0 | 94 | Essential | View |
| Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Capital One | $0 | $0 | 94 | Essential | View |
| Secured Chime® Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card The Bancorp Bank, N.A. | $0 | $0 | 82 | Strong | View |
| DCU Visa® Platinum Secured Credit Card Digital Federal Credit Union | $0 | $0 | 79 | Strong | View |
| OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card Capital Bank, N.A. | $35 | $35 | 74 | Strong | View |
| Self Visa® Secured Credit Card Lead Bank | $25 | $25 | 74 | Strong | View |
How to choose the best secured credit cards
To choose a rewards card, match the bonus categories to where you actually spend, net the rewards against any annual fee, and weigh the sign-up bonus, intro APR, and regular APR.
- Rewards rate in the categories you spend most
- Annual fee versus the rewards you would earn
- Sign-up bonus and the spend required
- Intro APR length for purchases and balance transfers
- Regular variable APR if you ever carry a balance
Frequently asked questions about secured credit cards
How does a secured card build credit?
You make a refundable security deposit that sets your credit limit, then use the card like any other. The issuer reports your payments to the credit bureaus, so on-time payments and low utilization steadily build a positive history that can qualify you for unsecured cards.
Do I get my deposit back?
Yes. The deposit is refundable — you get it back when you close the account in good standing or, with many cards, when you graduate to an unsecured version after a stretch of on-time payments.