For more on how secured cards work and when they're the right choice, check out our guide on what is a secured credit card.
For a deeper dive into credit-building strategies and credit-building alternatives, check out our guide to best credit cards for bad credit.
Q: What credit score do I need for these low-deposit cards? A: Most cards on this list work for scores as low as 500, and several (Firstcard, Chime, Current, OpenSky) have no minimum score requirement or no credit check. Kikoff's Credit Account requires no credit check either.
Ava is a credit-building subscription service — not a traditional secured credit card. For a monthly fee, Ava provides a virtual tradeline that reports to credit bureaus, without requiring any security deposit. We include it here because it's an excellent zero-deposit alternative for people who want to build credit without tying up any cash.
Self Visa charges a $25 annual fee starting in year 2—the first year is free for new customers.
