PickedFinance
Comparison guide

Best secured credit cards

A secured card asks for a refundable deposit up front and works like a regular credit card, so on-time payments can build your credit history. We read each issuer’s page on Nov 10, 2026.

By PickedFinance Editorial TeamLast updated Rates checked Nov 10, 2026

Advertiser disclosure: links on this page go straight to each issuer’s or insurer’s own site. We don’t earn a commission from any product on this page, and no company paid to be included or to be placed higher. Commissions never affect which products we include or how we order them. How we make money.

How this page was made: it’s built from each provider’s own terms, rate and fee pages and from regulator sources, all listed at the bottom. We haven’t opened these accounts or products to test them, and we don’t give scores. Every rate shows the day we checked it. Our methodology.

Quick answer

Short answer: Capital One Platinum Secured and Discover it Secured let you open with a refundable deposit as low as $49, and both have no annual fee (Nov 10, 2026). Capital One Quicksilver Secured and Discover it Secured also earn cash back. Pay in full each month: APRs on these cards were around 26% to 29%.

Last updated Rates checked Nov 10, 2026

Key facts at a glance

Key facts (each rate shows the day we checked it on the provider’s page)
PickProductBest forKey terms
Lowest possible depositCapital One Platinum SecuredGetting started with less than $200$49, $99 or $200 refundable deposit as of Nov 10, 2026
Cash back while you build creditDiscover it® SecuredEarning cash back on a secured cardRefundable deposit as low as $49 (credit line of at least $200) as of Nov 10, 2026
Flat 1.5% backCapital One Quicksilver Secured Cash RewardsFlat cash back with a $200 deposit$200 refundable deposit as of Nov 10, 2026

The CFPB[6] describes a secured card this way: you put in an amount of cash, then you can spend up to that amount, and paying the bill restores your spending amount. Payments reported to the credit bureaus help build a credit history. We read each card’s issuer page on Nov 10, 2026 and list the deposit, fee, APR and upgrade policy as published; where a figure wasn’t on the page we say so. Links go straight to issuers with no affiliate tracking.

Our picks

Lowest possible deposit
Capital One Platinum Secured
$49, $99 or $200 refundable deposit as of Nov 10, 2026; $0 annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026.
Visit Capital One (opens in a new tab)
Cash back while you build credit
Discover it® Secured
Refundable deposit as low as $49 (credit line of at least $200) as of Nov 10, 2026; 5% rotating / 1% and first-year Cashback Match.
Visit Discover (opens in a new tab)
$200 refundable deposit as of Nov 10, 2026; $0 annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026.
Visit Capital One (opens in a new tab)

How do they compare?

Secured cards on issuer pages, Nov 10, 2026
CardDepositAnnual feeAPRRewards
Capital One Platinum Secured$49, $99 or $200 refundable deposit as of Nov 10, 2026$0 annual fee as of Nov 10, 202629.24% APR (variable) as of Nov 10, 2026None
Capital One Quicksilver Secured$200 refundable deposit as of Nov 10, 2026$0 annual fee as of Nov 10, 202629.24% APR (variable) as of Nov 10, 20261.5% cash back
Discover it SecuredRefundable deposit as low as $49 (credit line of at least $200) as of Nov 10, 2026No annual feeNot shown on the page we read5% rotating (activate, to a quarterly max) / 1%
BankAmericard Secured$200 minimum security deposit (maximum $5,000) as of Nov 10, 2026$0 annual fee as of Nov 10, 202626.24% APR (variable) as of Nov 10, 2026None
Citi Secured Mastercard$200 to $2,500 security deposit as of Nov 10, 2026$0 annual fee as of Nov 10, 202626.24% APR (variable) as of Nov 10, 2026None

The picks in detail

Lowest possible deposit

1. Capital One Platinum Secured

Best for: Getting started with less than $200

Capital One shows that a $49, $99 or $200 minimum refundable deposit opens the account; which minimum you get is determined by your creditworthiness, and you have 35 days after approval to make the deposit, with $0 annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026, no foreign transaction fees and 29.24% APR (variable) as of Nov 10, 2026. No credit score is required to apply. Depositing more than the minimum can raise your credit line, and Capital One says that with responsible use you could earn back your deposit and upgrade to an unsecured card.

Key terms: $49, $99 or $200 refundable deposit as of Nov 10, 2026 Capital One terms

Pros

  • Deposit can be as low as $49
  • No annual fee or foreign transaction fee
  • Path to an unsecured card

Cons

  • No rewards
  • 29.24% variable APR
Visit Capital One (opens in a new tab)
Cash back while you build credit

2. Discover it® Secured

Best for: Earning cash back on a secured card

Discover’s page shows a refundable deposit as low as $49 that unlocks a credit line of at least $200, no annual fee, and no credit score required to apply. It earns 5% in quarterly categories you activate (up to a quarterly maximum) and 1% elsewhere, plus an unlimited Cashback Match at the end of your first year. The APR wasn’t shown on the page we read, so we haven’t listed it; check the rates and fees before applying.

Key terms: Refundable deposit as low as $49 (credit line of at least $200) as of Nov 10, 2026 Discover terms

Pros

  • Rewards and first-year Cashback Match
  • Low deposit

Cons

  • APR not shown on the page we read
  • Rotating categories need activation
Visit Discover (opens in a new tab)
Flat 1.5% back

3. Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards

Best for: Flat cash back with a $200 deposit

Capital One shows unlimited 1.5% cash back, $0 annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026, a $200 refundable deposit as of Nov 10, 2026 with an initial credit line of at least $200, and 29.24% APR (variable) as of Nov 10, 2026. You can raise the line by depositing more before activating the card. With responsible use, Capital One says you could earn your deposit back and upgrade to an unsecured Quicksilver card.

Key terms: $200 refundable deposit as of Nov 10, 2026 Capital One terms

Pros

  • 1.5% cash back
  • Upgrade path to Quicksilver

Cons

  • $200 minimum deposit
  • 29.24% variable APR
Visit Capital One (opens in a new tab)
Best for A lower APR and a high deposit ceiling

4. BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card

Best for: A lower APR and a high deposit ceiling

Bank of America shows a $200 minimum security deposit (maximum $5,000) as of Nov 10, 2026, $0 annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026, 26.24% APR (variable) as of Nov 10, 2026 and a 5% balance transfer fee. It says it will periodically review your account and you may qualify to have your deposit returned, though not all customers will. It also notes secured cards aren’t eligible for new-account bonuses and intro APRs aren’t available.

Key terms: $200 minimum security deposit (maximum $5,000) as of Nov 10, 2026 Bank of America terms

Pros

  • 26.24% APR, lower than Capital One’s secured cards
  • Deposit up to $5,000 for a bigger limit

Cons

  • No rewards
  • $200 minimum deposit
Visit Bank of America (opens in a new tab)
Best for A Citi relationship and a path to Diamond Preferred

5. Citi® Secured Mastercard®

Best for: A Citi relationship and a path to Diamond Preferred

Citi shows a $200 to $2,500 security deposit as of Nov 10, 2026, with your credit limit equal to the deposit, $0 annual fee as of Nov 10, 2026 and 26.24% APR (variable) as of Nov 10, 2026. Citi says the deposit is generally refundable when the account is closed with the balance paid in full and in good standing, and that with responsible use you may become eligible to upgrade to the Citi Diamond Preferred card. There’s a 3% foreign purchase fee.

Key terms: $200 to $2,500 security deposit as of Nov 10, 2026 Citi terms

Pros

  • 26.24% APR
  • Upgrade path named on the page

Cons

  • No rewards
  • Deposit refunded at closing rather than on a review schedule
Visit Citi (opens in a new tab)

Using a secured card to build credit

Use the card for a small regular bill and pay the full statement balance by the due date every month. The CFPB[6] says paying on time, every time, can help you build a strong credit history and lower your borrowing costs later. It also notes that debit cards, prepaid cards and payday loans typically aren’t reported to the nationwide credit reporting companies, so they don’t build credit history the same way.

Who should skip this

  • You already qualify for an unsecured card. A no-fee cash back card doesn’t tie up a deposit.
  • You’d need the deposit for emergencies. Keep an emergency fund first; the deposit isn’t available while the account is secured.
  • You plan to carry a balance. These APRs run about 26% to 29%.

Frequently asked questions

Is the deposit refundable?
On all five cards here the issuer describes the deposit as refundable. Capital One and Bank of America describe ways to get it back while keeping the account (an upgrade or a periodic review); Citi says it’s generally refunded when the account is closed in good standing.
What’s the smallest deposit?
Capital One Platinum Secured ($49, $99 or $200) and Discover it Secured (as low as $49 for a line of at least $200), as shown on Nov 10, 2026.
Does a secured card build credit?
It can. The CFPB[6] lists secured credit cards among products that can help start or rebuild credit, because payments are reported to the nationwide credit reporting companies. Confirm with the issuer that it reports to all three.
Is a prepaid card the same thing?
No. The CFPB[6] says that unlike a secured credit card, prepaid cards do not help you establish your credit history.
Do you earn money if I apply?
No. All links go to the issuers with no affiliate tracking.

Sources

Every source below was opened and read for this page (rates last checked Nov 10, 2026). Providers’ own pages are labeled with the provider’s name; regulator pages are labeled with the agency. Rates and terms change often, so confirm on the provider’s site before you apply.

  1. Capital One: Platinum Secured card page (capitalone.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  2. Capital One: Quicksilver Secured card page (capitalone.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  3. Discover: Discover it Secured card page (discover.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  4. Bank of America: BankAmericard Secured card page (bankofamerica.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  5. Citi: Secured Mastercard card page (Pricing Details) (citi.com, checked Nov 10, 2026)
  6. CFPB: What are some ways to start or rebuild a good credit history? (consumerfinance.gov, checked Nov 10, 2026)
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