Credit Cards for Bad Credit
As an alternative to a cash loan, an unsecured credit card can be a flexible way to borrow - and mostly easier to be accepted for than a loan, even if your credit history isn't perfect.
An Easy Credit Card Maybe An Alternative
What Is a Credit-Builder Card?
Sometimes these are called starter or re-starter cards, because for some borrowers they're the first step onto the credit card ladder - whether you don't have a credit history yet, or you don't have the best one. And for people who've fallen off the ladder by not paying accounts on time, these providers can be more willing to take a chance, usually by offering a low credit limit to begin with.
That's not to say every applicant gets approved - they won't. But the providers we list on this page focus on the riskier profiles that mainstream lenders turn away, which is why we go through each one in detail. Even where we can't get someone approved for an unsecured loan, we can at least help by pointing borrowers towards the card that best fits them. We're independent: we take no fees from borrowers or lenders for these recommendations, so what you read here is impartial.
How We Chose These Cards
We've chosen these cards because they tend to have higher acceptance rates for applicants with a non-prime credit history. There'd be little point listing cards from the likes of American Express or MBNA - the average Easy Loans reader is unlikely to meet their strict lending criteria, so applying would only waste your time and theirs.
Instead, we've listed providers that focus on non-prime borrowers, both in how they advertise and in the wording on their own websites. We also draw on what other customers have told us about the types of card they've been accepted for in the past. Together, that helps us build a picture of which cards tend to be the easiest to be approved for.
We've arranged them in order of their approval rate (from the public information we have been able to put together).
Before You Apply
While we make every effort to keep this information up to date, it isn't updated in real time, and the rates, fees and terms shown may have changed since we last checked. Always treat the provider's own website as the definitive source, and confirm the current details there before applying.
The Cards
Capital One
Capital One was one of the earliest subprime credit card brands in the UK. They have a base in Nottingham, use UK-only call centres, and are well known as an efficient, reliably run provider for people looking to get their credit record back on track. They've operated in the UK since 1996, so this is a long-established name rather than a newcomer.
Pioneering
It would be fair to call them pioneers of credit cards for non-prime borrowers. The 1990s was a very different time. Credit cards were being blamed for a good deal of personal bankruptcy, and the mood of the era treated them almost as something to be ashamed of. For Capital One to move headlong into lending to higher-risk borrowers was, in that climate, genuinely bold.
Rewarding good behaviour
Capital One will accept applications from customers with strong credit histories, but they don't try to compete with the prime lenders on rates or high limits. Their focus is the borrower who has struggled to get credit elsewhere. The model is to take a measured chance on a new borrower while keeping them on a tight rein - opening limits of £200–£300 aren't unusual. From there, accounts are monitored, and where repayments are made on time, the credit limit is increased gradually and responsibly. Over time, some customers may also see their interest rate reduced.
Positives
- MasterCard Network (Accepted Everywhere)
- Aimed at borrowers declined elsewhere
- Designed for subprime applicants
- Soft check - not damaging to credit records
- 4-5 working days to receive the card
- Lower APRs within the subprime group of card providers. Currently charging 34.9% Representative APR.
- UK Call Centre
- Zero interest if balance paid in full each month
Negatives
- Lower Starting Credit Limits
- No Reward Scheme
Our Summary
We have no problem recommending Capital One to users of this site. They're a transparent brand that provides exactly the services they promise, and as far as we can tell there are no hidden charges. Their interest rate is reasonable for the sector, given they take a considered chance on applicants focused on rebuilding their credit - Capital One charge 34.9% representative APR, while some cards in this space charge over 70%. And remember: if you repay the balance in full each month, there's no interest to pay at all.
For what it is, Capital One is a safe, reliable choice for getting back on the credit ladder.
Vanquis Credit Card
We have a lot of time for Vanquis - one of the UK's longest-running non-prime credit card brands, and one that's genuinely stood the test of time at over 20 years. The card business was established in 2002 as Vanquis Bank, issuing Visa cards aimed squarely at people with a sub-prime credit history who'd been turned down by mainstream lenders.
Its roots run deeper still: the parent company began life back in 1880 in Bradford, providing affordable credit to working families in West Yorkshire. Today that group is known as Vanquis Banking Group, listed on the London Stock Exchange, having stepped back from its old home-collected lending to focus on cards, savings and consumer finance.
Like much of the sub-prime sector, the wider group has been through a turbulent period in recent years. But the Vanquis card itself remains the strong, established heart of the business - it returned to profit in 2025 - and it's exactly the kind of division that would endure whatever the parent group faces. We don't believe Vanquis is going anywhere. Infact it could be that its best years are now ahead of it.
Choosing The Right Vanquis Card
At the time of writing, in August 2026, Vanquis show a representative APR of between 35% and 40% across four of their specialist credit cards. The highest is on their Low Balance Balance Transfer Card, at 40.9% representative APR.
Unlike some other providers, Vanquis expects applicants to do a bit of research and work out which card best suits their circumstances. In our view, that isn't the ideal approach. We generally prefer to see a single application - or a single eligibility check - after which the provider shows the options a customer is pre-approved for. Presenting applicants with a long list of cards before they know what they'll qualify for can be confusing.
That said, some of their card features are genuinely good. Their travel credit card charges no foreign transaction fees, which could appeal to people who don't necessarily need to borrow but want a card for spending abroad. It also comes with Section 75 protection - a legal safeguard that makes the card provider jointly liable with the retailer on purchases between £100 and £30,000, so if something goes wrong with a purchase (the retailer goes bust, or goods don't arrive) you may be able to claim your money back. It's one of the genuine advantages of paying by credit card rather than debit or cash.
Their website is clear, the app is easy to use, and they hold strong customer ratings.
Starting With Lower Credit Limts
New users should expect lower credit limits to start with. Like most providers in this field, Vanquis prefer to start low and let borrowers show they can handle the responsibility of a higher limit over time.
Positives
- Visa Network (Accepted Everywhere)
- Aimed at borrowers declined elsewhere
- Designed for subprime applicants
- Soft check - not damaging to credit records
- 4-5 working days to receive the card
- Average APRs within the subprime group of card providers. Currently charging 34.9% - 40.9% Representative APR.
- UK Call Centre
- Zero interest if balance paid in full each month
- Cashback on some cards at some retailers
Negatives
- Lower Starting Credit Limits
Our Summary
Vanquis is another strong option for anyone who needs short-term credit. While a credit card isn't as liquid as cash, it can be used to pay most bills online or over the phone. Vanquis tell applicants a card can take up to 14 days to arrive, though feedback from our own users suggests 6–7 days from application to the card landing is more typical, with the PIN usually following a day or two later.
We'd happily give the Vanquis Credit Card our blessing.