- Unlimited 3% cash-back rate on entertainment, travel, dining, and groceries.
- No annual fee or foreign transaction fees.
- Includes travel accident insurance.
Personal Finance
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updated: November 18, 2024
Credit card companies provide pre-approved credit cards as offers to indicate a strong likelihood of approval upon application. Alongside these pre-approved offers, which are typically delivered via mail or email, most prominent credit card companies also enable individuals to pre-qualify for their cards.
In this article, we'll go over some great cards with attractive features that offer consumers potential pre-approval opportunities.
Our recommendations
Best for: cash back
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best for: cash back
Capital One Savor Cash Rewards Credit Card
Why we like it:
Our pick for the best pre-approved credit card that offers cash back is the card_name. As a new card member, you’ll earn bonus_miles_full.
While the bonus is nice, the ability to earn cash back is where this card really shines. You can earn:
- 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, streaming services, and at grocery stores.
- 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases.
- 5% cash back on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
- 1% cash back on all other purchases.
The card also comes with a generous balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration and intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration. This card has annual_fees annual fee.
Product details:
Introductory Offer:
- Receive a $250 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening.
- Benefit from a 0% introductory APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months. After that, a variable APR of 19.74% - 29.74% applies. Note that balance transfer fees may apply.
Card Rewards:
- Get 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services, and at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®). Plus, earn 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Enjoy 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases.
- Earn 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Capital One guarantees the best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply.
- No need to worry about rotating categories or sign-ups to earn rewards. Cash back won't expire for the life of the account, and there's no cap on earnings.
Additional Details:
- No foreign transaction fees.
- No annual fee.
Pros & cons:
Pros:
Cons:
- Requires good or excellent credit.
- Must book through Capital One Travel for boosted awards rate.
- Grocery category excludes superstores like Walmart and Target.
Best for: travel
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Best for: travel
Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
Why we like it:
If you’re looking to get preapproved for a card that offers travel rewards, the card_name is our top pick. This card will earn you bonus_miles_full
With the card, you’ll earn an unlimited 2 miles per dollar spent on any purchase. Plus, you can earn 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel.
Capital One offers a flexible redemption policy where you’re not bound to one airline or hotel chain. Simply book the travel that you want, and then apply your miles as a statement credit.
Another perk to having the card_name is that you’ll receive up to a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck®. Plus, receive 2 complimentary passes each year to a Capital One airport lounge. This card has a annual_fees annual fee.
Product details:
Introductory Offer:
- Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months, equal to $750 in travel
Card Rewards:
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day.
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options.
- Miles won’t expire for the life of the account, and there’s no limit to how many you can earn.
Additional Benefits:
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®.
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel.
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection.
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs.
Pros & cons:
Pros:
- Earns unlimited flat-rate travel miles on all purchases.
- Ideal for purchases overseas.
- Up to five miles per dollar when booking hotel rooms or rental cars through Capital One.
Cons:
- Miles worth only 1 cent or less unless you use select airline transfer programs.
- Has annual fee.
- Requires good/excellent credit.
Best for: no annual fee
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Best for: no annual fee
Chase Freedom Unlimited®
Why we like it:
Want to get preapproved for a no annual fee credit card? The card_name is a great choice. You’ll earn bonus_miles_full Plus, you’ll receive 5% cash back on grocery store purchases for up to $12,000 spent in the first year.
Additional cashback opportunities include:
- 3% back at restaurants, select food delivery services, and drugstores.
- 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- 5% back on Lyft rides through March 31, 2025.
- 1.5% back on all other purchases.
With this card, you’ll also receive a complimentary membership to Instacart+ and DashPass from DoorDash for 3 months. These benefits must be activated by July 31, 2024, and December 31, 2024, respectively.
Similar to the card_name, this card offers intro_apr_rate,intro_apr_duration and balance_transfer_intro_apr,balance_transfer_intro_duration. This card has annual_fees annual fee.
Product details:
Introductory Offer:
- Earn an extra 1.5% cash back on all purchases (up to $20,000 spent in the first year), which can add up to $300 in cash back!
- 0% Intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 19.99% - 28.74%.
Intro Card Rewards:
- 6.5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠, our top-tier rewards program where you can redeem for cash back, travel, gift cards, and more.
- 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
- 3% cash back on all other purchases (up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
After the First Year or $20,000 Spent Card Rewards:
- 5% cash back on travel booked through Chase Travel℠.
- 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services.
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
Additional Benefits:
- No minimum to redeem for cash back. Choose a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards never expire as long as your account is open!
- No annual fee – Enjoy all the great features of your Freedom Unlimited® card without paying an annual fee.
- Credit Monitoring – Keep track of your credit health with Chase Credit Journey, offering free access to your latest score, alerts, and more.
Member FDIC
- Balance transfer fee: balance_transfer_fees
- Cash advance fee: cash_advance_fee
- Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee
Pros & cons:
Pros:
- Intro 15 month 0% APR period.
- Elevated flat cash back rate and boosted rates in key purchasing categories.
- $200 bonus after spending $500 in three months.
Cons:
- Requires good/excellent credit.
- Balance transfer fee.
- Potential for a high regular APR.
Best for: average credit
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Best for: average credit
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
Why we like it:
If you’re looking for a new credit card but only have fair credit, the card_name is a great choice. With this card, you’ll earn an unlimited 1.5% back on every purchase. Plus, you’ll earn 5% cash back on hotels and car rentals when booked through Capital One Travel.
What’s so great about this card is you’re going to have the chance to earn rewards while you continue building your credit. As long as you continue making your payments on time each month, you’ll be eligible to request a credit limit increase after just 6 months. Higher credit limits can lead to lower credit utilization, which means higher credit scores. This card has a annual_fees annual fee.
Product details:
Card Rewards:
- Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
- No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn’t expire for the life of the account. It’s that simple
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you’ll get Capital One’s best prices on thousands of trip options (terms apply)
Additional Benefits:
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It’s free for everyone
- Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you’re all set
Member FDIC
Pros & cons:
Pros:
- Unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase.
- Qualify with average credit.
- No foreign transaction fees.
Cons:
- Has a $39 annual fee.
- High APR.
- Offers very few perks beyond basic issuer benefits.
Best for: no credit check
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
Best for: no credit check
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
Credit score needed
no credit (or variations: bad credit, no credit check)
Annual fees
$35
Why we like it:
It’s not very often that a credit card issuer doesn’t perform a hard inquiry on your credit report at some point during the application process. That’s not the case with the OpenSky® Secured Visa® credit card. Not only do they not check your credit, but they also don’t require you to have a bank account.
When you open an account, you’ll be required to put down a $200 security deposit which will act as your credit limit. Then as long as you make payments on time each month, you can get a credit line increase every six months. Once your credit has improved and you’re ready to move onto a different credit card, you’ll receive your security deposit back again. This card has a $35 annual fee.
Product details:
- New feature! Earn up to 10% cash back* on everyday purchases
- No credit check to apply. Zero credit risk to apply!
- Looking to build or rebuild your credit? 2 out of 3 OpenSky cardholders increase their credit score by an average of 41 points in just 3 months
- Get free monthly access to your FICO score in our mobile application
- Build your credit history across 3 major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion
- Add to your mobile wallet and make purchases using Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay
- Fund your card with a low $200 refundable security deposit to get a $200 credit line
- Apply in less than 5 minutes with our mobile first application
- Choose the due date that fits your schedule with flexible payment dates
- Fund your security deposit over 60 days with the option to make partial payments
- Over 1.4 Million Cardholders Have Used OpenSky Secured Credit Card To Improve Their Credit
- *See Rewards Terms and Conditions for more information
- Balance transfer fee: balance_transfer_fees
- Cash advance fee: cash_advance_fee
- Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee
Pros & cons:
Pros:
- Reports activity to all three credit bureaus, which helps boost credit score.
- Offers a $3,000 credit limit with matching deposit to help keep credit utilization ratio low.
- No credit check required, making card available even if you have no credit history.
Cons:
- Charges a $35 annual fee.
- A $200 minimum deposit is required.
- No cardholder benefits.
Best for: fixed monthly payment
Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
Best for: fixed monthly payment
Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
Why we like it:
The card_name combines the best features of a credit card with those of a fixed-rate loan. You’ll receive 1.5% cash back on everything you buy. However, instead of earning the rewards when you make the purchase, you receive them after you make a payment on your balance.
Where this card really benefits some cardholders is that your purchases are combined at the end of the statement period and transferred into a fixed-rate loan. This allows you to make set payments each month and avoid variable interest rates. The best part is that you’ll know exactly when your balance will be paid off. Plus, this card has no annual fee.
Product details:
- $200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking Plus account and making 3 debit card transactions*
- Earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a payment
- Combine the flexibility of a credit card with the predictability of a personal loan
- No annual fee
- No touch payments with contactless technology built in
- See if you qualify in minutes without hurting your credit score
- Great for large purchases with predictable payments you can budget for
- Mobile app to access your account anytime, anywhere
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud liability
- *To qualify for the welcome bonus, you must open and fund a new Rewards Checking Plus account through Upgrade and make 3 qualifying debit card transactions from your Rewards Checking Plus account within 60 days of the date the Rewards Checking Plus account is opened. If you have previously opened a checking account through Upgrade or do not open a Rewards Checking Plus account as part of this application process, you are not eligible for this welcome bonus offer. Your Upgrade Card and Rewards Checking Plus account must be open and in good standing to receive a bonus. To qualify, debit card transactions must have settled and exclude ATM transactions. Please refer to the applicable Upgrade VISA® Debit Card Agreement and Disclosures for more information. Welcome bonus offers cannot be combined, substituted, or applied retroactively. The bonus will be applied to your Rewards Checking Plus account as a one-time payout credit within 60 days after meeting the conditions.
- Balance transfer fee: balance_transfer_fees
- Cash advance fee: cash_advance_fee
- Foreign transaction fee: foreign_transaction_fee
Pros & cons:
Pros:
- Offers fixed payments via fixed-rate loan.
- No prepayment penalty fees.
- Cash back rewards automatically redeem for statement credits.
Cons:
- No bonus offer.
- Limited availability.
- Limited redemption options.
Best credit cards that offer pre-approval comparison chart
| Card | Annual fee | Credit score | Welcome offer |
|---|---|---|---|
annual_fees | credit_score_needed | bonus_miles | |
annual_fees | credit_score_needed | bonus_miles | |
annual_fees | credit_score_needed | bonus_miles_full | |
annual_fees | credit_score_needed | bonus_miles | |
$35 | no credit (or variations: bad credit, no credit check) | Up to 10% cash back rewards | |
annual_fees | credit_score_needed | bonus_miles |
Methodology (How we picked these credit cards)
To select the best possible pre-approved credit cards we looked at dozens of cards and considered several different factors. This included welcome bonuses, reward potential, card benefits, and fees. We also dug into the fine print of each card to make sure all the information was transparent to anyone thinking about applying for a card.
Who offers pre-approved credit cards
Most credit card issuers offer pre-approval on at least some of their cards. However, the information applicants are required to submit will vary from issuer to issuer. Below are some of the major issuers and the information they consider before offering pre-approval.
American Express – American Express will ask you for your first and last name, home address, the last four digits of your Social Security number, and your total annual income.
Capital One – Capital One will ask you for your first and last name, home address, date of birth, last four digits of your Social Security number, email address, phone number, employment status, highest level of education, total annual income, monthly rent/mortgage payment, whether you have bank accounts, date of birth, and full Social Security number.
Chase – Chase will ask you for your first and last name, home address, last four digits of your Social Security number.
Citi – Citi will ask for your first and last name, home address, email address, and the last four digits of your Social Security number.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Do pre-approvals hurt your credit score?
When you apply for pre-approval on a credit card, the card issuer will perform a soft inquiry. This will not have any impact on your credit score. However, if you decide to apply for the card, a hard inquiry will be done and your credit score may go down temporarily.
What is the easiest card to get approved?
If you have a poor credit score or limited credit history, the easiest card to get approval for will be a secured card.
Can I apply for a pre-approved credit card if I don’t have a job?
Being unemployed will not make it impossible to gain pre-approval for a credit card. Most issuers are going to ask you for your annual income, however, you can include other sources of income other than a full-time job. Credit cards meant for building credit might be the best fit until you have a steady income.
What is the difference between credit card pre-qualification and pre-approval?
Some card issuers will use the terms pre-qualification and pre-approval as though they’re the same thing. With both, the issuer is doing a financial review to make sure you’re a good fit for a card. This will include asking you to submit your name, address, annual income, and Social Security number. However, pre-approval usually takes things a step further and the issuer will perform a soft inquiry on your credit.
Does pre-qualifying for a credit card guarantee I’ll be approved?
Being pre-qualified for a credit card is a good sign that you’ll be approved but it’s not guaranteed. As part of the actual application process, the issuer will perform a hard inquiry on your credit which will consider your income and payment history.
*Limited Time Offer: $51 funding voucher applied for all new accounts. Get a $200 credit line for $149. Click the "OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card" link to see additional terms and conditions.
Terms and Conditions may apply to offers and benefits on this page.
The information presented here is created by TIME Stamped and overseen by TIME editorial staff. To learn more, see our About Us page.
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