No Credit Check Credit Cards – Avoid Hits on Your Report
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When I was preparing to buy out the lease of my Toyota Camry, I knew I wanted to get competitive interest rates from each lender to minimize the impact of monthly auto loan payments on my budget. I knew that part of getting a reasonable interest rate came down to my creditworthiness, so I wanted to find ways to boost my credit score while paying down other debts.
When I pulled my credit report and looked at what Equifax, Experian, and Transunion had to say, I felt like my score was pretty good, but I knew I could improve it. One strategy I used to improve my credit score was opening a new credit line to increase my available credit and improve my debt-to-income ratio.
Of course, I knew that for my plan to work, I would need to ensure that I didn’t get a hard pull from the major credit bureaus when opening the line of credit. A hard inquiry can stay on your credit report for up to two years, ultimately hurting my chances of getting the best auto loan. I turned to credit card offers that didn’t need a hard pull of my credit history to avoid this problem. A soft credit check wouldn’t pose the same threat to my car loan application process, allowing me to circumnavigate any potential issues. This also makes credit card companies that use soft inquiries an ideal fit for anyone with no credit history or working to build credit.
You might be surprised that you can open a credit card with a soft credit pull. In fact, not only can you open a credit card, but there are even cards out there that won’t make you sacrifice perks like balance transfers, cash back, or no annual fee. Keep reading for an overview of the best credit cards that do not do a hard credit check.
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How is a soft pull different than a hard pull?
When it comes to building credit or repairing bad credit, there are various factors to keep track of. One key factor in your credit score is how much available credit you have compared to your credit limits. Payment history is also a key component of calculating your credit score and FICO Score. Another factor significantly affects your credit report's number of credit inquiries.
How does a credit inquiry get on your report in the first place? In most situations, when you apply for a loan or credit line, lenders or credit card companies perform a credit check to pull your current score and determine your creditworthiness. They use this to calculate other terms of your credit card, such as variable APR or credit limit. Those inquiries take two forms: a hard pull or a soft pull.
Raise Your Credit 80 points*
- 5 star service trusted by over 450,000 members
- Have processed over $11,000,000 in bill payments for members
- No deposit, no credit check, no interest
- New member promotions available
*Potential increase based on StellarFi member data. StellarFi numbers observed an average of 80 points VantageScore® 3.0 increase during a member’s lifetime. Score increase based on members with an incoming score range of 300-499 pts, who made regular on-time payments, with regular on-time payments. Results may vary.
Hard pulls
A hard pull of your credit report will show lenders detailed information about your credit usage and any loans you have taken out in your name. Hard credit checks are commonly involved with rental applications, credit card applications, auto loans, and mortgages. A hard pull may result in your credit score dropping by as many as 10 points and will stay on your credit report for up to two years.
Soft pulls
A soft pull of your credit report may happen if you’ve been preapproved for a specific credit card or are going through the pre-qualification process for a loan. Soft credit checks may also occur if you use a credit monitoring service or get an updated insurance quote. Unlike hard pulls, soft credit checks do not impact your credit score in any negative way.
Why would you want a credit card that didn’t involve a hard check?
If you have limited credit or are working on building credit, applying for a credit card when you know your low score can be counterproductive if the hard pull results in your credit score dropping. Some people may even have no credit score to speak of — such as my friend who ran into trouble getting his apartment application approved — which can pose other credit-related problems when looking to open a credit card. While most hard credit inquiries only affect your credit score for a year, if, like me, you know you’ll be buying out your lease in six months, you can’t afford to take that hit if you want the best rate possible.
Understanding secured credit cards
If you open a credit card without a hard check, you’ll be opening a secured credit line. Secured credit cards require a security deposit to be made as collateral. Your refundable security deposit will likely equal your available credit limit and serves as an insurance policy for the bank not performing a full hard pull of your report.
Most secured credit cards require that cardholders put down a minimum deposit to open a new credit line. This can impact what options make the most sense for you. A secured credit card with a higher minimum deposit might be out of reach if your money is tight. It’s a good idea to weigh the features you need against your budget to ensure you don’t overpay your deposit to get features you don’t need. While having no annual or foreign transaction fees is a great perk, you shouldn’t overextend yourself to get them.
Credit cards without a hard check
When opening a credit card without a hard check, it’s important to note that all options are limited to secured credit cards. Here’s what you should know about some of the most popular secured credit cards.
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
Card Name
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
APR
29.99%
Recommended Credit Score
Limited, Bad
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
No annual or hidden fees.
Special Offer Terms
See if you're approved in seconds.
Rewards Rate
N/A
Terms
Why We Like It
- No annual or hidden fees.
- You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit by making on-time payments.
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months with no additional deposit needed.
- Monitor your credit score for free with CreditWise from Capital One.
OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card
OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card
Card Name
OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card
APR
25.64%
Annual Fee
$35
Why We Like It
- No credit check required
- Credit limit from as low as $200 and as high as $3,000
- Reports to all three credit bureaus
- 85% average approval rate
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Discover It® Secured Credit Card
Card Name
Discover It® Secured Credit Card
APR
28.24%
Recommended Credit Score
N/A
Annual Fee
$0
Rewards Rate
Earn 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all your other purchases automatically. 2x cash back with Cashback Match, get an unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year, automatically.
Why We Like It
- Credit-building credit card with limit you set with your deposit.
- Automatic review in 7 months to see if you can transition into an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
Citi® Secured Mastercard®
Citi® Secured Mastercard®
Card Name
Citi® Secured Mastercard®
APR
26.74%
Recommended Credit Score
Limited History, No Credit, New-to-Credit
Annual Fee
$0
Special Offer
N/A
Special Offer Terms
Rewards Rate
Why We Like It
- No annual fee.
BankAmericard Secured Credit Card
BankAmericard Secured
Card Name
BankAmericard Secured
APR
26.24%
Recommended Credit Score
690+
Annual Fee
$0
Intro Offer
0% Introductory APR for the first 18 Statement Closing Dates following the opening of your account.
Why We Like It
- No annual fee.
- Free monthly access to your FICO Score.
- Credit education topics.
Raise Your Credit 80 points*
- 5 star service trusted by over 450,000 members
- Have processed over $11,000,000 in bill payments for members
- No deposit, no credit check, no interest
- New member promotions available
*Potential increase based on StellarFi member data. StellarFi numbers observed an average of 80 points VantageScore® 3.0 increase during a member’s lifetime. Score increase based on members with an incoming score range of 300-499 pts, who made regular on-time payments, with regular on-time payments. Results may vary.
Summary of credit cards without a hard check
Card | APR | Minimum Deposit | Annual Fee |
Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card | Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card | $200 | $0 |
Open Sky Secured Visa | 22.14% | $200 | $35 |
Discover it Secured | 27.74% | $200 | $0 |
Citi® Secured Mastercard® | 26.74% | $200 | $0 |
BankAmericard Secured | 25.74% | $200 | $0 |
Costs
Most of the secured credit cards on this list have $0 annual fees—although you’ll pay $35 a year if you open the OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card. While that might make it seem as if OpenSky’s secured card isn’t worth opening, it’s worth noting that other cards charge fees for foreign transactions, balance transfers, and overdraft protection. So they still may get some of your dollars if you aren’t privy to their terms and conditions.
The most significant cost associated with opening a secured credit card that doesn’t require a hard credit check is coming up with the security deposit. While some cards have minimums of $49, other credit cards require a heftier minimum deposit of $200. Generally speaking, the cards with higher minimums also come with more perks, which can be frustrating if you want access to certain features, but money is tight for you each month. All of these factors are important to consider as you weigh the pros and cons of each card.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No hard credit check. If you’re rebuilding your credit, the last thing you want is a 10 point deduction just for opening a new card. All secured credit cards on this list don’t require a hard credit pull, meaning your credit report will not be impacted by applying for a card.
- Can help build credit. Unlike using a debit card, a secured credit card helps you build your credit while having a limit set forth by a security deposit you can afford.
- Many no-fee options. Just because you’re applying for a secured credit card doesn’t mean that you’ll be paying an annual fee. Many of the options highlighted here have $0 annual fees.
- You don’t always have to sacrifice perks. If you’re interested in cashback, there’s a secured credit card for you from Discover. That’s your only option, but you’ve got one—complete with a dollar-for-dollar cash back match at the end of your first year!
Cons
- Minimum deposit required. Some of the best secured credit cards have higher minimum deposits, which could be challenging to come up with if money is tight.
- Not many perks. While Discover offers a card with some cash back perks, that’s your only option. If you’d instead open a Visa or Mastercard, you likely won’t get many perks at all.
- Rarely any intro offers. The generous welcome offers and bonuses credit card companies give new cardholders make unsecured credit cards a bit more enticing. With a secured credit card, you’re getting more of a stepping stone than a full-fledged credit card with all the bells and whistles.
The bottom line
If you’re working to repair your credit or have no credit score, opening a secured credit card that doesn’t require a credit check can be a great way to start building credit responsibly. A hard credit pull can negatively impact your credit score for as long as two years, so having the ability to open a card that won’t ding your credit can be a major boon for anyone looking to boost their creditworthiness. Of course, there are fewer options regarding soft-pull credit cards at your fingertips, but there are still options worth considering in this niche.
While you might think of a secured credit card as a credit card with “training wheels,” credit card companies offer a few different perks with their secured cards. These offerings aren’t as robust as unsecured credit cards; however, in the name of responsibility, it may be best for you to start with a secured card before graduating to an unsecured one. For example, you can still take advantage of Discover’s first-year cash back match and earn 2% cashback on your purchases if you open a Discover it Secured Credit Card. If presale access to concerts or other live events is more your style, the Citi Secured Mastercard could be worth opening to access its Citi Entertainment program.
Ultimately, you don’t want to be stuck using secured credit cards long-term. However, they serve a purpose, and there’s no reason to think that just because you’re opening a secured credit card, you will have to sacrifice all of the benefits a credit card offers. From $0 annual fees to cashback and $0 liability in instances of fraud, the above cards showcase that there is value to be gleaned from secured credit cards beyond avoiding a hard credit check on your report.
Raise Your Credit 80 points*
- 5 star service trusted by over 450,000 members
- Have processed over $11,000,000 in bill payments for members
- No deposit, no credit check, no interest
- New member promotions available
*Potential increase based on StellarFi member data. StellarFi numbers observed an average of 80 points VantageScore® 3.0 increase during a member’s lifetime. Score increase based on members with an incoming score range of 300-499 pts, who made regular on-time payments, with regular on-time payments. Results may vary.
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Writer
Brent Ervin-Eickhoff is a Chicago-based writer, stage director, and filmmaker with a background in digital marketing and content creation. In addition to Joy Wallet, Brent has written for Complex, Volkswagen, HowlRound, Picture this Post, and Third Coast Review, among others. He currently serves as the Associate Director of Marketing for Content Creation at Court Theatre at the University of Chicago. Brent graduated from Ball State University with Academic Honors in Writing.
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