Best 5 Credit Cards for Low Credit Score in 2026

• With responsible usage, it helps establish or rebuild credit over time. 

Credit Builder Cards 

• Specifically designed to improve or rebuild credit scores. 

• Often come with lower credit limits and fewer perks. 

Store Credit Cards 

• Offered by retail brands or shopping outlets. 

• Usually have relaxed credit score requirements. 

Student Credit Cards 

• Ideal for college students and often available with minimal income or credit requirements. 

• Useful for students with low scores aiming to start their credit journey. 

Prepaid Credit Cards 

• Not traditional credit cards; you load funds in advance to use them. 

• Ideal for managing spending without increasing debt as no credit check required. 

• Helps avoid further damage to your CIBIL score while maintaining financial discipline. 

Best Credit Cards for Low CIBIL Score Holders

Check out credit card options suited for low CIBIL score holders:

SBI Unnati Credit Card

The SBI Card Unnati Credit Card is an entry-level secured credit card designed mainly for individuals who are new to credit or looking to build their credit history. Since it is issued against a fixed deposit, it does not require income proof, making it accessible to a wide range of users. The card offers basic reward benefits along with simple milestone cashback and fuel surcharge savings, but it does not include premium lifestyle or travel privileges. 

• Annual fee and joining fee: Rs. 0 for first 4 years, then Rs. 499 plus GST from 5th year onwards 

Features and Benefits of SBI Card Unnati Credit Card: 

The following are the key features and benefits of SBI Card Unnati Credit Card: 

• No joining fee and no annual fee for the first 4 years, making it a cost-effective entry-level credit card  

• Earn 1 reward point for every Rs. 100 spent on eligible domestic and international transactions  

• Reward points are not applicable on categories such as fuel, cash withdrawals, EMI conversions, balance transfers, and certain excluded merchant types  

• Milestone cashback of Rs. 500 on annual spends of Rs. 50,000 or more  

• Fuel surcharge waiver of 1% on eligible fuel transactions between Rs. 500 and Rs. 3,000, with a monthly cap of Rs. 100  

• Credit limit is linked to a fixed deposit starting from Rs. 25,000, making it suitable for individuals without prior credit history  

• Card is backed by SBI fixed deposit, allowing users to earn interest on their deposit while using the card  

• Widely accepted across domestic and international merchants due to global card network support  

• Simple application process with minimal documentation requirements  

• This is a secured credit card, not an unsecured premium or lifestyle card  

• No lounge access, travel perks, dining offers, or premium lifestyle benefits are included  

• Annual fee applies from the 5th year onwards if the card is continued  

• Reward value is relatively basic compared to premium cashback or travel credit cards 

HDFC Money Back Credit Card

The HDFC Money Back Credit Card can be availed on your salary. The ease of obtaining this card makes it a good option for people trying to improve their credit scores. Some of the details of the card are mentioned below.

Key features of the HDFC Money Back Card:

• Convert spend to EMIs using SmartEMI.
• No lost card liability after reporting loss of the card.

• Contactless payment 

• Revolving credit at a low interest rate 

• Interest free period of up to 50 days 

• Dining benefits

Benefits of HDFC Money Bank Credit Card:

• On spending Rs.50,000 per calendar year, the card offers gift voucher worth Rs.500. 

• On making purchases from Flipkart, Amazon, Reliance Smart SuperStore, Swiggy, and BigBasket, card offers 10X cashpoints. 

• On other spends for every Rs.150, 2 cashpoints offered. 

• Offers 10% additional discount on Swiggy Dineout. 

• On payment of membership fee, the card offers 500 cashpoints as welcome benefit. 

• Renewal fee is waived off on spending Rs.50,000 or more in an annual year. 

• On fuel transaction between Rs.400 and Rs.5000, the card offers 1% fuel surcharge waiver. 

• Gift voucher worth Rs.500 (up to Rs.2000 per year) offered on quarterly spend of Rs.50,000 or more. 

Fees and charges:

• Joining fee: Rs.500
• Annual fee: Rs.500
• Add on charges: Nil
• Minimum amount due: 5% of total outstanding
• Late payment fee: Rs.1,300 for outstanding amount more than Rs.50,000
• Over limit charge: 2.5% of overlimit amount

IDFC FIRST WoW Credit Card

The WoW credit card is provided to individuals who do not have a credit history. The credit card is offered to everyone and comes with a guaranteed approval. A higher interest rate can be earned against the FD account.

Key Features of the IDFC First WoW Credit Card

• Reward points can be redeemed at any given time online.
• No income proof needs to be provided.

Rewards and benefits of IDFC FIRST WOW Credit Card 

• 4x reward points on every transaction. 

• 3x reward points on all UPI spends. 

• 100% cashback up to Rs.200 on first four UPI transactions. 

• 1x reward points on utility bill and insurance premium payments. 

Fee and Charges

• Joining Fee: Nil
• Annual Fee: Nil

ICICI Bank Instant Platinum Credit Card

In case you want a free and instant credit card, you can opt for the ICICI Bank Instatnt Platinum Credit Card. You must have an FD account of Rs.50,000 and above to apply for the card.

Key features of the ICICI Bank Instant Platinum Credit Card:

• Earn 2 reward points for every Rs.100 spent on retail purchases except fuel.
  

• 2.5% fuel surcharge waiver on fuel transaction up to Rs.4000. 

• 25% discount on movie two tickets up to twice a month on purchasing via www.bookmyshow.com. 

Fee and Charges

• Joining Fee: Nil
• Annual Fee: Nil

Kotak811 Dream Different Credit Card

You must have a term deposit with Kotak Mahindra Bank to apply for the Kotak811 Dream Different Credit Card. Up to 90% of the term deposit may be provided as the credit limit.

Key features of the Kotak811 Dream Different Credit Card:

• Earn 4 reward points for every Rs.100 spent online.
• Earn 1 reward point for every Rs.100 spent offline.

• 1% fuel surcharge waiver 

• Railway surcharge waiver of 1.8% and 2.5% for transactions on irctc.co.in and Indian railway booking counters, respectively. 

• Offers Amazon voucher worth Rs.250 and Rs.1000 on spending Rs.36,000 and Rs.72,000 in an anniversary year, respectively. 

Fee and Charges

• Joining Fee: Nil
• Annual Fee: Nil

SBM Bank Rupicard

The SBM Bank Rupicard is a credit card that helps in building your credit score. You will need to have a FD with the bank to apply for the card.

Key features of the SBM Bank Rupicard:

• No proof of income needs to be provided.
• No credit score check is done.

Fee and Charges

• Joining Fee: Nil
• Annual Fee: Nil

Features to Look for in a Credit Card for Low CIBIL Score

It is essential to focus on features that support credit rebuilding and long-term financial improvement when choosing a credit card with a poor credit score. 

• Focus on cards that support credit rebuilding and long-term financial improvement rather than premium rewards or lifestyle benefits  

• Ensure the card reports to all major credit bureaus such as Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion CIBIL so that every repayment improves your credit score over time  

• Prefer cards with no or low annual fee, especially if usage is limited or you are just starting to build credit history  

• Look for options that allow credit limit enhancement over time based on responsible usage, repayment behaviour, or fixed deposit top-ups  

• Choose cards that offer a clear upgrade path to an unsecured credit card after consistent on-time payments over several months  

• Consider secured (FD-backed) credit cards if approval chances are low due to poor or no credit history  

• Ensure the card has a reasonable interest-free credit period (typically 40–50 days) to manage payments efficiently  

• Prefer cards with basic digital onboarding and minimal documentation requirements for easier approval  

• Maintain low credit utilization to improve credit score faster (ideally below 30% of available limit)  

• Always prioritize timely repayment, as payment history is the most important factor in credit score improvement 

Who Should Apply for Secured Credit Cards? 

Secured credit cards are a practical option for individuals who may not meet the eligibility criteria for regular (unsecured) cards.  

• Entry-Level Job Holders 

• Retired Individuals Without Stable Income 

• Applicants Denied Unsecured Cards by Banks 

• People Without Income Proof 

• Homemakers

How to Apply for a Secured Credit Card?

The steps to apply for a secured credit card are mentioned below: 

• You can apply for the specific card through the official website of the bank.  

• Start by entering your mobile number and completing the OTP verification process. 

• View the list of secured credit cards and the offers available. 

• Choose the card that best fits your needs and eligibility. 

• Provide essential documents, such as PAN, Aadhaar, and other required KYC details. 

• You will be redirected to the bank’s website to create a Fixed Deposit, which will act as collateral. 

• Once approved, your card will be delivered to your registered address within five to seven working days.