Are you in the market for a new credit card but unsure where to start? Researching and comparing the best credit cards can often be overwhelming. Plus, the unknowns around whether or not you’ll be approved can leave you feeling a little uneasy.
This is where pre-approved credit card offers can help alleviate some of the stress. By providing card issuers with some basic information, you can quickly find out which credit cards you may qualify for.
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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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Chase – Chase will ask you for your first and last name, home address, last four digits of your social security number.
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Citi – Citi will ask for your first and last name, home address, email address, and the last four digits of your social security number.
Best credit cards which offer pre-approval compared 2024
Our recommendations for the best pre-approval credit card
Best for cash back: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Credit score needed: credit_score_needed
- Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card offers great cash back rewards. With this card, you can earn 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, and streaming services, 3% cash back at grocery stores, 10% cash back on Uber and Uber Eats, and 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases. Additionally, you can earn 5% cash back on hotel and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. This card has no annual fees and comes with a generous introductory APR rate on purchases and balance transfers.
Best for travel: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
- Credit score needed: credit_score_needed
- Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full
The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is our top pick for travel rewards. With this card, you can earn 2 miles per dollar spent on any purchase and 5 miles per dollar spent on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. The card offers flexible redemption options and comes with a $100 statement credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck®. The annual fee applies.
Best for no annual fee: Chase Freedom Unlimited®
- Credit score needed: credit_score_needed
- Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full
The Chase Freedom Unlimited® card is a great choice for those looking for a credit card with no annual fees. With this card, you can earn 3% back at restaurants, select food delivery services, and drugstores, 5% back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards, and 5% back on Lyft rides. The card also offers a range of other cashback opportunities and comes with introductory APR rates on purchases and balance transfers. There are no annual fees.
Best for average credit: Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Credit score needed: credit_score_needed
- Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a great option for those with average credit. With this card, you can earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase and 5% cash back on hotels and car rentals booked through Capital One Travel. The card also offers the opportunity to increase your credit limit after just 6 months of on-time payments. There are no annual fees.
Best for no credit check: OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
- Credit score needed: credit_score_needed
- Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full
The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is a unique option that doesn’t require a credit check. With this card, you’ll need to put down a security deposit, but you can begin building your credit by making on-time payments. The card offers the opportunity to increase your credit limit every six months and eventually receive your security deposit back. There are no annual fees.
Best for fixed monthly payment: Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
- Credit score needed: credit_score_needed
- Welcome offer: bonus_miles_full
The Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® card combines the features of a credit card with those of a fixed-rate loan. With this card, your purchases are combined at the end of the statement period and transferred into a fixed-rate loan with set monthly payments. This allows you to avoid variable interest rates and know exactly when your balance will be paid off. The card has no annual fees.
Methodology (How we picked these credit cards)
To select the best pre-approved credit cards, we considered several factors such as welcome bonuses, reward potential, card benefits, and fees. We also reviewed the fine print of each card to ensure transparency. Our goal is to provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information to help you make informed decisions about credit cards.
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, which does not impact your credit score. However, if you decide to apply for the card, a hard inquiry will be done, which may cause a temporary decrease in your credit score.
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 does not make it impossible to gain pre-approval for a credit card. Credit card issuers may ask for your annual income, but you can include other sources of income besides 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 preapproval?
Some card issuers use the terms pre-qualification and pre-approval interchangeably. Both involve a financial review to determine your eligibility for a card, including providing your personal details. However, pre-approval usually entails a soft inquiry on your credit report.
Does pre-qualifying for a credit card guarantee I’ll be approved?
While being pre-qualified for a credit card is a positive sign, it does not guarantee approval. During the actual application process, the issuer will conduct a hard inquiry on your credit, considering 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.