<Credit Cards

Compare credit building credit cards

If you've never borrowed before or you have a poor credit history, a credit building credit card could help you improve your credit score.

  • User our free card finder
  • Find cards you're most likely to be to be accepted for
  • Apply in minutes
View deals
Card-Illustration-1

Find and compare the cards available to you,

without affecting your credit score

Find a card

How this works

Compare credit cards from leading providers

You'll only find results from genuine companies. Our data experts check each company before we add them to our comparisons.

Aqua logo
Barclays-Logo.wine
logo capitalone-blue
ocean finance logo
Vanquis Logo

How to get a credit building credit card

1

Use our free eligibility checker

Find out which cards you're most likely to be accepted for before you make an application. This won't hurt your credit score.

2

Filter the results according to your needs

You can order the results table according to what's important to you, whether it's APR, chance of acceptance or available credit limit.

3

Pick the deal you want

Choose a card the best suits your circumstances and the one that you're most likely to be accepted for.

Credit cards - How to get a credit building credit card - image asset

Credit building credit card deals

10 results found, sorted by lowest representative apr. How we order our comparisons.
Sort
Available via Aggregator Only
Chrome Credit Card (29.3%) - Excl
Minimum credit limit
£250
Maximum credit limit
£1,200
Representative APR (variable)
29.3% APR
Chrome Credit Card (29.3%) - Excl
Not available if you already hold, or have applied within the last 6 months, a credit card provided by Vanquis Bank.
Representative Example: The standard interest rate on purchases is 29.3% p.a. (variable), so if you borrow £1,200 the Representative APR will be 29.3% (variable).
Eligibility
CCJs Allowed
Credit Ratingpoor
History of Bankruptcyfalse
Minimum Age18 years
UK Resident
Digital Credit Card
Bip Credit
Minimum credit limit
Subject to status
Maximum credit limit
Subject to status
Representative APR (variable)
29.9% APR
Bip Credit
Digital credit card with instant balance updates, no hidden fees and spend caps set by you.
Representative Example: The standard interest rate on purchases is 29.95% p.a. (variable), so if you borrow £1,200 the Representative APR will be 29.9% (variable).
Eligibility
CCJs Allowednot in last 12 months
Credit Ratingpoor
History of Bankruptcynot in last 18 months
Minimum Age18 years
UK Resident
Barclaycard Forward Credit Card
Minimum credit limit
£50
Maximum credit limit
£1,200
Representative APR (variable)
33.9% APR
Barclaycard Forward Credit Card
Sign up for a Barclaycard and get up to five months free of Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple News+ and Apple Arcade. Continues as paid subscription after trial ends. UK only, T&Cs apply.
The rate shown here is the rate you will receive if accepted for the card. Not available to applicants who already have a Barclaycard credit card.
Representative Example: The standard interest rate on purchases is 33.9% p.a. (variable), so if you borrow £1,200 the Representative APR will be 33.9% (variable).
Eligibility
CCJs Allowedonly one allowed
Credit Ratingpoor
History of Bankruptcyfalse
Minimum Age18 years
Minimum Income£3,000
UK Resident
Vanquis Classic Credit Card
Minimum credit limit
£150
Maximum credit limit
£600
Representative APR (variable)
39.9% APR
Vanquis Classic Credit Card
You could get a credit limit increase after your 5th statement & further increases every 5 months, up to £4,000. Check your eligibility with absolutely no risk to your credit file.
Representative Example: The standard interest rate on purchases is 39.94% p.a. (variable), so if you borrow £600 the Representative APR will be 39.9% (variable).
Eligibility
CCJs Allowed
Credit Ratingpoor
History of Bankruptcy
Minimum Age18 years
UK Resident

We are classed as a credit broker for consumer credit, not a lender.

Our services are provided at no cost to you. We may receive a commission from the companies we refer you to, but this does not affect what you will pay for the product you choose.

Compare another type of credit card

What is a credit builder card?

If you’ve got poor credit or no credit, it can be difficult to borrow money cheaply. But specially designed credit cards for bad credit, or no credit, are designed for people just like you.

There’s a whole market dedicated to credit cards for bad credit - and by using them regularly, and paying them off on time, you can quickly improve your credit score to help you get the best deals when you apply for other products.

Sometimes people call them ‘bad credit cards’ or ‘poor credit cards’. They are also more commonly known as credit building credit cards.

Who are credit builder credit cards meant for?

Credit building credit cards are for those trying to improve their credit score, They can also be useful for those who are unable to qualify for the best deals in the market.

Some reasons for that could be:

  • You've declared bankruptcy in the past

  • You've had a county court judgement (CCJ) against your name

  • You have no history of borrowing or have never had a credit card

  • You have a record of missed payments

  • You're not registered on the electoral roll

Some credit cards for very bad credit even accept people who’ve been bankrupt or had a County Court Judgment against them.

Credit building credit cards can be a good way to rebuild your credit record if you have poor credit history. But you'll have to make your repayments on time and not miss any payments. They are also just as useful in building your credit score if you have no credit history and are applying for your first credit card.

If you find yourself frequently missing payments, or are struggling to cover bills, it's wise to get speak to your existing lenders or one of the UK's free, independent debt advice charities¹.

How do credit building credit cards help you improve your credit score?

If you use a credit builder card carefully, you could improve your credit record. By making repayments on time and staying within your credit limit for several months - typically about six months - you'll soon start making a difference.

Paying back what you borrow on time looks good to banks and providers, even if you’ve had debt problems in the past. Credit builder cards are a good way of proving you can pay back what you borrow. Then you might get a better credit score next time your finances are looked into.

Having one of these credit cards to build credit should make it easier for you to get accepted for credit cards, mortgages and loans in future. You’ll also have more options open to you, so you’ll have a better chance of being able to get the best ones on the market.

Read more about how to improve your credit score

Salman Haqqiquotation mark
Credit building cards should be seen purely as tools to improve your credit. Using them for daily expenses and paying off the balance in full is the best way to get the most of out them. ”
Salman Haqqi, Personal Finance Editor

Pros and cons of credit building credit cards

  • Easy eligibility requirements for those with bad credit
  • Help you improve your credit score
  • Increase your chances of getting better deals in the future if you use them responsibly
  • Interest rates are typically high
  • Credit limits are relatively low
  • Can damage your credit history if don't keep up with repayments.

Tips for credit building credit cards

When it comes to finding credit cards for really bad credit, there are a few simple tips you should remember:

  • Don’t apply for cards you’re not likely to get, and don’t make multiple applications

  • Use our eligibility checker before you apply

  • Compare credit cards for bad credit using our table

  • Check the APR and try to choose a lower one

  • Use credit builder cards carefully – pay them off in full and make repayments on time

  • Be patient – a good credit score can take time to build or rebuild.

Credit building FAQs

About our credit cards comparison

Do you have bad credit?

See which cards you'll be approved for ...

Find a card

Explore credit cards guides

See more guides

Black woman with boyfriend using credit card to shop online

Can you transfer money from a credit card to your bank account

If you want to borrow a small sum of cash to repay a debt, or clear an overdraft, you can use a money transfer credit card to move cash into your current account.

Read more about transfering money from a credit card
a cluster of credit cards

How to get a credit card if you have bad credit

If you have struggled with debt in the past, you may still be able to get a credit card. Here is how to get a credit card with a poor credit history and start to rebuild your credit record for the future.

Read More

How to pay off your credit card

There's more than one way to pay off credit card debt. Whatever you choose to do, you could drastically cut down your interest payments and become debt-free sooner.

Read More

Why compare credit cards with money.co.uk?

Comparing credit cards could help you save money or get more rewards from your spending. Our award-winning credit card comparison service makes sure you get our best deals for 0% periods and more. Our aim is to provide you with the most up-to-date information, as well as useful tools and calculators so to help you make life's most important decisions and take control of your money.

Trustpilot

Proud to be award winning

We have always aimed to provide the best possible services to bridge the gap between our users and our clients. Over the years, we have been thrilled to be recognised by various prestigious bodies and organisations for those efforts.

stevie award
WMA 2021 Logo-768x632
nba logo
logo dma
ecommerce awards

Last updated: 4 February, 2022

¹ StepChange, National Debtline and Citizen's Advice are some of the UK's leading debt charities where you can get free expert debt advice to help you get out of debt.