Best Credit Cards for Instant Approval in 2024 | LendingTree (2024)

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There are a lot of reasons why you might need to get approved for a credit card instantly — like making a balance transfer or paying for an emergency. Whatever the reason, most credit cards will approve (or deny) you instantly online, depending on your credit history. In most cases, you won’t have to wait around wondering what your next step will be since credit card applications are quick and easy to fill out.

The cards below will evaluate your application in real-time and will often give you an immediate decision. Some are even available for applicants with bad credit.

Most, if not all, credit cards provide you with an instant decision when you apply for them online. Any type of credit card you apply for, whether it’s a business credit card, secured credit card or rewards credit card can be considered an instant approval credit card.

If you have bad credit, looking at credit cards designed for bad credit could give you a better chance of expanding your credit line quickly.

1. Analyze what you spend the most on and know what kind of shape your credit is in.
2. Research which cards might be a good fit for you depending on your spending and credit score.
3. Check if the issuer has an online preapproval page.
4. Fill out the preapproval form for the card you’re interested in.
5. If you’re approved, follow the site’s instructions for filling out a real application for the card (but keep in mind a real application could impact your credit score regardless of whether you get approved).

An instant approval credit card might be a good fit for you if you need extra credit for an emergency or big purchase. A credit card could be a good solution if your credit is in good standing and you have the means to pay off new purchases sooner rather than later.

If you’re looking for a way to finance a big purchase in a hurry, a balance transfer credit card or other 0% APR credit card could be a good way to quickly finance your purchase with no interest for a limited time.

However, a new credit card might not be a good idea if you think you’ll max out your credit limit or carry an ongoing balance on the card without a plan to pay it off.

It’s OK if your application for a credit card is denied. There are other options to help you build your credit and qualify for a credit card down the road — though they might not result in an instant line of credit.

• Apply for a secured credit card

  A secured credit card could be a good option if you’ve been denied an unsecured credit card. Secured credit cards require a refundable security deposit, usually a minimum of $200.

  These are more accessible to those with fair or poor credit, although approval is not guaranteed. They typically have smaller credit limits, but often allow you to upgrade to a different version of the card with a higher limit with responsible usage.

• Become an authorized user

  You can have a trusted friend or family member add you as an authorized user to their credit card to build an instant credit history for yourself. Once added, the credit issuer will usually report the full payment history for that account to your credit report, even if you don’t have a physical card or make charges on the account.

  As long as the primary cardholder keeps the account in good standing, this can help you build a strong credit history without having to qualify for a credit card.

• Use a credit builder loan

  A credit builder loan is an alternative way to build credit without a credit card. You give an issuer a refundable deposit that they’ll return once you pay that amount in installments. If you’re struggling to qualify for a credit card, this could be a good option to build your credit up over time and qualify for a credit card later.

• Contact the issuer

  Your credit card issuer may provide you with insights on why your application was denied. This could help you decide what next steps to take to increase your approval odds. Your issuer may also point you to products and solutions that better fit your credit profile.

To bring you the list of best instant approval credit cards, we use an objective rating and ranking system that compares features across a large set of credit cards (over 200 of them from over 50 issuers). We use calculations to estimate the value of each card for the average cardholder, based on LendingTree and U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics.

• Balance transfer cards: We calculate the savings on a balance transfer, based on the length of the introductory period. We assume a transfer amount of $6,500 and a monthly payment of $300. We subtract balance transfer fees, annual fees and the amount paid on interest for any amount left over after the introductory period expires.
• 0% purchase APR cards: We calculate the amount saved on interest given the length of the card’s introductory period. We assume a purchase of $1,800 and a monthly payment of $300. We subtract the card’s annual fee and interest paid on any amount remaining after the introductory period expires. We also add in the amount earned on rewards for the average cardholder, including the card’s sign-up bonus, minus the card’s annual fee. We look at the average rewards earned over two years to balance out a card’s ongoing value with its first-year value.
• Rewards credit cards: We calculate the rewards earned for the average cardholder using Bureau of Labor statistics data and an annual spend of $20,000, minus the annual fee. This value includes a sign-up bonus and annual bonuses (including annual free night certificates). For travel cards, this value includes travel perks like lounge access and travel credits. We look at the average rewards earned over two years to balance out a card’s ongoing value with its first-year value.
• Credit cards for building credit: We calculate how much the average cardholder can save with the card on a yearly basis. If it is a rewards card, we use U.S. Bureau of Labor data and $300 in monthly spending (the typical starting credit limit for an introductory card) to calculate how much the average cardholder can earn in rewards. We then subtract fees — including annual fees and maintenance fees — from this amount.

Depending on the category, we also look at the flexibility rewards, foreign transaction fees, features for building credit and how the card’s overall list of benefits compares to other cards.

Note, that our ratings are a starting point for comparing and choosing the best credit card. However, your needs may be different from the average cardholder. You should consider the amount you’re likely to spend in a card’s rewards categories and which benefits you value to choose the best card for you.

*To see rates & fees for Blue Cash Preferred^® Card from American Express, please click here.

Kristen Grau

• Expertise: Credit cards, credit health, credit scoring
• Education: Florida Atlantic University

Kristen Grau is a staff writer at LendingTree, where she focuses on credit cards.

Before joining LendingTree in 2022, she wrote about small business taxes for an accounting firm in Orlando. She’s also covered personal finance and credit topics for the personal finance site Debt.com, as well as student finance topics for the education site BestColleges.com. Kristen loves to help people make financial decisions through content that’s empowering and easy to understand.

Kristen studied journalism at Florida Atlantic University.

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