16 Best Low Credit Line Credit Cards (Well Under $500)

Low credit line credit cards — with minimum credit lines starting at $200 or $300 — are offered as either traditional unsecured cards or secured cards that require you to provide a deposit prior to use.

Low-line unsecured credit cards often have expensive fees and high APRs. Secured credit cards often have fewer fees and lower interest charges — but, keep in mind, issuers can keep your deposit if you don’t pay your card balance.

For more details on low credit limit credit cards, plus the list of cards, see below.

Low Credit Limit Credit Cards: Unsecured vs. Secured

Low credit limit credit cards come in two main categories: unsecured and secured.

In order to receive an unsecured credit card, an issuer will examine your credit history and determine credit terms based on your creditworthiness.

Getting a secured credit card follows the same process, but you’ll also need to provide a deposit that safeguards the issuer against loss if you fail to pay off your balance.

Most unsecured low-line credit cards are designed for people with poor credit or no credit history. Not only do they come with low limits, but they also often have high annual percentage rates (APRs) and steep annual fees.

In fact, some low credit line cards have provisions in the terms that sharply increase your APR if you miss even a single payment. They also often have specific fees that you won’t find with more traditional credit cards, such as monthly maintenance fees and one-time program fees, in addition to annual fees.

While secured credit cards don’t typically have maintenance or program fees and usually have substantially lower APRs, applicants must supply a deposit — which helps determine your credit limit. You can usually get your deposit back if you consistently make on-time payments.

With either option, it’s best to pay off your balance each month. This will boost your credit score and help you qualify for better cards with more favorable rates and benefits in the future.

The List

We’ve compiled the list of low credit line credit cards with limits starting at $200, broken into categories for unsecured and secured cards.

Unsecured Credit Cards

We’ve ordered the list below starting with the best overall options.

1. Capital One Platinum Card

Secured or unsecured? Unsecured
Minimum credit line: $300
Annual fee: None
Late payment fee: Up to $39
Cash advance fee: $10 or 3% of the amount, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fees: Not disclosed
Apply

2. Milestone Gold Mastercard

Secured or unsecured? Unsecured
Minimum credit line: $300; some fees will be automatically assessed, lowering your initial available credit to $250
Annual fee: $50 for the first year; $99 thereafter
- There is also a one-time opening fee of $25
Late payment fee: Up to $39
Cash advance fees: None during the first year; then $5 or 5% of the amount, whichever is greater, but not to exceed $100
Foreign transaction fees: 1% of the transaction
Apply

3. Indigo Platinum Mastercard

Secured or unsecured? Unsecured
Minimum credit line: $300
Annual fee: $75 the first year; $99 thereafter
Cash advance fees: $0 during the first year; then $5 or 5% of the amount, whichever is greater but not to exceed $100
Foreign transaction fees: 1% of the transaction
Late payment fee: Up to $39
Apply

4. Credit One Bank Platinum Visa for Rebuilding Credit

Secured or unsecured? Unsecured
Minimum credit line: $300
Annual fee: $0 to $95 for the first year; $0 to $99 thereafter. For some accounts, the annual fee after the first year will be divided into 12 equal payments billed monthly. For other accounts, the annual fee will be billed annually.
Late payment fee: Up to $39
Cash advance fees: Range from $5 to $10 or 3% to 8% of the amount, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fees: $1 or 3% of the purchase in U.S. dollars, whichever is greater
Apply

5. First Digital NextGen Mastercard

Secured or unsecured? Unsecured
Minimum credit line: $300; your annual fee will be automatically assessed, lowering your initial available credit to $225
Annual fee: $75 for the first year; $48 thereafter
- There is also a one-time program fee of $95 and a monthly service fee after the first year of $6.25
Late payment fee: Up to $39
Cash advance fees: $10 or 3% of the amount, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fees: Card cannot be used outside the U.S.
Apply

6. Reflex Mastercard

Secured or unsecured? Unsecured
Minimum credit line: $500; some fees will be automatically assessed, lowering your initial available credit to $375
Annual fee: $125 for the first year; $96 thereafter
- There is also a monthly maintenance fee after the first year of $10
Cash advance fees: $5 or 5% of the amount, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fees: 3% of the transaction in U.S. dollars
Late payment fee: Up to $39
Apply

7. Surge Mastercard

Secured or unsecured? Unsecured
Minimum credit line: $500; some fees will be automatically assessed, lowering your initial available credit to $375
Annual fee: $125 for the first year; $96 thereafter
- There is also a monthly service fee after the first year of $10
Cash advance fees: $5 or 5% of the amount, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fees: 3% of the transaction in U.S. dollars
Late payment fee: Up to $39
Apply

8. First Access Classic Visa

Secured or unsecured? Unsecured
Minimum credit line: $300; your annual fee will be automatically assessed, lowering your initial available credit to $225
Annual fee: $75 for the first year; $48 thereafter
- There is also a one-time program fee of $89 and a monthly fee after the first year of $6.25
Cash advance fees: None for the first year; then $5 or 5% of the amount, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fees: Card cannot be used outside the U.S.
Late payment fee: Up to $39
Apply

9. Total Visa

Secured or unsecured? Unsecured
Minimum credit line: $300; your annual fee will be automatically assessed, lowering your initial available credit to $225
Annual fee: $75
- There is also a one-time program fee of $89 and a monthly service fee after the first year of $6.25
Cash advance fees: None for the first year; then $5 or 5% of the amount, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fees: Card cannot be used outside the U.S.
Late payment fee: Up to $39
Apply

10. FIT Mastercard

Secured or unsecured? Unsecured
Minimum credit line: $400; various fees will be automatically assessed, lowering your initial available credit to $301
Annual fee: $99
- There is also a monthly service fee after the first year of $6.25
Cash advance fees: $5 or 5% of the amount, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fees: 3% of the transaction in U.S. dollars
Late payment fee: Up to $39
Apply

Secured Credit Cards

As above, we’ve ordered the list of low-line secured cards starting with the best overall options.

1. Capital One Secured Mastercard

Secured or unsecured? Secured; there is a minimum security deposit of $49, $99, or $200
Minimum credit line: $200
Annual fee: None
Cash advance fees: $10 or 3% of the amount, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fees: Not disclosed
Late payment fee: Up to $39
Apply

2. Citi Secured Mastercard

Secured or unsecured? Secured; there is a minimum security deposit of $200
Minimum credit line: $200
Annual fee: None
Cash advance fees: $10 or 5% of the amount, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Late payment fee: Up to $39
Apply

3. Discover it Secured

Secured or unsecured? Secured; there is a minimum security deposit of $200
Minimum credit line: $200
Annual fee: None
Cash advance fees: $10 or 5% of the amount, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fees: Not disclosed
Late payment fee: None the first time you pay late; after that, up to $39
Apply

4. Wells Fargo Secured Visa

Secured or unsecured? Secured; there is a minimum security deposit of $300
Minimum credit line: $300; your security deposit is equal to your credit line
Annual fee: $25
Cash advance fees: $10 or 5% of the amount, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fees: 3% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Late payment fee: Up to $37
Apply

5. U.S. Bank Secured Visa

Secured or unsecured? Secured; there is a minimum security deposit of $200
Minimum credit line: $300, but your credit line will be equal to your deposit amount up to $5,000
Annual fee: $29
Cash advance fees: $10 or 4% of the amount, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fees: 2% of each transaction in U.S. dollars
Late payment fee: Up to $39
Apply

6. OpenSky Secured Visa

Secured or unsecured? Secured; there is a minimum security deposit of $200
Minimum credit line: $200; your credit limit is determined by your refundable deposit up to $3,000
Annual fee: $35
Cash advance fees: $6 or 5% of the amount, whichever is greater
Foreign transaction fees: 3% of the transaction in U.S. dollars
Late payment fee: Up to $38
Apply

More Information

For more credit card options, see our lists of soft-pull credit cards and credit cards that preapprove.