Have you tried to apply for a credit card but got turned down? Odds are it’s because your credit score isn’t up to par. But how are you supposed to build good credit if you’re not given the financial tools to do so? That’s where credit cards to build credit come in.
Finding the best credit building credit cards is a good first step!
These credit cards are available to Canadians with no credit or low credit scores and are typically secured with a deposit. By using them responsibly, it can help you steadily build a healthy credit score. Ultimately, with the main goal of gaining access to good credit products. Including traditional unsecured credit cards, personal loans, and even mortgages.
Best Credit Cards To Build Credit In Canada
| Annual Fee | Minimum Credit Limit | |
| Neo Secured Credit | $0 | $50 |
| KOHO Card | $0 | $0 |
| Capital One Guaranteed Secured Mastercard® | $59 | $75 or $300 |
| Home Trust Secured Visa | $0 or $59 | $500 |
Neo Secured Credit
The Neo Secured Credit card is a secured Mastercard that offers users the benefits of both a secured and unsecured credit card. The Neo Secured Credit card guarantees approval, so long as you’re able to provide the minimum security deposit of $50. There are no credit checks or income requirements for this card, making it ideal for those with poor credit. This is especially true as the Neo Secured Credit card is also designed to help users build their credit. Moreover, it has no annual or monthly fees and users can earn enormous bonuses – like 15%1 cashback for first purchases – at some Neo Partners, an average of 5%1 cashback with select partners.
$25 Welcome Bonus
Neo is offering new customers a $25 welcome bonus, sign up by clicking the button below and receive your $25.
Annual fee: $0
Interest rate: 19.99% – 29.99% (QC: 19.99% – 24.99%)
Cash advance rate: 22.99% – 31.99% (QC: 22.99% – 25.99%)
Credit limit: $50 – $10,000
Card requirements
- Must be the age of majority in your province or territory of residence.
- Must be a Canadian resident.
- Must provide security funds.
Credit check: No credit check is required.
Perks:
- Get an average cashback rate of 5%1 with participating retailers and earn up to 15%1 cashback on first-time purchases with Neo partners.
- Earn extra cash back by adding Neo perks to your card. For example, you can add the Extra Everyday essential perks (for $8.99/monthly) to earn 1.5x more cash back when they shop at participating grocery stores and gas stations.
KOHO Prepaid Mastercard
KOHO is a full service account that comes with a prepaid Mastercard. This card acts like both a debit and credit card. With it, you can make regular transactions using the money in your account and like a credit card, you can use it to earn cash back. When you open a KOHO account, you’ll also get access to numerous services and features, including an optional credit building tool.
There are two credit building options you can choose from: the Credit Building Program and the Flexible Credit Building Program. You can choose either option (for a fee) to help you build your credit.
Annual fee: $0 (Easy plan)
Interest rate: n/a
Cash advance rate: n/a
Credit limit: $0 – $50,000
Card requirements
- Must be the age of majority in your province or territory of residence.
- Must be a Canadian resident.
- Must provide security funds.
Credit check: No credit check is required.
Perks:
- Earn up to 4.5% savings interest on your entire KOHO balance depending on the KOHO plan you choose.
- Earn a high cash back of up to 5% with KOHO participants and up to 2% cash back on various spend categories. Cash back amount varies by the account you choose.
- The KOHO account has four different plans and depending on the one you choose, you can get a discount on the credit building tool.
Capital One Guaranteed Secured Mastercard®
If you’re just starting to establish credit or have a low score that you’re trying to improve, then the Capital One Guaranteed Secured Mastercard may be a great card to consider. Approval is guaranteed, and interest rates are comparable to traditional unsecured credit cards, so you’re not paying any more than you need to. If you continue to make timely payments every month, you may be able to increase your credit limit and eventually upgrade to the unsecured card version.
Annual fee: $59
Interest rate: 21.9%
Cash advance rate: 21.9%
Credit limit: $75 or $300
Card requirements
- Must be the age of majority in your province or territory of residence.
- Must be a Canadian resident.
- Must provide security funds.
Credit check: No credit check is required
Perks:
- This card comes with Purchase Assurance. With it, your purchases are protected for 120 days after purchase from theft, loss or damage.
- When you purchase an item, the manufacturer’s warranty period will be doubled, up to two years.
- Save money with Capital One’s price protection feature. If an item you purchase reduces in price within 60 days from when you bought it, you’ll be reimbursed the difference.
- Get access to various travel benefits including car rental insurance, travel assistance, baggage delay, and common carrier accident insurance.
Home Trust Secured Visa
Not only does the Home Trust Secured Visa make it easier to get approved for a credit card with low or no credit, but it also comes with the option to have no annual fee. This makes it an affordable option for Canadians looking to build their credit score. While a credit check is required, the vast majority of applicants for the Home Trust Secured Visa are approved. Once you get your hands on it, you can use it like any other conventional unsecured credit card and help work toward building your credit with every timely payment you make.
Annual fee: $0 or $59
Purchase rate: 19.99% interest and $0 annually or 14.90% interest and $59 annually.
Cash advance rate: 19.80% or 19.99%
Credit limit: $500 – $10,000
Card requirements
- Must be the age of majority in your province or territory of residence.
- Must be a Canadian resident (excluding Quebec).
- Must have a source of income.
- Cannot currently be in bankruptcy.
Credit check: Yes
Perks:
- Helps build a healthy credit history.
- Card comes with a Zero Liability policy to help protect you from fraud.
- Add the card to your digital wallet (Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Apple Pay).
Pros And Cons Of Credit Cards To Build Credit
When it comes to choosing any type of financial product, there are always going to be both pros and cons that you need to weigh. Consider the following information when deciding if a credit building credit card is right for you.
Credit Cards To Build Credit: Pros
- Easy to qualify for
- Limited income required
- No credit score is required in many cases
- Establish and build your credit score with responsible financial habits
- Use them like conventional credit cards
- Tough to fall into debt
Credit Cards That Build Credit: Cons
- Higher interest rates with some cards
- Spending limits are much lower than conventional unsecured credit cards
How To Choose The Right Credit Cards To Build Credit?
Considering how many credit cards there are to build credit, it can be difficult to choose just one. But based on certain criteria, you can make that decision a bit easier. When shopping for credit cards to build credit, keep the following factors in mind:
- Does the creditor report payments to the credit bureaus? If your payments aren’t being reported, your credit score will not improve.
- How much does the card cost? What’s the annual or monthly fee? Is the cost of the card worth it? Does it fit your budget?
- What’s the minimum security deposit? Secured credit cards require a security deposit. Do you have enough to meet the minimum amount?
- Can you earn cash back or points with each dollar you spend?
Additional Reading
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a way to establish credit or build it, you can find numerous credit cards to build credit. By using it responsibly, you can build the credit needed to gain access to more financial tools in the future.
FAQs On Credit Cards To Build Credit
Should you apply for a credit building credit card?
What are credit building credit cards?
Do I really need a good credit score?
Card issued by ATB Financial pursuant to license by Mastercard International Inc.
1Average based on current offers at select partners. Cashback varies per plan, offer and partner.
