Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (2024)

Table of Contents
11 Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of 2024 Best for Travel Rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Best for Cash Back: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card Best for Low APR: Discover it® Cash Back Discover it® Cash Back Best for Versatility: Chase Freedom Unlimited® Chase Freedom Unlimited® Best for Approval Decision: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express Best for Previewing Your Limit: Apple Card Apple Card Best for No Annual Fee: Capital One Platinum Credit Card Capital One Platinum Credit Card Best for Perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express Best for Versatility: Chase Freedom Flex℠ Chase Freedom Flex℠ Best for Viewing Credit Score: BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card Best for Building Credit: Discover it® Secured Credit Card Discover it® Secured Credit Card A Closer Look at the Best Pre-Approval and Pre-Qualification Credit Cards Best for Travel Rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card Best for Cash Back: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card Best for Low APR: Discover it® Cash Back Best for Versatility: Chase Freedom Unlimited® Best for Approval Decision: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express Best for Previewing Your Limit: Apple Card Best for No Annual Fee: Capital One Platinum Credit Card Best for Perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express Best for Versatility: Chase Freedom Flex℠ Best for Viewing Credit Score: BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card Best for Building Credit: Discover it® Secured Credit Card How Do Pre-Approved Credit Cards Work? What Is the Difference Between Pre-Qualification and Pre-Approval? Why Would You Need a Pre-Approved Credit Card? How To Qualify for the Best Pre-Approved Credit Cards Credit Score Pre-Existing Relationship Pre-Screened Offers Pre-Approval Credit Cards By Vendor Pre-Approval Credit Cards from Chase Pre-Approval Credit Cards from Amex Pre-Approval Credit Cards from Discover Frequently Asked Questions

11 Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of 2024

Best for Travel Rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

How we rate our cards Advertiser disclosure

Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (1)

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Annual Fee

$95

Regular APR

19.99% – 29.99% variable

Intro Bonus

75,000 miles

After spending $4,000 in first 3 months from account opening

Credit Score

Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.

Good to Excellent

Why we chose it: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card offers enough benefits to offset the $95 annual fee. Top perks include up to a $100 credit for TSA Precheck or Global Entry every four years when you charge the membership fee to your card plus earn unlimited 2X miles per dollar on every purchase. Capital One’s pre-approval tool lets you see whether you’re pre-approved for this or another Capital One travel rewards card without harming your credit. Read our Capital One Venture Rewards card review.

Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (2)

Pros

  • Unlimited rewards
  • Generous welcome bonus
Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (3)

Cons

  • $95 annual fee
  • Recommended for good to excellent credit
  • No intro APR offer

Best for Cash Back: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

How we rate our cards Advertiser disclosure

Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (4)

Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

19.99% – 29.99%

Intro Bonus

$200 cash bonus

Earn a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening

Credit Score

Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.

Good to Excellent

Why we chose it: When you’re looking for a no-fuss cash back credit card with pre-approval, the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card ticks all the boxes. This no-annual-fee card offers a simple, flat-rate 1.5% unlimited cash back on all purchases. Read our Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards card review.

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Pros

  • Streamlined rewards earning
  • No annual fee
  • Low minimum spend to earn the welcome bonus
Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (6)

Cons

  • Recommended for good to excellent credit
  • Relatively low welcome bonus
  • Other rewards cards may offer higher rewards rates

Best for Low APR: Discover it® Cash Back

How we rate our cards Advertiser disclosure

Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (7)

Discover it® Cash Back

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

17.24% – 28.24% variable

Intro Bonus

Unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year

Discover matches all the cash back rewards you've earned on your credit card from the day your new account is approved through your first 12 consecutive billing periods or 365 days, whichever is longer, and adds it to your rewards account within two billing periods.

Credit Score

Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.

Good-Excellent

Why we chose it: The Discover it® Cash Back card offers a lot of bang for your buck. In addition to the generous rewards earning rate each quarter in rotating categories, well-qualified borrowers could qualify for a regular APR lower than many other cards. The card also comes with an intro APR offer. Read our Discover it Cash Back review.

Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (8)

Pros

  • Low end of the APR range is lower than many other rewards cards
  • Comes with an intro APR offer
  • Awards a one-time, dollar-for-dollar bonus match of the rewards you earn in your first year
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Cons

  • The best APR will require excellent credit history
  • Boosted cash back only in quarterly rotating categories
  • Bonus categories require you to activate them

Best for Versatility: Chase Freedom Unlimited®

How we rate our cards Advertiser disclosure

Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (10)

Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Learn More

On Bankrate Credit Cards's secure site

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

20.49% – 29.24% variable

Intro Bonus

Earn up to $300 cash back

Earn an extra 1.5% on everything you buy with your card (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) — worth up to $300 cash back. That's 6.5% on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 4.5% on dining and drugstores, and 3% on all other purchases.

Recommended Credit

Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.

Good – Excellent

Why we chose it: If you already have a relationship with Chase, you can see your pre-approved offers just by signing in to your account with no hard credit pull required. For no annual fee, the Chase Freedom Unlimited® offers generous perks, including bonus cash back rewards categories and an above-average flat rate on all other purchases. Read our Chase Freedom Unlimited review.

Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (11)

Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Intro bonus for additional cash back
  • Intro 0% APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers (20.49% – 29.24% variable APR after)
Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (12)

Cons

  • Recommended for good to excellent credit
  • Foreign transaction fee of 3% of the amount of each transaction in U.S. dollars
  • Penalty APR of up to 29.99%, which may be applied after a late payment and can stay in effect indefinitely

Best for Approval Decision: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Why we chose it: The Blue Cash Everyday card offers a robust selection of benefits for cardmembers, including bonus cash back rewards in valuable categories, a welcome offer, monthly statement credits for Disney Bundle and Home Chef subscriptions and travel benefits too. Plus American Express will let you know immediately whether you’re approved for a card, with no hit to your credit score. Read our Blue Cash Everyday card review.

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Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Solid bundle of perks
  • Generous rewards on everyday spending
Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (14)

Cons

  • Bonus category earnings have a cap on spending (then go to 1% cash back)
  • Foreign transaction fees of 2.7% (see rates and fees)
  • Good to excellent credit recommended

Best for Previewing Your Limit: Apple Card

How we rate our cards Advertiser disclosure

Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (15)

Apple Card

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

19.24% to 29.49% variable

Intro Bonus

None

Recommended Credit

Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.

Good – Excellent

Why we chose it: Apple has one of the best pre-approval credit cards on the market. It not only shows you not only whether you’re approved, but also your credit limit and APR offer. This is great for making an informed choice before accepting a credit card prequalification offer. Read our Apple Card guide to see if it’s worth it.

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Pros

  • Pre-approval lets you preview your credit limit and APR before accepting
  • No annual fee, late fee or foreign transaction fee
  • No interest and pay-over-time options for Apple product purchases
Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (17)

Cons

  • Other pre-approval credit cards offer more robust cash back programs
  • Not ideal for Android users
  • Must add card to iPhone digital wallet to receive a physical card

Best for No Annual Fee: Capital One Platinum Credit Card

How we rate our cards Advertiser disclosure

Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (18)

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

29.99% variable

Intro Bonus

N/A

Credit Score

Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.

Fair to Good

Why we chose it: The Capital One Platinum Card can be useful for people still building credit. Getting pre-approval from Capital One by going through the preapproval page on Capital One’s website won’t harm your credit score, and this card works well for people with fair credit (580-669 FICO score). An added bonus: With responsible use, you could be approved for a higher credit limit in as little as six months. Read our Capital One Platinum card review.

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Pros

  • No annual fee or foreign transaction fees
  • May qualify with fair credit
  • Unsecured card requires no deposit
Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (20)

Cons

  • No rewards
  • High APR
  • Few cardholder benefits

Best for Perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Why we chose it: If you can stomach the steep annual fee, you’ll get plenty in return with the Platinum Card from American Express. Perks with this premium travel card include earning up to $1,500 per year in value including statement credits and merchant offers for Uber, Walmart+, streaming, hotels, CLEAR® Plus membership and more. There’s also luxury airport lounge access, cell phone protection* and car rental loss and damage insurance*. Read our Amex Platinum card review.

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Pros

  • Large bundle of statement credits
  • Luxury travel benefits
  • Hefty welcome offer
Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (22)

Cons

  • Steep $695 annual fee
  • Relatively high spending requirement for welcome offer
  • Available to good to excellent credit

Best for Versatility: Chase Freedom Flex℠

How we rate our cards Advertiser disclosure

Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (23)

Chase Freedom Flex℠

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

20.49%–29.24% variable

Intro Bonus

Earn a $200 bonus + 5% gas and grocery store offer

Earn a $200 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, earn 5% cash back on combined gas station and grocery store purchases (excluding Target and Walmart) on up to $12,000 spent in the first year.

Credit Score

Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.

Good-Excellent

Why we chose it: Whether you’re looking for cash back rewards, a no-annual-fee card, an intro APR offer or valuable rewards in everyday categories, you’ll find it in the Chase Freedom Flex℠ card. This all-around card offers a little bit of everything. Read our Chase Freedom Flex review.

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Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Intro APR offer
  • Cash back rewards with rotating bonus categories
Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (25)

Cons

  • Recommended for good to excellent credit
  • Needs to be paired with a Chase travel rewards card for travel partner perks
  • Rotating categories require activation

Best for Viewing Credit Score: BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card

How we rate our cards

Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (26)

BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

26.24% variable

Intro Bonus

N/A

Credit Score

Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.

Rebuilding

Why we chose it: If you’re ready to build your credit score, a secured card could help. The BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card lets you put down a deposit to receive a credit card with no annual fee, plus gives you access to your FICO score so you can monitor your progress over time. Bank of America will let you check for personalized offers with your name, Social Security number (last four digits) and your birthdate. Read our BankAmericard Secured card review.

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Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Can qualify even if you’re still building your credit
  • Free FICO score
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Cons

  • No rewards
  • Relatively high APR
  • Requires deposit of $200 to $5,000

Best for Building Credit: Discover it® Secured Credit Card

How we rate our cards Advertiser disclosure

Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (29)

Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Annual Fee

$0

Regular APR

28.24% variable

Intro Bonus

Unlimited dollar-for-dollar match of all the cash back you earn at the end of your first year

Discover matches all the cash back rewards you've earned on your credit card from the day your new account is approved through your first 12 consecutive billing periods or 365 days, whichever is longer, and adds it to your rewards account within two billing periods.

Credit Score

Credit ranges are derived from FICO® Score 8, which is one of many different types of credit scores. If you apply for a credit card, the lender may use a different credit score when considering your application for credit.

Rebuilding

Why we chose it: Getting pre-approved for a credit card when you’re rebuilding your credit can be tough. Getting pre-approved for a rewards card in that situation can be even tougher. The Discover it® Secured Credit Card offers plentiful rewards and is an option even if you don’t have a credit score. You can get pre-approved for this card with no hard inquiry on your credit report. Read our Discover it Secured card review.

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Pros

  • No annual fee
  • Earn cash back on every purchase
Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (31)

Cons

  • High APR
  • Security deposit required
  • Your credit line is limited by your deposit

A Closer Look at the Best Pre-Approval and Pre-Qualification Credit Cards

Best for Travel Rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Why we love this card: The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is a solid mid-tier travel rewards card with plenty of travel perks and flexible redemption options. The card has a hefty welcome bonus, generous 5X miles on hotels and rental cars through Capital One Travel and 2X miles earning power on all other purchases.

Who should have this in their wallet: The Venture Rewards card is a good fit for travelers who want an easy-to-use rewards card. If you like to travel internationally, even better: Most 1:1 travel partners are based outside of the U.S., such as British Airways, Qantas, Emirates and Aeromexico.

Other cards to consider: Another mid-tier travel card worth considering is the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. This versatile card offers bonus rewards on travel, dining and select everyday purchases. The Sapphire Preferred benefits even include a hotel credit and anniversary bonus points, and cardholders can get 25% more value when redeeming rewards for travel through the Chase Travel portal. Chase doesn’t make preapproval easy the way Capital One does, but the features offered make it worth considering.

Best for Cash Back: Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card

Why we love this card: It’s easy to use Capital One’s credit card pre-approval tool. Combined with the straightforward unlimited 1.5% cash back you’ll earn with this card, it’s simple to see whether you’re likely to qualify and estimate how much you might earn in cash back. It’s also nice to know that you won’t have to fuss with activating bonus categories or tracking which will earn boosted rewards.

Who should have this in their wallet: This card makes sense if you have good or excellent credit and aren’t looking to earn as much cash back as possible on purchases.

Other cards to consider: There are plenty of Capital One rewards credit cards to satisfy a variety of needs. If you have fair credit and don’t yet qualify for the Quicksilver cash rewards card, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card also earns unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases.

Best for Low APR: Discover it® Cash Back

Why we love this card: In addition to the chance at qualifying for a low APR, the Discover it Cash Back card offers sizable rewards in rotating cash back categories. Discover’s pre-approval tool lets you see whether you’re likely to be approved for the Discover it® Cash Back card, and pre-approvals are good for seven days.

Who should have this in their wallet: This card is a great fit for people who want to earn maximum rewards in a variety of rotating categories.

Other cards to consider: The Chase Freedom Flex offers a mix of fixed and rotating cash back categories you activate. The extra versatility could be a better fit for occasional travelers and people looking to earn cash back for dining and drug store purchases.

Best for Versatility: Chase Freedom Unlimited®

Why we love this card: The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a flat-rate rewards card that also offers bonus rewards on travel purchased through Chase Travel, dining and drugstore purchases. Earn 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants (including takeout and eligible delivery service) and 1.5% unlimited cash back on all other purchases.

Who should have this in their wallet: The Chase Freedom Unlimited is a well-rounded cash-back credit card. It’s a good choice for people with good or excellent credit who want a no-annual-fee credit card with a solid mix of cardholder perks. Cardholders with another Chase card in their portfolio might also like the Freedom Unlimited since you’ll technically earn Chase Ultimate Rewards points that can be combined with your earnings from another card, such as the Sapphire Preferred.

Other cards to consider: If you’re looking for an alternative card with an intro APR offer, check out the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. It offers a nice mix of cash back for dining and entertainment purchases and lets you see if you’re pre-approved with a soft credit pull.

Best for Approval Decision: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express

Why we love this card: The Blue Cash Everyday Card has a good mix of features for a no-annual-fee card, including a generous rewards program and statement credits. Plus you can find out whether you’re approved without a hard credit check.

Who should have this in their wallet: The boosted cash back in everyday spending categories is a great fit for people who make everyday purchases at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and on U.S. online retail purchases.

Other cards to consider: If American Express’s “apply with confidence” approval process is appealing, you might also want to explore the Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express, which has a $95 annual fee (see rates and fees). The card can provide exceptional value for households that can take advantage of all the bonus rewards categories. The Blue Cash Preferred® offers possibly the highest cash back rate on purchases made at U.S. supermarkets (to an annual cap) and on select U.S. streaming service subscriptions. It also earns solid cash back on transit purchases and at U.S. gas stations and comes with a welcome offer and intro APR offer.

Best for Previewing Your Limit: Apple Card

Why we love this card: The Apple Card lets you preview your credit limit and APR offer before accepting if approved. This is especially useful if you’re planning a large purchase and want to know whether you’ll have enough credit before accepting the offer (and the subsequent hard credit inquiry, which could ding your credit score).

Who should have this in their wallet: iPhone and iPad users will get the most out of the Apple Card’s benefits and features. You can still apply for the card if you’re not an iPhone user, but you won’t be able to request a physical titanium card or earn 2% cash back for using Apple Pay. The card is also great for families, thanks to its family-sharing features that let account owners add children, partners or chosen family members to the card.

Other cards to consider: The Apple Card won’t be the right fit for everyone. If you’re still searching for a pre-approved credit card with a broader appeal, consider the Capital One Platinum Credit Card, which also has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees. It doesn’t earn rewards but is a solid choice if you have fair credit.

Best for No Annual Fee: Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Why we love this card: If you’re worried about your credit score, the Capital One Platinum Credit Card is a useful tool. You can prequalify without harming your credit (although Capital One will do a hard inquiry if you accept approval), and you may qualify with fair credit. Most importantly, there’s no annual fee, so no added cost as long as you pay your balance in full and on time.

Who should have this in their wallet: Since it’s an unsecured credit card, the Platinum card from Capital One is a great option if you’re still building credit but don’t want the hassle of a secured credit card. It’s also a good fit for people looking for a path to an increased credit limit.

Other cards to consider: If you’re looking for a no-annual-fee card and have good credit or better, you may be better off with a card with a few more benefits. The Blue Cash Everyday Card from American Express has no annual fee, plus rewards you with cash back in a variety of useful categories. And the Chase Freedom Unlimited has no annual fee, generous cashback, and an intro APR offer to sweeten the deal.

Best for Perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Why we love this card: When it comes to credit card perks, the Platinum Card from American Express delivers. Although this premium travel rewards card cardies a staggering $695 annual fee, the statement credits and luxury travel perks deliver plenty of value for the price. Plus, getting a pre-approval from American Express doesn’t require a hard credit pull.

Who should have this in their wallet: To take full advantage of this card, you should enjoy traveling in style and take advantage of as many of the statement credits and merchant offers as possible to help offset the annual fee.

Other cards to consider: The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is another premium travel card but with a more affordable $395 annual fee. For travelers with a more modest budget, a mid-tier travel card can provide great value. The Capital One Venture Rewards card offers a generous, easy-to-use flat-rate while the Chase Sapphire Preferred comes with bonus rewards and additional perks worth considering.

Best for Versatility: Chase Freedom Flex℠

Why we love this card: The Chase Freedom Flex is a workhorse of a card, providing cash back rewards with rotating bonus categories upon activation, an intro APR offer, no annual fee and a handful of other perks.

Who should have this in their wallet: The Freedom Flex if you can plan your spending around rotating bonus categories. It’s also a good choice for no annual fee and an introductory APR offer.

Other cards to consider: If you’re looking for a set-it-and-forget-it cash back card with no annual fee, the Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is one of the best options. It offers a flat, unlimited 2% cash rewards back on purchases, a welcome bonus and intro APR offer.

Best for Viewing Credit Score: BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card

Why we love this card: You don’t need to have good credit to qualify for the BankAmericard® Secured Credit Card. It’s one of the best secured credit cards available if you have bad or fair credit.

Who should have this in their wallet: People who are working on improving their credit score can benefit from the BankAmericard Secured, thanks to the free FICO score.

Other cards to consider: Another pick for a secured card with a free FICO score is the Discover it Secured, which also comes with no annual fee but offers rewards, too.

Best for Building Credit: Discover it® Secured Credit Card

Why we love this card: If you’re trying to raise your credit score, you can check whether you’ll qualify for the Discover it® Secured card without harming your credit. There’s no annual fee, plus you’ll earn cash back on every purchase, making this a valuable option for secured cards.

Who should have this in their wallet: Credit builders can get good value out of this card. Not only does Discover report to the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and Transunion), but you’ll also be able to keep tabs on your FICO score for free.

Other cards to consider: If you’re looking for secured card options with cash back rewards, check out the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card, which lets you see whether you’re pre-approved without harming your credit.

How Do Pre-Approved Credit Cards Work?

Pre-approved credit cards usually take your name, birth date, and the last four digits of your Social Security number to check your basic credit information, which the credit card issuer uses to determine your odds of approval for a particular credit card.

You can then submit your formal application, at which point the card issuer usually will run a hard credit check to be sure. Credit card pre-approval lets you narrow down which options you should apply for.

“Knowing ahead of time whether you’re likely to be approved for a credit card can be a big relief, especially if you’re worried about a ding to your credit score. Prequalification lets you be strategic about which cards you apply to—and when.”

— Mary Beth Eastman

What Is the Difference Between Pre-Qualification and Pre-Approval?

In most cases, pre-qualification and pre-approval mean the same thing: the card issuer has taken a peek at your information and decided odds are good you will be approved. Sometimes pre-approval means you’re provisionally approved, pending a formal credit check, and may come via direct offers from the credit card company.

Why Would You Need a Pre-Approved Credit Card?

The best pre-approved credit cards help you figure out which card you’re most likely to be approved for. But they’re also useful for a variety of other reasons.

  • See where you stand. Pre-qualified credit card offers give you an idea of what tier of card you’re qualified for, whether it’s a secured card for beginners or a luxury travel rewards card for excellent credit.
  • Compare offers. Pre-approvals let you compare offers from several contenders without worrying about a hit to your score from each inquiry.
  • Protect your credit score. If you’re unsure whether you’ll qualify, it doesn’t make sense to risk lowering your credit score, especially if you want to apply for a different card soon after.
  • Increase your credit limit. Knowing ahead of time what card you’ll likely get approved for can help you strategically choose cards known to have higher credit limits.
  • Lower your credit utilization. Relatedly, you can also use pre-approved credit cards to find which cards to open; adding more open credit lines can reduce your credit utilization, which may affect your credit score.
  • Save time. Companies that send you pre-approved offers (such as when you sign in to your credit card’s website) can save you time hunting down offers amid the hundreds of options out there.
  • Maximize welcome bonuses. Lastly, knowing which cards you’ll be pre-approved for can help you plan your spending to take advantage of welcome bonuses and cash back rewards.

How To Qualify for the Best Pre-Approved Credit Cards

To have the best odds of getting approved for a credit card, keep the following factors in mind.

Credit Score

You’ll have the best odds of qualifying for your favorite pre-approved credit card if you have a great credit score (740 or higher). Your credit score summarizes what you’re like as a borrower: whether you pay on time, skip payments or even default on your obligations. The less of a risk you appear to be, the more likely it is the card issuer will grant approval.

Pre-Existing Relationship

Do you already have a credit card from a particular company? If so, they already have information about what you’re like as a borrower. If the experience has been good—you pay on time and keep your credit utilization low—you may find it’s easier to get pre-approved with them than with a new company.

Pre-Screened Offers

Receiving a pre-qualified credit card offer directly from the card issuer means they’ve already determined you meet at least some of their requirements. These are a great place to start exploring your options.

Pre-Approval Credit Cards By Vendor

While many credit card companies offer pre-qualification for at least some of their cards, they’ll often run a hard credit inquiry at the same time. The vendors below let you check for pre-approval using only a soft pull on your credit.

Pre-Approval Credit Cards from Chase

If you’re already a Chase cardholder, you can log in to your account to see pre-approved credit card offers. If you don’t have a Chase card yet, you might receive a pre-approved credit card offer via mail or email.

Pre-Approval Credit Cards from Amex

American Express lets you check for pre-qualified offers right from its website card matching tool, using only a soft pull on your credit. If you’re approved and you accept the card, then American Express may contact the credit bureau, which can have a slight effect on your credit.

Pre-Approval Credit Cards from Discover

Like American Express, Discover also lets you search for pre-approved credit cards on its website. You’ll need to provide your name, address, date of birth, housing costs and gross income. Discover will then return a list of what cards you’re pre-approved for, and may even show you your APR offer.

Likelihood of approval based on credit score and other factors has not been provided by Capital One.

*Eligibility and Benefit level varies by Card. Terms, Conditions, and Limitations Apply. Please visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for more details. Underwritten by Amex Assurance Company.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Get Pre-Approval With a Soft Pull?

Yes, you can get credit card pre-approval with just a soft pull. Several card issuers, including American Express, Capital One and Discover, will let you see whether you’re pre-approved without a hard pull on your credit.

Does Pre-approval Mean You Are Approved?

Unfortunately, no, pre-approval is not a guarantee you’ll be approved; it just means the odds are good. But American Express is one card company that will let you know whether you’re approved with no harm to your credit score. They’ll only contact the credit bureaus after you accept the card.

What Credit Score Is Needed for Pre-Approval?

For many cards, you’ll need a good to excellent credit score (a FICO score of 670 or higher). But some secured credit cards let you check for preapproval with no credit score at all.

Which Bank Offers the Fastest Pre-Approval?

Many credit card issuers, like American Express and Chase Bank, offer a convenient pre-approval feature online. Seeing whether you’re pre-approved online is often instant so you get a straightforward decision on the spot.

What Is the Easiest Card to Get Pre-Approved For?

Secured credit cards are the easiest type of credit card to get pre-approved for. They present less risk for card issuers because a deposit is required to guarantee the card’s credit limit. With this added security, lenders are more willing to approve individuals with no credit history or who are rebuilding their credit.

Best Pre-Approval Credit Cards of May 2024 (2024)
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