Compare Credit Building Credit Cards

Designed for poor or little credit history
Pay off full amount each month
Improve your credit score for the future

ASDA Cashback Credit Card
APR Rate 19.90%	Balance Transfer 12 Months
Representative Example: When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 19.9% (variable) per annum, your representative APR is 19.9% APR (variable).		Apply Online

Credit Card	APR	0% Balance Transfer	0% Purchase	Representative Example:
Aqua Advance Reduce your rate over three years if you stay within your credit limit and you pay on time No extra fees on what you spend abroad Decision within 5 minutes	34.90%	0 Months	0 Months	When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 34.95% (variable) per annum, your representative APR is 34.9% APR (variable).	Apply
Aqua Classic Starting credit limit of £250 - £1,200 Free text reminders and credit report Can improve your credit rating if you manage your finances well, including by staying within limit and making payments on time	35.90%	0 Months	0 Months	When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 35.95% (variable) per annum, your representative APR is 35.9% APR (variable).	Apply
Aqua Start Starting credit limit of £100 - £300 UK based customer service Start building your credit rating	49.90%	0 Months	0 Months	When you spend £300 at a purchase rate of 49.94% (variable) per annum, your representative APR is 49.9% APR (variable).	Apply
Asda Cashback Start Credit Card Get your credit rating back on track Repair credit rating whilst earning cashback See if you're eligible before applying without affecting your credit score	34.90%	0 Months	0 Months	When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 34.90% (variable) per annum, your representative APR is 34.9% APR (variable).	Apply
Barclaycard Initial Starting credit limit between £150 - £1,200 Free ongoing access to Experian Credit Score (conditions apply) Could help build your credit rating	34.90%	0 Months	03 Months	When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 34.9% (variable) per annum, your representative APR is 34.9% APR (variable).	Apply
Capital One Classic Card For people with bad credit or building credit Starting credit limit of £200 - £1,500 Up to two optional credit increases per year	34.90%	0 Months	0 Months	When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 34.94% (variable) per annum, your representative APR is 34.9% APR (variable).	Apply
HSBC Classic Credit Card Exclusively available to HSBC bank account customers Up to £1,000 credit available Build or improve your credit rating Contactless payments with Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay Manage your card online	29.90%	0 Months	0 Months	When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 29.9% (variable) per annum, your representative APR is 29.9% APR (variable).	Apply
Marbles Credit Card Credit limit up to £1,500 QuickCheck won't affect your credit rating Get a fast response in 60 seconds View your account on mobile app Contactless payments up to £30	34.90%	0 Months	0 Months	When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 34.95% (variable) per annum, your representative APR is 34.9% APR (variable).	Apply
Ocean Credit Card Credit limit up to £1,500 QuickCheck won't affect your credit rating Get a fast response in 60 seconds View your account on mobile app Contactless payments up to £30	39.90%	0 Months	0 Months	When you spend £1,200 at a purchase rate of 39.94% (variable) per annum, your representative APR is 39.9% APR (variable).	Apply

What is a Credit Building Credit Card?

Credit Building credit cards are designed to help you slowly build up a good credit score and credit history.

What are the reasons for having a credit building credit card?

If you have a history of poor credit or you have very little or no credit history, it could affect your credit score and credit report.

What is my credit score?

Your credit score is looked at by lenders including banks, credit card companies, loan companies and mortgage providers. They analyse your credit report in order to assess your suitability for their products. If your credit score is low, then your applications for credit may be declined.

What does a credit building card do?

This type of credit card generally has lower acceptance criteria and as such it will normally have a much lower available credit limit.

The idea is that you pay the whole amount off each month, which reflects positively on your credit history and ultimately your credit score. By doing this, you will eventually build up a healthy credit history that puts you in a more favourable position when applying for credit in the future.

What to look out for on a credit building credit card

The downside to these types of cards is that in addition to a lower credit limit, they will usually have a much higher APR interest rate than other types of credit card.

It is therefore very important that you pay your monthly balance in full in order to avoid steep interest repayments.

How can I check my credit score and credit report?

A number of companies offer credit score and credit report services that enable you to keep a regular eye on your credit status. Check out our comparison table of credit score and credit report companies.