Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.
When you apply for a credit card, the issuer typically runs a hard credit inquiry that can temporarily lower your credit score a few points. That may not seem like much, but multiple applications in a short period can add up.
Getting preapproved or prequalified gives you a better idea of your chances of getting a card, and with no impact on your credit score until you formally apply. Not every issuer offers preapproval or prequalification for each card, though.
Some major issuers, like Chase and American Express, offer broad, public online approval pages where you can submit your information and see which cards you're eligible for. Other issuers, like U.S. Bank, might offer preapprovals, but as targeted offers rather than ones that are broadly available.
CNBC Select highlights the best cards with preapprovals for a variety of cardholders. See our methodology for more information on how we made this list.
Best credit cards for preapproval/prequalification
- Best for travel rewards: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
- Best for everyday spending: Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
- Best for bad credit: Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card
- Best for travel protections: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card (see rates and fees)
- Best for cash back: Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card
- Best for balance transfers: Citi Double Cash® Card
- Best for domestic flights: Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card (see rates and fees)
- Best for students: Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card
- Best for premium perks: American Express Platinum Card®
Best for travel rewards: Capital One Venture X
Who's this for? The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is geared toward those seeking premium travel benefits like airport lounge access, annual travel credits, travel and shopping protections and more.
Standout benefits: Every year, Capital One Venture X Card members receive up to $300 in travel credits for bookings made through Capital One Travel and 10,000 anniversary bonus miles (worth $100 in travel). Those two benefits alone can offset the card's $395 annual fee.
The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is a premium credit card with a myriad of benefits and a lower annual fee than other high-end cards with similar features.
- Annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Travel
- 10,000 bonus miles after every card anniversary
- Unlimited complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations
- Long list of valuable travel and shopping protections, including return protection, rental car coverage and trip delay reimbursement (Benefit(s) only available to accounts approved for the Visa Infinite card. Terms apply.)
- Limited bonus spending categories compared to other premium credit cards
- High annual fee
- High credit score requirement (excellent credit)
Highlights
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Enjoy access to 1,300+ lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge and Landing locations and participating Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
$0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Foreign transaction fees
$0
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
Earn a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles
Terms apply.
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
$0
Best for everyday spending: Blue Cash Everyday from American Express
Who's this for? The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is a great way to earn Amex Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit for everyday purchases at U.S. gas stations, supermarkets and online retailers.
Standout benefits: This no-annual-fee card (see rates and fees) earns 3% cash back on three different categories, each up to $6,000 per year on eligible purchases (then 1% back).
The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express has no annual fee and you may be eligible for bonus rewards on a wide range of common expenditures.
- Up to $264 in streaming service and meal kit credits every year (subject to auto renewal)
- High cash-back rates in popular spending categories
- No annual fee
- The best bonus cash-back categories are capped
- Has a foreign transaction fee
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply and find out your welcome offer. As High As $200 cash back* after you spend $2,000 in purchases on your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply, and if approved: 1. Find out your offer amount 2. Accept the Card with your offer 3. Spend $2,000 in 6 months 4. Receive the cash back. *Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed for a statement credit or at Amazon.com checkout.
- No Annual Fee.
- Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months from the date of account opening. After that, your APR will be a variable APR of 19.49%-28.49%.
- Plan It®: Buy now, pay later with Plan It. Split purchases of $100 or more into equal monthly installments with a fixed fee so you don't have the pressure of paying all at once. Simply select the purchase in your online account or the American Express® App to see your plan options. Plus, you'll still earn rewards on purchases the way you usually do.
- Earn 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, 3% cash back on U.S. online retail purchases, 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations, on eligible purchases for each category on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%). Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout.
- Get up to a $7 monthly statement credit after using your enrolled Blue Cash Everyday® Card for a subscription purchase, including a bundle subscription purchase, at DisneyPlus.com, Hulu.com, or Stream.ESPN.com U.S. websites. Subject to auto-renewal.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 3% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Foreign transaction fee
2.7% of each transaction after conversion to US dollars
Best for bad credit: Capital One Platinum Secured
Who's this for? If you don't qualify for an unsecured card, a secured credit card such as the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card is a great alternative, as it doesn't require a good credit score for approval.
Standout benefits: The main value of a secured credit card is the ability to qualify with poor or no credit, but you often need to provide a minimum $200 security deposit. The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card bucks that trend, allowing you to choose a deposit of $49, $99 or $200 — while still receiving a minimum $200 credit limit.
The Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card can help you build, or rebuild, your credit because you can be approved with no credit or bad credit.
- No annual fee
- Low minimum refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get a $200 initial credit line
- No rewards on purchases
- No welcome offer
- High APR
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
- Building your credit? Using the Capital One Platinum Secured card responsibly could help
- Put down a refundable security deposit starting at $49 to get at least a $200 initial credit line
- You could earn back your security deposit as a statement credit when you use your card responsibly, like making payments on time
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months with no additional deposit needed
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
- Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking to access your account from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
- $0 at the Transfer APR, 4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Best for travel protections: Chase Sapphire Preferred
Who's this for? The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a great fit for anyone who wants a do-it-all travel credit card with a manageable $95 annual fee.
Standout benefits: You'll have access to many essential travel insurance benefits, including primary rental car insurance, trip cancellation and interruption insurance, baggage delay insurance, lost luggage reimbursement, roadside assistance, travel accident insurance, trip delay reimbursement and travel and emergency assistance.
The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card packs a punch for a $95 annual fee card, offering annual travel credits, comprehensive travel protections and more.
- You can transfer rewards to all of Chase's travel partners including World of Hyatt, Southwest Rapid Rewards and many more
- Long list of travel and shopping protections
- $50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit
- Has an annual fee
- Requires a high credit score
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
- Enjoy benefits such as 5x on travel purchased through Chase TravelSM, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases
- Earn up to $50 in statement credits each account anniversary year for hotel stays through Chase TravelSM
- 10% anniversary points boost - each account anniversary you'll earn bonus points equal to 10% of your total purchases made the previous year.
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
- Complimentary DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees & lower service fees for a min. of one year when you activate by 12/31/27. Plus, a $10 promo each month on non-restaurant orders.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
$0
With over 4,700 branches, Chase has the largest branch network in the U.S. plus access to more than 15,000 ATMs.
$0
Bank from anywhere with access to more than 15,000 Chase ATMs, more than 4,700 Chase branches, the Chase Mobile® app and Chase.com.
Best for cash back: Wells Fargo Active Cash
Who's this for? The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card earns a flat rate of 2% cash rewards on every purchase for no annual fee, making it a good option if you want simplistic rewards.
Standout benefits: Outside of flat-rate cash back, the Active Cash features cell phone protection against damage or theft (up to $600, subject to a $25 deductible), an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers and access to My Wells Fargo Deals for added savings.
The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card is great if you want simplicity thanks to its flat-rate 2% unlimited cash rewards on purchases and $0 annual fee.
- High flat-rate return on purchases
- Intro-APR for purchases and qualifying balance transfers for a year
- No annual fee
- Cell phone protection
- Has a foreign transaction fee
- Limited redemption options unless you pair it with a Wells Fargo card that allows point transfers
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
- Earn a $200 cash rewards bonus after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.
- Earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases.
- 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 18.49%, 24.49%, or 28.49% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate and fee of 3% then a BT fee of up to 5%, min: $5.
- $0 annual fee.
- No categories to track or remember and cash rewards don't expire as long as your account remains open.
- Find tickets to top sports and entertainment events, book travel, make dinner reservations and more with your complimentary 24/7 Visa Signature® Concierge.
- Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Balance Transfer Fee
3% intro for 120 days from account opening, then up to 5%, min: $5
Foreign Transaction Fee
3%
Best for balance transfers: Citi Double Cash
Who's this for? The Citi Double Cash® Card is great if you're seeking a strong introductory APR offer on balance transfers and still want to earn valuable rewards.
Standout benefits: The Citi Double Cash Card features a 0% intro APR for 18 months on balance transfers (17.49% to 27.49% variable APR thereafter). Plus, you earn a flat 2% cash back on all purchases: 1% when you buy and 1% when you pay.
The Citi Double Cash® Card is one of the best no-annual-fee cash-back cards thanks to its straightforward rewards structure.
- Balance transfers get a long intro APR
- Generous flat-rate cash-back rewards structure
- No annual fee
- Travelers face a foreign transaction fee
- Intro APR only applies to balance tranfer
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.49% - 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Balance transfer fee
There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. A balance transfer fee of 5% of each transfer ($5 minimum) applies if completed after 4 months of account opening.
Foreign transaction fee
3%
Best for domestic flights: Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus
Who's this for? The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card has a reasonable $99 annual fee (see rates and fees) and solid ongoing perks for Southwest flyers.
Standout benefits: Each year on your cardmember anniversary, you'll receive a 3,000-point bonus. Plus, you'll get 10,000 Companion Pass® qualifying points boost each year.
The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card is an affordable card that makes sense for the occasional Southwest traveler.
- Valuable welcome bonus
- 3,000 bonus points every card member anniversary
- Not especially rewarding for common expenses such as groceries or dining
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- 3,000 anniversary points each year.
- Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest Airlines® purchases
- Earn 2 points for every $1 you spend at gas stations and grocery stores on the first $5,000 in combined purchases per anniversary year
- Cardmembers and up to 8 additional passengers in the same reservation can check their first bag at no additional cost.
- Select a Standard seat within 48 hours prior to departure, when available.
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Member FDIC
Balance transfer fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater
Best for students: Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards
Who's this for? Students interested in earning rewards will appreciate the Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card and its bonus spending categories, which cover a range of common purchases.
Standout benefits: The Capital One Savor Student earns 3% cash back on entertainment, dining, grocery stores and popular streaming services. This rate of return competes with the best cash-back credit cards and is practically unheard of for a student credit card.
The Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card is a card designed for students with rewards rates that match many of the top cash-back credit cards.
- High cash-back rates for common student expenses, such as groceries, dining and entertainment
- No annual fee
- No foreign transaction fees
- High APR
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- Earn unlimited 3% cash back at grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart® and Target®), on dining, entertainment and popular streaming services, plus 1% on all other purchases
- Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
- Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
- Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn up to $500 a year by referring friends and family when they're approved for a Capital One credit card
- Earn 8% cash back on entertainment purchases when you book through the Capital One Entertainment portal
- Build your credit with responsible card use
- Whether you're at a 4-year university, community college or other higher education institution, this card might be an option for you
- Top rated mobile app
Balance transfer fee
4% of the amount of each transferred balance that posts to your account at a promotional APR that Capital One may offer to you
Best for premium perks: American Express Platinum
Who's this for? The American Express Platinum Card® is one of the most expensive premium cards on the market, but it comes with over $3,500 in annual value (provided you can take advantage of all the perks).
Standout benefits: The card offers a wide range of statement credits, including extensive airport lounge access, hundreds of dollars in statement credits, elevated hotel status at both Hilton and Marriott and a suite of travel and purchase protections.
The American Express Platinum Card® is a premium card loaded with annual statement credits, entertainment benefits, extensive airport lounge access, elite status perks and more. (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- Access to 1,550+ airport lounges, including Priority Pass™ Select lounges (enrollment required) and Amex Centurion lounges
- Statement credit offers worth up to twice what the annual fee costs
- Elite status perks for hotels and rental cars (Enrollment required for select benefits mentioned)
- High annual fee
- Many statement credit offers are complicated and are earned in increments or limited to specific purchases
Highlights
Highlights shown here are provided by the issuer and have not been reviewed by CNBC Select's editorial staff.
- You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $12,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you're approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you're approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Get more for your travels with 5X Membership Rewards® points on all flights and prepaid hotel bookings through American Express Travel®, including Fine Hotels + Resorts® and The Hotel Collection bookings. You earn 5X points on flights purchased directly from airlines or through American Express Travel® on up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- With over 1,550 airport lounges - more than any other credit card company on the market* - enjoy the benefits of the Global Lounge Collection®, over $850 of annual value, with access to Centurion Lounges, 10 complimentary Delta Sky Club® visits when flying on an eligible Delta flight (subject to visit limitations), Priority Pass Select membership (enrollment required), and other select partner lounges.* As of 07/2025.
- $200 Uber Cash + $120 Uber One Credit: With the Platinum Card® you can receive $15 in Uber Cash each month plus a bonus $20 in December when you add your Platinum Card® to your Uber account to use on rides and orders in the U.S when you select an Amex Card for your transaction. Plus, when you use the Platinum Card® to pay for an auto-renewing Uber One membership, you can get up to $120 in statement credits each calendar year. Terms apply.
- $300 Digital Entertainment Credit: Experience the latest shows, news and recipes. Get up to $25 in statement credits each month when you use your Platinum Card® for eligible purchases on Disney+, a Disney+ bundle, ESPN streaming services, Hulu, The New York Times, Paramount+, Peacock, The Wall Street Journal, YouTube Premium, and YouTube TV when you purchase directly from one or more of the providers. Enrollment required.
- $600 Hotel Credit: Get up to $300 in statement credits semi-annually on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection* bookings through American Express Travel® using the Platinum Card®. *The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $400 Resy Credit + Platinum Nights by Resy: Get up to $100 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® to make eligible purchases with Resy, including dining purchases at U.S. Resy restaurants. Enrollment required. Plus, with Platinum Nights by Resy, you can get special access to reservations on select nights at participating in demand Resy restaurants with the Platinum Card®. Simply add your eligible Card to your Resy profile to book and discover Platinum Nights reservations near you.
- $209 CLEAR+ Credit: CLEAR+ helps get you to your gate faster by using your face to verify you are you at 55+ airports nationwide. You can cover the cost of a CLEAR+ Membership* with up to $209 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for CLEAR+ with your Platinum Card®. *Excluding any applicable taxes and fees. Subject to auto-renewal.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees, such as checked bags and in-flight refreshments, are charged by the airline to the Platinum Card® Account. American Express relies on airlines to submit the correct information on airline transactions to identify incidental fee purchases. If you do not see a credit for a qualifying incidental purchase on your eligible Card after 8 weeks, simply call the number on the back of your Card. Qualifying airlines are subject to change. See terms & conditions for more details.
- Start your vacation sooner, and keep it going longer. When you book Fine Hotels + Resorts® through American Express Travel®, enjoy noon check-in, when available, and guaranteed 4PM check-out.
- $300 lululemon Credit: Enjoy up to $75 in statement credits each quarter when you use the Platinum Card® for eligible purchases at U.S. lululemon retail stores (excluding outlets) and lululemon.com. That's up to $300 in statement credits each calendar year. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Receive a statement credit* for one monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) after you pay for Walmart+ each month with the Platinum Card®.* Up to $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Ups not eligible.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- $895 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Balance transfer fee
N/A
Foreign transaction fee
None
*For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
*For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, click here.
Best credit cards with preapproval comparison
| Credit Card | CNBC Select's pick for | Intro APR | Rewards | Welcome offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | Travel rewards | None* | Yes, Capital One miles | Yes |
| Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express | Everyday spending | Yes* | Yes, Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout. | Yes |
| Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card | Bad credit | None | No | No |
| Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card | Travel protections | None | Yes, Chase Ultimate Rewards® Points | Yes |
| Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card | Cash back | Yes | Yes, cash rewards | Yes |
| Citi Double Cash® Card | Balance transfers | Yes | Yes, cash back | Yes |
| Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card | Domestic flights | None | Yes, Rapid Rewards points | Yes |
| Capital One Savor Student Cash Rewards Credit Card | Students | None | Yes, cash back | Yes |
| American Express Platinum Card® | Premium perks | None | Yes, Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit and at Amazon.com checkout | Yes |
What does credit card preapproval mean?
While being preapproved might sound like a guarantee, it's not quite — but it does mean you have a good chance of qualifying.
Preapproved offers are commonly sent by lenders who prescreen potential clients to determine whether they meet eligibility requirements. While the lender has already identified you as a good candidate for the card, you still have to apply and be approved.
Should you apply for the card, lenders usually do a bit of a deeper dive into your finances, and factors like your employment status, income and monthly rent or mortgage payments can all play a part in the approval decision. While it's not a sure thing, you typically have much better odds of qualifying for cards you're preapproved for.
What's the difference between credit card preapproval and prequalification?
Both preapproval and prequalification indicate you're a good credit card candidate without requiring a hard pull on your credit reports.
Prequalification is usually initiated by you, the applicant. You'll provide basic eligibility information, such as income and an estimated credit score. It's a good way to compare offers from different issuers, but it's not a formal acceptance.
Preapproval is typically initiated by a credit card issuer that's already reviewed your credit profile and decided you'd be a good fit. You may receive a preapproval offer in the mail or by logging in to your bank's website. The odds of approval are higher than prequalification, but it's still not 100% guaranteed.
How to get credit card preapprovals
If an issuer offers preapproval for a card, the process is usually straightforward.
1. Go directly to the issuer
Many card issuers have a web page where you can enter a limited amount of personal data and find out which cards you're prequalified or preapproved for. You can see which American Express cards you're eligible for by providing your name, address, the last four digits of your Social Security number (SSN) and your annual income. (If you already have an Amex account, you may need to open the form in incognito mode or clear your browser cache.)
To see which Capital One cards you're preapproved for, you'll need to include additional information — including employment status, education, housing payment and what type of bank accounts you have.
2. Use CardMatch
You can receive prequalified offers from major issuers like Amex and Chase by submitting your information to the CardMatch from Bankrate. You'll get results in less than 60 seconds — including limited-time offers, welcome bonuses and offers not publicly available — with no impact on your credit.
3. Check your mail
Credit card issuers send out prequalified or preapproved offers via mail and email. If you're targeted for an offer, you may have access to a special link or code for the deal.
Offers in this section are from affiliate partners and selected based on a combination of engagement, product relevance, compensation, and consistent availability.
Credit Saint offers three packages for credit repair services and a 90-day money-back guarantee for services. It has received an A rating and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
The Credit People's Credit Report Repair service is relatively affordable compared to other programs in the space. Even the most basic package (the standard package) includes unlimited challenges to all three credit bureaus. Upgrading to the premium package includes escalated disputes and monthly credit score reports and score refreshes.
How to compare preapproval credit cards
If you're preapproved for several credit cards, you can narrow your choices by focusing on each card's rewards, benefits and costs.
Rewards
Credit cards offer different reward levels for different purchases. One might earn 3X rewards for every dollar spent on gas purchases, while another might favor grocery shopping. Look at your credit card statements to see where you spend the most and find a card that rewards those purchases. Several cards offer elevated rewards across multiple spending categories.
You should also consider the type of rewards you want to earn with your spending: Cash back is easy to earn and use, but points can give you far more value if you're willing to do a little extra work.
Benefits
Credit card benefits come in all shapes and sizes; a card can have statement credits for specific brands or purchase categories, insurance protections or elite status perks.
It's trickier to put a price on an intangible benefit like airport lounge access, so review your travel habits. If you're a frequent flyer with long layovers, it can be worthwhile. But if you fly direct once or twice a year, you probably won't use this perk.
Costs
The main costs of a credit card are the fees and interest. If you pay your balance on time and in full, you'll avoid interest and late fees, but you still need to consider the annual fee of the card.
Credit cards with added benefits can cost anywhere from under $100 to over $800 every year, so you should try to calculate how frequently you'll use the benefits to see if it's worth applying.
Pros and cons of credit card preapproval
Preapproval gives you a sense of your approval odds without a full application and credit check. There are some drawbacks, however.
- Fewer denials: Getting prequalified or preapproved means you're less likely to be turned down.
- Targeted offers: Card issuers may market offers that aren't publicly available through mailers or as part of the preapproval process.
- No hard pull on your credit: A hard credit inquiry can temporarily lower your credit score by a few points. Preapproval involves a soft pull, with no impact on your credit.
- Approval isn't guaranteed: You can be preapproved for a card and ultimately be rejected.
- Apply for extra cards: The ease of the process may lure you into applying for cards you don't need, leading to overspending and raising your credit utilization ratio.
FAQs
What's the difference between preapproval vs. prequalification?
The difference between preapproval and prequalification is that prequalified offers are typically initiated by consumers who want to check their approval odds, while preapproved offers are generally unsolicited offers from card issuers.
Does preapproval or prequalification result in a hard credit pull?
Most credit card preapprovals do not result in a hard pull of your credit. Some issuers require a SSN or the last four digits of your SSN to process a preapproval, but this is generally done to verify your identity and shouldn't result in a credit check unless otherwise stated.
Does preapproval guarantee approval?
No, qualifying for preapproval is not a guarantee that you'll be approved for the credit card. Your credit score, income and history with the card issuers are all taken into account, but won't be fully reviewed unless you submit a traditional card application.
What's the easiest credit card to get preapproved for?
A credit card for no or poor credit is likely the easiest type of credit card to get preapproved for. That includes our pick for the best card for bad credit, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card.
Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every credit card list is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of credit card products. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics. See our methodology for more information on how we choose the best credit cards that offer preapproval.
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Our methodology
To determine which credit cards offer the best value and preapproval, CNBC Select analyzed the most popular credit cards available to U.S. consumers that also had a publicly available preapproval or prequalification process at the time of writing. We compared each card on a range of features, including the annual fee, employee card fee, rewards, welcome bonus, introductory and standard APR and foreign transaction fees. We also considered additional perks, the application process and how easy it is to redeem points.
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
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For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the Discover it® Secured Credit Card, click here.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.
