Best instant approval credit cards of July 2024
“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
“Verified by an expert” means that this article has been thoroughly reviewed and evaluated for accuracy.
BLUEPRINT
Published 5:39 a.m. UTC July 1, 2024
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When you apply for a credit card offering instant approval, your application can get accepted within a minute or less. That doesn’t mean approval is guaranteed or even that you can use the card immediately, but it does mean that qualified applicants can get a decision right away.
To help you with the process, we took a deep dive to select the very best credit cards with instant approval of 2024. Here are our selections.
- Citi Rewards+® Card*: Best credit card for instant approval.
- U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card*: Best for customizable rewards.
- Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card*: Best for easy-to-earn welcome bonus.
- Citi Custom Cash® Card*: Best for customized bonus categories.
- Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card*: Best for foodies.
Why trust our credit card experts
Our team of experts evaluates hundreds of credit cards and analyzes thousands of data points to help you find the best card for your situation. We use a data-driven methodology to determine each rating. Advertisers do not influence our editorial content. You can read more about our methodology below.
- 145+ cards analyzed.
- 5+ data points analyzed.
- 5-step fact-checking process.
Best credit card for instant approval
Citi Rewards+® Card
*The information for the Citi Rewards+® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best for customizable rewards
U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card
*The information for the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best for easy-to-earn welcome bonus
Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card
*The information for the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best for customized bonus categories
Citi Custom Cash® Card
*The information for the Citi Custom Cash® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Best for foodies
Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
*The information for the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Compare the best cards for instant approval
Earn 20,000 bonus points after you spend $1,500 in purchases with your card within 3 months of account opening; redeemable for $200 in gift cards at thankyou.com.
Earn a $200 rewards bonus after you spend $1,000 in eligible purchases within the first 90 days of account opening.
Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening.
Earn $200 in cash back after you spend $1500 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 a one-time $200 cash bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening
The information for the Citi Rewards+® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
You’ll find out if you’re approved for the Citi Rewards+ Card, in under a minute. Once activated, this travel rewards credit card comes with an introductory APR offer and has the unique feature of automatically rounding up to the nearest 10 points on every purchase.
Pros:
- Rounds rewards up to the nearest 10 points.
- Decent intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.
- No annual fee.
Cons:
- Has foreign transaction fees.
- Spending cap on highest rewards rates.
- Limited cardholder benefits.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 2 ThankYou points per $1 at supermarkets and gas stations for the first $6,000 spent per year and 1 ThankYou point per $1 on all other purchases, plus earn a total of 5 ThankYou points per $1 on hotel, car rentals, and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com through December 31, 2025.
- Welcome bonus: 20,000 points after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- APR: 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 15 months from the first transfer and on purchases from date of account opening. After that, the variable APR will be 18.74% to 28.74%. An intro balance transfer fee of either 3% of each transfer or $5 in the first four months of account opening applies. After that, the fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
The information for the U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
Some applicants can get approved for U.S. Bank’s Cash+ Visa Signature Card in as little as 60 seconds. Customizable bonus categories let you earn rewards on the spending you do the most each quarter and include a broad range of uncommon options, from furniture stores and home utilities to movie theaters and fitness centers. This card also comes with an intro APR on purchases and balance transfers, which can help ease the sting of a large purchase you may not have been expecting.
Pros:
- Customizable bonus categories include unique options.
- No annual fee.
- Intro APR offer on both purchases and balance transfers.
Cons:
- Spending cap on highest earning categories.
- Requires planning as you have to opt into highest rewards categories in advance.
- Lacks cardholder perks like purchase protection or insurance.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked directly in the Rewards Center, 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories of choice, 2% cash back on one everyday category (like gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants) and 1% cash back on all other eligible purchases.
- Welcome bonus: $200 rewards bonus after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
- APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 billing cycles, then a variable APR of 19.49% to 29.74%. A balance transfer fee of 3% ($5 minimum) applies and balances transferred must be completed within 60 days.
The information for the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
Capital One is one of just a few issuers that offers a preapproval tool. If you’re preapproved for the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, you can get a decision in about a minute. The Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. comes with a welcome offer that’s relatively easy to attain. That bounty can be used to book travel through Capital One or transferred to more than a dozen travel partners.
Pros:
- Attainable welcome offer.
- Access to extensive transfer partners.
- Decent intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.
Cons:
- Low rewards potential.
- Limited cardholder perks.
- Requires good to excellent credit.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 5 miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 1.25 miles per $1 on other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: 20,000 miles after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then a variable APR of 19.99% to 29.99%. There is a 3% fee on each balance transfer in the first 15 months but no fee for amounts transferred at the purchase APR after the first 15 months.
The information for the Citi Custom Cash® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
The Citi Custom Cash® Card * The information for the Citi Custom Cash® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. rewards you for the spending you do the most and you can get an application outcome in less than a minute. There are a range of popular everyday categories eligible for elevated cash back, from grocery stores and restaurants to home improvement and fitness clubs, and there’s no activation required because your top category is calculated automatically.
Pros:
- High rewards rate automatically applied to the top eligible category.
- No annual fee.
- Attainable welcome offer.
Cons:
- Has a spending cap.
- Charges foreign transaction fees.
- Light on cardholder perks.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 5% cash back on purchases in a top eligible spend category each billing cycle, up to the first $500 spent each month and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Plus, an additional 4% cash back on hotels, car rentals, and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 6/30/25.
- Welcome bonus: $200 cash back, in the form of 20,000 ThankYou® points, after spending $1,500 on purchases in the first six months of account opening.
- APR: 0% intro APR for the first 15 months on purchases and from the date of the first transfer for balance transfers within the first four months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% to 29.24%. There is a balance transfer fee of 5% of each balance transfer with a $5 minimum.
The information for the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Why it’s the best
Capital One offers preapproval, so you can see your chances of getting approved for the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card * The information for the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer. without a hit to your credit score. Then, if you continue to apply, you can usually get an answer in under a minute. With generous rewards on dining and no annual fee, the card is a no-brainer for foodies. Plus, it comes with a very attainable welcome offer and a number of notable perks for a no-annual-fee card, including extended warranty protection and travel insurance¹.
Pros:
- Elevated rewards on dining and entertainment.
- No foreign transaction fees.
- Some cardholder protections for shopping and travel.
Cons:
- Low rewards on groceries.
- Requires excellent credit.
- Potentially high APR.
Card details:
- Annual fee: $0.
- Rewards: 3% cash back on dining, entertainment, popular streaming services and grocery stores (excluding superstores like Walmart and Target), 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, 8% cash back on Capital One Entertainment purchases and 1% on all other purchases.
- Welcome bonus: $200 cash bonus after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months, then a 19.99% to 29.99% variable APR. There is a 3% fee on each balance transfer in the first 15 months but no fee for amounts transferred at the purchase APR after the first 15 months.
Methodology
Our credit cards team has spent hours analyzing hundreds of credit cards. We took a deep dive into the details of each product and that analysis, combined with our years of experience covering credit cards, informed us as we developed these credit card rankings. Factors we considered included:
- Annual rewards value: 40%.
- Introductory APR on purchases: 30%.
- Welcome offer: 20%.
- Annual fee: 10%.
What does instant approval mean?
Instant approval on a credit card means that if you’re qualified for the card, you can potentially have your application approved within a few minutes or less. However, it’s not a guarantee that your application will be approved right away or that you’ll be able to use the card immediately.
How to get instant approval for a credit card
Even if a credit card issuer offers instant approval on a credit card, there’s no guarantee the approval process will be quick. Sometimes the issuer may need extra time to evaluate your credit history or verify your identity.
But there are some ways you can improve your chances of quick approval:
- Apply for cards that your credit scores qualify for.
- Submit a complete and accurate credit card application.
- Apply online rather than by phone or in person.
Policies on instant approval by credit card issuer
Even if an issuer advertises instant decisions, there are several factors that influence whether or not you qualify and how soon you have access to the card. Understanding the differences in issuers’ policies can help you narrow down your credit card options and improve your chances of approval. Here’s a breakdown of the top issuers offering quick approval decisions:
American Express
Amex helps you home in on credit cards you might instantly qualify for by offering credit card preapproval. If you decide to apply for a card, Amex can provide a decision within a matter of minutes. Some applicants will be able to use their new Amex account before receiving a credit card in the mail if they’re approved for an Instant Card Number. If not, you’ll have to wait five to seven business days for the card to arrive.
Capital One
Capital One offers credit card preapproval and if you submit a full application you may get your decision within as little as 60 seconds. Cardholders can log into their account to access a virtual card number and start using the card right away, or wait approximately seven to 10 business days after approval to receive their physical credit card in the mail.
Citi
Citi offers prequalification online. This is similar to preapproval but generally requires less personal information and can therefore be a less reliable indicator of approval. Citi makes some credit card decisions within just one minute, and depending on the card, you might also be issued a virtual account number. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait up to 10 days for the card to arrive by mail.
U.S. Bank
U.S. Bank mails credit card offers to some customers, but the only way to know if you qualify is to submit a full application. You can get approved for a U.S. Bank credit card in as little as 60 seconds, but some credit card decisions can take up to 10 business days. One way you can potentially speed things up is by authorizing U.S. Bank to text you during the application process and help you prefill certain information.
Choosing the best credit card with instant approval
If your goal is to get access to credit fast, you’ll want to consider a few features beyond instant approval. Here are some credit card features that can help speed up the process:
- Apply for a card you’ve been preapproved for.
- Choose a card with instant use features, like a virtual card number.
- Pay for expedited shipping on the credit card.
Note that even if you get instant approval, you might not be able to use the card right away. The credit card issuer may require you to wait for the physical card in the mail before activating it. And if you’re using the card for a balance transfer, it could take a couple of weeks for any transfers to be finalized. So you’ll want to be aware of these timelines before you apply.
Of course, being in a rush with credit cards can cause you to overlook other important details. Err on the side of caution and look at the terms on the card before applying. That includes the APR, annual fee and the credit limit. If you’re hoping to earn credit card rewards, read the fine print and calculate the real rewards value.
For a balance transfer card, have a plan to pay off your balance before the 0% APR offer expires, otherwise you’ll face high interest charges on the remaining balance.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Some creditors offer instant approval on credit cards for bad credit, but the terms on their cards may not be desirable. For example, store-specific credit cards are typically easier to qualify for as they may come with a low credit limit at first and high APRs. A retailer might offer you an instant decision on their store credit card while you’re standing at the counter. However, this application process discourages you from examining the terms on the card, which are likely to include an above-average APR and a stipulation that you can only use the card at the retail chain.
Discover offers an online preapproval tool for its suite of credit cards to help you evaluate your odds of approval for certain Discover cards. However, even if you’re preapproved, you’ll still need to fill out the formal application to see if you qualify for a particular Discover card. This can take just a couple of minutes or up to 30 days, depending on whether the issuer needs more time to review your creditworthiness.
You can get approved for some credit cards within minutes of applying. If the card has an instant use feature, you can potentially make purchases right away. If not, you’ll have to wait until you receive the physical credit card in the mail.
The credit cards that are easiest to get instantly approved for are retail credit cards and some credit cards for bad credit. If your credit scores are low and you’re a student, you might instantly qualify for certain student credit cards.
¹For 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.
*The information for the Capital One SavorOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card, Citi Custom Cash® Card, Citi Rewards+® Card and U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card has been collected independently by Blueprint. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
Blueprint has an advertiser disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Blueprint editorial staff alone. Blueprint adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
