You can apply for a credit card online in just a few minutes. You usually get an answer on your application in seconds, which can make it tempting to hop from app to app until you get approved for a card. This can be terrible for your credit, though. Read more about applying for credit cards online below so you can protect your credit.

Get Your Credit Score

Your credit and credit score affect the credit cards you can qualify for. Your credit score is a number between 300 and 850 and can be deemed:

• Excellent or exceptional (781-850)
• Very good or good (661-780)
• Fair (601-660)
• Poor (500-600)
• Bad or very poor (300-499)

Credit scores are calculated based on the information on your credit report. The number is meant to give an indication to lenders about your creditworthiness. The lower the number, the worse your credit is. The higher the number, the better your credit score is. That means the information in your credit report indicates your risk level for the lender.

If your score puts you into a bad or very poor credit rating, you typically won't get approved for a credit card that requires excellent credit. Additionally, that application goes on your credit report as a hard credit inquiry and may lower your score.

Before you apply for a credit card online, make sure you understand your credit score and the type of credit required for the card. That way, you can avoid a truly unnecessary denial and hard inquiry on your credit report. Instead, you can apply for credit cards for bad credit.

You can get 28 of your FICO scores through ExtraCredit so you know exactly where you stand before you apply. ExtraCredit can even help match you with offers that are in line with your current credit score.

Understand Different Types of Cards

You can choose pretty much any credit card if you have a good to excellent credit rating. If not, you may need to pick a starter credit card and work your way to a better credit score and credit card. If you have bad credit or no real credit history, you still have options. You may want to focus on a card to help you build your credit and your credit score.

Here’s a brief rundown of common credit card types and where to learn more:

• Unsecured credit cards are what most people think of when they consider credit cards. You apply, get a card and can use it to buy things. If you don’t pay it off in full each month, you pay interest on the carried-over balances.
• Secured credit cards are cards for people with bad or no credit. They require a security deposit, which is usually equal to the initial credit limit on the card.
• Rewards credit cards include cards with cash-back rewards, points rewards, travel rewards, and gas, airline and hotel reward points. These cards let you earn rewards when you make purchases. Typically, rewards cards require a good or better credit rating, though there are some for those looking to build their credit.
• Prepaid cards are a bit like secured cards. You basically pay your credit limit in advance. They’re really debit cards and not credit cards, but some have rewards and credit card-like features.
• Balance transfer cards allow you to transfer a balance from another card. A balance transfer card can help with debt consolidation, especially if the card you’re moving your balance to has a lower APR. Like rewards cards, most balance transfer cards require good to excellent credit.

Determining what kind of credit card might work best for you is important before you start the application process.

Know How Credit Works

Credit scores are based on several factors, including whether you pay your bills in a timely manner, have a good mix of credit types and have demonstrated responsible credit management for a long period of time. Credit utilization also has a big impact on your credit score.

Your credit utilization ratio refers to how much of your available credit you're using. You want your credit utilization ratio to be no more than 30%. What that means is that if you have a total credit limit of $5,000 on one or more credit cards, you don’t want the balance on those cards to be more than $1,500.

You want to think about that before getting a card so you can plan on keeping your ratio in the right range. If you get the new card and start charging like crazy without paying off the balances each month, your ratio will go over 30%, and your credit rating can take a hit.

If you’re starting out with less than good credit, not watching your ratio can be particularly damaging. So, once you have your new card, know your credit limit and how much you can pay off each month, and charge accordingly.

How to Apply for a Credit Card Online

Once you understand how credit and credit cards work and have checked your own credit, you’re ready to apply. 

Applying for a credit card online is as simple as going to the card’s application page and entering your basic information. The information you might need includes:

• Name
• Address
• Email
• Phone
• Social Security number
• Date of birth
• Monthly income
• Employment status
• Rent/mortgage amount
• Years at your current residence

Once you submit your information, your application is either approved or denied—often instantly. Either way, know that this is a hard inquiry on your credit report. You don't want to apply to multiple credit cards for this reason. Take the time to find a card with the perks and benefits you want and that you think you can get approved for.

Get Started Today

Always start the credit card application process with research. Make sure you understand the application process and how it relates to your credit. Then take time to find the best card options for you. Here are a few from Credit.com's credit card marketplace. 

Disclosure: Review featured cards from our partners below.

For Good or Excellent Credit

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For Fair Credit

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For Poor Credit or No Credit

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Article updated. Originally published June 5th, 2019.