5 Best Instant Approval Credit Cards
All information about American Express card offers has been collected independently by GOBankingRates and has not been reviewed or approved by American Express. These offers are not available through GOBankingRates.
Are you in the market for a new credit card? Wouldn’t it be great to apply for a credit card, get approved instantly and be able to use your account before you even get your physical card in the mail?
You can do just that with an instant approval credit card.
Many credit card issuers give you your card number as soon as you’re approved. This gives you the ability to add your card to mobile wallets and use it online before your physical card ever arrives. Read on to learn more about instant-use credit cards and the best offers on the market today.
The 5 Best Instant Approval Credit Cards
There are several instant approval credit cards to choose from, but beware because they’re not all equal. Some have higher interest rates and fees than others, and some have better rewards programs than others. Here are the five best instant approval credit cards of 2023:
- Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
- SoFi Credit Card
1. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
The Chase Sapphire Preferred card is a compelling option for anyone who’s interested in a travel rewards credit card. The card comes with a generous bonus and points structure, and it gives you the ability to spend instantly online or by adding your new card to your mobile wallet.
- Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 in the first three months after opening your account. That’s a $750 value when you redeem your rewards via Chase Ultimate Rewards.
- Rewards:
- 5 times the points on travel you book through Chase Ultimate Rewards (not including hotel purchases that qualify for the annual $50 statement credit for hotel stays)
- 3 times the points on online grocery purchases (excluding those made at Walmart, Target and wholesale clubs), select streaming services and dining purchases
- 2 times the points on travel purchases
- 1 point per dollar on all other purchases
- Perks: Earn a statement credit of up to $50 for hotel stays that are booked via Chase Ultimate Rewards for each account anniversary.
- Annual Fee:
2.
The Blue Cash Preferred card from American Express is an instant-use credit card that’s hard to ignore. Not only can you use the card instantly upon approval, but it also comes with an impressive bonus and rewards structure.
- Bonus: Earn $250 when you spend $3,000 in the first six months of account membership.
- Rewards: Earn 6% cash back on up to $6,000 in spending on streaming and groceries, 3% cash back on transit and gas and 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Perks: Split purchases with friends and receive an $84 Disney bundle credit.
- Annual Fee:
3. Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card
The Delta SkyMiles Reserve card is another credit card from American Express, and it’s one of the most sought-after travel rewards cards available today. Aside from the fact that you can use the card instantly, here are other reasons you may want it:
- Bonus: 60,000 bonus miles when you spend $5,000 in the first six months of membership
- Rewards: Earn 3 times the miles on Delta purchases and 1 point per mile on all other purchases.
- Perks: Get a $100 Delta flight credit and save 15% on award travel when you book Delta flights.
- Annual Fee: $550
4.
The Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card is one of Bank of America’s travel rewards offerings. The card comes with an impressive rewards structure and other perks, such as no foreign transaction fees.
- Bonus: Earn 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 with your new account within the first 90 days.
- Rewards: Earn 2 points for every dollar you spend on travel and dining purchases and 1.5 points for every dollar on all other purchases.
- Perks: No foreign transaction fee, up to $200 in travel statement credits and more earnings with every purchase as a Preferred Rewards member
- Annual Fee:
5. SoFi Credit Card
The SoFi credit card offers one of the most generous rewards programs on the list, though there’s no sign-up bonus to look forward to. Moreover, with no annual fee or foreign transaction fees, it’s an exciting offer to consider.
- Bonus: None
- Rewards: Earn 3% cash back on all bookings through SoFi Travel, a service powered by Expedia. Earn 2% cash back on all other purchases.
- Perks: Up to $1,000 in complementary cellphone protection, no foreign transaction fees and free credit score monitoring
- Annual Fee: $0
What Is an Instant-Use Credit Card?
As mentioned above, instant-use credit cards, also commonly referred to as instant approval credit cards, are credit cards you can use as soon as you’re approved. In most cases, you’ll receive an approval decision within one minute of submitting your application. If you’re approved, the issuer provides your card information and gives you the ability to immediately use it for purchases.
Final Take
If you’re looking for a credit card you can use instantly upon approval, consider one of the cards above. As you compare your options, look for rewards you’ll take advantage of to get the most bang for your buck.
FAQ
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions regarding instant approval credit cards.- Can you get approved for a credit card immediately?
- Yes, all of the credit cards on the list above offer immediate approvals for well-qualified applicants.
- Which banks give instant card approval?
- Chase, American Express and Bank of America are among the banks that offer instant approval credit cards.
- What is the easiest credit card to get instant approval on?
- Secured credit cards are typically the easiest to get approved for because they're designed for consumers with bad credit scores. However, they also require a security deposit when you open the account.
Sarah Sharkey and Cynthia Measom contributed to the reporting for this article.
Information is accurate as of June 30, 2023.
Editorial Note: This content is not provided by any entity covered in this article. Any opinions, analyses, reviews, ratings or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author alone and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any entity named in this article.
All information about American Express card offers has been collected independently by GOBankingRates and has not been reviewed or approved by American Express. These offers are not available through GOBankingRates.
The information related to the Chase Sapphire Preferred credit card was collected by GOBankingRates and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card. Product details may vary. Please see the issuer’s website for current information. GOBankingRates does not receive commission for this product.
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