Discover it Secured Credit Card review

Discover it Secured is the only card here that combines a deposit as low as $49 with real rewards. The issuer, now part of Capital One, sets the required deposit at $49, $99 or $200 based on creditworthiness, and any of those opens a credit line of at least $200. You can deposit more within 35 days of approval to lift the line toward a maximum of $1,000 to $3,000. Rewards are the same as the unsecured Discover it card: 5% cash back on quarterly categories up to the quarterly maximum when you activate, 1% on everything else, and an unlimited Cashback Match of everything earned in the first 365 days. There is no annual fee and no credit score is required to apply, although Discover says it may use scores if available. With a positive track record the deposit is returned and the account becomes the unsecured Discover it Cash Back card. The main limits are the quarterly activation and the bank transfer rule for the deposit.

Who it is for

people with no credit score who want cash back from day one

Price

$0 annual fee; refundable deposit of $49, $99 or $200.

No annual fee
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 11, 2026.

Key features

• Refundable deposit of $49, $99 or $200 based on creditworthiness opens a credit line of at least $200
• 5% cash back on quarterly categories up to the quarterly maximum when you activate, 1% on all other purchases
• Cashback Match: all cash back earned in the first 365 days is matched dollar for dollar
• Deposit more within 35 days of approval to raise the starting line up to a maximum of $1,000 to $3,000
• Reports to the three major credit bureaus, and the card does not say "secured" on it

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: No credit score required to apply
• Strength: Lowest required deposit on the list at $49 for some applicants
• Strength: First-year Cashback Match doubles the rewards you earn
• Weakness: 5% categories must be activated each quarter and are capped
• Weakness: Deposit must come by electronic transfer from a bank account, not cash or check
• Weakness: The $49 deposit is not guaranteed: it can be $99 or $200 depending on your credit

Key facts

• Annual fee: $0
• Minimum deposit: $49, $99 or $200
• Starting credit line: At least $200
• Rewards: 5% in activated quarterly categories, 1% on the rest
• Upgrade path: Deposit returned and account unsecured with a positive track record

Where it ranks

Discover it Secured Credit Card is No. 1 in our Best Secured Credit Cards verdict.