Best Instant Approval Cards Of 2025

Written By

Robin Saks Frankel

Robin Saks FrankelSenior Staff Writer

Senior Staff Writer

Fact Checked by

Jerod MoralesDeputy Credit Cards Editor

Jerod Morales is a deputy editor at Forbes Advisor and a travel rewards expert. He took a deep dive into points and miles in 2016, searching for a way to make travel both possible and affordable for his growing family. Now, as a dad to four sons, he...

Fact Checked

Jerod Morales

Fact Checked by

Jerod MoralesDeputy Credit Cards Editor

Deputy Credit Cards Editor

& 1 other

Editorial Note: We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.

Need a credit card fast? While you can’t get a new card on the spot by waving a magic wand, credit cards with instant approval might be the next best thing. Most credit cards today offer streamlined application processes with the potential for instant approval, so we’ve compiled a list of our top-ranking cards from a variety of categories.

Show Summary

Best Credit Cards With Instant Approval

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card: Best for Everyday Spending
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card: Best for Travel/Flexible Rewards
Citi Double Cash® Card: Best for Flat-Rate Rewards for Fair Credit
Chase Freedom Flex®: Best Cash Back No Annual Fee Card
Discover it® Student Cash Back: Best for Students
Wells Fargo Reflect® Card: Best for Low Ongoing Interest and Balance Transfers
Prime Visa: Best Store Card
The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for Lounge Access
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best Secured Card for Bad Credit
Citi Custom Cash® Card *: Best for Intro APR

Find The Best Credit Card

Here’s a Summary of the Best Credit Cards With Instant Approval

CREDIT CARD OUR Rating & DETAILS

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

On Citi's Website

Rates & Fees

Welcome Bonus

Earn 60,000 bonus points

Credit Score

Excellent, Good

Annual Fee

$95

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

On Chase Bank USA, NA's Website

Rates & Fees

Welcome Bonus

100,000 bonus points

Credit Score

Excellent, Good

Annual Fee

$95

Citi Double Cash® Card

On Citi's Website

Rates & Fees

Welcome Bonus

Earn $200 cash back

Credit Score

Excellent, Good, Fair

Annual Fee

Chase Freedom Flex®

On Chase Bank USA, NA's Website

Rates & Fees

Welcome Bonus

$200 bonus

Credit Score

Excellent, Good

Annual Fee

Discover it® Student Cash Back

On Discover's Website

Rates & Fees

Welcome Bonus

Cashback Match™

Credit Score

Fair/New to Credit

Annual Fee

Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

On Wells Fargo's Website

Rates & Fees

Welcome Bonus

N/A

Credit Score

Excellent, Good

Annual Fee

Prime Visa

On Amazon's Website

Rates & Fees

Welcome Bonus

Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card

Credit Score

Good, Excellent

Annual Fee

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Welcome Bonus

Earn $200 cash back

Credit Score

Excellent, Good

Annual Fee

Credit Card

Rates & Fees

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

On Citi's Website

Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

On Chase Bank USA, NA's Website

Rates & Fees

Citi Double Cash® Card

On Citi's Website

Rates & Fees

Chase Freedom Flex®

On Chase Bank USA, NA's Website

Rates & Fees

Discover it® Student Cash Back

On Discover's Website

Rates & Fees

Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

On Wells Fargo's Website

Credit Card

Our Rating

Annual Fee

Credit Score

Welcome Bonus

Learn More

Rates & Fees

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

$95

Excellent, Good

Earn 60,000 bonus points

On Citi's Website

Rates & Fees

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

$95

Excellent, Good

100,000 bonus points

On Chase Bank USA, NA's Website

Rates & Fees

Citi Double Cash® Card

Excellent, Good, Fair

Earn $200 cash back

On Citi's Website

Rates & Fees

Chase Freedom Flex®

Excellent, Good

$200 bonus

On Chase Bank USA, NA's Website

Rates & Fees

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Fair/New to Credit

Cashback Match™

On Discover's Website

Rates & Fees

Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

Excellent, Good

N/A

On Wells Fargo's Website

Best Credit Cards With Instant Approval of 2025

Best for Everyday Spending

Citi Strata Premier℠ Card

On Citi's Website

Rates & Fees

Up to 10X Reward Rate

Earn 10 points per dollar spent on hotels, car rentals and attractions booked on CitiTravel.com, 3 points per dollar atRead More

Welcome Bonus

Earn 60,000 bonus points

Annual Fee

$95

Regular APR

20.24% - 28.24% (Variable)

Credit Score

Excellent, Good

Our Expert Take

Why We Like It

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card earns generous rewards across a wide array of everyday categories, making it an ideal choice for your most common expenses. Travelers can appreciate the flexibility of the card’s ThankYou® Points, which can be used to book travel through Citi or transferred to one of Citi’s travel loyalty transfer partners. Plus, the card offers travel protections and a $100 annual hotel benefit, good for a single stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) booked through CitiTravel.com.

What We Don’t Like

The hotel credit can be tricky to use, especially if you prefer to book your hotels directly. And, if you’re not comfortable using ThankYou points to book your travel by transferring to Citi’s travel loyalty partners, you could be missing out on the most valuable way of using your rewards.

Who It’s Best For

The Citi Strata Premier℠ Card is best for people who want to earn excellent travel rewards on their everyday spending.

Pros & Cons

High rewards rates for many popular categories
Ability to transfer points to hotel and airline loyalty programs
No foreign transaction fees
Some built-in travel protections

The $100 hotel benefit is difficult to redeem
The highest earning rates are on Citi Travel bookings
$95 annual fee

Card Details

Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
$100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases

Best for Travel/Flexible Rewards

Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

On Chase Bank USA, NA's Website

Rates & Fees

Up to 5x Reward Rate

Earn 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on allRead More

Welcome Bonus

100,000 bonus points

Annual Fee

$95

Regular APR

19.99% - 28.24% Variable

Credit Score

Excellent, Good (700 - 749)

Our Expert Take

Why We Like It

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card earns Chase Ultimate Rewards®, a highly flexible rewards currency that can be redeemed as cash back, used to book travel via Chase Travel℠ for a 25% boost in value or transferred to any of Chase’s multiple airline and hotel loyalty partners. This makes the Sapphire Preferred a versatile option for any traveler. Plus it comes with other benefits that can save you money while on the move including a $50 annual statement credit when booking lodging through Chase Travel, primary auto rental coverage and other trip protections and insurances.

What We Don’t Like

The best rates on travel bookings are reserved for those made through Chase Travel, which has some limitations vs. booking directly with a supplier. Plus, the card offers fewer everyday bonus categories than competitors like the Citi Strata Premier℠ Card or the Wells Fargo Autograph® Card.

Who It’s Best For

The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is a good choice for anyone seeking a stellar travel rewards card without a premium price tag.

Expert Commentary

Julian Kheel

Credit Cards and Travel Rewards Expert

With over 15 years of professional experience studying credit cards and travel loyalty programs, Julian Kheel has served as CNN’s senior editor covering travel and credit cards, as well as the editorial director for The Points Guy, and worked as a consultant for the biggest airlines. He is currently the CEO of Tripsight Inc., an award tools company that recently released Points Path, the first browser extension that automatically adds the prices of flights in miles into Google Flights search results to help travelers decide when to best use their travel rewards.

Julian first learned the ins and outs of credit card rewards and travel loyalty programs while flying more than 200,000 miles a year as a TV producer and director for World Wrestling Entertainment. (And yes, of course it’s all real.) He has previously written about travel and credit cards for U.S. News & World Report, Upgraded Points and Going, and created weekly columns for the travel websites Frequent Miler and Travel Codex.

In addition to appearing as a TV analyst to discuss travel and loyalty programs on national segments for CNN, Bloomberg News, CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” Yahoo Finance and Cheddar TV, Julian has also been featured on ABC and CBS Radio, and has been quoted in The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, and the Chicago Tribune on travel-related topics as well.

Julian Kheel

Credit Cards and Travel Rewards Expert

It’s the granddaddy of travel credit cards, but it still earns its reputation as one of the best around with solid bonus categories, strong travel protections, a great set of domestic and international transfer partners and a reasonable annual fee to boot. You can’t go wrong with it as your first travel credit card.

Pros & Cons

Earn high rewards in several areas of spending
Transfer points to travel partners at a 1:1 rate
Practical travel and shopping protections

$95 annual fee
No intro APR offer
Best travel earning rates are only for bookings through the Chase Travel℠ portal

Card Details

Earn 100,000 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 Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases, $50 Annual Chase Travel Hotel Credit, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Travel℠. For example, 60,000 points are worth $750 toward travel.
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Get complimentary access to DashPass which unlocks $0 delivery fees and lower service fees for a minimum of one year when you activate by December 31, 2027.
Member FDIC

Best for Flat-Rate Rewards for Fair Credit

Citi Double Cash® Card

On Citi's Website

Rates & Fees

Up to 2% Reward Rate

Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you payRead More

Welcome Bonus

Earn $200 cash back

Annual Fee

Regular APR

18.24% - 28.24% (Variable)

Credit Score

Excellent, Good, Fair

Our Expert Take

Why We Like It

If you’re seeking rewards ease, the Citi Double Cash® Card could be your instant approval credit card bestie. Use it on all your spending and earn the same predictable net 2% cash-back rewards (you earn 1% when you buy and 1% after purchases are paid off). Redemptions are equally as simple. Your rewards can be taken as a statement credit, a check or a direct deposit to an eligible bank account. Sweetening the appeal is the card’s intro balance transfer offer to pay off transferred funds.

What We Don’t Like

Unlike some of the other 2% cash-back cards on the market, the Citi Double Cash earns 1% when you make the purchase and the other 1% when you pay it off. Although this can incentivize good payment behavior, if you do need to carry a balance it could take you a while to get the second half of your rewards for purchases.

The intro APR offer is valid for balance transfers only and not new purchases.

Who It’s Best For

The Citi Double Cash card is a good choice for someone who wants a new rewards card with top-of-wallet status because of its simple earning and redemption structure.

Pros & Cons

Earn up to 2% cash back—1% when the purchase is made and 1% when payment is made on the account
Unlimited cash back
No annual fee
Introductory APR period for balance transfers
Great opportunity to pair with other Citi credit cards

Foreign transaction fee
Balance transfer fee
Lack of benefits seen in other no annual fee cards
No introductory APR on purchases

Card Details

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, a special travel offer, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/25.
Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 18.24% – 28.24%, 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).

Best Cash Back No Annual Fee Card

Chase Freedom Flex®

On Chase Bank USA, NA's Website

Rates & Fees

Up to 5% Reward Rate

Earn 5% cash back in categories that rotate quarterly on up to $1,500 when enrolled, 5% on travel purchased throughRead More

Welcome Bonus

$200 bonus

Annual Fee

Regular APR

18.99% - 28.49% Variable

Credit Score

Excellent, Good (700 - 749)

Our Expert Take

Why We Like It

The 5% cash back rate is strong on the Chase Freedom Flex®, among the best for cards with rotating categories. It also comes with an intro APR offer valid for purchases and balance transfers. While carrying a balance is something you should aim to avoid, this card can be helpful if you’re looking to finance a purchase or consolidate card balances.

The Freedom Flex also includes cellphone protection, a rarity among no annual fee cards.

What We Don’t Like

The $1,500 quarterly spending cap for bonus rewards in the card’s rotating categories could limit your earnings if you’re a big spender. It also can be a hassle having to activate the 5% bonus categories each quarter.

Who It’s Best For

The Freedom Flex can be an earnings powerhouse for anyone who works to maximize its rotating 5% bonus categories.

Pros & Cons

No annual fee
Rotating quarterly categories earn 5% rewards when activated, up to a combined quarterly $1,500 maximum
Travel rewards rate rivals some of the best premium travel cards
Generous rewards rate in several other categories

Travel bookings must be made through Chase Travel℠ to earn 5% cash back
Quarterly rewards access requires activation every quarter

Card Details

Earn a $200 Bonus after you spend $500 on purchases in your first 3 months from account opening
5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate. Enjoy new 5% categories each quarter!
5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more
3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 18.99%-28.49%.
No annual fee – You won’t have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Flex® card
Keep tabs on your credit health – Chase Credit Journey helps you monitor your credit with free access to your latest score, real-time alerts, and more.
Member FDIC

Best for Students

Discover it® Student Cash Back

On Discover's Website

Rates & Fees

Up to 5% Reward Rate

Earn 5% Cashback Bonus® at Grocery Stores and Wholesale Clubs, April 1 through June 30, 2025, on up to $1,500Read More

Welcome Bonus

Cashback Match™

Annual Fee

Regular APR

17.24% - 26.24% Variable APR

Credit Score

Fair/New to Credit

Our Expert Take

Why We Like It

The Discover it® Student Cash Back deserves an A+ from students. It’s accessible to those who are still establishing credit and earns generous rewards in rotating quarterly categories that students will find appealing (though it requires activation and there is a spend cap). Past bonus categories have included Amazon.com, Walmart, rideshare services like Uber and Lyft and grocery stores.

The Discover it® Student Cash Back offers one of the most unique welcome offers in the industry—an unlimited Cashback Match™ of your first-year cash-back earnings. Plus, it comes with an intro APR offer for both purchases and balance transfers. Low intro APR offers are uncommon on student cards and can be beneficial for anyone who needs a little extra time to pay off a big expense like tuition, books or other school supplies.

What We Don’t Like

Tracking rotating bonus categories and remembering to activate each quarter requires a lot of effort and might be challenging for busy students new to credit. Outside of the bonus categories, the rewards rate is just a ho-hum 1%.

Who It’s Best For

The Discover it® Student Cash Back is a perfect match for students eager to start building credit and earning rewards.

Expert Commentary

Albert Hsieh

Credit Cards and Reward Points Expert

Albert Hsieh is founder and CEO of Foxtrot Dash Inc., a San Francisco-based travel rewards marketplace offering a smart wallet that recommends 30,000 ways to maximize the redemption of hard-earned credit card and travel rewards points. He has proudly redeemed over 30 million reward points, and he and the Foxtrot Dash team boast over three decades of points and miles experience.

Albert has had a lifelong passion for aviation largely sparked by his dad, who retired after 30 years with United Airlines at San Francisco and Oakland. Since childhood, Albert grew fascinated by premium air travel and flew “The Tulip” (the nickname for United's fondly remembered "U" logo) to destinations far and near, with Taiwan, Japan and Egypt ranked as his top favorites.

With an unwavering commitment to the global travel industry, Albert served for 20 years as a commercial and marketing leader at Fortune 500 travel companies including JetBlue, China Airlines, XOJET and Westfield Airports LAX. He later worked as a consultant for Jet Edge, leading a companywide rebrand before their VistaJet acquisition. In recent years, Albert launched his Instagram feed where he captures his global credit card points and airline miles adventures with impeccable photography of luxury airline cabins and beautiful hotels.

His work is regularly featured in social campaigns, and he has drawn mentions in The New York Times and Nob Hill Gazette. On the Money Seed podcast, he has been heard discussing the future of credit card reward points, global travel trends and loyalty programs. When he's not traveling, Albert enjoys life on the West Coast by seeking out new restaurants and world-class wineries, and by spending quality time with loved ones.

Albert Hsieh

Credit Cards and Reward Points Expert

An engaging and fun student credit card, the Discover it® Student Cash Back combines useful benefits for cardholders to learn about building credit history while earning extra cash back each quarter on select categories.

Pros & Cons

No annual fee
Earns cash-back rewards
Intro APR on purchases
No credit score is required to apply

Highest rewards categories are capped at $1,500 quarterly
Bonus categories must be activated each quarter
Low 1% base reward rate
Discover cards are not as widely accepted as Visa and Mastercard

Card Details

INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200.
Earn 5% Cashback Bonus® at Grocery Stores and Wholesale Clubs, April 1 through June 30, 2025, on up to $1,500 in purchases, when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
No credit score required to apply.
Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. Activate by mobile app for free.
No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 17.24% – 26.24% applies.
Terms and conditions apply.

Best for Low Ongoing Interest and Balance Transfers

Wells Fargo Reflect® Card

On Wells Fargo's Website

Rates & Fees

Welcome Bonus

N/A

Annual Fee

Regular APR

17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% Variable APR

Credit Score

Excellent, Good (700 - 749)

Our Expert Take

Why We Like It

Sometimes the reason you’re searching for a new card you can get quickly is to tackle some debt or to gain some breathing room to pay off a big-ticket purchase. If you’re approved for the Wells Fargo Reflect® Card (rates & fees), you’ll get one of the longest intro APR periods available on both purchases and balance transfers. A nice additional perk is that the card offers cellphone protection, up to $600 worth for damage or theft (subject to a $25 deductible).

What We Don’t Like

With this card, the intro APR period is the main event. There are no rewards or meaningful perks aside from the cellphone insurance, so there’s not much long-term value.

Who It’s Best For

Anyone looking to avoid interest while temporarily carrying a balance will appreciate the Wells Fargo Reflect’s extra-long intro APR offer.

Pros & Cons

Generous introductory APR period for purchases and qualifying balance transfers
$0 annual fee
Cellphone insurance when you pay your wireless bill with the card

No rewards program or welcome bonus
There’s a balance transfer fee of 5%, min: $5
3% foreign transaction fee

Card Details

Apply Now to take advantage of this offer and learn more about product features, terms and conditions.
0% intro APR for 21 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers. 17.24%, 23.74%, or 28.99% variable APR thereafter; balance transfers made within 120 days qualify for the intro rate, BT fee of 5%, min: $5.
$0 annual fee.
Up to $600 of cell phone protection against damage or theft. Subject to a $25 deductible.
Through My Wells Fargo Deals, you can get access to personalized deals from a variety of merchants. It’s an easy way to earn cash back as an account credit when you shop, dine, or enjoy an experience simply by using an eligible Wells Fargo credit card.

Best Store Card

Prime Visa

On Amazon's Website

Rates & Fees

Up to 5X Reward Rate

Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market, and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible PrimeRead More

Welcome Bonus

Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card

Annual Fee

Regular APR

19.49% - 28.24% Variable

Credit Score

Good, Excellent (700 - 749)

Our Expert Take

Why We Like It

The Prime Visa is a no-brainer for any Amazon frequent shopper with a Prime membership. Few cards offer a consistent 5% back on your purchases. If a hefty portion of your budget goes to Amazon fulfilling your orders, this card can save you a bundle. Rewards can be taken as a statement credit, cash back or applied towards your next purchase with the retailer.

What We Don’t Like

Although the card itself has no annual fee, you’ll still need an Amazon Prime membership, which starts at $14.99 per month or $139 per year. You’ll have to spend at least $2,780 in the card’s 5% categories to break even with the membership fee. It’s possible to get the non-Prime version of the card and forgo the membership, but that means you’ll also only earn 3% back on your Amazon spending.

Who It’s Best For

Any Prime member who regularly shops at Amazon and/or Whole Foods can benefit from the high rewards rate on the Prime Visa.

Expert Commentary

Ben Luthi

Credit Cards Writer

Ben Luthi is a freelance personal finance and travel writer. He started earning credit card rewards in 2013 and leveraged his passion into a writing career. He's contributed to dozens of other publications and companies in the financial and travel spaces.

Ben Luthi

Credit Cards Writer

The card is a no-brainer for Amazon Prime members. You’ll be hard-pressed to find another card that offers such a great rewards rate on so many different types of purchases.

Pros & Cons

5% cash back on all Amazon and Whole Foods purchases
No spending required for the welcome bonus
No foreign transaction fees
Travel and shopping protections
Prime Big Deal Day benefits

Requires an Amazon Prime membership
No introductory APR
Low cash back for purchases outside of bonus categories

Card Details

Get a $100 Amazon Gift Card instantly upon approval exclusively for Prime members
Earn unlimited 5% back at Amazon.com, Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods Market and on Chase Travel purchases with an eligible Prime membership
Prime Card Bonus: Earn 10% back or more on a rotating selection of items and categories on Amazon.com with an eligible Prime membership
Earn unlimited 2% back at gas stations, restaurants, and on local transit and commuting (including rideshare)
Earn unlimited 1% back on all other purchases
No annual credit card fee
No more waiting. Redeem daily rewards at Amazon.com as soon as the next day
Member FDIC

Best for Lounge Access

The Platinum Card® from American Express

On American Express's Website

Partner Offer

The Platinum Card® from American Express