As defined by FICO (the leading credit rating agency), bad credit is defined as a score of less than 580. Your credit score may range between 300 and 850, and an excellent or good rating is often when the minimum score is 700. If you have a lower credit score, you may have to pay higher interest on loans and may not receive the best financial offers.

One of the best and quickest ways to increase your score is to use a credit card.

Here are some of the best credit card companies if you have a lower score:

Credit One Bank Visa Credit Card

Several card issuers require you to deposit $200 or more when you apply for a card. However, this card from Credit One Bank is an unsecured product and does not require any upfront payments. You receive 1% cashback when you use this card for groceries, fuel, and satellite, cable, and Internet services. Additionally, you get a $300 limit, which increases as you responsibly use the card.

Indigo Platinum Mastercard

If you have ever applied for bankruptcy, the last thing you want is to apply for a credit card and be rejected as it further hampers your credit score. The Indigo Platinum Mastercard is an excellent option as it provides $0 cash advance fees during the first year. After that, the cash advance fee is applied at a high of 5% of the transaction value of $5.

Milestone Gold Mastercard

This is an excellent way to check your eligibility with the pre-qualification tool that suggests other options in case your profile does not match the requirements of this credit card. The company issues the card even if you have a previous bankruptcy, and the foreign transaction fee of 1% is among the lowest applicable in the industry. However, if you are unable to pay the bill on time, a 29.9% APR is applicable, making it very costly.

Discover It Secured

This card offers 2% cashback on your spending on fuel and restaurants applicable on a combined expense of $1,000 for every quarter. Additionally, you receive 1% cashback on other general purchases. Moreover, the card issuer matches your cash back earned at the end of the first year. Discover It comes with no annual fees and does not charge a penalty on your first late payment. Moreover, the card does not entail penalty APR for payment delays. However, it is a secured card, and you need to pay a $200 deposit at the time of availing the same.

Capital One Secured Mastercard

The card is an excellent choice if you are new to credit as it does not charge an annual fee or a penalty APR. Moreover, there is no foreign transaction fee, which is beneficial if you study abroad or travel. The minimum deposit may be only $49 (if you meet the eligibility requirements). You may qualify for a higher credit limit if the first five payments are made on time.

The above cards are designed with beneficial features that help rebuild your credit and improve the score.