Advertising disclosure

We may earn a commission when you apply through a link on this page. It costs you nothing and it doesn't change what we write.

Read more

Self Visa Credit Card review 2026

The lowest minimum deposit in this comparison, built by a company that also sells credit-builder loans. The tradeoff is a modest annual fee most competitors don't charge.

MGBy the MinimalGuy teamUpdated September 17, 2026

We are not a bank or a card issuer. Every rate and fee below comes from the issuer's own terms page, with the date we checked it.

✓

The bottom line

At $100, the Self Visa has the lowest entry point of any card in this comparison, which makes it a fit for someone who cannot set aside $200 or more right now. The catch is the $25 fee starting in year two, something most of the alternatives here don't charge at all.Jump to:The detailed review
Go to Website On the issuer's secure site
Self Visa Credit Card
Regular APR27.49% variableSelf.inc, checked 09/17/2026
Annual Fee$0 first year, $25 after
Minimum Deposit$100minimum to open
Rewards RateNone
Credit CheckNone
Good to KnowNo minimum published credit score
How to ApplyOnline, through Self
⇄

Pros and cons

What we like

  • Lowest minimum deposit in this comparison, starting at $100

  • No credit check required to apply

  • Reports to all three bureaus

  • Can be paired with Self's separate credit-builder loan product

What to watch

  • $25 annual fee starting in year two

  • No rewards program

  • 27.49% variable APR if a balance carries

  • Approval and deposit amount depend on a separate account review

≡

The detailed review

Self built its name on credit-builder loans, and the Visa card follows the same philosophy: make the entry point as low as possible. A $100 deposit opens the account, the lowest minimum among the cards in this roundup.

The card is free the first year, then charges $25 annually after that, a cost most of the other secured cards here skip entirely. There's no rewards program, so the value proposition is strictly about access and reporting, not everyday spending perks.

If avoiding an annual fee matters more than the lowest possible deposit, Capital One's Platinum Secured charges $0 permanently and only asks for $49 down.

» MORE: Want a card with no annual fee at all?

» MORE: See all 6 cards side by side

▦

How it compares

Self Visa
Go to Website
Regular APR27.49% variable checked 09/17/2026
Minimum Deposit$100 minimum
Annual Fee$0 first year, $25 after
Good to KnowLowest deposit, no rewards
OpenSky Plus Secured Visa
Go to Website
Regular APR28.24% variable checked 09/17/2026
Minimum Deposit$300 to $3,000
Annual Fee$0 annual fee
Good to KnowNo credit check, rotating rewards
Capital One Platinum Secured
Go to Website
Regular APR28.99% variable checked 09/17/2026
Minimum Deposit$49 to $200
Annual Fee$0 annual fee
Good to KnowNo rewards, lowest deposit

Rates and fees from each issuer's page, checked 09/17/2026.

Compare before you applySee all six secured and no-credit-check cards side by side, with the fine print in one place.
COMPARE CARDS

Common questions

Is there really no credit check?
Self does not require a credit check to open the Visa card, though it does review your account and payment history if you already have a Self credit-builder loan.
How much is the annual fee?
$0 for the first year, then $25 per year after that.
Can I raise my deposit later?
Self allows deposit increases over time, which raises your credit line along with it.
Does it earn rewards?
No. The Self Visa has no cash back or points program, its value is the low entry deposit and credit bureau reporting.