Citi Secured Mastercard

The Citi Secured Mastercard is a straightforward credit builder: no annual fee and a big-bank name on your credit report, which is why it ranks #4 on our list of the best secured cards. It does exactly one job, giving you a card to use lightly and pay on time while your history grows. The tradeoff is that it offers nothing beyond that: there are no rewards of any kind, and the 25.99% APR is steep if you ever carry a balance. It also charges foreign transaction fees, so leave it home when you travel abroad. Use it to establish a track record, pay it in full every month, and plan to graduate to a rewards card once your score can support one.