How Does LendingTree Get Paid?
LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.
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Advertising Disclosure
LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products. We are compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order).

Advertising Disclosure

LendingTree is an advertising-supported comparison service. The site features products from our partners as well as institutions which are not advertising partners. While we make an effort to include the best deals available to the general public, we make no warranty that such information represents all available products. We are compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appear on this site (such as the order).
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American Express Disclosure
Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

American Express Disclosure

Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit Review

LendingTree's Review

How LendingTree Rates Credit Cards?

Our experts rate credit cards based on several factors including card benefits, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers do not influence or have a say in our card ratings. Read our credit card methodology here.
1.9
Indigo<sup>®</sup> Mastercard<sup>®</sup> for Less than Perfect Credit
Fees & Deposit
$175 - $199 annual fee, no security deposit required
Custom Card Design
Pick from multiple card designs at no extra charge*
Reports to Credit Bureaus
Account history is reported to the three major credit bureaus in the U.S.
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It was not reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuer. This site may be compensated through a credit card issuer partnership.

Our take: The Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit is a no-frills card that is easy to apply for and open even if your credit isn’t great. However, there are no perks like a sign-up bonus or rewards to offset the annual fee and high APR.

Pros and cons

  • No deposit required
  • Can apply with bad credit
  • Reports to three major credit bureaus
  • $175 - $199 annual fee
  • No sign-up bonus
  • No rewards program
  • High APR

Is the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit a good card?

The Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit makes credit accessible if you have limited or poor credit. However, its annual fee will cost you money each year, even when you don’t carry a balance or incur other fees. The annual fee ranges from $175 - $199 per year, based on your creditworthiness.

We suggest comparing the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit to fee-free secured credit cards and saving up a security deposit so you can build up your credit score without draining your bank account.

Quick facts

    • Now with higher credit limits
    • Increase your access to available credit
    • Higher limit than before, still no security deposit required!
    • Greater access to credit than before
    • Less than perfect credit is okay
    • Mobile account access at any time
    • Account history is reported to the three major credit bureaus in the U.S.
  • Recommended Credit
    Credit scores ranges may vary. Your individual chance at approval may vary due to factors such as creditors using a particular variation at their discretion
  • 300 600 660
    Poor / Fair
  • Build credit with limited or poor credit history
  • Credit bureau reporting
  • Accepted everywhere Mastercard® is accepted

Intro Purchase APR

N/A

Regular Purchase APR

35.9%

Intro BT APR

N/A

Regular BT APR

N/A

Annual Fee

$175 - $199

Cash Advance Fee

See terms

Foreign Transaction Fee

1% of each transaction in U.S. dollars

Balance Transfer Fee

N/A

Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit benefits

  • Get up to a $700 credit limit with no security deposit

    Security deposits are often required for credit cards for bad credit, but the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit doesn’t require one. It’s possible to get a credit limit up to $700 with no deposit.

    Note that your annual fee, if one is assessed, is added to your credit card statement when you open the account. This will lessen the amount of credit available for your first month. In other words, if you have a $175 annual fee and a credit limit of $700, you’ll have an actual credit limit of $525.

  • Reports to three major credit bureaus

    The Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit reports to the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and Transunion. This is a key feature for building credit with a credit card. When you apply for another type of credit — like an auto loan or personal loan — the prospective lender will see your payment history, no matter which credit bureau they pull your credit report from.

Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit drawbacks

  • Comes with a high annual fee

    The annual fee for the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit is based on your creditworthiness and ranges from $175 - $199.

  • No sign-up bonus or rewards program

    Sign-up bonuses and rewards programs sweeten credit card offers, especially when there’s an annual fee involved. However, the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit doesn’t offer a bonus or rewards. This could be a positive because you won’t be tempted to overspend to earn rewards. However, if you’re a responsible card user looking to earn rewards, this is a drawback.

    If rewards are an important factor for you, you can find cards for applicants with low credit scores that offer cash back programs.

  • High APR

    Like many cards geared toward consumers building credit, the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit has a high APR of 35.9%. However, by using your card responsibly it’s possible to avoid this altogether.

Alternative credit-building cards

Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit vs. Discover it® Secured Credit Card

| Disclosures
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Discover's secure site
Rates & Fees
N/A
28.24% Variable APR
$0
Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to
  • No credit score required to apply.
  • No Annual Fee, earn cash back, and build your credit history.
  • Your secured credit card requires a refundable security deposit, and your credit line will equal your deposit amount, starting at $200. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.
  • Automatic reviews starting at 7 months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
  • Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
  • 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. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
  • Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites. Activate for free.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
300 600
Limited / Poor

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.


 
One of the best credit cards for bad credit, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card requires a security deposit of $200. But, unlike the fees, its deposit can be refunded. Since the annual fee is $0, if you pay off your balance every month, you won’t pay any fees or interest to have this card.

As a Discover it® Secured Credit Card cardholder you earn cash back rewards while building credit, and you may qualify to upgrade to an unsecured card in less than a year. If you can afford to put down the deposit, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card will save you money over the long term due to no annual fee.

Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit vs. AvantCard Credit Card

| Disclosures
AvantCard Credit Card
AvantCard Credit Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Avant's secure site
N/A
35.99%
$59
Non-rewards card
  • Fast and easy application process
  • No deposit required
  • No hidden fees
  • No penalty APR
  • Report to all three major credit bureaus
  • Zero fraud liability for unauthorized charges
  • Avant branded credit products are issued by WebBank, member FDIC
  • Disclosure: If you are charged interest, the charge will be no less than $1.00
  • Late Fee up to $39
  • Checking your eligibility does not affect your credit score
300 600 660
Limited / Poor / Fair

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

As an unsecured credit card, the AvantCard Credit Card doesn’t require a security deposit. It does, however, charge a $59 annual fee which could be less than what some Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit users pay. This is a fee that you’ll pay year after year and is not refundable.

The AvantCard Credit Card offers credit lines starting at $300 and can go as high as $3,000, which is nice if you’d like the ability to make larger purchases. However, remember to pay your balance as soon as possible to keep your credit utilization ratio low. Accounts are periodically reviewed for credit limit increases, but you can also request them through the mobile app.

Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit vs. OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

| Disclosures
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Capital Bank, N.A.'s secure site
N/A
25.64% (variable)
$35
Earn up to 10% cash back* on everyday purchases
  • New feature! Earn up to 10% cash back* on everyday purchases
  • No credit check to apply. Zero credit risk to apply!
  • Looking to build or rebuild your credit? 2 out of 3 OpenSky cardholders increase their credit score by an average of 41 points in just 3 months
  • Get free monthly access to your FICO score in our mobile application
  • Build your credit history across 3 major credit reporting agencies: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion
  • Add to your mobile wallet and make purchases using Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay
  • Fund your card with a low $200 refundable security deposit to get a $200 credit line
  • Apply in less than 5 minutes with our mobile first application
  • Choose the due date that fits your schedule with flexible payment dates
  • Fund your security deposit over 60 days with the option to make partial payments
  • Over 1.4 Million Cardholders Have Used OpenSky Secured Credit Card To Improve Their Credit
  • *See Rewards Terms and Conditions for more information
300 600
Poor

How Does LendingTree Get Paid?

LendingTree is compensated by companies on this site and this compensation may impact how and where offers appears on this site (such as the order). LendingTree does not include all lenders, savings products, or loan options available in the marketplace.

A highlight of the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is that it doesn’t do a credit check and only requires a $35 annual fee and a minimum $200 security deposit. If you’d like a larger line of credit, subject to approval, you can deposit up to $3,000.

Also, unlike the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit, the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card may let you graduate to an unsecured card in as little as six months.

Is the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit right for you?

Unless you cannot get approval from another credit card, we suggest comparing your options before applying for the Indigo® Mastercard® for Less than Perfect Credit. You can find better cards for bad credit that offer no annual fee and rewards programs, while still assisting you in building credit.

Consider the Discover it® Secured Credit Card as one of the best secured credit cards. It costs nothing in the long term since it has a $0 annual fee. Its refundable security deposit is a better deal because you’ll get it back when you close your account or graduate to an unsecured card.

apply-now-icon Apply Now
on Indigo® Mastercard®'s secure site