The Amazon Prime Secured Card* is one of the top cards offering instant approval for those without credit. Some retailers offer store cards that don’t require credit history, but they’re typically close-loop cards or cards that can only be used at the issuing retailer. Those needing to improve their credit can start with one of the best store cards for bad credit. Open-loop cards or those cobranded with banks like Chase or American Express will likely require some credit history to get approved.

Prequalification is a smart first step to understanding your odds of approval, and some store cards offer a prequalification tool. One main benefit of prequalification is that you get insight into your approval chances without a hard pull on your credit.

A few store cards that offer prequalification include: Key Rewards Visa*, The Home Depot Consumer Credit Card* and the Kohl’s Credit Card*. Some retailers offer prequalification when you’re checking out, and some send preapproval offers in the mail.