Best Instant Approval Credit Cards 2023

Some credit card issuers offer instant card approval, which means you can submit your credit card application and then get an answer within just one or two minutes.

Of course, instant approval isn’t the only thing you look for in a credit card―which is why we’ve found the instant approval cards with the best rewards, rates, fees, and features. 

Generally speaking, we think the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card is the best instant-approval credit card for business. But we’ve got other great picks too, so let’s get to our rankings.

When a card issuer offers instant approval, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you specifically will get instantly approved. (Sorry to burst your bubble.) It just means that it’s possible to get approved instantly―or within 30 to 60 seconds, really.

So what makes you more likely to actually get that instant approval? Well, a lot of it comes down to your personal credit score. If you have a solid credit history and a high score to go with it, you’re more likely to get immediately approved than if you have a low credit score. 

But even good credit is no guarantee that you’ll get an instant answer to your credit card application. It may take a day or two for your card issuer to make a decision, even if you have a pretty solid card application. Sometimes, that’s just how it goes.

And speaking of waiting, you need to understand that an instant approval credit card is not the same thing as an instant use credit card. Even if you get the instant approval you want (woo!), you may still have to wait a few days to get your physical card in the mail. Some issuers (like American Express) will offer you an instant card number you can use in the meantime (like a virtual credit card), but not all do.

Put simply, you may need to keep your expectations in check when it comes to how instant an instant approval credit card actually is.

Two American Express credit cards top our rankings of the best instant approval cards: the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card and Blue Business® Plus Credit Card.

These two business cards are almost identical. They’ve got the same APR (annual percentage rate) range and (lack of) annual fee. Likewise, they have the same cash advance, balance transfer, and foreign transaction fees. The only real difference is that the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card earns cash back rewards, while the Blue Business® Plus Credit Card earns points rewards.

But what makes these two instant approval cards so great?

For starters, they’re American Express cards―which means that if you get instantly approved, you’ll receive a credit card number that lets you start using your new credit line right away. So beyond instant approval, you get instant credit. 

Instant credit aside, they’re simply solid business credit cards. (They’re on our list of the best business credit cards.) They have competitive interest rates, earn decent rewards, and have low fees. Plus, both cards offer Expanded Buying Power―which lets you spend past your credit limit. You have to pay back the extra you spend each month, yes, but it gives you more flexibility than your average credit card.

That’s not to say these are the perfect business credit cards. Other cards earn higher reward rates, for example, and have better bonus offers for new cardmembers. But these are two well-rounded instant approval cards that have plenty of advantages. (Terms apply to all this, though.)

So for most businesses looking for an instant credit card, we recommend either the American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card or the Blue Business Plus® Credit Card.

Want your new credit card to earn plenty of rewards without much effort on your part? Get a flat-rate reward card like Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business or Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business.

Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business and Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business both earn rewards at a consistent, unchanging rate of 1.5% cash back or 1.5x miles, respectively. So you never have to worry about spending the right amounts in the right categories. Instead, you’ll earn the same amount of rewards for each dollar you spend with your business credit card. 

Now, that does mean that these cards don’t work great for people who want to max out their reward potential. Variable rate cards can earn more than flat rate reward cards―but you have to pay attention to your spending. And if you can live with slightly lower reward potential, these Spark Select cards offer low rates and fees.

So if you want to simplify your spending and earning, the Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business and Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business cards are your best instant approval card options.

Do lots of business buying at Costco? You can get instantly approved for the Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi.

As you can probably guess from the name, this store card was designed for Costco shoppers. You can use it anywhere, of course, but you earn more cash back by using your card at Costco warehouses and Costco.com. Most purchases earn you 1% cash back, but Costco purchases get you double rewards with a 2% rate. (Eligible restaurants, travel, and gas earn you even more, with rates between 3% and 4%.)

This card does require you to have an active Costco Membership (a $60 annual expense), so it does work best for businesses that already like and use Costco. If that describes you, though, you can get instantly approved for your new Costco credit card―and you can even get a barcode that lets you immediately use your new store card. 

Put simply, Costco lovers will get plenty of rewards―and immediate use―from the Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi. 

Does your business require much travel? Then you’ll like the travel rewards and perks you get from the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card.

This card earns you reward miles on all your spending, with up to 2 miles per dollar (on eligible U.S. Delta, advertising, shipping, and dining expenses). But you get more than just miles. This card also gets you travel perks like a free checked bag, priority boarding status, flight vouchers, in-flight savings, and more on Delta flights. In other words, it makes travel more affordable and more convenient.

Do note, however, that this card does have an annual fee―so you’ll want to be sure you earn enough rewards to offset that fee. If you don’t fly Delta much, that will be harder. But if Delta is your main airline, you’ll get to take full advantage of the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card. And since it’s offered by American Express, you’ll get an instant card number to start using your Delta card (though only on Delta purchases). (Take note that terms apply.)

With travel rewards and travel benefits, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card offers a great instant approval option for frequent travelers.

So far, we’ve reviewed cards that have been designed specifically for business use. But you can get personal credit cards that offer instant approval too.

These next cards work great for personal spending. And yes, you can technically use them for business use too―but we recommend sticking with a business card for business expenses. (That way, you can keep your finances simple, build business credit, get employee cards, and so on.)

The Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express is our overall favorite instant approval credit card for personal use.

That’s because it offers a great deal all around. You don’t pay any annual fee, but you still earn up to 3% cash back on your eligible purchases. Plus, you get a 0% introductory APR for 15 months. And even after that promotional period ends, you end up with a pretty competitive interest range (18.24% to 29.24%variable APR). In other words, it’s a versatile card for everyday use―and since it’s from American Express, you can get a credit card number immediately after approval. (Terms apply.)

With that said, this card really is a jack of all trades rather than a master of one. Other cards have higher reward earning potential, get you more extra perks, and have lower fees (like cash advance fees). 

But for many people, a well-rounded card is exactly what they need―which is why the Blue Cash Everyday® Card is our top personal credit card for instant approval.

Want a more specialized card? The Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express has the most cash back potential you can find on a personal instant approval credit card.

Blue Cash Preferred® Card lets you earn up to 6% cash back on your purchases (on streaming subscriptions and your first $6,000 at supermarkets in the U.S., specifically). That’s an incredibly high rewards rate. Sure, some purchases get a lower rate (like 3% on transit and gas in the U.S.), but you always earn at least 1%. So depending on how you spend, the Blue Cash Preferred®Card could earn you plenty of cash rewards.

Of course, if you don’t spend on streaming and you have few transit and gas costs (maybe because you work from home), then the Blue Cash Preferred® Card may earn you less than you expect―and either way, you’ll be saddled with the $95 annual fee. So definitely take a look at your spending habits before you submit your card application. (And as with other cards, remember that terms apply.)

But for people who want to earn the most cash back possible, the Blue Cash Preferred® Card offers just that―and with instant approval and use to boot.

Want travel rewards for your personal spending? The Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card has the best travel benefits for personal credit card users.

Just like the business version we reviewed above, this card earns you up to 2x miles for each dollar you spend (in this case, that rate applies to eligible U.S. dining, supermarkets, and Delta expenses). And you get some (but not all) of the same perks, like a free checked bag and in-flight discounts (on Delta flights), plus a $100 Delta flight credit.

Also like the business version, the Delta SkyMiles® Gold American Express Card does charge an annual fee (of $99), so you’ll want to ensure that your spending and travel habits make this card worthwhile. (And don’t forget that terms apply.)

With any luck, they will―and you’ll get a solid instant approval card with excellent travel benefits for you.

The American Express Blue Business Cash™ Card and Blue Business® Plus Credit Card offer versatile cards for everyday spending―plus instant card access―making them our overall favorite instant approval credit cards.

For a flat-rate reward alternative, we suggest Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business or Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business. But depending on where you spend, you may prefer the Costco Anywhere Visa® Business Card by Citi (for Costco lovers) or the Delta SkyMiles® Gold Business American Express Card (for Delta travel fans). And if you need an option designed for lower credit scores, Spark 1% Classic offers instant approval for even fair credit.

Just remember that instant credit card approval is a possibility, not a guarantee. Your chances depend on your credit check and other factors. So even if you don’t get instantly approved, we hope you end up getting approved later―and that you enjoy your new credit card. 

Before you submit your credit card application, make sure you understand the process with our guide to applying for a business credit card.

To find the best credit cards for instant approval, we looked specifically at credit card companies that offer and advertise instant card approval (and, in some cases, instant card use). We then compared factors like APR, fees, rewards, and bonus perks to score, rank, and review the top instant approval cards.

Pretty much any credit card should let you build your credit history and boost your credit score―so long as you use it properly (not maxing out your credit limit, for example, and paying off your card balance each month). 

That said, if you don’t have much credit history to begin with (or you have bad credit), you’ll probably want to start off with a secured business credit card. Secured cards require collateral (usually cash) to qualify for, but they’re easier to get―making them perfect for improving your credit report.

The easiest credit cards to get approved for are designed for users with no credit history or bad credit, such as the Spark 1% Classic from Capital One or the Wells Fargo Business Secured Credit Card.

You may be able to qualify for these cards with fair or even poor credit. But keep in mind, a card that’s easier to get will usually have a higher interest rate and a low credit limit.

Disclaimer

At Business.org, our research is meant to offer general product and service recommendations. We don't guarantee that our suggestions will work best for each individual or business, so consider your unique needs when choosing products and services.

Business.org has partnered with CardRatings for our coverage of credit card products. Business.org and CardRatings may receive a commission from card issuers.