Prepaid credit cards can really come in handy – especially if you have poor credit. For instance, have you ever tried to rent a car or book a hotel room only to learn that you need a credit card to do it?

If you are a person with poor or just plain bad credit, a prepaid credit card may be a lifesaver. These credit cards are issued by the three major credit card companies, Visa, Mastercard and American Express. They are just like regular cards but with one main difference.

Prepaid credit cards are actually more like gift cards. You can load money onto the card and then use it at your favorite stores and restaurants just like a regular credit card. The money you spend is subtracted from the amount of money you deposited onto the card.

So for example, if you loaded $500 onto your prepaid credit card and then spent $100 on shoes, your remaining balance on the card would be $400. Once you have spent that $400, you would need to deposit more money onto the card.

One of the main advantages to using a prepaid credit card, is you don’t have to think about due dates, late payments or interest. None of these factors apply to prepaid cards.

There are some fees to be mindful of if you are considering a prepaid card. Most cards have an activation fee as well as a small monthly fee. Some may also charge fees for things like withdrawing cash or checking your balance. Be sure to get all the information about extra fees.

Prepaid credit cards are a great solution for students of all ages because parents are able to control the amount of money being put on the card. This helps teach kids the value of a dollar and how to spend wisely.

So if your credit is not in the best condition, a prepaid credit card may be just what you are looking for. You can be approved for this type of card no matter what your credit history is and these cards do not influence your credit score.

When we were searching for the best credit cards for people with bad credit, these five were at the top of every list.  They are not prepaid or secured credit cards either.  These are the real deal.  Here are the top five cards at a glance.

If you have less than perfect credit, you have no doubt encountered some trouble being approved for a credit card.  If this is the case, you have two options.  You can apply for a pre-paid credit card or you can apply for an unsecured card like the ones listed below.  Either way, it is important to read all of the terms and conditions of any card application to be sure you are getting the best card to suit your needs.

Here are the top 5 unsecured credit cards for people with bad credit:

First Premier Bank Gold Mastercard

• Welcomes application from those with less than perfect credit
• Instant application decision within 1 minute
• Low Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on all purchases
• Includes credit reporting to 4 major Credit Bureaus

Centennial Gold Mastercard

• Application decision within 1 minute when you apply online
• Credit protection available and tons of free credit information online
• Poor credit applicants welcome to apply
• Provides credit reports to 4 main Credit Bureaus

Orchard Bank Classic Mastercard

• Introductory rate of 0% offered to those who qualify for the first six months
• Easy access to your account online
• Accepted worldwide
• Instant application decision

Centennial Mastercard / Visa

• Your choice of Mastercard or Visa application
• Quick online application response
• Monthly reporting to 3+ Credit Bureaus
• Applicants with poor credit welcome

First Premier Bank Platinum Card

• All applicants welcome
• Instant online application decision
• Low APR available
• Monthly reporting to 4 Credit Bureaus

As you can see, most of these cards offer the same features like instant online decisions as well as low APR, monthly credit reporting and they all welcome applicants with poor credit.  Which ever card you choose, be sure to make your payments on time and start to rebuild your credit today.  If you do, this may be the last time you need to search for credit cards for people with bad credit.