Indigo Mastercard Review (2026): Is It Worth It for Bad Credit?
The Indigo Mastercard is one of the most well-known unsecured credit cards for people with bad credit. No deposit required — but is it a good deal? Here’s our honest review.
| Feature | Details |
| Annual Fee | $75 first year, $99 thereafter (some applicants $0) |
| Credit Limit | $300 |
| APR | 35.9% fixed |
| Credit Check | Yes (but approves bad credit) |
| Reports to | All 3 bureaus |
| Rewards | None |
No Deposit — But at a High Cost
The Indigo Mastercard is “unsecured,” meaning you don’t need to put up a cash deposit. That sounds attractive — but the annual fee ($75 first year) immediately reduces your effective credit limit. On a $300 card, paying $75 in fees leaves you with just $225 of usable credit, and using it puts you at 33% utilization before you buy anything.
Approval Odds
Indigo is known for approving people with scores in the 500-580 range, recent late payments, and even some collections accounts. The application uses a soft pre-qualification check, so you can see your approval odds without affecting your score first.
Pre-Qualify for Indigo Mastercard →
Should You Get the Indigo Card?
Honestly, the Indigo card is a last resort. Before applying, seriously consider a secured card instead. The Chime Credit Builder has no fees, no deposit minimum, and no interest. OpenSky charges $35/year and gives you a credit limit equal to your deposit with no credit check. Both are better deals for credit building than paying $75-$99/year for a $300 limit.
That said, if you truly cannot get approved anywhere else and absolutely need an unsecured card, Indigo is legitimate and will report your payments to all three bureaus.
Compare all credit cards for bad credit before applying.