Prepaid credit cards are similar to debit cards—to use the card, you must first load value onto the card via direct deposit or a transfer of money from a bank.

The terms of secured credit cards vary widely between card issuers.

Although prepaid cards look like and are used just like credit cards, they really are more like debit cards.

A secured credit card is similar to a regular credit card in all ways but one: it is backed by a deposit you make into a bank account, which serves as security for the card.

Here are some questions to ask when comparing unsecured credit cards.