Prequalification and preapproval for a credit card both help you understand your chances of approval without hurting your credit. The difference between credit card prequalification and credit card preapproval is who initiates the request, you or the credit card company.  If you decide to see your approval chances, you can get prequalified for a credit card by visiting the card provider's prequalification page. When a credit card company sends you a credit card offer, it will often say you are "preapproved" for a credit card. You can then follow your preapproval link to complete the application process. For both, the card company does a soft inquiry on your credit report that does not affect your credit score. A hard inquiry happens if you actually apply. In addition, you're not obligated to apply if you're prequalified or preapproved.