Whether a new credit card will positively or negatively impact your credit depends on various factors. On one hand, it can diversify your credit mix and reduce your credit utilization ratio, which are both beneficial to your score. However, obtaining a new credit card also results in a hard inquiry being added to your account and reduces the average age of your credit history, which can temporarily decrease your credit score. Ultimately, for those looking to improve their credit, obtaining a new credit card may temporarily lower their score in the short term, but can ultimately lead to a stronger credit score in the long term.