A secured card is a real credit card backed by a cash deposit that becomes the credit limit. It reports to the bureaus like any other card.
Choosing one - Reports to all three bureaus - Reasonable annual fee - Path to graduate to unsecured - Ability to increase the deposit
Using it well - Keep utilization under 10% - Autopay in full every month - Don't add unnecessary cards while establishing history
Most people graduate within 12–18 months of disciplined use.