September 28, 2023
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The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is the best credit card for fair credit because, along with its lower credit requirements, it offers a $0 annual fee, access to Capital One benefits and the potential for credit line increases.
A fair credit score is one that falls between 580 and 669 and is one step above poor or bad credit. There are a variety of cards available to people with fair credit, including cash back cards, $0 annual fee cards, 0% intro APR cards, student cards and business cards. In fact, the best credit cards for fair credit often offer low or no annual fees, credit-building tools, reasonable interest rates and at least 1% cash back on every purchase.
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Automatic credit line reviews: Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card provides useful tools to help those looking to boost their credit profiles with the help of a credit card. Along with reporting your card usage to the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion), Capital One will automatically begin reviewing your account at six months to see if you qualify for a higher credit line. Plus, cardholders receive free and unlimited access to their credit score and tools to help monitor their credit through CreditWise from Capital One.
Who’s this card best for?
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is designed for those with fair/limited credit who want a card that reports your credit activity to the three major credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax and TransUnion).
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card doesn’t offer a sign-up bonus or rewards for the purchases you make using the card. Keep in mind, though, that when trying to build or establish credit, it’s best to focus on practicing responsible credit card usage rather than racking up rewards. This means you should pay your bill on time and in full each month and keep your balance well below your credit line.
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card comes with a $0 annual fee. As for foreign transaction fees? There are none.
Just know, the card comes with a high purchase APR of 30.74% (variable) if you carry a balance on your card from month to month.
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Cash back rewards: 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply)
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a solid option for consumers with fair/limited credit scores who want to earn a flat cash back rewards rate. Cash back can be redeemed for any amount, anytime. Rewards don’t expire for the life of the account, and can be redeemed for statement credits, checks or gift cards, or used to directly cover a recent purchase.
Who’s this card best for?
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is intended for individuals looking for a card that’ll help add positive payment history to their credit history and boost their credit score. The card is best for those who plan to spend at least $2,600 on the card in a year, since that’s how much cash back it will take to recoup the $39 annual fee.
After demonstrating responsible card usage and building a relationship with Capital One, you may be able to request a product change to the Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card, which earns cash back at the same flat rate as the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card but charges a $0 annual fee.
In addition, the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card comes with an APR of 30.74% (variable).
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Cash back rewards: 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is one of the most valuable secured credit cards around. It requires a security deposit ranging from $200 to $2,500 — which will serve as your credit line. However, unlike the majority of secured cards, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card offers cash back on every purchase you make.
Who’s this card best for?
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card is ideal for those looking to build or establish credit using a secured card. Secured cards are best for individuals whose credit scores prevent them from being approved for regular, unsecured cards.
After you’ve had the card for seven months, Discover will begin conducting monthly account reviews to see if you’re eligible to graduate to an unsecured card and get your deposit refunded. Note that Discover will evaluate your behavior across your credit cards and loans from Discover, as well as those from other issuers or lenders. You can also get your deposit back if you choose to close your account and pay any remaining balance.
In addition to offering a $0 annual fee, the card doesn’t charge a fee the first time you pay late: The late fee is none the first time you pay late. After that, up to $41. But, beware — it’s important to pay your bill on time when trying to establish a good credit history.
If you carry a balance on your card from month to month, you’ll be subject to a 28.24% Variable APR. However, the card does offer a 10.99% Intro APR for 6 months for balance transfers. After that, a 28.24% Variable APR applies.
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No credit check required: No risk to your credit to apply
The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card is a secured card that doesn’t require a credit check to be approved. However, a refundable security deposit ranging from $200 to $3,000 is mandatory, and it’ll serve as your line of credit.
Who’s this card best for?
Because the OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card doesn’t pull your credit, there won’t be an impact to your credit score when you apply.
But while this card doesn’t require a bank account for approval, you’ll still have to provide some financial information, including your annual income, monthly housing payment and housing payment type.
The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card has an ongoing APR of 22.64% (variable) and charges a $35 annual fee. Note, in addition, that if you use the card to make purchases outside of the U.S., you’ll also be subject to foreign transaction fees of 3% of each Transaction in U.S. dollars.
The OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card also offers the option to transition to an unsecured card after demonstrating responsible card usage.
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Cash back rewards: 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically
If you’re a college student with fair/limited credit who’s looking to build up your credit score, the Discover it® Student Cash Back can help you do that — while also letting you earn a generous cash back rate in categories that rotate quarterly (up to the quarterly maximum).
Who’s this card best for?
The Discover it® Student Cash Back has a $0 annual fee — which helps make it a good fit for college students on a budget.
Note, though, that if you don’t activate the quarterly categories, you’ll earn just 1% back on every purchase — plus, there’s a $1,500 spending cap on each quarterly category. If you max out that cap each quarter, you’ll earn $75 in cash back before your rate drops to 1% after the first year.
And if you need to finance a large purchase — like a laptop or school books — over a few months, there is a 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases from the date of account opening. After that, the interest rate will range from a 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR. The card also offers a 10.99% Intro APR for 6 months on balance transfers, then 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR.
Despite the effort required to activate a new category every quarter, the Discover it® Student Cash Back’s rewards program, along with its $0 annual fee, make it hard to beat. But if fussing over bonus categories is too much trouble, students should look to other student cards that are more straightforward, such as the Discover it® Student Chrome.
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Cash back rewards: 2% cash back at gas stations and restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically
Along with a solid cash back rate on gas and restaurant purchases, the Discover it® Student Chrome comes with a $0 annual fee and intro APR on purchases and balance transfers.
Who’s this card best for?
If you’re a student with fair/limited credit who spends a significant amount on gas and dining, the Discover it® Student Chrome could be a good fit.
The card also offers a 0% Intro APR for 6 months on purchases, then 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR. In addition, Discover it® Student Chrome cardholders receive a 10.99% Intro APR for 6 months on balance transfers. Afterward, a 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR applies.
The Discover it® Student Chrome charges a 3% intro balance transfer fee, up to 5% fee on future balance transfers (see terms)*.
Cash back rewards: Unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
The Capital One Spark Classic for Business is a flat-rate, $0 annual fee card — it’s worthy of consideration if you think you’ll struggle to qualify for other business credit cards. In addition, there’s no charge for employee cards.
Who’s this card best for?
Business owners with less-than-stellar credit can build credit history and earn cash back with the Capital One Spark Classic for Business.
Rewards won’t expire as long as the account is open, and there’s no cap on how much cash back you can earn. Cash back can be redeemed for statement credits, checks or gift cards, or as credit for previous purchases.
Just know, the card does come with a high APR of 30.49% (variable). In addition, the card does not offer a sign-up bonus.
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No deposit required: This card doesn’t require a security deposit
When you’re looking for a credit card with fair credit, one of the few options you have is to opt for a secured credit card, which typically requires a minimum security deposit of $200 to $300. You can use the AvantCard Credit Card to build credit without having to put a deposit down. However, you do have to pay an annual fee of $59, which is still lower.
Who’s this card best for?
The AvantCard Credit Card is one of the most feasible options for people with fair/poor/limited credit looking for an unsecured credit card. Because this card has a high 30.24% (variable) APR, it’s best for people who are able to make payments in full every month.
Intro balance transfer APR: 0.99% introductory APR for 12 months* *Applies to balance transfers requested within 60 days of account opening
After, a 11.24% to 18.00% Variable APR applies
The Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card is a dream for customers who want to transfer over existing card debt without costly interest charges and fees. It offers a 0.99% introductory APR for 12 months* *Applies to balance transfers requested within 60 days of account opening (followed by an APR of 11.24% to 18.00%) with a $0 balance transfer fee.
Who’s this card best for?
The Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card is designed for qualified United States military members or individuals with a military connection. It’s also a powerful tool for qualified individuals who want to pay down debt without extra fees.
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Cash back rewards: 1.5% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a payment
Accessing a higher credit limit is hard to do with fair credit. The Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® offers credit limits as high as $25,000 if qualified. Plus, you’ll earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a payment on the card.
Who’s this card best for?
The Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® is for individuals with fair credit who want access to higher credit limits and easy-to-earn rewards. It’s also an excellent option for people who want to get control of their debt since the card comes with fixed monthly payments instead of allowing cardholders to make minimum payments.
Sign-up bonus: $60 Amazon Gift Card upon approval
Amazon is one of the largest online retailers in the world. The Amazon Prime Store Card can help you earn bonus cash back on purchases made through the popular retailer. It also offers promotional financing on purchases over $150.
Who’s this card best for?
The Amazon Prime Store Card is specifically for individuals who spend a considerable amount of their income annually making purchases on Amazon.com. Most of the card’s benefits are tied to Amazon shopping.
| Credit Cards | Our Ratings | Welcome Offer | Rewards Rate | Regular APR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Capital One Platinum Credit Card
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on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
Winner
|
No bonus | Non-rewards Card | 30.74% (Variable) |
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on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
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on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
Cash back
|
No bonus | 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply) | 30.74% (Variable) |
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on Capital One's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
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on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
Secured card
|
Discover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. | 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically | 28.24% Variable APR |
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on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card
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on Capital Bank, N.A.'s secure site |
Instant approval
|
N/A | Non-rewards card | 22.64% (variable) |
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on Capital Bank, N.A.'s secure site |
|
Discover it® Student Cash Back
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on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
Rotating categories for students
|
Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match. | 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – automatically | 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR |
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on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Discover it® Student Chrome
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on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
Gas and restaurant rewards for students
|
Unlimited Cashback Match – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match. | 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter. 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases - automatically | 18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR |
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on Discover's secure site Rates & Fees |
Capital One Spark Classic for Business
|
Business owners
|
N/A | Unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel | 30.49% (Variable) | |
|
AvantCard Credit Card
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on Avant's secure site |
No security deposit
|
None | Non-rewards card | 30.24% |
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on Avant's secure site |
|
Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card
|
Intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
|
N/A | N/A | 11.24% to 18.00% | |
|
Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
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on Upgrade's secure site Rates & Fees |
High credit limit
|
$200 bonus after opening a Rewards Checking Plus account and making 3 debit card transactions* | 1.5% unlimited cash back on card purchases every time you make a payment | 14.99% - 29.99% APR |
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on Upgrade's secure site Rates & Fees |
|
Amazon Prime Store Card
|
Store card
|
$60 Amazon Gift Card upon approval | Prime cardholders can earn 5% back at Amazon.com | 29.99% |
According to FICO, the most commonly used credit scoring model, a fair credit score ranges from 580 to 669. For its competitor VantageScore, a fair credit score is considered to be 601 to 660. Experian states that roughly 17% of Americans have a fair FICO Score, and 13% have a fair VantageScore.
Credit scores, which generally range from 300 to 850, are calculated using information that’s been reported to the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) from previous or existing credit accounts. The credit ratings of poor to exceptional vary depending on the credit-scoring model.
For example, FICO uses the following ranges:
| Credit rating | Credit score |
|---|---|
| Poor credit | 300 to 579 |
| Fair credit | 580 to 669 |
| Good credit | 670 to 739 |
| Very good credit | 740 to 799 |
| Exceptional credit | 800 to 850 |
VantageScore, by contrast, utilizes the following ranges:
| Credit rating | Credit score |
|---|---|
| Very poor credit | 300 to 499 |
| Poor credit | 500 to 600 |
| Fair credit | 601 to 660 |
| Good credit | 661 to 780 |
| Excellent credit | 781 to 850 |
We should note, the lower your credit score, the less chance you have of being approved for a credit card or loan with favorable terms and a low interest rate.
Low fees
You should read the fine print in the terms and conditions to ensure that the card doesn’t charge a lot of fees. Paying fees cuts into a credit card’s value regardless of what type of card you obtain. Not to mention, some cards’ fees can amount to hundreds of dollars per year. Whether it’s an annual fee to carry a card, late fees or other card fees, look out for cards with higher fees unless they offer more than enough benefits to outweigh the added costs.
Fees to watch out for
Credit card issuers may charge various fees depending on the card, including:
Annual fee: A fee charged each year to remain a cardholder and access the card’s benefits. Many cards for fair credit carry no annual fee, but some may charge upwards of $39 or higher.
Returned payment fee: A fee incurred if your card payment was returned for having insufficient funds in your payment account or for other reasons. Returned payment fees can vary between cards. The Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card carries a $20 returned payment fee, while the Discover it® Secured Credit Card charges up to $41.
Late fee: Card issuers charge late fees when you don’t make at least a minimum payment by the card’s due date. Late fees can be as high as $40 on some cards.
Servicing fee: Credit card companies sometimes charge a monthly fee for servicing the account. Servicing fees aren’t common with most cards. An example of a card with a servicing fee is the Total VISA® Credit Card, which charges $99 annually ($8.25 per month) to service the account.
Set-up fee: A one-time fee charged by credit card companies to set up a new account. This fee isn’t very common outside of cards for people with bad credit.
Tip: Secured credit cards can help you build or rebuild your credit, often at a lower cost than unsecured cards with annual fees. Secured credit cards are obtained through a refundable security deposit and often come with a low or no annual fee. For example, the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card carries a $0 annual fee and offers a security deposit requirement as low as $49.Rewards
Credit cards for fair credit typically don’t provide the same bonus rewards rates as popular rewards credit cards that require good to excellent credit. Still, many cards in this category offer cash back and other rewards on everyday spending or specific categories.
Path to upgrade to a better card
As your credit improves, so do your chances of qualifying for more rewarding credit cards with better perks. Some credit card issuers perform credit line reviews and allow you to upgrade from a secured credit card to an unsecured card if you’ve shown responsible use of your credit over a period of time. If your card issuer doesn’t have an unsecured card, you can still improve your credit, opening the door to better credit card options.
Qualifying for a credit card with fair credit starts with knowing your credit score. Credit card issuers perform a hard credit inquiry when you apply for a credit card. A hard credit pull can cause your credit score to drop temporality. Knowing your score can help you determine the best cards to apply for within your credit range. Follow the tips below to improve your chances of qualifying for a credit card for fair credit.
If you have a credit score anywhere between 580 and 669, FICO considers you to have fair credit — which should qualify you for a fair credit card. However, when determining which credit rating category you fall within, a credit card issuer may take additional factors into consideration.
To improve your chances of success, try to get prequalified for a credit card. The prequalification process involves a soft credit inquiry, which doesn’t affect your credit score. While it’s no guarantee that you’ll be approved for a card, checking prequalification status gives you a better idea of which cards you qualify for with your credit.
If you’re having trouble getting approved for a credit card, try applying in person at your bank. As a bank customer, you already have an established relationship with your institution, potentially making them more inclined to approve your credit card request.
Becoming an authorized user can help you build up your credit report if the card issuer reports authorized users to the credit bureaus. Becoming an authorized user probably isn’t enough to increase your chances of approval alone, but it could still be helpful.
Applying for several credit cards or other financing within a short period can sometimes raise red flags with credit card companies and cause your credit score to drop. Open one credit card at a time. Start by applying for one card within your credit range and go from there.
There’s no guarantee that you’ll get approved for a credit card. If your application is denied, try calling the card issuer and asking them to reconsider your application. They may approve your request or give you a better idea of why your application was rejected.
If your FICO Score falls below 580, and you can only qualify for cards designed for bad or poor credit, there are steps you can take to improve your credit score over time, including:
Yes, each card in this list is available to consumers with fair credit. Just know that you should avoid applying for multiple credit cards at the same time, since each application typically initiates a hard inquiry on your credit report — which can have a negative impact on your score.
It is possible to find a card that offers balance transfers with fair credit. Just know that those cards are very few and far between, and they typically don’t offer interest-free periods.
Cards that earn travel rewards and provide travel benefits are usually aimed at applicants with good or excellent credit. However, it is possible for applicants with fair credit to find cards that earn cash back or offer discounts on purchases.
You can check your credit score in a variety of ways without generating a hard inquiry, so it won’t be negatively affected. For example, you can request a free copy of your FICO Score every 30 days through Experian, or sign up for a free credit score through LendingTree.
In addition, the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the three major credit bureaus to provide individuals with a free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus through AnnualCreditReport.com (currently available weekly) — plus, you’ll receive one any time that a company takes adverse action against you, such as rejecting you for a credit card or loan.
FICO considers a score of 670 to 739 to be a good credit score, and according to Discover, the “good credit” category generally includes dependable borrowers who may have been slightly late on a payment in the past or who may not have a long credit history.
Capital One, on the other hand, states that a good credit candidate has not declared bankruptcy on a loan in the past five years. In addition, the individual has a credit card or loan and has not been more than 30 day late on any payment in the last five years.
The best fair credit card for you depends on how you plan to use the card. For example, if you’re a student who needs to finance a large purchase — like a laptop or school books — a card that offers an interest-free period on purchases, like the Discover it® Student Cash Back, is a good option. But if you’re a small business owner who needs to boost your company’s credit profile, the Capital One Spark Classic for Business would be a better choice.
Unfortunately, good to excellent credit is required to qualify for all American Express credit cards. It’s generally more difficult to get approved for a card through American Express than many other card issuers because of its credit and other requirements.
Most Chase credit cards require good to excellent credit to qualify. The only Chase credit card that may approve individuals with fair credit is the Chase Freedom® Student credit card. Student credit cards are generally available to qualified applicants with limited credit history.
To select the best card for each of these categories, our credit card experts compared cards that require fair credit for approval on LendingTree.com and on major issuer and credit union sites.
We chose our top picks based on a variety of factors, such as each card’s annual fee, the rewards program and the interest rate.
Other factors that come into play when making our selection may include the benefits offered by the card, as well as the opportunity to improve your credit score or increase your line of credit.
The information related to the Chase Freedom® Student credit card, Capital One Spark Classic for Business, Navy Federal Platinum Credit Card and Amazon Prime Store Card has been collected by LendingTree and has not been reviewed or provided by the issuer of this card prior to publication. Terms apply.
For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the above benefits are provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply
The above offers and/or promotions may have since changed, expired, or is no longer available. Check the Issuers’ website for more details.
