Best cards for a 600 credit score

If your credit score is in the 600s, that indicates your credit-building journey is on the right track, but still has room for improvement. A 600 on the FICO scale is considered fair credit up until you hit 670. Even without good or excellent credit, there are competitive credit card options for you to still earn rewards and practice responsible use.

If you don’t find what you’re looking for below, you can expand your search with our best credit cards for fair credit.

Top cards for a 600 credit score

Best for no-frills credit-building

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

• Bankrate’s view

  Though the Capital One Platinum Credit Card has limited perks, you might benefit from the lack of distraction while you focus on responsible use to build your credit score. You can count on your credit activity being reported to the three credit bureaus, monitor your credit score with Capital One’s CreditWise tool and be automatically considered for a credit limit increase in six months.

  With no security deposit or annual fee, it’s a low-stakes way to practice responsible credit use — as long as you don’t carry a balance and accrue interest.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • You may not have to wait as long to earn a credit limit increase as you would with some fair credit cards.
  • No security deposit or annual fee makes this card a cost-effective option.

  

  Cons

  • The card’s lack of rewards limits its long-term value after building up your credit score with responsible use.
  • It doesn’t have any noteworthy cardholder perks beyond what you’d get with most credit cards.

Best for potential low interest

Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®

• Bankrate’s view

  The Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®* offers rewards potential, a possibly high credit limit opportunity, a low APR opportunity and the ability to finance large purchases, all for no annual fee and a fair credit score. The card works similarly to a personal loan in that you pay down the balance with fixed monthly payments and a set APR. Plus, it’s a great way to build a positive payment history that improves your credit score.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • You can earn a competitive rewards rate, even with fair credit.
  • Depending on your creditworthiness, you could qualify for a lower-than-average APR.

  

  Cons

  • There’s no intro APR offer, so you won’t get a break on interest if you carry a balance.
  • You have to open a Rewards Checking account with Upgrade and make three debit card transactions to earn the $200 welcome bonus.

Best for travel purchases

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

• Bankrate’s view

  The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card combines credit-building tools and rewards. You’ll have the chance to earn cash back on every purchase, and you could earn a generous rate on some travel purchases. Though the card does have a low annual fee, you can completely offset it with rewards.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • Earn straightforward cash rewards with included access to your credit score and without a security deposit.
  • After six months of on-time payments, you could be considered for a credit limit increase.

  

  Cons

  • The annual fee adds an extra cost just to carry the card.
  • The ongoing APR is on the higher end, which could get expensive quickly if you carry a balance.

Best for instant approval

Mission Lane Silver Line Visa® Credit Card

• Bankrate’s view

  The Mission Lane Silver Line Visa® Credit Card* is a solid starter card for those with fair credit because it offers cash back. Depending on your creditworthiness, you could earn up to an unlimited 1.5% back on all purchases. Plus, you can get instantly approved if you’re qualified for the card, allowing you to start making purchases quickly.

• Pros and cons

  

  Pros

  • You could earn a credit limit increase after seven months of paying on time.
  • Earn simple rewards of between 1% and 1.5% cash back, depending on your creditworthiness.

  

  Cons

  • Your credit limit could start as low as $300, making it difficult to keep your credit utilization ratio under 30%.
  • The card doesn’t stand out from competitor cards offered by other major issuers.

Comparing the best cards for a 600 credit score

How to go from fair to good credit

If you currently have fair credit, chances are you’re aiming for good to excellent credit later on. The best way to build on your foundation is to continue practicing positive credit habits. Here are a few methods for building good credit, or a FICO score of 670 and up.

• Pay on time and in full. Paying off your statement balance on time every billing cycle is the most important way to maintain and improve your credit score. Try setting up automatic payments or calendar reminders to help you stick to it.
• Limit the use of your available credit. Even if you have several hundred or thousand dollars to your credit limit, it’s best not to use all of it. If you do, try to pay off the outstanding balance quickly. Keeping your credit utilization ratio below 30% is another positive credit-scoring factor.
• Don’t open too many new accounts at once. Applying for and opening too many cards is a red flag on your credit history. It’s best to practice responsible credit use with one card before opening another.
• Don’t close your old credit card right away. Your length of credit history is another factor in your credit score, so it’s helpful to have old credit accounts stay open. Even if you don’t use a card anymore, you can keep it in a safe place and let it increase your average account age.
• Look for prequalified offers. Get a sense of which trusted partner cards you could be approved for with a tool like CardMatch™. That way, you can apply with confidence without unnecessary hard credit checks.

What’s next?

The bottom line

If you have fair credit, you may be vying for a credit card that allows you to continue building credit while earning rewards. Just don’t fall into the cycle of overspending simply to earn cash back or points. It’s most important to pay your balance on time and in full, whenever possible, to work your way toward good credit.

*Information about the Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® and Mission Lane Silver Line Visa® Credit Card has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.