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Best credit cards for fair/average credit in December 2024

Updated December 11, 2024

Advertiser Disclosure: The listings that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which Bankrate receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Here's an explanation for and how we rate our cards.

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Showing 9 results

Best for no annual fee

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Bankrate score

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4.2
Bankrate review
No Credit History
Apply nowLock

on Capital One's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

N/A

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

29.99% (Variable)

Why you'll like this: Helpful credit-building perks, including automatic reviews for a possible credit increase and CreditWise access, make up for the lack of rewards.

Best for students

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Bankrate score

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5.0
Bankrate review
No Credit History
Apply nowLock

on Discover's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

Cashback Match

Rewards Rate

1% - 5%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR

Why you'll like this: This card has one of the best set of rewards and perks of any student card on the market, for no annual fee.

Best for high credit limit

Milestone Mastercard® - $700 Credit Limit

Bankrate score

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2.5
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(300 - 670)
Apply nowLock

on Milestone Mastercard's secure site

Intro offer

N/A

Annual fee

See terms*

Regular APR

See terms*

Why you'll like this: It has a fairly high credit limit without requiring a security deposit, which is generous for a credit-building card.

Best for flat-rate cash back

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Bankrate score

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4.0
Bankrate review
No Credit History
Apply nowLock

on Capital One's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

N/A

Rewards Rate

1.5% - 5%

Annual fee

$39

Regular APR

29.99% (Variable)

Why you'll like this: You can earn solid flat-rate rewards while avoiding juggling rotating or elevated categories.

Best for travel

Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card

Bankrate score

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3.2
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(580 - 740)
Apply nowLock

on Credit One Bank's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

N/A

Rewards Rate

1X - 10X

Annual fee

$95

Regular APR

29.49%* Variable

Why you'll like this: It’s one of the few travel cards available for fair credit and includes an exceptional rewards rate on eligible travel purchases.

Best for long-term financing

Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®

Bankrate score

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4.2
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(580 - 740)
Apply nowLock

on Upgrade's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

$200

Rewards Rate

1.5%

Annual fee

$0

Regular APR

14.99% - 29.99% APR

Why you'll like this: This card’s unique repayment structure makes it easy to understand if you’re new to credit cards.

Best for no penalty APR

Avant Credit Card

Bankrate score

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2.7
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(580 - 740)
Apply nowLock

on Avant's secure site

Intro offer

N/A

Annual fee

$59

Regular APR

35.99%

Why you'll like this: This card is light on fees and other detriments that can make it difficult to build credit, including no penalty APR.

Best for no credit check

OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card

Bankrate score

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3.1
Bankrate review
No Credit History
Apply nowLock

on Capital Bank's secure site

Intro offer

N/A

Annual fee

$35

Regular APR

25.14% (variable)

Why you'll like this: This card is one of the more accessible cards on the market with a forgiving, low ongoing APR compared to other cards for fair credit.

Best for no deposit

Prosper® Card

Bankrate score

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3.1
Bankrate review
Recommended credit score:(580 - 740)
Apply nowLock

on Prosper's secure site

See Rates & Fees

Intro offer

N/A

Annual fee

$39 (waived for the first year if you sign up for autopay before your first statement)

Regular APR

23.49%-34.99% Variable

Why you'll like this: It’s one of the few cards you can get with fair credit that offers a chance at a high credit limit with no security deposit.

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* The information about the (card name) has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.

Compare Bankrate's best cards for fair credit

Card name Best for Annual fee Bankrate review score

No annual fee

$0

4.2 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Capital One's secure site

Students

$0

5.0 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Discover's secure site

High credit limit

See terms*

2.5 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Milestone Mastercard's secure site

Flat-rate cash back

$39

4.0 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Capital One's secure site

Travel

$95

3.2 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Credit One Bank's secure site
See Rates & Fees , Terms Apply

Long-term financing

$0

4.2 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Upgrade's secure site

No penalty APR

$59

2.7 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Avant's secure site

No credit check

$35

3.1 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Capital Bank's secure site

No deposit

$39 (waived for the first year if you sign up for autopay before your first statement)

3.1 / 5

Info Icon
(Read card review)
Apply now Lock Icon
on Prosper's secure site

*You’ll receive a Mastercard Guide-to-Benefits with the program terms and conditions with your card. Fraud protection is provided by Mastercard Zero Liability Protection.

What is fair or average credit?

A fair or average credit score is a  FICO® Score between 580 and 669. This score is far better than someone with bad, limited or no credit, but lenders may still consider you a subprime borrower. That means your credit report suggests you're at a higher risk of defaulting on a credit card than someone with good or excellent credit. 

Why your credit score matters

When you’re a subprime borrower, it costs more to borrow money. Lenders typically offer you loans and credit cards with higher interest rates to help offset the risk. Your credit score doesn’t just impact how much interest you pay on loans. It plays a much bigger role:

 

  • Mortgage Market Icon

    Renting an apartment

    When you rent an apartment or condo, your landlord may run a credit check to determine how likely you are to be a good tenant. The same factors that impact your credit score the most (your repayment history and the amount of debt you carry) could affect your application.

  • Mortgage Icon

    Buying a home

    With a lower credit score, you may not qualify for a conventional mortgage. This factor can make it harder to buy the home you want, as many sellers prefer conventional loans over government-backed loans.

  • Auto Insurance Guide Icon

    Insurance costs

    In most states, insurance companies use your credit history to help determine how much you pay for insurance. A good credit score could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars when buying auto or homeowners insurance.

  • Phone Icon

    Utilities and phone plans

    Utility companies and phone carriers also run credit checks to determine how well you manage your finances. A lower score could mean having to put down a deposit for service or phone plans, costing you hundreds of dollars up front.

  • Credit Good Icon

    Credit limits

    Not all credit cards for fair credit have high limits. Depending on your credit score, you could end up with a credit limit as low as $200 to $300, making it difficult to build credit, especially if you use too much of your available credit.

Fair Credit Cards Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Checkmark Icon

    A chance to work on your credit: Fair credit cards often come with features that can help you track (and potentially boost) your credit score, like higher credit limits and free access to your score.

  • Checkmark Icon

    Access to unsecured cards: Several unsecured cards are available with fair credit, and even if you start with a secured card, you may be eligible to upgrade to an unsecured card with better perks and benefits after demonstrating responsible card usage.

  • Checkmark Icon

    Lower fees: Plenty of cards for fair credit either charge no annual fee or carry a relatively low fee. That’s saying a lot considering how pricey cards can be if you have bad credit, especially unsecured cards.

Cons

  • High APR: Though someone with fair credit is seen as a lower lending risk than someone with bad credit, credit cards for fair credit still tend to carry high interest rates. And the lower your score is, the more likely it is that you’ll be assigned a high interest rate.

  • Limited perks: Most of these cards carry only a handful of noteworthy perks, offering only basic card protections and credit score monitoring.

  • Limited rewards: Most cards available with fair credit lack a rewards program or only offer a basic 1 percent flat rate.

Expert advice for people with fair credit

Having fair credit offers many advantages, like the chance to qualify for an unsecured card and more rewarding options. While you should work to maintain fair credit, the good habits you create can lead to a higher score over time.

  • Debt Icon

    Pay your bills on time and avoid debt

    Missing a credit card payment can hurt your score and stay on your credit report for up to seven years. The later a payment, the worse it is for your credit score.

    Plus, not paying your balance in full can lead to credit card debt, especially if you have a high APR. Paying the balance on your card in full each month is a key way to work toward a higher score.

  • Document Icon

    Check your credit report

    Incorrect information on your credit report — even something as simple as a misspelling of your name — could negatively affect your credit score. You’re entitled to a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months, so check your report for any discrepancies and dispute errors. Your report is also a great way to keep track of your progress as you build credit.

  • Clock Wait Icon

    Wait before opening new accounts

    Opening too many new accounts at once can hurt your score because it can look suspicious or like you're in financial trouble. In fact, some issuers have rules that prevent applicants from opening up too many cards in a certain amount of time, such as Chase's 5/24 rule. Once you’ve applied and an issuer approves you for a credit card for fair credit, use it responsibly for a while to demonstrate your ability to handle new credit. Overall, be patient and wait between credit card applications to benefit your score.

  • Credit Card Time Icon

    Consider keeping older credit accounts open

    A credit card that you’ve had for a long time adds to your length of credit history, a significant contributor to your credit score. If you outgrow your credit card for fair credit, don’t close it right away. If it doesn’t have maintenance fees, keep the account open and active to help maintain your score.

What people say about credit cards for fair credit

When looking for a credit card with fair credit, it’s best to get advice from others who have already gone through the process and can recommend specific strategies or specific cards.

Redditors from the r/CRedit community recommended that those who have credit scores in the 600 range look at cards from Discover and Capital One, specifically the Discover it® Secured Credit Card and the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card. Many users cited these cards’ rewards as a key draw. Other users suggested anyone in the military or who has a family member who served in the military consider cards from Navy Federal Credit Union.

No matter what card you decide on, many of the users suggest trying to prequalify for the card through the issuer first to get a sense of your odds of approval without adding a hard pull to your credit report. 

“Prequalify through Capital One or Discover without a hard pull and go from there. Secured is a great option to build a relationship with a company.”

Reddit User

Another piece of advice many Redditors give is to simply give yourself time to not only show good credit habits over time but also rebuild relationships with previous issuers with whom you made credit mistakes.

“Sounds like all you need is time. That’s what helped me move from the poor range to the fair range and I’m in the good range now. Made a lot of mistakes prior to this last year and seeing my credit score get a little better each time has been a sense of relief.”

Reddit User

*The quotes and citations included on this page have been verified by our editorial team and are accurate as of the posting date. Be sure to check the issuer's website/terms and conditions for all up to date content. Outlinked content may contain views and opinions that do not reflect the views and opinions of Bankrate.

Tips on choosing the best credit card when you have fair credit

To find the best credit card for fair credit, consider several factors, including your spending habits, goals and approval odds. To help you shop for your next card, here are the steps for choosing a credit card.

  1. Know your credit score

    Knowing your credit score can give you a better idea of which cards you’ll likely get approval for. Check your credit score before you go card shopping and look for recommended credit scores in each card’s marketing details. You can also look for prequalification offers. Online tools like CardMatch™ help you compare prequalified offers without hurting your credit score.

  2. Double check secured options

    Depending on your credit score, qualifying for the top unsecured credit cards for fair credit could be difficult. Secured cards require a security deposit, which usually acts as your starting credit limit, but often have lax credit requirements in exchange. If you can put down a security deposit, a secured credit card with minimal fees and a relatively low interest rate can help you boost your credit score and help avoid cards that offer no perks but plenty of fees.

    However, many unsecured credit cards also offer a chance at a higher credit line after a few months of positive payment history. 

  3. Gauge if you’ll carry balances

    If you can pay off your credit card balance in full each month, you can avoid the expensive interest charges and other fees that lead to to credit card debt. But if you tend to carry a balance, make it a priority to find a low-interest credit card. These cards have a lower annual percentage rate (APR), which could help you save money.

  4. Prioritize credit-building tools

    If your main goal is to build credit, check out cards with features that can make it easier to increase your credit score or improve your financial literacy skills. Some credit cards for fair credit offer free access to your credit score and help you monitor your credit. Others come with helpful advice and tips to empower you to make the best financial decisions.

  5. Keep track of fees

    Watch out for common credit card fees like annual fees, foreign transaction fees and balance transfer fees. You won’t be able to avoid them all, but some credit cards can help you avoid fees, so the card isn’t as risky to carry.

  6. Don’t settle

    Don’t get discouraged by your credit score and pick randomly. Remember that a fair credit score is different from a bad credit score. You’ll still have decent options that offer much more than what you’d get with a card for bad credit.

More information on credit cards for fair credit

How we assess the best cards for fair or average credit

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50+
Cards rated
Search Icon
500+
Data points
Debt Icon
250+
Fees tracked
Credit Card Reviews Icon
40+
Perks evaluated

When evaluating the best cards for fair credit, we consider a mix of factors, including how cards score in our proprietary card rating system and whether cards offer features that make it easy to build credit history while keeping costs low.

We analyzed over 50 of the most popular cards designed for people with a fair credit score and rated each based on its cost, APR, credit-building features and more to determine whether it belonged in this month’s roundup.

Here are some of the key factors that we considered: 

Build credit, minimize fees

  • Cost 45.00%
  • Ease of building credit 25.00%
  • APR 10.00%
  • Perks 10.00%
  • Customer experience 10.00%

For Capital One products listed on this page, some of the benefits may be provided by Visa® or Mastercard® and may vary by product. See the respective Guide to Benefits for details, as terms and exclusions apply.

Frequently asked questions about credit cards for fair credit