If you have fair or average credit, which is typically defined as someone with a credit score between 580 and 669, you have an array of credit card options from which to choose. We’ve listed some of the best available credit cards for fair credit applicants below.
Table of contents
- 5 Best Credit Cards for Fair Credit
- Best Credit Cards for Fair Credit 2020: Our Top Picks
- Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card — Flat-Rate Cash Back Bonus
- Capital One Platinum Credit Card — No Annual Fee
- Deserve EDU Mastercard — Earn a Free Year of Amazon Student Prime
- Capital One Spark Classic for Business — A Card for Businesses
- Discover it Secured Credit Card — Build Up Your Credit and Earn Cash Back
- The Bottom Line
- Quick Questions
5 Best Credit Cards for Fair Credit
- Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best flat-rate reward structure.
- Capital One Platinum Credit Card: No annual fee and no penalty APR.
- Deserve EDU Mastercard: Ideal for students, especially those that use Amazon Student Prime.
- Capital One Spark Classic for Business: The best option for small business owners/operators with fair credit.
- Discover it Secured Credit Card: One of the few secured cards that offers cash back on purchases.
Best Credit Cards for Fair Credit 2020: Our Top Picks
Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card — Flat-Rate Cash Back Bonus
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is one of the best cards available to those with fair or average credit.
Its best feature is its straightforward reward structure: 1.5% back across all purchases with no expiration as long as the account is kept open. This card is also excellent for those traveling internationally as there is no penalty fee for use overseas.
If you’re looking for a card that offers rewards that don’t require a flowchart to figure out, this is the card for you.
Capital One Platinum Credit Card — No Annual Fee
Ideally, those with fair credit should look for cards without an annual fee. The Capital One Platinum Card is one of the best available for just that reason.
You won’t receive cash-back bonuses or other rewards with this card. It’s designed to help those with middling credit improve their score without expensive fees, including foreign transaction fees. Also, after six months, you’re automatically considered for a higher limit.
Those who are starting their credit journey or focused on improving their score are ideal applicants.
Deserve EDU Mastercard — Earn a Free Year of Amazon Student Prime
The Deserve EDU Mastercard loads a ton of perks on a card designed for students. Furthermore, as no social security number is required to apply, it’s especially ideal for international students.
The Deserve EDU card has no annual fee and offers 1% cash back on all purchases. If you spend $500 within the first three billing cycles, you’ll also receive a free year of Amazon Student Prime. Should you pay your cell phone bill with this card, you can also get up to $600 worth of protection against damage and theft.
You don’t need a credit history to apply for this card, but you must make at least enough money to afford the monthly payments.
Capital One Spark Classic for Business — A Card for Businesses
This card from Capital One can help business owners with average credit.
This card offers 1% cash back on all purchases and comes with no annual fee. It’s also free to add authorized users to the account, which can give trusted employees their own physical credit card connected to the account. Purchases made by authorized users also earn 1% cash back.
If you’re a business owner with fair or average credit, this is a top-tier credit card.
Discover it Secured Credit Card — Build Up Your Credit and Earn Cash Back
While those in the fair or average credit range can typically apply for an unsecured credit card, there are those near the bottom of the scale who might still need to place a deposit to have their application accepted. If this is you, the Discover it Secured Credit Card should prove beneficial.
The minimum deposit for this card is $200, and there’s no annual fee. You will receive 2% cash back on restaurant and gas station purchases, with some limitations, and 1% cash back on all other purchases. Discover will also match your cash-back rewards at the end of your first year.
If you’re looking to build your credit while still receiving rewards, this card is hard to pass up.
The Bottom Line
There are plenty of credit cards for fair credit applicants available. Choosing the right one is a matter of weighing cash-back rewards, ease of application, and willingness to pay an annual fee.
Quick Questions
Secured cards typically have lower standards than unsecured cards. The Deserve EDU Mastercard also does not require a minimum credit score or a social security number.
If you’re looking to build or establish credit, you should look for cards without an annual fee. If you’re looking for rewards, it’s best to pick one with a simple structure.
The ideal credit card balances low interest rates, lack of fees, and rewards. To boost your score into the next tier, you should make sure you pay off your balances every month.
Choosing the right credit card can be difficult. Check out our look at the best credit cards for students.
