What makes this card valuable is that it's available to business operators with fair credit (a FICO score between 630-689), who don't have a lot of options in business credit cards and it has no annual fee. You can also borrow against your credit limit, much like a personal loan. (The typical, runs from 300 at the low end to a maximum of 850.). You would need to spend $2,600 per year on the card to make that back (not including any 5% travel categories). If you still arent approved, it may be a sign you need to work on your credit scores before applying again. But there are unsecured cards for every credit level, including bad credit. A fair credit score is usually defined as any score in the range of 640-699. Fair credit, also referred to as "average" credit, is a step up from bad credit but a notch below good credit. . Best for earning cash back with fair credit Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Apply Now On Capital One's Website 2.3 Up to 5% Reward Rate Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back. , which is steep if you plan on carrying a balance. It's free for everyone, Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. . No interest on purchases when you pay in full and on time each month. Access your account anytime, anywhere with our mobile app. earns rewards on par with cards for good or excellent credit. If you don't like the offer, walk away with no harm done. Petal 1 Visa Credit Card. Best Credit Cards of March 2023; Best Gas Credit Cards; Best Travel Credit Cards; Best Balance Transfer Credit Cards; Best 0% APR Credit Cards; Best Cash Back Credit Cards; All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card (5) Apply Now on Capital One's secure site Rewards Rate 1.5% Cash Back on every purchase, every day; 5% Cash Back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply) What We Dont Like:This card does not offer rewards or a low interest rate. If you're looking to beef up your credit, it's a decent place to start. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. The annual fee is $0. And the card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. Some Discover offers listed here are not currently available on WalletHub and may be out of date. If you still arent approved, it may be a sign you need to work on your credit scores before applying again. But we recommend a score of at least 700, which is toward the top of the good credit range, for the cards that require 700 credit for approval. Conversely, a higher score that one issuer still sees as fair credit might qualify as good credit to a different issuer. Our partners compensate us. You can also borrow against your credit limit, much like a personal loan. It also earns up to 10% cash back when you use the card to make purchases with select merchants. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific products site. Get pre-approved in seconds with no impact to your credit score. When you pay in full, you don't get. The average FICO credit score in the United States in 2022 was 716, according to the company that manages the FICO scoring model. Review that notice, then review your credit report to make sure there are no inaccuracies, and then do the same for the card application you submitted. At that point, youll probably have a good sense of why you were rejected. The Petal 2 Card also offers 1 - 1.5% cash back. Apply for credit card with fair credit score. Foreign transaction fee: 1% of the transaction amount. . And on top of all that, it earns cash back, too. The Mission Lane Cash Back Visa Credit Card is a great option for people who aren't sure whether their credit is good enough to qualify for a rewards card. Unlike other sites that only promote cards they're paid by, WalletHub's editors focus on finding the best cards. If youre a few days late, youll likely owe a late fee. Still not sure which credit card is best for building credit? It's an underserved market, so the list of such products is fairly short, and those that do exist lack the big sign-up bonuses you'd get with a card requiring excellent credit. , making it a good option for someone with average credit. To help people with no credit or bad credit maximize their odds of approval for a credit card, WalletHubs editors compared the approval requirements for more than 1,500 credit card offers, along with their fees, rates and rewards. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific products site. Cards For Fair Credit With Instant Approval and No Annual Fee. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: Get a . The following offers didnt quite make the cut for our editors best-card selections, but they can still save cardholders a lot of money. You would need to spend $2,600 per year on the card to make that back (not including any 5% travel categories). . Read our review. Its lighter on the fees than some unsecured credit cards for less-than-perfect credit and it offers rewards. Comparing credit cards for fair credit can be tough. Best unsecured cards for short credit histories. The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is the perfect financial tool for your wallet because it provides low-cost access to credit, with the ability to improve your credit score with responsible behavior. Your web browser (Internet Explorer) is out of date and no longer supported. Instead, get a rewards card for everyday expenses that you can pay in full within a billing period, a card offering 0% on purchases for big-ticket spending or a 0% balance transfer card for reducing the cost of existing debt. Instead, it assesses your creditworthiness based on your income, expenses, savings and debts. But you can achieve that effect with a collection of cards that each excel in a particular area. $39. A credit score in or above the recommended range means you have a higher chance of approval, but doesnt guarantee it. Using multiple credit cards for the wrong reasons, however, can get you into big trouble. APR for cash advances: 34.49% variable based on Prime Rate. Once youve zeroed in on a credit card for fair or average credit, make sure you understand any fees it might charge: annual fees, balance transfer fees, foreign transaction fees, late-payment fees, etc. That's not an issue if you pay in full every month, but look elsewhere if you expect to carry debt from month to month. And while your initial credit limit may be lower than you'd like, you can earn quick credit limit increases with consecutive on-time payments. NerdWallet strives to keep its information accurate and up to date. You can see and track your credit score for free through NerdWallet. Some rewards-earning options are listed above. Well give you a personalized card recommendation based on your latest credit score and financial priorities. Its always a good idea to shop around before picking out an unsecured credit card for fair credit. Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as few as 7 months. Please download one of these up-to-date, free and excellent browsers: Enter your cell phone number and well send you a link to install the WalletHub app. Fair credit wont qualify you for too many of the 0% APR deals offered by a lot of credit cards these days. The 1.5% rewards rate is on par with that offered by many cards for good or excellent credit. The Petal 1 "No Annual Fee" Visa Credit Card is a worthy contender for your wallet as you continue building credit. Reviews show typical fair-credit applicants for the cards below start with a limit between $300 and $750, but see an increase after regular payments. If youre more than 30 days late, it can start to affect your credit scores. The scoring formula takes into account the type of card being reviewed (such as cash back, travel or balance transfer) and the card's rates, fees, rewards and other features. So pay your bill on time every month, dont max out your spending limit and track your credit scores progress over time to see when youre ready for an upgrade. Quick Summary. Discover it Student Cash Back: Best feature: Student rewards. A hallmark of cards for fair credit is high interest rates. 11 things you should know before getting your first credit card, How to choose a credit card for fair credit. 1. There's a $39 annual fee. . Some offer rewards, perks, upgrade paths and even 0% introductory APR periods. 1. Who Should Get It:Apply for the Petal 2 Visa Card if you have limited to fair credit, plan to pay the bill on time and in full every month, and expect to keep the account open for more than a year. It typically means your credit scores fall in the range of 630-689 on a, Credit scores indicate your level of risk to potential lenders and are based on. (For example, if you have a $500 credit limit and a $200 balance, then your credit utilization is 40%.) The Capital One Platinum Credit Card doesn't offer rewards, as several other cards in the fair-credit category do, but for those looking to strengthen their credit, it's a simple, solid $0-annual-fee option with an incentive for responsible behavior. What We Dont Like:There is a $39 annual fee, and paying the cards bill in full every month is essential, given its high APR. When comparing credit cards for fair credit, look for some or all of these features: Reports to the major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax and TransUnion are the three major bureaus that compile the credit reports that inform your credit scores. If your credit is at least fair, you can find cards that charge no annual fee at all. It's possible to find some credit cards that offer decent ongoing rewards on common purchases instead of only with select merchants. Instantly access 50% of your credit while your card ships to you. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you're all set. 5. You can opt-out of sharing your personal info here. is a great option for people who aren't sure whether their credit is good enough to qualify for a rewards card. That's pretty good for a student card. What's the difference between fair and average credit? Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of an issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by an issuer. Doing so also avoids costly late fees. You can be automatically considered for a higher credit limit in as little as six months. You'll earn bonus cash back at restaurants and gas stations with no activation required and no rotating categories to keep track of. Ratings vary by category, and the same card may receive a certain number of stars in one category and a higher or lower number in another. What to avoid with credit cards for fair credit. The best credit cards for fair credit are ones that you may qualify for with a FICO score of 580 to 689. WalletHub makes it easy to find the best credit cards for fair credit. And unlike some other cash-back cards, it doesn't allow you to boost your rewards earnings with bonus categories. So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. so the list of such products is fairly short, and those that do exist lack the big sign-up bonuses you'd get with a card requiring excellent credit. If you're crypto-crazy, or just crypto-curious, the $0-annual-fee Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa Credit Card might appeal to you. Numerous credit card applications in a short period of time can hurt your credit score, and having too many credit cards can lead to overspending, expensive interest charges, missed payments and credit score damage. New Credit Users. This card for people with fair or "average" credit pays the same cash-back rate as the regular Quicksilver card, which targets people with excellent credit. But it also earns rewards, gives you a tool to monitor your credit profile, and offers the possibility of a higher credit line after making your first five monthly on-time payments. Other credit cards may also allow you to change the minimum payment due date to one that better aligns with a direct deposit. Top credit cards for fair credit in Canada Compare credit cards for fair credit by category Top regular rate cashback card: Neo Financial Mastercard Credit recommended (600-) Apply now on Neo Financial's secure site 600 Min. In this case, we have chosen five of the best credit cards for fair credit so that you will be able to choose the correct card for your personal finances. Furthermore, fair credit is far from a life sentence. Many fees are avoidable, especially if you use the card responsibly. show more To help you find the best deal, WalletHubs editors compared all of the credit cards for fair credit in our database of 1,500+ credit card offers. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards. The issuer's prequalification process lets you see the offer you're eligible for before you actually apply. If you're crypto-crazy, or just crypto-curious, the. . If you can find a card that pays rewards while also providing a steppingstone from average credit to good or excellent credit, its a win-win. If eligible, we'll create your Cash Score instead. The terms "fair credit" and "average credit" are used more or less interchangeably within the credit cards industry to describe scores in the middle ground between good credit and bad credit. Zero fraud liability (which offers protection against unauthorized purchases). We're sorry, but after searching our extensive database, we were unable to locate any credit cards that match the following criteria: {{tag.tag}}{{$last ? '' Some even give rewards of 1% or more. Journey Student Rewards from Capital One. See if you're approved in seconds Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this It's possible to find some credit cards that offer decent ongoing rewards on common purchases instead of only with select merchants. Credit cards 101: Understanding the basics, How a credit card helps you improve fair credit, to good or excellent credit when you use them responsibly. The lower your utilization, the better; is a good benchmark. But it also earns rewards, gives you a tool to monitor your credit profile, and offers the possibility of a higher credit line after making your first five monthly on-time payments. What We Dont Like:If you dont have an active college email address, you may have a tough time qualifying. If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. doesn't offer rewards, as several other cards in the fair-credit category do, but for those looking to strengthen their credit, it's a simple, solid. You might qualify for less or no cash back at all. Generally speaking, a FICO score that's considered "fair" will fall between . Credit Score Requirements: Poor 500-599. Fair 600-699. The second-largest factor in your scores, credit utilization is the amount you owe as a percentage of your available credit. Paul Soucy Feb 27, 2023. Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. The issuer's prequalification process lets you see the offer you're eligible for which could be up to 1.5% cash back before you actually apply. If you've already built good credit, you can probably score a card with higher rewards than this card offers. Many major issuers offer free access to your scores, available once you sign in to your account, along with other budgeting and education tools. With a product change, youre not applying for a new account; youre seeking an upgrade to the one youve already got. NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. What We Dont Like:Youll have to pay the bill in full every month, which limits the cards value for some business owners. if the card offers enough rewards and benefits to outstrip the cost of carrying it. You can then choose up to four cards and get a side-by-side comparison to make the best pick for your needs to get a credit card with fair credit. The underlying data is compiled from credit card company websites or provided directly by the credit card issuers.