Alternatives to Consider:There are several really good credit cards for students available right now. Debit cards allow you to spend money by drawing on funds you have deposited at the bank. So how do we make money? These cards have annual fees as low as $0 and report monthly to the 3 major credit bureaus. The overall goal in comparing credit card offers for fair credit is to find the card that will maximize your savings, and WalletHub's selections were made with that in mind. Youll also usually keep the same account, often with the same card number, so theres no loss of credit history length. Why We Like It:The Capital One Platinum Credit Cardhas a $0 annual fee. 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. Depending on which offer you qualify for, you could get as much as 1.5% cash back on purchases. (For example, if you have a $500 credit limit and a $200 balance, then your credit utilization is 40%.) 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. With the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, youll have the potential to gain access to a higher credit line. A single "hard pull" can cause a temporary dip in your scores, but if you're continually applying for the wrong cards and being rejected, the damage can be much worse. 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. Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: Get a . Many fees are avoidable, especially if you use the card responsibly. People with fair credit are riskier applicants; and because of this higher risk, you might receive a credit card with a lower limit. You may qualify for better terms with a traditional personal loan, depending on your financial situation. The key difference is that this version charges an annual fee while the regular one does not. This may influence which products we review and write about (and where those products appear on the site), but it in no way affects our recommendations or advice, which are grounded in thousands of hours of research. Standard message rates apply. A credit score in or above the recommended range means you have a higher chance of approval, but doesnt guarantee it. Journey Student Rewards from Capital One gives you 1% cash back on all your purchases, plus 0.25% back when you make your monthly payment on time, for a total of 1.25% cash back. Still not sure which credit card is best for building credit? Quick Summary. , making it a good option for someone with average credit. Plus, the ongoing APR is on the high end at. 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. Best unsecured cards for short credit histories. You earn cash back on every purchase, but when you pay your bill on time, the cash-back rate for that month gets a boost. The higher your credit score on either model's scale, the more creditworthy you may appear to potential lenders. $0. And unlike some other cash-back cards, it doesn't allow you to boost your rewards earnings with bonus categories. Its free, activate with the mobile app. What We Dont Like:If you dont have an active college email address, you may have a tough time qualifying. annual fee. If you still arent approved, it may be a sign you need to work on your credit scores before applying again. Terms apply, Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. is a cross between a credit card and a personal loan, and it can offer the best of both worlds: flexibility, but with predictable terms from month to month. But if you've got fair credit and you need a card you can use to build credit without paying an annual fee, it's definitely worth a look. , or a sign-up bonus or a 0% period. Each card was scored using WalletHubs proprietary 100-point credit card rating system, and you can check out the top options in a handful of popular categories below (some cards are from WalletHub partners). Earn 1% cash back on all your purchases. That's a big reason why the term "fair credit" is often used to describe scores in the middle ground between bad and good. The underlying data is compiled from credit card company websites or provided directly by the credit card issuers. Factors in our evaluation include annual and other fees, interest rates, whether a card offers upgrade options, the availability of free credit scores and other credit education and tools, reporting to credit bureaus, and other noteworthy features such as a rewards program. There's a quick pre-qualification process with no impact to your credit score, modest interest rate and an annual fee of $35 - $99. earns rewards on par with cards for good or excellent credit. You can choose your own due date, which lets you schedule payment for the time of the month that best suits your cash flow. And unlike many of those cards, any unpaid balance is automatically converted into an installment loan with a fixed monthly payment. We encourage everyone to share their knowledge while respecting our, Answer provided by user: {{ans.user_fullname}}. 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. You may be hit with an annual fee, a lower credit limit or higher interest rates, but some . From huge sign-up bonuses to generous rewards, NerdWallet's best credit cards outshine the rest. Finally, if you want to make things really easy, just sign up for a free WalletHub account. The lower your utilization, the better; is a good benchmark. Payment history is the single biggest factor in your credit score, so it's essential to pay your bill on time every month. You can be automatically considered for a higher credit limit in as little as six months. Perhaps most importantly, though, this card will consider applicants with limited-to-fair credit history. The card is well-suited to travel with no foreign transaction fees and the globally accepted Visa network. We did not select any cards with especially low regular APRs because we recommend paying your monthly credit card bills in full when you have fair credit. As of this writing, the card is unavailable to residents of Iowa, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Washington, D.C. Why this is one of the best credit cards for fair credit: When you pay this card on time, you can boost your cash back earnings. Cardholders earn 1% back until they pay the accounts bill on time for six consecutive months, which boosts the earn rate to 1.25% cash back. If you plan to travel internationally, make sure you have a backup plan. Annual fees are the most prominent type of fee to watch out for, but theyre not alone. OK92033) Property & Casualty Licenses, NerdWallet | 55 Hawthorne St. - 11th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105, Best Credit Cards for Fair or Average Credit of March 2023. Our pick for: Cash back with select merchants, Our pick for: Prequalification + up to 1.5% cash back, Our pick for: Help for 'less than perfect credit', Our pick for: College students and young adults. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a page. What to avoid with credit cards for fair credit. 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. APR for cash advances: 34.49% variable based on Prime Rate. Credit One Bank Platinum Visa for Rebuilding Credit, Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card, Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card for Students. That is the low end of a range from 17.49% to 31.49% (V), however, so it might be optimistic to assume youll get a rate that low. INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match only from Discover. Instead, it assesses your creditworthiness based on your income, expenses, savings and debts. No Credit Check. At WalletHub we try to present a wide array of offers, but our offers do not represent all financial services companies or products. That's pretty good for a student card. Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for flat-rate rewards The Capital One QuicksilverOne card gives people with fair credit the chance to earn 5 percent cash back. That's because this entry-level card doesn't charge an annual fee or foreign transaction fees. 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. Using multiple credit cards for the wrong reasons, however, can get you into big trouble. When you have fair credit, getting the right credit card can be a key step to building a good or excellent credit score. Youll also usually keep the same account, often with the same card number, so theres no loss of credit history length. You can choose your own due date, which lets you schedule payment for the time of the month that best suits your cash flow. Read our review. The card also lets you see what terms you'd qualify for before officially applying. shines with its no-maintenance rewards structure and student-friendly bonus categories. What one issuer might see as a score on the low end of the fair credit range, another might consider bad credit. Advertising may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). What We Dont Like:Youll have to pay the bill in full every month, which limits the cards value for some business owners. There are no rewards. Journey Student Rewards from Capital One. Do any issuers have a particularly good/bad reputation for offering decent fair-credit credit cards. Paying in full every month also helps keep utilization in check. You would need to spend $2,600 per year on the card to make that back (not including any 5% travel categories). These are only guidelines to help you narrow your selection, and additional factors from your application and credit history will also be considered. If you do make a late payment, the card doesn't impose a penalty APR. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you. NerdWallet's ratings are determined by our editorial team. . Bankrate's experts compare hundreds of top credit cards and credit card offers to select the best in cash back, rewards, travel, business, 0% APR, balance transfer and more. Alternatives to Consider:The Capital One Platinum Credit Card and the Petal 2 Visa Credit Card are both great options to consider. For 0% cards, it means seeing what monthly debt payments you can comfortably afford to make, how large of a balance you will therefore have remaining at the end of each cards 0% intro term, and what interest charges you would incur thereafter. Earn unlimited 1.5% back in bitcoin rewards after you make payments on your purchases. Some rewards-earning options are listed above. Before applying, confirm details on the issuers website. What are some low interest credit cards for fair credit? The annual fee is $0. The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a solid ongoing rewards rate: You earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on purchases. No credit score? But you should be careful with deferred interest deals if you dont pay the full amount by the time the deferred interest period is over, youll owe your balance plus all the interest you would have accrued since you made the purchase. Or you can plan to request a. from your issuer on your own eventually. 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 17.49% - 26.49% applies. And unlike some other cash-back cards, it doesn't allow you to boost your rewards earnings with bonus categories. -annual-fee option with an incentive for responsible behavior. The lower your utilization, the better; 30% or below is a good benchmark. Unlike other sites that only promote cards they're paid by, WalletHub's editors focus on finding the best cards. Recent credit applications. Credit cards for fair credit, sometimes called "average" credit, are aimed at those in the 630-689 FICO score range. 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. And there's no annual fee, late fees or foreign transaction fees. Its lighter on the fees than some unsecured credit cards for less-than-perfect credit and it offers rewards. (If you go through with applying, then there's a hard check.) You want your scores to go up, not down. Click through to Discovers website to see terms and conditions. Some even give rewards of 1% or more. Dont pay late: Make at least the minimum payment, and do so on time each month. If your credit is at least fair, you can find cards that charge no annual fee at all. There's a $39 annual fee. Fair credit, also referred to as "average" credit, is a step up from bad credit but a notch below good credit. Pre-qualified offers are not binding. So its a great way to save money as you build credit, which should be your top priority until you have a good credit score. Approval Odds are not meant to imply or guarantee that you will be approved by the lender or that credit will be extended. if the card offers enough rewards and benefits to outstrip the cost of carrying it. Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum Credit Card *. Who Should Get It: Apply for the Capital One Platinum Credit Cardif you want an inexpensive starter card to build credit with. You might qualify for less or no cash back at all. Best Low Interest Credit Cards for Fair Credit. All financial products, shopping products and services are presented without warranty. You can check out WalletHub to get custom credit improvement advice to help you along the way. Youll also have the opportunity to earn some attractive initial bonuses. Ideally, youll have both installment loans (loans that require a specific number of equal payments, like a mortgage or auto loan), as well as revolving accounts (where the balance goes up and down, like with credit cards). You don't have to be a student to apply for the. The Petal 2 Visa Credit Card is one of the best credit cards for people with fair credit, or even limited credit. Even small business owners with limited credit history can get Capital One Spark Classic, so applicants with fair/average credit should have solid approval odds. Plus, Discover says there's no FICO history requirement for this card. WalletHub makes it easy to find the easiest credit cards to get. At that point, youll probably have a good sense of why you were rejected. Factors in our evaluation include annual and other fees, interest rates, whether a card offers upgrade options, the availability of free credit scores and other credit education and tools, reporting to credit bureaus, and other noteworthy features such as a rewards program. 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. Make at least the minimum payment, and do so on time each month. Approval Odds are WalletHub estimates intended to gauge your likelihood of approval for a particular product. The prequalification process allows you to check your offer without any effect on your credit score. It's possible to find some credit cards that offer decent ongoing rewards on common purchases instead of only with select merchants. Credit scoring formulas tend to reward people who show that they can handle different kinds of credit. Zero fraud liability (which offers protection against unauthorized purchases). You would need to spend $2,600 per year on the card to make that back (not including any 5% travel categories). Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, Petal 1 "No Annual Fee" Visa Credit Card, Best for Cash back earned with select merchants, on Discover's website, or call 800-347-0264, Best for College students and young adults, Best for Prequalification + up to 1.5% cash back, Best for Help for 'less than perfect credit', Upgrade Bitcoin Rewards Visa Credit Card. And after paying on time for 12 straight months, the rewards rate increases to 1.5% back across the board. : ', '}}. This card offers at least 1% cash back on all eligible purchases, up to 1.25% back after 6 months of on-time payments, and 1.5% cash back after 12 consecutive months of paying on time. If you like what you see, you can apply, at which point there will be a "hard" credit pull. NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best credit cards for fair or average credit based on overall value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as suitability for specific kinds of consumers. In addition, it is not the financial institutions responsibility to ensure all posts and questions are answered.show more show less. It's possible to find some credit cards that offer decent ongoing rewards on common purchases instead of only with select merchants. gives newcomers to credit a powerful incentive to develop responsible habits. News Summary: If your credit score is in the average or fair range of 580 to 669, these credit cards are among the best and some even offer rewards and benefits. An average credit score wont be enough to qualify for some cards, and a rejection letter can hurt more than just your feelings. If you feel you have a case, you can contact the issuer and. One the VantageScore scale developed by the credit bureaus, the average score in 2022 was 698. This information may be different than what you see when you visit a financial institution, service provider or specific products site. The Navy Federal Credit Union Platinum Credit Card is a balance transfer card where applicants with fair credit have a better chance of qualifying. Mobile app to access your account anytime, anywhere. Unlike other sites that only promote cards they're paid by, WalletHub's editors focus on finding the best cards. Credit cards for fair credit are credit cards for people with credit scores from 640 to 699 who are building credit from scratch or rebuilding their credit after mistakes. The issuer automatically reviews your account for potential credit line increases. 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. doesn't offer rewards, and it charges an annual fee, but the issuer goes out of its way to encourage people with "less than perfect credit" to apply. And if you're approved, you can begin using your credit line immediately no need to wait for the physical card. Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Many major issuers offer free access to your scores, available once you sign in to your account, along with other budgeting and education tools. If you are charged interest, the charge will be no less than $0.50. His work has been featured by major media outlets such as The Washington Post and The New York Times and has been cited by industry regulators such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Approval Odds are based on WalletHub data and are not provided or endorsed by the lender. Keep in mind, also, that credit scores are not the only thing that credit card issuers and other lenders look at when evaluating a credit application. This reporting affects key elements of your scores: Payment history is the single biggest factor in your credit score, so it's essential to pay your bill on time every month. Using these cards responsibly helps you improve your credit score, so you can then look for cards with better perks. Doing so also avoids costly late fees. Just a dollar-for-dollar match. 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. Ideally, you wont be stuck in the fair credit score range forever, so look for a card that offers a route to improved terms. The Capital One Platinum Credit Cardis the best credit card for fair credit overall. Avianca LifeMiles: Receive 20% more miles when you transfer your Citi ThankYou Points to Avianca LifeMiles. Here's why: Capital One advertises that this card is intended for people with fair credit, which can help make the application process less stressful if you have less-than-perfect credit. The average adult has around 5 credit cards, including store credit cards, but theres no golden rule for how many credit cards you should have - or how many credit cards is too many. Petal 1 Visa Credit Card. Great for large purchases with predictable payments you can budget for. If eligible, we'll create your Cash Score instead. Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as few as 7 months. An average credit score wont be enough to qualify for some cards, and a rejection letter can hurt more than just your feelings. Depending on which offer you qualify for, you could get as much as 1.5% cash back on purchases. There's an annual fee, although you can avoid it in the first year by signing up for autopay before your first statement is issued. No security deposit required get started today! Why We Like It:QuicksilverOne offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases nearly 50% more than the average cash rewards card provides. The best cards from this segment include options that let you earn rewards/cash back and ones that do away with annual fees. (Unlike with Discover's other student card, you don't have to "activate" your bonus rewards.) 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; If you find discrepancies with your credit score or information from your credit report, please contact TransUnion directly. If you're crypto-crazy, or just crypto-curious, the. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of an issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by an issuer. Read our review. (The typical, runs from 300 at the low end to a maximum of 850.). Capital One . Pay with your phone or device by using Apple Pay or Google Pay. Best Travel Card for Fair Credit The Platinum Credit Card from Capital One can help pave your way to better vacations. When you pay in full, you don't get. The 1.5% rewards rate is on par with that offered by many cards for good or excellent credit. That's important to keep in mind as you work to build a positive credit history, especially if you carry a balance. WalletHub actively maintains a database of 1,500+ credit card offers, from which we select the best credit cards for fair credit for different applicants as well as derive market-wide takeaways and trends. 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. There are good credit cards designed for people with fair credit, but you're unlikely to get approved for the best credit cards until you can improve your credit. 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. Before submitting an application, always verify all terms and conditions with the offering institution. Some offer rewards, perks, upgrade paths and even 0% introductory APR periods. It can help you build credit since payments are reported to all three major credit bureaus: TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. See if you're pre-approved within minutes without impacting your credit score. And the card doesn't charge foreign transaction fees. Credit utilization. The fee is. Discover it Student Chrome The Discover it Student Chrome is one of the best credit card options available for fair credit students. Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, Capital One SavorOne Student Cash Rewards Credit Card, First Tech Choice Rewards World Mastercard, Milestone Mastercard - Less Than Perfect Credit Considered, {{(bank.reviews == 1) ? Conversely, a higher score that one issuer still sees as fair credit might qualify as good credit to a different issuer. By clicking "Accept All", you consent to our use of cookies. We also leverage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to develop cardholder profiles, used to estimate cards potential savings. Roughly 13.5% of people have fair credit, according to WalletHub data. If you have lousy credit and are looking for a way to build it back; the Milestone Mastercard is a strong option. Try to put everything into dollar terms. Why We Like It : QuicksilverOne offers 1.5% cash back on all purchases - nearly 50% more than the average cash rewards card provides. 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. and cards for fair credit tend to have high interest rates. You can get the Discover it Secured Credit Card with a bad credit score (below 640). With the, , youll have the potential to gain access to a higher credit line. (If you go through with applying, then there's a hard check.) Our partners compensate us. Issued by Coastal Community Bank, Member FDIC pursuant to a license by Mastercard International. Therefore, you typically dont have to worry about a hard pull on your credit report. 1. . OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card. If you like what you see, you can apply, at which point there will be a "hard" credit pull. Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud liability. Some Discover offers listed here are not currently available on WalletHub and may be out of date. OpenSky Secured Visa Credit Card. Combine the flexibility of a credit card with the predictability of a personal loan. You'll earn bonus cash back at restaurants and gas stations with no activation required and no rotating categories to keep track of. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you're all set.