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Credit Cards for Fair or Average Credit Scores
A Fair or Average credit score is generally a FICO score in the 580-669 range, while a Good score is 670-739 and an Excellent score is considered anything above 740.
Credit card options for people with Fair credit are similar to those for people with no previous credit history: not so many choices, higher APR’s, limited rewards or bonuses.
On the bright side, having an Average credit rating won't prevent you from getting a credit card (unlike Poor or Bad credit), so you don't have to settle for a prepaid card or a secured card. Prepaid cards don't build your credit history, and secured cards are less convenient and more expensive than unsecured credit cards.
Have a look at our editor's top credit card picks for low to mid 600’s credit scores – travel, gas, business, rewards, cash back and all other types of credit cards for fair credit or average credit.
Jump to the section below:
Our favorite cards:
Best for Air Miles
If you prefer cobranded airline cards to earn miles and get in-flight perks, and your credit score is in fair to good range - you can try one of the easiest American Express cards to get - Gold Delta Sky Miles card.
This card will give you priority boarding, free checked bag, 2 miles on Delta flights and 35,000 miles bonus after spending $1000 on the card in the first 3 months. The annual fee is $0 for the first year, $95 after that.
| regular APR | |
- get 30,000 miles bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
- get $50 statement credit if you make Delta purchase in the first 3 months
- 2x miles on Delta purchases
- 1 mile for $1 on other purchases
excellent required
Gold: $95 annual fee, waived for the first year
Platinum: $195 fee
Reserve: $450 fee
Delta benefits
Another good card for air miles if you have fair credit is Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Premier.
| regular APR | |
- 2x points on Southwest purchases and on Southwest Hotel and car rental programs partners purchases
- get 60,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months
- +6,000 miles every account anniversary
good credit required
$99 annual fee
2x on Southwest purchases
60,000 miles bonus
Best for Cash Back
| regular APR | |
- 5% cashback on quarterly categories ($1,500 quarterly limit, then 1%)
- get $100 bonus after spending $500 on the card in the first 3 months
- get $25 on first added authorized card user
fair credit required
no annual fee
0% intro APR
5% cash back on quarterly categories
$100 intro bonus
Chase Freedom card is available for people with a credit score in the high 600’s. This is a good 5% cash back card with rotating categories.
Another option is the Capital One QuicksilverOne card with 1.5% unlimited cash back on everything and 0% intro APR.
| regular APR | |
- get $100 bonus after spending $500 in the first 3 months
- earn 1.5% cash back on all purchases
excellent / good credit required
no annual fee
1.5% cash back
$100 welcome bonus
Best Balance Transfer Card
| regular APR | |
fair credit required
no annual fee
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
0% BT fee for 60 days
free FICO score
Even with a limited credit you still can get a Chase Slate card that has 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers. Together with a $0 balance transfer fee for the first 60 days, it makes a perfect balance transfer card.
Business Credit Cards for Fair Credit
| regular APR | |
fair credit required
no annual fee
good card for an average credit
1% cash back on all purchases
The Capital One Spark Classic for Business is a good solution for new small business owners. It comes with and easy approval process, 1% cash back, which isn't the greatest, but still a decent reward rate for a fair credit rating.
High Limit Credit Card for Average Credit
There is one trick to get a high credit limit on your credit card even with a limited credit history – apply for a small business card instead of the personal credit card. You will be surprised with high credit limits that are unreachable for you with your fair credit history. A starting limit of $10,000 is a norm for a business credit card when people with low credit rarely get a limit of $1000 on a personal credit card.
The only inconvenience is that you need to register a company and apply for a federal EIN (Employer Identification Number) in order to get a small business credit card. If you have a side income, that is a good excuse to open an LLC for that activity and enjoy high limit business credit card.
Best for Students
Most banks have special credit card products for students with generous rewards and cash back offers.
Students usually do not have a credit history (no credit score) and need to focus on building a good credit for a healthy start of their independent life.
| regular APR | |
- earn 5% cashback on rotating quarterly categories
- 1% cashback on all purchases
- double cashback for first year
- $20 cashback annual bonus if your GPA is 3.0 or greater
no credit required
no annual fee
no credit needed
5% cashback on changing categories
double first year cashback
Discover it for Students is a decent card that offers up to 5% cash back on selected categories according to a quarterly bonus calendar. New cardholders get double cash back for the first year, making this card a 2% flat rate card.
Tips for Building a Solid Score Starting from your Average Credit
Credit cards can be extremely helpful in many ways, but they can also damage a person’s credit if not used responsibly.
It is extremely important to manage a card wisely to eventually reach an excellent credit rating and qualify for better credit card offers in the future.
- While shopping for a credit card, don’t forget that it is important to limit the number of applications you submit, as sending out too many applications can indicate money problems and result in a temporary decrease in your FICO score.
- A rule of thumb is to use no more than 10-30% of your total credit limit available. If you exceed this number in one period – try to post a payment several days before the statement date – it will prevent from showing a large balance on the statement.
- Always pay your bills on time. It is recommended to do it three days in advance to avoid late payment because of technical issues.
The road to better credit can be long and challenging, but your patience and hard work will eventually pay off. A higher credit score will enable you to get better deals on credit cards as better rates on home and auto loans.
All Credit Cards for Fair Credit
| regular APR | |
- 2x points on NFL and Team purchases - tickets, on-stadium purchases, etc.
- 1 point/$1 on all other purchases
- earn 10,000 points after spending $500 in the first 90 days
excellent / good credit required
All 32 team cards are available, customized with your favorite team's colors and logo
Earn 10,000 bonus points after $500 in purchases in the first 90 days, enough to redeem for $100 cash back
20% off purchases at NFLShop.com - that's $20 off every $100 you spend
0% Promotional APR for 6 months on eligible NFL ticket purchases. After that, a variable APR will apply, 15.49%, 20.49% or 25.49%, based on your creditworthiness
Earn 2 points per $1 on NFL or Team purchases - eligible game tickets, in-stadium and team pro shop purchases - and 1 point per $1 on all other purchases
Redeem points for NFL game tickets, VIP experiences, or 1% cash back beginning at 2,500 points for $25
0% Introductory APR for 15 months on Balance Transfers made within 45 days of account opening. After that, a variable APR will apply, 15.49%, 20.49% or 25.49%, based on your creditworthiness. Please note, there is a fee for balance transfers.
| regular APR | |
fair credit required
no annual fee
0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers
0% BT fee for 60 days
free FICO score
| regular APR | |
fair credit / bad credit required
Best for members with average credit.
Make consistent, on-time payments and you could improve your credit rating — sometimes in as little as 12 months.
We'll periodically consider you for an automatic upgrade to a premium credit card based on improved credit and your account history.
Use your card to make purchases worldwide. (Cash advances and balance transfers are not available.)
| regular APR | |
- earn 2% cashback on gas and restaurants with $1,000 quarterly limit in combined purchases
- 1% on all other purchases
good credit / fair credit required
no annual fee
2% on gas and dining out
| regular APR | |
earn 1.5% on all purchases with no cap and limitations
fair credit / no credit required
$39 annual fee
good for average credit/limited credit
1.5% cash back
| regular APR | |
earn tax deductible 1% cash back and automatically send it to the charity of your choice
good credit / fair credit required
- No Annual Fee
- Low APR starting at 10.74%
- World MasterCard benefits
- Earns 1% Cash Back to ANY nonprofit of your choice including K-12 schools, colleges, & religious organizations
- Comes with all of the great benefits of a World MasterCard
- Support up to three nonprofits at once
| regular APR | |
- get 1% cash back on al purchases
fair credit / no credit required
no annual fee
student card
up to 1.25% cash back
| regular APR | |
fair credit required
no annual fee with Costco membership ($55 minimum)
4% on gas, 3% on dining and travel, 2% on Costco purchases, 1% on all purchases
0% APR on purchases for 7 months
| regular APR | |
- 5x points on Marriott or Ritz-Carlton purchases
- 2x points on airlines, rental cars and restaurants purchases
- 1x on everything else
- 80,000 points intro bonus
fair credit required
$85 annual fee, waived for the first year
80,000 sign up bonus
5x points on Marriott
2x points on airlines, rental cars, dining out
| regular APR | |
- earn 2x miles on United purchases
- 1x regular rate on all other purchases
- get 30,000 miles bonus after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months
good credit required
$95 annual fee, waived for the first year
first checked bag free
30,000 miles intro bonus
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