Best Credit Cards for Fair/Average Credit in December 2024

Having a fair credit score may not sound that bad, but in the world of credit, it’s definitely undesirable. Fair credit scores (FICO scores between 580–669) are on the low end of the credit scale, and discount you from qualifying for the majority of credit cards. However, there’s still hope.

The best way to get your credit score up to the good range and start qualifying for better cards, is to get a credit card for fair credit and use it responsibly. Luckily, there are some decent credit cards available to those with fair or average credit—and we’ve found the best ones.

Best credit cards for fair credit

Here are the top credit cards you can get if you have fair credit.

Best overall credit card for fair credit

Best credit card for fair credit with high credit limits

Best unsecured credit card for fair credit

Best travel credit card for fair credit

Best fair-credit card for building credit

Best student credit card for fair credit

What is fair credit?

Fair credit is a FICO credit score between 580–669 or a VantageScore between 601–660. While fair credit is also sometimes referred to as average credit, fair credit is actually below the mean American credit score, and is considered subprime.

Being in the subprime credit range means you’ll have a harder time qualifying for lines of credit (including loans and credit cards) and likely be offered less favorable borrowing terms (like higher interest rates).

What credit cards can I get with fair credit?

With a fair credit score you can qualify for the following types of credit cards:

• Secured credit cards: Secured credit cards require a security deposit that’s usually equal to the credit limit. The deposit acts as collateral, so secured cards are easier to get if you have bad or fair credit.
• Unsecured credit cards: If you don’t want to pay a security deposit, you can still qualify for unsecured cards with fair credit (or even bad credit in some cases). Unsecured cards may not require money upfront, but they often come with an annual fee when they’re for borrowers with fair credit.

How do I choose a credit card for fair credit?

To choose the right fair-credit credit card for you, consider the following questions:

• Do you want a secured or unsecured card?
• Are you willing to pay an annual fee?
• Do you want cashback rewards?
• How much credit do you need?
• Are you going to regularly carry a balance?
• Do you want the option to upgrade to a better credit card in time?

How you answer these questions and which ones hold priority for you will help you limit your search based on fees, interest rates, and borrowing benefits.