Best Credit Cards for Fair Credit

• Our picks
• How we picked the best credit cards for fair credit
• Sources
• Beginner’s guide to credit cards for fair credit
• About the author
• User questions & answers
• Expert opinions

Best Credit Cards for Fair Credit Comparison

Now that you’re familiar with the best credit cards for fair credit on the market right now, it’s time to pick one. Below, you can check out some pointers for comparing credit card offers for fair credit that will help you select the right card for your particular needs.
 

Picks by Credit Score

• Best credit cards for 640 credit score
• Best credit cards for 650 credit score
• Best credit cards for 660 credit score
• Best credit cards for 670 credit score
• Best credit cards for 680 credit score
• Best credit cards for 690 credit score

 

Methodology for Selecting the Best Credit Cards for Fair Credit

To identify the best credit cards for people with fair credit, WalletHub’s editors regularly compare 1,500+ credit card offers based on their approval requirements, fees, rewards, initial bonus, interest rates, and other WalletHub Rating components. 

We start by identifying the cards with the lowest annual fees, preferably $0 per year, as it is best to keep costs low while building credit. We then identify the cards with the best rewards, using low APRs as a tiebreaker, because people working to build credit should strive to pay their credit card bill in full every month. Finally, the cards with the lowest two-year cost are selected.

How Two-Year Cost Is Calculated

Two-year cost is used to approximate the monetary value of cards for better comparison and is calculated by combining annual and monthly membership fees over two years, adding any one-time fees or other fees (like balance transfer fees), adding any interest costs, and subtracting rewards. Negative amounts indicate savings. When fees or other terms are presented as a range, we use the midpoint for scoring purposes.

Rewards bonuses and credits have been taken into account for two-year cost calculations. However, bonuses applicable to only a very small portion of cardholders are not considered. For example, credits and bonuses awarded for spending or redeeming rewards through a company portal with non-co-branded cards have not been taken into account. Similarly, bonuses and credits related to spending with specific merchants using a non-co-branded card have not been taken into account (for example, if Card A offers credits with DoorDash, this feature would not be factored into calculations because it is hard to assess how many cardholders would use the benefit or exactly how much value they'd get from it).


Cardholder Spending Profiles

Given that different users have different goals and are likely to use their credit cards differently, we identified spending profiles that are representative of different users’ financial priorities and behaviors. For each cardholder type, we have assumed a specific amount of monthly spending by purchase type (e.g., groceries, gas, etc.), as well as an average balance, balance transfer amount, amount spent on large purchases and average monthly payment. Spending assumptions are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for consumers and PEX data for businesses.

 

Sources

WalletHub actively maintains a database of 1,500+ credit card offers, from which we select the best credit cards for different applicants as well as derive market-wide takeaways and trends. The underlying data is compiled from credit card company websites or provided directly by the credit card issuers. We also leverage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to develop cardholder profiles, used to estimate cards’ potential savings.

Beginner’s Guide to Credit Cards for Fair Credit

 

What Is Considered Fair or Average Credit?

Fair or average credit is a credit score of 640 to 699, though some people skew the range a bit lower. You could also make the case that a credit score in the low 700s is average, as the average American’s score is around 700.

You can see whether you have fair/average credit by checking your credit score for free right here on WalletHub. You can also learn more about this credit score tier from our guide to fair credit. 

How a Credit Card Helps You Improve Fair Credit

A credit card can help you improve fair credit by adding positive information to your credit reports on a monthly basis. This information can help cover up past mistakes and build a track record of financial responsibility in your name. Positive results are not guaranteed, however.

For your credit score to benefit, you need to use your credit card responsibly and keep your account in good standing. Most importantly, that means you need to pay your bill on time when you have a balance due. You should also keep your balance well below your spending limit. If you do both, either by making purchases and paying them off or by simply keeping your account open with no balance, you should see your credit score rise over time.

You can keep track of your progress with free credit score updates right here on WalletHub. You’ll also get customized credit improvement advice and access to our credit score simulator tool with your free account.

How to Get a Credit Card With Fair Credit

You can get a credit card with a fair or "average" credit score range of 640-699 if you choose the right card and have enough income to pay the monthly bills. The process of getting a credit card with fair credit is no different than getting any other credit card, and you can apply online, by phone or in person. You can apply online, by phone or in person, depending on the card, and applying online tends to be fastest.

You just need to fill out the application with some basic personal and financial information, including your Social Security number and annual income. Once you submit the application, you should receive a decision almost instantly. If you’re not approved or denied right away, the issuer may need a few days to confirm some information from your application. 

If you are approved, your new credit card should arrive within 7-10 business days. In some cases, you will be able to request expedited delivery or get a card number to use before your physical card arrives.

Learn more about how to get a credit card.

Secured vs. Unsecured Credit Cards for Fair or Average Credit

Unsecured credit cards are better for people with fair credit than secured cards in most cases. People with fair credit should be able to get approved for a $0 annual fee credit card without placing a security deposit.

On the other hand, secured cards are better for people with limited or bad credit who may have a tougher time qualifying for an inexpensive unsecured card.

Learn more about how secured and unsecured credit cards compare.

 

Tips for Finding the Best Credit Cards for Fair Credit

 

1. Avoid annual fees

   Annual fees are the most prominent type of fee to watch out for, but they’re not alone. For example, you might need to consider one-time fees for application processing or transferring a balance, depending on what type of card you’re looking for and how you plan to use it. Your goal should be to minimize the fees that are likely to apply to your usage habits and ignore those that aren’t.

2. Choose between rewards and 0% rates

   Making this decision early will help make your search more manageable, by cutting your options in half, in addition to helping you get better terms. No single credit card has the best rewards and the best rates, which means you shouldn’t try to use one for both everyday purchases and carrying a balance. 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. And if you have more than one need, you can get multiple cards and use the Island Approach.

3. Double-check your credit score

   There is a fine line between “fair” credit and “good” credit. In fact, only 40 credit-score points separates the two tiers (fair credit means a credit score of 620 to 659, while good credit is 660 to 719). So if you haven’t checked your credit score in a while, make sure to do so before applying. You might be able to get a better card than you think.

4. Pay on time & prep for an upgrade

   Credit scores can fluctuate by 100 points in a single month, so graduating to a higher credit level doesn’t have to take too long. And that’s great news, considering the best credit card deals require good or excellent credit for approval. So pay your bill on time every month, don’t max out your spending limit and track your credit score’s progress over time to see when you’re ready for an upgrade.

5. Crunch the numbers

   Try to put everything into dollar terms. For rewards cards, that means applying each card’s earnings rates to your actual spending habits in order to determine how much you’re likely to earn over your expected usage timeframe. 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 card’s 0% intro term, and what interest charges you would incur thereafter.
    

Mistakes to Avoid With Credit Cards for Fair Credit

Two of the biggest mistakes to avoid with credit cards for fair credit are choosing a card that doesn’t save you enough money and not paying your bill by the due date every month. You should pay your bill in full every month to avoid expensive interest charges.

Choosing the Wrong Card

The best credit cards for fair credit have $0 annual fees and give you 1.5% to 5% back on purchases. Picking a card that charges an expensive fee and doesn’t give much in return is a lost opportunity.

Not Paying the Bill On Time

Your payment history impacts your credit score more than anything else. Paying on time every month is the most dependable way to graduate from fair credit to good credit, while missing due dates is a surefire way to get a bad credit score. We recommend setting up automatic monthly payments from a bank account to ensure you don’t get penalized due to forgetfulness.

Overspending and Paying Interest

Credit cards for people with fair credit typically have very high interest rates. In fact, the average credit card offer for fair credit has an APR of 26.59%. If you carry a balance from month to month, you are unlikely to save money overall.

Plus, you don’t want to get bogged down with debt, especially at this point in your credit career. Once you build a good or excellent credit score, you’ll be able to qualify for some of the best 0% credit cards for more cost-effective financing.

Learn more about the biggest credit card mistakes to avoid.