What credit cards are available to people with fair credit
Fair credit typically means a score between 580 and 669, depending on the scoring model. At this range, you will not be turned down automatically, but you will not see the lowest interest rates or best rewards either. Most major card issuers — Discover, Capital One, Chase, Citi, American Express — offer cards specifically designed for people rebuilding credit or with limited credit history.
These cards usually come with a higher interest rate (often 18% to 29% APR), an annual fee of $0 to $99, and lower credit limits ($300 to $2,500 to start). The trade-off is that they report to all three credit bureaus, so on-time payments will raise your score over time. Some cards offer no annual fee, which matters if you plan to carry a balance; others waive the fee for the first year.
You can also look at secured cards, which require a cash deposit that becomes your credit limit. These are not the same as prepaid cards — the deposit sits in a bank account while you use a real credit card that reports to bureaus. Secured cards are useful if your score is lower or if you have been denied for unsecured cards.
Key Takeaways
- Fair credit cards carry higher interest rates and annual fees than premium cards, but they report to credit bureaus and help you build a better score.
- Unsecured cards for fair credit typically offer credit limits between $300 and $2,500 and APRs between 18% and 29%.
- Secured cards require a cash deposit but may be easier to get if you have been denied for unsecured cards.
- Comparing cards by annual fee, APR, and whether they offer a path to upgrade to an unsecured card will save you money over time.
Unsecured cards designed for fair credit
Unsecured cards do not require a deposit. Capital One Platinum and Discover it Secured are two of the most common options for people with fair credit. Capital One Platinum has no annual fee, a variable APR, and a $200 starting limit that can increase after five months of on-time payments. Discover it Secured also has no annual fee, offers 1% cash back on all purchases, and reports to all three bureaus.
Chase Freedom Rise and Citi Simplicity are mid-range options that may accept fair credit scores. Chase Freedom Rise has no annual fee and no foreign transaction fees, which helps if you travel. Citi Simplicity has no annual fee and a 0% APR on balance transfers for six months, which is useful if you are moving debt from another card.
American Express offers the Amex EveryDay card, which has no annual fee and earns 1% to 3% cash back depending on where you shop. American Express does a soft pull first, so you can check if you are likely to be approved without a hard inquiry on your credit report.
Secured cards and how they work
A secured card requires you to deposit money into a savings account held by the card issuer. That deposit becomes your credit limit. If you deposit $500, your limit is $500. You then use the card like any other credit card — make purchases, receive a bill, and pay it back. The deposit stays in the account and earns a small amount of interest.
Secured cards report to all three credit bureaus, so they build your credit history the same way unsecured cards do. After 6 to 18 months of on-time payments, many issuers will convert your card to an unsecured card and return your deposit. Capital One Secured, Discover it Secured, and U.S. Bank Secured are the most common options.
The main cost is the deposit itself — you are not paying a fee, but your money is tied up. Some secured cards charge an annual fee on top of that ($0 to $95). If you have $500 available to deposit and want to rebuild credit, a secured card with no annual fee is often the most straightforward path.
How to compare cards and choose the right one
Start by listing the cards you think you might get. For each one, write down the annual fee, the APR (or APR range), the starting credit limit, and whether it offers cash back or other rewards. If you plan to carry a balance, the APR matters most — a 1% difference on a $1,000 balance costs you $10 per year. If you plan to pay in full each month, the annual fee and rewards matter more.
Next, check whether the card reports to all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). Most cards designed for fair credit do, but some do not. Reporting to all three means your payments will reach the widest audience and raise your score faster.
Finally, look at the path to upgrading. Some cards promise to convert to an unsecured card after a set period. Others do not. If you are serious about rebuilding, a card that converts saves you the deposit money later and shows a clear finish line.
What happens when you explore
When you explore for a credit card, the issuer will do a hard inquiry on your credit report. This lowers your score by a few points temporarily. If you are denied, ask why — some issuers will tell you the reason. Common reasons include too many recent inquiries, too much existing debt, or a score just below their threshold.
If you are approved, the card will arrive in 7 to 10 business days. set up it by calling the number on the back or using the issuer's app. Make a small purchase within the first month to show the card is active, then pay the bill in full and on time. This is the fastest way to start raising your score.
If you are denied, wait at least three months before explore again. Each hard inquiry stays on your report for two years but matters less after three months. In the meantime, pay down existing balances and make all payments on time — both of these raise your score without a new card.
Building credit with a fair credit card
Using a fair credit card responsibly means keeping your balance low and paying on time every month. Aim to use no more than 30% of your credit limit — if your limit is $500, keep your balance under $150. This shows lenders you can manage credit without maxing out.
Set up automatic payments for at least the minimum due, or better yet, the full balance. Missing a payment by even one day can trigger a late fee and a higher APR. On-time payments are the single biggest factor in raising your credit score, so this is where your effort matters most.
After 6 to 12 months of on-time payments, your score should rise enough to get a better card. At that point, you can move to a card with lower APR, better rewards, or no annual fee. Keep the old card open even after you stop using it — closing it lowers your available credit and can hurt your score.
Alternatives if you are denied
If you are denied for unsecured cards, a secured card is your next step. Secured cards have much lower approval rates for denial because the deposit covers the issuer's risk. You will need $300 to $2,500 in savings, but this is money you control and can get back.
Another option is a credit-builder loan from a credit union or online lender. You borrow a small amount (usually $500 to $1,000), and the lender holds the money in an account while you make monthly payments. Once you pay it off, you get the money back and have built a payment history. This does not give you a card, but it does raise your score.
You can also ask a family member to add you as an authorized user on their credit card. Their payment history will show up on your report, which can raise your score if they pay on time. This does not require a new process and does not trigger a hard inquiry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will getting a fair credit card hurt my credit score?
The process will trigger a hard inquiry, which lowers your score by a few points for a few months. But once you start making on-time payments, your score will rise faster than it fell. The long-term benefit of building payment history outweighs the short-term dip from the inquiry.
Can I use a fair credit card to pay off other debt?
Yes, but be careful about balance transfers. Some cards offer 0% APR on transfers for a set period, which can save you money if you pay off the balance before the rate goes up. However, balance transfers usually charge a fee (2% to 5% of the amount transferred), so do the math first.
How long does it take to move from fair credit to good credit?
With on-time payments and low balances, you can typically raise your score 50 to 100 points in 6 to 12 months. Moving from fair (580–669) to good (670–739) usually takes 12 to 24 months of consistent behavior. The exact timeline depends on your starting score and credit history.
Should I get a secured card or an unsecured card?
Start with an unsecured card if you can get approved — there is no deposit to tie up. If you are denied for unsecured cards, a secured card is the next step. Both report to bureaus and build credit the same way; the difference is whether you have money available to deposit.
What should I do if my card issuer offers to increase my credit limit?
Accept the increase if it comes without a hard inquiry (a soft pull). A higher limit lowers your credit utilization ratio, which raises your score. However, do not increase your spending just because your limit went up — that defeats the purpose.