The Best Credit Cards For Average Or Fair Credit Of May 2023

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According to myFICO.com, an average FICO score is any score that falls between 580 to 669 on a 300 to 850 scale. FICO scores below the "fair" range are generally considered "poor," while scores above that range are considered good, very good, or exceptional depending on how high they are.

Having a fair credit score isn't the end of the world, but it does mean you have some room for improvement. It also means you probably won't be able to qualify for the best credit cards and travel credit cards.

Before you pick a credit card, we suggest checking your credit report for free with the major credit bureaus (you can do so every week for free until the end of 2023). This will give you a good idea of where you stand and which credit cards you may be able to qualify for.

If your credit score is indeed in this range, here are some of the top cards for average credit to consider.

We're focused here on the rewards and perks that come with each card. These cards won't be worth it if you're paying interest or late fees. When using a credit card, it's important to pay your balance in full each month, make payments on time, and only spend what you can afford to pay.

The Best Credit Cards for Fair or Average Credit

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

Details

Recommended Credit

Average, Fair and Limited

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

29.99% Variable

Pros & Cons

Automatically be considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months

No annual fee

No extra benefits and no rewards

Highlights

• No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
• Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
• Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
• Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
• Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
• Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
• Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you're all set
• Pay by check, online or at a local branch, all with no fee - and pick the monthly due date that works best for you

Additional Reading

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Rewards

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchase

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Rewards

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchase

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Details

Rewards

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchase

Recommended Credit

Average, Fair and Limited

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

29.99% Variable

Pros & Cons

Earn 5% back on Capital One Travel hotel and car rental bookings and 1.5% on everything else

You're eligible to apply with limited or average credit

You'll automatically be considered for a higher credit line in as little as six months

No welcome bonus

Annual fee

High APR for purchases and balance transfers

Highlights

• Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
• No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account. It's that simple
• Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
• Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
• Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
• Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
• Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options. Terms apply
• Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
• Check out quickly and securely with a contactless card, without touching a terminal or handing your card to a cashier. Just hover your card over a contactless reader, wait for the confirmation, and you're all set

Additional Reading

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Intro offer

Unlimited Cashback Match - only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year

Rewards

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Intro offer

Unlimited Cashback Match - only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year

Rewards

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.

Discover it® Student Cash Back

Details

Rewards

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.

Intro offer

Unlimited Cashback Match - only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year

Recommended Credit

Fair/New to Credit

Recommended credit score. Note that credit card lenders may use many different variations of credit score models when considering your application.

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Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

17.74% - 26.74% Variable

Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

0% intro APR for six months on purchases

Editor's Rating

3.8/5

Our editor's ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available.

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Pros & Cons

From January 1 to March 31, 2023, you can earn 5% cash back at grocery stores, drug stores and select streaming services on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%

Discover matches your cash back after the first year

Not the most rewarding cash-back card for non-bonus purchases

Highlights

• Intro Offer: Unlimited Cashback Match - only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you've earned at the end of your first year! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 into $200. There's no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
• Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases - automatically.
• No credit score required to apply.
• Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It's free, activate with the mobile app.
• No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
• 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 17.74% - 26.74% applies.
• Click through to Discover's website to see terms and conditions.

Additional Reading

Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card

Earn up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments. Earn 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away. Earn 2% - 10% cash back at select merchants.

Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card

Earn up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments. Earn 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away. Earn 2% - 10% cash back at select merchants.

Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card

Details

Rewards

Earn up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments. Earn 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away. Earn 2% - 10% cash back at select merchants.

The Petal 2 Visa Credit Card is issued by WebBank.

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Recommended Credit

No credit and limited credit to Excellent

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

17.74% - 31.74% Variable

Pros & Cons

No fees

Earn 1% cash back on every purchase. Earn 1.25% back after making six on-time payments. Then, earn 1.5% back after making 12 on-time payments on your card

You can build credit with responsible credit use

n/a

Highlights

• No fees whatsoever. No late fee, foreign transaction fee, annual fee, or any-other-kind-of-fee, fee.
• Variable APRs range from 17.74% - 31.74%
• Up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments.
• 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away
• 2% - 10% cash back at select merchants
• $300 - $10,000 credit limits
• No credit score? No problem. If eligible, we'll create your Cash Score instead.
• See if you're pre-approved within minutes without impacting your credit score.
• Build credit alongside hundreds of thousands of Petal card members.
• Petal reports to all 3 major credit bureaus.
• No deposits required
• Card issued by WebBank

Additional Reading

Capital One®️ Spark®️ Classic for Business

Rewards

Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on every purchase with no minimums or expiration date.

Capital One®️ Spark®️ Classic for Business

Rewards

Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on every purchase with no minimums or expiration date.

On Capital One®️'s website

Capital One®️ Spark®️ Classic for Business

On Capital One®️'s website

Details

Rewards

Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on every purchase with no minimums or expiration date.

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

26.99%

Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

26.99%

Pros & Cons

No annual fee

Travel and purchase protection

Some other business cards offer better rewards

No welcome bonus

Highlights

• Unlimited 1% cash back on every purchase for your business
• Free employee cards
• Pick your own monthly due date. Your business has the control to pay when you want
• Get an itemized report of your spending to simplify budgeting and tax time

The Best Credit Cards for Average Credit Scores of 2023

Methodology: How We Chose the Best Credit Cards for Average or Fair Credit

We evaluated credit cards for those with a fair or average credit score by looking at several factors:

• Annual fee — Some credit cards geared to folks with lower credit scores tack on an annual fee. We didn't include any of them here.
• Earning potential — Does the card earn rewards, and if so, are there bonus categories or a competitive rewards rate?
• Ease of use — Are there hoops to jump through or restrictions to be aware of, and is the card's rewards program easy to navigate?
• Options for various types of consumers — We selected a variety of cards that appeal to different types of users, from students and those new to credit to folks who want to earn cash back and access additional benefits.

Read more about how we rate credit cards at Insider.

Compare the best cards for fair or average credit

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

29.99% Variable

Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchase

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

29.99% Variable

Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places each quarter like Amazon.com, grocery stores, restaurants, and gas stations, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically.

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

17.74% - 26.74% Variable

Earn up to 1.5% cash back on eligible purchases after making 12 on-time monthly payments. Earn 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away. Earn 2% - 10% cash back at select merchants.

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

17.74% - 31.74% Variable

Earn unlimited 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel. Earn unlimited 1% cash back on every purchase with no minimums or expiration date.

Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

26.99%

Credit Cards for Fair or Average Credit Frequently Asked Questions 

When your credit is just "average," you know you have some work to do. Here are some additional questions and answers that can help you get the most out of your new credit card:

Credit cards can come with an array of fees, ranging from annual fees to application fees, foreign transaction fees, late fees, returned payment fees, and over-the-limit fees. We suggest reading over each card's terms and conditions before you apply so you know which fees you might be required to pay.

Credit card interest is charged on your balance if you do not pay your credit card bill in full each month. To avoid interest on your purchases, charge only what you can afford to pay off each month and pay your bill early or on time.

Currently, American Express doesn't offer a credit card for fair or average credit as most Amex credit cards require you to have at least a good credit score (some as high as excellent credit) to qualify. Fortunately, plenty of other banks (like Discover, Petal, and Capital One) provide cards for folks with limited credit history. 

Best No Annual Fee Credit Card for Fair Credit

Capital One Platinum Credit Card

If you're looking for a basic credit card you can use to build your credit score up, consider the Capital One Platinum Credit Card. This credit card doesn't charge an annual fee or foreign transaction fees, although you may have to start things off with a fairly low credit limit. Fortunately, Capital One promises to consider increasing your credit limit on this card when you make six months of on-time payments in a row.

You won't earn any rewards with this card and there aren't a lot of perks. For the most part, you should consider this card if you want a way to build credit and start building positive credit habits without paying an annual fee.

Capital One Platinum Card Review

Best Cash Back Credit Card for Fair Credit

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

If you have average credit but want to start earning cash back on all your purchases, check out the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card.

This card doesn't offer an initial sign-up bonus, but you do earn a flat 1.5% back for each dollar you spend and 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through the Capital One Travel Portal. There's a $39 annual fee as well, but you won't pay any foreign transaction fees when you use your card for purchases made abroad.

Opening and using credit cards responsibly can improve your credit score as long as you pay your card off on time and in full each month. 

Capital One QuicksilverOne Card review 

Best Credit Card for Students

Discover it® Student Cash Back

If you're a student with average credit and you want to build your credit history while earning cash back on all your purchases, consider the Discover it® Student Cash Back, one of the best credit cards for students. This card doesn't charge an annual fee or foreign transaction fees, yet you can earn rewards for each dollar you spend.

For starters, when you enroll, you'll earn 5% back on up to $1,500 in purchases in Discover's rotating categories that change every quarter (then 1%). You'll also earn 1% back on everything else you buy (from April 1 to June 30, 2023, you can earn 5% cash back at Restaurants and Wholesale Clubs on up to $1,500 in purchases after enrollment, then 1%). For new card members, Discover will match all the rewards you earn at the end of your first year.

Other major benefits include a free look at your FICO score. This card also comes with no late payment fee on your first late payment, and no over-the-limit fees. 

If you're not a student but like what the Discover it® Student Cash Back has to offer, check out the Discover it® Cash Back. It's a solid option for folks with at least good credit looking to build up their credit history while earning cash back. 

Discover it Student Cash Back Card Review

Best Credit Card to Build Credit

Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card

The Petal® 2 "Cash Back, No Fees" Visa® Credit Card (card issued by WebBank) is interesting because it's made for people who need help building or rebuilding their credit and want some perks along the way. This card comes with no annual fee, no late fees, no foreign transaction fees, and no other fees (APRs are a 17.74% - 31.74% Variable). You'll also get access to a handy mobile app that helps you manage your payments and track your credit progress while you build positive money management habits.

This card also ranks highly on our list of the best credit cards for students with no credit.

It's important to point out that you won't be able to see which merchants actually offer bonus rewards to Petal users — or the earning rates — until after you're approved for the card. That makes it difficult for folks to analyze how beneficial the Petal will be for them.

On the rewards side of the equation, you'll earn 1% cash back on eligible purchases right away. After six on-time monthly payments, cash back increases to 1.25% and after 12 on-time monthly payments, cash back grows to 1.5%. Your credit limit can be as high as $10,000, based on your credit profile, so this card can help you build credit while you keep your utilization low.

Petal 2 Visa Credit Card Review

Best Business Credit Card for Fair Credit

Capital One®️ Spark®️ Classic for Business

Finally, don't forget that it's possible to get a credit card for your small business with just "average" credit. The Capital One®️ Spark®️ Classic for Business is a good option because it comes with no annual fee and you'll earn 1% back on everything you buy. You'll also get free employee cards, which means you can earn rewards and qualify for consumer protection on purchases your employees make.

This card doesn't charge any foreign transaction fees, and you'll qualify for cardholder benefits that include travel and emergency assistance services, secondary auto rental coverage, purchase protection against damage or theft, and extended warranties on eligible items that come with a manufacturer's warranty.

Holly Johnson

Freelance Writer

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