May 18, 2025 · 10 mins read
Santosh Kumar
Imagine this: You just made it through a financial storm. Not pretty, but you are standing. You've got some debts paid off, some lessons learned the hard way, and you're starting to find your financial footing again.
But there is one hurdle: you're credit score. You're definitely not at rock bottom, but you're not at the top either. Your credit is "fair" -- somewhere between 580 and 669. That grey area can be frustrating, especially when you are trying to get qualified for financial tools like credit cards. Luckily, there is a silver lining: The best credit cards for fair credit were made just for this stage of your journey.
Whether you're looking to build credit, earn rewards, or simply want better terms than a secured card offers, there is a credit card for fair credit that suits your needs. Let's take a look at your best top options and what makes them a worthwhile option.
Before jumping into brand new card options, it is helpful to know what "fair credit" actually is.
A fair credit score generally falls between 580 and 669 on the FICO scoring scale. It is not bad, but it has not yet crossed over into the good category. If you have a fair credit score, you likely have paid bills late, have high credit utilisation or simply limited credit history.
Having a fair credit card can actually assist in rebuilding and increase your fair credit score over time — as long as you are using it responsibly.
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Why It’s Great: Cash back with no difficult-to-manage rotating categories.
The Capital One QuicksilverOne card is unique in that it allows you to earn 1.5% unlimited cash back on all purchases — a feature that is rare among fair credit cards. The card has a $39 annual fee but if you spend modestly, you can earn rewards to exceed that easily.
Key Benefits:
1: 1.5% unlimited cash back
2: Credit line reviews after 6 months
3: Reports to all 3 bureaus
4: Mobile app with tons of features
Best for: Everyday users looking for simple, flat-rate rewards while rebuilding their credit.
Why It’s Great: No annual fee and great for credit building.
The card does not have any rewards associated, but if you are simply trying to improve your credit score, this has its advantages. If you use the card responsibly, you could be reviewed for a higher credit limit after six months.
Key Benefits:
1: No annual fee
2: Ability to access CreditWise monitoring
3: Consideration for a limit increase after 6 months
4: Reports to all bureaus
Best for: Credit builders who don’t want to incur an annual fee.
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Why It’s Great: Clean terms, transparency and pre-qualification.
The Mission Lane Visa is a clean, no surprise experience, which is important when rebuilt. No security deposits, and you can find out if you qualify without impacting your score.
Key Features:
1: No hidden fees
2: Possibility for limit increases
3: User-friendly mobile app
4: Accepts applications from fair-credit users
Best for: People who want straightforwardness and pre-qualification options.
Why It’s Great: No fees and higher credit limits.
Petal 2 offers up to 1.5% cash back, zero fees- not even late fees or foreign transaction fees- plus they use alternative underwriting, meaning they review more than just your credit score.
Key Features:
1: No fees of any kind
2: Up to 10% cash back on certain merchants
3: Higher initial limits (Rs 300- Rs 10,000)
4: Credit-builder friendly app
5: Best for: Tech-savvy users wanting cash back with no hidden fees.
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What It Is Great For: Cash back and a road to graduation.
Although formally a secured card, Discover it® Secured is typically offered to people with fair credit. It offers you 2% cash back on gas stations and restaurants (up to $1,000 quarterly) and 1% on all other purchases.
Key Benefits:
1: Cashback Match after first year
2: Free FICO score access
3: No annual fees
4: Graduates to an unsecured card with good financial behaviour
Best For: Acceptable of a security deposit and looking for long-term growth.
What It Is Great For: 2% rewards on eligible categories.
This card combines credit-building features and rewards. You receive 2% cash back on eligible gas, groceries, etc. However, depending on your credit history, it may or may not have an annual fee.
Key Benefits:
1: 2% back on everyday essentials
2: Free access to your Experian score
3: Increases credit line over time
Best For: Regular spenders who want rewards and want to build better credit.
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Why It’s Great: Basic and easy for average credit.
The Avant Credit Card is not a rewards card (unfortunately), but it is an uncomplicated, unsecured card for people with fair credit. It has simple terms and a fixed-rate APR, making it an appealing option.
Pros:
1: No security deposit required
2: Pre-qualificationPre-qualification option available
3: Reports to all 3 bureaus
Best for: Someone who wants a no-frills unsecured credit card for fair credit.
Some of the best credit cards for fair credit have an annual fee of anywhere from Rs 35 to Rs 99 or more. While a card with an annual fee is not inherently not a good option, you should measure if the cost of the card’s benefits — such as cash back, larger credit limits, better customer service, etc. — is worth the cost.
If you intend to use the card occasionally or only for emergencies, a card with no annual fee may be a better option.
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Not all credit card for fair credit provide rewards, but many do now. You will find cards that give you a flat rate on all purchases cash back, or bonus cash back on select categories, such as groceries, gas stations, or dining.
If you constantly spend in the same area, you should find a card that suits your habits to maximise your earnings.
If you have fair credit, you don't want to create unnecessary hard inquiries that will only continue to lower your credit score. Many issuers offer pre-qualification tools that let you see if you'll likely be approved, without the hard pull on your credit.
This is a great way to shop around for the best credit cards for fair credit with no risk before formally applying.
Even credit cards for fair credit can come with benefits like rental car insurance, extended warranties, zero fraud liability, and even access to an app to help you track your spending and remind you when payments are due.
Keep an eye out for these other features that may add value or convenience to your card.
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Now that you've been approved for one of the top credit cards for fair credit, you're more than halfway there. How you use that credit card now determines if your credit score goes up or down. Use your card wisely, and it won't take that long to upgrade your fair credit score to a good (or even excellent) credit score! Here are some keys to success:
This sounds simple enough, but payment history represents 35% of your FICO score — the biggest component. One missed payment or late payment can hurt you a lot especially when you're rebuilding.
Consider setting up automatic payments or calendar reminders so that you never miss a payment. Many card apps offer an autopay feature where you can select to pay either the minimum or full payment.
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Credit utilisation is how much available credit you're using. The loose guideline is that you want it to be under 30%, but if you want to put the pedal to the metal and improve your score quickly, try to keep it under 10%.
Keeping your credit utilisation low demonstrates to lenders that you're not too reliant on credit and that you can manage spending.
Utilise free credit monitoring tools like CreditWise from Capital One or the Discover Scorecard to monitor your credit score (and progress). Similarly, you will want to evaluate your credit reports through AnnualCreditReport.com regularly to look for incorrect information or fraudulent activity that may be hurting your score. Taking action now also lets you catch the problems very early and dispute them if you need to.
This is a mindset trick to keep many individuals out of credit card trouble. You would only spend what you already have in the bank — so you will never charge more than what you can afford to pay off each month. When you think about a credit card for fair credit like a tool versus free money, you stay in control.
Some cards (mostly secured or starter cards) allow you to "graduate" to better cards as your credit improves. Set a goal of 6 or 12 months to step up from your current card to a credit card with better rewards, lower interest rates, or premium benefits.
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The fair range is typically somewhere between 580 and 669 on the FICO scale, depending on the credit bureau.
Yes! Some cards for fair credit offer rewards, such as 1.5% cash back or other categories, such as groceries or gas.
Some of the best cards for fair credit may have annual fees, but this could be offset by some rewards or features.
Of course! Responsible use of a credit card for fair credit will build your score over time through on-time payments and lower utilisation.
Many issuers have an online pre-qualification tool that allows you to check your chances without negatively impacting your score.
Not all. Some secured cards will require deposits but there are a good number of credit cards for fair credit that won't need deposits and are unsecured.
If you make on-time payments and have low utilisation, you may find that in a 6 to 12-month period, you will qualify for a better card with some issuers.
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