17 Best Credit Cards for Fair Credit | Best List

We analyzed the most popular credit cards offered by the largest banks, financial companies, and credit unions that have average or fair credit score requirements to find the best card for your needs.

There are a variety of credit cards available for people with fair or average credit that still provide rewards programs, useful perks, no annual fees, and no foreign transaction fees. While these cards may be easier to qualify for, they frequently have high-interest rates — which should not be an issue if you pay your bills on time and in full. 

After all, your primary goal when applying for a credit card should be to improve your score through responsible financial behaviour so that it moves into the good range (670 to 799).

Select has reviewed the best credit cards for people with fair or average credit, which are listed below. Keep in mind that card issuers do not disclose exact credit score requirements, so the above ranges should only be used as a guideline. 

If you’re not sure if you’ll qualify, you can fill out a pre-qualification form to see what your chances are. Here are selected recommendations for the best credit cards for people with fair to average credit:

  1. Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card 
  2. Capital One QuicksilverOne Credit Card
  3. Capital One® Platinum Credit Card
  4. Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students
  5. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
  6. Discover it® Cash Back
  7. Avant Credit Card
  8. Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®
  9. Card American Express Cash Magnet® *
  10. Visa® Cash Rewards Upgrade
  11. Indigo® Platinum Mastercard® 
  12. Discovered® Student Cash Back
  13. Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® 
  14. Chase Freedom Unlimited® 
  15. Discover it® Chrome 
  16. Freedom FlexSM by Chase

1. Petal® 2 Visa® Credit Card

 The WebBank Member FDIC Petal 2 “Cash Back, No Fees” Visa Credit Card is one of the few cards that charge no fees at all*. There are no annual fees, late fees, or foreign transaction fees.

This card also has a rewards program: you can earn 1% cashback on eligible purchases right away, which increases to 1.5 % after 12 consecutive on-time monthly payments. This is an excellent way to promote responsible behaviour while earning cashback on everyday purchases.

Cardholders can also earn 2% to 10% cashback at select merchants. This is one of the best credit cards for fair credit with high limits and among the best credit cards for good credit.

2. Capital One QuicksilverOne Credit Card

Many of the best cash-back cards require excellent or good credit, but there are some cards with good cash-back rates for people with fair/average credit.

The Capital One® QuicksilverOne® Cash Rewards Credit Card offers a competitive 1.5% cashback on all purchases, with no cap on how much cashback you can earn. And a cashback can be redeemed for any amount, rather than the usual $25 minimum set by some other cards.

This is one of the best rewards credit cards 2022 and among the best credit cards to build credit.

3. Capital One® Platinum Credit Card

 If you travel frequently, it’s a good idea to choose a credit card that offers travel benefits that can save you money and protect you from unexpected problems. The Capital One® Platinum Credit Card provides many travel benefits, the most notable of which is the absence of foreign transaction fees.

This benefit will save you the typical 3% fee that many other credit cards charge on each purchase made outside of the United States. This is one of the major credit cards for fair credit and among the easiest credit card to get with fair credit.

4. Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students

The Deserve® EDU Mastercard for Students is one of our top recommendations for college students looking to build credit, earn rewards, and take advantage of money-saving benefits. There is no annual fee with this card, and it offers 1% cashback on all purchases.

While the rewards rate isn’t the best, you can get a year of Amazon Prime Student for free after spending $500 in the first three billing cycles with your EDU card (up to $59). This is one of the fair credit score credit cards and offers fair credit card applications with instant approval.

5. Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

One of the most popular travel rewards cards is the Chase Sapphire Preferred. This card earns 5 points for every dollar spent on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3 points for every dollar spent on dining, 2 points for every dollar spent on all other travel purchases, and one point for every dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.

Furthermore, through March 2022, you will earn a total of 5 points per dollar spent on Lyft rides. This is one of the best rewards credit cards 2022 and among the best credit cards to build credit.

6. Discover it® Cash Back

If you have good credit, the Discover it® Cash Back card is a good option for cashback rewards. It gives you 5% cashback on popular purchase categories that change every quarter (up to $1,500 in quarterly spending when you enrol).

Recent 5% bonus categories, for example, include gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and Amazon.com.

All other purchases will earn you 1% cashback. All of your cashback rewards are matched at the end of your first year as a cardholder. This is one of the major credit cards for fair credit and among the easiest credit card to get with fair credit.

7. Milestone® Gold Mastercard®: Ideal for credit rebuilding

This card allows cardholders to rebuild their credit history by requiring no security deposit and a pre-qualification process that does not harm their credit score.

No cash advance fees for the first year as a cardholder (either $5 or 5% thereafter, whichever is greater), identity theft protection, and a competitive foreign transaction fee of 1%.

The card’s initial credit limit of $300, as well as its $35-$99 annual fee, a high regular APR, and lack of additional perks, are reasons it falls short for some. This is one of the fair credit score credit cards and offers fair credit card applications with instant approval.

8. Avant Credit Card: The best credit card for no foreign transaction fees.

To begin with, when compared to other credit-building cards, the Avant Credit Card has a relatively high credit limit (up to $1,000 depending on creditworthiness) and requires no security deposit. This card allows prospective applicants to see if they are preapproved without affecting their credit. The application process is quick, with applicants receiving a decision in as little as 60 seconds. Aside from the lack of a foreign transaction fee, this card offers no rewards and is generally lacking in perks. This is one of the best rewards credit cards 2022 and among the best credit cards to build credit.

9. Capital One Walmart Rewards Card® is ideal for purchases at Walmart.

If you’re a Walmart fan, this card will keep showering you with love in the form of rewards. Earn 5% cashback at Walmart stores when you use Walmart Pay for the first 12 months of your card membership, then 2%. Earn 5% cashback on all Walmart.com purchases, including pickup and delivery. In addition to earning 2% at Walmart, you can also earn 2% on restaurant and travel purchases. In addition, earn 2% cashback at Walmart stores as well as Walmart and Murphy USA Fuel stations. This is one of the major credit cards for fair credit and among the easiest credit card to get with fair credit.

10. American Express Cash Magnet® Credit Card*

The American Express Cash Magnet® Card* offers 1.5 % cashback on all purchases to those with good credit. The rewards program on the card is simple, with no rotating categories or complicated redemption rules. Without having to track spending categories, you get the same 1.5 % cash back rate on every purchase. American Express cards are well-known for their numerous benefits. 

The Cash Magnet card includes rental car insurance, roadside assistance, travel accident insurance, and a global assistance hotline when travelling away from home. When it comes to shopping, the card comes with an extended warranty benefit, return protection, purchase protection, and a free ShopRunner membership. ShopRunner offers free two-day shipping at over 100 online retailers. This is one of the best credit cards for fair credit with high limits and among the best credit cards for good credit.

11. Upgrade Visa® Card with Cash Rewards: Best for International Spending

Because of the Visa network’s widespread acceptance, this product is ideal for international travel as a Visa card. To top it all off, there is no foreign transaction fee with this card, so you can make international purchases at no extra cost. This card has few fees, including no annual or monthly fees. In addition, every time you make a payment, you will receive an unlimited 1.5% cashback on purchases. As a bonus, you can see if you prequalify without affecting your credit score. This is one of the major credit cards for fair credit and among the easiest credit card to get with fair credit.

12. Indigo® Platinum Mastercard® is Best for fraud protection

When it comes to your finances, peace of mind is crucial. If your card is stolen or misplaced, the Indigo Platinum Mastercard can provide you with peace of mind. You have a good chance of approval even if you’ve had a credit disaster like bankruptcy. You won’t have to put any money down because it’s an unsecured card. There are no rewards for using the card, and the annual fee can range between $0 and $99 after the first year (see terms). This is one of the best rewards credit cards 2022 and among the best credit cards to build credit.

13. Discovered® Student Cash Back: This is ideal for college students.

One of the most valuable features of this card is the ability to earn extra cash for being responsible with your credit score. With a high rewards structure, you can earn cashback at places where you normally spend money, such as grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, select rideshare services, and online shopping. With this card’s fantastic rewards rate and low fees, you’ll be raking in the rewards while building credit. Even better, at the end of your first year, Discover will match all cash back you’ve earned. This is one of the fair credit score credit cards and offers fair credit card applications with instant approval.

14. Credit One Bank® Platinum Visa® for Credit Rebuilding: The Best Cash Back Rewards

On eligible purchases of gas, groceries, and mobile phone, internet, cable, and satellite TV services, you will receive 1% cashback rewards. Getting cashback in such useful categories should help you at least partially offset the card’s annual fee. Not only is it an unsecured card, which means you won’t have to put any money down as a deposit. However, if you use your credit responsibly, you may be able to increase your credit limit over time. This is one of the best credit cards for fair credit with high limits and among the best credit cards for good credit.

15. Chase Freedom Unlimited® 

Consider the Chase Freedom Unlimited® if you want to use your good credit to earn cashback but don’t want to keep track of rotating bonus categories. This card offers a flat 1.5 % cashback rate on all purchases, with no spending limits. You’ll earn 5% cashback on Chase-purchased travel, 3% cash back on restaurant and drugstore purchases, and 1.5 % cashback on all other purchases. You never have to click anything to activate it, and you never have to remember where it offers a bonus. 

16. Discover it® Chrome 

When you have good credit, the Discover it® chrome card will give you bonus cash back at gas stations and restaurants. You can earn 2% back on all gas station and restaurant purchases with this card, up to $1,000 in combined purchases per quarter. You also get 1% cashback on everything else, with no limits.

At the end of your first year, all of your cashback rewards will be matched. During the first year, the cash back you can earn from the gas station and restaurant purchases, as well as all other purchases, is doubled. This is one of the fair credit score credit cards and offers fair credit card applications with instant approval.

17. Chase Freedom FlexSM

With good credit, you can use this card to earn 5% cashback on select purchases. The Chase Freedom Flex rewards you with 5% cashback on your first $1,500 spent in rotating spending categories each quarter, 5% cashback on travel booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards, and 3% cashback on dining and drugstore purchases.

All other purchases earn you 1% cashback. Gas stations, drugstores, grocery stores, home improvement stores, streaming services, and department stores are among the most recent quarterly bonus categories. This is one of the best credit cards for fair credit with high limits and among the best credit cards for good credit.

Conclusion

When you have good credit, your priority should be to continue building toward excellent credit while maximizing your credit card rewards and benefits.

If you want to earn rewards, for example, there are several credit cards available to those with good credit that offer cashback and travel rewards. Others may wish to obtain a card to reduce or eliminate the fees they are currently paying. For those with good credit, additional credit card benefits may be a priority. 

For a long time, most credit cards came with standard perks like rental car insurance, extended warranty coverage, and purchase protection. Just because your credit isn’t perfect doesn’t mean you can’t find a great credit card to meet your needs.

By carefully examining the rewards and benefits of these top cards, you may discover that you qualify for a better card than you previously thought.

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