Best credit cards for fair credit of 2024

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Build better credit habits like paying your bills on time, which could help increase your credit scores.

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Get credit card offers with low to no annual fees.

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All credit card offers for fair credit

Alabama
All ratings (300-800+)
All issuers

21 partner offers

Credit One Bank Wander® Card

Intro bonus:

N/A

Rewards:

1x-10x (Points per dollar)

Ongoing APR:

29.74% Variable

Annual Fee:

$95

Annual fee

Some credit cards have an annual fee which you'll pay when you first receive the card and at each cardholder anniversary. Take the cost of an annual fee into account when considering which options will benefit you the most over the course of a year.

Annual percentage rate (APR)

The APR on credit cards is simply the interest rate the card issuer charges when you don't pay off your balance in full each month—it doesn't include the card's annual fees or other fees you may be charged for using your card. There are several types of APR that can apply to credit cards.

Minimum security deposit

Many credit cards for fair credit include secured credit cards. A secured card generally requires you to make a refundable security deposit that will become your credit limit. The standard deposit is $200.

Rewards

Some credit cards for fair credit will have a rewards program where you can earn cash back, points or miles by making purchases. For example, cash back credit cards reward you with cash equal to a percentage of each dollar you spend, which may be a rate of 1% to 2%.

AvantCard

Intro bonus:

N/A*

Rewards:

N/A*

Ongoing APR:

35.99%* Variable

Annual Fee:

$59*

AvantCard

Intro bonus:

N/A*

Rewards:

N/A*

Ongoing APR:

35.99%* Variable

Annual Fee:

$0*

Citi Double Cash® Card

Intro APR:

0% for 18 months on Balance Transfers

Ongoing APR:

19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

Rewards:

2% (cash back)

Annual Fee:

$0

Credit One Bank American Express® Card for Rebuilding Credit

Intro bonus:

N/A*

Rewards:

1% (cash back)

Ongoing APR:

29.74% Variable

Annual Fee:

$75 First year. $99 thereafter, billed monthly at $8.25

Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®

Intro bonus:

N/A*

Rewards:

1%-5% (cash back)

Ongoing APR:

19.48% or 29.99% (Variable)

Annual Fee:

$0

Credit One Bank® NASCAR® American Express® Credit Card for Rebuilding Credit

Intro bonus:

N/A*

Rewards:

1% (cash back)

Ongoing APR:

29.74% Variable

Annual Fee:

$75 First year. $99 thereafter, billed monthly at $8.25

Indigo® Mastercard®

Intro bonus:

N/A*

Rewards:

N/A*

Ongoing APR:

24.90%

Annual Fee:

$75 the first year; $99 thereafter

Credit One Bank Platinum X5 American Express® Card

Intro bonus:

N/A*

Rewards:

1%-5% (cash back)

Ongoing APR:

29.74% Variable

Annual Fee:

$95

AvantCard

Intro bonus:

N/A*

Rewards:

N/A*

Ongoing APR:

35.99%* Variable

Annual Fee:

$39*

FIT™ Platinum Mastercard® logo.

FIT™ Platinum Mastercard®

Intro bonus:

N/A*

Rewards:

N/A*

Ongoing APR:

29.99% Variable

Annual Fee:

$99

Credit One Bank® Secured Card

Intro bonus:

N/A*

Rewards:

1% (cash back)

Ongoing APR:

29.74% Variable

Annual Fee:

$0

Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card

Intro bonus:

N/A*

Rewards:

1.5%-5% (cash back)

Ongoing APR:

30.74% (Variable)

Annual Fee:

$39

Credit One Bank American Express® Credit Card

Intro bonus:

N/A*

Rewards:

1% (cash back)

Ongoing APR:

29.74% Variable

Annual Fee:

$39

Citi Custom Cash® Card

Intro APR:

0% for 15 months on Purchases and Balance Transfers

Ongoing APR:

19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)

Rewards:

1%-5% (cash back)

Annual Fee:

$0

Surge® Platinum Mastercard® logo.

Surge® Platinum Mastercard®

Intro bonus:

N/A*

Rewards:

N/A*

Ongoing APR:

29.99% Variable

Annual Fee:

$75 - $125

Reflex® Platinum Mastercard® logo.

Reflex® Platinum Mastercard®

Intro bonus:

N/A*

Rewards:

N/A*

Ongoing APR:

29.99% Variable

Annual Fee:

$75 - $125

Advertiser Disclosure: The offers that appear on this site are from third party companies ("our partners") from which Experian Consumer Services receives compensation. This compensation may impact how, where, and in what order the products appear on this site. The offers on the site do not represent all available financial services, companies, or products.

Credit scores are used to represent the creditworthiness of a person and may be one indicator to the credit type you are eligible for. However, credit score alone does not guarantee or imply approval for any offer.

*For complete information, see the offer terms and conditions on the issuer or partner's website. Once you click apply you will be directed to the issuer or partner's website where you may review the terms and conditions of the offer before applying. We show a summary, not the full legal terms – and before applying you should understand the full terms of the offer as stated by the issuer or partner itself. While Experian Consumer Services uses reasonable efforts to present the most accurate information, all offer information is presented without warranty.

Experian websites have been designed to support modern, up-to-date internet browsers. Experian does not support Internet Explorer. If you are currently using a non-supported browser your experience may not be optimal, you may experience rendering issues, and you may be exposed to potential security risks. It is recommended that you upgrade to the most recent browser version.

Any opinions, analyses, reviews, or recommendations expressed on this page are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the issuer.

How to choose a credit card for fair credit

1

Avoid annual fees

When you have fair credit, sometimes cards with certain rewards or benefits aren’t worth the cost of paying an annual fee.

2

Check for 3-bureau reporting

Make sure that your new credit card reports to least one of the 3 credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax® and TransUnion®), so your payments show responsible credit habits.

3

Find perks that work for you

Look for credit cards that will give you rewards while also helping you improve your credit.

4

Look for an upgrade

Choose a card that you can easily upgrade for better rewards or terms once your credit scores improve.

Start with your FICO® ScoreΘ and see card offers matched to your credit profile.

Get started for free

ΘCredit score calculated based on FICO® Score 8 model. Your lender or insurer may use a different FICO® Score than FICO® Score 8, or another type of credit score altogether. Learn more.

Frequently asked questions

A fair credit score is generally considered to be a FICO Score® of 580 to 669.

With a fair credit score, you most likely cannot get approved for any credit card you want, but there are still options to choose from that offer rewards programs, no annual fees and other benefits. Good options for this range are store cards, student credit cards and cards geared toward fair credit.

Your credit limit will be decided by factors such as:

  • Your current income, debts and your debt-to-income ratio (DTI)
  • Your credit history and score
  • Your history with the creditor
  • The current economic environment and the creditor's business goals

If you have fair credit, it’s unlikely that you’ll be approved for as high of a credit limit as someone with good credit.

Most travel credit cards require you to have a credit score ranging from good to excellent credit in order to qualify. However, some credit cards for fair credit offer rewards programs that allow you to earn points or cash back on eligible travel purchases. While these cards aren’t true travel cards, you can work toward improving your credit score so you can qualify for a travel credit card in the future.

If you have fair credit, you'll be able to qualify for a variety of credit cards. Consider the perks that different cards offer and how they align with your lifestyle. It can also be helpful to learn about credit card basics before choosing a card.

For example, a card that offers a great rewards rate might not be a good pick if you regularly overspend, carry a balance and pay a high interest rate. However, if you pay your bill in full each month, then a rewards card could be a good option even if it has a high interest rate.

Responsibly using your credit card can also help you improve your credit score while limiting how much you'll pay in fees and interest. In general, try to:

  • Make monthly payments on time. Making at least the minimum monthly payment each month can help you avoid late payment fees. You can often avoid interest on purchases if you pay your bill in full each month.
  • Watch out for fees. Read over your card's terms and conditions to learn about the fees. For example, if you use your card for a cash advance, you may need to pay a fee, and interest could start accruing right away.
  • Don't use a large portion of your balance. Regardless of whether you pay your bill in full, try to limit spending on your card and maintain a low credit utilization rate.

As a rule of thumb, some people use their credit card as if it's a debit card. They check their budget, and only spend what they can afford to pay off in full each month. This approach can help you avoid taking on high-rate credit card debt, which is one of the main dangers of using a credit card.

You may have several options if you applied and didn't get approved for a credit card. First try calling the credit card company and asking why your application wasn't approved. In some cases, you may be able to resolve the issue. For example, if the company couldn't access your frozen credit report to review your credit, you may be able to temporarily thaw your report and then get approved.

Alternatively, you may want to focus on improving your credit or try for a different credit card right away. Applying and getting denied can hurt your credit scores. However, each card has its own requirements, and you might get approved for a different card.

You can improve your credit score by following these actions:

  • Pay down credit card debt. Paying down revolving account balances can lower your credit utilization ratio, an important scoring factor.
  • Make on-time payments. Paying your bills on time can help you build a positive credit history, which can improve your credit scores over time.
  • Dispute credit report inaccuracies. Check your credit reports for inaccurate negative information that could be hurting your scores. You can file disputes to get it corrected or removed if it is indeed incorrect information.

Some actions, such as lowering your credit utilization rate, can quickly lead to credit score changes. However, improving credit scores often takes time, and diligence and patience can be important.

Learn about credit cards