10 Market’s Top Credit Cards for a 600 Credit Score

Credit cards for a 600 credit score tend to be a bit harder to obtain, seeing how this number is situated below the market average and only classed as fair. Thereby, some companies might regard holders of such scores as unworthy of receiving credit. 

In this article, we leverage a complex methodology to rank and review the market’s very best credit cards that support unfavorable scores. Similarly, we also provide a series of tips and tricks to help you choose the right credit card provider. 

Come and see for yourself!

Affiliate Disclosure

About Capital One Quicksilver One— Capital One represents one of the leading US banks, mostly known for its lending services and massive cashback offer. Here, users can access multiple credit cards, checking accounts, saving accounts, auto loans, and other financial products. 

All in all, the Quicksilver One card is the perfect option for consumers with fair credit scores that enjoy cashback benefits. 

Perks and rewards — First off, users can enjoy unlimited 1.5% cashback on every purchase. While other credit cards for a 600 score can offer similar bonuses, this one is more than generous. Namely, the reward can be redeemed for cash, it can be used to cover your on-going purchases, or even converted into gift cards. In the long run, considerable earnings could be attained due to the high cashback rate. 

The Quicksilver One card also provides users with automatic credit line reviews. Depending on your spending habits and current score, you are considered for a higher credit line every 6 months. The CreditWise function provides consumers with a credit report and a series of tools meant to facilitate efficient credit monitoring. Hence, making it more likely that you won’t need another credit card for a 600 credit score in the future. Fraud coverage and tap-to-pay are also available. 

Lastly, users can also take advantage of account alerts, autopay, balance transfers, 24/7 customer service, recurring transactions, virtual card numbers, no FX transaction fees, travel accident insurance, extended warranty, and auto rental collision damage waiver amongst others. 

Credit limits — The card’s spending limits vary based on your current income and credit score. The lowest expectable credit limit is $1,000. Likewise, this credit card for a 600 score has limits as high as $10,000, according to user reports. 

Interest rates — Users can expect to pay an APR of 26.99% on purchases, transfers, and cash advances. There’s an annual fee of $39 associated with this credit card. A late payment penalty of $39 applies as well. 

Pros:

• Generous 1.5% cashback on all purchases
• Tools for credit score analysis
• Relatively-high credit lines

Cons:

• High annual fee

About Capital One Secured MasterCard — The Secured MasterCard is one of the top-ranking credit cards for fair credit with no annual fee invovled. It is provided by Capital One and is an excellent way of rebuilding credit; in other words, the card is generally targeted towards users with sub-fair credit scores. 

Perks and rewards — As expected, this card does not offer any additional perks and rewards due to the low onboarding requirements. Nevertheless, some of the inherent benefits of Capital One are still valid. These include automatic credit line reviews within six months, personalized payment plans, no FX transaction fees, extended warranty, travel accident insurance, security alerts, etc. 

Credit limits — Being one of the top credit cards for a credit score under 600, holders are given an initial credit line of $200. In addition, higher deposits may unlock larger spending limits. 

Interest rates — Owners of this card are expected to pay a 26.99% variable APR. Furthermore, a refundable security deposit of $49, $99, or $200 must be made as well. On the bright side, there’s no annual account administration fee, unlike some other top credit cards for fair credit. 

Pros:

• Suitable for users with FICO scores under 600
• Higher credit limits can be unlocked in six months
• Insurance and credit management tools

Cons:

• Low initial credit line

About Petal — Petal is an innovative fintech firm seeking to create equal financial opportunity for everyone. The company offers Visa cards for fair credit that help improve credit scores instead of just accumulating debt. Overall, the brand is well aware of the fact that credit scores never tell the whole story. That is why they introduced the “cash score” system — a number that’s linked to your income, spending history, and savings. 

Perks and rewards —  The Petal 2 Visa card offers a 1%–1.5% cashback on all purchases. Namely, the 1% is paid after making a transaction, whereas the remaining 0.5% is given if the accumulated debt is paid back on time. In fact, holders of Petal credit cards for bad credit can obtain up to 10% in cash back at select merchants.

Credit limits — Users can expect to secure a minimum credit limit of $500 per month. Consumers with good “cash scores” can unlock spending limits of up to $10,000. 

Interest rates — Petal charges a variable APR between 12.99% and 26.99% depending on your credit score, income, outstanding debt, and savings. Fortunately, there are no other applicable fees for Petal Visa credit cards for fair credit. 

Pros:

• Transparent and upfront business practices
• Solid variable APR
• Excellent cashback bonuses

Cons:

• Low BBB rating

About Credit One Bank— Being an extremely popular bank, Credit One is renowned for its fair credit and credit rebuilding cards. The Credit One Platinum Visa card offers a variable APR, alongside multiple benefits and features, perfectly suited to customers looking for good credit cards for fair credit. 

Perks and rewards — Credit One means to attract users by providing them with multiple rewards. As such, newcomers get to enjoy a 5% cashback on the first $5,000 they spend, as well as 1% unlimited cash back on all subsequent purchases. Better yet, it offers 10% cashback rewards from select merchants. Lastly, users can leverage a set of exclusive shopping discounts sponsored by Visa.

Other benefits include: free access to your Experian credit score, zero fraud liability, customizable notifications, and more. 

Credit limits — Credit cards for a credit score of 600 do not usually entail high credit limits. There’s a minimum credit line of $300, which can be increased by the bank automatically based on your creditworthiness. 

Interest rates — Credit One’s interest rates for the platinum Visa card range from 17.99% and go all the way up to 23.99% — the rate will depend mostly on your income and credit score. Credit One has also opted to include a variable annual fee based on the same principle, situated between $0 and $99. Thus, if you meet certain requirements, Credit One can be one of the most affordable, yet best credit cards for a 600 score. 

Pros:

• Variable fees depending on your creditworthiness 
• Exceptional cashback offers
• Merchant discounts

Cons:

• Inability to predict your interest APR and annual fee without contact

About Credit One Bank American Express— Consumers looking for American Express cards for fair credit will be glad to know that Credit One offers such an option. This card has been praised for its cashback rewards, retail protection, and special user benefits. 

Perks and rewards — This card grants users a 1% unlimited cashback rewards on each purchase. Likewise, there are no points to redeem; rewards are instantly credited to your account. 

Card users can leverage a series of other benefits, including $150,000 in accident travel insurance, zero fraud liability, and access to an Experian credit score analysis. Such perks are standard with most credit cards for a 650 credit score. 

Credit Limits — This card’s spending limit starts at $500, which is relatively higher than that of most providers. Nevertheless, higher limits entail a stricter credit score requirement — as such, sub-fair credit score holders will likely fail to be approved for this card. However, limits are bound to increase based on your credit performance. No data is given on how soon users can expect to have their limits reviewed though. 

Interest rates — Users can expect to pay an annual APR of 23.99%. There’s also a variable $39 yearly fee based on your banking history and credit score. Lastly, this is one of those credit cards for fair credit with no deposit requirements. 

Pros:

• Retail protection on purchases
• Great travel accident insurance
• Unlimited 1% cashback rewards

Cons:

• Lack of transparency concerning credit limit reviews

About Bank of America — The Bank of America Cash Students credit card is meant to help students consolidate their credit scores, while also giving them access to multiple rewards. Thus, it’s one of our favorite unsecured credit cards for a 600 credit score that targets young adults. 

Perks and rewards — First off, users can access a 3% cashback deal in a chosen category; be it online shopping, off-campus dining, gas, travel, or home improvement. A 2% cashback offer is given for grocery store purchases, whereas all other merchant transactions will grant you 1% in cashbacks. 

Furthermore, a $200 online cash reward is given to users who make $1,000 worth of purchases during their first three months with this card. This is why many consider this offering as the best credit card for a 600 credit score. 

Other rewards include free monthly FICO credit score reviews and access to the bank’s popular payment and finance management app. 

Credit limits — Spending limits are directly linked to your spending habits and current credit scores. Users can expect an average limit of $1,000, yet the actual amount may vary. 

Interest rates — Credit card owners can expect to pay a variable standard APR situated between 13.99% and 23.99%. Also, students can rest easy as there is no annual fee associated with this card. And as is often the case with balance transfer cards for fair credit, the service entails a 3% fee on each transaction. 

Pros:

• Great cashback rewards for students
• Variable APR with a low starting point
• No annual fees

Cons:

• Below-average policy transparency

About OpenSky — OpenSky represents a sub-division of Capital Bank, known for its credit rebuilding cards. It does this by providing users with several benefits, as well as the ability to apply for credit without having to pass a credit score check. It’s not one of the best cards for fair credit, but it’s an optimal choice for many. 

Perks and rewards — OpenSky does not offer many of the traditional perks and rewards, such as cashback on purchases. Namely, it’s meant to serve as a cheap and straightforward service for people interested in rebuilding credit. 

Credit limits — At OpenSky, the spending limit is determined based on the value of a user’s refundable deposit. As such, credit limits can vary between $200 and up to $3,000. Meaning, this is not one of those credit cards for fair credit with no deposit requirements. 

Interest rates — OpenSky customers can expect to pay a 17.39% APR, which is a relatively low rate. A $35 annual account administration fee applies as well. 

Pros:

• Solid secured deposit limits
• Low APR rate
• No credit check required

Cons:

• Lacks user perks and rewards

About Discover — Discover is known for its multiple credit card formats, many of which are tailored for specific groups or interests. For instance, customers can find business credit cards for fair credit, cashback cards, or travel cards. The company’s secured card represents a popular choice for building or rebuilding your credit. 

Perks and rewards — Card owners get to earn unlimited 1% cashback rewards on all their purchases. Gas station and restaurant transactions entail a 2% cashback reward as well. New users can also take advantage of a neat welcome offer — Discover matches 100% of cashback rewards earned during the first year, thus rightfully earning the title of one of the best store credit cards for fair credit. 

Credit limits — Your spending limit will vary based on the value of your refundable deposit. A $200 deposit unlocks a $200 credit line, whereas higher deposits unlock limits of a corresponding amount. Users may also get to unlock one of the market’s best unsecured credit cards for fair credit, following Discover’s monthly creditworthiness reviews. 

Interest rates — This provider charges a 22.99% APR. The rate will not increase after late payments. Nevertheless, penalty fees may apply after your second non-timely payment. This card does not entail an annual fee. 

Pros:

• Late payments do not raise APR
• No annual fee
• Fast secured card approval

Cons:

• Creditworthiness reviews commence after 8 months

About Milestone Gold — Milestone does not provide the market’s best unsecured credit cards for fair credit, but it’s the right choice for many. Users can expect to access a pre-qualification card with 24/7 account management, and several MasterCard perks. While the card is quite promising, the company fails to provide users with sufficient information. 

Perks and rewards — No particular rewards are given by this card, but users can enjoy MasterCard’s fraud protection, as well as access to extra credit without a security deposit. As a best credit card for a 600 score representative, it certainly is optimal. 

Credit limits — Users can expect a $300 credit limit, which may or may not change based on creditworthiness reviews. 

Interest rates — A variable APR of 24.9% is charged for all credit transactions, which is quite high compared to the competition. Furthermore, a variable $75 annual fee applies, making this card quite expensive, especially when you consider other credit cards for a 600 FICO score. 

Pros:

• Accepts most users regardless of their credit score
• 24/7 account management
• Easy pre-qualification

Cons:

• Somewhat on the pricier side (yet no additional perks) 

About Indigo — Indigo represents a relatively-new credit card provider, targeting customers with less than perfect credit. It offers a fairly-good unsecured credit card for a 600 credit score, with a series of perks too. 

Perks and rewards — Indigo MasterCard holders will obtain 24/7 account management, monthly reporting to 3 credit bureaus, secure fraud protection, and the ability to choose multiple card designs at no extra cost. Cool rewards such as cashback are not supported. 

Credit limits — Most users can expect a monthly credit limit of $300, which is not unlike the limits imposed by other balance transfer credit cards for fair credit. Credit line increases can be requested after about one year and are subject to review and approval depending on your spending habits. Do keep in mind, though, that credit limit increase requests may cause small score drops. 

Interest rates — Indigo card owners will need to pay an above-average APR of 24.9%, alongside a yearly fee of up to $99. 

Pros:

• Swift card approval 
• 24/7 account management and customer support
• Secure fraud protection

Cons:

• Above-average APR rate with no extra rewards

A lot of card issuers claim to offer the market’s lowest interest rates, highest perks, and best rewards. Thus, to aid our readers in making the right choice, we have leveraged a complex methodology to rank and review the top 10 providers in the industry. Here’s a brief overview of our ranking methodology that we used to find the most optimal credit cards for fair credit. 

Licensing and Reputation

To kick things off, we have only ranked companies that are licensed and registered with the relevant authorities. Unfortunately, non-licensed providers exist and they usually engage in unlawful and unethical practices that affect customers. 

We have also carried out a reputation analysis to better understand how customers feel about their cards. After all, companies can promise you the world — it’s only when you become a long-term customer that you understand how the business chooses to treat its user base. This analysis is especially relevant given our purpose — creating an unbiased list of credit cards for people with fair credit. 

Application Requirements

All of the market’s credit cards require that users go through an application process. During onboarding, companies will present their requirements. These are usually standardized preconditions, but some companies may impose extra prerequisites. 

We take the time to read and understand each requirement. It is our belief that obtaining a credit card should be a streamlined process, unburdened by extra demands. Thus, we’ve only ranked credit cards for FICO score 600 that stick to the market basics. 

Approval Speed

Most card applications should receive an answer within a couple of minutes. Some providers have integrated automatic approval systems that quickly verify whether you fulfill the basic requirements; thereby, in some instances, approval is instant. 

However, for incomprehensible reasons, some companies fail to deliver an acceptable approval time for their catalog of credit cards for fair credit score. 

Perks and Rewards

Credit providers tend to fit their cards with multiple perks and rewards, as a means of attracting new users and retaining existing ones. Failure to provide the simplest of rewards generally suggests that the company is not interested in helping its user base. 

We have chosen to give ranking priority to providers that offer at least one extra perk of rewards, such as airline bonuses, cashbacks, zero annual fees, bonus points, hotel discounts, or free subscriptions. 

Credit Limits

Credit cards for fair credit with high limits are quite rare and generally expensive; hence, we cannot be too strict in this case. That said, we’ve only ranked credit card providers with acceptable spending limits.

Interest Rates

Usually, credit card costs are expressed as annual percentage rates (APRs); this is the fee that you can expect to pay in exchange for accessing a credit line. Low-interest credit cards for fair credit exist, but by definition, the APR will still be relatively high. Customers with good and excellent scores can expect to pay considerably less, due to their higher credit trustworthiness. 

For the sake of comparison, the average interest rate for fair credit is situated along the 22.80% mark, whereas excellent score holders may pay an average APR of 13%. 

As part of this article, we’ve mostly ranked providers that charge an acceptable APR.

See Whether You Meet the Requirements

All credit card providers require that you fulfill specific preconditions. Here is a list of basic requirements that apply to most credit cards:

• Be at least 21 years old, depending on your jurisdiction

This is a legal requirement, so it cannot be circumvented. In some jurisdictions, credit may be offered to younger individuals, as long as they receive written parental agreement or have a verifiable source of income.

• Be a valid Social Security number holder

Credit cards for fair credit with instant approval are only obtainable by citizens that hold a valid SSN. The number is used to prove your citizenship and to generate credit score reports. Consequently, foreigners may face increased difficulties when applying for a credit card. 

• Have an on-going income

All credit card agencies will ask customers to provide data on their estimated monthly income. This requirement is understandable, as providers want to be sure that you can afford to pay back your debt. Many unsecured credit cards for fair credit do not require actual proof, whereas others may have you show your W-2 form or pay stub. 

• Possess an acceptable credit score 

If you hold a FICO score between 580 and 669, you’ll likely be approved by all of our ranked providers. Lower scores may be accepted as well. Yet, these entail larger costs and additional onboarding requirements. 

For improving your poor credit score, you can always check what the credit score repair professionals have to offer.

Do Not Base Your Decision Solely on the Perks 

The best credit cards for a 600 credit score will often promise to shower you with rewards. However, you shouldn’t base your decision solely on the promised perks. A larger reward ratio generally entails higher costs or reduced spending limits. 

Similarly, some rewards may prove useless. For instance, many cards provide debtors with airline miles or free access to airport business lounges. These rewards are practically meaningless if you’re not a frequent flyer. 

Cashback rewards are also extremely prevalent. In such cases, the provider will send you a specific percentage of your purchase value. This perk is quite useful, but not ideal if you merely plan on budgeting to settle your outstanding debt. These rewards are also popular with department store credit cards with 600 credit score requirements, although high rates may only be offered for purchases made from the same chain of stores. 

Determine How Much You’re Planning to Spend

This will directly influence which card you get due to the inherent credit limits of each provider. A recent study has shown that the average American has a total credit limit of $22,751 across different cards. 

High limit credit cards for fair credit are quite rare. Statistics show that bank-based credit cards for first-time users generally hold a limit of $5,000. Cards issued by private agencies have a first-time average limit of $2,000. Your actual number will depend on your credit history, current credit score, and monthly income. 

Budget Wisely by Considering the Interest Rates

Different cards come with different prices, as highlighted in our credit cards for a 600 credit score review. Users should consider their on-going expenses, desired credit limit, and income to determine an acceptable APR. Fair credit holders should expect to pay an average interest rate above 22%. 

Bottom Line

Below-average and fair credit scores cause headaches for millions of consumers throughout the US. Luckily, several providers have stepped up and are now offering multiple credit cards for a 600 credit score. Indeed, the annual percentage interest rate (APR) is usually higher, but with smart financial management, you can rebuild your credit score by making payments in due time.