Credit Cards for Fair Credit

The below are credit card offers chosen by the CompareCards.com editor team which reflect the most consumer value for fair credit applicants.

  • Compare the best credit cards for fair credit from major credit companies
  • Independent ratings and reviews for credit cards for average credit
  • Secure and immediate online application process
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Intro APR

0% on Purchases until March 2014*

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Bonus Rewards

Roadside Assistance & Extended Warranty*

Sign Up Offer

Card Highlights:

  • Rewards Program
  • Reward Bonuses
  • Average Purchase Rate
  • Introductory Rate
  • Annual Fee

Purchase APR

0% on Purchases until March 2014*

Balance Transfer:

N/A

Ongoing Information

Regular APR:

19.8% (V)*

Annual Fee:

$39

Credit Needed:

Fair Credit

More Details

Highlights

  • 0% intro APR on purchases until March 2014
  • $0 Fraud Liability if your card is lost or stolen
  • Enjoy MasterCard benefits, including 24-hour roadside assistance and extended warranty protection
  • Pick an image for your card - choose the one shown here, any of the hundreds in our collection, or add your own
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Sign Up Offer

Card Highlights:

  • Rewards Program
  • Reward Bonuses
  • Average Purchase Rate
  • Introductory Rate
  • Annual Fee

Purchase APR

N/A

Balance Transfer:

N/A

Ongoing Information

Regular APR:

24.90% (Variable)

Annual Fee:

$0 intro for first year; $19 after that

Credit Needed:

Average/Limited

More Details

Highlights

  • $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $19 after that
  • Image Card - personalize your card with an image of your choice
  • $0 Fraud Liability if your card is lost or stolen
  • Monitor your spending with text message alerts
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Sign Up Offer Rewards Rate

2 points per $1 on gas, grocery & utility purchases*

Sign Up Offer

Card Highlights:

  • Rewards Program
  • Reward Bonuses
  • Average Purchase Rate
  • Introductory Rate
  • Annual Fee

Purchase APR

N/A*

Balance Transfer:

N/A*

Ongoing Information

Regular APR:

24.99%* (Variable)

Annual Fee:

$0

Rewards Rate:

2 points per $1 on gas, grocery & utility purchases*

Credit Needed:

Good Credit

More Details

Highlights

  • Earn 2 points per $1 on gas, grocery, and utility purchases
  • Earn 1 points per $1 everywhere else
  • No balance transfer fee
  • No annual fee
  • Use the points you earn like cash to pay for almost any purchases you've made.
  • No blackout date, no redemption fees, no limit on the points you can earn and no complicated set up.
  • Reports to all 3 major credit bureaus monthly providing you the opportunity to rebuild your credit score
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Sign Up Offer

Card Highlights:

  • Rewards Program
  • Reward Bonuses
  • Average Purchase Rate
  • Introductory Rate
  • Annual Fee

Purchase APR

N/A*

Balance Transfer:

N/A*

Ongoing Information

Regular APR:

23.9% (V)

Annual Fee:

$75 First year (Introductory period). $99 thereafter”

Credit Needed:

Bad

More Details

Highlights

  • Get pre-qualified for a Visa Platinum card with a starting credit line of $300 to $500
  • Automatic credit line increase reviews
  • Pick your payment due date to fit your schedule
  • Email or text alerts to remind you when your payment is due
  • Includes Travel Accident Insurance and Auto Collision Damage Waiver
  • Free online monthly credit score tracking included
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Sign Up Offer

Card Highlights:

  • Rewards Program
  • Reward Bonuses
  • Average Purchase Rate
  • Introductory Rate
  • Annual Fee

Purchase APR

N/A*

Balance Transfer:

N/A*

Ongoing Information

Regular APR:

See terms*

Annual Fee:

See terms*

Credit Needed:

Fair/Bad Credit*

More Details

Highlights

  • The Continental Finance Matrix Discover® credit card accepts individuals of all credit types
  • No application fees or processing fees
  • Use your card at locations everywhere Discover® is accepted
  • Free online account access 24/7
  • Fast and easy application process; results provided in seconds
  • Build positive credit by making monthly payments on time
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Bonus Rewards

1% cash back on all purchases

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Bonus Miles

2% cash back on travel purchases

Sign Up Offer

Card Highlights:

  • Rewards Program
  • Reward Bonuses
  • Average Purchase Rate
  • Introductory Rate
  • Annual Fee

Purchase APR

N/A

Balance Transfer:

N/A

Ongoing Information

Regular APR:

24.90% (Variable)

Annual Fee:

None

Credit Needed:

Fair Credit

More Details

Highlights

  • A card designed to help those new to the U.S. establish credit and earn cash back
  • Build credit with responsible use -- plus automatic reporting to the three major credit bureaus
  • Get 2% cash back on travel purchases
  • Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • No annual fee
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Sign Up Offer Bonus Cash

$20 Cash Back Bonus

Sign Up Offer

Card Highlights:

  • Rewards Program
  • Reward Bonuses
  • Average Purchase Rate
  • Introductory Rate
  • Annual Fee

Purchase APR

N/A

Balance Transfer:

N/A

Ongoing Information

Regular APR:

12.99-18.99% (Variable)

Annual Fee:

$0

Credit Needed:

Fair Credit

More Details

Highlights

  • The new Discover it card is out to change the way people think about credit cards.
  • Fair...No annual fee. No overlimit fee. No foreign transaction fee & no pay-by-phone fee. No late fee on your first late payment. And we won't increase your APR for paying late.*
  • Generous...cash back in categories that change throughout the year on up to $1,500 in purchases with free and easy sign-up each time. And 1% cash back on all other purchases.*
  • Plus a Cashback ConciergeSM who guides a free, personalized online tour to help you get the most out of your rewards for how you use your card.
  • Flexible...Choose your own due date and pay up to midnight ET online or by phone.
  • Human...talk to a real person any time with 100% U.S.-based service.
  • Safe...Because you'll never pay for unauthorized purchases with our $0 Fraud Liability Guarantee.
  • Experience our cash rewards with $20 Cashback Bonus® when you make your first purchase within 3 months of approval.* Standard variable purchase APR*- 12.99% - 18.99%. 
  • *Click apply for Terms & Conditions.
 
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Intro APR

0%* for 6 Months

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Bonus Rewards

5% cash back*

Sign Up Offer

Card Highlights:

  • Rewards Program
  • Reward Bonuses
  • Average Purchase Rate
  • Introductory Rate
  • Annual Fee

Purchase APR

0%* for 6 Months

Balance Transfer:

See Terms

Ongoing Information

Regular APR:

12.99%-18.99%* (Variable)

Annual Fee:

$0*

Credit Needed:

Fair Credit

More Details

Highlights

  • The new Discover it card is out to change the way people think about credit cards.
  • Fair...No annual fee. No overlimit fee. No foreign transaction fee & no pay-by-phone fee. No late fee on your first late payment. And we won't increase your APR for paying late.*
  • Generous...5% cash back in categories that change throughout the year up to $1,500 in purchases with free and easy sign-up each time. And 1% cash back on all other purchases.*
  • Plus a Cashback ConciergeSM who guides a free, personalized online tour to help you get the most rewards for how you use your card.
  • Flexible...Choose your own due date and pay up to midnight ET online or by phone.
  • Human...talk to a real person any time with 100% U.S.-based service.
  • Safe...Because you'll never pay for unauthorized purchases with our $0 Fraud Liability Guarantee.
  • 0% Intro APR on purchases for 6 months. Then the variable purchase APR applies, currently 12.99% - 18.99%. *Click apply for Terms & Conditions.
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Bonus Rewards

25% cash back bonus each month*

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Bonus Cash

1% cash back on all purchases

Sign Up Offer

Card Highlights:

  • Rewards Program
  • Reward Bonuses
  • Average Purchase Rate
  • Introductory Rate
  • Annual Fee

Purchase APR

N/A

Balance Transfer:

N/A

Ongoing Information

Regular APR:

19.80% (Variable)

Annual Fee:

None

Credit Needed:

Fair

More Details

Highlights

  • Designed to help students build good credit with responsible use
  • Access to your monthly credit score, plus an interactive tracking tool to help monitor your credit
  • Customizable text and e-mail alerts to help keep you on track
  • Get 1% cash back on all purchases, plus a 25% bonus each month you pay your bill on time
  • No annual fee
  • $0 Fraud Liability if your card is lost or stolen
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Bonus Rewards

No Annual Fee & Auto Credit Line Increases

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Rewards Rate

1% cash back on every purchase

Sign Up Offer

Card Highlights:

  • Rewards Program
  • Reward Bonuses
  • Average Purchase Rate
  • Introductory Rate
  • Annual Fee

Purchase APR

N/A

Balance Transfer:

N/A

Ongoing Information

Regular APR:

22.9% (V)

Annual Fee:

$0

Rewards Rate:

1% cash back on every purchase

Credit Needed:

Fair

More Details

Highlights

  • Enjoy no annual fee
  • Build business credit with responsible use with eligibility for an automatic credit line increase
  • Earn 1% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • Separate business expenses from personal expenses
  • $0 Fraud Liability if your card is ever lost or stolen
  • Enjoy business benefits including Year-End Summaries, employee cards at no additional cost, and experienced small business customer service

Updated on

Credit Card Offers for Fair Credit

If you have fair credit, or have had some credit history dings or other problems but are not yet in the bad credit category, then you should be able to apply for and get an a credit card for fair credit. Those with bad credit generally have no choice but to apply for a secured or prepaid card, but in your case having average or fair credit qualifies you to be responsible for adhering to a credit limit and carrying a balance over from one month to the next if you decide to do that. That also means that you’ll have a great chance to improve your credit score and credit history – which will entitle you to even better rates, credit cards, and cardholder privileges.

It’s a good idea to shop for a fair credit credit card with the most manageable fees and interest rates, because that will make it much easier for you to manage your budget and card payments. Cards with no annual fee, for example, are cheaper – and so are ones that have a lower APR. Use the info in the reviews in this section – and crunch the numbers using this site’s credit card calculators and other tools – to help you make a wise pick of the best fair credit card for your situation. FICO ranges for fair or average credit typically range from 620 to 680.

Try to use not more than 25-30% of your allowed limit each month, because that will look better on your credit report. Soon you may be offered a higher credit limit and as your credit score rises from fair to good it will be possible to shop for even more attractive and competitive interest rate card.

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

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