Credit Card for Fair Credit from Our Partners

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Fair credit doesn’t necessarily disqualify you from getting a credit card but it generally means you could be offered a card with a higher Annual Percentage Rate (APR) if your application is approved then what is offered to individuals with, say, excellent credit.  Credit cards for fair credit have the potential to help you improve your credit rating if you use it responsibly, and some cards may even offer a rewards program or other perks.
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About Fair Credit Cards

What is fair credit?

At Credit Sesame, a fair credit score is typically between 550 – 639. This is based on a VantageScore 3.0 model provided by TransUnion and may not be the credit scoring model used by the financial institutions presenting offers on the Credit Sesame website. Your credit score may vary from what you see elsewhere based on the credit bureau, date of the credit report, and credit scoring model. Credit card issuers and other financial institutions use a variety of different types of credit scores and other criteria to make credit and lending decisions so, having a credit score in a particular range is not a guarantee that you will be approved for a card or approved for the terms you applied for.

What can you expect in a credit card for fair credit?

Credit cards for fair credit may offer features similar to those on cards for good credit but on a slightly smaller scale. Someone with good credit might be able to qualify for a card that offers 2% cash back on purchases while a consumer with fair credit card may qualify for a card that offers 1.5% or 1% cash back.
Credit cards for fair credit tend to charge higher APRs, but many are available with no annual fee.

Raising a fair credit score

Raising a fair credit score boils down to using credit the right way, managing your account responsibly. Pay your bill on time each month and don’t owe more than 30% of your credit limit (if your card has a low limit, pay the bill before the statement closing date to keep the utilization rate as low as possible). Keep older accounts open even if you don’t use them, and don’t apply for credit unless you really need it.

Fair credit options

A good or excellent credit score opens the door to more credit options. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t find a card that will work well for you if you have fair credit.
When you compare credit cards for fair credit, consider your spending habits first. If you have a history of forgetting to pay the bill, for example, look for a card that has no penalty rate and if possible set up automatic payments.
Pay attention to the APR, but remember that it’s more important to pay off the balance each month and pay no interest at all. Before you jump at an introductory offer, review the fees and other card terms.  If you choose the right credit card for fair credit, you can build great credit without having the added expense of an annual fee.

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† Approval Odds: Credit Sesame calculates your approval odds by comparing your credit profile to other Credit Sesame members who were approved for this product. These approval odds are estimates only and do not guarantee approval. Lenders, credit card issuers, and other financial institutions use a variety of different types of credit scores and criteria to make credit and lending decisions. The TransUnion credit score we provide is based on the VantageScore 3.0 model and may not be the credit scoring model used by financial institutions presenting offers on our website.
†† Average and Lowest Scores: "Average" and "Lowest" scores refer to the scores of Credit Sesame members who were approved for this product. These scores are estimates only and do not guarantee approval. Lenders, credit card issuers, and other financial institutions use a variety of different types of credit scores and other criteria to make credit and lending decisions. The TransUnion credit score Credit Sesame provides you is based on the VantageScore 3.0 model and may not be the credit scoring model used by the financial institutions presenting offers on the Credit Sesame website.
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