Credit Cards for Fair Credit

If you have a fair credit score, these are the best credit cards for average credit in the marketplace: they offer low or no annual fees, low balance transfer fees, cash back, airline miles, and more.

A great deal of these credit cards also feature a 0% introductory APR or an instant approval decision, so be sure to scan the details regarding special promotions, rewards programs, annual fees, and other pertinent information before applying. Congratulations — you're on your way to excellent credit.

Updated by Joshua Heckathorn on May 16, 2012

Sort cards by:

Orchard Bank® Classic MasterCard®
For Bad or Fair Credit to Help Rebuild Credit

Expert Rating:

4.75 / 5

stars

An excellent credit card for rebuilding bad credit scores; reports to 3 major credit bureaus monthly
Email and text messages to remind you of your upcoming payment due date with online enrollment
Acceptance at millions of locations worldwide, including website purchases and reservations
More Info

Ongoing APR	Setup Fee	Annual Fee	Credit Bureau Reporting	Credit Required
14.99% - 19.99%, or 7.99% for secured cards	$0-$39 (based on credit worthiness)	$0-$59 first year; $35-$59 per year thereafter	Yes	Bad or Fair Credit

Capital One® Platinum Credit Card

24-hour travel assistance gives you a replacement card and cash advance
$0 intro annual fee for the first year; $19 after that
Monitor your spending with free text message alerts
More Info

Ongoing APR	Setup Fee	Annual Fee	Credit Bureau Reporting	Credit Required
24.9%(V)	$0	$0 intro for first year; $19 after that	Yes	Limited to Average Credit

Capital One® Cash Rewards

Expert Rating:

4.25 / 5

stars

50% bonus on the cash back you earn every year
1% cash back on all purchases
0% intro APR on purchases until February 2013
More Info

Ongoing APR	Setup Fee	Annual Fee	Credit Bureau Reporting	Credit Required
17.9% - 22.9% (V)	$0	$39.00	Yes	Average Credit

Although people with fair credit might not yet be approved for the best credit card offers, they don't have to pay the often high fees associated with subprime (a.k.a. bad credit) cards. Look for cards that require "average", "fair", or "limited" credit, as these cards have lower fees and higher approval rates.

Credit One Bank Platinum Visa®

Monthly reporting to major credit bureaus
Accepted worldwide wherever you see the Visa logo
Pre-qualification takes less than a minute and doesn't affect your credit
More Info

Ongoing APR	Setup Fee	Annual Fee	Credit Bureau Reporting	Credit Required
23.9%	$0	$99.00	Yes	Bad Credit OK

Orchard Bank® Visa® Cards
For Bad or Fair Credit to Help Rebuild Credit

Expert Rating:

4.75 / 5

stars

Reports to 3 major credit bureaus monthly
Provides you the opportunity to rebuild your credit score
Acceptance at millions of locations including online purchases and reservations
More Info

Ongoing APR	Setup Fee	Annual Fee	Credit Bureau Reporting	Credit Required
14.99% - 19.99%, or 7.99% for secured cards	$0-$39 (based on credit worthiness)	$0-$59 first year; $35-$59 per year thereafter	Yes	Bad or Fair Credit

If your FICO scores fall between 650 and 700, you're in what is known as the "Fair Credit" range. In other words, your credit scores are average and can use improvement. The best way to improve your credit score is by using credit responsibly—by paying on time and preferably in full each and every month.

Capital One® Classic Platinum Credit Card

No foreign transaction fees
0% intro APR on all purchases until February 2013
Pick an image for your card -- choose the one shown here, any of the hundreds in our collection, or add your own
More Info

Ongoing APR	Setup Fee	Annual Fee	Credit Bureau Reporting	Credit Required
17.9% - 22.9% (V)	$0	$39.00	Yes	Average Credit

Capital One® Cash Rewards for Newcomers

A card designed to help those new to the U.S. establish credit and earn cash back
Build credit with automatic reporting to the three major credit bureaus
Get 2% cash back on travel purchases
More Info

Ongoing APR	Setup Fee	Annual Fee	Credit Bureau Reporting	Credit Required
24.9%(V)	$0	$0	Yes	Limited Credit Fair Credit OK