Best Credit Cards for Fair/Average Credit of July 2024
Check out our top credit cards picks of 2024 for consumers with average or fair credit. Compare offers and read analysis from Bankrate's credit card experts.
Credit card knowledge – how to avoid and manage debt, build credit, optimize rewards and bonuses – is an integral part of financial literacy today. While it can be a bit daunting, learning the ins and outs of credit cards is worth it to help create a solid budget and strong financial foundation.
— Reena Thomas, Ph.D.
Reena Thomas, Ph.D., is an editor/writer at Bankrate and CreditCards.com with a focus on credit card reward offers. She enjoys delving into the credit card landscape to help readers make valuable credit card decisions that are right for them.
Reena has over a decade of experience in education and publishing. Before joining Bankrate in 2023, she was a copy editor for NurseJournal, Trillium Publishing, Voyager Expanded Learning, and Rockefeller University Press. She also worked as a tenure-track college English instructor after receiving her doctorate and has published academic articles.
When she isn't writing and researching about credit cards, Reena can be found exploring her neighborhood for charming coffee shops, scenic trails, and friendly dog parks.
Reena's recommended readings
A beginner’s guide to credit card points
Credit card rewards mistakes to avoid
Which rewards credit card is best for me?
Credit card knowledge – how to avoid and manage debt, build credit, optimize rewards and bonuses – is an integral part of financial literacy today. While it can be a bit daunting, learning the ins and outs of credit cards is worth it to help create a solid budget and strong financial foundation.
— Reena Thomas, Ph.D.
Check out our top credit cards picks of 2024 for consumers with average or fair credit. Compare offers and read analysis from Bankrate's credit card experts.
The rewards on select travel, supermarket and gas station purchases provide great value for most cardholders, but the stripped back features are worth weighing.
The Mastercard Black Card comes with many of the upscale perks we’ve come to expect from an expensive travel card.
Discover translates the rewards power of the Discover it® Cash Back card intro a top-tier student credit card.
If you don’t qualify for the Petal 2 card, this is a decent low-cost, unsecured alternative if you’re not a student.
The Amex Green Card is a solid Membership Rewards-earning card for transit and travel that easily justifies its annual fee if you maximize your points and perks.
If you need to pay for surprise medical expenses with credit, make sure to pick the right card and pay off your medical debt as quickly as you can.
A credit card with a 0 percent intro APR can help you pay off debt.
These are the best credit cards for active-duty military members and their families.
Even with poor credit, fair credit or no credit, you may qualify for these cards.
The Starbucks Rewards Visa card can offer a good earning rate for brand loyalists, but the rewards are inflexible in terms of redemption.
Credit cards that offer rewards in common spending categories, like groceries and dining, can help stay-at-home parents build credit.
The Chime Credit Builder Secured Visa® Credit Card is a low-cost card that could make building credit more accessible.
Consider a dedicated business credit card to keep business purchases separate and simplify expenses for tax-time.
The Delta SkyMiles Platinum is a smart card to have if you fly frequently with Delta Air Lines.
The rewards might not be worth the annual fee compared to other premium cards, but the exclusive travel benefits and 24K gold coat might be worth it for some.