Best credit cards for fair/average credit in January 2025
Advertiser Disclosure: The listings that appear on the website are from credit card companies from which Bankrate receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site (including, for example, the order in which they appear). This site does not include all credit card companies or all available credit card offers. Here's an explanation for and how we rate our cards.
- Capital One Platinum Credit Card: Best for no annual fee
- Discover it® Student Cash Back: Best for students
- Milestone Mastercard® - $700 Credit Limit: Best for high credit limit
- Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for flat-rate cash back
- Credit One Bank® Wander® American Express® Card: Best for travel
- Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®: Best for long-term financing
- Avant Credit Card: Best for no penalty APR
- OpenSky® Secured Visa® Credit Card: Best for no credit check
- Prosper® Card: Best for no deposit
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Showing 9 results
Intro offer
N/A
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
29.99% (Variable)
Why you'll like this: Helpful credit-building perks, including automatic reviews for a possible credit increase and CreditWise access, make up for the lack of rewards.
Intro offer
Cashback Match
Rewards Rate
1% - 5%
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
17.49% - 26.49% Variable APR *Rates as of December 12, 2024.
Why you'll like this: This card has one of the best set of rewards and perks of any student card on the market, for no annual fee.
Intro offer
N/A
Annual fee
See terms*
Regular APR
See terms*
Why you'll like this: It has a fairly high credit limit without requiring a security deposit, which is generous for a credit-building card.
Best for flat-rate cash back
Intro offer
N/A
Rewards Rate
1.5% - 5%
Annual fee
$39
Regular APR
29.99% (Variable)
Why you'll like this: You can earn solid flat-rate rewards while avoiding juggling rotating or elevated categories.
Intro offer
N/A
Rewards Rate
1X - 10X
Annual fee
$95
Regular APR
29.49%* Variable
Why you'll like this: It’s one of the few travel cards available for fair credit and includes an exceptional rewards rate on eligible travel purchases.
Intro offer
$200
Rewards Rate
1.5%
Annual fee
$0
Regular APR
14.99% - 29.99%
Why you'll like this: This card’s unique repayment structure makes it easy to understand if you’re new to credit cards.
Intro offer
N/A
Annual fee
$59
Regular APR
35.99%
Why you'll like this: This card is light on fees and other detriments that can make it difficult to build credit, including no penalty APR.
Intro offer
N/A
Annual fee
$35
Regular APR
24.89% (variable)
Why you'll like this: This card is one of the more accessible cards on the market with a forgiving, low ongoing APR compared to other cards for fair credit.
Intro offer
N/A
Annual fee
$39 (waived for the first year if you sign up for autopay before your first statement)
Regular APR
23.49%-34.99% Variable
Why you'll like this: It’s one of the few cards you can get with fair credit that offers a chance at a high credit limit with no security deposit.
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* The information about the (card name) has been collected independently by Bankrate.com. The card details have not been reviewed or approved by the card issuer.
Compare Bankrate's best cards for fair credit
Card name | Best for | Annual fee | Bankrate review score |
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No annual fee |
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4.2 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Capital One's secure site
|
|
Students |
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5.0 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Discover's secure site
|
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High credit limit |
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2.5 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Milestone Mastercard's secure site
|
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Flat-rate cash back |
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4.0 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Capital One's secure site
|
|
Travel |
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3.2 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Credit One Bank's secure site
See Rates & Fees
, Terms Apply
|
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Long-term financing |
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4.2 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Upgrade's secure site
|
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No penalty APR |
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2.7 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Avant's secure site
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No credit check |
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3.1 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Capital Bank's secure site
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No deposit |
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3.1 / 5 Our writers, editors and industry experts score credit cards based on a variety of factors including card features, bonus offers and independent research. Credit card issuers have no say or influence on how we rate cards.
Apply now
on Prosper's secure site
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