Credit Cards
Best Credit Cards for Fair Credit
A fair credit score does not lock you out of real rewards. The issuers know that, even if they would rather you not. These are the cards we rank highest for applicants in the fair credit range who still want cash back and a path to better terms.
Top matches
Chase Sapphire Preferred
- ✓5x points on travel booked through Chase Travel
- ✓3x points on dining and select streaming
- ✓$50 annual Chase Travel hotel credit; points transfer to airline and hotel partners
- ✗$95 annual fee
#2 PickCapital One Venture X
- ✓$300 annual travel credit through Capital One Travel
- ✓10,000 anniversary bonus miles each year (worth $100+)
- ✓Airport lounge access (Capital One and Priority Pass)
- ✗$395 annual fee, largely offset by $300 credit + 10k miles
#3 PickCapital One Venture Rewards
- ✓Unlimited 2x miles on all purchases; 5x via Capital One Travel
- ✓Miles transfer to 15+ travel partners
- ✓Up to $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck
- ✗$95 annual fee
Wells Fargo Active Cash
- ✓Unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases
- ✓No annual fee
- ✓Intro 0% APR on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (12 months)
Chase Freedom Unlimited
- ✓5% on travel booked through Chase Travel
- ✓3% on dining and drugstores
- ✓1.5% on all other purchases; no annual fee
Chase Ink Business Cash
- ✓5% on the first $25,000 in combined office supply and internet/cable/phone each year
- ✓2% at gas stations and restaurants on the first $25,000
- ✓No annual fee
How we ranked these: We ranked every card in our database that accepts fair credit by our overall methodology score, which weighs rewards value, approachability, and fees.
Last updated 2026-06-06
Questions, answered
What is considered a fair credit score?
Fair credit generally means a FICO score in the 580 to 669 range. Applicants in this band are approvable for a real set of cards, though usually not the premium travel cards that want 720 or higher.
How do I move from fair to good credit?
Pay every bill on time. Keep balances well below your limits. Skip opening several new accounts at once. Used responsibly, any card on this page reports your good behavior to the bureaus, which is what lifts your score into the good range over time.