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Best Credit Cards for Fair Credit of 2023

At Experian, one of our priorities is consumer credit and finance education. This post may contain links and references to one or more of our partners, but we provide an objective view to help you make the best decisions. For more information, see our Editorial Policy.

Some of the best credit cards for people with fair credit offer rewards on purchases and don't have an annual fee. However, there's no single best card for everyone. It depends on which cards you're able to qualify for, where you usually shop and how you plan on using the card.

3 Partner Offers

Our Picks for the Best Credit Cards for Fair Credit
<span style='background-color:#FFFF00;'>Capital One Walmart Rewards<sup>®</sup> Mastercard<sup>®</sup></span>

Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®

5% cash back on Walmart.com including pick up and delivery

2% cash back on restaurants & travel

2% cash back on Walmart in-store purchases and at Murphy USA and Walmart® fuel stations

1% cash back on all other purchases

<span style='background-color:#FFFF00;'>Credit One Bank<sup>®</sup> Secured Card</span>

Credit One Bank® Secured Card

1% cash back on eligible gas and grocery purchases as well as mobile phone, internet, cable and satellite TV services; terms apply

$200 refundable security deposit

<span style='background-color:#FFFF00;'>Platinum Select Mastercard<sup>®</sup> Secured Credit Card</span>

Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card

1% cash back on payments

$200 refundable security deposit

Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®

The Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard® is a retail card that could be a good fit for Walmart regulars. There's no annual fee and you can earn cash back rewards on purchases. Plus, new cardholders can earn 5% cash back for the first 12 months when they use their card with Walmart Pay to make purchases inside Walmart stores.

You can redeem your rewards to get a statement credit, get gift cards or book travel through Capital One—and you won't pay foreign transaction fees if you take this card abroad.

Read full review

Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®

Apply

on Capital One's website

Rates and Fees

Fair - Exceptional

Capital One Walmart Rewards® Mastercard®

APR

19.48% or 29.99% (Variable)

Intro APR

N/A*

Rewards

5% Cash Back on Walmart.com

2% Cash Back on Restaurants & Travel

2% Cash Back on Walmart In-store Purchases

1% Cash Back on All Other Purchases

Annual Fee

$0

Card Details
  • Earn 5% cash back on Walmart.com purchases, including pickup and delivery
  • Earn 2% cash back on purchases in Walmart® stores, Murphy USA and Walmart® fuel stations, 2% cash back on restaurants and travel purchases, and 1% cash back on all other purchases everywhere else Mastercard® is accepted
  • Introductory offer: Earn 5% cash back on purchases in Walmart® stores for the first 12 months when you use your card with Walmart Pay
  • Redeem rewards for cash back, statement credits, purchases on Walmart.com, travel and gift cards
  • $0 annual fee
  • Fraud Coverage - $0 Fraud Liability for unauthorized charges
  • No foreign transaction fees

Credit One Bank® Secured Card

While there are many secured cards geared toward fair credit, they don't often offer rewards and have no annual fee. That's where the Credit One Bank® Secured Card shines.

You can earn 1% cash back on eligible gas and grocery purchases as well as mobile phone service, internet, cable and satellite TV services. Terms apply. This card is one option that has no annual fee and requires a minimum $200 security deposit.

Make sure you pay every bill in full since there's a high 29.74% Variable APR.

Credit One Bank® Secured Card

Apply

on Credit One Bank's website

Terms Apply

Rates and Fees

Poor - Exceptional

Credit One Bank® Secured Card

APR

29.74% Variable

Intro APR

N/A*

Rewards

1% Cash Back on Eligible Gas, Grocery Purchases and Mobile, Internet, Cable and Satellite TV Services

Annual Fee

$0

Card Details
  • Earn 1% cash back rewards on eligible gas, grocery purchases and mobile phone service, internet, cable and satellite TV services, terms apply
  • With $0 Fraud Liability, you won’t be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Looking to rebuild credit? We report to the major credit bureaus monthly
  • Earn interest on your required security deposit account (minimum deposit $200)
  • Never miss an account update with customizable text and email alerts
  • Manage your account on-the-go with the Credit One Bank mobile app
  • Show off your personality by selecting from a variety of card designs, a fee may apply

Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card

The Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card from First Progress offers a different type of rewards program. You earn 1% cash back on payments, which is a good incentive to make on-time payments every month.

There is a $39 annual fee, but the APR is on the lower side at 19.24% Variable. That said, you should still avoid carrying a balance to avoid interest charges and so you earn 1% cash back on your payments.

Read full review

Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card

Apply

on First Progress's website

Rates and Fees

Poor - Good, New to Credit, Rebuilding

Platinum Select Mastercard® Secured Credit Card

APR

19.24% Variable

Intro APR

N/A*

Rewards

1% Cash Back on Payments

Annual Fee

$39

Card Details
  • Make Payment and Earn 1% Cash Back with First Progress Select!
  • Have $200? Break Down Credit Barriers with the First Progress Secured Card Today!
  • No Credit History or Minimum Credit Score Required!
  • Pay a Deposit and Start Establishing Credit With Just $200!
  • Manage your statements, transactions and rewards on the First Progress Card Mobile App!
  • Good for Car Rental, Hotels; Anywhere Credit Cards are Accepted!
  • Monthly Reporting to all 3 Major Credit Bureaus to Establish Credit History
  • Credit Line Secured by Your Fully-Refundable Deposit of $200 -- $2,000 Submitted with Application
  • Get a Fresh Start! A Discharged Bankruptcy in Your Credit File Will Not Cause You to Be Declined.
  • Apply to Add a First Digital Mastercard to your wallet after 6-months of on-time payments!

How to Decide Which Card Is Right for You

If you have fair credit, you'll be able to qualify for a variety of credit cards. Consider the perks that different cards offer and how they align with your lifestyle. It can also be helpful to learn about credit card basics before choosing a card.

For example, a card that offers a great rewards rate might not be a good pick if you regularly overspend, carry a balance and pay a high interest rate. However, if you pay your bill in full each month, then a rewards card could be a good option even if it has a high interest rate.

How to Improve Your Fair Credit Score

What qualifies as a fair credit score depends on the type of credit score. However, similar actions can help improve your FICO® Scores and VantageScores.

  • Pay down credit card debt. Paying down revolving account balances can lower your credit utilization ratio, an important scoring factor.
  • Make on-time payments. Paying your bills on time can help you build a positive credit history, which can improve your credit scores over time.
  • Dispute credit report inaccuracies. Check your credit reports for inaccurate negative information that could be hurting your scores. You can file disputes to get it corrected or removed if it is indeed incorrect information.

Some actions, such as lowering your credit utilization rate, can quickly lead to credit score changes. However, improving credit scores often takes time, and diligence and patience can be important.

How to Use Your Credit Cards Responsibly

Responsibly using your credit card can also help you improve your credit score while limiting how much you'll pay in fees and interest. In general, try to:

  • Make monthly payments on time. Making at least the minimum monthly payment each month can help you avoid late payment fees. You can often avoid interest on purchases if you pay your bill in full each month.
  • Watch out for fees. Read over your card's terms and conditions to learn about the fees. For example, if you use your card for a cash advance, you may need to pay a fee, and interest could start accruing right away.
  • Don't use a large portion of your balance. Regardless of whether you pay your bill in full, try to limit spending on your card and maintain a low credit utilization rate.

As a rule of thumb, some people use their credit card as if it's a debit card. They check their budget, and only spend what they can afford to pay off in full each month. This approach can help you avoid taking on high-rate credit card debt, which is one of the main dangers of using a credit card.

What to Do if You Are Denied for a Card

You may have several options if you applied and didn't get approved for a credit card.

First try calling the credit card company and asking why your application wasn't approved. In some cases, you may be able to resolve the issue. For example, if the company couldn't access your frozen credit report to review your credit, you may be able to temporarily thaw your report and then get approved.

Alternatively, you may want to focus on improving your credit or try for a different credit card right away. Applying and getting denied can hurt your credit scores. However, each card has its own requirements, and you might get approved for a different card.

Find Your Next Credit Card

In addition to looking for lists of the best cards, you can use online tools to help narrow down which credit card will be best for your specific needs. Within Experian's CreditMatch™ credit card marketplace, you can filter cards based on your preferences and credit profile. You can then choose up to four cards and get a side-by-side comparison to make the best pick for your needs to get a credit card with fair credit.