If your FICO credit score falls between 600 – 649, it’s considered to be “fair” or even “poor,” depending on the lender you’re dealing with. While that may hurt your chances of being approved for some of the more popular rewards credit cards, it doesn’t completely put you out of the game. The upside to a credit score on the low side is that there’s always room for improvement, especially in the 600 – 649 range.
To help you in your search, we’ve compiled a list of what we believe to be the best credit cards for FICO credit scores in the 600 – 649 range. These cards may not offer the same perks as some credit cards, but you can get rewards and other benefits.
Table of Contents
Best Cards for FICO Scores 600 – 649
If your credit score is in the 600 – 649 range, any of the following credit cards are worth considering.
Petal 2 Visa Credit Card
Best for: Those looking to increase their credit score while earning rewards and paying no fees.
The Petal 2 Visa Credit Card markets itself under the motto: All rewards, no fees, and they mean it! You can earn cash back rewards up to 1.5%, with no fees whatsoever. That means no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and no late fees. It can be the perfect card if you’re looking to earn rewards, increase your credit score, and avoid costly fees.
The interest rate and credit limit vary much more than on other cards. For example, your interest rate can be as low as 17.24% and as high as 31.24% APR. The credit limit range is even wider, from a low of $300 to as much as $10,000. Exactly where you’ll fall within both limits will depend on your current credit score, income, and other factors.
Petal also has an interesting feature that enables them to work around credit scores. If you don’t have one, they’ll use what they refer to as your Cash Score. That’s made up of a combination of your income and expenses, as determined by your last three months’ bank statements. To be eligible for qualification, you’ll need to link your bank account to Petal so they can perform the review. For more information, read our full Petal 2 Visa card review.
Card features:
- Annual fee: $0
- Credit Limit: $300 to $10,000 based on creditworthiness
- Reports to all three credit bureaus: Yes
- Bonus: None
- Rewards: Rewards start at 1% cash back on all purchases. After making six monthly payments on time, your rewards rate rises to 1.25% cash back. After making 12 monthly payments on time, the rate rises to 1.5% cash back. You may also earn up to 10% cash back when you use the card to make purchases at select merchants.
Discover it Secured
Best for: Building and rebuilding credit while also earning cashback rewards.
For those with no credit or impaired credit, Discover offers the Discover it Secured card. A secured credit card requires a refundable security deposit when you open the account. Otherwise, it performs like a standard credit card, with a credit limit based on the security deposit amount.
What makes Discover it Secured one of the top secured cards around is that once your account surpasses seven months, a review will be done, and you may qualify for an unsecured account. If that happens, your security deposit will be refunded after only seven monthly payments, and your secured card will convert to a regular credit card.
The card benefits are excellent, given the minimal credit score requirement. Cardholders receive 2% cash back on rotating categories like gas stations and restaurants and unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases – with Discover providing a 2X cashback match at the end of the first year.
The card does have a very high APR, so you’ll want to make sure you pay the balance in full each month to avoid the high interest charges.
Card Features:
- Annual fee: $0
- Credit Limit: Equal to security deposit; however, a minimum of $200 is required, and the maximum allowed is $2,500
- Reports to all three credit bureaus: Yes
- Bonus: None
- Rewards: Provides 2% cash back on rotating categories on up to $1,000 in quarterly purchases and unlimited 1% on all other purchases. Unlimited 2X cashback match at the end of your first year.
Related Post: Best Credit Cards for FICO Scores of 500-599
Avant Credit Card
Best for: Those looking to increase their credit score without a security deposit.
While the Avant Credit Card doesn’t offer rewards, you don’t need a security deposit. Much like the Discover it Secured Card, Avant will also provide periodic reviews of your credit performance to determine if you qualify for a higher credit limit. However, they do not promise a specific timeframe for the reviews. But you can make a request for a credit line increase at any time.
As an unsecured credit card, Avant Credit Card does carry a higher interest rate than secured cards. But you can get around this issue by paying your balance in full each and every month.
The card’s primary purpose is to help you improve your credit score so that you will be eligible for a credit card with more bells and whistles down the road.
Card Features:
- Annual fee: $0 – $59, depending on creditworthiness
- Credit Limit: Based on credit score but usually between $300 and $2,000
- Reports to all three credit bureaus: Yes
- Bonus: None
- Rewards: None
Open Sky Secured Visa Card
Best for: Applicants in the 600 – 649 FICO credit score range who may have a major derogatory item (bankruptcy or foreclosure) preventing them from getting other credit cards.
If you’re on the lower end of the 600-649 score, Open Sky Secured Visa may be a good option. That’s because they don’t require a credit check or bank account for approval. Open Sky requires a security deposit similar to the Discover it Secured card. The annual fee of $35 isn’t great, considering no rewards program exists.
Like all secured credit cards, the amount of your credit line is determined by the size of your security deposit. Open Sky will accept a deposit/credit limit as low as $200 and as high as $3,000.
Card features:
- Annual fee: $35
- Credit Limit: Based on a refundable security deposit ranging from $200 minimum to $3,000 maximum
- Reports to all three credit bureaus: Yes
- Bonus: None
- Rewards: None
Related Post: Best Credit Cards for FICO Scores of 650-699
Milestone Mastercard
Best for: Those with FICO credit scores below 650 who want an unsecured credit card.
The Milestone Mastercard is geared towards those lower in the 600 – 649 FICO credit score range. It’s also an unsecured card, eliminating the need for a security deposit. And as a MasterCard, it can be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted – which is pretty much everywhere.
While the card does not offer a bonus or rewards, the interest rate is lower than other cards on our list. The annual fee amount will depend on what you qualify for. Milestone offers three different credit cards in this series. Gold 300 has a $35 annual fee, Gold 322 is at $59, while Gold 301 is $75 the first year and $99 each year thereafter.
Card features:
- Annual fee: $35, $59, $75, or $99
- Credit Limit: $300 minimum
- Reports to all three credit bureaus: Yes
- Bonus: None
- Rewards: None
FAQs
Unfortunately, 600 isn’t considered a “good” or “average” credit score by lenders. Most lenders will consider 600 to be “fair” or only slightly above “poor.” However, you’ll still have the opportunity to build your score with a decent credit card, whether a credit check is required or not.
A score of 600 doesn’t mean you won’t qualify, but your access to rewards, credit increases, bonuses, and starting credit limits will be limited. Increasing your score will allow you more access to better perks with credit cards, which is why you must be intentional about getting a credit card, even if the terms aren’t ideal.
Yes. While most credit cards require a minimum credit score to be approved, many don’t. A score of 649 isn’t terrible. The best option with a score of 649 would be to try and improve your score to get approved for a card with more benefits and rewards. Cards issued to applicants in the 600 – 649 FICO credit score range should be considered stepping stones on the way to better card offers.
While it may seem like the answer would be no, there are lenders that specialize in offering credit cards to those with low credit. Realistically, you should expect to qualify for a secured credit card if your credit score is 600 or slightly above. Though there are a few credit card issuers, including a couple on this list, that will issue an unsecured credit card with a credit score in that range.
Any credit cards included in this guide can accommodate applicants with no credit at all. But you will more likely be accepted for a secured credit card. Just be aware that your credit limit will equal the amount of the security deposit you can make and no higher. It may be better to apply for an unsecured credit card that will require higher fees but avoid the need to make the security deposit.
The answer to this depends on your credit history. Contributing factors include the length of credit history, revolving credit utilization ratio, number of open accounts, and payment history. Make your payments on time, keep your utilization below 30%, and avoid applying for too much credit too soon.
Also, order a copy of your credit report to ensure all the information is correct. If there are errors that are causing your score to drop, you’ll want to find ways to fix them. A few small improvements in your credit report can raise your credit score substantially. You can obtain a free copy of your credit report from Credit Karma.
Final Thoughts
While there are several cards you can qualify for, if your credit score is between 600 and 640, your main goal should be improving your credit score for a chance at better credit cards in the future. A score in this range can limit your ability to get quality credit cards and qualify for car loans, a mortgage, or even to apply for an insurance policy or certain jobs. Thankfully, the right credit card and timely payments will help you achieve that goal.
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