Credit Cards You Can Get With A 600 Credit Score Bankrate Caret RightMain Menu Mortgage Mortgages Financing a home purchase Refinancing your existing loan Finding the right lender Additional Resources Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Bank Banking Compare Accounts Use calculators Get advice Bank reviews Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Credit Card Credit cards Compare by category Compare by credit needed Compare by issuer Get advice Looking for the perfect credit card? Narrow your search with CardMatch Caret RightMain Menu Loan Loans Personal Loans Student Loans Auto Loans Loan calculators Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Invest Investing Best of Brokerages and robo-advisors Learn the basics Additional resources Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Home Equity Home equity Get the best rates Lender reviews Use calculators Knowledge base Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Loan Home Improvement Real estate Selling a home Buying a home Finding the right agent Additional resources Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Insurance Insurance Car insurance Homeowners insurance Other insurance Company reviews Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Caret RightMain Menu Retirement Retirement Retirement plans & accounts Learn the basics Retirement calculators Additional resources Elevate your Bankrate experience Get insider access to our best financial tools and content Advertiser Disclosure
Advertiser Disclosure
We are an independent, advertising-supported comparison service. Our goal is to help you make smarter financial decisions by providing you with interactive tools and financial calculators, publishing original and objective content, by enabling you to conduct research and compare information for free - so that you can make financial decisions with confidence.
Bankrate has partnerships with issuers including, but not limited to, American Express, Bank of America, Capital One, Chase, Citi and Discover. SHARE: Adobe Stock June 20, 2022 Checkmark Bankrate logo How is this page expert verified? At Bankrate, we take the accuracy of our content seriously. "Expert verified" means that our Financial Review Board thoroughly evaluated the article for accuracy and clarity. The Review Board comprises a panel of financial experts whose objective is to ensure that our content is always objective and balanced. Their reviews hold us accountable for publishing high-quality and trustworthy content. As a Bankrate credit cards editor, Ashley Parks is fascinated by the ways people can make credit cards work for them when armed with the right knowledge. Courtney Mihocik is an editor at Bankrate Credit Cards and CreditCards.com specializing in credit card news and personal finance advice. Previously, she led insurance content at Reviews.com and worked as the loans editor at The Simple Dollar. Cathleen's stories on design, travel and business have appeared in dozens of publications including the Washington Post, Town & Country, Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Fodor’s Travel, Departures and The Writer. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation for how we make money. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Any opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any card issuer. Bankrate logo The Bankrate promise
At Bankrate, we have a mission to demystify the credit cards industry — regardless or where you are in your journey — and make it one you can navigate with confidence. Our team is full of a diverse range of experts from credit card pros to data analysts and, most importantly, people who shop for credit cards just like you. With this combination of expertise and perspectives, we keep close tabs on the credit card industry year-round to: Meet you wherever you are in your credit card journey to guide your information search and help you understand your options. Consistently provide up-to-date, reliable market information so you're well-equipped to make confident decisions. Reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible, so you can make the right decision for you. At Bankrate, we focus on the points consumers care about most: rewards, welcome offers and bonuses, APR, and overall customer experience. Any issuers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide to consumers at each of these levels. At each step of the way, we fact-check ourselves to prioritize accuracy so we can continue to be here for your every next. Bankrate logo Editorial integrity
Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. Key Principles
We value your trust. Our mission is to provide readers with accurate and unbiased information, and we have editorial standards in place to ensure that happens. Our editors and reporters thoroughly fact-check editorial content to ensure the information you’re reading is accurate. We maintain a firewall between our advertisers and our editorial team. Our editorial team does not receive direct compensation from our advertisers. Editorial Independence
Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU – the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and dependable information. Bankrate logo How we make money
You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. If your credit score reaches the 600s, that’s an indicator that your credit-building journey is on the right track. A 600 on the FICO scales means your credit has entered the fair range and could reach the good range soon, if you keep up the good work. The higher your score, the better access you have to the . But even if you’re not in the upper echelon yet, there are plenty of competitive options to help you keep up your credit-building efforts. Credit cards you can get with a 600 credit score
Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa Fair to good 580–740
The provides a reward incentive for the most important factor in building your credit score: your payment history. You’ll earn unlimited 1.5 percent cash back on purchases, but only when you make a payment on your card. Tying cash back rewards and payment history together is a great way to make sure to keep your score on an upward trend, as long as you keep up with regular payments and other key credit habits like a low . Your with this card is based on your creditworthiness, so it could either be low or sky high, ranging from 14.99 percent to 29.99 percent APR. A higher APR means you’ll accrue more in interest charges if you carry a balance from month to month. Having a score in the fair range may put you in the middle of the pack for ongoing APR with this card, so be sure to avoid carrying a balance to skip the added interest altogether. Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card Fair to good 580-740
As you build a better score, you’ll get access to better cards with more competitive rewards rates, like the . You get unlimited 1.5 percent cash back on all purchases with this card, as well as a lucrative 5 percent cash back rate on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel (terms apply). There’s a small catch. You’ll have to pay a $39 annual fee for this card and the ongoing APR is steep at 28.49 percent variable. However, this annual fee one of the lowest you’ll find, and the ongoing APR is a non-factor if you pay your balance in full each month. This card also isn’t secured, so you won’t have to pay both an annual fee and a security deposit. Mission Lane Cash Back Visa Credit Card Fair to good 580-740
The Mission Lane Cash Back Visa Credit Card is a great representation of the difference between a bad and a fair credit score, and what perks a card for each can get you. The Mission Lane Cash Back Visa is a step up from its sister card, the Mission Lane Visa Credit Card, because it offers cash back. You still won’t have to pay an annual fee and there’s still no security deposit requirement. You’ll earn at least 1 percent unlimited cash back on your purchases, with the opportunity to earn up to 1.5 percent cash back depending on your individual program terms. One major drawback of the card is that your official rewards rate, which differs based on your assigned program terms after application, is unknown until you’re approved for the card. The starting credit limit is fairly low at $300, but you will have the chance to get this limit increased after making six on-time payments. As per usual with cards for lower credit scores, the ongoing APR is high at 26.99 percent to 29.99 percent variable, so try not to carry a balance each month. Capital One Platinum Credit Card Fair to good 580-740
The is virtually identical to the Capital One Platinum Secured credit card. The main difference is the credit score recommendation for approval and the security deposit requirement. Since the Capital One Platinum card doesn’t require a security deposit, it’s another example of the benefits of a better credit score: less added costs. There’s still no rewards structure on this card, but this may be to your advantage when it comes to focusing on continued credit building. You could be eligible for a credit limit increase after six months and the CreditWise app is a handy tool to help you track your score progression. Citi Secured Mastercard No credit history
Another card that keeps a square focus on credit building is the . You won’t get rewards with this card and it is secured, so a security deposit is required. This card may be ideal for someone whose score is on the lower side of the fair credit score range, and who may not qualify for the better ongoing APRs on some other . There is no annual fee and your ongoing APR is 25.49 percent variable, which lands in the middle range for these kinds of credit cards. You could get your deposit refunded after 18 months with this card along with a potential upgrade from Citi, though these terms for upgrade aren’t explicit. As a perk for holding a Citi card, you’ll get access to , which features deals on exclusive travel, dining and entertainment events. How to choose a credit card when you have fair credit
Keep up with building credit. Continue to search for cards that incentivize you to keep up with your habits. There are many cards that offer online banking apps and other tools that can also help you keep track of your efforts. See where you can cut costs. As your score gets better, some extra maintenance fees start to fall off the credit cards available to you. Start looking at cards that don’t charge an annual fee or a security deposit. If you know you tend to carry balances, look for . Start shopping for more value. Now that some of your card options may feature rewards, dig into your spending habits to determine what will best suit your financial needs. For example, if you spend broadly across categories, you might opt for a flat-rate cash back card that covers all purchases you make. If you spend more on select categories like dining or travel, start looking for tiered rewards cards that compensate those purchases highly. How to go from fair to good credit
Seek out pre-qualified offers. One way to get a better sense of what cards you could be approved for is to use online tools like to determine your options without causing a hard pull on your credit. Don’t open too many new accounts at once. Opening too many accounts will have a detrimental effect on your credit, which you’ll want to avoid. Learn the importance of and how credit inquiries affect your score overall. Don’t close your old credit card right away. Your credit history is another major factor of your credit score, and the longer it is, the better. Even if you don’t use your starter credit card anymore, could add vital length to your credit history and boost your score over time. Keep paying on time and in full. This credit habit is arguably the most important to maintaining and building your credit score. As long as you’re making consistent, , you should be able to maintain or increase your score. Follow the golden rule for credit utilization. By keeping your , you’ll signal to credit lenders that you have a good handle on your credit, which could lead to a boost in your score over time. Maximizing credit card rewards
When your score improves, you’ll get access to more credit cards that offer rewards. Learning is a great way to benefit from your credit-building efforts two-fold. First, you’ll want to take a close look at and determine what purchases you use your credit card for the most. Your spending often best fits into , and knowing how you spend will be a big determinate of which will offer the most value. Besides helping your credit score, paying your balance in full will help you avoid interest charges that can eat into your reward earnings. Keeping your credit utilization low means you’ll have smaller balances, which are easier to pay off quickly. If your card issuer has a , be sure to use it. Leveraging portals can either earn you a higher rewards rate on certain purchases or increase the value of your redemption significantly. The bottom line
Reaching the fair credit range gives you more breathing room when it comes to letting go of extra fees and brings the potential for earning rewards. Try not to let these extra freedoms distract you from your goals. Continue paying your balances on time and in full whenever possible to avoid added interest that can reduce your new reward earnings. Use the money you used to save up for security deposits as a way to keep your credit utilization below 30 percent. Keep up with your responsible credit habits and you’ll be able to get your hands on the most lucrative credit cards in no time. SHARE: As a Bankrate credit cards editor, Ashley Parks is fascinated by the ways people can make credit cards work for them when armed with the right knowledge. Courtney Mihocik is an editor at Bankrate Credit Cards and CreditCards.com specializing in credit card news and personal finance advice. Previously, she led insurance content at Reviews.com and worked as the loans editor at The Simple Dollar. Cathleen's stories on design, travel and business have appeared in dozens of publications including the Washington Post, Town & Country, Wall Street Journal, Marie Claire, Fodor’s Travel, Departures and The Writer. Related Articles