Best Credit Cards for a 600 Credit Score of December 2024
Updated: Nov 18, 2024
+ 2 more+ 2 more
A credit score of 600 is generally defined as bad credit — although it's not that far from the next level up, "fair" credit. If you have a 600 credit score, you're unlikely to get approved for top-tier credit cards, but that doesn't mean you have no options. Multiple issuers, including some of the bigger names in the industry, make cards available to people with a credit score in the 600 range.
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NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
A credit score of 600 is generally defined as bad credit — although it's not that far from the next level up, "fair" credit. If you have a 600 credit score, you're unlikely to get approved for top-tier credit cards, but that doesn't mean you have no options. Multiple issuers, including some of the bigger names in the industry, make cards available to people with a credit score in the 600 range.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards.
Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today,
The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America"
and many other national, regional and local media outlets.
Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Show More
A credit score of 600 is generally defined as bad credit — although it's not that far from the next level up, "fair" credit. If you have a 600 credit score, you're unlikely to get approved for top-tier credit cards, but that doesn't mean you have no options. Multiple issuers, including some of the bigger names in the industry, make cards available to people with a credit score in the 600 range.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
A credit score of 600 is generally defined as bad credit — although it's not that far from the next level up, "fair" credit. If you have a 600 credit score, you're unlikely to get approved for top-tier credit cards, but that doesn't mean you have no options. Multiple issuers, including some of the bigger names in the industry, make cards available to people with a credit score in the 600 range.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
Why trust NerdWallet
400+ credit cards reviewed by our team of experts (See our top picks)
80+ years of combined experience covering credit cards and personal finance
27,000+ hours spent researching and reviewing financial products in the last 12 months
Objective comprehensive ratings rubrics (Methodology)
NerdWallet's credit cards content, including ratings and recommendations, is overseen by a team of writers and editors who specialize in credit cards. Their work has appeared in The Associated Press, USA Today, The New York Times, MarketWatch, MSN, NBC's "Today," ABC's "Good Morning America" and many other national, regional and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict guidelines for editorial integrity.
NerdWallet's Best Credit Cards for a 600 Credit Score of December 2024
Discover it® Secured Credit Card: Best for Rewards, bonus offer & upgrading
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card: Best for Rewards and upgrading
Chime Secured Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card: Best for No credit check + easy account management
Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card: Best for No-deposit option
OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card: Best for No credit check or bank account
Secured Self Visa® Credit Card: Best for No upfront deposit or hard credit check
Grow Credit Mastercard: Best for Building credit with subscriptions
Show SummaryHide Summary
Find the right credit card for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Whether you want to pay less interest or earn more rewards, the right card's out there. Just answer a few questions and we'll narrow the search for you.
Rewards and upgrading
The $0-annual-fee Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card offers rewards on par with cards for people with good credit, plus opportunities to boost your credit limit or even convert to a regular unsecured card.
Our Take
You'll earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase, which is as good as you'll find on a lot of cards for those with much higher credit scores. Capital One will review your credit limit after six months to see if you're eligible for an increase. Use the card responsibly — by making payments on time, for example — and you may have your deposit returned to you and your account converted to a regular Quicksilver card.
There's a $200 minimum deposit to start, which may be a stretch for some applicants. Meanwhile, the maximum deposit can be as low as $1,000; the issuer determines your max based on creditworthiness.
The $0-annual-fee Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card offers rewards on par with cards for people with good credit, plus opportunities to boost your credit limit or even convert to a regular unsecured card.
No credit check + easy account management
The Chime Secured Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card has no minimum deposit requirement, charges neither an annual fee nor interest, and doesn't require a credit check, and you can automate your payments so you're never late. But to get it, you must be a Chime® banking customer
Product Details
- The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., Members FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your card for its issuing bank.
- No credit check to apply, no annual fees or interest⁴, and no minimum security deposit required.³ No stress! Additional terms apply.
- Use your secured Credit Builder card everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted, including on everyday purchases, such as gas and groceries.
- Help build your credit history with your own money. The money you move into the Credit Builder secured account is the amount you can spend on your card (no minimum deposit required!).³ Turn on Safer Credit Building² and have your monthly balance automatically paid on time. Chime will report your activities to Transunion®, Experian®, and Equifax®.
- Increase your credit scores by an average of 30 points, with regular, on-time payments.¹
- Turn on transaction notifications to receive real-time transaction alerts. Then, use Chime’s instant in-app disable card feature to help prevent unauthorized activities.
- Live support 24/7 to assist you around the clock.
- Now you can use your Credit Builder card fee-free at over 60K+ in-network ATMs at retailers like Walgreens®, CVS®, and more! Out-of-network ATM withdrawal fees may apply except at Moneypass ATMs in 7-Eleven® locations, or any Allpoint® or Visa Plus Alliance ATMs.
- Apply for a secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card once you have an active Chime Checking Account. See www.chime.com to learn more.
Our Take
Instead of a security deposit, the card is backed by the money in a linked account, which you can add to at any time. The card won't let you spend any more than you have in the account, and when your payment is due, you can have the money taken from the account automatically. In a way, it works like a prepaid debit card, but unlike a prepaid card, it helps build credit. No credit check required to apply.
The safety precautions that make it an excellent tool for building credit can also get in the way of learning how to handle credit responsibly. Any card you graduate to will work quite differently. Chime has been the subject of multiple complaints related to the way it freezes customers' funds.
The Chime Secured Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card has no minimum deposit requirement, charges neither an annual fee nor interest, and doesn't require a credit check, and you can automate your payments so you're never late. But to get it, you must be a Chime® banking customer
No upfront deposit or hard credit check
The Secured Self Visa® Credit Card offers those with a credit score of 600 (or worse) a unique credit-building path. Unlike typical secured cards, it doesn't require an upfront security deposit or a hard credit check. But it does make you jump through some hoops that other secured cards don't.
Product Details
- One of the lowest deposit in the industry ($100).
- Users can micro-pay their way to a deposit (as low as $25/mo). Sample loans: $25/mo, 24 mos, 15.92% APR; $35/mo, 24 mos, 15.69% APR; $48/mo, 24 mos, 15.51% APR; $150/mo, 24 mos, 15.82% APR. See self.inc/pricing.
- $25 annual fee.
- Monthly credit limit increases.
- Applying won't impact your credit.
- Reports to all three bureaus.
- Start with a Credit Builder Account**.
- Make at least 3 monthly payments on time, have $100 or more in savings progress in your Credit Builder Account, satisfy income requirements, and be in good standing. Then, you’ll be eligible for the Secured Self Visa® Credit Card.
- Card eligibility: Active Credit Builder Account in good standing, 3 on time payments, $100 or more in savings progress and satisfying income requirements. Criteria subject to change.
- Your savings progress from your Credit Builder Account acts as your security deposit for your secured Credit Card.
- *The secured Self Visa® Credit Card is issued by Lead Bank or First Century Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC.
- **Credit Builder Accounts & Certificates of Deposit made/held by Lead Bank, Sunrise Banks, N.A., First Century Bank, N.A., each Member FDIC. Subject to credit approval.
Our Take
Instead of requiring a traditional deposit, this card has you open a Self Credit Builder Account and make regular payments on a secured installment loan. (See our review for more detail on how it works.) Your payments essentially go into a certificate of deposit; once you have enough saved up with Self, you can use that money as a deposit on the card. The minimum deposit is just $100, lower than on most secured cards. There's no hard credit check, either.
There's a one-time account set-up fee of $9 and an annual fee of $25. And it needs to be said: The process of opening the Credit Builder Account, making payments and then funding the card deposit can be a hassle. But for those struggling to build credit, it can be worth the effort.
The Secured Self Visa® Credit Card offers those with a credit score of 600 (or worse) a unique credit-building path. Unlike typical secured cards, it doesn't require an upfront security deposit or a hard credit check. But it does make you jump through some hoops that other secured cards don't.
Rewards, bonus offer & upgrading
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card was one of the first secured credit cards to offer meaningful rewards, but what really sets it apart is the clear process for upgrading to a regular card.
Product Details
- No credit score required to apply. No Annual Fee.
- Your secured credit card requires a refundable security deposit, and your credit line will equal your deposit amount, starting at $200. Bank information must be provided when submitting your deposit.
- Raise your credit score by 30+ points.
- Automatic reviews starting at 7 months to see if we can transition you to an unsecured line of credit and return your deposit.
- Earn 2% cash back at Gas Stations and Restaurants on up to $1,000 in combined purchases each quarter, automatically. Plus earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
- Get an alert if we find your Social Security number on any of thousands of Dark Web sites. Activate for free.
- Terms and conditions apply.
- View Rates & Fees
Our Take
The card earns 2% cash back on up to $1,000 worth of spending per quarter on restaurants and gas, and 1% on all other spending. That would be pretty good even for a regular card. On top of that, it comes with Discover's signature bonus offer. After seven months, Discover automatically evaluates your account for possible upgrade to an unsecured card. And the annual fee is $0.
For some applicants, the $200 minimum security deposit will be a stretch. For others, the $2,500 maximum will be too low.
The Discover it® Secured Credit Card was one of the first secured credit cards to offer meaningful rewards, but what really sets it apart is the clear process for upgrading to a regular card.
No credit check or bank account
The OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card doesn't require a credit check or a bank account. The "Plus" in the name refers to the fact that, unlike the regular OpenSky card, it doesn't charge an annual fee — although it has a higher APR and usually requires a higher deposit than that card.
Product Details
- New feature! Earn up to 10% cash back on everyday purchases
- No annual fee
- No credit check to apply. Find out instantly if you are approved- Zero credit risk to apply!
- Looking to build or rebuild your credit? 2/3 of cardholders receive a 48+ point improvement after making 3 on-time payments
- Monitor your credit progress with free access to your FICO Credit Score.
- Reports to all 3 major credit bureaus monthly to establish and build credit history.
- Add to your mobile wallet and make purchases using Apple Pay, Samsung Pay and Google Pay
- Secure your credit line with a refundable security deposit - as low as $300.
- Easy application, apply in less than 5 minutes right from your mobile device
- Offers flexible payment due dates which allow you to choose any available due date that fits your payment schedule
- Now you can make smaller partial payments towards funding your security deposit over 60 days
- Over 1.4 Million Cardholders Have Used OpenSky Secured Credit Card To Improve Their Credit
Our Take
The benefits are largely the same as with the annual-fee OpenSky card: The issuer doesn’t run a credit check, and you can make your deposit and pay your bills with a debit card, wire transfer, check or money order, making it an option for those without a traditional bank account. On top of that, there's no annual fee.
The minimum security deposit on this card is usually higher than on OpenSky's standard card. The APR is also considerably higher, so avoid carrying a balance. Also, your options for upgrading to an unsecured card are limited.
The OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card doesn't require a credit check or a bank account. The "Plus" in the name refers to the fact that, unlike the regular OpenSky card, it doesn't charge an annual fee — although it has a higher APR and usually requires a higher deposit than that card.
No-deposit option
The Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card is a solid option for someone building or rebuilding credit who doesn't want to tie up money in a security deposit or pay an exorbitant annual fee. Not everyone will qualify, but the issuer lets you see whether you do before you apply.
Product Details
- $0 Annual Fee. Clear terms and transparent pricing.
- See if you qualify instantly without harming your credit score.
- Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as few as 7 months.
- Free, online credit score access for cardholders.
- No interest on purchases when you pay in full and on time each month.
- No security deposit required – get started today!
- Enjoy coverage from Visa®.
- Access your account anytime, anywhere with our mobile app.
- If you are charged interest, the charge will be no less than $0.50.
Our Take
People with a 600 credit score are often dismayed to find that they either have to provide a security deposit or pay outrageous fees to get a credit card. This card is an exception. The issuer's prequalification process shows you what offer you're eligible for without a "hard" credit check that affects your credit scores. (If you choose to apply after seeing the offer, then a hard check takes place.) That's an important consideration if you're struggling to build your credit profile and don't want to run the risk of a hard check only to be rejected. After approval, the issuer automatically reviews your account for potential credit line increases.
You won't earn rewards with this card. Rewards shouldn't be the main priority when building your credit, but it is a nice perk you'll get with some other credit-building cards.
The Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card is a solid option for someone building or rebuilding credit who doesn't want to tie up money in a security deposit or pay an exorbitant annual fee. Not everyone will qualify, but the issuer lets you see whether you do before you apply.
Building credit with subscriptions
The Grow Credit Mastercard helps you build credit through qualifying subscriptions and bill payments you're already making. There's no hard credit check, no interest charges and a no-annual-fee option.
Product Details
- Connect a bank account to apply for a Grow Credit interest-free Mastercard.
- Signing up is easy and completely free.
- Use your Grow Credit Mastercard to pay for your existing subscriptions or browse for new ones.
- Just sit back, relax and watch your credit score grow!
- Grow Credit is not taking new applications at this time.
Our Take
Depending on which membership plan you choose, you can use the card for $17 to $150 a month in qualifying subscriptions and/or bill payments. Eligible payments include streaming services like Netflix and Spotify, as well as certain wireless phone providers. Your bill must be paid in full each month, so you can't carry a balance and therefore won't pay interest. The card reports to all three major credit bureaus.
This card rates lower than other options on this page because of its limited usability. It's can help you build credit, but beyond subscriptions, you can't put so much as a pack of gum on it. There's a plan with no membership fee, but your monthly spending limit with that plan is $17, enough to cover (maybe) one subscription. Those who can't qualify for the free plan have to pay $2.99 a month plus provide a $17 deposit. To get a higher monthly limit, you'll need to pay a monthly fee of $4.99 (for a $50 limit) to $9.99 (for $150).
The Grow Credit Mastercard helps you build credit through qualifying subscriptions and bill payments you're already making. There's no hard credit check, no interest charges and a no-annual-fee option.
FULL LIST OF EDITORIAL PICKS: BEST CREDIT CARDS FOR A 600 CREDIT SCORE
Confirm details on issuer's website before applying.
Discover it® Secured Credit Card
Our pick for: Rewards, bonus offer & upgrading
Like other secured credit cards for people building or rebuilding credit, the Discover it® Secured Credit Card requires a cash security deposit. Unlike most others, it offers rewards. But what really makes it stand out from the competition is its upgrade possibilities. The issuer has a process in place for automatically reviewing accounts for possible transition to an unsecured card. Read our review.
Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card
Our pick for: Rewards and upgrading
The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card offers an impressive combination of features for those with poor credit. A deposit is required, but in exchange you get a $0-annual-fee card that reports to all three credit bureaus (see rates and fees); an automatic credit limit review after six months; and a possible upgrade path to an unsecured Capital One card. Oh, and 5% back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, plus 1.5% back on all other purchases, which equals what you'd find on many unsecured cards. Read our review.
Chime Secured Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card
Our pick for: No credit check + easy account management
This card has no minimum deposit requirement, charges neither an annual fee nor interest, and doesn't require a credit check, and you can automate your payments so you're never late. But to get it, you must be a Chime® banking customer, which is an extra hoop to jump through — and which comes with its own considerations when it comes to customer service. Read our review.
See more from Chime®
Chime says the following:
The secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card is issued by The Bancorp Bank, N.A. or Stride Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa credit cards are accepted. Please see the back of your card for its issuing bank.
To apply for Credit Builder, you must have received a single qualifying direct deposit of $200 or more to your Chime® Checking Account. The qualifying direct deposit must be from your employer, payroll provider, gig economy payer, or benefits payer by Automated Clearing House (ACH) deposit OR Original Credit Transaction (OCT). Bank ACH transfers, Pay Anyone transfers, verification or trial deposits from financial institutions, peer to peer transfers from services such as PayPal, Cash App, or Venmo, mobile check deposits, cash deposits, one-time direct deposits, such as tax refunds and other similar transactions, and any deposit to which Chime deems to not be a qualifying direct deposit are not qualifying direct deposits.
Based on a representative study conducted by Experian®, members who made their first purchase with Credit Builder between June 2022 and October 2022 observed an average FICO® Score 8 increase of 30 points after approximately 8 months. On-time payment history can have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score.
On-time payment history may have a positive impact on your credit score. Late payment may negatively impact your credit score. Chime will report your activities to Transunion®, Experian®, and Equifax®. Impact on your credit may vary, as Credit scores are independently determined by credit bureaus based on a number of factors including the financial decisions you make with other financial services organizations.
Money added to Credit Builder will be held in a secured account as collateral for your Credit Builder Visa card, which means you can spend up to this amount on your card. This is money you can use to pay off your charges at the end of every month.
Out-of-network ATM withdrawal and OTC advance fees may apply. View The Bancorp agreement or Stride agreement for details; see back of card for issuer.
Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card
Our pick for: No-deposit option
The Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card could be a reasonable option for someone building or rebuilding credit who doesn't want to tie up money in a security deposit. Not everyone will qualify, but the issuer lets you see whether you do before you apply. Read our review.
OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card
Our pick for: No credit check or bank account
Like the regular OpenSky card, the OpenSky® Plus Secured Visa® Credit Card doesn't require a credit check or a bank account. This card, however, charges an annual fee of $0 — at the cost of a higher minimum deposit and a higher interest rate. Read our review.
Secured Self Visa® Credit Card
Our pick for: No upfront deposit or hard credit check
The Secured Self Visa® Credit Card offers a unique path to building credit. Unlike typical secured cards, it doesn't require an upfront security deposit or a hard credit check. But it does make you jump through some hoops that other secured cards don't. You start by making payments on a secured loan, which become savings that you can use for your deposit. It's complicated, but for those struggling to establish a credit history, it can be efficient and effective. Read our review.
Grow Credit Mastercard
Our pick for: Building credit with subscriptions
The Grow Credit Mastercard doesn’t require a security deposit or a hard credit check. It allows you to establish a credit history by paying for qualifying subscriptions like Netflix or Spotify, and it doesn’t charge any interest because you can't carry a balance on the card. You will owe a membership fee, however. Read our review.
• • •
UNSECURED CARDS FOR BAD CREDIT
Although there are some exceptions, such as the Mission Lane Visa® Credit Card, unsecured credit cards marketed to people with credit scores of 600 or lower generally charge high fees and high interest while offering low credit limits. The main advantages to such cards are that approval is usually pretty easy and that you don't have to provide an upfront security deposit. But the fees you're charged in the first couple of years can easily top the $200 minimum deposit on many secured cards. And unlike a security deposit, which you can get back if you upgrade the card or close it in good standing, these fees are gone for good once you pay them.
NerdWallet generally doesn't recommend high-fee unsecured cards, but the choice is ultimately yours. Here are some of the better-known unsecured cards for bad credit:
Card | Key details | More information |
|---|---|---|
Reflex® Platinum Mastercard® |
| |
Revvi Card |
| |
Surge® Platinum Mastercard® |
| |
Total Visa® Credit Card |
|
HOW TO BUILD CREDIT WITH A CREDIT CARD
Getting approved for a card with a 600 credit score is the just the first step toward building credit to the point where you can qualify for better cards with richer rewards and lower rates and fees. Here's a quick guide to your next steps:
1. Fund the security deposit, if necessary
If you've been approved for a secured credit card, you must pay the security deposit before you can start using the card. Some cards include this step in the upfront application process, but others give you some time to fund the deposit — perhaps 30 days or so. Failure to fund the deposit will usually result in the issuer closing your account. If that happens, your credit-building journey may suffer a double setback: Not only do you not have a card, but the application process may have knocked some points off your score.
2. Use the card — but don't use it too much
Your credit score is essentially designed to answer one question: If you borrow money, can the lender count on you to pay it back as agreed? A major reason a credit card is so effective at building credit is that it allows you to demonstrate responsible borrowing habits on a monthly basis and in multiple ways:
If you have access to a line of credit, do you go wild and max out your card, or do you use it sparingly? One of the most important factors in credit scores is credit utilization ratio — how much of your available credit you're using. It's generally advised to keep your balance below 30% of your credit limit. If your credit limit is $300, for example, you'll want to stay under $90. For maximum credit score benefit, try to stay even lower, under 10%.
When you do put charges on the card, do you pay your bill on time every month, or do you pay late or miss payments entirely? Payment history is the No. 1 factor in credit scores. If you do nothing else, make sure that you pay your bill by the due date every month. Speaking of which ...
3. Pay your bill on time every month
To avoid a late fee, you must pay at least the minimum amount due (this will be indicated on your statement) by your due date. Payments that are more than 30 days late are reported to the credit bureaus, and this can do serious damage to your credit scores. Ideally, you'll be paying your bill in full, since you're only putting small amounts on the card (see above). And when you pay in full every month, you won't get charged interest.
While you do have to use your card to build credit, you do not have to carry debt from month to month to build credit. That's a pernicious myth. You get all the credit-building benefits just by using the card and paying it off in full each month.
4. Monitor your credit scores
You can get free access to a credit score in a lot of places nowadays. Your card issuer might give you access right from your online account portal. NerdWallet also offers free access to a credit score if you register. There are an array of credit scoring models, so the scores you see may differ from one source to another. But if you're doing what you need to do to improve your credit, you should see all of them moving upward.
5. Upgrade when the time is right
As your credit improves, you'll be able to qualify for better cards. If your scores have moved into the mid-600s, take a look at our best credit cards for fair or average credit. When you're above 700, you're in the range of good to excellent credit, and you can start looking at some of the best credit cards across all categories. Keep in mind also that some of the secured credit cards described on this page have a process to automatically upgrade you to a regular unsecured card after you demonstrate a pattern of responsible use. If your secured card doesn't have upgrade options, you'll have to close your account to get your deposit back.
Last updated on November 18, 2024
Methodology
NerdWallet's Credit Cards team selects the best credit cards for a 600 credit score based on overall value, as evidenced by star ratings, as well as suitability for specific kinds of consumers. Factors in our evaluation include annual and other fees, deposit requirements for secured cards (both the minimum and maximum allowed), interest rates, whether a card offers an option to upgrade to an unsecured account, the availability of free credit scores and other credit education and tools, reporting to credit bureaus, and other noteworthy features such as a rewards program or the ability to qualify without a credit check. Learn how NerdWallet rates credit cards.
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