Writer: Adam West
Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Reviewer: Jon McDonald
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Key Takeaways
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If you have a 600 to 650 credit score, you'll likely have access to both secured and unsecured credit card options.
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If you qualify for an unsecured credit card, you will probably pay a higher APR.
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You can raise your credit score by making payments on time and keeping your credit card balances low compared to their limits.
When we set out to compile a list of the best credit cards for scores between 600 and 650, we first had to grasp the needs of people in this range. Each credit card offers something unique, and every group of consumers has its own set of requirements.
If your credit score falls between 600 and 650, you might struggle to qualify for the top cards out there. However, your score is still high enough that options designed for those with bad credit may not be appealing.
Through our comprehensive research, we’ve pinpointed a variety of needs and compiled a list of the top cards in popular categories. This list is designed to help you find the right credit card that suits your lifestyle.
Best Overall Card for 600 to 650 Credit Scores
When you’re choosing a credit card, some of you might prefer no annual fees, while others might look for flexible payment options or low interest rates. We’ve identified a few cards that meet all these needs—and more—which is why they’re our top picks for credit scores between 600 and 650.
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card is a great choice for those with credit scores in the low 600s. It charges no annual fee and a reasonable APR for someone with fair credit. This card can be used anywhere Mastercard is accepted, both online and in person.
Best Rewards Cards for 600 to 650 Credit Scores
Rewards credit cards are all the rage, and rightfully so. With a good cash back or points credit card, you can earn money and rewards for all the eligible purchases you make using your card — which puts money back into your pocket and gives you savings at the register.
We just mentioned the Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card, but it deserves its spot in the rewards category of this article too. It offers cash back rewards that match cards for good credit and can help you can help you rack up money on every eligible purchase you make with the card.
*See Program Terms for important information about the cash back rewards program.
**Fraud liability subject to Mastercard rules.
† Your credit score will be available in your online account starting 60 days after your account is opened. (Registration required.) The free VantageScore 4.0 credit score provided by TransUnion® is for educational purposes only. This score may not be used by The Bank of Missouri (the issuer of this card) or other creditors to make credit decisions.
The Fortiva® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard offers up to 3% cash back on eligible gas, grocery, and utility purchases. You’ll also receive a free credit score to help you keep track of your credit-building progress. It charges an annual fee that is based on your credit rating.
*See Program Terms for important information about the cash back rewards program.
** Prequalify means that you authorize us to make a soft inquiry into your credit history (that will not affect your credit) to create an offer. If you accept an offer a hard inquiry will be made. Final approval is not guaranteed if you do not meet all applicable criteria (including adequate proof of ability to repay). Income verification through access to your bank account information may be required.
† Your credit score will be available in your online account starting 60 days after your account is opened. (Registration required.) The free VantageScore 4.0 credit score provided by TransUnion® is for educational purposes only. This score may not be used by The Bank of Missouri (the issuer of this card) or other creditors to make credit decisions.
The Aspire® Cash Back Rewards Mastercard is a sister card to the Fortiva card above, offering the same cash back rewards. And, the more you use the card, the more cash back you earn. You can prequalify for the card without hurting your credit score.
Best Cards for 600 to 650 Credit Scores with No Annual Fee
While cash back is a great perk, many issuers add an annual fee to cover their expenses. If you don’t use the card enough to make up for the fee, it might be smarter to choose one without an annual charge, like the top picks listed below.
All Discover it® Student Cash Back cardholders earn bonus cash back at different places each quarter, such as gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, and more. This is a great choice for those who don’t mind keeping track of rotating bonus categories. Bonus cash back is subject to a quarterly purchase limit and bonus categories must be activated each quarter.
The Capital One Platinum Credit Card won’t spring any fees or unexpected charges on you because the card is the true definition of what-you-see-is-what-you-get. The competitive interest rate, lack of fees, and potential to raise your credit limit after making your first five payments on time makes this card a winner.
Best Secured Cards for 600 to 650 Credit Scores
If your credit score isn’t quite high enough for the unsecured card you’ve been dreaming about, think about a secured card instead. These cards require a refundable security deposit, but they offer a great way to enhance your credit profile without high fees.
The Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card is the sister card to the Quicksilver and QuicksilverOne, which means you can likely upgrade to one of those cards after using this secured version responsibly. You’ll earn cash back rewards and pay no annual fee for a card from a large reputable bank.
Most secured credit cards match your credit limit with the amount of your refundable security deposit. But the Capital One Platinum Secured Credit Card uses your credit score to determine your required deposit amount. Depending on your credit profile, you’ll need to pay a deposit of $49, $99, or $200 to unlock your initial credit limit of $200.
The opensky® Secured Visa® Credit Card requires a minimum $200 refundable security deposit to open your account, but does not require a credit check to apply. The issuer will refund your security deposit when you close your account as long as you don’t have a remaining balance. The amount of your security deposit will equal your total credit limit.
Best Student Cards for 600 to 650 Credit Scores
Building a credit score from the ground up requires time and patience—commodities that are often scarce in our younger years. A student credit card can help accelerate this journey, as long as you keep your balance low and make timely payments.
Our top choices below work with students to bring their scores up while preparing them for life after graduation.
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers – only from Discover. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Redeem cash back for any amount
- No credit score required to apply.
- No annual fee and build credit with responsible use.
- 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 16.49% - 25.49% applies.
- Terms and conditions apply.
Many credit cards for students don’t offer cash back options, but the Discover it® Student Cash Back goes big on its rewards. Keep an eye on the rotating categories — and don’t forget to activate them — so you can really maximize the cash back. Bonus cash back is limited to a quarterly spend limit.
With the Discover it® Student Chrome, students can still earn cash back rewards as they do with its Discover sibling card above, but there are no rotating categories to keep track of. This card focuses on rewarding purchases made at gas stations and restaurants.
What is a Decent Credit Score to Get a Credit Card?
Your credit score influences the fees, rates, and rewards available to you, but it won’t prevent you from getting a card completely. Many issuers offer credit lines to individuals across all score ranges, even if they’ve encountered financial missteps in the past.
You can likely get a credit card even if you have a bad credit history, defaults, or recent bankruptcies. While these cards won’t come cheap, they will help you rebuild your credit history faster than just waiting for the negative items to fall off your credit report (which can take up to 10 years).
Issuers work with people across the credit score spectrum, so you can likely get a credit card even if you have bad credit. But the higher your score, the better your interest rates and credit limits will be.
Some secured credit cards don’t require a credit check. While you’ll have to pay a refundable security deposit for access to these cards, you can still obtain a credit card despite a very poor credit score.
If this sounds like you, the next move is to pick a card that aligns with your needs. Instead of just looking at perks and rewards, focus on finding the lowest fees and interest rates. This approach enhances your spending ability and encourages you to pay more than just the minimum balance each month. Over time, this can elevate your credit score, opening doors to better card options.
While credit card rewards can be exciting, they don’t quite match the sense of achievement from becoming debt-free and seeing your credit score rise by several points.
What Credit Cards Can I Get with a 650 Credit Score?
Many credit card issuers use FICO scores to determine eligibility. A score of 650 falls into the high end of the “fair” category of the FICO credit score range. At this stage, you’re only 20 points from moving into the good credit score range.
Fair credit is sometimes referred to as average credit, but the average credit score in America is now 715, firmly in good territory, despite the financial woes the pandemic caused.
That means you may qualify for several different cards and can shop around to find one that best matches your needs, but you may not receive the best terms. Credit card issuers consider their risks when deciding which credit card to offer each applicant. You may receive less attractive offers — or an outright rejection — if there’s a chance you could default and the issuing bank will take a loss.
| FICO Score Categories | Score Range |
|---|---|
| Exceptional | 800-850 |
| Very Good | 740-799 |
| Good | 670-739 |
| Fair | 580-669 |
| Poor | Below 580 |
The risks you pose to the credit card issuer — and how good of a card you may receive from the bank — will depend on why you have a 650 credit score.
If you’ve made some financial mistakes in the past or are currently carrying high balances on your cards, both can push your credit score into the fair range. Each situation comes with its own risk assessments. An issuer might hesitate to extend more credit if you’re already overwhelmed by debt, or they could take a chance on you—with a few extra fees and higher interest rates to balance the risk.
How Can I Raise My Credit Score?
Your FICO Score is influenced by five key factors. Although each one contributes to improving your score, some factors have a greater impact than others.
Payment history makes up 35% of your score. This looks at your mix of on-time payments and late payments of 30 days or more.
| FICO Score Factor | Percentage of Your Score |
|---|---|
| Payment History | 35% |
| Amounts Owed | 30% |
| Credit History | 15% |
| Credit Mix | 10% |
| New Credit | 10% |
Banks obviously want to see every payment happen on time, and even just one late payment will make your score drop by as much as 100 points.
Late payments sit on your credit report for up to seven years. But, as they get older, and you replace them with on-time payments, they don’t hold your credit score down as much as they did when they were new.
So, making on-time payments is the best way to raise your score — but it also takes time.
Since 30% of your score comes from amounts owed, understanding your credit utilization ratio is crucial. To calculate it, just divide your current credit card balance by your overall credit limit.
Banks prefer to see low utilization because it indicates that you’re managing credit responsibly and not overburdened by debt. If your utilization is high, banks may be reluctant to offer you additional credit.
Here’s an example of how to calculate CUR based on someone who has three credit cards and a $10,000 overall credit limit:
| Card A | Card B | Card C | Overall | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance | $500 | $0 | $2,150 | $2,650 |
| Credit Limit | $2,000 | $3,000 | $5,000 | $10,000 |
| Utilization Ratio | 25% | 0% | 43% | 26.50% |
You can lower your utilization and increase your credit score by paying down existing debts and making more than the minimum monthly payment. The length of your credit history determines 15% of your credit score. Banks want to see a consistent track record of credit success.
While making on-time payments for six months may catch a bank’s attention, maintaining a 15-year history without a single late payment will likely secure you better terms and offers.
It takes time, patience, and discipline to build credit.
New credit accounts for 10% of your total FICO score. This is where inquiries matter.
Every time you apply for a credit card or loan, the lender places a hard inquiry on your credit report, which gives them access to your file with whichever credit bureau it requested access to. These inquiries show up on your report to let lenders know how often you’re applying for new credit — and they stay on your credit report for two years.
Here’s a look at the difference between hard and soft inquiries:
| Hard Credit Inquiry | Inquiry |
|---|---|
| Visible to anyone who pulls your credit reports | Not visible to others who pull your credit |
| Can impact scores for up to 2 years | Won’t impact your credit scores at all |
| Requires your direct permission or an application for credit | Does not require your direct permission or an application for credit |
Banks know that applying for new credit now and then is typical. But, frequently opening new cards or loans can be a warning sign, suggesting you might be having trouble managing your current debts.
Banks usually permit two or three inquiries on your credit report over a two-year span. However, exceeding that number could lower your credit score and reduce your chances of approval.
Limiting your number of new applications will help your credit score improve over time.
Credit mix accounts for the final 10% of your credit score. This looks at how well you handle different types of credit — such as car loans, personal loans, mortgage loans, student loans, or credit cards.
Banks appreciate seeing a well-balanced mix of credit on your report, but they frown upon multiple loans with high balances. It’s wise to avoid applying for numerous loans just to diversify your credit profile.
You can improve your score quickly by paying down the balances on your current loans and cards.
Use Your Card Wisely to Earn Better Card Offers
Improving your credit score takes time, but any of the cards featured on our list of the best credit cards for 600 to 650 credit scores can help you boost your credit score without paying high fees or surprise charges.
Adding one of these cards to your wallet and using it wisely over time should boost your score, making it possible to upgrade to the card you’ve always wanted when the moment is right.
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