The Ultimate Guide to Credit Cards
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

7 Best High-Limit Credit Cards for Fair Credit (March 2024)

Best Credit Cards For Fair Credit With High Limits
Ray FitzGerald

Written by: Ray FitzGerald

Ray FitzGerald
Ray FitzGerald

Ray Fitzgerald has more than a decade of journalism experience, writing for national media outlets, including the Miami Herald and Investment Times. Ray is passionate about traditional and alternative investment strategies, but most enjoys sharing creative ways to budget and save money. Ray has personally written about hundreds of credit card offers from banks and credit unions across America and enjoys helping people find the best cards and rewards programs for their specific spending needs.

Edited by: Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro
Lillian Guevara-Castro

Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to the CardRates team. She has written and edited for major news organizations, including The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the New York Times, and she previously served as an adjunct journalism instructor at the University of Florida. Today, Lillian edits all CardRates content for clarity, accuracy, and reader engagement.

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Advertiser Disclosure

If your credit’s not exactly the best, but it’s not the worst in the world either, you may fall into the fair credit category. This can present some challenges, but in this article we’ll take a look at the best credit cards for fair credit, with high limits.

I spent the first hour of a recent trip in a rental car line. While a man nearby taught me a few new interesting words, the customer at the counter struggled to complete a reservation she made months before.

Most companies place credit card holds during a rental period. The security measure is released after the vehicle returns. This lady’s hold was $750, but the limit on her credit card was $500. She offered cash or her debit card, but the clerk couldn’t accept it. She called the card issuer, but her limit couldn’t increase because her account was too new. Eventually, she left without transportation for her trip.

Too often, consumers are locked out of purchases because of low credit limits. In an age where plastic payments are the norm, shouldn’t your credit card be as flexible as you are?

Highest Overall | Rewards | No Annual Fee | Business | Student

Best “High-Limit” Credit Card for Fair Credit

The definition of Fair credit varies depending on the credit scoring agency. In most cases, scores in the 600s will fall into the Fair category. Those scores should open borrowers to rates slightly better than subprime, but still a step below consumers with Good credit.

The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card is a best-of-both-worlds option because it allows higher potential limits (reportedly up to $5,000) with the ability to eventually upgrade to the regular Capital One Quicksilver Cash Rewards Credit Card that sports no annual fee and higher potential limits. And unlimited 1.5% cash back rewards push this card to the front of the fair-credit pack.

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.5

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account. It's that simple
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
  • Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
30.74% (Variable)
$39
Average, Fair, Limited

Initial credit limits vary depending on creditworthiness, but Capital One® reviews all accounts after the first five months of membership. With a clean payment history in that time, limits are typically raised, and continue to increase every six months if you have no late payments or your credit score doesn’t decrease from outside factors.

Best “Rewards” Credit Cards for Fair Credit

Rewards cards are all the rage among consumers who want to get the most bang for their buck. Recent surveys show as many as 86% of Americans have a rewards card in their wallet. Those numbers seem to increase each quarter, as issuers challenge each other to increase perks. Benefits are no longer reserved solely for applicants with excellent credit.

Issuers are now making room in the rewards market for fair-credit cardholders with unsecured options for consumers rebuilding their credit history. While these cards offer decent rewards, the exact rates, fees, and credit limits offered will, of course, vary based on your credit profile. Reviews show typical fair-credit applicants for the cards below start with a limit between $300 and $750, but see an increase after regular payments.

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.5

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • No rotating categories or limits to how much you can earn, and cash back doesn't expire for the life of the account. It's that simple
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Help strengthen your credit for the future with responsible card use
  • Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
30.74% (Variable)
$39
Average, Fair, Limited
Aspire® Cash Back Reward Card Review

at Aspire Card'ssecure website

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.5

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn 3% Cash Back Rewards* on Gas, Groceries and Utility Bill Payments
  • Earn 1% Cash Back Rewards* on all other eligible purchases
  • Up to $1,000 credit limit subject to credit approval
  • Prequalify** without affecting your credit score
  • No security deposit
  • Free access to your VantageScore 4.0 score from TransUnion®†
    *See Program Terms for important information about the cash back rewards program.
    ** Prequalify means that you authorize us to make a soft inquiry (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.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
29.99% or 36% Fixed
As low as $85
Fair
Fortiva® Mastercard® Credit Card Review

at Fortiva'ssecure website

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.5

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn 3% Cash Back Rewards* on Gas, Groceries and Utility Bill Payments
  • Earn 1% Cash Back Rewards* on all other eligible purchases
  • Good anywhere Mastercard® is accepted
  • $0 fraud liability**
  • Free access to your VantageScore 4.0 credit score from TransUnion®†
    *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.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
29.99% or 36% Fixed
As low as $85
Fair

Despite the popularity of rewards cards, 31% of cardholders don’t redeem the rewards they earn. Those numbers are alarming when you consider that many of these cards charge an annual fee for access to the benefits. It’s like paying for your groceries and leaving them at the register.

Best “No Annual Fee” Credit Cards for Fair Credit

Rewards are great if you make regular charges to your account and pay them off that month. Your day-to-day spending can earn a small stockpile of savings that builds over time — and, hopefully, negates any annual fee. If you’re the frugal type and don’t use your card outside of emergencies, you’re better off skipping the rewards and going with a card that doesn’t charge you simply to own it.

Annual fees are an annoying part of being a cardholder. It’s hard to remember each year when they’re due, and an unexpected $75 charge can dampen your plans for the weekend really fast. Our expert-rated picks below won’t charge you an annual fee for the pleasure of being a cardholder.

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.5

OVERALL RATING

  • No annual or hidden fees. See if you're approved in seconds
  • Be automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
  • Help build your credit through responsible use of a card like this
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It's free for everyone
  • Get access to your account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with online banking from your desktop or smartphone, with Capital One's mobile app
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
30.74% (Variable)
$0
Average, Fair, Limited

BEST OVERALL RATING

★★★★★
4.8

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
  • Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24.
  • Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 19.24% - 29.24%, based on your creditworthiness.
  • Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
  • If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
  • There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
0% Intro APR Period 18 months on Balance Transfers
19.24% - 29.24% (Variable)
$0
Excellent, Good, Fair

Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.

Reviews from Capital One Platinum Credit Card cardholders report multiple credit limit increases — some by as much as $1,000 at a time — within the first year of membership.

The Citi Double Cash® Card also caters to people with excellent credit, so you may get an initial credit line higher than other cards on this list.

Best “Business” Credit Card for Fair Credit

A revolving line of credit is paramount to the functioning of any business today. Unexpected expenses arise that tight budgets don’t always account for. Lower credit limits won’t cut it when a computer dies or a last-second meeting is called three thousand miles away.

Don’t fall into the thinking that your business has to be a large corporation to qualify for a business card. Some cardholders of the Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business say they had low expectations for approval, due to their business being new and their credit score in the low end of the Fair range. Despite those hurdles, reports of credit limits that start between $1,000 and $2,000 are common.

7. Capital One® Spark® Classic for Business

This card is currently not available.

Business Rating

★★★★★
N/A

OVERALL RATING

N/A
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A

Additional Disclosure: Information for this card not reviewed by or provided by Capital One.

Access to credit not only helps you with emergencies, it can take your business to the next level with the ability to purchase upgrades or new equipment to keep things running smooth. For most businesses, a low credit limit just won’t cut it. Make sure that any card you apply for meets your needs and offers the flexibility to grow alongside your enterprise.

Best “Student” Credit Cards for Fair Credit

Nothing is worse than showing up on the first day of class to find a professor who requires multiple books that you know you’ll never use. Still, the expense won’t go away. Students spend, on average, $1,168 on textbooks and materials each year. Most of those expenses happen early each semester, which boosts the need for credit at certain times of the year.

Several issuers offer student-based cards that provide features young consumers need. For example, some offer APR breaks based on GPA, while others offer discounts on cellphones or cash back rewards for everyday necessities. Examine each card closely and decide which is best for your needs.

Discover it® Student Cash Back Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

STUDENT RATING

★★★★★
4.8

OVERALL RATING

  • 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! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
  • 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—automatically.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • No credit score required to apply.
  • 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.
  • No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 18.24% - 27.24% applies.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 6 months
10.99% Intro APR for 6 months
18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
$0
Fair/New to Credit

STUDENT RATING

★★★★★
4.7

OVERALL RATING

  • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day
  • Early Spend Bonus: Earn $50 when you spend $100 in the first three months
  • Earn 10% cash back on purchases made through Uber & Uber Eats, plus complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
  • Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud Liability so that you won't be responsible for unauthorized charges
  • Enjoy no annual fee, foreign transaction fees, or hidden fees
  • Lock your card in the Capital One Mobile app if it's misplaced, lost or stolen
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
N/A
N/A
19.99% - 29.99% (Variable)
$0
Average, Fair, Limited
Discover it® Student Chrome Review

at Discover Card'ssecure website

STUDENT RATING

★★★★★
4.7

OVERALL RATING

  • 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! So you could turn $50 cash back into $100. Or turn $100 cash back into $200. There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. Just a dollar-for-dollar match.
  • 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.
  • Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
  • No credit score required to apply.
  • 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.
  • No annual fee and build your credit with responsible use.
  • 0% intro APR on purchases for 6 months, then the standard variable purchase APR of 18.24% - 27.24% applies.
  • Terms and conditions apply.
Intro (Purchases)
Intro (Transfers)
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Credit Needed
0% Intro APR for 6 months
10.99% Intro APR for 6 months
18.24% - 27.24% Variable APR
$0
Fair/New to Credit

Higher education is expensive. Besides the in-class costs, pizza, beer, and Pop-Tarts can get really expensive over a four-year period. Student credit limits often start small but can increase quickly with responsible usage. The most important step in building your credit score is to make on-time payments and keep your expenses limited to what you can afford to pay off each month.

Higher Credit Scores Mean Higher Limits

It’s easy for many consumers to think they’re stuck with lower credit limits because they have a limited or tarnished credit profile. Moving up to good — and eventually excellent — credit takes time, but it’s achievable. Credit card issuers face steep competition from banks and outside companies, like Paypal. In an effort to earn your business, cards are created that meet the needs of the full gamut of credit-seekers.

Higher limits also increase your purchasing power and help you improve your credit standing over time. Issuers like Capital One® make requesting credit limit increases easy with a simple questionnaire in the online portal that can be filled out as often as you’d like. Limit increases, though, are typically only granted about once every six months after an introductory increase, and often require a hard credit inquiry.

If you’ve read to this point, it’s obvious you’re serious about improving your financial well-being. That dedication will pay off over the long haul with credit limit increases that give you the security and peace of mind that you’ll need when emergencies pop up. It’ll also protect you from grumbling old men who invent new curse words every time the line at the rental car counter slows down.

Advertiser Disclosure

CardRates.com is a free online resource that offers valuable content and comparison services to users. To keep this resource 100% free, we receive compensation for referrals for many of the offers listed on the site. Along with key review factors, this compensation may impact how and where products appear across CardRates.com (including, for example, the order in which they appear). CardRates.com does not include the entire universe of available offers. Editorial opinions expressed on the site are strictly our own and are not provided, endorsed, or approved by advertisers.