The average credit score varies from year to year. In the most recent data released by FICO, the average score was 711. That's high based on historical standards, as the average score typically falls in a range of 650-700. Finding the best credit card for average credit can be tricky.
A score in the high 600s is good enough to avoid bad credit credit cards. At the same time, it's not quite high enough for the best credit cards.
The following cards are designed for individuals with credit scores in the 650, 660, 670, 680 or 690 ranges. For FICO scores in this range, these cards offer a good chance of approval, report payments to all three major credit bureaus, offer reasonable terms, and can help improve your credit score.
- List of the Best Credit Cards with Average Credit
- 1. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- 2. Chase Freedom Flex(SM)
- 3. The Platinum Card® from American Express
- 4. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
- 5. Capital One Platinum Credit Card
- 6. Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
- 7. Secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card
- 8. Petal 1 Visa Card
- 9. Credit One Bank(R) Platinum Visa(R)
- 10. Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
- 11. Capital One Platinum Secured
- 4 Tips to Getting a Credit Card with a Score of 650 to 700
- FAQs
List of the Best Credit Cards with Average Credit
1. Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express
- Annual Fee: $95, waived for the first year
- Welcome Bonus: Earn $250 cash back when you spend $3,000 in the first 6 months.
- Pre-approval: Find out if you're approved with no impact to your credit score
- 0% Intro APR: 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable APR, 18.74% - 29.74%.
Approval Odds*
| App Status | Date | Credit Score | Bureau | Credit Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approved | 05/17/2021 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 04/09/2022 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 04/09/2022 | TransUnion | ||
| Approved | 12/17/2021 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 12/17/2021 | TransUnion | ||
| Approved | 03/20/2022 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 07/21/2021 | Experian |
2. Chase Freedom Flex(SM)
- Annual Fee: $0
- Welcome Bonus: Earn $200 when you spend $500 in the first 3 months.
- Rewards: 5% cash back
Rotating Categories 5% cash back on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate5% cash backTravel 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards3% cash backDrugstores 3% cash back on drugstore purchases3% cash backDining 3% cash back on dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery services1% cash backOn all other purchases 1% cash back on all other purchases - 0% APR: Enjoy 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months; after that, the rate is 19.24% - 27.99% variable, depending on creditworthiness
Approval Odds*
| App Status | Date | Credit Score | Bureau | Credit Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approved | 05/13/2022 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 08/27/2022 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 08/27/2022 | TransUnion | ||
| Approved | 10/01/2022 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 04/12/2021 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 11/01/2022 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 04/04/2022 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 10/01/2020 | Experian |
3. The Platinum Card® from American Express
- Annual Fee: $695
- Welcome Bonus: Earn 80,000 bonus points when you spend $6,000 in the first 6 months of card membership.
- Rewards: 5x points
Airfare 5x points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel, on up to $500,000 on these purchases each calendar year5x pointsHotels 5x points on prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com1x pointsOn all other purchases 1x on all other purchases
Approval Odds*
| App Status | Date | Credit Score | Bureau | Credit Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approved | 03/16/2021 | Not Provided | ||
| Approved | 06/08/2022 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 06/09/2021 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 04/28/2022 | Not Provided | ||
| Approved | 01/04/2023 | Not Provided | ||
| Approved | 06/08/2022 | Equifax |
4. Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express
- Annual Fee: $0
- Welcome Bonus: Get $200 cash back as a statement credit when you spend $2,000 in the first 6 months.
- Pre-approval: Find out if you're approved with no impact to your credit score (if you're approved and you accept a card, your credit score may be impacted)
- 0% APR: Get 0% APR on purchases and balance transfers for the first 15 months, then a rate of 18.74% - 29.74% variable.
Approval Odds*
| App Status | Date | Credit Score | Bureau | Credit Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approved | 09/07/2022 | Equifax | ||
| Approved | 01/05/2020 | Not Provided | ||
| Approved | 07/26/2022 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 02/13/2020 | Equifax | ||
| Approved | 02/13/2020 | TransUnion | ||
| Approved | 12/02/2019 | TransUnion | ||
| Approved | 12/02/2019 | Equifax | ||
| Approved | 11/26/2021 | Not Provided | ||
| Approved | 09/07/2022 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 09/07/2022 | TransUnion | ||
| Approved | 02/09/2022 | Experian |
5. Capital One Platinum Credit Card
The overall best credit card for fair to average credit is the Capital One Platinum Credit Card. It charges no annual fee and includes fraud coverage if the card is lost or stolen. Capital One will automatically consider card holders for a higher credit line in as little as six months. Capital One reports payments to all three credit bureaus.
Consumers have reported approval for this card on various forums with the following credit scores (credit bureau reporting the score and/or credit limit approved when available): 650 (EQ), 694 (TU) , 662 (EX), 673 ($1,000), 606 ($300), 674 (TU, $2,000).
Here's how Capital One defines fair credit:
Approval Odds*
| App Status | Date | Credit Score | Bureau | Credit Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approved | 04/01/2021 | Not Provided | ||
| Approved | 08/01/2020 | Not Provided | ||
| Approved | 12/18/2019 | Equifax | ||
| Approved | 12/18/2019 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 12/18/2019 | TransUnion | ||
| Approved | 02/25/2020 | Equifax | ||
| Approved | 02/25/2020 | TransUnion | ||
| Approved | 02/25/2020 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 11/28/2018 | TransUnion | ||
| Approved | 11/28/2018 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 11/28/2018 | Equifax | ||
| Denied | 06/12/2020 | Experian |
6. Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card
The Capital One QuicksilverOne Cash Rewards Credit Card makes our list because it pays 1.5% cash back on all purchase, a rare feature for a card for fair credit. It does charge a $39, but offers free credit monitoring with Capital One's CreditWise app.
- Cash Back: Earn 1.5% cash back on every purchase
- Get automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months
- Free credit monitoring with the CreditWise® app
- $0 fraud liability if your card is ever lost or stolen
- Get customized alerts and manage your account with the Capital One mobile app
- Enjoy up to 6 months of complimentary Uber One membership statement credits through 11/14/2024
- $39 annual fee
Consumers have reported approval for the QS1 on various forums with the following credit scores (credit bureau reporting the score and/or credit limit approved when available): 676 ($300), 681 (TU), 684 (EQ), 681 (EX), 630 (EQ, $500).
Approval Odds*
| App Status | Date | Credit Score | Bureau | Credit Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approved | 05/03/2017 | Equifax | ||
| Approved | 01/04/2017 | TransUnion | ||
| Approved | 01/04/2017 | Equifax | ||
| Approved | 02/04/2022 | Not Provided | ||
| Denied | 07/20/2013 | TransUnion | ||
| Denied | 07/06/2017 | TransUnion |
7. Secured Chime Credit Builder Visa® Credit Card
The card reports to all three major credit bureaus. A Chime Spending Account is required.
- Annual Fee: $0
- Regular APR: 0%
- Security Deposit: No minimum security deposit
- Starting Credit Limit: Based on the amount deposited in the account
- Credit Reporting: Payments reported to all 3 major credit bureaus
- Credit Check: No credit check needed to apply
- Cash Back: None
- Upgrade Opportunity: None
8. Petal 1 Visa Card
The Petal 1 Visa Card is designed for those with low to fair credit. It doesn't charge an annual fee and offers 2% to 10% in cash back from select merchants. It reports to all 3 credit bureaus and includes a mobile app to help you manage your money.
- Designed for those with low-to-fair credit or cash flow who are seeking to improve their credit score.
- $0 Annual Fee
- 2% – 10% cash back from select merchants
- $300 – $5,000 credit limits
- No annual or international transaction fees.
- Build credit alongside tens of thousands of Petal Card members
- Cash flow technology may help applicants without credit history get approved
- Petal's mobile app makes it easy to manage your money, track your spending, and automate payments
- See if you're pre-approved within minutes without impacting your credit score
- Petal reports to all 3 major credit bureaus
- No deposits required
Approval Odds*
| App Status | Date | Credit Score | Bureau | Credit Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approved | 02/07/2022 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 02/07/2022 | Equifax | ||
| Approved | 02/07/2022 | TransUnion | ||
| Approved | 01/27/2022 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 07/17/2018 | TransUnion | ||
| Approved | 12/15/2021 | Experian |
9. Credit One Bank(R) Platinum Visa(R)
The Credit One Bank(R) Platinum Visa(R) offers 1% cash back and no annual fee for those who qualify. You also get free access to your Experian credit score online. Credit One allows you to choose your payment due date and offers $0 fraud liability protection.
- Pre-Qualify: Yes. You can see if you pre-qualify without hurting your credit score
- Annual Fee: $0 for those who qualify, but could be as high as $95 the first year ($99 the second and future years).
- Rewards: Yes. Earn 1% cash back rewards on all purchases, terms apply
- View updates to your Experian credit score with free online access, terms apply
- Choose Your Payment Date: Make paying your bill easier with the ability to choose your payment due date, terms apply
- Mobile App: Access your account on-the-go with the Credit One Bank mobile app
- Alerts: Never miss an account update with customizable text and email alerts
- Build Credit: Credit One reports to all 3 major credit bureaus
Approval Odds*
| App Status | Date | Credit Score | Bureau | Credit Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approved | 01/30/2018 | TransUnion | ||
| Approved | 01/30/2018 | Equifax | ||
| Approved | 01/30/2018 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 08/02/2012 | TransUnion | ||
| Approved | 08/02/2012 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 08/02/2012 | Equifax | ||
| Approved | 11/14/2009 | Not Provided | ||
| Approved | 01/04/2008 | Not Provided | ||
| Denied | 06/10/2020 | Not Provided |
10. Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa®
The Upgrade Cash Rewards Visa® charges no annual fee, activation fee or maintenance fee and offers up to 1.5% cashback on payments. You can check your potential credit limit ($500 to $25,000) without affecting your credit score. Keep in mind that this is not a traditional credit card. While it's accepted anywhere that takes Visa, think of it as a combination of a fixed rate line of credit and a Visa cash rewards credit card.
- 1.5% cash back on payments
- Combine the flexibility of a card with the low cost and predictability of a loan
- $0 annual fee, $0 activation fees, $0 foreign transaction fees
- No touch payments with contactless technology built in
- See if you qualify in minutes without hurting your credit score
- Great for large purchases with predictable payments you can budget for
- Mobile app to access your account anytime, anywhere
- Enjoy peace of mind with $0 Fraud liability
- $200 bonus when you open a Rewards Checking account and make 3 debit card transactions. To qualify for the welcome bonus, you must open and fund a new Rewards Checking account and make 3 qualifying debit card transactions from your Rewards Checking account within 60 days of the date the Upgrade Card account is opened. To qualify, debit card transactions must have settled and exclude ATM transactions. Please refer to the applicable Upgrade VISA® Debit Card Agreement and Disclosures for more information. Your Upgrade Card and Rewards Checking account must be open and in good standing to receive a bonus. If you have previously opened a Rewards Checking account or do not open one as part of this application process, you are not eligible for this welcome bonus offer. Welcome bonus offers cannot be combined, substituted, or applied retroactively. The bonus will be applied to your Rewards Checking account as a one-time payout credit within 60 days after the 3rd qualifying card purchase.
11. Capital One Platinum Secured
The Capital One Platinum Secured is one of the best secured credit cards you'll find anywhere. It charges no annual fee, has a security deposit as lows as $49, and Capital One will consider cardholders for a higher credit limit in as little as 6 months. It reports payments to all 3 credit bureaus.
- Annual Fee: $0
- Regular APR: 29.74%
- Security Deposit: $49, $99 or $200, based on credit worthiness
- Starting Credit Limit: $200 and automatically considered for a higher credit line in as little as 6 months.
- Credit Reporting: Payments reported to all 3 major credit bureaus
Approval Odds*
| App Status | Date | Credit Score | Bureau | Credit Limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Approved | 09/01/2017 | Equifax | ||
| Approved | 11/19/2016 | TransUnion | ||
| Approved | 11/19/2016 | Equifax | ||
| Approved | 06/09/2016 | TransUnion | ||
| Approved | 06/09/2016 | Equifax | ||
| Approved | 08/10/2018 | Equifax | ||
| Approved | 08/10/2018 | TransUnion | ||
| Approved | 08/10/2018 | Experian | ||
| Approved | 05/05/2015 | Experian | ||
| Denied | 01/12/2018 | Not Provided | ||
| Denied | 08/27/2012 | TransUnion |
4 Tips to Getting a Credit Card with a Score of 650 to 700
- Know your credit score. Even a few points can make a difference between qualifying for a credit card or not, or perhaps getting a better card. There are plenty of ways to see your score for free.
- Watch the fees. Some credit cards designed for fair credit charge exorbitant fees. Many of the cards in our list charge no annual fee, and the others offer a reasonable fee. As you compare cards, make sure you understand how the fees work.
- Expect lower credit limits. While the credit limit will vary from one card to the next and one applicant to the next, expect credit limits in the hundreds of dollars, not thousands of dollars. There will be some exceptions, of course, but don't count on it.
- Always pay the card on time. These cards can help improve your credit score, but only if you pay the credit card bill on time, every time. Late payments are the most significant factor in the FICO score, and they can hurt your score considerably, even with just one late payment.
FAQs
*The credit score data provided for some of the cards listed above came from publicly available information in a number of forums. The accuracy of the information cannot be verified. Keep in mind that credit card issuers consider more than an applicant’s credit score and that underwriting standards change over time.
