12 Best Credit Cards for Average Credit

14% of the US population has no credit and the average credit score is 660 to 719.

People with average or no credit are always searching for new ways to improve their score. While this article from the FTC can help you understand how a credit score works, and what what you can do to improve it, taking out a new line of credit is an overlooked way to do it.

Yet finding the best credit card company that will approve you and your average credit score can be a difficult task. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of credit cards for average credit.

Want to find out which credit cards you qualify for? Keep reading for our top 12.

1. Milestone Mastercard

Have a credit Score of 580 to 740? You’ll be instantly approved for the Milestone Mastercard without a hard credit check.

Here are some more features of your Milestone Mastercard:

• Customize your card
• Mobile account access
• Instant pre-qualification application
• Fraud protection

The card doesn’t offer rewards and has an APR of 24.9%. You can’t get a balance transfer introductory APR. The annual fees depend on the terms of your contract. But this card is unsecured, meaning you won’t have to put down a security deposit for approval.

2. Milestone Gold MasterCard

Another Milestone card for borrowers with credit scores of 580 to 740, the Gold Mastercard is a non-rewards card with a 24.9% fixed APR. There’s no balance transfer introductory APR and your fees depend on the terms of your contract.

Yet there are no hard credit checks for pre-qualifiers and the application process is fast and easy. Borrowers can customize the card, receive full fraud protection if your card is lost or stolen, and even those who have previously filed bankruptcy will qualify.

Milestone Gold MasterCards are accepted at over 35 million locations worldwide.

3. Fingerhut Credit Account

Available through WebBank, a Fingerhut account is for people with no credit and who don’t want a traditional bank rewards card. There’s no balance transfer introductory APR but you’ll pay $0 in yearly fees.

The cool thing about a Fingerhut account is that your APR depends on the purchase you make. You can choose products from a list of over half a million items.

This form of credit is attractive to borrowers who want low monthly payments and an easy online application process. However, this is not an access card so you can’t load SNAP benefits onto it.

4. Avant Credit Card

The Avant Credit Card is available through WebBank and is designed for people with credit scores of 580 to 740. This is not a rewards card and there’s no balance transfer introductory APR. The APR is variable and higher than average at 26.24%.

You’ll pay a $29 annual fee but it’s worth it since this is an unsecured credit card. You can build credit without receiving penalties to your APR. Automatic reviews for a credit line increase, fast and easy approval, and making payments through the online portal make this card attractive.

However, borrowers in Colorado, Iowa, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin cannot get an Avant credit card. Also, you won’t receive fraud protection for lost or stolen cards.

5. Citi Secured Mastercard

Citi Secured Mastercards don’t require a credit check, but that’s because this is a secured loan. You’ll put down a minimum of $200 and, once you’re approved, your credit line is equal to the security deposit.

The APR is lower at 24.74%, but it is variable. You won’t get rewards but you also pay $0 in annual fees. Borrowers can build or improve credit while you pay with a card that’s accepted worldwide.

The Citi Mastercard offers free access to your FICO credit score, auto payments, and account alerts. Choose your due date at the beginning, middle, or end of the month. And receive 24/7 account management online, phone, and in the mobile app.

6. Credit One Platinum Visa for Rebuilding Credit

With the lowest credit requirement on the list, borrowers with scores between 300 and 670 can be approved for this 20.24%-26.24% variable APR rewards card. Earn 1% cash back on every purchase and pay between $0 and $99 in annual fees.

This card doesn’t offer balance transfer introductory APR since this card is designed for those who want to build credit. You also won’t receive any fraud liability so this card is not for the absent-minded.

Pre-qualifiers won’t need a hard credit check and you can always access your Experian credit score for free. Borrowers are automatically reviewed for credit line increases. You choose your payment due dates and, meanwhile, get email and text alerts sent straight to your phone.

7. Credit One Platinum Visa with Cashback Rewards

Here’s another credit card for borrowers with a score of 580 to 740. The APR is variable with rates ranging from 20.24%-26.24%. You’ll earn 1% cash back rewards for every purchase with fees of $0-$99 per year.

There’s no balance transfer introductory APR or fraud coverage for the Credit One Platinum Visa. But you can customize your card with one of the multiple designs offered and monitor your credit score via Exterion. Get text and email alerts about payments and go paperless with mobile and online statements.

8. Discover It Student Chrome Card

Student credit cards generally don’t require you to have any credit history. However, you must prove you are in school whether that be high school, college, or graduate school. Borrowers get 2% cash back for gas and restaurants up to $1000 every 3 months.

You’ll also receive 1% unlimited cash back on all purchases without limits. The APR is variable, ranging from 15.24%-24.24%, which is relatively low for borrowers with average or no credit. You even qualify for a 6 month 10.99% balance transfer introductory APR.

There are no annual fees for the Discover It Student Card and, for your first year, all cashback is matched with no limit. You get $20 credit for having a 3.0 GPA for up to 5 years. And get no late fees on your first late payment and no APR charge for paying late after that.

But wait, there’s more! The Discover Student Chrome Card offers free FICO score access, Freeze It, and alerts that inform you if your social security number is found on the Dark Web. Finally, you get 0% introductory APR on all purchases for the first 6 months.

9. Discover It Secured Card

The Discover It Secured card has no credit requirements because this is a secured card. You must put down a $200 to $2500 security deposit. After that, you get 2% cash back for gas and restaurants up to $1000 every quarter and 1% cash back on all other purchases without limit.

The variable APR is at 25.24% and you also get a 10.99% balance transfer introductory APR for the first 6 months. Borrowers pay no annual fees while building credit. And you’re automatically reviewed for a transfer to an unsecured credit line starting at 8 months.

Customer service and FICO credit score access are included. Meanwhile, Discover will auto-match all cash back you receive at the end of your first year. This card also comes with Dark Web Social Security alerts.

10. Discover It Student Cash Back Card

Like the Discover Student Chrome card, this 5% cash back rewards credit card requires no credit. You’ll get cash back in rotating categories like:

• Gas
• Groceries
• Restaurants
• Amazon

You also receive 1% unlimited cash back on all other purchases and qualify for 10.99% balance transfer introductory APR for the first 6 months. With no annual fees and a cashback match introductory offer, this card is perfect for students looking to build credit while earning rewards.

This card includes the good grades $20 reward for GPAs of 3.0 and higher. Pay no late fees on your first late payment and there are no APR charges for late payments. Customer service and free credit scores are always available as well as Dark Web alerts and 0% APR for the first 6 months.

11. Capital One Platinum Credit Card

This non-rewards Capital One Platinum card is for borrowers with average scores of 580 to 740. The APR is variable but sticks close to a 26.96% annual rate. Borrowers can’t get an introductory balance transfer but you also won’t pay any annual fees.

You can apply for a higher credit line after making the first 5 payments. Your card also includes:

• Fraud coverage
• Online banking via the mobile app
• Make payments with checks, online, or at a local branch (all with no fees)

Finally, you can customize your monthly due date, get 24/7 access to your account, and improve credit while you make payments on your card.

12. Capital One QuicksilverOne Rewards Card

We’ve saved the best for last.

You can qualify for the Capital One QuicksilverOne Rewards Card with an average score between 580 to 740. Get unlimited 1.5% cash back on every single purchase. Your APR is fixed at 26.96%, but you do pay $39 in annual fees.

There’s no introductory balance transfer APR or fraud protection.

However, you can get a higher credit line after making your first 5 payments on time. Monitor your credit with free access to the CreditWise app and get alerts about your account payments through the Capital One app.

While you’re improving your credit, you’ll have no limits to the cash back you receive. Best of all, your cash back will never expire as long as your credit account is active.

More Credit Cards for Average Credit and Advice

While this is not an exhaustive list of credit cards for average credit, they’re our top picks because they offer some serious advantages over the competition.

Looking for more information about the different credit cards out there? Searching for advice about taking out loans and other forms of credit? Check out Better Loan Blog’s Learning Center for advice on all your credit and loan inquiries.